Deep within the Gedō Mazō, shadows surged like tidal waves.
The colossal stone body seemed to awaken from slumber, emitting low, muffled roars from within.
Countless black conduits trembled in the air, writhing as if alive, producing an eerie hum.
Three Ninja Beast Eggs hovered silently mid-air, their shells shimmering with faint light, seemingly pulled by some unknown force.
The next moment, a tremendous suction force erupted from within the Gedō Mazō.
This power was violent, chaotic, like the breath of an abyss, carrying an indescribable impulse to devour, almost pulling the three eggs completely into itself.
Hmph!
With Uchiha Madara's faint snort, the Gedō Mazō's agitated Chakra gradually calmed.
Yet that hungry intent still lingered in the air, like an invisible beast constantly licking the scent of its prey.
Madara slightly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing in his turbid pupils.
In that instant, he clearly felt the Gedō Mazō's greed for these three Ninja Beast Eggs.
"Interesting."
"The Gedō Mazō actually has such a strong devouring reaction to these three eggs... This is unusual."
He took a deep breath, his withered hand resting on the thick Chakra Conduit behind him.
The Gedō Mazō was the husk of the Ten-Tails, the vessel that once unified all Tailed Beasts.
Apart from Tailed Beast Chakra, it had never shown interest in any other life forms.
Yet now, it wanted to devour these Ninja Beast Eggs before him?
Could it be that these Ninja Beasts had some connection to the Tailed Beasts?
Madara's gaze grew increasingly profound, as if trying to see through these eggs.
The characteristics of this energy vaguely reminded him of... Hashirama Cells.
"Hah... Artificially created life forms?"
"However, such creation techniques... are rare in the Shinobi World."
He looked up, his gaze falling upon White Zetsu, who still knelt weakly on the ground.
"What exactly is that Breeding House about?"
White Zetsu lifted his head, his tone respectful yet weary: "It's... a shop in the Land of Rain. They sell various Ninja Beast Eggs. Hanzo purchased a batch of Ninja Beasts from there and achieved a great victory in his battle against Chiyo from the Land of Wind."
"Hanzo..." Madara murmured softly, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.
White Zetsu nodded, continuing his report: "The operator of that Breeding House is a youth named Shiroishi. On the surface he appears to be an ordinary person, but he seems to possess some special Bloodline Ability that allows him to hatch and modify these Ninja Beast Eggs."
During this period, White Zetsu and the mastermind Black Zetsu had basically investigated Shiroishi's background, so they reported everything truthfully to Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara's brow twitched slightly.
"...Bloodline Ability?"
"Yes."
"Jiraiya appears to be their teacher, and Orochimaru is often active in the area as well. They might be test subjects for some Forbidden Technique from Konoha."
Mentioning Orochimaru and Jiraiya, Uchiha Madara narrowed his eyes: "Is that so?"
White Zetsu answered cautiously: "Yes, currently even the Ninja School has started using these Ninja Beast Eggs as rewards. They're likely Konoha's test subjects."
Konoha's experiments?
Using the Land of Rain as a testing ground?
That sounds very much like Konoha's style.
White Zetsu continued to elaborate, "Yes, that Breeding House owner Shiroishi appears to be one of Danzo's Root experiments. He can use his own Bloodline Ability to modify living organisms and create Ninja Beasts."
At these words, Uchiha Madara's fingers paused slightly.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze returning to the three Ninja Beast Eggs with a depth that seemed to pierce through time itself.
"...I see."
Nagato possessed the Rinnegan.
Shiroishi mastered a Bloodline Ability capable of altering life's essence, even giving birth to new creatures.
And the Gedō Mazō, the vessel of the Ten-Tails, inherently symbolized the origin of Chakra life.
The experiments from Konoha were likely another result of Tobirama's Forbidden Techniques, as Danzo of the Root enjoyed studying his teacher's research.
Both Orochimaru and Jiraiya were in the Land of Rain.
All of this perfectly formed a logical chain.
"Has Danzo discovered Nagato's Rinnegan?"
Uchiha Madara's attention shifted, but White Zetsu shook his head. "Jiraiya is protecting him well; it hasn't been discovered yet."
Everything seemed to make sense.
Having pieced this together, Uchiha Madara looked back at the three Ninja Beast Eggs, a rare smile flickering in his eyes.
"So that's why... No wonder the Gedō Mazō reacted to them..."
This explained why the Gedō Mazō desired to devour these three Ninja Beast Eggs.
After all, there couldn't possibly be a second Ten-Tails in this Shinobi World.
"Probably another one of Tobirama's strange toys."
At this point, White Zetsu flatteringly added, "Lord Madara, would you like to try one of these Ninja Beast Eggs? Rumor has it that if resonance occurs, it can transform into the egg most suited to its host."
Hmph.
Uchiha Madara found it somewhat boring.
Nevertheless, he extended a withered finger and gently touched one of the eggs.
The eggshell immediately rippled with a luminous glow, resonating in response.
It transformed into a unique blue Ninja Beast Egg.
Seeing the change on the eggshell's surface, Uchiha Madara chuckled.
Interesting.
He would see what hatched—something to pass his idle time.
As for the remaining two Ninja Beast Eggs, he decided to seal them away for now.
Not long after.
Black Zetsu received feedback from White Zetsu that Uchiha Madara also seemed prepared to hatch one.
Unlike Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu stared intently at the black egg before him.
What exactly would hatch from it...
In the Land of Rain, the sky remained shrouded in unending clouds.
A drizzling rain fell on the muddy roads, splashing up a thin mist.
Yahiko walked ahead, draped in a slightly tattered cloak.
Behind him, Charmeleon crossed its arms, the flame on its tail burning vigorously even in the rain.
The firelight reflected off the damp ground.
Though still somewhat impatient with Yahiko's commands, it ultimately chose to follow.
In the background, Shiroishi appeared silently.
His gaze was calm but held a trace of curiosity as he watched the flickering flame.
If Charmeleon were to evolve into Charizard, could Yahiko truly harness that new power?
Among the trio, Konan and Nagato were gradually aligning more closely with Shiroishi's views.
They both believed that seizing the Land of Rain through force was the most feasible approach.
Yahiko's peaceful methods, though noble, were somewhat too idealistic.
In the original timeline, bound by their friendship and bonds, the two had no choice but to follow Yahiko, but how much they truly agreed with his ideals only they themselves knew.
In truth, Konan and Nagato understood all too well the simple truth that ideals without the power to back them up would only end in tragedy.
Shiroishi stood not far away, gazing at Yahiko's back.
That back remained straight, yet it seemed overly naive.
An idealist...
Shiroishi deeply admired such idealists.
But Shiroishi knew full well that he had to shatter this naive thinking as quickly as possible.
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