Violet-Eyed Serpent: Ch.31

“What Project Tsuki No Me truly is?”, Madara asked with a frown as he walked closer, his chakra exuding from his body and making me smirk as I nodded while crossing my arms.

“Yes. Tell me, do you know what Zetsu is?”

“Clones made from the flesh of Hashirama that I had melded with the Gedo Statue behind me.”

“What if I were to tell you that they are not made from Hashirama's flesh, but are actually the ones that were absorbed by the Gedo Statue after the last time the Infinite Tsukuyomi was cast?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and what if I were to tell you that Infinite Tsukuyomi is not a jutsu where everyone can be placed in an eternal genjutsu to live out their dreams, but actually a jutsu that enslaves all living beings so that their chakra can be absorbed and used to restore the being from which all chakra originates?”

“Oh, do go on,” Madara spoke with a look of intrigue and I nodded with a grin.

“You see, a long time ago-”

“I do not have time for 'a long time ago'.”

“Fine, the Sage of Six Paths had a mother and his mother was the being from which he himself got his chakra. However, this mother did not like to share her chakra with her son so she tried to take it back, which resulted in the two clashing over whether or not chakra should be shared. Naturally, the woman herself had a secondary form of defence called the God Tree and from that tree spawned the being known as the Ten Tails. Are you following so far?”

“Continue.”

“Okay. The Ten Tails and this mother then fought against the Sage, but what you don't know is that he also had a younger brother. This brother helped him and together, the two defeated their mother and stole the chakra from her and the Ten Tails.

Then, they sealed her body and the husk of the Ten Tails into a tomb that took the form of the celestial body we know as the moon. The brother then went on to guard the mother's body to the end of his days while the Sage split the Ten Tails' chakra up into nine different beast that we know… as the Bijuu.

However, before her sealing, the woman gave birth to a third child that came to be known…as Black Zetsu,” This seemed to get a flicker of something in his eyes, but I ignored it as I continued.

“This Zetsu then stayed behind and conspired to turn the Sage's oldest son against the Sage and his younger son. The older son and the younger son fought, but because of Zetsu's meddling, the two held a grudge for each other and that grudge continued after their death.

Their souls clung to the bodies of two chosen in every generation and so, the latest two to have had this souls attached to them were none other than you, Madara Uchiha and the man known to be your killer, Hashirama Senju.”

“Well, that is quite the story.”

“I know.”

“Just one slight issue. What makes you think I'll actually believe it?”, Madara asked with a flat stare and a sharp tone and I nodded as I held my hands behind my back.

“Your Sharingan should be able to see my chakra's every fluctuation and every muscle twitch on my body. Was there any sign that I was lying?”

“No, but I and many others have learned and mastered many ways to hide our allies from dojutsu. How should you be any different?”

“Then, tell me why I caught a flicker of wariness in your eyes when I said the name Black Zetsu,” I spoke, watching as the man went to retort before he stopped himself and shook his head.

“Where exactly did you read of this?”

“The memories of a Zetsu clone. Before they were Zetsu, they remembered a life where they worshipped the rabbit goddess and the mother of the Sage known by her full name, Kaguya Otsutsuki.”

'That's a lie.'

“He also remembers the times where he had watched Kaguya ascend the heavens and cast the first Infinite Tsukuyomi, resulting in his enslavement and becoming a Zetsu over the course of years when Kaguya siphoned his chakra to make it her own.”

'That is also a lie.'

“I didn't believe the memories myself until I absorbed the memories of a few other Zetsu spies that I had found on me and what I found was that every single one of them had memories of a life as a farmer, a tailor, a butcher, a guard, a warrior and even a lord of a land before everything happened,” I spoke and that wasn't a lie as I did catch a few of the Zetsu spores that he had planted on me.

Unfortunately for them, a combination of Kurama's Negative Emotion Sensing and Sage Mode made them all but bright beacons to my eyes and since I could now seal souls into my form, I just decided to seal all the Zetsu souls into the centre seal for the Bijuu to play with.

I think that's why Kurama let me use his unique ability that one time and never again. After all, he holds a heavy grudge for anything that even remotely likes to wield the Wood Style.

“And you got all of their memories from this?”, He asked with a frown and to show that I was not lying, I walked over and placed my hand against the side of his face, letting the fabricated memories flash through his vision before I pulled my hands back.

“Still think I'm lying?”

'Please believe it. Please believe it. Please believe it.'

“No…but I think there are still some things you haven't told me.”

“Like what?”

“That I do not know, but I will.”

“When you do, let me know. So…do you truly believe me now?”

“Like I said, I do not, but considering that you have shown me those memories and have not lied in my presence, I will believe you…for now.”

“For now is more than I could ask for,” I answered before I blinked as I found myself standing back in my body, the Zetsu still staring us down while Akahime finally slithered out of my robe.

