At the same time, deep underground in the shinobi world, an old man leaned on a massive wooden throne.
His hair was completely white, cascading behind his back. He wore a black robe and kept his eyes closed.
The chamber was shrouded in darkness.
From the floor, which seemed to twist and distort slightly, a pale white creature with two sprouting brown hairs emerged from the surface.
The old man opened his eyes—rippling purple circles appeared, the Rinnegan—drawing anyone who looked into them into an abyss of pressure.
A massive humanoid statue stood in the vast cavern. It had nine eyes embedded down its body, bark-like skin resembling dead wood, and ten protruding stakes extending from its back.
Countless white humanoid beings were attached to its body.
Each one closely resembled Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
"Lord Madara, the letter has been delivered," the spiral-faced creature reported respectfully.
"Mm," the old man—Uchiha Madara—nodded faintly.
"Orochimaru delivered the message to Konoha. The Third Hokage has sent Tsunade and Orochimaru to investigate," said another white creature.
"As expected. Though Sarutobi preaches Hashirama's ideals of benevolence, in his core he's a hypocrite," Madara said flatly.
"And with that conniving rat Shimura Danzo whispering in his ear, they won't ignore this so-called gold mine."
"But Lord Madara, why alert Konoha? Wouldn't it be better to let Amegakure excavate it alone?" Spiral Face asked curiously.
"Yeah, don't you hate Konoha?" added another Zetsu.
Madara chuckled, "It's just a small indulgence—like a dessert after a meal."
"Lord Madara, I have a question."
Madara raised a brow. "Hm? What is it?"
"What's dessert? You were once human, but now you're like us—no need for food or drink. Why would you miss dessert? Does eating it hurt?"
"...."
Madara ignored the question, sighing softly. "Since the last Great Ninja War, the Five Great Nations have grown stagnant. Lifeless."
"After Hashirama died... the world became unbearably dull."
"Nothing stirs my blood anymore. Hopefully, this conflict won't disappoint me."
"Will this trigger a war?" Spiral Face asked.
"You're not human—you're my creation. Have some respect for your master," Madara muttered.
"But you always say you hate war..."
"...."
"I don't like war. But I'm not the one who started it."
"At most, I've provided a spark—lubrication to smooth the gears of conflict. This gold mine is just the bait. Now the nations are salivating."
"For me, it's just a game—a way to entertain myself."
Madara paused and looked at the clone with rare candor.
"But why am I telling you this? You wouldn't understand."
"You're not Hashirama. You're just a replica of him. If he were here, he'd understand me. He's the only one who ever did."
He looked toward the massive Gedo Statue in the cavern.
"The seeds of war were sown long ago. The very idea of one village, one country planted them."
"To protect peace... humans wage war. To protect love... they choose violence. That contradiction is eternal."
"Hashirama couldn't see the truth. But with these eyes—eyes born from our bloodlines—I see it clearly. The world he built is still full of suffering."
Madara touched his Rinnegan gently.
"The longer I live... the more the world feels like pain and solitude."
"I'm truly alone without him."
"My lord," said one of the white creatures, "were you and the First Hokage really close?"
Spiral Face tried to cover the other's mouth, but it was too late.
"Hmph. Close? It's... complicated. I felt like I knew him from a past life."
"One of my younger brothers had just died. I was broken—lost between despair and bitterness."
"And then I met Hashirama. His words warmed me. He said even if we're hurt or broken, we must endure."
"But I thought that was naive. Endurance won't bring back the dead. Loss remains loss."
"And so..." Madara drifted off, continuing his long monologue.
"Here we go again," Spiral Face muttered. "Once he starts on Hashirama, he won't stop..."
Nearly half an hour passed before Madara finally tired out.
He laughed quietly. "I never thought I'd grow so old. Without the Gedo Statue… I'd be long gone."
"How's Nagato?"
"They're settled in the Hidden Rain Village. We've sealed his memories about his parents and Konoha."
Madara nodded.
"And the Uchiha? I told you to keep watch on them—find promising talent. Any luck?"
"You and your obsession with children... can't we be enough?" Spiral Face pouted.
Madara snorted in disdain.
"Actually, I did find a rather interesting boy recently."
"Speak."
"He's the son of Uchiha Kyoka."
"Uchiha Kagami?" Madara suddenly straightened, gripping his scythe—the Gunbai—the Fan of War.
"Let me see..."
"Kagami, yes... I remember him. An exceptional child. I once considered making him my successor."
"But then... he became that man's student," Madara said with a sneer.
"You mean Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage?" the white creature asked.
"Yes… that insufferable man. But he's long dead. Died miserably, too," Madara said with a rasping laugh, which quickly turned into a violent cough.
"Master Madara, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"By the way… whose kaleidoscope eyes did Kagami pass down…?"
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