Nighttime, Fire Country Border, on a Cliff Amidst Blowing Sands
Upon realizing that his resurrection was achieved through Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu) rather than Rinne Tensei (Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique), Madara Uchiha immediately assumed:
Was it that guy? It seems he didn't follow through with our agreement and dared to bring me back in this form.
Without even turning his head, he asked the silent Mu beside him, "Who is the caster of this Edo Tensei?"
"I don't know."
Suddenly, Mu's eyes turned white as Kabuto Yakushi took control and introduced himself. "I am Kabuto, someone privy to your plans."
Madara, arms crossed, still didn't bother to look. "Communicating with me through Edo Tensei? What a sly individual."
Kabuto replied humbly, "This Edo Tensei was prepared especially for you. Right now, you are even stronger than in your prime."
Madara's gaze sharpened, piercing through Kabuto's words. "And how would you know what my prime was like?"
Kabuto maintained his humility. "No, I haven't seen it myself. I simply used my admiration for you as a foundation and did my best to imagine. Whether it meets your expectations will require your personal evaluation."
"Hmph, at least that's a reasonable answer." Madara withdrew his gaze and looked at the desolate, sand-swept landscape ahead. "Where is this place? You claim to know about our plans—what is your purpose in summoning me back to the living world?"
Kabuto explained, "This is the border of the Fire Country. The other Madara—no, the executor of your plan—has already betrayed you. He never intended to resurrect you and has acted on his own. As for where he is now, I—"
"No need to say more. I'll find him myself," Madara interrupted, leaping off the cliff.
Kabuto, controlling Mu, attempted to follow but was stopped cold by Madara's stern voice. "Do not follow me. I despise having anyone at my back!"
Through Mu's eyes, Kabuto watched Madara's figure disappear into the distance. He muttered to himself, "As expected, he's not the easiest person to deal with. No matter. After being dormant for so long, let him stretch his legs a bit. As long as I am the caster of this Edo Tensei, he will eventually be under my control!"
Midway Through His Journey
While running, Madara sensed something unusual. He opened his armor to reveal the face of Hashirama Senju embedded on his chest.
"Hmph, so that's how it is. That Kabuto guy is quite the schemer," Madara mused with a smirk. "However, to dare summon me, he must be another presumptuous fool. No matter—I've waited decades. What's a little more time? I'll wander around for now."
He paused briefly. "Right, I should contact that guy."
Using his thoughts, Madara connected with Black Zetsu, who was lurking far away.
"Lord Madara, you've returned! I've been waiting for you!" Black Zetsu exclaimed.
Madara's tone was cold. "Your chakra feels unstable. What happened?"
"Obito betrayed me. He attacked me viciously. Fortunately, I had prepared in advance and separated part of my body. He doesn't know I'm still alive."
Madara's gaze darkened. "That brat Obito... As expected, he's no ordinary pawn. And Nagato?"
"Nagato used the Rinne Tensei to revive the people of Konoha," Black Zetsu reported.
Madara's expression remained indifferent. "One after another, they all disappoint me. It seems I'll have to handle things myself. Where is Obito's base?"
"In the Fire Country. The exact location is—"
After Black Zetsu provided the coordinates, he added, "But Obito seems to be away, along with Tobi."
Madara frowned. "So the base is empty?"
"There are some White Zetsu clones," Black Zetsu replied.
"Hmph, then there's no point in going there. I'll go directly after Obito," Madara declared.
Black Zetsu interjected, "Not necessarily. Aside from the White Zetsu clones, there's someone else there who might interest you."
Madara's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? And who might that be?"
"His name is Sasuke Uchiha."
Madara's interest waned. "Oh, a surviving Uchiha. I thought it would be someone significant."
Black Zetsu continued, "He has awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Madara froze momentarily before a bold smile spread across his face. "Excellent. I didn't expect such a surprise right after my resurrection. I'll head there immediately."
With that, Madara unleashed his Susano'o in its complete form. The colossal blue figure spread its wings and soared toward the horizon.
Below, the sheer force of his launch split a lake into two.
Elsewhere
Naruto Uzumaki and Konan had arrived at the borders of the Earth Country, near Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village), after a long journey.
Using her Dance of the Shikigami technique, Konan dispersed into paper to scout the village's defenses.
"The defenses are tight, with almost no openings," she reported upon returning.
Naruto nodded. "That old man Ōnoki isn't to be underestimated. He must have strengthened security after what happened with Kumogakure. I have a feeling that if we attack head-on, this battle will be even tougher than the one at the Hidden Cloud."
Konan asked, "Then how should we proceed?"
Naruto closed his eyes in thought.
Iwagakure has an aerial combat unit capable of flight through the Super-Lightweight Rock Technique. Attacking from the air is unwise.
Additionally, their Earth Release techniques are unparalleled. Underground infiltration is nearly impossible.
Konan suggested, "If the air is out and the underground is out, does that mean we'll have to fight our way through the front?"
Naruto opened his eyes and smiled. "Unlike the first time at Kumogakure, when the Raikage wasn't present, I usually prefer negotiation before battle. Ōnoki is a senior figure in the ninja world; he might have some foresight. Konan-nee, please deliver a letter for me."
Naruto wrote a letter, earnestly requesting to borrow Iwagakure's secret technique scrolls. He promised not to disseminate their contents and expressed his intentions with utmost sincerity.
Ōnoki read the letter and fell into deep thought.
His son, Kitsuchi, was furious. "What insolence! Does he not know his place?!"
But Ōnoki calmly replied, "Not necessarily. I think this boy has the makings of a great leader."
Kitsuchi scoffed. "A mere rogue ninja dares to negotiate with our village? Where does he get the audacity?"
Ōnoki explained, "He indeed has the leverage to negotiate. At the Five Kage Summit, he absorbed my Dust Release technique. This means my strongest trump card might not work against him. If we truly fought, the village would suffer heavy losses. Kumogakure is a prime example. It's not worth sacrificing so many lives for a scroll."
Kitsuchi argued, "So we just hand over our scrolls?"
Ōnoki smirked cunningly. "Of course not. Draft a reply for me."
In his reply, Ōnoki agreed to lend the secret technique scrolls but demanded an exchange: Naruto must provide the secret scrolls he obtained from Kumogakure. Additionally, Naruto was forbidden from sharing the contents of the scrolls he received.
The wisdom of age truly prevails.
After reading Ōnoki's reply, Naruto chuckled. "Deal. But in return, Iwagakure must include an additional technique—the Dustless Bewildering Cover of the Second Tsuchikage!"