“What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“The world we were in is one where I can control time as I wish,” Madara explained as he walked closer, the Zetsu making space while I held up a hand to stop Akahime and Sessho.

“Don't worry. We've worked out something.”

“We've worked out nothing. Simply because you have shown me those memories does not that I've worked out something with you.”

“Why not? You know that your plan is nothing more than a botch plan made by an entity to manipulate you into resurrecting his mother. By the way, do you mind if I…?”, I asked, to which the man looked me dead in the eye and raised his hand.

With no words, I watched as a mass of black good flowed out of his hands and fall to the floor, the figure slowly standing up before they gagged as I grabbed them by the throat.

“W-What?”

“Don't worry, Zetsu. Madara?”, I asked as I held my other hand, the man taking it before I activated the Human Path and tore out its soul, letting the memories flow between us both.

“Oh, this is quite easy to manipulate. Just force Indra and Ashura and their descendants against each other and everything becomes easy.”

“This is all for you, Mother. Don't worry as soon you'll be free.”

“Aw~ Look at Madara struggling to find his place in the world. What a fool.”

“ 'You are my darkness'. You are nothing compared to Mother's wrath, but if I wish to stay near you, I shall act as you want, Madara Uchiha. Just remember that I will make sure you never survive to the end.”

Many more memories flashed through my mind, hundreds of years unfolding in front of me before I gasped as the memories ended and I stumbled backwards.

“Nagato!”

“I'm okay,” I murmured as Sessho and Akahime rushed over, looking over to Madara to see two Zetsu clones helping him stand while the rest looked wary as the two of us looked at each other.

“You believe me now?”

“…Fully,” The man muttered as he stood up, but he couldn't hide his anger as the cave trembled while I grimaced as I felt his overwhelming chakra rippling through the area.

Even the Zetsu clones looked a bit terrified as we all stepped back, watching as blue flames with no heat slowly wafted from his body and the ground cracked with his every struggling step.

“Decades. I spent decades of planning, years of sacrifice and anguish…and I get tricked by a bastard that can't even live without the love of his mother.”

“If it helps, the monster had manipulated hundreds of shinobi over the course of centuries. It wasn't just you.”

“I do not care! I was supposed to be the best of my clan, the best it has seen in centuries! I was!….I was the best…and I find out that my entire life was nothing more than an elaborate scheme to raise some goddess from the death,” The man growled and I didn't say anything as Madara walked over to the statue.

“And this thing! I rip it free from its seal in hopes that it will help me achieve the one thing I strive for! The one thing that I continue to keep on living through agonizing pain and you're worth nothing to me now!”

“It is, but it is worth something to me,” I spoke up, watching as the Zetsu blinked while Madara frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“Easy. I have a fragment of power from seven of the Bijuu and the power of two Bijuu. What if I cut a tail from each of them and then seal it all inside of that?”

“Firstly, that means that the Ten Tails will take weeks to fully manifest, not the days. Secondly, you understand that doing so would be all but a declaration to the rest of those…Otsutsuki bastards that you want to fight. Last I checked, none of those Kage and you are capable are handling that kind of power.”

“Not if you helped me control it,” I answered with a serious look, watching as Madara narrowed his eyes. A second later, his chakra pulsed, the sounds of bones cracking filling the air as a blue ribcage formed around him.

“You want me, Madara Uchiha, to help you contain something that you just told me I should not do.”

“Not contain it, no. I want you to help me tame it. Just like how Kaguya and the Sage became the Ten Tails' jinchuriki, I want to do the same.”

“And why would I agree to do so?”

“Because the Madara Uchiha I heard about is a man that's three things: power, respect and ambition. Right now, I'm seeking all three and you're the only one who can help me. Help me tear down Zetsu's schemes, help me bring true peace to the Elemental nations and help me stop the war that is coming.”

“You want me to help you stop a war…that you're going to cause by doing what you are asking me to help you with?”

“Yes. I have a feeling that Kaguya was not the only ones and right now, there is no one that can go against them like I can, but I am just one man and those guys…they're going to be an army of gods that are equal or stronger than Kaguya. I cannot handle that on my own…or I can with the right power.”

“…Heh…hehehehe…Hahahahahaha!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”, I reeled back as laughter exploded from Madara while his Susanoo's ribcage vanished, but it was not the maniacal laughter I was expecting.

No, this…this was the bitter laughter of a man that realized he was nothing more than a pawn in a game he thought he controlled.

“You realize that you're putting a lot of trust in my hands, right? I can simply decide to rip them from you and then take the power for myself.”

“You can and if you do so, you go deal with the Otsutsuki. I'll get to enjoy my time in the Pure Lands and even warm your seat for when you get there,” I spoke with a smile, Madara staying silent as he stared at me before my smile turned into a grin as the man turned and walked off to the statue.

“Follow. Your pets can follow at a distance.”

