Kirigakure, where Rinjin, disguised as Kisame Hoshigaki, was busy packing his belongings.
Nearby, Gengetsu Hōzuki was leisurely trimming his nails.
"Hey, Obito, where are you off to this time?"
Hearing this, Rinjin glanced at Gengetsu Hōzuki and sighed helplessly. He muttered in a low voice:
"A big shot has arrived in Kirigakure. I need to make room for him."
At these words, Gengetsu Hōzuki instantly perked up.
"What? A big shot? Which big shot? Are they more important than me?"
"Who?" Putting down the nail clippers, Gengetsu Hōzuki stood up, his fists cracking.
Seeing this, Rinjin waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright, calm down. You, you're the big shot here.
I've worked so hard to invite this person; don't scare them off for me."
As he spoke, he quickened his pace in packing.
At this moment, Rinjin reflected on how he had managed to shift the battlefield from Madara Uchiha's stronghold in the Land of Iron to his own carefully prepared base in Kirigakure.
Through unconventional methods—leaving openings, provoking hostility, coating the Gedo Statue, and even disturbing an old man's sleep 24/7—he had successfully redirected the confrontation.
Kirigakure was not only Rinjin's domain but also an important piece on Madara Uchiha's chessboard. Both had their own agendas there, making it unlikely for either to flip the table prematurely.
After all, Madara, being of advanced age, might soon need a walking stick just to get around.
The Mist Village, one of the Five Great Nations, was a valuable asset that neither of them could afford to discard lightly.
Moreover, Rinjin's identity couldn't be exposed, but neither could Madara Uchiha's. In fact, Madara's current state made it even more critical for him to remain in the shadows.
By employing subtle tactics, Rinjin had not only shifted the battlefield but also muffled its intensity.
Certainly, Madara had the power to overturn the chessboard.
But so did Rinjin!
The Eye of the Moon Plan—would it proceed?
Nagato—would he be nurtured?
The candidates—would they be chosen?
Would Madara Uchiha resurrect?
And after death, where would his corpse be hidden?
If he wanted to catch Rinjin, did he understand the Flying Thunder God Technique?
As for attacking loved ones, while Black Zetsu might resort to such tactics, Madara Uchiha was unlikely to stoop so low.
He was too proud—so proud that his eyes saw only that man.
For Rinjin, who lacked lofty ideals, there was nothing to fear in a head-on clash.
Most importantly, Rinjin understood Madara Uchiha deeply.
This legendary figure's greatest charm lay in his stubbornness—his unyielding pride and unshakable love.
From his words during the Fourth Great Ninja War, "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Hashirama!" it was evident.
The driving force behind this man, from beginning to end, was not just the Infinite Tsukuyomi but also the desire to boast to his beloved Hashirama.
He wanted to prove himself in front of his cherished rival.
In a way, wasn't that kind of adorable?
But in the cruel reality of the ninja world, Rinjin, weak, helpless, and pitiable, had no choice but to consider his own survival and the bonds he held dear.
To Rinjin, Madara's greatest charm was also his greatest weakness.
Exploiting this, Rinjin conveyed a simple message to the legendary figure:
"Stop playing around with these trivialities!
If you want to achieve your dreams!
If you want to clash with Hashirama in love and battle!
If you want to proudly show off to him that you were right!
Then first… get past me!!!"
Though Madara had many pieces on his chessboard, he also had many obligations to manage.
Rinjin, on the other hand, had few pieces but nothing to fear.
Nagato Uzumaki—his mother and his location were in the Land of Grass, a fact Rinjin had long known.
During a mission with Tsunade and the others, Rinjin had marked every red-haired individual he encountered using shadow clones.
Because of this, Rinjin had deployed numerous shadow clones to feign a worldwide search for the mother and son duo.
His true aim? A trade-off.
Shadow clones to replace Black Zetsu!
Without Black Zetsu's formidable sensory abilities, would Madara Uchiha dare to leave such a talented Uzumaki Nagato unprotected in the wild?
Meanwhile, Rinjin had sent Gengetsu Hōzuki and Kisame Hoshigaki, both Edo Tensei bodies, to the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
On the surface, they were gathering intelligence, but in reality, they were diverting attention—Madara's attention.
The identity of Kisame Hoshigaki, which Rinjin had intended to keep in the open, had been compromised when Madara Uchiha exposed him during their earlier confrontation.
From that moment on, Rinjin knew this persona had limited use.
Its only remaining value lay in relaying information from the battlefields of the Land of Wind, Earth, and Fire, thereby diverting attention and concealing Rinjin's true self.
Meanwhile, his true body would remain in Kirigakure, centered around the Third Mizukage, engaging in a game of wits with the legendary ninja elder.
Discarding unnecessary pieces, they would face off with real blades and genuine tactics!
While Madara controlled the Third Mizukage, Rinjin manipulated everyone else—be it Gengetsu, the intelligence unit, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, or other ninjas within Kirigakure.
Most importantly, without Black Zetsu's unparalleled sensory abilities, Rinjin could seamlessly retreat into the shadows.
In Sage Mode, Rinjin's powerful sensory abilities placed Madara Uchiha in the spotlight.
Light and shadow alternated. The once radiant boy stepped into the dark alley.
Three years—he had waited long enough!
Twelve years—it had been unbearable!
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.
During this time, Rinjin continued deploying clones in the Land of Grass, pretending to dig three feet into the ground. At this pace, he would locate Nagato's village within a month.
Meanwhile, Gengetsu Hōzuki and Kisame Hoshigaki, both Edo Tensei bodies, had set off for the Land of Rain.
As for Rinjin himself, he made a trip to the Land of Lightning to retrieve his ever-reliable feline companion.
The upcoming confrontation would see Rinjin fully concealed in the shadows, leaving no chance of being discovered.
Most crucially, Rinjin felt the monster within his body growing increasingly restless. He needed his feline companion, the guardian beast, to restore balance.
Above Kirigakure, amidst the thick mist,
A pitch-black cloud, carried by the gentle evening breeze, silently drifted over the village, quietly observing below.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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