Chapter 143: The Moon's Eye Plan
News of Special Jonin Uchiha Torajiro's patrol squad suffering a Cloud ninja assault reached Konoha's front-line camp in Yu no Kuni through his three subordinates who successfully escaped.
Upon learning the Cloud ninja had deployed an elite like Thunder Beast Sawai, Jiraiya—the front-line supreme commander—contemplated for a moment before making his decision. Though he knew clearly Uchiha Torajiro's fate was likely grim, he still dispatched Aburame Shigure.
This served not only to attempt rescuing Uchiha Torajiro but also to see if they could claim Sawai, that bastard's, life.
Aburame Shigure was the Aburame clan's poison insect master and currently their strongest member. His poison insects were so formidable that even Sand ninja who specialized in poison found them troublesome. With Jiraiya himself unable to move freely, Aburame Shigure was the most reliable choice.
However—
As Jiraiya judged, the idea of rescuing Uchiha Torajiro fell through. Simultaneously, the notion of eliminating Sawai proved unfeasible.
Naturally, Aburame Shigure didn't rush over alone. Though as a poison insect master he habitually worked solo without fixed squad organization—since his poison insects could accidentally kill allies if he wasn't careful—
However, no matter how formidable Aburame Shigure was, he couldn't possibly handle all missions alone. When encountering troublesome, difficult missions, he'd cooperate with others. Or rather, have others cooperate with him.
This time was such a case. He'd brought three elite squads. Among them were members from the Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka clans. Without exception, they were all experts at tracking and investigation.
However, even experts stumble. These tracking and investigation specialists encountered the greatest Waterloo of their careers. The three working together only found several bloodstains on this battle-scarred battlefield. Beyond that, no useful discoveries whatsoever.
Aburame Shigure's face was mostly hidden by his drooping hood and high collar. Even his eyes were concealed behind sunglasses. He asked in a steady voice, "Can you confirm Uchiha Torajiro's life or death?"
The Yamanaka clan ninja lowered his head. "Apologies, Shigure-sama. We cannot confirm."
"What about Thunder Beast Sawai's whereabouts? Do you know which direction he left from?"
The Inuzuka clan ninja and his ninja dog beside him lowered their heads in unison. "Apologies, Shigure-sama. The scents on the battlefield vanished very suddenly. It's like they used Earth Release to burrow underground."
"But there are no traces underground of Earth Release burrowing techniques being used. No matter how sophisticated the Earth Release burrowing technique, it brings unnatural changes to underground soil structure. No one can change that. But I didn't see any fresh traces underground."
The Hyuga clan ninja supplemented. His pupils were pure white, veins bulging at his eye corners. He was still using the Byakugan to observe the surrounding situation.
Hearing his three subordinates' answers, Aburame Shigure's brow beneath his hood slowly furrowed. Failing to rescue Uchiha Torajiro was something he'd anticipated before departure. But he hadn't expected that experts from the Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka clans couldn't find anything useful.
However, finding nothing was also an answer of sorts.
He murmured, "This battlefield was cleaned by someone. Cleaned very thoroughly."
The three from Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka clans nodded successively. This was also the conclusion they'd reached after investigation. Professionals had cleaned the battlefield after combat ended, clearing it spotlessly, leaving them unable to track or investigate.
Aburame Shigure asked, "Do you think the Cloud ninja did this?"
This question made the three exchange glances. If not the Cloud ninja, who else? Who would bother meddling in the dispute between Konoha and Cloud ninja for no reason?
Seeing this, Aburame Shigure spoke aloud. "According to reports from Uchiha Torajiro's subordinates, the Cloud ninja should have held absolute advantage. Not only did Thunder Beast Sawai lead them, they also had approximately two squads of Cloud ninja support. Do you think their battle with Uchiha Torajiro would create such widespread destruction?"
In an instant, it was as though electric current passed through their bodies. The three who'd been somewhat distracted from finding no useful clues realized something was wrong.
