Konoha: Starting with Sage Mode

Upon hearing Madara Uchiha's words, Yahiko and the others breathed a sigh of relief, secretly thinking that they could finally leave this awful place.

All ten of them were forced to come here to serve as tools of Madara Uchiha, and they couldn't even resist. They could only obediently do as they were told. It was really unpleasant to be treated like a puppet.

Unfortunately, they know it's too late now. This is probably the price they have to pay for accepting the power that wasn't rightfully theirs.

They have now essentially sold their souls to the devil, and from now on, their lives are no longer in their own hands.

Soon, the ten illusory figures disappeared one after another, leaving only Uchiha Madara in the underground space that concealed the Gedo Mazo.

The next moment, a flame suddenly lit up in the darkness, quickly dispelling the darkness in the underground space and embracing the place with firelight once again.

Under the firelight, the appearance of the Gedo Mazo and the environment of the underground space were clearly presented to Madara Uchiha.

If anyone else were here, they would find that half of the giant Golem's body was submerged in water, and that the crystal-clear water contained many root-like things, each ending in a humanoid creature.

It was White Zetsu.

As the Gedo Mazo further revived, the life force on these White Zetsu connected to the Gedo Mazo grew increasingly strong, with some of them even emitting powerful chakra fluctuations and the aura of Wood Release.

"It has finally grown up. It was because the Gedo Mazo's chakra was insufficient to support so many White Zetsu before. Now it's all right. With these White Zetsu, the puzzle of my conquest of the entire ninja world is officially complete."

Madara Uchiha stood on the water's surface, using his Rinnegan to observe the White Zetsu within. He noticed that they were all growing vigorously, and an excited and expectant expression immediately appeared on his face.

While the undead army created by the Impure World Reincarnation technique is certainly good, there are too many defective products among them, with varying strengths. Most of them can only be used as cannon fodder, and are not enough to exert influence on the battlefield.

These White Zetsu before him were different. Once they grew up, each of them would have at least the strength of a Chunin, and they also possessed many strange ninjutsu.

For example, the Mayfly Swimming Technique maximizes mobility; the Disguise Technique maximizes stealth capabilities; and the Fusion Technique allows several Chunin-level White Zetsu to fuse together, creating a solid Jonin-level combatant.

What he was most looking forward to was that some of the exceptionally talented White Zetsu possessed the power of Wood Release. Like Tobi, they were special individuals among the White Zetsu, each with extremely high growth potential.

If the Gedo Mazo grants them enough power, each of them will possess Kage-level combat strength.

Therefore, the White Zetsu before him are the real source of his confidence to fight against the entire ninja world on his own. However, this confidence can only be maximized after he recovers the other tailed beasts one by one.

Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan lit up slightly, and he said, "Black Zetsu?"

"Yes, Lord Ban, I have something urgent to report to you."

The next moment, Black Zetsu emerged from the rock wall behind Madara Uchiha and said respectfully.

"explain."

Madara Uchiha leaped back onto the head of the Gedo Mazo, then gestured for Black Zetsu to continue.

Black Zetsu immediately relayed the intelligence he had gathered: "Lord Madara, Konoha has officially intervened in the battle between Iwagakure and Sunagakure. They are helping Iwagakure, but they are doing so under the guise of maintaining peace in the ninja world."

"Oh, at this point, Konoha actually intervened in the battle between Iwagakure and Sunagakure. I thought they would be happy to see it and just watch the show from the sidelines. Who did Konoha send?"

Madara Uchiha said with some surprise.

In his eyes, Konoha didn't have a good relationship with the other ninja villages. The people of Konoha would rather the other ninja villages fight each other to the death. Now, they were actually helping Iwagakure to attack Sunagakure. It was really unbelievable.

"It seems that Hashirama's granddaughter is just like him, someone who likes to meddle in other people's business," Madara Uchiha thought to himself.

"It's the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. I heard that he volunteered to go to the front line this time, and he also led many ninjas from the Sarutobi clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho clan. They have already set off and are estimated to arrive at the battlefield of Iwagakure and Sunagakure in a few days."

Black Zetsu replied.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, hmph, what a pity."

Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha cursed inwardly.

He had originally hoped that Kirito would go, or at least that Chizuru Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, and others would go, but he never expected that it would be Hiruzen Sarutobi, this useless person who had already lost power.

