Eye of the Moon Plan

A month later.

Genye lay on his bed, holding a small notebook and scribbling away in Chinese.

"Excluding Hamura's lineage on the moon and Kumogakure's Ginkaku and Kinkaku, these should be the only families in the ninja world related to the Otsutsuki."

"Confirmed: Uchiha Clan, Senju Clan, Uzumaki, Hyuga; Pending: Kaguya Clan."

As far as Genye was concerned, he believed the Kaguya Clan was definitely related to the Otsutsuki.

After all, Kimimaro's "bone proliferation" looked far too much like Kaguya's "All-Killing Ash Bones," and there was a connection in their names as well.

Genye crossed out the Uchiha and Hyuga, leaving only the Senju, Uzumaki, and Kaguya clans on his list.

"The bloodlines of the Senju and Uzumaki should count as pieces of a puzzle."

Genye guessed boldly, "In an ideal scenario, I only need to get my hands on two more pieces!"

Hmm, how should he go about it?

There was a ready-made Uzumaki in the village, but she already had a husband—the newly appointed village leader.

It wouldn't be very convenient to make a move!

He wasn't sure if Tsunade was still in the village, but it wouldn't be right for a young blade of grass to eat old cattle; Genye didn't consider himself the type to be so meddlesome.

What if he used Impure World Reincarnation to bring back the Senju brothers and tried to build a rapport?

He had a feeling that if he dug up their graves, they wouldn't give him a pleasant look...

"Forget it, let's not consider those in the village for now."

Genye tried changing his train of thought: "Let's look further afield—Nagato or Karin would work too!"

He didn't know if Nagato had started carrying rice yet, but when the opportunity arose, he could perhaps put on a disguise and spend a couple of years drifting in the Akatsuki.

As for Karin... damn, was Karin even born yet?!

In a magnificent underground palace.

Uchiha Madara sat on a high platform, his gaze fixed on the young girl below as he asked with feigned compassion.

"Xia, you've returned. Tell me, were you able to save the companion you grew up with?"

The girl known as Uchiha Xia shook her head with a touch of sorrow.

"No, Senior Madara. I arrived a step too late and couldn't save Yu. I could only watch helplessly as he died before my eyes."

The girl appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old with delicate features, though a patch of unnaturally pale skin covered half her face, marring her perfect appearance.

The ink-colored patterns spinning rapidly in her eyes betrayed the fact that her heart was far from calm.

"Is that so? That is truly a pity," Madara sighed, sounding somewhat despondent.

"If I were in my prime, how many in the ninja world would dare harm a member of my Uchiha Clan?"

"Senior Madara." Uchiha Xia stepped onto the platform with her bare, jade-like feet, walking slowly toward Uchiha Madara.

"Please tell me how to forge the world of dreams. I wish to create a world where my parents and teachers still exist."

"Er..." Madara opened his mouth, appearing hesitant.

When a man grew old, idle, and had nothing to do, he easily became prone to gossip.

Even a Shura who once killed without blinking was no exception.

Since Madara couldn't move freely while awake, his only pastime was listening to Black Zetsu recount the various secrets and gossip of the ninja world to pass the tedious time.

Thinking that he might be offline for over a decade this time, Madara ultimately couldn't suppress his curiosity and blurted out:

"Then... what about your childhood sweetheart? Do you not intend for him to exist in the world you create?"

"You mean Yu?" Xia's expression was slightly startled. "Although we grew up together, I don't have any special feelings for him."

Madara was dumbfounded: "Then your Mangekyō Sharingan is...?"

"Oh, it's just that Yu's death reminded me of the scene when my parents and teachers died," Xia explained.

"Fine then." Uchiha Madara clicked his tongue. So, killing that Yu had been a wasted effort on his part?

Still, the fact that it allowed this child to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan meant it wasn't a total loss.

"Very well, Xia, look into my eyes." With his curiosity satisfied, Madara prepared to get down to business.

Their gazes locked, and the next moment, their consciousnesses entered the illusionary space created by Madara.

Within the illusion, Madara began from the origins of the ninja world and spoke all the way through to his Eye of the Moon Plan.

The plan was divided into three steps:

1. Collect the Tailed Beasts scattered across the lands.

2. Trick Nagato into resurrecting him (Madara) and summoning the Ten-Tails.

3. Become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and unleash the ultimate illusion, the "Eye of the Moon."

"I understand, Senior Madara." After committing everything to memory, Uchiha Xia nodded firmly.

"Very good." Madara patted Kasumi on the shoulder with satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face.

"Next, I will pass on everything I have learned in my life to you, Kasumi. You will become the savior of the ninja world!"

Soon.

Madara taught Kasumi all the forbidden techniques and Yin-Yang Release jutsu he had mastered.

Of course, he held back a contingency for every move he taught; this, too, was part of the plan.

"Alright, Kasumi, everything from here on out is in your hands," Madara said, ruffling Kasumi's hair.

"Understood, Senior Madara." Kasumi nodded in agreement, but suddenly spoke up again.

"By the way, Senior, when you were young, did anyone ever tell you something?"

Madara was taken aback by the question: "What thing?"

"(๑≖◡ ≖)✧ You looked quite handsome when you were young, Senior," Kasumi said.

...(////﹏////)

Madara's old face flushed red. Had he just been teased by a junior?

If Izuna found out, he would definitely laugh at him!

"Ahem, that is not important."

Madara hurriedly turned his face away, his back to her, and coughed twice before saying, "Enough, let us continue."

"Eh? Didn't you say I had already mastered everything you taught me?" Kasumi asked, looking puzzled.

"I am getting old, and my memory is not what it used to be," Madara said, his expression unchanging. "I suddenly remembered there are a few more moves I can teach you."

"Now then, Kasumi..."

Uchiha Madara raised his hand and injected a pool of black liquid into the body of a White Zetsu.

Soon, a half-black, half-white Zetsu was born.

"This is a product I created using Yin-Yang Release. You can treat it as my will."

Black Zetsu, pretending to be a newborn, nodded repeatedly and flashed an honest, simple smile.

Ah, yes, yes, I am indeed the incarnation of Lord Madara's will.

"Alright, everything that needed to be said has been said."

Madara stood up and forcefully pulled out his oxygen tube (not really).

Deprived of the nutrients supplied by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he slumped powerlessly back into his seat, extending a trembling hand to point at Kasumi.

"Child, during the time before I am resurrected, you... are Uchiha Madara!"

With that, Lord Madara tilted his head to the side and logged off in such a sloppy manner.

Of course, he believed that there would come a day when he would reconnect, log back in, and dance once more.

ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh.

Kasumi sighed softly, staring at Madara's corpse, and asked without looking away, "Is there any news regarding the matter I had you investigate earlier?"

"There is," Black Zetsu replied hurriedly. "According to the White Zetsu, the due date for the Konoha jinchuriki is the fourteenth of next month, and the location is a safe house outside of Konoha."

"Is that so? I understand," Kasumi nodded slightly and said calmly, "Then let us use a magnificent Konoha chaos as the opening act for the Eye of the Moon plan."