Violet-Eyed Serpent: Ch.30

First, we make the alliance to end all other alliances and then I find out that Madara Uchiha is still alive and has an army of Wood Style Jounin-level fighters. Are we sure I didn't die during the battle against Hanzo and his men and went to the Pure Lands?”

“No, because that would mean that there is no fighting in the Pure Lands,” I spoke with a smirk as I stood beside Yahiko, the two of us along with Konan and Pakura in my office while we watched the new allies conversing with each other.

Half of them were sticking with only the people of their villages while giving the others wary glances while the other half were actively glaring at each other. It was only thanks to the presence of their leaders being present that no fight broke out no matter how much I could see some of them wanting to fight.

“True. You two have been awfully quiet.”

“I agreed with most of the things that Nagato said so I don't have much to add,” Pakura answered with a shrug and I remembered Yahiko's words to me about her and her crush on me before shaking my head to push those thoughts back.

I want to pursue that more, but not now. For now, I need to figure out just what I was going to do with Zetsu and Madara.

With this newly forged alliance, shaky as it was, there was no chance of a war breaking out in the next five years. Beyond that, there might be, but we had peace for now.

However, I needed to throw a wrench in Madara and Zetsu's plans before they threw one in mine and cause this fragile peace to be destroyed.

'After all, Zetsu can make copies of every shinobi down to their chakra signature so if they get the opportunity, they can fuck up the alliance within moments.'

“I still believe that we must be wary of the other villages despite this new alliance. With how the Tsuchikage and Mizukage acted, I believe that they might be looking for an opportunity to betray us when it benefits them the most,” Konan spoke with a smile and I nodded with a smile as I turned and sat down on my chair.

“They most definitely are, but for now, I will give them the benefit of the doubt.”

“On a brighter note, how do you feel?”, Yahiko asked as he looked at me and I smiled as I pulled upon the chakra in my seal, a sharp pressure pulsing in my head as it felt as if seven hurricanes were fighting for space in a small space while two others kept them from doing too much damage.

“Does he truly believe us weak enough to where he doesn't need to be wary of us?”

“He has Father's eyes, Kurama. To him, we'd be nothing more than chakra batteries that he can drain whenever he so chooses,” Isobu answered and I stopped my chuckle as I heard Kurama's grumble while feeling the other Bijuu's amusements.

“The nine of them are fine, but I think the Nine Tails doesn't like being sealed in me that much,” I was lying a bit to the Jinchuriki as I hadn't just absorbed some of the chakra.

Doing so would have resulted in me just having an extra chakra storage that is finite. Therefore, I had to use the Human Path and absorb fragments of their souls as well. Then, I was thankful for the few clones that I had sent over the month to Uzushio to learn the Four Symbols Seal as I had to seal every Bijuu in their own Four Symbols Seal around and slightly overlapping the Eight Signed Seal that contained Isobu and Saiken.

In other words, I had the first ever…36 Signed Seal? Is that even the correct terminology? Eh, who cares? I had nine Bijuu inside of me sealed within what was probably the most powerful seal to ever exist.

“Eh, it's understandable. Still, you got all nine of the Bijuu in you now. Think that's enough for Madara and his guys?”, Yahiko asked and I sighed as I looked up at the ceiling before shaking my head.

“No, I think if Mdara wants to talk with me, he most definitely has a way to beat me. Therefore, I need to make sure that I prepare accordingly for when he eventually does.”

“Will you be allowed to bring others?”, Pakura asked with a frown and I shook my head as I leaned forward and rested my arms on my desk.

“If I was Madara, I would not want to meet me when I'm with a group of allies. He'll most definitely want to meet me alone where he has the numbers advantage.”

'Jokes on him, though. I'm never alone,' I thought with a smirk before we looked to the door as a knocking came from it, Pakura walking towards it while both Yahiko and Konan focused their gaze on it.

Opening the door slightly, Pakura looked at it while I smiled as I saw the chakra behind the door, the woman opening it fully to reveal the Third Hokage along with Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Kushina and Minato walking into the office.

“I must say that you do look the part of a leader when you are seated behind your desk, Lord Nagato.”

“I think it will still take me a while before I get used to it, but I think it does. Hey, sensei. I see you haven't changed a bit.”

“Of course, I am in the prime time of my youth right now.”

'…Oh god, he said the cursed words,' I thought with a groan as I palmed my face, hearing Yahiko snicker as well as seeing Konan's disappointed look as Jiraiya gave a sheepish smile.

“You're still going on about that, huh? Is he still a menace?”

“It's Jiraiya. What else would he be?”, Tsunade asked with a smirk and I chuckled as Jiraiya grumbled before I looked to Orochimaru and bowed my head.

“Master Orochimaru.”

“Considering you managed to learn what I could not, I believe that you've long passed the time where you should refer to me as Master,” The snake-themed fighter spoke with a smile and I nodded while catching Hiruzen raising an eyebrow.

“If I may ask, what did you learn that he could not?”

“The Sage Arts of the Snake Clan in the Ryuchi Cave.”

“Wait, you're a sage?!”, Jiraiya asked with a surprised look and I nodded while leaning back in my seat.

“That is why I vanished for three years. It was to go to the Ryuchi Cave and train under the White Snake Sage.”

“And you're a perfect Sage?”, Jiraiya asked, to which I responded by gathering nature energy and the change was immediately as I could feel the nature energy caressing my body while watching their eyes widen.

“Indeed I am.”

“I spent over a decade trying to just barely be able to use Sage Mode…and you mastered it in just three years?”, Jiraiya asked with a grumble, which intensified as I snickered and shrugged while letting the energy leave my body.

“Hey, I'm just built different.”

“He is telling the truth,” Tsunade spoke with a smirk, which grew with Jiraiya whining at her words before I looked to Orochimaru as he spoke.

“Can I ask what you intend to do when you meet with Madara?”, His question drew everyone's attention to me and I looked at him for a while before I answered with a frown.

“If possible, I would like to talk to him, see whether or not I can truly learn where my eyes came from.”

“And if he doesn't want to talk?”

“Then I want to make sure that he is no longer a problem that I have to worry about. Both him and his Zetsu clones.”

“You are already thinking like a leader, then. I simply came here to see if what I saw earlier was the actual person or a mask. I am glad to say that I was wrong.”

“I thank you for the compliment, Lord Hokage,” I spoke with a smile and he nodded back before I looked to Kushina who was standing in silence with a smiling Minato beside her.

“Kushina, was there not something you wished to say?”

“Oh, right. Thanks for saving Uzushio,” Kushina's words were blunt and sincere, making me smile before I laughed as I saw Hiruzen shaking his head with a soft chuckle.

“Eh, it's fine. You would have done the same.”

“You're damn right! I was about to go beat the shit out of them with the Nine Tails, but then the old man stopped me from doing that.”

“We were already fighting a war on two fronts, Kushina. We could not handle another,” Hiruzen spoke with a sigh and Kushina huffed at his words while I smiled.

“Well, it was my pleasure, but I do suggest that you try and perhaps reconcile with Kurama. Try to see where he comes from.”

“He's an ancient being of wrath and hatred. How would I be able to see where he came from?”

“From what Isobu has told me, Kurama was actually the one that loved the Sage of Six Paths the most out of the nine of them and it was only thanks to people trying to use and enslave him that he turned into the hate-filled being that he is now. Perhaps you need to see that he thinks that the world doesn't care for him before you two can understand each other,” I explained, watching as she blinked at my words before nodding slowly.

“…Huh, I never thought of it like that.”

“You actually changed her mind. That's more than I ever could have imagined,” Minato murmured and I snickered at Kushina's glare at the man while I shrugged.

“Considering she hasn't tried to kill you, I'd say you're doing the same.”

“One could say that, but I'd say it's more her changing my mind about how I perceive the world,” He said with a smile while wrapping an arm around her waist and I saw her slight blush before nodding.

“Huh, I guess I'll understand it one day when I find a woman that would do the same to me.”

“I have a feeling you already have,” He spoke with a knowing smile and I just raised an eyebrow while doing my best to not look at Pakura.

“Perhaps,” I muttered and turned my gaze to Hiruzen as he cleared his throat with a smile.

“With that said, I'm afraid I cannot stay for much longer. A leader can't be away from his village for too long.”

“Understandable. I shall send reports of how the encounter with Madara went…if I survive him should he try to attack.”

“Hopefully, you do,” Hiruzen said as he held his hand out and I stood up before shaking his hand with a nod, the man turning back and walking out the door along with everyone but Jiraiya.

Instead of saying something, though, I watched as the man gave a proud smile before turning and walking out the door. The four of us were silent as we watched the man leave before Yahiko let out a soft chuckle as I exhaled softly.

“He never was the best with his words.”

“Yeah, sensei has always been more about action than words,” Yahiko muttered and I sat back down in my chair while looking up at the ceiling.

Hopefully, nothing bad happens tomorrow.

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'I spoke too soon.'

“Should we be on guard, Nagato?”, Akahime asked as she hid in my cloak, having shrunk her form somewhat to hide away while Sesshomaru stood cautiously at my side when we were surrounded by dozens of Zetsu the second we exited the village.

“Hey, Nagato! You ready to go?!”

“I am, but I will warn you. If one clone stays behind to try and take a hostage, I have no qualms about killing Madara and then making sure every trace of you is wiped from the face of the planet, understood?”, I said with a glare, watching as a few of them gulped while the one leading them nodded with a slightly nervous grin.

“Got it. Now, I'm sure you got the coordinates from the clone whose soul you stole so you know where to find us.”

“Sure. Akahime.”

“As you wish,” The snake hissed as she slithered out of my clothes, increasing her mass to where both Sessho and I could hop onto her head before I turned to where Yahiko, Pakura, Konan and most of the Akatsuki were standing ready on top of the wall.

“Remember, keep a close eye on everything and make sure that you follow the protocol!”

“Got it!”

“Okay, Aka. Full speed,” I spoke and the red snake responded by shooting across the ground, slithering at a rapid pace as I found myself staring at Ame fading behind us.

“You sure they can be trusted?!”, Sessho asked as he stood beside me and I looked at the Inuzuka hound before looking forward with a frown.

“Madara or the alliance?!”

“Both!”

“Madara? That remains to be seen! The alliance? That's why I left a clone behind! They'll know what to do!”, I said and caught him nodding out of the corner of my eye, keeping my gaze forward as the rain slowly came down around us.

I'm sure as hell hoping that I'm wrong, but if I am, I at least hope that they can all complete the protocol as planned.

'That is their concern. Right now, I have to prepare myself to meet one of the most powerful beings on the planet.'

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It took a day of slithering and another half-day of running across the landscape, but I narrowed my eyes as I dropped into a large pit that was in the centre of a vast forest. Right in front of me stood the bones from the ribcage of what was a giant creature and down the centre of said ribcage was a cave opening.

“Zetsu!”, I called out as I stood up straight, Sessho already in his larger, bestial form as we watched the ground in front of us ripple before Zetsu emerged from it halfway with a smile.

“Hey~ It took you a while, huh?”

“Unlike you, I can't exist in numerous bodies around the world.'

“But you could with your Black Receivers,” He spoke with a grin and I rolled my eyes while walking over to him as he pulled his full body out.

“Just let me meet this Madara and then go on my way.”

“Right. He's in the cave,” Zetsu spoke with a grin as he walked into the cave, Sessho and I following after as the light of the outside behind us began to fade and give way to the darkness of the cave around us.

