"Be careful." Mito's thoughts were complex as she admonished Kazuki.

Both she and Kazuki knew that the situation in Kirigakure was most likely related to Madara, but neither of them intended to reveal it.

They also didn't know what Madara would do when Kazuki went to the Kirigakure battlefield, but they still had to be careful.

"I understand, grandma Mito, and besides, he's no longer match." Kazuki said with full confidence.

Madara was indeed powerful, but he wasn't nothing either.

"Arrogance is still not acceptable, you are not invincible yet." Mito still admonished him worriedly.

Now, Kazuki's opponent was the Sage of Six Paths. She might need to research some ninjutsu specifically for protecting souls.

If the Sage of Six Paths wanted to take over Kazuki's body, that was something she absolutely could not accept.

"I understand." Kazuki nodded slightly.

He naturally wouldn't take Mito's concern for granted, but there weren't many people he truly feared now.

Madara should no longer be his match, and as for Hagoromo, if it was just his soul, it seemed he couldn't defeat him either.

"Wait, I'll have someone bring you food. After you eat, get a good night's rest." Mito then said to Kazuki.

In the past, Mito would have personally cooked for them, but in the last year or two, she had aged a lot, to the point where she no longer cooked.

Fortunately, as long as Mito gave the word, someone would naturally deliver her meals.

…

While Kazuki was enjoying a rare day of rest, the Konoha camp against Kirigakure was filled with wails.

This was not the previous camp, it had been re-established in another location after the original main camp was destroyed.

Nearly half of the ninjas were killed or injured in Kirigakure's massive attack, and many ninjas lost the possibility of continuing their career as ninjas, unable to maintain a normal life afterward.

Fugaku lied inside his tent, staring blankly at the top of the tent. His cousin had died protecting him, and the Uchiha who had followed him also suffered heavy losses in this battle. Seeing those people sacrifice themselves one by one to protect him filled Fugaku's heart with anger, confusion, and hatred.

He covered his eyes with his hands. His eyes were different from ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan, he had awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan.

But what use was it?

The dead could not return.

Most importantly, when Fugaku awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, he clearly felt a powerful pupil power on Six-Tails. Six-Tails was being controlled by someone, or rather, by the ocular power of a Sharingan.

Fugaku immediately thought of Kazuki. Kazuki was very powerful and had defeated the demigod Hanzō before. They had long suspected that Kazuki had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Kazuki had been in the Land of Water for over a year, which was enough time for him to do many things. Only he could control Six-Tails, and this time, their encounter with Six-Tails' attack must be Kazuki's conspiracy.

Thinking of this possibility, when Fugaku thought of Kazuki's name, his killing intent became almost palpable.

Undoubtedly, Kazuki had been made a scapegoat for Madara this time.

It was clearly Madara who controlled Six-Tails, but Fugaku believed it was Kazuki's doing.

However, this was precisely Madara's goal, to nurture Fugaku to deal with Kazuki was part of Madara's plan.

What Madara didn't know, however, was that Kazuki had not awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan and didn't need to worry about going blind. He had already awakened the Rinnegan and had become an existence on his level, or even stronger than him.

For Madara to want to train a proxy to contend with Kazuki, wasn't that just wishful thinking?

However, neither Madara nor Fugaku knew these things. All they knew was what Kazuki wanted them to know.

"I cannot die here, I cannot let Kazuki's scheme succeed, and I cannot let him know that I have awakened my Mangekyo Sharingan." Fugaku quickly made his decision.

Kazuki certainly had greater control over the Mangekyo Sharingan than he did, but he was confident that once he became familiar with these eyes, he would certainly not be inferior to Kazuki.

Now he needed to return to the village, and only in the village could Kazuki not make a move against him.

…

On the other side, Black Zetsu excitedly ran to Madara to report, "Madara-sama, Fugaku has awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan."

"He awakened it? Did he witness his clansmen and relatives die before his eyes?" Madara's expression was in a daze.

Someone who could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan was no ordinary person. Back then, he and Izuna had awakened their Mangekyo Sharingan upon witnessing their father's death. One person's death created two pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan.

And Fugaku did not disappoint him, awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan. Fugaku now had the qualifications for him to train.

"Yes, he witnessed his cousin die while protecting him."

Black Zetsu secretly pondered how to train Fugaku. Kazuki was Hagoromo's Chakra Otsutsuki. Madara and Fugaku alone were not enough.

If possible, Black Zetsu even wanted to wait until Kazuki died of old age first. After all, even Hagoromo was not the purest of the Ōtsutsuki. He was subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Those two rebellious sons were already dead now.

However, Black Zetsu would not doubt Hagoromo's abilities, he was living in another way. Doubting Hagoromo was doubting Kaguya's abilities.

"Hmm, later you go and find a way to give him some guidance, for example, on how to use the Mangekyo Sharingan."

After some thought, Madara instructed Black Zetsu, "Also, pay close attention to Nagato. Absolutely do not let Kazuki know about the Rinnegan."

Kazuki's ocular power was very strong, this was what Madara was concerned about. His ocular power was probably not inferior to his own when he had first awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

How did Kazuki manage to do it?

Fortunately, the other party was still young, and he himself had already awakened the Rinnegan. Madara was confident that once his plan was complete and he revived, no one in the Ninja World would be his match.

"Yes, Madara-sama." Black Zetsu nodded slightly.

"How do we further strengthen Fugaku? Especially the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, it's not that easy to obtain."

"It depends on Ryoma. Hmph, that brat has had quite a bit of cunning since he was young. Although his strength isn't great, his mind is actually quite good."

"Moreover, his bloodline is good, he might even be able to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. At least, Fugaku is very important to him."