Konoha.
Upon returning to Konoha, Chiba didn't immediately report his mission. Instead, he went to find Orochimaru once again.
"Chiba-kun, I heard you left Konoha for a few days to handle our business?" Orochimaru inquired with a sly smile.
"Yes, the initial funds have been secured. Now, we just need to wait for the base and laboratory to be completed," Chiba replied casually, taking a sip of water.
"So quickly?" Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
It had only been a few days since their last meeting, yet in such a short time, Chiba had already gathered the substantial funds required for their project. This made Orochimaru reassess his understanding of the young Uchiha.
"The sooner, the better, don't you think? I believe you're looking forward to it as much as I am, Orochimaru-sensei," Chiba said with a smirk.
"You're right. The sooner, the better," Orochimaru agreed.
"There's something else I need to tell you, Orochimaru-sensei. We have a new partner—I hope you don't mind."
Chiba carefully observed Orochimaru's expression, but the legendary Sannin showed no sign of displeasure.
"Our funding is being provided by this person, and they will continue to invest in the future."
Orochimaru suddenly understood. He had been wondering how Chiba managed to gather such a large sum in such a short period. It turned out he had found someone willing to foot the bill.
He didn't mind having another partner, but he was curious about who this person was and why they were willing to be taken advantage of.
"Chiba-kun, can you tell me who this person is? Since we're all partners now, I have the right to know, don't I?"
Chiba expected this question but wasn't ready to reveal the identity just yet.
"You're right, but you'll meet them soon enough," Chiba replied vaguely.
"Alright," Orochimaru nodded, letting the matter rest for now.
A Familiar Underground Lair
Uchiha Madara sat on a stone throne, resting his head against one hand in deep thought.
"Black Zetsu, have you found the person I need?"
At his words, the shadowy figure of Black Zetsu emerged.
"Yes, Lord Madara, I have."
"Oh? Tell me about them."
Madara's mood lightened. It had been nearly ten years since he gave this order to Black Zetsu, and now, at last, they had a candidate.
"The child resides in Amegakure," Black Zetsu began. "He is a member of the Uzumaki clan."
Madara's eyes gleamed with interest.
"The father is unaware of the special circumstances surrounding his wife and child," Black Zetsu continued.
"A child from the Uzumaki clan? This is promising," Madara muttered to himself.
For years, he had been searching for a suitable vessel—someone capable of bearing the Rinnegan.
He had conducted countless experiments, implanting the Rinnegan into various subjects. Ordinary people could not handle the power; the moment they tried to use the abilities, their chakra was drained, and they died.
Even those with kekkei genkai were insufficient. He had tested shinobi from renowned clans like Kirigakure's Hozuki, the Kaguya, and Kumogakure's Yotsuki, yet none could endure the strain.
Through these failures, Madara realized that the vessel needed an immense chakra reserve—something only a select few possessed.
The best candidates were the Jinchūriki, but they were closely monitored by the major villages. Attacking them would expose his presence before the time was right.
That left the next best option—the Uzumaki clan.
The Uzumaki were renowned for their immense chakra reserves, even surpassing the Senju clan in raw stamina. After all, not everyone was a Hashirama.
Madara briefly considered the Uchiha but dismissed the idea. Though he had severed ties with his clan, he recalled his brother Izuna's dying words:
"Brother, after I die, I entrust our clan to you. Please ensure its survival."
Because of Izuna's wish, Madara had chosen not to harm the Uchiha.
Now, he refocused on Black Zetsu's report.
"You said the child's mother is also an Uzumaki?"
"Yes, Lord Madara," Black Zetsu confirmed.
Madara sighed. He held no sentimental attachment to the Uzumaki clan, yet he had known many of them before his falling out with Hashirama.
And Hashirama's wife, Uzumaki Mito, had been a princess of their clan.
The destruction of Uzushiogakure had left only a handful of survivors, scattered and hiding across the world.
Madara shook off these thoughts and issued his command.
"Black Zetsu, I entrust this task to you. Replace the child's eyes without anyone noticing."
"Understood, Lord Madara."
Black Zetsu was unsurprised. Uchiha Madara had no allies left—his own clan had abandoned him. Only Black Zetsu and the White Zetsu army remained.
However, in truth, Black Zetsu had never been Madara's servant. His true goal was to resurrect his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and Madara was just another pawn.
Madara, unaware of this deception, nodded.
Apart from himself, only Black Zetsu was reliable enough for this mission—it was, after all, the embodiment of his own will.
Amegakure
The hidden village of rain, perpetually shrouded in mist and storms, had an unexpected visitor today.
Black Zetsu, carrying the Rinnegan entrusted to him by Madara, arrived in the village undetected.
Beside him, a half-white figure spoke.
"Hey, Black Zetsu, when are we making our move?" White Zetsu asked playfully.
Black Zetsu ignored him.
Although White Zetsu had been created from Kaguya's transformation of ordinary humans, he was merely a tool—nothing more.
Seeing Black Zetsu's silence, White Zetsu wisely shut his mouth.
Black Zetsu glanced at him briefly, suppressing the irritation he felt toward the talkative creature.
Amegakure's Market
Nagato stood by his parents' vegetable stall, helping manage their small business.
In the Land of Rain, where it rained nearly year-round, aquatic resources were abundant, but the production of grains and vegetables was scarce.
Most of the country's food supply was imported from other nations, making fresh produce a valuable commodity.
Due to certain connections, Nagato's father had secured a stall in the market, allowing their family to live a relatively stable life compared to others in the war-torn village.
But today, as Nagato arranged the vegetables on display, he was unaware that he had already been marked by the shadows lurking in Amegakure.