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  Early the m—after a simple breakfast—Shin used [Yomotsu Hirasaka] and teleported straight into Madara Uchiha's hidden ir: a dark, damp underground cavern where Madara had dwelled for who knew how long.

  "How does that old man stand living here?" Shin wondered softly, gng at the dimly lit stone walls. "I'd go insane if I had to spend more than half a day in a pce like this."

  But su enviro didn't seem to affect Madara, who immediately sensed Shin's arrival. As Madara's three-tomoe Sharingan spun, he realized Shin had used that uny space-time jutsu again.

  'So that teique is Shin's personal dojutsu?' Madara thought.

  He had long cluded that Shin's formidable space-time ability was one of the key reasons not to fight him head-on.

  After all, if Shin could simply away, killing him in a single blow would be nearly impossible—thus jeopardizing Madara's delicate pn.

  Even more troublingly, Madara and Bck Zetsu hadn't anticipated someone like Shin could exist, possessing so many unimaginable powers.

  It was a wren the works they never saw ing. Bck Zetsu was even more anxious, having plotted a thousand years to resurrect Kaguya only to see it all risked by a single ninja.

  "So, Madara," Shied, strolling up with a faint grin, "Have you eaten breakfast yet? Hard to keep your strength in a pce like this."

  Madara regarded him silently, showing no sign of hospitality. Shin shrugged, then formed a Wood Release chair and sat down.

  "Your ir is as dreary as ever. But I'm guessing you didn't call me here to talk interior design."

  Madara's eyes narrowed.

  "Uzumaki Shin. You've meddled with all ailed Beasts!"

  His voice carried a thread of anger. Officially, they were partners in some "alliance," but Madara had never fully trusted Shin. And Shin's as with the Tailed Beasts only proved him right.

  "Ah, so you heard about that now?" Shin replied breezily. "I started colleg Tailed Beast chakra over half a year ago. If you're only finding out—maybe you need better intel."

  "You know it disrupts my pn. Our pn," Madara corrected icily. "It isn't time to start the Eye of the Moon Project."

  Shin shrugged, crossing his arms in a casual posture.

  "That's your pn, not necessarily mine. But if you want to unify the Tailed Beasts, what's stopping you? We could enfisukuyht now."

  He eyed Madara, looking for a rea. The elder Uchiha outwardly remained impassive, but inside he felt a twinge of arm. He was far too frail to attempt being the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki at this stage.

  "It isn't time," Madara stated ftly. "My body is in no shape for it yet."

  "Fine, if you say so," Shin said with a faint smirk.

  Madara paused, then shifted topics:

  "Uzumaki Shin, you have the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. I don't know how you obtai, but—do you realize it evolve further?"

  Shin's face took on a suitably shocked expression.

  "What? The EMS …evolve more?"

  He feigned "incredulous excitement," and Madara felt a surge of satisfa.

  Shin's act was fwless—'Life is a Stage, and We Are All Actors!'

  "It bee the Rinnegan," Madara decred. "I awake myself. That's how I achieved what I have now."

  Shieo breathe harder, a covetous look creeping into his eyes—like someohralled by the idea of the Rinnegan. It was the perfect performanadara's be.

  "Are you saying you…possess the Rinnegan?" Shin asked, with feigned restraint but obvious hunger in his tone.

  "Are you pnning to steal my Rinnegan?" Madara asked coolly, reading the flicker in Shin's gaze.

  "Of course not! We're colborators, right?" Shin began, but allowed a fsh of killing io pass through his eyes. He wanted Madara to see that shadow of greed.

  Madara gave a slight nod.

  "Well, if you did try, it wouldn't matter. Even if you stole my eyes, you couldn't wield their full might."

  He paused, sing Shin's rea.

  "But I'm not here to threaten you. On the trary, I'll tell you how to unlock your own Rinnegan."

  "You'd do that?" Shin asked, feigning deep skepticism. "Why the sudden generosity?"

  "We're allies," Madara said, iing false warmth into his rasping voice. "I want you to believe in our pn. Besides, if you gaihe Rinnegan, you'd truly see how Infisukuyomi domihis world."

  He locked eyes with Shin.

  "But don't jump the gun. Rushing things might ruihing. We 't unify the world if yer our pn too soon."

  Shin allowed himself to appear eager.

  "Tell me the method, and I'll hold off. For now."

  Madara gave a slow, deliberate nod.

  "You already possess the Eternal Mangekyō. , you o incorporate Hashirama's Cells. Only then your eyes evolve into the Rinnegan. It's not guaranteed, but that's the theory. I myself only awakehem on my deathbed."

  Shin's eyes gleamed with trived fasation, but inside he was rolling them. Madara must be hoping he'd attempt the risky fusion of Hashirama's cells, which could easily kill the unprepared. Only a rare few survived that graft.

  "You don't look vinced," Madara observed, narrowing his eyes.

  "Oh, I believe you. It's just…given our utual trust, you 't expect me to jump right in," Shin said pointedly. "I know it might be a trap."

  Madara anticipated that hesitation.

  "I prove it, if that's what you require," he replied vaguely.

  …

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