Madara rejected Sogetsu's proposal in the end.
It wasn't "solving things at the root," Sogetsu had argued—it was solving the root itself. Even Madara, who had walked through oceans of blood, felt a chill.
Too dangerous, he decided. More extreme than I ever was.
If this had been the Warring States era, even the famously even-tempered Hashirama would have had to kill a boy like this.
Madara coughed twice and eased himself back onto the stone chair. "You can't keep going to extremes," he said, helpless. "If we follow your method, we'd have to kill half the world."
Even at the height of chaos, the Warring States hadn't culled half its people in one stroke. Opening with half the population—that was a walking grim reaper talking.
"It's a small sacrifice on the road to peace." Sogetsu pushed up his glasses, perfectly calm. "But since you've vetoed me, I won't insist. If your plan fails, though—don't stop me next time."
"A backup plan?" Madara smiled coldly inside—he didn't plan on failing—but outwardly he nodded. "Rest easy. I won't stop you."
"Then I'll join your Moon's Eye Plan." Sogetsu's tone turned formal. "On one condition: you make me stronger."
"Heh. Good." Madara's smile sharpened. "I keep my promises."
"If there's nothing else, I'll head back. It's late. I'd rather not draw attention before it's time." Sogetsu rose. He had lingered long enough that the evening chill would be setting in. Late returns drew questions, and questions drew work—better to avoid both.
"Take a White Zetsu. It'll travel underground and pass messages."
"It?" Sogetsu frowned. The distaste was mild, but clear.
"Relax. No one will notice it." Madara's eyes thinned. "And with a Zetsu nearby, you can order discrete errands done—or contact me at once."
"You also mean to watch me." Sogetsu's mouth lifted in a dry smile.
"You can take it that way." Madara didn't bother to hide it. His gaze turned razor-bright. "The plan is too important. I trust your understanding."
"I do." Sogetsu's smile didn't wobble. "We haven't built trust yet. Your caution is normal. Let it follow me."
A mere White Zetsu? He had a thousand ways to make the creature keep quiet—and its presence happened to fit nicely into his plan.
They shook on the arrangement. Sogetsu left the cave; a White Zetsu slid silently beneath the soil at his heels.
In the cave's hush, a rasping voice rose. "Lord Madara… should I follow as well?" Black Zetsu asked.
Madara's laugh rolled low and cold in the stone chamber. "No need. I've already succeeded."
Black Zetsu blinked—and then saw it: in Madara's left eye, a Mangekyō tomoe was paling to ash.
"His thoughts have already been re-written," Madara murmured, lips curving in contempt. "From now on, he's my heir. When I die, he'll faithfully carry my will."
"Kotoamatsukami… I didn't know you still had that eye." Black Zetsu chuckled. "Even among the Uchiha, that's a priceless treasure."
"It was preserved long ago by Transcription—Izuna's last gift to me." Madara let his eyelids fall and sagged back, spent.
…
Walking the forest path, Sogetsu pushed his glasses again, a playfulness stirring at the bottom of his eyes. Kotoamatsukami, hm? Hiding a treat like that, old man?
All the more reason to look forward to the "gold drop" when I cash this in.
He breathed once, and the System screen fluttered open in his mind's eye:
Name: Uchiha Sogetsu
Age: 15
Occupations: Shinobi; Psychiatrist
Path:Idealist
Rank:VI — Hypnotist
Extraordinary Items:
• Foul Whisper — Inflicts dreadful howls upon a target's mind; induces creeping madness.
• Slumber Charm — Short incantation guides the target into calm sleep.
• Fate Effigy — Cuts the strings of fate; shields the holder from curses, scrying, and tracking.
• Lie (earring) — (Trait: Fool Path — Rank VI "Faceless" analogue)
– True shapeshift; grasp of flame control, damage transfer, danger sense.
– Boosts balance & agility.
– Side effect:amplifies emotions while worn.
• Hermes's Brass Candlestick — (Trait: Idealist Path — Rank III "Dreamweaver" analogue)
– Burns spiritual mass to weave near-real dreamscapes and drag other dreamers into the same dream.
– Side effect: For 12 hours after use, you draw hostility from people within 1 km.
• Fireseed (red glove) — (Trait: Error Path — Rank VI "Fire Thief" analogue)
– Charisma spike; words carry compelling force.
– Steal one extraordinary power/jutsu within 50 m for ~10 minutes.
– Better knowledge → better targeting; ignorance → random.
– Target loses that power for 12 hours.
– Side effect: small chance to randomly lose one carried item and one of your own powers for 12 hours (only once per window).
• Witch's Ring — (Trait: Witch Path — Rank V "Pain Witch" analogue)
– Greatly boosts charm; grants minor witch traits; can engineer occult viruses and spread plague.
– Side effect: prolonged wear corrupts the mind toward the Witch Path. (Note: protagonist stat block appears here once; future updates move to Appendix.)
System Log — January 8 (clear):
Lottery: loss. Scratch-cards: loss. Stop gambling, Sogetsu. Face reality.
He closed the pane, expression unreadable.
"So that was Kotoamatsukami," he murmured inwardly, a thin smile returning. "All right, old man—let's play."
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