What Konoha's people didn't know, however, was that Shimura Danzō wasn't the only one keeping an eye on Uchiha Dan.
In some unknown corner of the Shinobi World, deep inside a vast underground cavern, a dark, shadowy figure was reporting something to an old man.
"Lord Madara, that's what happened. Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade have gone mad or something. They're determined to protect Uchiha Dan." Once the shadowy figure finished its report, it fell silent, quietly awaiting Lord Madara's decision.
That's right. This Lord Madara was none other than Madara Uchiha.
Madara Uchiha's hair had turned completely white, and his face was lined with wrinkles. He looked ancient, no longer possessing the arrogance and domineering presence he'd once had.
At that moment, he sat on a stone chair with his eyes closed, resting.
Black tubes were embedded all over his back, connecting him to a terrifying, grotesque statue towering behind him.
A closer look revealed that Chakra brimming with life energy was flowing through the tubes and into Madara Uchiha's body, keeping him alive.
Seeing that Madara Uchiha still hadn't said a word, Black Zetsu grew anxious and asked again, "Lord Madara, what should we do next?"
The corner of Madara Uchiha's mouth lifted as he slowly opened his strange eyes.
His eyes were now a pale purple, with faint concentric rings visible in them. They looked extremely eerie.
They were Rinnegan that hadn't fully evolved yet, but they had already begun to take shape. It surely wouldn't be long before they finished transforming into Rinnegan.
"You're saying Uchiha Dan and Hashirama's granddaughter are in love?"
"Yes, Lord Madara!" Black Zetsu nodded. "That's what it looks like from what I've observed."
Black Zetsu didn't understand human love, but seeing Uchiha Dan and Tsunade together every day was enough to figure it out, wasn't it?
"Heh." Madara Uchiha gave a soft chuckle. "Don't you think that's a good thing?"
"A good thing?" Black Zetsu was confused. "Lord Madara, if this continues, Uchiha Dan might never leave Konoha. What will happen to our plan?"
The plan Black Zetsu referred to was naturally the Moon Eye Plan.
Originally, Madara Uchiha had been meant to carry out this plan.
Under Black Zetsu's guidance, he had indeed fallen right into the trap and transplanted Hashirama Cells. Soon, he would even awaken Rinnegan.
But neither of them had expected the evolution from Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to Rinnegan to take so long. By now, Madara Uchiha had grown old and frail.
Even if he awakened Rinnegan, his life depended entirely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. He could no longer gather the Tailed Beasts or become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.
So the two of them had come up with a substitute plan.
They would find a young member of the Uchiha Clan and somehow twist his heart until he firmly believed in Madara Uchiha and the Moon Eye Plan.
Once they found someone like that and successfully brainwashed him, Madara Uchiha would pull out the tubes in his back and walk toward his death.
The person he chose would act in his name throughout the Shinobi World, with Black Zetsu's help, while keeping Rinnegan safe.
When the time was right, he would begin gathering the Tailed Beasts. Then, at some point, he would receive Rinnegan and use Rinne Tensei no Jutsu to revive Madara Uchiha. Madara would then become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and complete the Moon Eye Plan.
For many years, Madara Uchiha had searched for a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, in his eyes, the members of the Uchiha Clan were all useless.
The only one he thought had any potential was Uchiha Dan, the man who had been exiled from the Uchiha Clan.
Though the man was far from perfect and even somewhat difficult for Madara Uchiha to figure out, he had no better options, so he intended to give it a try.
"As long as Tsunade is alive, he probably won't leave," Madara Uchiha said calmly. "But what if Tsunade dies?"
"Dies?" Black Zetsu suddenly understood. "If Tsunade dies, Uchiha Dan will be devastated. No one will be left to protect him, and a clash with Konoha's High-Ranking Officials will be inevitable. That'll be our chance."
Madara Uchiha chuckled softly but said nothing.
He wasn't thinking of anything quite so simple.
Uchiha Dan was indeed far from perfect at present. But if his younger brother and the woman he loved both died before his eyes, despair would surely turn him dark. At that point, reality would force him to become the perfect candidate.
"How are things in Kirigakure?" Madara Uchiha suddenly asked.
"Everything's fine. The Third Mizukage is still under our control, and we still have the entire Kirigakure under our thumb," Black Zetsu reported. "Lord Madara, are you planning to start a war between Kirigakure and Konoha?"
Madara Uchiha shook his head. "Ever since Hozuki Gengetsu died, Kirigakure has fallen into decline. It would never be a match for Konoha."
"If war really broke out, it would be a one-sided affair."
"I can't leave the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and I don't want to reveal myself to the world. You can't accomplish much on your own, either, so we'll have to plan this carefully."
"Understood!" Black Zetsu was excited now, too.
He didn't care about war or whether anyone lived or died. All he cared about was whether the Moon Eye Plan could be carried out successfully.
Back in Konoha, Tsunade returned to the hospital in a much better mood after having a huge argument with Utatane Koharu.
Uchiha Dan was there, too, but he wasn't in high spirits. He felt no joy at having escaped disaster.
"Dan... are you... all right?" Tsunade asked cautiously.
She was genuinely afraid that Uchiha Dan might truly cut ties with her for good.
The thought that she had almost gotten Uchiha Dan killed sent a chill down Tsunade's spine.
How could she have been so stupid?
She had practically handed Utatane Koharu the knife, letting someone she hated kill someone she loved.
"Honestly, what does it matter if I'm all right or not?" Uchiha Dan sighed. "I've only escaped disaster for now, just like five years ago."
"I got away this time, but will I be so lucky next time? It's only a matter of time!"
"There's a way!" Tsunade said firmly.
"What way could there be?" Uchiha Dan gave a self-mocking smile, as if he'd lost all hope in life.
Tsunade stepped out of the office and, after making sure no one was around, closed and locked the door. Then she walked over to Uchiha Dan.
"What are you doing?" Uchiha Dan hurriedly hugged himself and leaned back, putting on a frightened look.
"You..." Tsunade gritted her teeth in anger. She pulled a scroll from her clothes, tossed it viciously at Uchiha Dan, then returned to her seat.
"What's this?" Uchiha Dan opened the scroll curiously, and his breathing grew a little faster.
It was none other than the Monster Strength Technique.
Everyone knew Tsunade had made her name in the Shinobi World with her Monster Strength Technique, which had few rivals.
"Tsunade, thank you, but I don't need it." Uchiha Dan stood up and pushed the scroll containing the Monster Strength Technique back toward Tsunade.
Tsunade stood as well and held the scroll in place with one hand. Shaking her head, she said, "Dan, I almost got you hurt, so you have to accept it, no matter what."
Since they were both standing and leaning forward, they were now only a foot apart.
Tsunade immediately lowered her head shyly, but her gaze landed right on Uchiha Dan's lips.
At that moment, she suddenly felt an urge to take a bite.
Startled by her own thought, Tsunade turned bright red and sat back down. She kept her head lowered, too embarrassed to look up again.
How humiliating.
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