Black Zetsu—the "dutiful son," the secret puppet-master who has lurked in the shadows for a thousand years and directed the entire plot of Naruto.

Although he possesses little power of his own, he excels at sowing discord and manipulating others, stopping at nothing for a single goal:

—To resurrect his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

Yet in a millennium he has not even achieved the first step:

Indra must defeat Asura.

Even in their most recent incarnations, Uchiha Madara failed to overcome Senju Hashirama.

Just as Black Zetsu was falling into despair, he discovered that Madara had gained Hashirama's power and was on the verge of awakening the Rinnegan.

Overjoyed, he immediately set an enormous plan in motion.

Disguising himself as Madara's own will, he appeared to serve Madara yet secretly pulled every string.

From grooming Uchiha Obito as a successor, to guiding Nagato as the Rinnegan's bearer, to the Akatsuki's Tailed-Beast capture scheme—Black Zetsu's shadow lay behind it all.

Everything seemed within his grasp.

Until—

Uchiha Chiyu burst upon the scene.

That sudden, terrifying existence shattered every one of Black Zetsu's schemes.

Obito, that useless pawn, was crushed outright.

Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain were even less of a match.

Even "the God of Shinobi" Hashirama, revived by Orochimaru's Edo Tensei, fell to this man.

At this rate …

Forget reviving Kaguya—capturing even a single Tailed Beast was impossible.

Black Zetsu understood: with only the power of Obito, Nagato, and the Akatsuki, he could never oppose Uchiha Chiyu.

His lone hope was to revive the most crucial piece on the board—

—Uchiha Madara.

But this was no simple task, because Obito had no real intention of following Madara's script.

Black Zetsu did not know the "canon" timeline; he had no idea Obito would betray Madara, transplant Nagato's Rinnegan into himself after Nagato's death, and attempt to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan alone.

Still, he could see plainly that once Obito secured power, betrayal was certain. In truth, both men merely used one another.

"To revive Madara I need the Rinnegan, but Obito refuses. I can't force him …

Perhaps a roundabout path: use Edo Tensei to call Madara's soul back, and then …

He can achieve the plan himself!"

Black Zetsu quickly found a solution—and the key player:

Orochimaru.

After Tobirama's death, Orochimaru alone commanded the Edo Tensei. If Black Zetsu guided him to Madara's corpse and supplied the necessary research, a fully powered Madara could descend upon the shinobi world.

A hunter's smile crept across Zetsu's face.

"Mother, there is no need to worry …

You will be resurrected soon.

Wait for me."

While Uchiha Chiyu, now the ruler of the ninja world, was busy unifying and reforming the Five Great Villages, Black Zetsu made his move.

Obito and Nagato alike were reeling, distracted—leaving Zetsu the perfect opening.

He knew Orochimaru never truly died. Though Chiyu appeared to slay the snake, Orochimaru always kept an escape route. Black Zetsu's intelligence network swiftly located the revived Sannin; instead of revealing himself, he manipulated Orochimaru's subordinates, dropping hints that led Orochimaru step by step toward Madara's trail.

Unbeknownst to Zetsu, this mirrored the original timeline in which he used Kabuto Yakushi to resurrect Madara.

…

"Kabuto, are you certain?"

The bespectacled youth, Yakushi Kabuto, nodded calmly.

"I'm certain. The source is credible. For you, Orochimaru-sama, this is a gift. After all, even the God of Shinobi lost to Uchiha Chiyu; only one man might stand against him—Uchiha Madara."

Orochimaru's serpentine eyes narrowed.

"Can I trust you, Kabuto? Danzo's finest spy, moving through the Five Nations without once being exposed—even inside the Akatsuki, Sasori believed you served only him …"

Kabuto answered softly.

"Before you died to Uchiha Chiyu, you left a Cursed Seal to revive yourself, and I alone restored you from it—is that not proof of loyalty?"

Orochimaru chuckled coldly.

"Not necessarily. Others could have done the same. You don't think you're my only contingency, do you?"

Kabuto bowed. "I will prove myself."

Orochimaru let the matter drop.

"Very well—revive Madara."

…

Later … Akatsuki's hidden base.

Around the Gedo Statue's fingers stood shadowy figures—not via the Phantom Technique but in the flesh. Nagato, weakened yet alive, appeared in a new "Pain" body. Beside him were Konan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Sasori, Jūzō Biwa, Orochimaru … and two newcomers: a masked man calling himself "Tobi" (in truth Obito in disguise) and the former Mist ninja Kisame Hoshigaki.

