Chapter Twenty Three
Why?
Why is someone like this here?
Is he one of the ones mother planned against?
He knows too much for someone who came out of nowhere.
"You think too much."
Kenshin cut the tension in the air, his voice calm but sharp, as he and Black Zetsu reached the location where Madara's body lay, the space around them heavy and stale, as if the ground itself remembered the man resting upon it.
Black Zetsu gave him a pensive look, his dark form subtly rippling against the dim light of the cavern-like surroundings.
"I have an inkling of what's going through that evil mind of yours. I understand your plans, and I have no reason to stop it, or any reason to divulge it. You just have to play by my rules to free mother dearest."
Kenshin gave a harmless smile, the expression sitting lightly on his face despite the oppressive aura of the place.
"And you're doing a good job guiding me to Madara's corpse."
"What do you plan to do with the body?"
Black Zetsu asked, his tone cautious, his attention fixed on Kenshin's every movement.
He had no choice but to follow the plan of the man beside him; he seemed to know things beyond what anyone other than him—Black Zetsu—should have, and that unsettling certainty clung to every step they took.
He did say he is the person with the most knowledge in the shinobi world. Maybe there's some truth to it.
Which would beg the question how he knows, but he—Black Zetsu—had no reason to find out.
Or rather, there is no way to find out, so he'll just have to forgo any other thoughts and just act according to the young man's will, suppressing his doubts beneath layers of long-practiced patience.
If he failed now, he would have to wait a long time to have as close a shot as he has now to free his mother.
"I plan to use the Edo Tensei on him, and then have Nagato revive him via the Rinne Rebirth, after healing Nagato of course. I still have plans for him, wouldn't want him going to the Pure Land beforehand."
Kenshin laid out his plans—well, some of it—as casually as if discussing the weather, as he had no reason not to.
It's not every day one meets a mastermind.
Though the plan will still go through some tweaks.
"Why not resurrect him with the Rinne Rebirth without casting the Edo Tensei?"
"Sentiment."
…
"Ahh, Lord Madara in the flesh, although it's an empty, old husk," Kenshin said, his voice echoing faintly as he looked upon the withered remains.
"But that will soon change."
He smirked, the expression sharp and eager.
"It's time to get to work."
He turned to Black Zetsu, the faint scrape of movement breaking the silence.
"It's best you bring your stash of Hashirama's cells."
"Okay."
Black Zetsu answered. He wondered what use Hashirama's cells had, though he had an idea forming beneath his composed exterior.
"Ahh, I'm about to realize the dream of countless otaku. I look forward to how he reacts to being resurrected through the Edo Tensei. Will he release himself? Ahh, the excitement."
Kenshin had a crazed smile, his eyes alight with anticipation that bordered on reverence.
…
Three months.
After Kenshin had made his entrance in Ame, the criminal organization Akatsuki had returned back to its natural state—well, for the most part—its rain-soaked towers and shadowed meeting halls once again filled with grim routine.
After the interaction with Kenshin, Nagato, through the Deva Path, Pain, talked to the gang and announced the arrival of the newest member, the unknown man whom they had faced.
Although Kenshin was deposed at the time, his clone made time to make his presence known to the group, and after a brief introduction, the group went back to normal.
They had no objection to whom the leader chose to add to the organization.
But in the shadows, the group had gone to find out what they could about Kenshin, whispers traveling quietly through hidden channels, which amounted to nothing, as Kenshin's adult form had left no print in the shinobi world—well, other than buying clothes.
He was an enigmatic character that appeared out of nowhere.
Konan had Zetsu investigate Kenshin's life in Konoha and how Konoha planned to deal with Kenshin.
And it had resulted in finding out the general knowledge anyone in Konoha had of Kenshin.
Orphan, who after graduating from the ninja academy, blossomed with fervor, becoming the D-Rank Diao.
Then gaining teammates, Hana and Taro, participating in the Chunin Exams, where he gave up after passing the second round, during the preliminaries.
After he had rough-handled the top geniuses in the exams.
And after that, he went on a mission spree with his squad, after the death of the Third Hokage.
And after the selection of the Fifth Hokage, he defected.
Publicly defeating three jōnin before leaving.
Erupting with jōnin-level strength, which he is suspected to have been hiding.
He joined the ranks of Konoha geniuses, as well as the group of defecting from Konoha as a teenage jōnin-level threat.
Sharing the same standard as Itachi Uchiha, the clan slaughterer.
This increased his mystery, as he had said by himself that his teenage form was a result of his technique, but then again, he had a childhood that could be verified by Konoha denizens.
Konan found this confusing, the contradictions refusing to align.
He knew things someone of his public age would not know.
What most people older did not even know.
And his adult form did not seem to be a transformation jutsu.
The standard theory that Konan had gotten to was that Kenshin was an old fossil, who had a ninjutsu capable of birthing him again.
That did seem possible, seeing as Orochimaru is able to change his body to achieve simulated immortality.
And he—Kenshin—has proved to be a much more knowledgeable person.
Claiming to be the most knowledgeable.
That would show that he had lived to witness such happenings, and his knowing and having of such a ninjutsu would not be that surprising.
The other issue would then be the fact that he chose this period to show himself. He must have understood that Madara's plan had kickstarted, especially having been birthed this time when the Nine-Tails had attacked the village.
So, he has future knowledge.
A terrifying realization, that was enhanced by the fact that he was a patient schemer.
Having planned this since God knows when.
At least since Madara's time.
…
"Hah, finally."
Kenshin stretched, joints cracking softly in the dim chamber.
It was time to finally cast the Edo Tensei.
He had extracted Madara's DNA as well as Hashirama's and had placed them in the body of a White Zetsu, which he had also improved, the altered flesh pale and pliant beneath his hands.
Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon → clap hands
"Edo Tensei."
Kenshin activated the Edo Tensei.
Madara Uchiha.
The Ghost of the Uchiha Clan.
He had been resurrected via the Edo Tensei, chakra surging as ash and light knit a form back together.
"So it finally happened… It would appear that brat Nagato managed to grow."
Ahh, he said it. I'm fucking geeking. Composure lads, composure.
Kenshin had a wide grin as he spread his hands in a T pose, the air thrumming with power around him.
"Welcome to the world of the Living, Madara Uchiha."