Even if Uchiha Torajiro was an Uchiha, he was just a small-timer who'd awakened the double-tomoe Sharingan. One-on-one, he couldn't possibly match Thunder Beast Sawai, much less when Sawai wasn't alone.
This battle's outcome should have been one-sided.
There was no reason for it to be fought so brutally, destroying vast forest tracts with the ground riddled like swiss cheese. It looked like two groups of powerhouses had erupted in a great battle here.
However, even detecting something wrong proved useless. The battlefield was clean. They could find almost no useful clues.
They could only study the various damage traces on the battlefield, analyzing from them what methods could have created such destructive effects. Fortunately, this approach had some use. The Hyuga clan member used the Byakugan to find a broken, angular wooden fragment.
The ninety-degree right angle definitely wasn't naturally formed. The material was genuinely wood. Moreover, this thing possessed tremendous density and hardness.
—After Uchiha Tatsuhata departed, Black Zetsu wasn't in a hurry to follow him back to the underground base. Instead, he brought White Zetsu to clean up after Uchiha Tatsuhata, thoroughly eliminating the corpses of Sawai and other Cloud ninja. This wasn't to frame the Cloud ninja but rather a habit of extreme caution cultivated over a thousand years.
However, Black Zetsu's work clearly couldn't reach perfect, flawless standards either. Perhaps due to some impatience, perhaps momentary carelessness in his good mood seeing the plan succeed smoothly, or perhaps some other reason.
In any case, he'd overlooked a small remnant block left behind when Uchiha Tatsuhata used Wood Release: Adamantine Recruiting Timber. This angular, square wooden fragment was dug out from underground by Konoha ninja.
Aburame Shigure wore gloves, but he still didn't directly touch the wood block. Instead, he had someone hold it high before him, then scrutinized it carefully and thoroughly.
It truly was wood!
This was the result he obtained after earnest examination. Moreover, it wasn't wood taken from some house or furniture. It more resembled wood that grew from the earth without any polishing.
But the problem was—how could square, angular wood possibly grow from the earth?
His brow locked tightly. His mind filled with wild thoughts. Uncontrollably, he connected this to the many recent events in the village. Being at the front lines didn't mean they'd lost contact with the village. They knew the village situation clearly.
Once again surveying the surroundings, looking at this scene of widespread chaos, he felt heavier pressure than anticipated. The matter here might not be as simple as a Cloud ninja invasion.
Aburame Shigure decisively issued orders. "Someone, send word to Jiraiya-sama. Report the situation here. Also send this wood back to base camp. Request Jiraiya-sama provide us new instructions."
This was no longer something he could decide himself.
Uchiha Tatsuhata returned to the sunless base deep underground. The air here remained as turbid as before. Only sparse candlelight emitted faint illumination, dispelling darkness in small surrounding areas. Previously, Uchiha Tatsuhata had urgently wanted to escape all this, wanting to return to that light-illuminated world of bright colors.
But now, he felt no difference between above and below ground. The underground base's dimness even looked more pleasing to the eye. At least the darkness here was visible to the naked eye. The darkness above ground disguised itself in bright, shining appearance, deceiving people's eyes. Just thinking about it made him nauseous.
He drove straight ahead, arriving in that spacious hall. He saw the white-haired, aged old man sitting on that cold stone chair with closed eyes, resting.
He stood before the old man and called out, "Uchiha Madara."
"Boy, what do you want?"
Having already received word from White Zetsu in advance, Uchiha Madara opened his eyes, calmly regarding Uchiha Tatsuhata standing before him.
"Your so-called Moon's Eye Plan—how exactly do you intend to execute it?"
"Didn't you reject my plan before? Why change your mind now?"
"Are all old men as long-winded as you?"
Uchiha Madara chuckled derisively. He looked at that young face completely unable to hide any emotion. "Boy, you should know clearly—I rescued you from the battlefield not because you're also an Uchiha, but because I need someone to help me. To replace my aged, declining self in executing my plan. I must confirm you truly wish to help me, wish to join me in changing this shinobi world. Otherwise, you can forget learning my plan."
