Madara, whom he had known for decades, was dead—killed by his own hand.
Renya stared blankly at Uchiha Madara, who lay collapsed in Senju Hashirama's arms, and fell into a long silence.
All this time, he had wanted to inherit Madara's Rinnegan, fantasizing about standing at the very pinnacle of the ninja world with those eyes.
But now that Uchiha Madara was dead, he no longer had any desire to inherit the Rinnegan.
There was no denying that the Rinnegan was incomparably powerful—but Uchiha Madara had been killed by him personally.
Under such circumstances, how could Renya possibly convince himself to pluck out Uchiha Madara's eyes?
Obviously, he couldn't persuade himself to commit such an inhumane act.
After all, inheriting a senior's legacy and killing a senior to seize their assets were two completely different things!
He wasn't some heartless monster like Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Obito.
Forget it. He would give up on the Rinnegan.
Senju Tobirama came to Renya's side. Seeing Renya's sorrowful expression, he spoke softly.
"Kid, there's no need to blame yourself. Your choice was not wrong."
Uchiha Madara possessed unwavering convictions. He had witnessed countless suffering and deaths in war, and those experiences shaped his worldview.
Coupled with his single-minded determination to realize the "Eye of the Moon" plan, he was an extremely severe idealist.
He would never be influenced by others' viewpoints. It was perfectly normal for Renya and big brother to fail in persuading him.
In fact, the more they tried to persuade him, the more it might have backfired, strengthening his resolve instead!
Sometimes, the people who understand each other best are often enemies.
...
Senju Tobirama knew about the relationship between Renya and Uchiha Madara. Seeing Renya's grief, he instinctively offered comfort.
He took one last look at Uchiha Madara's corpse, then turned and signaled for the Konoha ninja to leave.
For now, let big brother and Renya accompany Madara for a little while longer.
Although Senju Tobirama greatly disliked Uchiha Madara, he felt no schadenfreude at Madara's death.
He disdained the act of humiliating the dead.
As for researching the Rinnegan, he had already given up hope.
Big brother would never agree to him laying hands on Madara's body—just like after the battle at the Valley of the End back then.
However, this time he would periodically inspect Madara's remains, to prevent him from using Izanagi to fake his death again!
Soon, only Renya, Hashirama, and the Three-Tails under genjutsu control remained on the field.
"Renya, how should Madara's body be handled?"
Senju Hashirama felt the gradually cooling corpse in his arms and looked up at Renya to ask for his opinion.
"Find a secluded spot and bury Madara-sama," Renya said in a low voice.
Uchiha Madara's body had to be properly buried and must not be known to others.
This was to prevent someone from finding his remains years later and summoning him using Edo Tensei.
For example, Kabuto Yakushi.
Even though Renya's existence had altered the course of the ninja world, who could guarantee the future?
Even if it wasn't Kabuto Yakushi, it could be someone else.
After all, Uchiha Madara's death did not mean the end of everything. Black Zetsu, hidden in the shadows, had never appeared.
As long as it existed, the "Eye of the Moon" plan would not disappear!
Perhaps that thing was secretly spying on their every move right now.
With Uchiha Madara, this chess piece, being killed by him, Black Zetsu was surely furious—very likely wanting to tear him to pieces.
In reality, Black Zetsu was indeed present, but not as enraged as Renya imagined.
"So Uchiha Madara really lost to the cook," Black Zetsu muttered to itself.
It had not expected the powerful Uchiha Madara to lose—to lose to the cook it had carefully chosen for its mother!
The development of events was unexpected, yet also reasonable.
At the end of the day, Uchiha Madara was simply too old. He had long since passed his peak.
Losing to a young cook was, in a way, normal.
"It seems we can only proceed according to the plan," Black Zetsu said as it glanced at the Three-Tails controlled by the Sharingan.
Of the chakra from the nine tailed beasts, eight had already been absorbed. Now only the Three-Tails' chakra remained.
The reason Black Zetsu was not enraged was because it had already anticipated Madara's defeat.
Or rather, Madara himself knew he would fail…
...
Three days earlier, a cave in the Land of Iron.
"Tobi, do you think I can really defeat that kid, gather all the tailed beasts, and activate the 'Eye of the Moon' plan?"
Uchiha Madara sensed his steadily declining condition and asked subconsciously.
"Madara-sama, I believe you will definitely defeat Renya-sama, collect the Three-Tails' chakra, and successfully realize the 'Eye of the Moon' plan!"
Tobi said with an expression of fervent admiration.
In its view, Madara-sama was the strongest person in the ninja world.
Even if Renya-sama had obtained the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he still wouldn't be a match for Madara-sama!
Uchiha Madara nodded slightly upon hearing this.
He wasn't truly seeking an answer from Tobi—he merely wanted a bit of consolation for himself.
Although Madara had confidence in his strength, his physical condition was far worse than before. He could not accept the consequences of failure.
Only the "Eye of the Moon" plan could change the ninja world!
If he truly failed, there would be only one choice—death.
Death itself was not frightening to Uchiha Madara. What was frightening was being unable to realize the ambition in his heart!
Without completely bringing peace to the ninja world, how could he die just like that?!
To prevent the plan from failing, he needed to leave behind a backup plan…
A backup plan that would allow him to make a comeback even if he truly failed!
Uchiha Madara closed his eyes and began to think through the plan in his mind.
Very soon, he found the answer.
He beckoned over a White Zetsu. Under Tobi's puzzled gaze, he placed his hand on the White Zetsu's body.
Soon, something shocking happened.
Half of that White Zetsu's body turned black!
This was the embodiment of Madara's will!
"If I fail, then in the future, it will be up to you to revive me."
What Uchiha Madara did not know was that the will he had just split off had already been occupied by something else.
Black Zetsu, which had been observing in secret, seized the opportunity and directly replaced Madara's original will.
"If I die, that kid will definitely bury my body. At that time, you will retrieve my corpse…"
Uchiha Madara said to Black Zetsu.
Immediately after, he waved his hand again, and a White Zetsu respectfully presented a scroll.
"This is the ninjutsu Tobirama researched that can summon the dead."
His plan was very simple: return to the ninja world using Edo Tensei, then implant the Rinnegan into a chess piece and have them use the Rinne Rebirth technique to revive him.
As long as he was revived at his peak state, the "Eye of the Moon" plan would surely succeed!
Black Zetsu accepted the scroll and nodded.
"I understand."
It had not expected Uchiha Madara to think of such a backup plan. It seemed the day of reviving its mother was close at hand!
All thanks to Senju Tobirama, who had developed Edo Tensei!
Uchiha Madara waved his hand, signaling Black Zetsu to leave, then closed his eyes again to recover his condition.
If the plan went smoothly, there would naturally be no need for a backup.
If he failed, then the problem would not be very big either.