He no longer has any intention of kidnapping Hiruzen Sarutobi to extort money from Konoha.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi has already stepped down, and his importance to Konoha is not what it used to be. More importantly, Konoha is unlikely to suffer another loss like this, and Kirito Tohsaka will not use his remaining Rinnegan for a trade.

"Lord Madara, what should we do next? If Konoha intervenes, Sunagakure will definitely lose. And if Sunagakure loses, we will lose a valuable pawn like Akasuna."

Black Zetsu asked with concern.

Red Sand is a pretty good tool. With him around, they can control the power of Sunagakure and stir up trouble in the ninja world from behind the scenes. This will also prevent Sunagakure from sideling Konoha when they fight against Konoha in the future.

"That's easy. Just send the Oni Organization to provide support. It's perfectly reasonable for the Oni Organization, an international mercenary organization, to accept the commission from Sunagakure to deal with Konoha and Sunagakure."

Madara Uchiha did not hesitate for long before deciding on a solution.

Because of the Oni-Garara Technique, the already famous Oni organization has now gathered a large number of desperate people who are after power and money.

However, due to the Ghost Sprout Technique, these desperados are all consumables with low durability. Even if they are left unused, they might go out of control and die after a while. Now it's a good opportunity to make use of them. Perhaps after being tested on the battlefield, a few good pieces will emerge.

"I know what to do, Lord Madara."

Black Zetsu immediately understood and chuckled wickedly.

Then, he continued talking about things that Madara Uchiha was interested in: "The people from Kumogakure have successfully found the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. He and some other Kumogakure members secretly entered a place called Turtle Island. I heard that Turtle Island is a huge turtle, and there is a place on it for people to continue training to become perfect Jinchuriki."

“We just captured the Four-Tails, so let’s not touch it for now. Training White Zetsu also takes time. But go and inform Orochimaru that I can give him the reward he wants very soon.”

Madara Uchiha thought for a moment, then glanced at the White Zetsu in the water and decided to temporarily postpone his plan to capture the Tailed Beasts.

"Orochimaru will be very grateful to you, Lord Madara, when he hears this news."

When Black Zetsu heard Madara Uchiha say this, his eyes lit up, and the wicked smile on his face became even more evil.

What reward does Orochimaru desire?

Of course, it's for revenge.

Orochimaru has many enemies, including Kirito Tohsaka, the White Snake Sage, and even Madara Uchiha.

Unfortunately, the former and the latter are not easy to deal with, only the one in the middle is relatively easy to handle.

Therefore, his first priority should naturally be to seek compensation from the White Snake Immortal.

Madara Uchiha is now offering to fulfill Orochimaru's promise to capture the Four-Tails, which clearly indicates that he has once again gained power from the Gedo Mazo and has enough confidence to suppress Ryuchi Cave.

"I hope so. By the way, what's the current status of that giant Tenseigan?"

Madara Uchiha paid no attention to Orochimaru's gratitude, and instead became concerned about the Tenseigan.

He originally intended to go to Konoha to destroy this threatening thing, but he was temporarily delayed because of sealing the Four-Tails. Now that two days have passed, new situations have arisen in Konoha, and he needs to update his intelligence.

"I've roughly figured out the exact location. If my guess is correct, it's most likely in one of three places: the basement of the orphanage, the basement of the sealing class building, and the basement of the Thousand Hands clan. None of the White Zetsu sent there have ever returned alive."

In addition, I also learned that the power of the Giant Tenseigan can only be inherited by members of the Otsutsuki clan's main family on the moon. This means it's very likely that only members of the Hyuga clan's main family can use it.

Black Zetsu thoughtfully shared the latest information he had gathered about the giant Tenseigan.

In order to gather this intelligence, it did not hesitate to send more than a dozen White Zetsu who were skilled in disguise and had good brains to infiltrate Konoha, and also used some of Orochimaru's hidden pawns left behind in Konoha.

Although they were still unable to find the true location of the giant Tenseigan, they did obtain a very important piece of information.

This information clearly tells them that the Giant Tenseigan is not yet in Konoha's possession, because Kirito Tohsaka has a very bad attitude towards the Hyuga main family, and he would never allow the Hyuga main family to possess such a powerful weapon as the Giant Tenseigan.

"It seems we can put the Reincarnation Eye aside for now."