"Of course, you can also try and see if you can use forceful methods to obtain what you want."
Finishing speaking, Uchiha Madara maintained his posture leaning against the chair back, both hands resting flat on the armrests. He faced Uchiha Tatsuhata completely unguarded.
Uchiha Tatsuhata quietly watched Uchiha Madara. One old, one young—two Uchiha. Four crimson Sharingan eyes gazed at each other.
After a moment, Uchiha Tatsuhata blinked. He pressed his lips together and answered, "My brother is dead. Killed by Cloud ninja, by Konoha ninja, by this utterly terrible shinobi world."
"So I want revenge. Revenge against everyone who killed Torajiro and this world of shinobi!"
In his crimson eyes burned flames named vengeance. Through these eyes, one could hazily glimpse the future—a burning shinobi world!
Uchiha Madara still showed no emotional fluctuation. He said, "Tatsuhata, you've finally glimpsed the shinobi world's true nature. This is a world built upon despair and suffering. Everyone is drawn in and devoured by misery's vortex. This is so-called reality!"
"But I refuse to accept such reality. Back then, Hashirama said he wanted to establish an eternally peaceful and beautiful world within this reality. Unfortunately, my past experiences and Tatsuhata, your encounter today both prove his idea failed—was impractical. In such reality, pursuing a beautiful, peaceful future is fundamentally impossible."
"Therefore, I will establish an eternally beautiful world within genjutsu!"
"This is the Moon's Eye Plan."
Uchiha Madara extended his hand toward the youth standing before him, solemnly issuing an invitation. "Tatsuhata, come help me realize my ideal! When that time comes, whether me or you—we'll both find our futures within!"
"Moon's Eye... Plan?"
Uchiha Tatsuhata's expression turned dazed. He looked at Uchiha Madara's extended palm. Countless thoughts churned in his mind. He couldn't help fantasizing about that beautiful scene where his parents and Torajiro still lived. The instant he sketched that image impossible in reality within his mind, uncontrollable, intense longing surged in his heart. Unprecedented desire made him want to roar and scream, wanting that beautiful scene to truly appear before him.
But he endured.
Both palms were pierced by his nails. Blood dripped down.
Uchiha Tatsuhata took a deep breath and asked, "The Moon's Eye Plan—how do we execute it? How can we establish an eternally beautiful world within genjutsu rather than a soap bubble that'll burst with one poke?"
Hearing Uchiha Tatsuhata's question, Uchiha Madara lowered his hand. A smile appeared on his aged face—like orange peel.
He asked, "Have you visited the underground chamber beneath Naka Shrine?"
"That place for holding clan secret assemblies? I've been there."
"Then you've also seen that stone tablet?"
Uchiha Tatsuhata raised an eyebrow. "You mean the stone tablet whose text can only be deciphered using Sharingan? Of course I've seen it. All clan members who've participated in assemblies have seen that tablet. I'm no exception."
"You can return to look at it again later. Now that you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, you'll see more things on it."
Uchiha Tatsuhata furrowed his brow. He felt somewhat annoyed by Uchiha Madara's circular talking. He immediately raised his voice. "Does this relate to us establishing an eternally beautiful world within genjutsu?"
"Of course. Because that stone tablet was left by the Sage of Six Paths. It can prove my plan isn't a castle in the air but the true, correct path toward an eternally beautiful, peaceful future!"
Uchiha Tatsuhata's eyes widened. For a moment, he couldn't speak.
How did the Sage of Six Paths suddenly appear in this? Wasn't he a figure from mythological stories?
Uchiha Madara saw through Uchiha Tatsuhata's thoughts. He released a hoarse laugh. "The Sage of Six Paths truly existed. We Uchiha are the Sage's descendants. However, that's not the point. The point is—the Moon's Eye Plan is built upon the guidance and legacy the Sage of Six Paths left behind. Tatsuhata, listen carefully. I'll tell you the truth of everything."
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