Though morale had fallen, the roster was the strongest it had ever been.

Together they performed the Demonic Statue's extraction to seal the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails. Even with nine members, the process took three days.

Nagato looked coldly at the lifeless jinchūriki before him.

"We captured two, but … the rest are either dead by Chiyu's hand or hidden in the villages he commands. Finishing the Project may be impossible."

Just then, a voice echoed from the darkness.

"Then abandon it—the so-called Tailed Beast Weapon Plan!"

Akatsuki members froze. Someone else was here—and the chakra was terrifying. Nagato's Rinnegan locked onto the newcomer.

"You … you can't be …"

From the shadows strode a man with long black hair, black combat garb overlaid by crimson armor. Arms folded, eyes closed—until they snapped open, unleashing a storm of chakra and authority that crushed every soul present.

The most shocked of all was the "masked man" Tobi—Uchiha Obito.

"You … how are you …"

Many had never seen this man, yet the aura alone revealed his identity. Kakuzu's voice trembled.

"U-Uchiha Madara?!"

Seeing the Reanimation glimmer of his body, all eyes turned to Orochimaru.

Nagato demanded, "Orochimaru, what have you done?!"

Orochimaru laughed softly.

"Merely an interesting experiment. A generous gift to Akatsuki—and the entire shinobi world: Edo-Tensei Uchiha Madara."

Madara glanced at Orochimaru with disdain, then at Obito, who lowered his head, conflicted. Finally his gaze settled on Nagato.

"Nagato, you disappoint me."

Nagato's heart lurched—why did Madara know his real name? Barely anyone in Akatsuki knew!

Madara's faint smirk cut him deeper.

"Shocked? If I told you … that your Rinnegan was my gift to you?"

Nagato was stunned. In the Ame, the bedridden true Nagato coughed violently; Konan tried to calm him.

Madara continued.

"I, Uchiha Madara, was the first since the Sage of Six Paths to awaken the Rinnegan. You, Nagato, were merely a puppet chosen before my death. Catching the Tailed Beast was your task, but you have failed."

Nagato clenched his fists. "Are you saying the Tailed Beast Plan is also yours? Then that other one—" he glanced at "Tobi."

Madara snorted.

"The 'other Madara'? He inherited my will, but the Tailed Beast Weapon Plan was only a smokescreen. My true goal is singular—the Eye of the Moon Plan."

Nagato frowned. "The Eye of the Moon Plan? What is that?"

Madara openly laid out his grand design. Even seasoned criminals were left reeling.

Nagato said gravely, "If your Eye of the Moon Plan succeeds, it's no different from destroying the world. Is that your path to peace?"

Madara scoffed. "You aren't fit to discuss peace with me. I need no one's approval. You have only one choice—submit."

Silence fell. Kisame broke it first.

"The Eye of the Moon Plan, huh? I'm in."

Sasori: "I don't care either way."

Kakuzu: "Opposing Madara would be foolish."

Jūzō nodded. Zetsu and Orochimaru of course agreed. "Tobi" remained silent.

Only Nagato and Konan withheld their answer.

Madara's voice chilled. "Nagato, I spared you because you're still useful. You think you can defy me? Aside from Hashirama, no one has that right."

Orochimaru chuckled. "There's someone else now …"

Madara's face darkened. He had heard of the man who toppled Hashirama and crushed all resistance—Uchiha Chiyu.

"That man, Uchiha Chiyu … troublesome, yes. But he cannot halt my great plan! Obey, or die."

Rain Village. Konan whispered, "Nagato, accept for now. If Madara and Chiyu clash, we may seize our chance." Nagato sighed and nodded.

Nagato (through Pain) spoke: "Madara, I will obey, even hand Akatsuki to you. But if the Eye of the Moon Plan fails, I will pursue my own path."

Madara smiled. "Agreed. It will not fail."

This Madara—formed through Black Zetsu's machinations and Orochimaru's jutsu—was stronger than ever: Edo Tensei, Eternal Mangekyō, Rinnegan, Hashirama's cells, Wood Style, and limitless stamina. Any one of those was overwhelming; together they forged an incomparable force.

He could have compelled Nagato to use Rinne Tensei to revive him fully, yet for now he chose the Edo body—useful in its own right, and better suited to amassing power, gathering the Tailed Beast, and confronting Uchiha Chiyu.

Madara leapt atop the Gedo Statue's head, towering above all.

Hands once folded now opened; his voice thundered:

"A new era begins.

From this moment …

Akatsuki stands under my command!

The Eye of the Moon Plan—

Officially starts now!"

~~~

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