"The reason Uchiha Madara captured the tailed beasts—you should understand it even better than I do."
The Nine-Tails was originally a being separated from the Ten-Tails by the Sage of Six Paths. Naturally, it knew that Madara was gathering all the tailed beasts to revive the Ten-Tails.
It had no desire to become part of the Ten-Tails like the other tailed beasts.
"So before you leave, you need to sign a contract with me, just in case something happens to you one day."
Renya was wary of the contingencies Madara might have left behind, preventing the Nine-Tails from meeting an accident after leaving Konoha.
The Nine-Tails stared deeply at him before finally nodding.
Emotionally and logically, it had no reason to refuse. The person before it clearly had no intention of harming it.
Compared to freedom, what was a summoning contract?
At least this guy asked for its opinion, unlike that bastard Uchiha Madara, who forced it into a contract using genjutsu.
After the summoning contract was completed, Renya waved his hand at the Nine-Tails.
"Nine-Tails, you are free."
In truth, the nature of tailed beasts was not evil. Most of the time, they simply lived within their own territories.
Being sealed inside humans for decades would fill anyone with resentment.
Unless someone foolishly provoked them, tailed beasts generally would not attack humans first.
After all, their former master was the Sage of Six Paths!
The Nine-Tails said nothing and immediately sprinted toward the village gate, carefully avoiding buildings and crowds along the way.
It did not want to be captured again just after gaining freedom for accidentally trampling houses.
Freedom, here I come!
After leaving Konoha, the Nine-Tails laughed wildly as it ran across the vast lands of the Land of Fire, savoring its long-lost freedom.
Ever since being controlled by the evil Uchiha Madara, it had never enjoyed life again!
Every day had been spent trapped in a dark, cramped sealing space. Nearly thirty years had passed in the blink of an eye.
"Three-Tails, you can leave as well."
Renya arrived at the artificial lake in the center of the village, where the Three-Tails had stayed all these years.
Without Renya's permission, it did not even dare show itself, let alone leave the village.
The scene of being killed by Uchiha Madara back then remained vivid in its memory—let alone the man before it, who had killed Uchiha Madara.
Among the nine tailed beasts, it feared Renya the most.
Hearing this, the Three-Tails at the bottom of the lake suddenly opened its eyes, its enormous pupils filled with fear.
That man had come!
Wait… he seemed to be letting it leave?!
After realizing this, the Three-Tails immediately surfaced, staring at Renya without blinking.
"Are you really willing to let me go?"
Living in Konoha's artificial lake was not bad, but compared to the ocean, it still fell short.
"Mm. You can leave."
After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Renya had used genjutsu to force the Three-Tails into signing a summoning contract.
Otherwise, back then he would not have suddenly summoned the Three-Tails, causing it to be sliced into a mist of blood by the enraged Uchiha Madara.
Speaking of which, why had there been a Tailed Beast Bomb in its mouth ready to fire at that time?
"Three-Tails, can you explain what exactly happened back then?"
Renya did not believe the Three-Tails could predict his summoning in advance. Something must have happened in the Land of Water.
And through a twist of fate, an accident occurred…
The Three-Tails recalled the events of that time and instantly felt wronged. Its eyes grew moist.
"At that time, the ninjas of the Land of Water wanted to seal me, so I could only attack them with a Tailed Beast Bomb…"
The more it spoke, the more aggrieved it felt. Who could have expected that the Tailed Beast Bomb meant for the Kirigakure ninja would end up hitting Renya and the others?
The key point was that even after using such a close-range ultimate attack, it still had not killed them.
If that Tailed Beast Bomb had killed Renya's group, it would not have been cut down by the furious Uchiha Madara.
It had not even been given a chance to explain.
Renya: "…"
So that was the truth back then. No wonder the Mizukage had always refused to disclose the disappearance of the Three-Tails.
It seemed they did not know where the Three-Tails had gone either.
If Uchiha Madara had not activated Susanoo in time to block it, the three of them would already be dead.
So sympathizing with the Three-Tails was impossible…
One could only say it had terrible luck, forming a Tailed Beast Bomb at the worst possible moment.
"Alright, stop crying. You can leave now."
Renya had thought it was raining, only to realize the Three-Tails was shedding aggrieved tears.
Who would have thought a tailed beast could cry little pearls? It must have truly felt wronged.
After seeing off the Three-Tails, Renya arrived atop the Hokage Rock, overlooking the bustling Konoha below.
"Madara-sama, what backup plan did you prepare?"
In the original story, Uchiha Madara had transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato in advance and later manipulated Uchiha Obito into becoming a pawn to help execute the "Eye of the Moon" Plan.
Now, Nagato had fake Rinnegan implanted, and Uchiha Obito was still just a newborn baby.
Which meant Madara would likely manipulate another Uchiha clansman as his pawn.
It seemed he needed to ask Uchiha Kagami whether any clan members had suddenly disappeared.
...
Uchiha District — Uchiha Retsufū Residence.
"Retsufū, the Three-Tails has left the village."
Black Zetsu looked at Uchiha Retsufū standing on the rooftop and reminded him.
"I saw."
Two enormous tailed beasts leaving Konoha one after another—he was not blind.
Seeing Retsufū's arrogant demeanor, Black Zetsu felt displeased but still suppressed its impatience.
"So, you should carry out the plan."
Uchiha Retsufū did not respond. Instead, he stared at the tiny black figure standing atop Hokage Rock.
Black Zetsu: "…"
Damn it, all Uchiha share the same personality!
Forget it. As long as the final plan was not affected.
It would endure for now. Once Mother returned, these people would beg for death yet be unable to die!
Only after Renya left Hokage Rock did Retsufū jump down from the roof.
Noticing Black Zetsu still standing in the courtyard, he frowned in irritation and spoke coldly.
"Why are you still here?"
This guy truly lacked awareness. Hadn't he already said he understood?
Could a pitch-black creature like this really be Uchiha Madara's will?
Uchiha Retsufū expressed doubt.
But in order to revive his deceased relatives, he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
"Just don't forget the plan I instructed you."
Black Zetsu spoke expressionlessly, then silently sank into the ground as if it had never appeared.
"The Eye of the Moon Plan…"
Uchiha Retsufū murmured softly while looking at the spot where Black Zetsu disappeared.
He did not know whether it was true or false, but he wanted to try.
What if it succeeded?
Black Zetsu naturally knew Retsufū doubted the authenticity of the "Eye of the Moon" Plan—but so what?
As long as he still wanted to revive his deceased relatives, he had no choice but to obey its command!
After living for so many years, Black Zetsu was highly skilled at manipulating human nature.
Otherwise, it would never have managed to fool Uchiha Madara so completely…