Madara Uchiha sneered.

At the same time, a wicked plan began to take shape in his mind.

Now that he knows how to use the Giant Tenseigan, it means that this power could potentially be used by him.

To be honest, he was personally very interested in the Tenseigan, the ultimate eye that was said to be comparable to the Rinnegan, which represents the pinnacle of Byakugan evolution.

"Lord Madara, I think it's better to destroy it as soon as possible. Kirito Tohsaka is definitely trying to find a way to bypass the restrictions on the use of the Tenseigan and control it. With his abilities, he may have already found a way."

Black Zetsu cautiously reminded Madara Uchiha that he did not intend to continue attacking the giant Tenseigan.

It was genuinely a little scared.

Because of the unexpected appearance of Kirito Tohsaka, many things in its plan have gradually gone out of control. Although the Eye of the Moon plan is progressing well at present, the appearance of the giant Tenseigan has ultimately brought it heavy pressure.

He had witnessed the power of the Rinnegan. After Madara Uchiha possessed it, he should have been an invincible being in the ninja world. Who would have thought that the Tenseigan would appear in the ninja world?

It had never witnessed the power of the Tenseigan, but that did not prevent it from knowing the power of this ultimate eye evolved from the Byakugan. According to the memories it inherited from its mother, the Tenseigan was not actually the pinnacle of the Byakugan's evolution.

Therefore, it is clear that the potential of the Byakugan is no less than that of the Sharingan. It's just that the Byakugan is more difficult to evolve than the Sharingan. But does that mean that the Tenseigan is no less than the Rinnegan?

Therefore, it does not want Kirito Tohsaka to master the power of the Tenseigan at all.

It believed that Madara Uchiha thought the same thing.

“You’re right. That kid shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s best to destroy the Tenseigan as soon as possible. We can’t give that kid any chance. Well, my strength has increased a lot recently. Let’s see if this kid still has the ability to stop me.”

Madara Uchiha remained silent for a moment, then glanced at Black Zetsu with some displeasure and admitted it.

"Lord Madara, are you going to attack Konoha directly?"

Black Zetsu exclaimed in surprise.

It remembered that Madara Uchiha and Kirito Tohsaka had signed a Death Pact. Could it be that he has broken the contract and can now directly attack Konoha?

"That's right. Once I've cleared out those reptiles from Ryuchi Cave, I'm going to give Konoha a big gift."

Madara Uchiha smiled coldly.

The Death Contract created by Kirito Tohsaka is indeed a powerful sealing technique, but that kid is too ignorant of the power of the Rinnegan. The Rinnegan is the eye that controls the cycle of life and death, and a mere artificial Death God cannot possibly resist its power.

Now that his Hell Path Pain clone has found a suitable body, once he completes this Pain clone, he can easily access the contract sealing technique.

"Then I wish Lord Madara all the best in conquering Konoha! Hehehe~"

Black Zetsu received an affirmative answer from Madara Uchiha and smiled happily.

That's right, they should learn from Kirito Tohsaka, who often acts unpredictably.

"Just wait, Kirito Tohsaka. You certainly didn't expect me to make a move against Konoha so soon, did you? You want two years of peace to grow? Dream on."

Madara Uchiha grabbed Rōshi's corpse with his hands, then injected the power of the Rinnegan into it, and created short black rods, which he then pierced into the corpse, beginning to rapidly modify the body that had just died.

A moment later, Old Purple, whose body was covered with black rods, suddenly shuddered and a powerful burst of chakra erupted from his body, containing the fluctuations of Lava Release chakra. Then he opened his eyes, revealing eyes exactly like those of Uchiha Madara.

Madara Uchiha's Hell Path Pain clone is complete.

Chapter 346: Iwagakure and Sunagakure

Near the border of the Land of Earth, a battle is taking place between the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Sand Village.

The battle mainly revolved around a military base in Iwagakure, with Iwagakure defending the city and Sunagakure responsible for attacking it.

In the ninja world, Iwagakure has always been known for its excellent defense, thanks to the large number of Earth Release ninjas and various outstanding Earth Release techniques within its ranks.

Faced with the Sand Village's attack, the Iwa Village ninjas in the military base tacitly used Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall to build thick earthen walls on the ground in front of the military base, thus hindering the enemy's attacks and offensives.