"Let's begin."
In the dimly lit cave, Uchiha Madara sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at the woman whose body was half-covered by a black substance and who wore a Grass Village headband.
"Yes, Lord Madara." Black Zetsu nodded respectfully.
He had taken over the body of the Grass Ninja, and now he was in control of it.
"Dragon Life Rebirth!"
Black Zetsu controlled the Grass Ninja to form hand seals, then placed the hands emitting life energy onto Uchiha Madara's body, transferring all of the Grass Ninja's life force to Madara.
As the powerful life force flooded in, Uchiha Madara's wrinkled and pale old face started to regain some color, and the wrinkles gradually diminished.
Meanwhile, the body of the Grass Ninja visibly aged, eventually appearing decrepit and old.
After exhausting the Grass Ninja's life force, Black Zetsu immediately withdrew from the body and inquired of Uchiha Madara:
"Lord Madara, how do you feel now?"
Dragon Life Rebirth was their backup plan, as ordinary life force transfer couldn't truly rejuvenate someone, at most it could temporarily strengthen the physical body.
"The power is gradually returning, not much, but it's enough." Uchiha Madara opened his eyes and said calmly.
His current state was certainly far from his peak, but this time his opponent wasn't Senju Hashirama, it was Habu Mokgetsu, which would definitely suffice.
"According to White Zetsu's intel, Habu Mokgetsu's unit should be close to encountering the Hidden Rock Squad.
Lord Madara, once you absorb the Gedo Statue's chakra and familiarize yourself with your current body, you'll catch Habu Mokgetsu just after he's been through a major battle," Black Zetsu explained his plan.
Although Uchiha Madara had always been just slightly inferior to Senju Hashirama, Black Zetsu thought it prudent to deplete Mokgetsu's chakra first.
"That's not necessary." Uchiha Madara sneered dismissively and walked to the Gedo Statue, swiftly forming hand seals.
To scheme against a twenty-something rookie would be unbecoming of him; he intended to make a personal appearance.
As Uchiha Madara formed hand seals, a beam of light shot from the Gedo Statue's mouth onto Madara.
Then, Uchiha Madara directed his gaze at a unique White Zetsu with a spiraling body.
Tobi was the most unique White Zetsu, capable of enveloping a ninja and enhancing their overall abilities.
He was too old now, and to restore enough strength, he needed not only a powerful life force and the Gedo Statue's chakra but also Tobi's enhancement.
Tobi immediately understood Uchiha Madara's intent, expanding his body to cover Madara.
Uchiha Madara clenched his fist slightly, a faint smile playing at his lips; as he aged, his strength had waned, but now he was finally reclaiming a bit of his former power.
"Lord Madara, what does the urge to relieve oneself feel like?" Tobi couldn't help but curiously ask.
"Shut up and stop talking." Uchiha Madara replied expressionlessly.
If he suddenly mentioned something like that during a battle with Habu Mokgetsu, it would tarnish his name.
"Where is Habu Mokgetsu?" Uchiha Madara looked toward Black Zetsu.
"He should be in the Green Wood Forest area," Black Zetsu replied.
"But Lord Madara, don't you need to get accustomed to your strength?"
"My body, do I not understand it myself?" Uchiha Madara replied indifferently, then burst out with chakra, charging out of the cave straight toward Green Wood Forest.
He was impatient to test the mettle of Habu Mokgetsu, the second Wood Release ninja.
Watching Uchiha Madara quickly vanish from sight, Black Zetsu's expression turned slightly grim, "How arrogant, considering he is just a pawn under my control."
Not taking the opportunity to scavenge but choosing to confront Habu Mokgetsu head-on in full power, what purpose did it serve beyond adding variables?
"But he's just one Habu Mokgetsu, it should not pose an issue." Black Zetsu recalled Habu Mokgetsu's information.
Although Habu Mokgetsu had many techniques, he was still young and not beyond the scope of conventional ninjas. Even if Uchiha Madara wasn't at his peak, he should be able to handle it.
Approaching Green Wood Forest, Uchiha Madara immediately locked onto the strongest presence on the field, a blonde ninja, unabashedly sizing up Mokgetsu.
Mokgetsu also returned Madara's gaze, staring into those Three Tomoe Sharingan, examining this mysterious black-cloaked figure who had suddenly appeared on the battlefield.
[Name: Uchiha Madara]
[Chakra: 39,630,000]
[Potential: SS+ (Six Paths Bloodline + Hashirama Cells + Basic Talent)]
[Skills: Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Master Level: 13,600/15,000), Earth Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Master Level), Water Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Master Level), Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Changes (Master Level), Lighting Attribute, Yin Attribute, Yang Attribute, Wood Release (Master Level)...]
Undoubtedly, it was the strongest profile Mokgetsu had ever seen.
It surpassed the chakra level of the Tailed Beasts, with SS+ top-tier potential. The only surprise for Mokgetsu was the skill section, as Uchiha Madara's Fire Release hadn't reached Perfect Level.
When he thought about it, Madara's Fire Release was impressive but hadn't achieved any significant feats; Terumi Mei's Water Release could easily extinguish it, making the lack of a Perfect Level reasonable.
Moreover, Uchiha Madara's strength didn't rely on Fire Release, but rather the combination of Ninjutsu, Sharingan, and Chakra.
Mokgetsu estimated that if the Sharingan were considered a skill, Uchiha Madara should have a Perfect Level Sharingan.
"And this isn't even his peak, truly astounding," Mokgetsu thought inwardly.
Although he didn't know what methods Madara had employed, whatever they were, it was impossible for Madara to fully restore to his peak; at most, he could temporarily regain partial strength. Otherwise, Madara wouldn't need to cultivate a successor, he could just seize the Tailed Beasts himself.