At this moment.
Madara Uchiha's demeanor underwent a drastic transformation. That oppressive, fierce aura was completely different from her previous frail appearance—like two different people.
If someone asked who Madara Uchiha loathed most in the world, without hesitation, it would be that man.
Izuna Uchiha.
Without Tobirama Senju, her beloved younger brother Izuna Uchiha wouldn't have died, and she wouldn't have been forced to leave Konoha. Perhaps she might have even become the first Hokage.
But Tobirama Senju—that despicable, underhanded schemer—destroyed everything precious in her life.
More than ten years ago, when Madara Uchiha heard of Tobirama's death by Kinkaku and Ginkaku from the Hidden Cloud Village, she laughed maniacally for hours in this underground facility, calling it the happiest day of her life.
Tobirama... Who'd have thought you, the king of ambushes, would end up betrayed yourself? You didn't even get to use your Flying Thunder God before being killed. Such karma.
Thinking about this, Madara Uchiha felt incredibly refreshed—her intense emotional surge actually increasing her ocular powers.
So many years had passed that she had nearly forgotten that enemy who once filled her with hatred.
Until now, when Black Zetsu mentioned Tobirama's name again.
"In that case, I might as well go take a look. After all... it's been quite a while since my last outing."
Madara Uchiha changed her mind, giving orders to Black Zetsu, "Get me a sacrificial vessel. Perfect timing—I'll test my newly developed ninjutsu."
"It's already prepared."
Black Zetsu produced the corpse of a blue-haired kunoichi, standing her upright facing Madara Uchiha.
"Why's it a female?"
Madara Uchiha hesitated, then coldly questioned, clearly displeased.
"Is there any problem, Lord?"
Black Zetsu seemed puzzled, explaining, "This is a top-quality vessel I carefully selected—only she can barely withstand your power."
Hearing this, Madara Uchiha frowned, her single eye narrowing slightly as she stared at Black Zetsu.
The first time she met this straw-hatted stranger was during the lowest point of her life after Izuna's death.
This straw-hatted stranger had a mysterious appearance and unknown origins, not even having a proper name. Yet, Black Zetsu had assisted Madara Uchiha immensely over the decades, staying by her side like a loyal servant.
However, deep within her heart, Madara Uchiha had never truly trusted this straw-hatted stranger.
A flatterer without cause must either be wicked or up to no good.
Though Madara Uchiha couldn't discern his true intentions, she knew that once she awakened the Rinnegan and obtained absolute power, any schemes or plots would become insignificant.
Once that time comes, this seemingly loyal old servant would be the first one she'd kill.
Until then, Madara Uchiha decided to keep Black Zetsu alive—after all, with her current physical limitations, daily life required assistance.
Thinking thus, Madara Uchiha slightly relaxed her tightly furrowed brows, letting out a sigh.
"Fine. Her then."
She extended an aged hand, placing it upon the blue-haired kunoichi's body.
A shocking transformation took place.
The pale complexion of the latter rapidly turned rosy, and even her heartbeat resumed. A powerful aura of vitality and chakra waves radiated from within her body.
Then, Madara's remaining left eye turned blood-red once more, the patterns of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan flashing into view.
Next second.
The corpse of the blue-haired kunoichi suddenly trembled slightly before slowly opening her eyes.
Meanwhile, Madara himself closed his single eye, leaned back on the stone chair, and fell into a deep sleep.
This was a ninja art created by Madara using both the power of the Uchiha and the Senju within him. It allowed part of his consciousness and chakra to descend onto the sacrificial vessel, transforming it into a puppet under his control.
He used Senju's Yang Release chakra to fortify its body, and Uchiha's Yin Release chakra to implant a soul within.
With this technique, the sacrificial vessel could wield both the Wood Release of Hashirama Senju and the Dojutsu powers of Madara's Sharingan.
"Let's go."
The blue-haired kunoichi — actually Madara Uchiha — spoke in a calm, cool voice that carried a certain mature allure.
Several hours later, Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu stepped onto the bustling main street of the Leaf Village.
The one on the left was short and wore an oversized triangular cloak, looking like a dumpling wrapped in cloth, almost making people laugh.
The person on the right, however, was tall and slender, clearly Black Zetsu in disguise, wearing a large black cloak with the hood covering most of her face, revealing only a delicate chin and lips.
A duo this odd was sure to attract attention.
Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu were heading toward the headquarters of the Uchiha police force in Konoha — their final destination for this journey.
"Back then, the village I built together with Hashirama was just a small hamlet. Who would have thought it would develop into something this grand in the blink of an eye?"
As Madara gazed at the neatly lined shops along the street, memories surfaced.
His gaze drifted to the end of Ichiraku Street, where the Hokage Face Rock bore the carved likenesses of Konoha's leaders. On the far left was the sculpture of the First Hokage — Hashirama Senju.
"Hashirama..."
Madara murmured softly, his sharp eyes momentarily softened with rare tenderness.
Considering he now appeared as a beautiful woman, that tenderness inevitably came across as… strangely intimate.
Yet, this tenderness disappeared in an instant.
Because his eyes had landed on the next face beside Hashirama's — the face of Tobirama Senju.
"That emotionless face still manages to ruin my mood as always."
Madara said coldly, with mockery in his tone.
After all, originally, he was supposed to be the First Hokage, and his face should have been engraved on the Hokage Rock too. But Tobirama ruined everything.
In the past, he might have felt resentment about this, but now looking back, it would be absolutely intolerable if his statue ended up cheek-to-cheek with Tobirama's on the cliffside.
There was also a statue of Hiruzen Sarutobi carved into the cliffside, but Madara simply ignored it.
Third Hokage? That name doesn't ring a bell.
"Tch!"
Madara Uchiha turned away, casually spat on the ground, then crushed it under the sole of his shoe twice, as if that very spit represented Tobirama Senju himself.
His actions immediately drew sidelong glances from passersby.
Such a beautiful woman, yet her manners are so low. Truly, one cannot judge by appearances alone.
Arrogant as ever, Madara ignored the stares, walking with his usual air of superiority.
As he moved forward, he began pointing at various things around Konoha, making sarcastic remarks.
"These Konoha ninja are all too lax, completely lacking spirit. They've never seen mountains of corpses or seas of blood — the true horrors of war — nor do they possess that fierce martial aura. They simply don't deserve to be called real ninja."
"And also, those green flak jackets they wear are so ugly, looking like turtles without any vigor. The younger generation has no sense of style anymore — their taste just keeps declining."
Youth these days just can't compare to what we had back then.
As Madara said this, he shook his head, clearly disappointed in today's Konoha.
What an old-fashioned person.
Black Zetsu mused silently to himself. Madara had only lived for decades yet seemed more aged than Black Zetsu himself, who had lived over a thousand years.
At this moment, the two passed by a casino.
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