Chapter 53: We Will Meet Again
Chapter 53: We Will Meet Again
Uchiha Kagami pushed his disheveled hair back as he looked at the leisurely figure of Madara seated on the stone chair.
"Getting too old to fight, old man?"
Madara rested his hands on his knees, appearing no different from an ordinary elder.
"There's no point in continuing. You've achieved your goal, haven't you?"
"Besides, this body of mine is almost at its limit."
Kagami seemed to recall something.
By logic, Madara shouldn't have been able to leave the Gedo Statue, as he relied on it to sustain his life.
He hadn't thought much of it initially, subconsciously believing that if Madara had the ability to come out and fight, it wasn't strange.
Perhaps it was some kind of wood clone technique. But given Madara's current words…
The Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique!
Even without the Rinnegan, he could still use such a method?
Kagami narrowed his eyes, feeling slightly offended.
"Is this some kind of clone technique? You really underestimate me."
Madara remained composed, his tone flat. "My real body cannot leave, and this technique allows me to utilize my full ocular power."
"A pitiful state to be in—this paltry power is now the best I can muster."
---
Madara's characteristic features gradually faded, revealing pale skin—it was a White Zetsu body.
A faint rustling sound came from between cracks in the rocky ground, and a White Zetsu with pale green, short hair emerged.
"Kagami boy, Lord Madara has summoned you."
"I got it. Just a moment."
Kagami unfurled a scroll and approached the lifeless White Zetsu clone.
"…This is Lord Madara's research creation. You can't just—"
"He didn't say I couldn't. It's dead anyway; what's wrong with taking it for experimentation?"
"But…"
"Shut up!"
---
Madara's true body resided beneath this land, deep in a vast underground chamber illuminated only by candlelight.
Dark, damp, and desolate.
He's really asking for arthritis, living in this kind of place at his age.
Seated in a simple stone chair, Madara slowly opened his eyes. They were a pair of crimson Sharingan with three tomoe.
"You've come, Kagami."
Kagami's gaze shifted to behind Madara, where gnarled wooden tendrils extended into the darkness, emanating an aura of immense malice.
The Gedo Statue…
Reining in his curiosity, Kagami locked eyes with Madara.
"What do you want?"
Madara chuckled faintly. "Weren't you the one looking for me?"
"And now, after borrowing my power to tame that cursed entity, this is the attitude you show?"
Kagami found a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs. His tone was indifferent.
"That's why I politely asked what you wanted. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come down here."
"By the way, old man, your retirement home is terrible."
---
"Kagami, you're intelligent. You must have noticed something peculiar about that White Zetsu I used."
"The body I borrowed."
Kagami was well aware of everything but chose not to reveal too much. That Black Zetsu was likely parasitizing Madara's body even now.
"Hmm, very strong Yang Release energy—quite valuable for research."
Madara leaned on a black staff, his tone heavy.
"The Sharingan represents the pinnacle of Yin Release and symbolizes the Uchiha clan. Meanwhile, Yang Release is represented by the Senju clan's vitality."
"If you wish to obtain eternal vision without harming your brothers, I have a correct path to offer."
The words deeply moved Madara.
Strength and talent were insufficient to sway him.
What truly touched him…
…was Kagami's earlier statement.
It was something Madara hadn't realized until long after Izuna's death, while he brooded alone in the dark crypt.
Perhaps there was a way to protect one's loved ones.
"White Zetsu is the product of my experiments with Hashirama's cells. It contains immense vitality—Yang Release energy."
"I specifically prepared that White Zetsu for you. You can transplant a portion of it into your body."
"By doing so, when you awaken the Mangekyo, it should nourish your eyes, removing the curse of blindness."
---
"It's not a curse."
Kagami's face remained expressionless.
"Yin and Yang are interdependent. When Yin and Yang are separated, vitality ceases to exist."
"Excessive use of the Mangekyo leads to blindness because of an imbalance between Yin and Yang."
"There are two solutions to the blindness problem."
"One is to balance Yin and Yang."
"The other is to merge two pairs of closely related Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Extremes of Yin produce Yang, and extremes of Yang produce Yin. When pushed to the limit, balance is achieved."
---
The shadows obscured Madara's expression, but a long sigh escaped him.
"Kagami… you came too late."
If there was anything Madara regretted in his life, it was failing to protect Izuna.
"Shisui… that's your brother's name, isn't it?"
"As an elder brother, you are far more qualified than I ever was."
---
Such profound insights had taken Madara years of deciphering the Sage of Six Paths' stone tablet to grasp.
But Kagami…
Pulling himself from his reverie, Madara stared at Kagami, his gaze deep.
"Then, do you intend to accumulate the ultimate Yin Release and use the resulting reversal to obtain eternal vision?"
Kagami shook his head.
"Yes and no. I have my own plan."
"Regardless, a balance between Yin and Yang is ideal."
---
"Kagami, you might even acquire eyes like mine someday."
He referred to the Rinnegan.
Madara couldn't predict what methods Kagami would use, but he eagerly anticipated it.
After some thought, Madara decided against mentioning the Moon's Eye Plan.
The Sage of Six Paths had envisioned a perfect plan for a peaceful shinobi world. But Kagami, as he was now, wouldn't accept such a vision.
He hadn't yet despaired of the world.
Besides, Kagami didn't seem like someone who sought peace.
---
"I won't pry into your plans. If you need more, feel free to return for another White Zetsu."
White Zetsu: "…"
"Uchiha Obito is the successor I've chosen. I will prepare a trial for him."
"He has the potential to awaken the Mangekyo but requires the right guidance."
"For this, some Konoha ninja will have to die. Do not interfere."
This was an exchange.
Kakashi… Rin…
Kagami chuckled. "Do as you please."
"What if… one of the dead is your junior, Kakashi?"
---
"Aside from a few Uchiha clansmen, the lives of others mean nothing to me."
"My existence isn't to shield them."
"I've already warned Kakashi—if he dies due to his incompetence, he deserves it."
Kagami rose from his seat, supporting himself on his knees.
"Old man, I suppose we'll never meet again."
"Let me wish you a peaceful death in advance."
"Farewell."
With that, Kagami turned to leave, clearly displeased by the dark environment.
---
"Heh…"
Watching Kagami's retreating figure, Madara muttered softly.
"We will meet again."
---
Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*