“They're my partners, not my pets,” I answered as I followed after him, Sessho and Akahime along with the Zetsu army watching the two of us walk towards the railing behind the throne.

“Hey, Madara. You're really not going to kill me, right?”

“I do not care to play your games, Nagato. I will not kill you, but I will not make it painless either.”

“Of course you won't. Will this take long?”

“The waiting process for the Ten Tails to fully form? Not in the slightest, but I will say that the process itself may result in the Ten Tails running rampant to try and get the rest of the power from the other Bijuu.”

“In other words…I'm going to have to fight it, aren't I?”, I muttered before blinking as Madara snorted, cracking his neck as smoke covered his form before it vanished to reveal the elderly man dressed in red armour.

“I may be old, but I am still powerful. We're fighting it.”

“…You sure you're not going to crack your back?”, I asked with a smirk as I took a deep breath, chuckling as Madara snorted while placing a hand against the kanji on his armour.

“Get the Bijuu ready. I'll start the preparation out here.”

“Yes, come talk to us so we can beat the shit out of you!”, Kurama growled as I closed my eyes, opening them once again to find myself in the centre of my special island and all nine Bijuu staring me down.

“Really? We're still on this argument.”

“Just because we allow you to use our chakra doesn't mean you can throw it away and do as you please.”

“Okay, then. I'll tell Madara to cancel the process.”

“And furthermore-You will?”, Son Goku asked with a blink of his eyes, the other Bijuu save for Saiken looking just as surprised as I smiled and nodded.

“I will, but in the meantime, you nine give me an idea of how we're supposed to fight an army of Otsutsuki. I'll wait,” I said with a smile, turning to look each of them in the eye and I was not surprised when no one could speak.

“Exactly. I hate doing this just as much as you guys because I actually want to get to know you all, but unless someone's got a better idea to help me fight against the potential Otsutsuki army, I'm going forth with it.”

“Oh, now it's a potential army, huh? You have no idea whether they're going to be here or not.”

“I don't, Chomei, but I've worked too hard for this peace and I'm not about to have it be thrown away because I couldn't make the hard choices. Besides, seven of you are but mere fragments of your souls with your original bodies still safe while I'm only taking a tail from both Isobu and Saiken.”

“That's not our problem. Our problem is that you promised to treat us like equals, not like fuel that you can use and throw away as you please,” Kokuo spoke up and I scratched the back of my head with a sigh as the others nodded.

“Hah, fine. I did promise that to you guys and I am a man of my word. I'll find another way.”

“And what if this new way results in your death?”, Gyuki asked, to which I shrugged as I sat down on the island.

“Then, the world goes back to killing each other for power and I get to rest in the afterlife.”

“Even if it means that your work was useless?”

“Yeah, even if it means that,” I muttered, looking up at the dark grey sky beofre looking back down to hear Shukaku's snickering.

“Something funny?”

“Hehehe~ Just that you're just like him. Looks like you were right.”

“I'm always right.”

“Please tell me you guys didn't do the whole cliché 'Oh, let's test him by seeing if he'll do the right thing or the selfish thing',” I spoke, groaning as Saiken smirked while the others laughed.

“Come on~ I just wasted a good few quotes on you guys.”

“Eh, you'll still be able to use them on the humans,” Matatabi spoke with a wave of her paw, the others agreeing while I rolled my eyes.

“So…does that mean you guys don't mind?”

“Like you said, we are mere fragments of our true selves and you are just taking a tail from Isobu and Saiken, right?”

“That's if they're okay with that?”, I asked as I looked at my two longest partners, Isobu nodding with a grin while Saiken laughed.

“Hahahaha~! We're cool with it.”

“I must say that I am pleased by all of your words,” A voice came from behind me and I looked at the shocked and joyful faces of the Bijuu before turning around to see the floating figure behind me.

“…How are you even here?”

“A fragment of each of my children and you possess my eyes. Did you not expect this to happen?”, The floating Sage of Six Paths asked with a smile as he stared at me and I looked back before looking up at the sky with a groan.

'Urgh~ Of course, he comes now of all times…Well, time to change the plan.'

“Father.”

“My son,” The godly being nodded back and I did my best not to coo at the unshed tears brimming in Kurama's eyes as the Sage turned slowly while nodding to each of his children.

“Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuki, Kurama,” With each name, my eyes widened as I saw a Truth-Seeker Orb float to them, feeling their chakra link with each orb before the man landed on his feet and let the tenth orb shift into his signature shakujo that he placed against my chest.

“The time has come, my children. Are you prepared?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Wait, what time is that?”, I asked and the god chuckled as he let go of the staff before taking boh of my hands into his.

“The time for the Child of Prophecy to appear. Now, will you save the world from the threat that approaches just as I did?”

A/N: And we end it off here.

We talked to Madara, we lied and revealed some truths and…the Sage of Six Paths is here~!!

Oh, what happens next? Find out next time~

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!