Chapter 35: The Birth of Black Zetsu

When Obito asked him a direct question, Madara showed a flicker of irritation. He didn't like making empty boasts. It seemed like age hadn't brought any significant upgrades to the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. While Ōnoki had more wrinkles, they wouldn't help against Madara's raw power.

Dust Release was a formidable technique, but it was useless if it couldn't land a hit. Ōnoki's reflexes couldn't match Madara's seasoned agility.

Obito, sensing a chink in Madara's stoic facade, pressed on.

"Hey, old man Madara, if you're really as unstoppable as you say, why are you hiding in this dark cave? Why not go back to the village and take back your place as leader? "

Madara's jaw clenched. He wouldn't admit it to this boy, but the truth was a bitter pill to swallow. The Uchiha clan, blinded by ambition and shortsightedness, had cast him aside.

Obito, wise beyond his years, didn't linger on the touchy subject.

"If you're as powerful as they say, why not just go ahead and do your Eye of the Moon Plan? Dealing with the Hokage shouldn't be a challenge for someone like you, right?"

Madara's silence lingered, heavy with unspoken complexities. Implementing the Eye of the Moon Plan wasn't as simple as a walk in the park. It required the capture and sealing of all nine Tailed Beasts into the Gedo Statue – a feat that would inevitably draw the ire of the Five Great Nations, uniting them against him.

His current physical state was a cruel joke. Using Rinnegan would cause a troll to his body, let alone the thought of undertaking the Herculean task of capturing the scattered Tailed Beasts. Even dealing with the doddering Ōnoki was a gamble at best, a gamble he couldn't afford to lose until he was back at full strength.

Restoring his youthful body required meticulous preparation and a willing sacrifice – a Rinnegan wielder to activate the forbidden Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.

A dry cough escaped Madara's lips.

"Know your place. You, a boy who can barely manage a B-rank jutsu, have no right to question my power. And don't forget the debt you owe me for saving your pathetic life."

Obito flinched at the reminder. His Konohagakure upbringing had instilled a deep respect for his elders, but the weight of a life debt was a heavy burden, tilting the negotiating table decidedly in Madara's favor. He fell silent, caught in a snare of his own making.

Obito simmered for a long moment, finally collecting his thoughts.

"I'll pay back what I owe, but you can't force someone to respect you, so don't expect it from me. You've been following Byakuya around for so long, haven't you? Maybe you should get the message – you're not exactly a great teacher. I might never even master the Great Fire Annihilation by following your lead."

Madara inhaled deeply, a rasp accompanying the action as he dragged the oxygen tube closer to Obito. Slowly, deliberately, he extended a hand. Obito, caught off guard, froze. Should he dodge? Stand still? Fear prickled his skin, and he ended up shivering in place.

Without warning, Madara placed his hand on Obito's forehead. His Sharingan blazed, weaving a genjutsu.

"Those trials were all to test your resolve. Now, the true instruction begins. Within this genjutsu, you'll witness the true power of my teaching methods!"

Obito's double-tomoe Sharingan offered no defense. He found himself pulled into the sterile white expanse of the genjutsu space. A youthful Madara stood before him, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

Madara spoke with a hint of helplessness, "Obito, watch closely. This is how the Great Fire Annihilation is truly performed."

With deliberate movements, Madara formed the hand seals, each one a fraction of a second slower than the last. Finally, the powerful words resonated:

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A torrent of flames erupted from the young Madara's mouth, engulfing a vast area hundreds of meters wide for a good ten seconds. The display was awe-inspiring.

As the flames subsided, Obito stared at Madara with newfound respect. The older man reveled in this shift.

 "That was the extent of my power in my youth. Unfortunately, age has taken its toll. This genjutsu allows me to showcase my skills at their peak."

Obito's brow furrowed in suspicion.

"Your youth? Old man Madara, are you trying to pull a fast one on me? This is a genjutsu, remember? Could you be exaggerating?"

Madara scoffed.

"Lies have no place in my repertoire when it comes to strength. In all the ninja world, only Hashirama Senju surpassed me. All others fell before my might!"

Confronted with Madara's unwavering conviction, Obito's doubt evaporated.

"Woah! Only the Hokage is stronger than you in your prime? Then surpassing you would make me Hokage! Looks like my goals just multiplied. Oh, yeah!"

Madara's gaze sharpened with interest. "You… you want to be hokage? You?"

Obito bristled, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.

"What's that supposed to mean? Do you think I'm not good enough, like everyone else?"

Madara shook his head slowly.

"Not at all. I find the notion of being Hokage… laughable. Friendships are sacrificed on the altar of that position. Perhaps that's the price one pays for power."

A deep sigh escaped his lips, his voice laced with a hint of melancholy as he reminisced about his past.

Obito found these words cryptic, but Madara gave him no time to dwell on them.

"Don't waste time with doubts, boy. If becoming Hokage is your true desire, then follow me and learn properly."

Obito, emboldened by the renewed purpose, nodded resolutely. The dream of becoming Hokage burned brighter than ever within him.

---

Exhaustion finally claimed Obito after a day spent trapped within the genjutsu's crucible. He emerged, blinking against the harsh cave light, the Great Fire Annihilation now etched into his muscle memory. The jutsu erupted from his hands with a satisfying roar, mirroring the inferno he'd witnessed in the genjutsu world.

The transformation in Obito's eyes was a level up. The flippant "old man Madara" was replaced with a reverent "Grandpa Madara." The shift tugged at a corner of Madara's weary heart.

The genjutsu had drained him. His breaths came ragged, each movement a struggle. All he craved was a deep, uninterrupted sleep. When he finally stirred, Obito was fast asleep, his body spent from the intense training.

Madara propped his head on his hand, the events of the day replaying in his mind. The arguments, the defiance, the flicker of respect in Obito's eyes. A faint smile played on his lips. It had been years since he'd taken a young Uchiha under his wing, not since his dear brother, Izuna.

Perhaps… perhaps training Obito, guiding him towards the Hokage position…

The thought sparked a flow of warmth, quickly extinguished by the icy grip of reality.

The Hokage? Ridiculous. His purpose, his entire reason for abandoning Konoha, was the Eye of the Moon Plan. When had he softened so much? The ambition that once burned like a supernova had dimmed to a flicker.

Hashirama, that doofus. He could only see the immediate concerns like the village and clans. Madara's vision encompassed the entire ninja world, a world forever trapped in a cycle of bloodshed.

Only the Eye of the Moon Plan could usher in true peace, a world where petty disputes were consigned to the dustbin of history.

A steely glint returned to his eyes. No more escalating clan battles into village wars. It was time to reignite his resolve. He glanced at Zetsu, the twisted figure lurking in the shadows. With a slow, deliberate movement, Madara extended his arm.

Sentimentality was a luxury he couldn't afford. Success hinged on an unwavering loyalty to the plan, a will as unyielding as his own. As the black tendrils of Zetsu engulfed Madara's outstretched arm, a new entity emerged – a perfect embodiment of his ambition.

Madara gazed at the newly formed Black Zetsu, his voice devoid of warmth.

"You are the will of Madara Uchiha. From this day forward, you shall be known as Black Zetsu."

The bond between Madara and Obito had served its purpose. Their paths would diverge, and their interactions would become a mere footnote in the grand scheme of the Eye of the Moon Plan.

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