Chapter 94 – All Because of Love
Inside Uchiha Madara's cavern—
Black Zetsu gently laid the unconscious Uchiha Makoto on a cold stone slab before walking straight over to Madara's side.
Madara opened his eyes. In truth, he had been awake, quietly awaiting Black Zetsu's return. The outcome of this operation would determine the course of his next plans.
As his periods of dormancy grew longer, Nagato had begun to drift beyond his control. If this continued, Madara's grand plan would be completely thrown into disarray. He even began to doubt whether, after his death, Black Zetsu would be capable of using Nagato to bring him back.
More than ever, Madara needed a new vessel—someone with both strength and potential to carry out his will.
"Lord Madara, the mission you entrusted to me is complete. He has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Black Zetsu whispered the report into Madara's ear.
Even someone like Madara—who had weathered the storms of the shinobi world and once stood at its pinnacle—couldn't help but show a flicker of joy upon hearing that news.
The first step had been taken. The path forward would now be much smoother. The difference in power between an Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan and one without was astronomical.
Now that Makoto had awakened the Mangekyō, he was finally worthy of becoming one of Madara's chess pieces.
Of course, it would still require guidance—Madara's guidance.
He gave Black Zetsu a light nod to show he understood, then paid him no further attention and silently waited for Uchiha Makoto to awaken.
After a long while, Makoto's body twitched slightly. His eyes slowly opened in a daze. He sat up and rubbed his forehead absentmindedly. Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something, he froze.
It was like the soul had suddenly left his body.
"Have you begun to understand the world now? Humanity is like this. Constantly fighting each other—endless conflict, all for a tiny scrap of gain."
"So many like your father… have died in meaningless wars. Have you thought it through? Will you join my plan to purify this world—to bring true and eternal peace?"
Madara's tone was persuasive, his eyes watching the despondent Makoto closely.
But Makoto simply sat there, still as a statue, not responding. If not for the faint breath escaping his lips, one could have mistaken him for a corpse.
Madara had anticipated this reaction long ago—and he had prepared accordingly.
When Izuna died, hadn't Madara been the same?
He believed that once Makoto heard what he was about to say next, he would fall in line without question.
"I can bring Uchiha Hanshan back to life."
Facing the hollow shell that was Makoto, Madara delivered the words calmly.
Sure enough, the light returned to Makoto's eyes. It was as though his soul had been restored. He suddenly stood up, glaring at Madara with fierce intensity.
"Are you serious?!"
Madara's words had shattered Makoto's understanding of the world. Makoto didn't believe resurrection was possible—but even if he didn't believe it, in that moment, a part of him desperately wanted to.
Even if Madara were lying, Makoto wanted to be deceived. That's just how humans are—always willing to deceive themselves.
Even if it was a lie, he still had to try. Because what if it were true?
"You should know—the Uchiha clan has long been called a 'cursed clan.' The Sharingan is the embodiment of that curse. And when it evolves to its highest form, it becomes the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"That is our clan's greatest power. I'm sure by now, you've already felt it for yourself."
Madara paused, glancing at the rapidly spinning pinwheel pattern in Makoto's eyes, then continued.
"But most people only know about the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan—they don't know the cost. Every time you use its abilities, your eyesight deteriorates. Eventually, it will lead to total blindness."
Though Makoto hadn't known this before, he barely registered the warning. Right now, there was only one thing on his mind—how to bring his father back.
Madara, never one for unnecessary talk, cut to the heart of the matter.
"But the Mangekyō is not the final evolution. Beyond it lies the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, which eliminates the side effects of blindness… and beyond even that, the legendary Rinnegan—possessed only by the Sage of Six Paths."
"Our Uchiha clan is descended from the Sage himself. We inherited his eyes, and the Rinnegan holds the power to bring the dead back to life. After my final battle with Hashirama, I awakened the Rinnegan."
Madara revealed the secret with an air of reverence. Makoto's eyes lit up with desperate hope.
"Then how… how can you bring my father back?!"
Makoto clutched at Madara's cloak like a man dying of thirst being handed a bottle of water.
"It's not me who will bring him back—it's you who will help me."
Madara's energy had nearly been exhausted from years without rest, but now was the time to press the advantage. After a brief pause, he continued under Makoto's intense gaze.
"After my battle with Hashirama, my body was on the verge of collapse. I could no longer sustain the Rinnegan's power. In the Land of Rain, I found a child from the Uzumaki clan and transplanted my eyes into him. He has now founded an organization there. I need you to find him and guide him to collect the Tailed Beasts—once they are gathered, he will become the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails."
"Then, use your Sharingan to control him and make him perform the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect me. After I'm revived, I will bring your father back."
Now that Madara had full control over Makoto's heart, he saw no reason to hide the plan. He laid everything out.
"Fine. I'll help you—but you'd better not lie to me! If you do, I'll stop you, even at the cost of my life!"
At this point, all Makoto could think of was reviving Uchiha Hanshan. He agreed quickly.
But in his heart, he had other thoughts.
Once the Tailed Beasts were gathered, he would use the Rinnegan to command Nagato to revive his father directly.
He couldn't bring himself to fully trust Madara—but if the Rinnegan could bring back Madara, it could bring back his father too.
In the days that followed, Uchiha Madara taught Makoto how to fight using the Mangekyō Sharingan and how to wield the Uchiha clan's secret techniques—abilities that could only be accessed after awakening the Mangekyō.
Thanks to the transplant of Hashirama's Sage Body cells, Makoto's body could now withstand frequent use of the Mangekyō's abilities without consequence.
And his eyes had developed unique powers of their own.
The Sharingan, also known as the "Eye that Reflects the Heart," manifests differently for each Mangekyō user.
When Makoto awakened his Mangekyō, his heart was filled with regret—he hated himself for arriving too late.
Thus, his left eye awakened a space-time ninjutsu akin to the Flying Thunder God Technique, allowing him to instantly teleport to any location he could see. Instant Transmission.
And due to the part of him that refused to accept Uchiha Hanshan's death, his right eye developed a power that could drag himself—and others—into a completely isolated dimension. Fantasy Realm.
When used together, both eyes could summon his personal Susanoo. However, since he had only just awakened it, Makoto still didn't know what form his complete Susanoo would ultimately take.