Set within the expanse between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth y an underground graveyard.

  "Master Madara, there have been some rather intriguing developments in Konoha tely," spoke a pale and peculiar BckZetsu, his form emerging from a spiralling bck hole etched into the graveyard's wall, centred around a dark abyss.

  Beside him stood another White Zetsu, equally pale, with only the left half of his visage showing. This two-faced entity also materialized, a wry grin pying across his features.

  "Another Uchiha prodigy has graced the world, but as... he's been transformed into an experimental subject for First Hokage Hashirama's cells."

  In terms of tent investigative capabilities within the world of Naruto, Bck Zetsu prided himself on being second to none. Few, if any, would dare contest this cim.

  Ever since Uchiha Madara "Created" him, he had never ceased monitoring Konoha. Unsurprisingly, Shisui's predicament y entirely within their grasp.

  Seated upon a decrepit wooden throne, the aged figure raised his gaze slightly, revealing the Sharingan concealed beneath his long silver strands.

  Following a brief pause, a scoff of derision escaped his lips. Under Tobirama's disciples' governance, Konoha had naturally begun to rot.

  Watching the Konoha he named begin to be engulfed in darkness, Uchiha Madara had completely lost interest in the vilge, now he solely focused on Project Tsuki no Me.

  He cared little for Konoha's current state, having chosen to detach himself from its affairs. The reason Bck Zetsu persisted in monitoring Konoha was to secure the third contingency pn.

  Indeed, in his quest for revival, Uchiha Madara had readied three backup strategies. The first involved the transpntation of Rinnegan, achievable through using Nagato's Uzumaki cn lineage.

  The second centred around an "absolute" will of his creation.

  Yet, Madara's instincts warned him about the insufficiency of these two pns. He deemed it necessary to secure another asset, one capable of ensuring his eventual resurrection.

  This individual had to meet two specific criteria.

  Firstly, they must bear direct lineage to the Six Paths, belonging to the Senju, Uchiha, or Uzumaki cns. This lineage would enable them to withstand the side effects of Hashirama's cells and undergo Rinnegan transpntation, thus enabling the use of the Rinne Tensei Technique—a means to his revival.

  Secondly, they had to utterly hate the current world, yearning to witness Project Tsuki no Me. Only under such circumstances would their motivations align with Madara's objectives, making them a suitable accomplice.

  Throughout the years, Madara had identified several potential candidates through his surveilnce of Konoha.

  One such candidate was the grandson of his old adversary, Senju Hashirama—Senju Nawaki. Hashirama's direct bloodline survived in name only due to the Senju cn being unjustly framed by Konoha's higher-ups the previous year.

  Deeply resentful towards Konoha, this individual became a prime candidate. And the grandson of his adversary would serve as his pawn.

  Although cking in adeptness, he could use feeble receptors to summon Hashirama and Tobirama through methods like the impure world reincarnation.

  Imagine the expressions on their faces as they beheld their grandson being maniputed by him. The mere thought was undeniably exhirating.

  Few things in the world could stir Uchiha Madara's excitement to such a degree. The concept brimmed with thrill. For some inexplicable reason, Uchiha Madara perpetually experienced a sense of inexplicable rejuvenation.

  However, Senju Nawaki's prowess as a shinobi left much to be desired. Uchiha Madara felt the urge to voice this grievance—his grandfathers were such monsters yet this guy is too weak.

  Another factor pertained to his sole surviving sibling, Tsunade. Had she met her demise Nawaki's manipution would have proven simpler.

  A second facet revolved around the Uchiha cn's budding prodigy, Uchiha Shisui.

  Reduced to a mere puppet for Konoha's research into Hashirama's cells, with a touch of manipution, his hate for Konoha and the entire shinobi world was practically guaranteed.

  The final consideration centred around a youth named Uchiha Obito, whose outward appearance appeared cklustre. Yet, judging from his keen, ruthless gaze, Uchiha Madara discerned significant potential within this boy. The bck kind sheep of the Uchiha cn.

  "Let us delve further."

  After prolonged contemption, the aged Madara spoke once more.

  Nagato was still a child. Leveraging the Gedo statue's might, he could persist for a while longer.

  Which of the two, Uchiha Shisui or Uchiha Obito, would serve their purpose best? This was a matter that demanded careful consideration.

  A few months ter, at Konoha Shinobi School, the rge lecture hall buzzed with activity as the first session of the Chunin exam was underway. However, unlike the future period of Uzumaki Naruto where candidates from various Ninja Vilges would participate, only Konoha's Genin were present this time.

  Uchiha Obito sat in distress, his head buried in his hands, his body trembling uncontrolbly. He struggled to write the word "counsel" onto his test paper, the only mark amid the emptiness of his face.

