Uchiha Ryun walked into the cave. He felt a wave of damp air hit his face, but there was no sour smell. It seemed Madara Uchiha still paid attention to hygiene.
As he walked further, Ryun noticed a person sitting on a rock ahead. The man was meditating with his eyes closed, his weathered face adding to his charm.
Beside him stood a shadowy figure, while three White Zetsu lay struggling on the ground.
"Grandson, you've come," Madara nodded, looking at Ryun with a slight smile.
An anger symbol appeared above Ryun's head, but since this was indeed his great-uncle, he sighed and said, "Great-uncle, do you have my grandfather's flesh or remains?"
Madara took something out from his robe and handed it to Ryun. "Begin. I will guard you."
Ryun glanced at Black Zetsu, who was staring at him with a look as if his mother had just died. If Black Zetsu had known Ryun wanted to revive Izuna, he would never have mentioned that the White Zetsu were already being produced!
"Black Zetsu, leave," Madara's tone brooked no argument. His deep eyes fixed on Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu clicked his tongue but finally bowed. "Yes!" He shot Ryun a hateful glare before exiting the cave.
Ryun nodded, then dragged a White Zetsu over without hesitation. He felt no guilt—even if it were a shinobi being sacrificed, he wouldn't care.
The ninja world operated on the law of the jungle. What did this matter?
Ryun dripped the blood onto the White Zetsu and performed the Edo Tensei, sacrificing the White Zetsu to summon his grandfather, Izuna.
Tiger—Snake—Dog—Dragon! Then he clasped his hands together. "Edo Tensei!"
Instantly, a coffin enveloped the White Zetsu. Ryun watched it intently, while Madara, who had somehow appeared beside him unnoticed, crossed his arms and observed the coffin.
With a creak, the coffin slowly opened, revealing Izuna in his Edo form. His eyes gradually opened, and the first thing he saw were two versions of his elder brother.
He froze for a moment, then studied their demeanors—one naive, the other mature and steady. He immediately recognized Madara as the latter.
"Big brother!" Izuna couldn't help but hug Madara, who shuddered at the touch. He returned the embrace, though the rough texture of the Edo body made him frown.
"Big brother, who is he?" Izuna suddenly asked, pointing at the man beside Madara who bore a strong resemblance to him.
"He's your grandson. Your actual grandson. He just looks like me. He told me he could revive you, so I let him try. But kid, this doesn't count as a full revival, does it?" Madara rubbed the Edo body's material skeptically.
"Heh, Great-uncle, let go of Grandfather first. I haven't used my ocular technique yet!" Ryun chuckled.
"I've let go. Your grandfather hasn't!" Madara sighed helplessly.
"Izuna! Let go! After your grandson revives you properly, you can hug me all you want!" Madara couldn't bring himself to scold his brother too harshly, even if he was in an immortal Edo form.
"Okay, big brother, I'll listen to you." Izuna pouted but released Madara.
He turned to Ryun. "Hey, you're my grandson? Why do you look the same age as me?"
Ryun took a deep breath. "The Edo Tensei summons the deceased in their prime. So this is how you were just before death."
"According to clan records, Uchiha Izuna died at twenty." Ryun explained. His grandfather was truly cautious.
Izuna nodded. "If you revive me, will it affect your Mangekyō?"
Ryun felt a warmth in his heart. "No effect. This is a fixed ability—three uses in a lifetime. At most, it consumes a lot of chakra. Oh, and after revival, your Mangekyō will reset to its original state. Meaning you'll have an extra pair."
Izuna looked at Madara for confirmation. Madara didn't know either, but he couldn't lose face, so he nodded.
Izuna was moved. Reviving the dead was already astonishing, but replicating a Mangekyō? Unthinkable.
"Very well, youngster. Proceed!" Izuna adopted a dignified elder's tone.
Ryun's eye twitched. Were all his ancestors this eccentric? He shook his head and focused his yin-natured chakra into his left eye.
"Revival!" Golden light erupted, bathing Izuna in its glow.
Izuna felt warmth spread through his body. Wait—this was touch! Actual touch! Then he smelled the damp cave air—his sense of smell had returned!
One by one, his five senses returned. The Edo material peeled away, replaced by real flesh.
Only his clothes didn't come back, leaving him standing naked. He examined his hands, rubbing them together.
Warm. With real sensation. He grinned, then noticed Ryun staring. His clothes were gone!
Ryun pulled out a dark blue kimono from a scroll and tossed it over. Their builds were similar.
Izuna caught it and dressed. "Fits well! Thoughtful of you, boy!"
Madara embraced Izuna again—this time, his body was warm, not cold or gritty like before.
"Big brother!" Izuna wept. In the Pure Land, he'd been alone, bored, constantly wondering about Madara, the clan, and the Uchiha's fate.
And now, he was alive again! Unbelievable!
Ryun smiled, but Izuna, as if sensing it, pointed at him while still holding Madara's hand.
"Big brother, he's my grandson. Why is he laughing at us? Shouldn't he be kneeling to call me 'Grandfather'?" Izuna teased.
Madara stayed silent, giving Ryun a look that said, "You handle this."
Great. A brother-con. No winning here. Alone, Madara was unbeatable. With Izuna too? Hopeless.
Ryun bowed. "Greetings, Grandfather."
Izuna didn't push further—this grandson had just revived him. "I never thought my bloodline would continue!"
"Big brother, how's the clan now? I remember we stopped fighting and built a village. Is Hashirama still alive?"
"And that damned white-haired sneak attacker! This time, I'll kill him!" Izuna spoke like a child.
But those who knew him understood—this side only showed around family. With outsiders, he was icy, the Uchiha's strategist.
Ryun stayed silent. His grandfather had stepped on every landmine Madara had.
He glanced nervously at Madara, who was calmly stroking Izuna's hair, smiling.
Izuna, meanwhile, reveled in the attention, as if their bond went beyond brotherhood.
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