A few days later, on Mount Sumi.
This place was desolate and remote—those who didn't know better would mistake it for nothing more than a mass grave.
In the deepest part of a cave:
"Shimon Hiruko-sama, here's the latest intelligence from Konoha," a tall ninja said while bowing low, careful not to look directly at the terrifying child-like man before him.
He feared that even a single glance might get him turned into a dissected experiment on the lab table in an instant.
Standing atop an elevated platform, Shimon Hiruko accepted the scroll. "You may go."
"Yes!" The ninja hurried out like he'd just been spared from execution.
Hiruko paid no mind to his subordinate's haste as he unfurled the scroll for close inspection.
After a while, he muttered with a frown, "Uchiha... Kakashi... A test?"
"In my estimate, there's less than a twenty percent chance of this happening—but it's definitely not impossible. After all, the Uchiha are an extremely proud clan."
"The only thing worth considering is whether this might be a trap aimed at me," Shimon Hiruko narrowed his eyes. He had managed to escape during the Sannin's pursuit—he was naturally no reckless fool.
The problem was, his intelligence was severely lacking.
Based on what little information he had gathered, he couldn't make an accurate judgment.
"Even if I can't confirm whether it's a trap or not, I can still avoid the risk proactively." Hiruko mused, "The only real threat to me comes from those two brats and their [Flying Thunder God Technique]. As long as I neutralize that technique, even if it is a trap, it won't stop me!"
"As for how to limit them… We'll stir things up within the Uchiha clan, saying that having protection from the [Flying Thunder God Technique] doesn't even count as a real test. Before stepping onto the battlefield, we need to make sure Kakashi has no trace of the [Flying Thunder God Technique Form] on him at all!"
Thinking this through, Shimon Hiruko allowed himself a slight smile. "Kakashi, I originally intended to save you for last, but now it seems I'll have to incorporate you into my body ahead of schedule!"
...
Deep beneath the Grass Country:
"Don't stop me. Let me go!" Obito pushed White Zetsu aside, stumbling toward the exit. "If Rin and Kakashi find out I'm dead, they'll be heartbroken! I need to hurry back and see them soon!"
"Hehe, in your current state, you'll die halfway there," chuckled the masked White Zetsu.
"Cursed..." Obito angrily turned to the distance. "Hey, how long do you plan to keep me locked up here?"
"Rude brat," Old Madara calmly sat on the stone steps. "Don't forget who saved your life."
"For all I know, you could have ulterior motives, staring at me like that all day..." Obito pointed fearfully at Madara. "You're probably trying to claim my body for yourself!"
Madara's lips twitched slightly—he couldn't believe someone like this came from the Uchiha clan. They were supposed to be serious and dignified.
"Getting worked up won't help your body heal. Why don't you take a nap for a while?" Madara gently tapped Obito with his cane.
"You're definitely plotting agai—" Obito didn't finish his sentence before collapsing unconscious, his face frozen in terror.
Madara fell silent for a moment and looked at the White Zetsus surrounding him. "Did he really skip the first Tomoe stage entirely, evolving directly from unawakened to the Second Tomoe form?"
One of the White Zetsus dramatically exclaimed, "Exactly! He really scared the hell out of us back then!"
A faint twitch flickered at the corner of Madara's eye as involuntary memories surfaced in his mind. "Could it be that the more idiotic someone is, the better their talent?"
As someone who had awakened the Rinnegan, Madara rightfully defined 'talent' not merely by ninjutsu abilities alone.
In his opinion, Obito was undoubtedly a genius possessing extraordinary talent in Kekkei Genkai.
"Still, we need to sever his karmic ties!" Madara's eyes darkened as he continued asking, "How exactly did his Sharingan awaken?"
At this question, several White Zetsus excitedly responded:
"It happened when his teammates were in danger!"
"First teammate: Kakashi Hatake, male, the person Obito hates most and longs to defeat!"
"Second teammate: Rin Nohara, female, someone Obito didn't just secretly love—he openly adored her."
Even though they were talking over each other, Madara still got the point. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Kakashi Hatake? Is this the same person you mentioned earlier who received the other eye from Obito?"
"That's the one. Obito thought he was going to die, so he gave Kakashi his left eye—Kakashi had already been injured in the eye."
Madara nodded thoughtfully, speaking with icy coldness. "I see. Create a scenario for me—make sure Obito personally witnesses the scene where this Rin Nohara kills Kakashi Hatake!"
The group of White Zetsus all hesitated. Was that really how things happened?
Something felt off somehow.
Seeing the White Zetsus hesitate without responding immediately, Madara frowned slightly and asked, "What? Any problem with that?"
From his perspective, someone who claims to hate another person the most but would still think first of that same person when benefits are concerned—and furthermore, considers that person their greatest rival—such a relationship reminded him specifically of his own connection with Hashirama.
And that led to the big question.
Which mattered more—best friend or woman?
Hidden among the White Zetsus, Xiaobai stared blankly. He realized he seemed to have overlooked something important.
This guy Madara appeared completely incapable of appreciating the importance of women—after all, wasn't he himself a supreme-level lifelong bachelor?
Although Xiaobai himself was even worse than a century-long bachelor—he was practically a millennium-old confirmed bachelor—he still possessed his own unique perspective.
Brothers are all beasts; only a mother's love remains true.
Thinking along these lines, Black Zetsu quickly manipulated the White Zetsu he was possessing and spoke up, "Lord Madara, perhaps we should try testing him using an Illusion Realm?"
"Illusion Realm test?" Madara raised his eyebrows slightly, also curious about what choice his duplicate-self would make. "Let's give it a try then."
Within the illusion realm, Obito was running frantically.
"I finally escaped!" he thought to himself. "I must hurry to find Rin and Kakashi. They'll surely be thrilled to see me!" Thinking thus, Obito felt his body inexplicably lighten.
He emerged from the forest, brilliant sunlight shining down.
Squinting against the glare, Obito saw something truly horrifying.
Right before his eyes, Kakashi's chest had been pierced through by an arm. Stark blood dripped noisily onto the ground below.
"No... Kakashi..." Roaring furiously, Obito watched helplessly as the killer turned around.
"Rin... how could this be... I see now. Is it because Kakashi betrayed Konoha..." Obito forced an explanation, his pupils suddenly shrinking.
At that moment, dying Kakashi took advantage of Rin turning her head and pierced through her chest the exact same way.
"Ahhh! No...!" Fueled by fury and despair, Obito broke free from the [Illusion Realm].
Madara outside the [Illusion Realm] tensed up. Before Obito could comprehend his condition, Madara knocked him unconscious again.
Then came a bone-chilling silence.
After a long while, Madara spoke, "Keep an eye on Rin. Prepare to take action."
"Yes!"
Once all the White Zetsu had withdrawn, Madara found himself confused, "Is something wrong with me, or is there something off about this kid?"
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