"What?"
The moment those words fell, Hamura's expression shifted.
"Brother, are you saying Madara is the vessel meant to revive Mother?"
"Exactly."
Hagoromo smiled coldly.
"Our foolish younger brother, Black Zetsu, thinks he arranged everything. He has no idea that all of it has been within my plan from the beginning."
"He is nothing more than a chess piece."
After saying that, Hagoromo added,
"This time, things should become interesting."
"Heh…"
Hamura smiled thoughtfully and said nothing more.
As always, whether it was their mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, or Black Zetsu, both were only tools in the hands of the two brothers.
Now that those tools were making their final moves, it was time for the real players to close the net.
Thinking of this, Hamura's resentment toward the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, deepened again.
No—
it surged by hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of times.
If not for Uchiha Ren's sudden rise, their plans would never have been thrown into chaos. The shinobi world would not have developed into this unrecognizable mess.
And now, they had even been forced to lure the Ōtsutsuki main family to Earth.
It was beyond frustrating.
"We continue watching from the shadows."
After a long silence, Hagoromo took a deep breath and said,
"Since the shinobi world has already slipped beyond our control, we must find a way to drag it back onto the proper path."
"Good."
Hamura nodded decisively.
"No matter what happens, the shinobi world belongs to us."
"No one is allowed to touch what is ours."
"We'll see how this plays out."
At the same time—
somewhere hidden in the shinobi world.
"The Fourth Great Ninja War is about to erupt?"
A man wearing a white haori beneath a black cloak raised his head and looked toward the blue sky.
His hair was gathered high, with a long braid hanging behind him. Beneath his left eye was the Roman numeral IV, and a diamond-shaped mark sat on his chin.
This man was none other than Jigen.
In the original timeline, Jigen was Kawaki's adoptive father and the leader of Kara. Its members included Delta, Koji Kashin, Boro, Victor, Code, and others.
More importantly—
his body carried the power of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki's Kāma.
He was Isshiki's vessel.
Of course, the current Jigen had not yet truly realized that Isshiki's Kāma existed within him.
Even so, his thoughts and actions had already begun to change under its influence.
"The time is almost ripe."
Jigen's lips curved slightly.
"It's time to form Kara."
"A group dedicated to recovering chakra fruits and gathering vessels."
"The shinobi world is becoming more interesting."
At that moment—
"Father."
A clear voice rang out.
A boy with black-and-yellow hair rushed over from the distance. Two small rings hung near the corner of his right eye, the Roman numeral IX was tattooed on his face, and a blue coat covered his body.
It was Kawaki.
His tone carried visible shock.
"Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure are going to surround Konoha."
"What?"
Jigen froze.
Then he could not help letting out a startled sound.
He knew the Fourth Great Ninja War was about to begin.
But he had not expected Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure to be this aggressive.
They were opening with their strongest move.
They intended to surround Konoha from the start.
"The entire shinobi world is boiling now," Kawaki said carefully, suppressing the tremor in his heart. "Everything is about to change. It depends on whether the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, is stronger… or whether Uchiha Madara has the last laugh."
"Excellent."
Those words seemed to strike something inside Jigen.
After his initial shock, wild joy surged through him.
If the shinobi world was about to fall into chaos, then it was the perfect time for Kara to emerge.
Wonderful.
Truly wonderful.
As for who would laugh last?
Jigen was not worried in the slightest.
Because no matter who won in the end, it would not matter.
He believed he would be the final one standing.
"Prepare yourself."
Excitement flashed through Jigen's eyes.
"Our plan can begin."
"Kara will recover chakra fruits and gather vessels."
"And soon, the entire shinobi world will tremble before us."
"Good!"
Kawaki grinned and clenched his fists.
After so many years of preparation, he could finally prove himself before his father.
Just thinking about it filled him with excitement.
Since Jigen had given the order, Kawaki wasted no time.
With a sharp sound, he vanished from where he stood.
He needed to gather more intelligence.
He wanted to see who would truly laugh last in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
However—
neither Jigen nor Kawaki knew that deep within Jigen's body, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki had also revealed a cold smile.
How many years had it been?
Far too many.
In ancient times, he and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had come to Earth together to plant the Divine Tree.
He had once possessed and controlled a second Ten-Tails.
But plans never kept pace with change.
He had been betrayed by his subordinate, Kaguya.
At the moment he was about to be devoured by the Ten-Tails, he used the secret technique Sukunahikona to shrink his body and narrowly escaped death.
For all these years, he had hidden within Jigen, waiting for a chance to move.
And now—
that chance was almost here.
Yet when he thought of the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, an ominous feeling quietly rose in Isshiki's heart.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios