Uchiha's Attention

Underground in the Land of Frost.

Graveyard of Mountains.

Madara Uchiha sat silently before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, his figure appearing exceptionally eerie in the dim light.

Ever since he summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he had lived in seclusion here, rarely leaving.

In his twilight years, Madara finally succeeded in fusing the cells of Senju Hashirama, obtaining the power of the Creation of All Things.

However, the awakening of the Rinnegan came too late; he had to adjust his plans and first restore his youth.

"Lord Madara, the mission is proceeding smoothly. The Iwagakure Ninja and Konoha have already gone to war. Ōnoki attaches great importance to this conflict and has even sent the Jinchuriki to the battlefield."

"The squad containing Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara has also arrived at the front lines, waiting only for the right moment."

Black Zetsu rose from the ground, reporting humbly to Madara, who sat before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

"Additionally, a young member of the Uchiha clan has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. His Susanoo is abnormally massive; his ocular technique is likely related to the Susanoo."

Madara lifted his head slightly, a glimmer of interest appearing in his eyes.

Black Zetsu was knowledgeable and experienced; he had witnessed many peculiar ocular techniques over the past millennium.

Uchiha Iori's extraordinary Susanoo was likely the result of his ocular technique.

"Oh? Have you collected his information?" Madara Uchiha asked with curiosity. After so many years, a descendant had finally awakened those eyes.

The wielder of a Mangekyō Sharingan was qualified to interfere with his plans, and Madara Uchiha had to learn more to prepare accordingly.

If he could be utilized, he would be drawn into the Eye of the Moon Plan.

If he could not be used, he would have to be removed from the equation so he would not disrupt the progress of the plan.

If necessary, Madara Uchiha would kill him personally before his own death to clear this obstacle.

"Uchiha Iori lost his parents at a young age; both were mere Chunin who never awakened their Sharingan."

"He awakened his Sharingan during his time at the Ninja Academy and excelled in taijutsu and Fire Release. However, his strength before reaching the battlefield was no more than that of a Chunin."

"The real change occurred a week ago when he suddenly mastered a new ninjutsu while scouting the Iwagakure Ninja."

"He claims to have received an ancestral inheritance, allowing him to wield various spiritual weapons."

Black Zetsu recited the intelligence he had gathered, detailing even matters known only to the high-ranking officials at the Konoha front-line camp.

"Spiritual weapons? I have been searching for the whereabouts of the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror. Are these the ones?"

Madara Uchiha straightened his body, his curiosity piqued.

Under the moonlight, Madara's aged face appeared particularly terrifying.

His back was riddled with tubes, which connected him to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

His current life was sustained entirely by the nourishment of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path; once he lost it, he would die rapidly.

His Rinnegan had already been transplanted into Nagato, and his eye sockets now held a pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan from an unknown source.

The only things that remained unchanged were his immense chakra and his terrifying presence.

Madara Uchiha had seen records of the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror in the clan's archives, but he had yet to find these mysterious spiritual weapons.

"No, these are spiritual weapons I have never heard of. There is no record of them in the history of the Ninja World."

Black Zetsu was also puzzled. Having lived for thousands of years, he had never heard of the existence of such weapons.

Furthermore, over the last millennium, he had kept a close watch on almost every genius of the Uchiha clan.

He had never seen any Uchiha capable of using such a secret technique.

Where did his power come from? Is it related to Mother's enemies? Black Zetsu wondered, filled with doubt.

Should I find an opportunity to test him? No, it is better not to invite complications now.

Black Zetsu pondered. His plan, spanning a thousand years, was about to bear fruit, and he did not want any variables.

Moreover, he firmly believed that as long as his mother could be freed from her seal, no one would be able to oppose her.

"Is that so? It seems he has some secrets." Madara narrowed his eyes; despite being an old man on the verge of death, he radiated a terrifying pressure.

"What about his personality and his relationships with friends and family?"

"He has good relations with his teammates and his teacher, and he is also close with his cousin Shisui, but beyond that, there is no one he is particularly close to."

"Judging by his daily behavior, he appears gentle and enthusiastic, but looking at his actual interpersonal situation, this is merely a facade."

"In reality, he remains an arrogant Uchiha; his gentleness toward others is simply because he does not hold them in high regard."

Black Zetsu's intuition was sharp. As a transmigrator, few people could truly enter the heart of Uchiha Iori.

And the innate maturity of a transmigrator also made it difficult for him to integrate into the Ninja Academy.

"What is his understanding of the Ninja World and peace?" Madara pressed. His Eye of the Moon Plan was predicated on his own understanding of peace for the Ninja World.

If Iori held his own convictions, he would be difficult to persuade, and Madara had no time left to lay out new schemes.

"He has never expressed his views on the Ninja World or peace, but based on his current performance, he is a hardliner for Konoha."

"And because he is relatively calm and shrewd, it would be difficult to make him trust the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"For now, Obito Uchiha remains the most suitable candidate. Our plan is already in place; we need only continue to execute it."

Black Zetsu relayed the recorded data to Madara Uchiha, concluding that choosing Obito Uchiha as Madara's successor was the most appropriate course of action.

Uchiha Iori displayed too much composure and independence; Black Zetsu did not believe he would subscribe to Madara's ideals, nor would he be easy for Black Zetsu to manipulate.

Madara's gaze fixed coldly upon Black Zetsu, the tomoe in his crimson eyes rotating slowly, as if the very air had grown heavy and turbulent.

"Then have the White Zetsu spread word of his power and achievements within Konoha first. Make the Konoha leadership wary, and have him recalled from the front lines."

"That disciple left behind by that bastard Tobirama, the one called Shimura Danzō—hasn't he always been targeting the Uchiha? Incite him to intervene."

"Under these circumstances, Konoha cannot afford to leave a combat asset like him idle, but besides Iwagakure and Kirigakure, Konoha is also at war with Sunagakure."

"In the Land of Wind, aren't Konoha and Sunagakure still locked in a stalemate?"

"Disrupt Konoha, force them into a disadvantageous position, and then goad Shimura Danzō into transferring him to the Land of Wind battlefield."

"He must not be allowed to interfere with my arrangements in the Land of Earth and the Land of Water. Do you understand?"

Madara looked at Black Zetsu and said in a deep voice.

"Understood. I shall follow your instructions, Lord Madara."

Black Zetsu replied; he, too, did not wish for Iori to interfere with his plans.

Black Zetsu's figure gradually sank into the earth, departing the secret base.

"An interesting junior. If you continue to be restless, then I shall meet you myself."

"Though, by that time, you will have only two options: death or submission."

"I hope you do not disappoint me." Madara's voice grew increasingly low, eventually fading into a whisper-like echo.

His figure gradually merged into the darkness, leaving only his crimson eyes visible, flickering incessantly.

Behind him, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared increasingly hideous and terrifying as the night deepened.

Iori remained unaware that he had already been targeted by Madara Uchiha.

He was still in the Hall of Heroes, drinking and celebrating with the Heroic Spirits, having incidentally acquired an A++ rank Noble Phantasm that he previously could only project by sacrificing his own life force.

If he had been able to project it normally before, he wouldn't have needed to activate Susanoo to deal with the Five-Tails.