Land of Rain.
Inside an underground cave.
Black Zetsu carefully eyed the older Madara in front of him.
This was their new base. They had relocated. Since their previous hideout—Madara's grave—had been exposed, it was no longer safe.
"Lord Madara, are you sure about this?"
After a long pause, Black Zetsu finally squeezed out a question. He had just finished reporting on the Five Great Nations, the Five Hidden Villages, and Nagato's growth.
Madara suddenly became restless.
It was as if this idea had been brewing ever since he was beaten six years ago by Senju Yukika's pet.
But back then, Nagato hadn't yet met the conditions necessary to unleash the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
Now things were different. Nagato had matured. His chakra and vitality were both strong enough to trigger the Rinne Rebirth once.
"What kind of man do you think I am?" Madara asked calmly, staring at Black Zetsu.
He was Uchiha Madara.
A man with pride and principles.
Six years had taught him one thing: Why should he wait for Nagato and his successors to collect the tailed beasts before reviving himself?
There were steps, yes. But did he even need to wait?
"I still believe letting your successor slowly carry out the plan is safer," Black Zetsu said awkwardly.
Madara had altered the entire plan.
Since that humiliating beating, Black Zetsu had sensed Madara's fury.
And rightfully so. He was Uchiha Madara.
Never before had he been humiliated so badly.
Even after six years of patience, he had only been waiting for Nagato to grow stronger.
Now, with Jiraiya gone from the Land of Rain, and Nagato and his companions planning to form a peacekeeping organization in Amegakure, the timing couldn't be better.
Three kids—hardly a challenge.
Even Black Zetsu alone could manipulate Nagato.
Let the Rinne Rebirth begin.
Madara wanted to revive himself early, collect the Tailed Beasts, and activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
To hell with successors.
Madara believed that once he reclaimed his eyes, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble.
Think about it.
Even in the original timeline, this part of the plan had logical holes.
If Obito could use the Rinne Rebirth under Black Zetsu's manipulation, why not revive Madara earlier?
Find a successor? Look at what Obito ended up doing.
In the end, when Madara was finally revived with only one eye, he could instantly kill the Nine-Tails.
So… were successors even necessary?
"In a moment, I'll forcibly absorb the Gedo Statue's life force to regain a brief window of youth."
"Then bring Nagato here. The rest is up to you."
Madara, his path now clear, shuddered slightly as he rose from the chair beneath the Gedo Statue.
He had waited six years, and now the moment had come.
Senju Yukika seemed tied up with other affairs, and Jiraiya had left the Land of Rain.
This was the perfect time.
No one would expect his return.
With swift action, he could gather several tailed beasts at the Demonic Statue, become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki—and that would be enough.
He would show Senju Yukika who the true ruler of the shinobi world was!
He's activating Infinite Tsukuyomi while you're building public infrastructure? What a joke.
When the moonlight shines upon the Earth, no one will escape it!
Only he, Uchiha Madara, was fit to rule this world!
As the tubes pulsed, enormous chakra and life energy surged into Madara's body.
His hair darkened from grey to jet-black.
When the tubes burst, Madara had regained a temporary life and stepped out of the chamber.
Black Zetsu burrowed underground, ready for the moment Madara returned with Nagato.
Capturing Nagato at this stage wasn't difficult for Madara; the boy was still just a teenager.
What he lacked was a willing sacrifice to unleash the Rinne Rebirth.
As expected, Madara didn't keep Black Zetsu waiting long. When he returned, Nagato was badly injured and on the verge of collapse.
Terror filled Nagato's eyes. The color in his Rinnegan had turned strange.
"Let's begin," Madara said.
He closed his eyes and sat down.
The life force borrowed from the Gedo Statue was fading rapidly.
Death approached.
But that meant new life.