Mountain Graveyard.
In the dim, deep underground cavern, gray-green Wood Release vines coiled everywhere, and the rock walls gave off a damp, chilling cold.
An old man sat upright on a stone chair, his scarlet Sharingan looking straight ahead, his long silver hair falling over his shoulders.
Behind him, an enormous withered husk as massive as a mountain loomed in the depths of the cavern.
Its cracked, hardened skin was a dull grayish brown, covered in fissures that seemed carved by the passage of years.
Several thick, curved bony horns jutted from its head, and its sunken eye sockets were pitch-black hollows.
They were Madara Uchiha and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path he had summoned.
Madara was far too old now. None of his youthful vigor remained; he was simply a decrepit old man.
"See the world for what it is, Obito."
Madara Uchiha looked at the spiky-haired boy opposite him, half of whose body had been replaced with white Zetsu cells.
This was Obito Uchiha, who had "died" in the Third Shinobi World War.
"You were right."
Obito Uchiha opened his only remaining eye. The smile he had worn in Konoha was gone.
Witnessing Rin's death with his own eyes had robbed him of all hope for this rotten world.
"What's so bad about the Infinite Tsukuyomi? Tear this filthy, pointless reality to shreds! Let everyone live without pain!"
"You're right. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi can create true peace."
Madara Uchiha was very satisfied with Obito's reaction.
It seemed there had been nothing wrong with his scheming and brainwashing.
The boy had become nothing more than a pawn for carrying out the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.
"Lord Madara."
Just then, a White Zetsu emerged from the ground and stood beside Madara with a respectful expression.
"I've discovered a