  "What... what should I do? I'm doomed, absolutely doomed..."

  He lifted his head, a gnce revealing the scant time left and the barren sheet of paper before him, save for his name. Obito felt his composure shatter.

  Click~

  A slight impact against his leg beneath the desk caught Obito's attention. Looking down, he spotted a crumpled paper ball at his feet.

  "At a moment like this..."

  Nawaki, overseeing the exam from the podium, remained oblivious.

  Carefully, Obito picked up the paper ball and concealed it from sight. Unfurling it, he read Rin's minuscule handwriting, and his astonishment surged.

  He gnced around discreetly. Only two seats away, the captivating countenance that had occupied his thoughts for months met his gaze.

  Obito's heart quivered.

  "Ten minutes left," came Nawaki's reminder, jolting Obito from his reverie. He hastily transcribed the contents of the paper ball onto his test sheet.

  "This kid..."

  Nawaki on the stage subtly shook his head.

  Even with mediocre ninja skills, did this clumsy attempt at cheating truly expect to elude his scrutiny?

  Yet, after contemption, Nawaki decided to let it slide.

  They shared the same past, the same dead st—these simirities inclined Nawaki to grant Obito a bit more leniency.

  However, a question lingered in Nawaki's mind, When will Uchiha Shisui, a prodigy who graduated from the ninja school at age 5, be sitting for the Chunin exam in the future?

  Did Orochimaru-san deem the genius too weak for him to participate in the Chunin exam?

  ...

  ...

  In an adjacent faculty lounge neighbouring the sprawling stepped cssroom where the written test transpired, Tatsuya and Orochimaru faced each other.

  Tatsuya slouched casually, his right hand draped atop the sofa back, legs crossed in an Erng posture. With his left hand, he gestured lightly toward Orochimaru.

  "So, how's your Uchiha kid faring?"

  "Hmm? Tatsuya-kun, who's typically indifferent to everything, seems quite intrigued by Shisui. What's gotten into you?" Orochimaru responded, his smile as enigmatic as ever.

  Tatsuya lifted his head, emitting a chuckle.

  Anko Mitarashi, the girl a year senior to Shisui, was still an academy student. In a twisted way, Shisui's destiny appeared to have been influenced by the hand of fate.

  However, Tatsuya recollected that, though Anko became Orochimaru's disciple in the original timeline, her fate didn't seem as ill-fated as Shisui's. This implied that the curse of destiny might be more intricate than it appeared.

  "Merely jesting, Tatsuya-kun, since your curiosity is piqued, I see no reason to withhold the information," Orochimaru responded, his smile growing wider. Yet, his demeanour swiftly shifted to a more solemn tone as he continued, "Nonetheless, I truly did not anticipate the seamless fusion of Uchiha blood with the First Hokage's cells. Aside from Shisui-kun, all other subjects met their demise."

  "Has the process begun?" Tatsuya's gaze bore a trace of intrigue, but his demeanour remained composed.

  "Already?" Orochimaru seized upon the two words that had slipped from Tatsuya's lips, a smile gracing his features. "It appears Tatsuya was anticipating the development, with your attention on the study of First Hokage's cells."

  Tatsuya replied, "Merely an observation. Since the Wood Style was lost, creating another wood style user to effectively suppress the Nine-Tails within the vilge was a foreseeable course."

  "And then? What is your intention with the sole survivor, Uchiha Shisui, who received the First Hokage's cell transpnt and survived?" Tatsuya inquired further.

  At this juncture, Orochimaru fell silent. After a pse of about two minutes, he spoke once more, his voice slightly subdued, "Tatsuya-kun, can this matter be kept confidential?"

  "Inquiry is driven by curiosity, not to mention you haven't disclosed that I eliminated Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Revealing such would serve me no purpose," Tatsuya responded with amusement.

  Orochimaru found soce in Tatsuya's words, yet he still instinctively lowered his voice as he continued, "While he survived, Wood Style mastery eludes him. Master Danzo falsely reported Uchiha Shisui's demise to Teacher Sarutobi, concealing his presence within the depths of the Root base, intending to wield him as a pawn."

  A faint raise of Tatsuya's eyebrow followed Orochimaru's revetion.

  Danzo, the old tactician, certainly had a knack for intrigue. Tatsuya had presumed the rift between him and Sarutobi Hiruzen began after the Third Ninja War's conclusion. Little did he expect that the division had roots this far back.

  "After all, Lord Danzo's power has waned, and his Kage level might no longer be sustainable. Holding onto a trump card seems a prudent move," Orochimaru remarked with a ugh. "As for the supposed genius's demise, it causes great consternation for Mr. Sarutobi. I intended only to stall for a day or two, but the Uchiha cn's eventual discovery might bring unforeseen repercussions."

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