Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 53: Is Uchiha Madara Still Alive?

The White Zetsu disguised as Uchiha Yakumaru froze for a moment before forcing a dry laugh. "I was just worried about you… Besides, I don't have any traces of a transformation jutsu on me. You're not mistaking me for an enemy, are you?"

"At a time like this, Yakumaru would just angrily smack my hand away."

Hyuga Fuji wasn't interested in hearing excuses. His palm lit up with black sealing marks, which quickly spread to envelop White Zetsu's entire body.

After spending so much time alongside Uchiha Madara, how could Fuji not know the typical behavior of an Uchiha?

If you're going to pretend, at least do it properly.

Sealing White Zetsu—this valuable experimental subject—into a scroll, Hyuga Fuji turned his gaze toward the direction Yakumaru and Kakashi had gone, his mind awhirl with thoughts.

White Zetsu making a move against him was expected.

Konoha's current display of strength was overwhelming. While Madara might have confidence in his own ability to deal with it, he clearly didn't trust Obito to handle such a formidable Konoha.

Even without Hyuga Fuji and Orochimaru, the Akatsuki at its peak would have paid a steep price going up against Konoha as it was now.

This war had a dual purpose: to weaken Konoha's forces and to exhaust Kirigakure, a ninja village with enormous wartime potential.

At the very least, such efforts would make Obito's future mission to capture the Tailed Beasts a bit easier.

With Obito's "drama" likely about to unfold, White Zetsu's actions served as a way to stall for time, preventing others from interfering.

Though this was only an ordinary White Zetsu, had it faced a Hyuga unaware of its capabilities, even Fuji might have been caught off guard.

After all, no one would immediately suspect a transformation so perfect that it could replicate even chakra itself—one so flawless that even the Byakugan couldn't see through it.

That soldier pill? Laced with deadly poison.

Obito's use of White Zetsu's massive army had always been flawed.

With sufficient intelligence, White Zetsu could transform into anyone and temporarily replace them. Their exceptional transformation ability made them the ultimate assassins and spies.

Using them on the frontlines for direct combat was wasteful, though it did ultimately force Naruto to reveal himself.

But Madara clearly wouldn't make the same mistake.

So, among the powerful individuals separated from the main force and sent to this battlefield, who might receive special attention from Madara's forces?

Where is that unique White Zetsu, the one capable of fighting against a Kage?

Hyuga Fuji's gaze shifted toward a certain direction before his figure vanished from where he stood.

Uchiha Fugaku, Minato, Kushina…

If any of them interacted with the two Tailed Beasts under genjutsu control, one of them was bound to uncover something unusual.

Or rather, not just one person—one person and one beast.

How will you handle them, Madara?

...

Over on Minato's side, after a fierce battle, Kushina—assisted by Fugaku and Minato—had successfully used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to restrain one of the Tailed Beasts.

With Kushina subduing the Six-Tails, Minato turned his attention to the other side, where the Three-Tails had transformed into its full form. His voice grew heavy:

"Fugaku, I'll leave this one to you."

"Understood."

Fugaku nodded, his Mangekyo Sharingan activating as he faced the Three-Tails.

While Minato used his Flying Thunder God technique to distract the Tailed Beast and disrupt its movements, Fugaku's Mangekyo Sharingan met the Three-Tails' gaze, unleashing his powerful ocular prowess into the spiritual realm of the Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki.

In the dark, damp recesses of the Three-Tails' mindscape, Fugaku's figure, formed by his immense ocular power, appeared. He gazed at the wary Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beast before him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Now, obey my command, Three-Tails!"

The overwhelming power of his Mangekyo Sharingan surged into the spirits of both the Tailed Beast and its host.

In the physical world, the Three-Tails suddenly froze in place. Thinking he was about to succeed, Fugaku allowed himself a moment of relaxation.

But then, the unexpected happened.

An even greater, more terrifying ocular power erupted from the Three-Tails' eyes, forcibly driving Fugaku's influence out.

Fugaku groaned, blood trickling from his eyes and down his cheeks, falling to the ground.

Meanwhile, Kushina, who was about to begin resealing the Tailed Beast back into its Jinchuriki, suddenly froze, clutching her stomach in pain.

Seeing both Fugaku and Kushina in distress—and the Three-Tails beginning to move again, its tail swinging dangerously toward the vulnerable Kushina—Minato instantly teleported to her side, using a Rasengan to deflect the attack.

"Kushina, what's wrong?!"

"Fourth Hokage, I understand now…" Kushina gritted her teeth, enduring the pain. "I understand how these two Jinchuriki were able to control the Tailed Beast's power."

Before she could finish, Fugaku, having steadied himself, activated his crimson Susanoo, slashing the Three-Tails to force it back and prevent it from aiding the Six-Tails. He explained:

"Someone with Sharingan powers equal to or greater than mine has controlled these two Tailed Beasts and their Jinchuriki!"

Kushina, still suppressing her pain, added, "The Nine-Tails is furious... It's seething with hatred toward the one who attacked Fugaku's Mangekyo Sharingan!"

Within her mindscape, the Nine-Tails roared furiously, slamming against its seals, desperate to confront the unseen manipulator.

Stronger than the Mangekyo… A power that could provoke such wrath from the Nine-Tails…

Minato, Fugaku, and Kushina all came to the same realization as they pieced together the information they had.

A single name surfaced in their minds, though none dared to say it aloud.

Because that person… should already be dead.

...

"So, it was a Mangekyo."

In the pitch-black underground, Madara slowly opened his eyes, his aged face illuminated faintly by the dim light.

When White Zetsu informed him that Uchiha Fugaku would be among those sent to deal with the Tailed Beasts, Madara had suspected this possibility.

Only ocular powers at the Mangekyo level could control a Tailed Beast. For Fugaku to accompany the Fourth Hokage and others to handle the Tailed Beasts, having such an ace up his sleeve was hardly surprising.

But still...

How convenient.

Yes, it was too convenient.

If only Fugaku had been there, the others would likely assume some unknown Mangekyo user had appeared somewhere in the ninja world.

If only Kushina had been present, without the influence of a Mangekyo Sharingan, the genjutsu would not have been triggered. The two Tailed Beasts would have been sealed by Kushina and Minato without incident, and the Nine-Tails would never have sensed that power.

But with both of them there, the truth couldn't be ignored.

The fact that I—Uchiha Madara—am still alive.

It was as though someone, aware of his existence, had deliberately arranged for this outcome.

Was it to force him to act?

To kill or to leave them alive?

If he chose to kill, the remaining White Zetsu might not be enough to finish the job. Worse, it could expose more of his plans and disrupt his future efforts to capture the Tailed Beasts.

If he chose to let them live, it would mean that Konoha would now view him as a semi-visible threat—perhaps still a suspicion, but one they could confirm with time.

Still, some secrets could remain hidden for Obito's purposes.

"Heh… What does it matter if I'm exposed?"

Even if his existence was revealed, even if his plans were hindered, Madara was confident that once he was resurrected, all resistance would be futile.

Aged though his face was, it bore an expression of unshakable arrogance and confidence.

"You want me to act, don't you? Fine—let's see what you're trying to achieve."

For someone to know of his existence and design such an intricate plan, they couldn't have done so simply to reveal him to the ninja world.

If that was all they wanted, they weren't worth his concern.

Even now, in his frail state, he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Let's see what it is you're trying to gain from this.

(Chapter ends)

***

Also if you wish to read unto 60+ advanced chapters and support me at

Patreon. com / NahinSS7