V.1-C.87│Successor IV│

"... You're related to me by blood, through your mothers side. You're my grandson." Madara spoke, revealing to Obito his current status and connection to Madara in a way that is more than just both of them being Indra Otsutsuki's reincarnations.

"That..." Obito replied, still having his blindfold covering his eyes, and his expression was also mostly covered at this information.

"Long ago, after I left Konohagakure, but not before I had my final fight with Hashirama, I had a dalliance." Madara started to explain. "Your grandmother was someone whom I engaged with after a time of... lets just say weakness." Madara considered his attraction to her as a weakness.

"My coupling with her resulted in your mother, as I have come to find out about..." Madara had no idea that he had a child, especially a child connected such to the political world of the Land of Fire.

Now, with Obito in front of him, he wished to reveal some things, but not everything. "And...? You didn't know about her..." Obito said, coming to the conclusion that Madara wanted him to.

"Yes. Your grandmother kept her pregnancy secret, and I probably didn't wish to know at the time as I was ready to go after Konoha. A folly on my part." Madara replied.

A younger Madara may have been more inflamed, angered even at the fact that she would withhold such information, but it also made sense since Obito's grandmother, his biological one was someone related to the royal family of the Land of Fire.

He met her during, like he said, 'a time of weakness,' and through this he spent time with her, being attracted to her and doing things that he would never have had interest in before.

"Her name was Noriko, Noriko Kaji." Madara then spoke of her name. "She was a member of the royal family of the Land of Fire, and she was the eldest daughter, the only and last daughter of the Daimyo from before. This makes you the last of the line as well, the last of a long line of the first Daimyo's of this land, the Land of Fire."

"This is a lot..." Obito blurted out as this was all news to him, and technically in his past life he was sort of royalty as well.

After all, wasn't Minato the Hokage, making him just another cog in the line of Kage that forms a lineage with which is passed down. Minato onto Naruto, or at least that was what it would've been.

"Overwhelmed? None of that matters now, nor will it matter in the future..." Madara said ominously, but he was leaving Obito out from what he planned to do, that being the Eye of the Moon plan.

The Eye of the Moon Plan was created by Madara Uchiha as a way to bring peace to the world.

Though its execution does not go according to plan and some furthered it for their different personal motivations, the end goal remains the same for all involved.

Projecting the Infinite Tsukuyomi on the moon in order to trap the entire world in a dream, thus saving mankind from destroying itself but also at the price of robbing free will from the entire world.

He would not do that to everyone however, as his plans had changed once taking Obito into the equation.

From a young age, Madara Uchiha wanted a peaceful world where nobody, particularly his loved ones, would need to die. In his adulthood he founded Konohagakure alongside Hashirama Senju in order to create this desired peace.

Konoha quickly developed a predominately Senju-government, which Madara felt would inevitably lead to the mistreatment of his Uchiha clan; for this reason he decided Konoha failed in its goal of peace.

He began studying the Uchiha's Stone Tablet and, from what he could decipher, he learned of the God Tree, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and how a godly power could be acquired through union of the Senju and Uchiha.

Madara told Hashirama about his new dream, and then left the village. Subsequently, the two fought at what would become the Valley of the End. Madara was believed to have died, but he instead went into hiding, taking with him a piece of Hashirama's flesh.

He integrated it into his own body and, decades later, awakened the Rinnegan.

With the Rinnegan he summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path from its storage on the moon, and from it he cultivated White Zetsu. Now that he had the means of peace at his disposal, Madara began formulating his Eye of the Moon Plan in earnest.

He would collect the nine tailed beasts into the Demonic Statue in order to reform the Ten-Tails, which he would then become the jinchuriki of in order to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, thus ending all conflicts while also erasing or rather destroying free will in the process.

Madara realized he could not complete his plan during what remained of his natural lifespan. He implanted his Rinnegan into a young Nagato so that their power would not be lost upon his death and so that Nagato could someday restore Madara to life

In order to manipulate Nagato to that outcome, Madara would need an agent to act for him on his behalf; he connected himself to the Demonic Statue to keep himself alive until such a person could be found.

It was during the war that Madara discovered a boy that went by the name of Naka Uchiha, and saw the potential in manipulating him, where Madara believed Naka would suit his needs. While treating Naka's injuries Madara secretly branded Naka with a Forbidden Individual Curse Tag so that Naka would never act against his wishes.

Then, to his surprise, Madara never needed to do anything like manipulation for the boy, like taking someone he loves and killing them in front of his eyes for example. It was unneeded, as the boy was both unhinged enough and worshipped Madara enough to the point that there was no worry at all.

With Naka having been corrupted to his liking, Madara shared with him somethings he knew, of history, the secrets behind certain techniques and abilities, and whatever other steps Madara had already taken.

He would leave Black Zetsu for Naka, believing it to be a manifestation of his will that could guide Naka after he was gone and, if necessary, force the completion of Madara's plans.

For Obito, Madara wanted to give him even more, more so enough that he would overcome even himself. Whatever he had taught Naka Uchiha, he would teach Obito, and then some more, in-depth knowledge and secrets, but he was not beyond also manipulating Obito at this point as well.

Not in the same way he has done with Naka, but in a manner that he would guide Obito down the path he wanted him to walk.

"Then...?" Obito asked.

"It is time that I teach you next, teach you and guide you on a path that I hope you will follow." Madara replied.

"What path? What goal do you have?" Obito asked knowing full well what exactly Madara wants, or at least he has an idea of what he wants. Then again, this whole situation as is, is completely different from the knowledge that Obito has access to in this situation, not knowing that Obito was in fact Madara's grandchild.

