People always want a good person to fall and a bad person to be redeemed.
They want the bad guy to turn good because they see their own darkness reflected in him—and if he can be saved, maybe there's hope for them too.
But they also want the good guy to fall. No matter how kindly they behave outwardly, deep down, there's always some hidden malice looking for a place to land. Watching a good person fall gives that darkness a home—and a reason to let go of guilt.
Uchiha Madara wasn't exactly a good person. But he wasn't pure evil either.
He had a dream. One he believed could bring lasting peace to the shinobi world. And to pursue that dream, he'd severed bonds with his closest friend, hidden away in the shadows for decades, and finally awakened the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
Now, though… he was old. If he moved openly, even he would be worn down and killed by the combined might of the ninja villages.
Gone was the thick black hair of his youth. His hair was streaked with white now, and his face bore the age spots and wrinkles that came with time.
Because even someone with the eyes of a god… is still limited by the body of a man.
And that woman, Uzumaki Mito—she wasn't dead yet. If he tried to seize the Nine-Tails by force, she might just drag it down with her.
Madara had no doubt she could do it.
Especially with that strange secret jutsu of hers that let her maintain peak combat power at all times. Add the Nine-Tails' power and the rest of Konoha's strength, and even Madara wouldn't dare make a move lightly.
Not while he was still learning how to fully wield these eyes.
So instead, he'd commanded Black Zetsu to stir up war between the Five Great Nations. To wear down their strength.
This war was merely the prelude to true peace. And Madara didn't see anything wrong with that.
Destroying the Land of Whirlpools had proven to be a masterstroke.
Konoha's borders were already brushing against both Kumogakure and Kirigakure—friction was inevitable.
Now, all that remained was to drag the remaining two villages into the chaos.
Sunagakure had always longed for the fertile lands of the Fire Country. You could tell from how the First Kazekage chose money and land instead of a Tailed Beast—his ambition was clear.
Once three of the villages had Konoha in their sights, Iwagakure wouldn't stand by idly either. That impoverished land—second only to Sunagakure in scarcity—was just as eager to sink its teeth into the Fire Country's wealth.
…
Back in the present.
If he could mold this boy—this emotionally charged, pure-hearted child—into his ideal successor, wouldn't that be amusing?
Force him to do what he didn't want to. Use genjutsu to guide his thoughts. Slowly shape him. Break him. Turn him into the next "Uchiha Madara." And when the time came, send him to collect the Tailed Beasts.
The more Madara thought about it, the clearer his successor plan became.
First, let the boy form bonds—deep ones. Then, slowly tear them away. One by one. Until finally, reveal the truth behind his parents' deaths and push him into complete despair… hatred for the world.
And from that hatred, the perfect "Uchiha Madara" would be born.
"Come here."
Madara beckoned with a hand. The violet hue of his Rinnegan faded, replaced by the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Y-You… are you really Uchiha Madara?"
Kaien hesitated. But the old man's eyes told him what he needed to know—this wasn't a lie. He was Uchiha Madara.
"T-That's… the Mangekyō Sharingan from the legends?"
He was scared. But the moment he saw those eyes, Kaien couldn't help but be in awe.
Every Uchiha craved power. It was in their blood.
Even if this old man might hurt him… those eyes alone were worth following.
That was the Uchiha way—power ruled above all.
And nothing trumped the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"You know about the Mangekyō?"
Madara was intrigued. Sure, the clan had a few hidden Mangekyō users—like Uchiha Kagami, who'd escaped from White Zetsu's trap days ago—but this kid?
"You've heard of it?"
"I-I saw it in the clan archives. The records said Uchiha Madara had these eyes. And your eyes… they look exactly the same."
"You really are Uchiha Madara, aren't you?"
Kaien's voice was filled with a hopeful awe, like a child meeting his hero for the first time.
"Genuine article," Madara said calmly. He didn't need to prove himself.
"Then why did you bring me here? Why don't you return to the clan?"
Kaien's Sharingan had faded without him even noticing, replaced by a wide-eyed, starstruck look. His fear and determination were gone—as if they'd never existed at all.
Even Madara was slightly amused at how fast the boy's attitude flipped. Just a name was enough to turn him completely.
Madara chuckled inwardly.
Look at that. Even after the world thinks me dead and buried… there are still those who revere me.
[Affection from Uchiha Madara +1]
Kaien glanced at the panel in his mind and grinned. His heartfelt performance had paid off.
Totally worth it.
Of course, that desire in his eyes wasn't entirely fake.
The Rinnegan… the fabled eyes that could control life and death.
That level of power—he could use it to cure his Bloodline Illness.
Madara wanted him as a successor, right? Well, he wasn't going to be swayed by words alone. He'd need some real benefits if he was going to play along.
Even a sliver of that Rinnegan power might be enough to fix his condition.
After all, the Bloodline Illness caused by the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was nothing compared to the Rinnegan. Entire worlds apart.
This was a jackpot. Kaien made up his mind—he was going to stick to Madara like glue.
Awkward but eager, Kaien stepped forward with a mixture of worship and shyness.
Madara activated the Outer Path: Hell King ability, scanning the boy thoroughly.
Fortunately, the [Weakness Camouflage] trait did its job. The Rinnegan couldn't detect that Kaien's Sharingan had reached the Three-Tomoe stage.
Still, once the scan was complete, Madara frowned.
"Bloodline Illness?"
"Black Zetsu. Why wasn't this in your report?"
The boy's vitality… it was off. Too faint. And Madara could tell the moment he sensed it.
He'd mastered the Rinne Rebirth technique—the ultimate revival jutsu. And with it, he could see the ebb and flow of life itself, especially when the target wasn't resisting.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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