Rinnegan

Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Office.

Ōnoki of Both Scales's small body floated in midair, but his expression was darker than stone.

As he looked at yet another report about a failed experiment involving the Five-Tails or Four-Tails jinchūriki, resulting in casualties and damaged facilities, even his graying beard bristled with rage.

"Trash! You're all trash! You can't even make the most basic chakra-sealing vessel properly!"

He berated them, yet a sense of helplessness also rose within him. Dust Release could break down all things, but it could not dissolve the thorny problems brought by the Tailed Beasts.

Kirigakure and Sunagakure were in much the same situation.

The unpredictability of the Three-Tails and the ferocity of the One-Tail had both dragged their research into a mire.

To a certain extent, the bloody policy of the "Bloody Mist" was also an extreme manifestation of internal anxiety and the hunger for power.

And the barrenness of the Land of Wind made them even more desperate to acquire stable, controllable Tailed Beast power, only to suffer setback after setback.

Just as the Third Raikage paced irritably, nearly wearing a hole through the floor, an older, quick-witted adviser cautiously spoke up.

"Lord Raikage, perhaps... we shouldn't focus solely on our own underdeveloped Sealing Jutsu."

"Hm?"

The Raikage stopped, his sharp gaze sweeping over him.

The adviser lowered his voice.

"In the entire Ninja World, when it comes to mastery of Sealing Jutsu, the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools stands foremost.

They are an ancient clan that has specialized in this field for a thousand years. If we could obtain the support of their core sealing techniques..."

The Raikage furrowed his brow.

"The Land of Whirlpools? They've been blood allies with Konoha for generations. Their relationship is solid as iron. Why would they help us?"

"Precisely because of that."

A calculating glint flashed in the adviser's eyes.

"Perhaps Kumogakure alone would find it difficult to accomplish this.

But what if we joined forces with the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water?

With the Four Kage signing jointly, under the pretext of 'maintaining the balance of power in the Ninja World and preventing Tailed Beasts from running wild and endangering the nations,' we could extend an invitation for 'friendly technical exchange' to the Land of Whirlpools—or apply some 'appropriate pressure.'

No matter how strong Uzushio Village is, it is still only one nation. Facing the shared 'concern' of the four great nations, could they truly shut their doors completely, as they did for Konoha?"

The irritation in the Raikage's eyes gradually gave way to the gleam of ambition. He stroked his chin.

"Joint pressure... and sharing the Uzumaki Clan's sealing achievements? Perhaps even... using this chance to probe the deeper secret of how Konoha keeps the Nine-Tails under stable control?"

"Exactly! With the Nine-Tails and the legacy of the First Hokage, Konoha has held a faint advantage since the First Shinobi World War.

If the four of us can seize this opportunity to master the key to controlling Tailed Beasts, not only will we solve our respective problems, but the future balance of the Ninja World..."

The adviser did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was obvious.

"Good!" The Raikage clapped his hands sharply, his voice booming. "This is an excellent idea! Draft secret letters in my name immediately. Invite the Kazekage, Tsuchikage, and Mizukage to an emergency Four Kage Summit in the neutral Land of Iron!

The agenda will be—'Regarding the joint invitation to the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools to assist in resolving the Tailed Beast sealing technology problems threatening the security of all nations, and to jointly discuss the future of peace and stability in the Ninja World'!

Make the wording 'beautiful'!"

"Yes, Lord Raikage!"

Before long, four secret letters bearing the Raikage's uniquely sharp handwriting and Kumogakure's lightning-pattern seal were carried by the most reliable messengers, racing toward the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water.

An undercurrent born from frustration, ambition, and calculation began to stir quietly, its target pointed directly at that ancient nation marked by a red spiral.

And its invisible ripples would inevitably crash against Konohagakure, bound by blood to the Uzumaki Clan.

The wind and snow of the Land of Iron seemed about to turn even colder and more biting because of the secret meeting to come.

Just as the Kage of the Four Great Ninja Villages secretly coordinated over the problems of Tailed Beasts and Sealing Jutsu—

Deep within an isolated underground stone cavern in the Land of Iron, Madara Uchiha, who had just completed his transformation, was adapting to his newly born eyes, imbued with the power of the Rinnegan.

A faint purple glow flowed quietly through the darkness, illuminating Madara's aged and weary face, which nevertheless carried an eerie brilliance born of ultimate power.

The life force supplied by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was like fragile spider silk, barely maintaining the delicate balance between this decaying body and the Eyes of God.

"The power of these eyes... surpasses mortal imagination."

Madara's voice was hoarse, as though stone were grinding against stone.

"But they are also like a bottomless abyss, draining the last remnants of life from this ruined body.

Before carrying out the Eye of the Moon, I must sleep. I must let these eyes slowly merge with what remains of my life force in stillness, lest they drag me into complete destruction too soon."

Black Zetsu crawled at his side like a shadow, speaking respectfully.

"Lord Madara has considered everything carefully. We have endured the long wait; there is no need to rush this final period of nurturing. We will guard this place and ensure absolute secrecy."

White Zetsu poked half his body out from the nearby rock wall and asked curiously.

"Is Lord Madara going to sleep? Like a hibernating bear? Then what are we supposed to do? Just stand around here in a daze?"

Madara's Rinnegan swept lightly over White Zetsu. That gaze made even the muddleheaded White Zetsu instinctively shrink his neck.

"You have your own tasks."

He spoke slowly, his tone carrying unquestionable authority.

"White Zetsu, your clones are to continue moving through the underground regions of the Ninja World, gathering intelligence and observing the changes of the age. In particular... pay attention to children who may possess special chakra traits.

But remember, stay away from Konoha."

He paused slightly, emphasizing the point.

"Konoha has Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, and she possesses the finest sensory ability inherited from the Uzumaki Clan.

Her Mind's Eye of the Kagura is enough to see through most concealment. If you approach, you could easily be exposed.

Before the time is ripe, do not arouse any unnecessary suspicion."

"Okay, okay! Got it! Konoha is forbidden territory. We'll steer clear!"

White Zetsu's main body nodded repeatedly, while the other White Zetsu clones hidden throughout various places received the supreme order at the same time.

"As for you, Black Zetsu."

Madara's gaze fell upon that most ancient shadow.

"Continue lying low. Guard this place and monitor the condition of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

At the same time, use your own methods to keep watch over the movements of the Ninja World.

When signs of a suitable Incubator appear, or when the winds of the age shift to the point where I must open my eyes once more, come wake me."

"As you command, Lord Madara."

Black Zetsu prostrated himself deeply, thinking inwardly.

The wish of a thousand years will finally be fulfilled.

All I need do is wait for Madara Uchiha to rest in peace and gather his strength.

Mother's glory will surely be restored through this incarnation of Indra.

Seeing Black Zetsu like this, Madara said no more.

He slowly leaned back. The rough stone chair beneath him seemed to connect more tightly with the veins extending from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

He closed those Rinnegan capable of shaking the world. The aura around him swiftly withdrew and sank, ultimately settling into an unfathomable silence, as though he had truly become an ancient stone statue.

Only the barely perceptible rise and fall of his chest, and the almost undetectable flow of chakra between him and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, proved that life and the Eyes of God still coexisted in delicate balance.

The stone cavern fell completely silent.

Only Black Zetsu, like the most loyal guard, merged into the shadows and kept watch in silence.

And countless White Zetsu clones, like underground roots, silently spread throughout the vast Ninja World beyond Konoha, carrying out their long task of observation and selection.

The tides of the age churned on the surface, while the source of the deepest conspiracy had voluntarily hidden itself in darkness, beginning a slumber of unknown duration as it waited for the arrival of the "moment" that truly belonged to it.