This was just unpredictable... 'Well, I am, or was, called 'The Show-Off, Number One Unpredictable, Noisy Ninja.'' Obito thought to himself, now thinking that things are most definitely as unpredictable as this title attached himself would be.

Though, he hasn't done much, or any showing off at all, and he also doesn't think he has been all that noisy himself directly. "It is to bring peace to this world, just as anyone else would strive for it. It will be a new world, a world of truth, not lies."

Madara didn't disclose anything, though this is partially because Madara has already gotten at least a faint idea as to what Obito is like, psychologically that is. He is someone that embraces the 'curse,' their 'curse,' of the Uchiha, but at the same time is not someone that will fall into the same dark place.

Obito didn't say anything back, instead choosing to stay quiet as he has nothing to say or add, and while he would want to try and convince Madara otherwise, it was at this point that he wasn't all that worried.

Knowing that the person in front of him was different in some ways, though he can't exactly just place all his trust in the fact that Madara was somehow soo different from Obito's memories.

Madara didn't answer Obito's question, and instead focused on something else, that something else being training. "I know that you have learned the Hiraishin. You are powerful, but lacking in my evaluation. So, I will ask you whether or not you would like to be trained by me, or you can leave now." Madara wasn't actually giving Obito a choice, and more wanted to give him the illusion of a choice.

After all, isn't that how the government or those in power usually work? No one has true freedom, not really, for true freedom is anarchy, and no one wants that. Those in power must give the illusion of freedom.

"You choice?" Madara asked Obito, but if he declined, Madara would come up with a way to manipulate Obito into being trained by him. Just because the two of them are related, directly, that didn't mean there was all that powerful of a connection between the two of them just yet.

"If I choose to do so, I want to know... I want to know whether or not your training will come at a cost." Obito considered this and knew that if he did receive some level of training from Madara, it would be beyond helpful for him in the future.

Whether that be if he is to use it against Madara himself, or for Obito to face off against the future threats known as the Otsutsuki.

"Cost? Yes... All power comes at a price..." Madara knows this and saw that Obito was not a foolish boy at the very least. He seems to understand the true nature of the world, though he would like a little bit more time to truly understand Obito, just as Obito wanted now to truly understand him.

"It's simple. I only wish to pass down onto you all of my knowledge, my techniques. You are to be my successor, and what you do with that with which I grant you is your decision." Madara was actually speaking truthfully here, or at least partially as he fully intends to give Obito the reigns once he ensures that his plan is successful.

"You do not need worry about anything else. You may leave, come and go as you like. I will not restrict you from seeing... your loved ones." Madara saw this as a weakness to some extent as well, but he also was unwilling to just kill all of those around him to isolate or anything like that.

Madara does not want Obito to go through what he had to, in losing his own loved ones in the form of Izuna, or his other siblings that died off a long, long time ago.

"If that is true... then I accept." Obito answered Madara's question.

[]

Kirigakure was still participating in its quite awful exams undertaken by those of the populace that are seen as the least desirable.

A few things had changed since the end of the war, especially since their Third Mizukage was now long gone and dead.

Much like the Second Mizukage and Iwa's Second Tsuchikage who would clash against one another countless times eventually met in what would be their final battle and killed each other.

Or at least this is what Mei would like to think, as the Second Mizukage is still alive and doing well within the village, growing old and all, but on the lookout for a successor no doubt, to his current position.

The village itself was now trying to recuperate and identify those that are strong enough to become the new Mizukage, and there were but a few. Though, those that are strong but not going to be accepted, like Mei Terumi, were discounted because of their inherit 'advantage' in the form of bloodline limits.

Most importantly one of the more grander events for Kirigakure was the fact that they have lost their Tailed Beast, the Three Tail's and have been desperately trying to regain control of it.

But let alone controlling it under themselves, they don't even have access to its location or even a general idea of where it could've ended up. It was completely outside of their scope at this moment.

No leads, no tracks, no possible suspicious people, nothing.

Kirigakure is a village that is solely relying on a few strong people within, as their overall state as a village is terrible. Their militaristic might, their economic sway and pull, alongside their current population all lends to the fact that they are in a decline.

Then there is Mei, whom has actually had a rather nice welcome back into the village, and she felt strange about it. The difference in treatment between her and others, at least at a higher level was apparent to her as the Third Mizukage was a little more slack with her.

Mei half expected that maybe Obito had some words with him to set him straight, but she knows that is most definitely not what is going on.

She has improved upon her abilities, also learning of the Hiraishin: Reverse technique that Obito told her about and how either he could come to her and go, or she could go to him and leave afterwards as well.

It was an amazing tool, and thankfully she didn't have the main share of burden in using the technique, as it took up a lot of chakra. Though, this did make Mei consider just how energetic Obito is.

Which reminded her... Obito had also told her about his new relationship with Mikoto, and vice versa. To be honest, she wasn't expecting him, or more specifically Mikoto Uchiha to want Obito in that way, but it was whatever.

If anything, she expected Kushina to make a move, or anyone else really. Though she was a little jealous at the fact that Obito had told her about the fact he has engaged in certain 'activities' with her.

She understands, even if she wants that herself, it was not the time to do so. The only reason being she doesn't want to start having children just yet, because there really is no real protection for that sort of thing.

Though, there had been some rather hot and intimate moments between herself and Obito that tempted her oh so much. 'Get your mind out of the gutter, Mei!' She refocused herself and placed that energy into something else.

Specifically into working out her next steps in what is to come. Her plans, her future, the future of the village and what changes she will bring.

'I will have a family with Obito, but not right now...'