The embers of the fire crackled as Madara's voice echoed through the dim cabin.
He let out a derisive laugh, his crimson Sharingan glinting eerily in the firelight.
"These fools can't even awaken the Mangekyō, and yet they dare stage a coup?"
Shisui frowned, frustration in his tone.
"The Uchiha clan's situation is complicated. We've been sidelined from the village's center of power. Even the guard squad's authority keeps being diminished…"
"So?" Madara cut him off, a mocking smirk curling his lips.
"Rebellion is one thing, but doing it without absolute certainty is no different from marching straight to your death."
The Nine-Tails swished its tail.
"Hey, old man, didn't you rebel back in the day too?"
Madara snorted coldly.
"Do you think that's the same? I was creating a new world, not writhing like a dying dog."
Back then, no one could stop him except Hashirama—so he dared act.
A flash of anger crossed Shisui's one eye.
"Then what do you think should be done?"
Madara folded his arms, a dangerous smile forming.
"Since you're sincerely asking, I'll graciously share a few options."
He raised a finger.
"Hang the current clan leader and those few war-minded elders' heads at Konoha's gates. The rest of the rabble will fall in line."
Madara spoke as if they were already dead, incapable of resistance.
Shisui's face turned pale.
"Are you insane?! They're our clanmates!"
Madara waved him off impatiently.
"Indecisive. When Madara Uchiha and Hashirama founded the village, seven elders of the Senju opposed it. The next day, they collectively 'passed away.'"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Dad! That's too cruel!"
The Nine-Tails grinned.
"I'd say it's efficient."
After all, the fastest way to solve a problem is to eliminate it entirely.
Seeing Shisui's horrified expression, Madara held up a second finger.
"Then use the second method—you have the Mangekyō, don't you?"
He gestured toward the vial in Shisui's hand.
"Capture the coup leaders, brainwash them with your genjutsu, and turn them into Konoha's loyal dogs."
Shisui's fingers trembled.
"Kotoamatsukami is meant to protect peace, not—"
"Naïve!" Madara snapped.
"Do you think Hashirama convinced the clans to let go of their hatred through speeches?"
His Sharingan rotated slightly.
"The strongest genjutsu is for controlling minds, or is it just decoration?"
Back when they founded Konoha, apart from the two clans' opposition, other forces resisted as well.
If Hashirama hadn't warned him against annihilating the opposition, Madara wouldn't have bothered brainwashing them one by one.
Shisui was speechless but pressed on.
"Are there any other options?"
Madara's smile turned cold and sinister.
"Or… I could 'tip off' Danzō for you."
"What?!"
"Let Root and the Anbu suppress the coup. When they've weakened each other…" Madara made a throat-slashing motion.
"One move, two problems solved."
Shisui staggered to his feet, swaying from his injuries.
"You… you're scarier than Danzō!"
Madara stretched lazily.
"If all else fails, I'll let the Nine-Tails take a spin and flatten both Konoha and the Uchiha. Rebuilding is far easier than reforming."
The Nine-Tails' ears twitched.
"Hey! Why should I listen to you?"
Madara teased.
"Haven't you always wanted a chance to stretch your legs?"
Shisui couldn't speak. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He was now certain—the 'child' before him was a monster a hundred times more dangerous than Danzō.
"What? Not satisfied?" Madara mocked.
"Then stop acting like a savior in front of me."
Shisui drew a deep breath, forcing himself calm.
"…Who are you really? Why do you know so much about the Uchiha?"
Madara turned to the door. Moonlight outlined his small but dangerous frame.
"Just a wandering spirit who couldn't stand by."
Before Shisui could ask more, Madara sensed something approaching at breakneck speed.
"Tch… trouble."
At almost the same moment, the wooden window shattered under a cold flash of light.
An Anbu ninja wearing a tanuki mask burst in like a phantom, short blade aimed at Naruto's limbs—
Kunai clashed with the blade, sparks flying.
Madara controlled Naruto's small body, managing to block the strike.
Yet the gap in strength forced him to step back several paces.
The Anbu leapt, voice muffled through the mask.
"Who are you? Why are you controlling Konoha's jinchūriki?"
Madara shook his tingling wrist, eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Oh? You attack first, ask questions later? Aren't you afraid of killing the jinchūriki by mistake?"
Shisui struggled to his feet.
"Wait! Itachi, he's not an enemy!"
The air froze.
The Anbu's hand hovered midair as he slowly removed his mask.
Beneath the black hair was a face Shisui recognized—a peer in age but marked by hardship.
"Shisui… brother?"
Seeing Shisui as the barrier, Itachi finally relaxed slightly.
But catching sight of Shisui's bandaged right eye, the three-tomoe Sharingan whirled violently.
"Your eye…"
Shisui touched his bandaged eye.
"It was Danzō's ambush. And this person recovered it for me."
He held up the vial containing his right eye for Itachi to see.
Madara studied Itachi with interest.
"So this is the contemporary Uchiha prodigy?"
Itachi's murderous aura eased a bit, though his Sharingan remained locked on Madara.
"Who are you? Why are you possessing Naruto?"
Madara suddenly laughed.
The laugh came from the child's body, but carried the rasp of someone weathered by life.
The three-tomoe Sharingan began twisting, connecting, forming an increasingly intricate pattern—
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!
"This question," Madara's childish voice shifted to a deep, commanding tone,
"You should ask the stone tablet in your clan's shrine."
Itachi staggered back three steps, as if struck by lightning.
"Impossible… this chakra…"
Not just Itachi, but Shisui was also shocked.
This chakra couldn't be wrong—it could only belong to an Uchiha.
And someone this powerful? Only Madara Uchiha.
Shisui recalled the earlier conversation—how this person knew Konoha's founding secrets in such detail.
"…But why? You…"
"I am no one now. I am just this child's father."
Before either could ask more, Madara cut off the questions.