It wasn't pitch black, but it was to the point that I could only see the chakra in everything around me and I was thankful for the fact that Akahime and I made our own unique snake variant of the Amphibian Sage Jutsu as I could feel her funnelling nature chakra into my body.

Immediately shifting into Sage Mode as we got to the darker parts of the cave, I frowned at the large army of Zetsu gathered in the vast centre of the cave, all of them staring at me as I walked in and stared at the man seated on the throne in the far back.

He didn't look as old as he did when Obito first met him, but he was still a fair bit older than both Hiruzen and Onoki, his formerly dark hair now a dull grey while a pair of blazing red Sharingan shone ominously in the darkness.

Naturally, I did not even dare to look into his eyes as this was a guy that was a master at all forms of jutsu just like Hashirama and I knew that he knew what I was doing considering there was a slight smirk on his face.

Turning my gaze from him to the large statue in the background, I had to admit I was in awe at the sight of the Gedo Statue sitting on a giant lotus flower with its hands raised in reverence. The chains around its wrists only sold the image of a monster pleading for mercy from a higher being, which I guess the Otsutsuki are.

'Right, I forgot about the whole Momoshiki-Isshiki plotline…Wait, Isshiki lost to Kaguya and went into hiding, right? Please, don't tell me that bastard is alive in this world as well,' If he was not, then I was currently standing in front of the most dangerous threats in the world.

If he was…well, the world is fucked unless I can become the Ten Tails Jinchuriki and become the next Sage of Six Paths.

'Huh, a random thought. Could I resurrect Kaguya and then try to talk her out of not enslaving us? Counter-thought. That is an absolutely stupid idea,' From what I can remember, Kaguya was a godlike being that seemed to believe that she was always in the right and one thing I know about godlike beings is that once that power gets in their head, they are not listening to anyone's opinion other than their own.

Case in point: The man in front of me. The only time Madara changed his thoughts on the world was on his death bed and that was after he got used as a puppet by Black Zetsu.

That's another target. I gotta kill that fucker and make sure he never returns.

“I see you've made it here in one piece,” Madara's deep, commanding voice knocked me out of my thought process and I looked back at his feet to see the man struggling to stand.

Despite the fact that I could see his legs trembling ever so slightly to sit down, Madara stood tall with a defiant look in his eyes and his scythe in hand.

“It was a bit longer than I was expecting. I apologize if I kept you waiting.”

“You are quite polite. Zetsu's information was not wrong, then.”

“You had your doubts.”

“I simply know my creations long enough to know that they can be quite incompetent when it comes to certain things,” The man spoke and I smirked as I saw most of the Zetsu nodding in agreement at his words before I turned serious and looked at him.

“Well, I am here now and I'm certain you're not a man that likes to waste time. Why did you ask me to come here?”

“To show you, you'd have to look into my eyes.”

“How do I know you won't put me in a genjutsu that keeps me asleep forever?”

“You don't,” He answered bluntly and I grimaced at that before glancing at Sessho.

“You think I should?”

“No, but you don't listen to me,” He whispered back, making me smile before I stood up straight and looked directly into Madara's eyes.

The next moment, I blinked as I found myself standing in the centre of a vast white abyss, Madara standing in front of me looking much younger as he nodded.

“Good. Now, allow me to tell you about Project Tsuki no Me.”

“You mean your plan to gather the nine Bijuu, seal them into the statue behind you to make the Ten Tails and then become its Jinchuriki before finally projecting your eye off the moon to cast an Infinite Tsukuyomi on the populace of our world?”, I asked, smirking as he stopped before narrowing his eyes at me.

“How do you know of it?”

“Let's just say that these guys let me see a lot more than one would expect. Now, allow me to tell you the truth of both the Zetsu and what your Project Tsuki no Me truly is.”

A/N: …Anyone seen canon? I think we lost him at who knows what chapter. We're just dropping bombs upon bombs upon bombs on characters and we're not stopping here.

Next chapter: Revelations and Betrayal.

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

Ba-Bye~!!