Although Uchiha Madara proclaimed, through the Akatsuki, that the Eye of the Moon Plan had officially begun, the very first step—capturing the Tailed Beasts—had already become an impossible obstacle.

Among the nine great Tailed Beasts

the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, Five-Tails, and Eight-Tails had all been killed by Uchiha Chiyu;

the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails had been successfully sealed by the Akatsuki.

That left only the One-Tail, Six-Tails, and Nine-Tails.

Originally, the One-Tail's jinchūriki Gaara was in Sunagakure, and the Six-Tails' jinchūriki Utakata was in Kirigakure.

But now both had been transferred to Konohagakure by the ruler of the shinobi world, Uchiha Chiyu.

In other words, apart from the Tailed Beasts that have not yet revived, every jinchūriki is under Chiyu's personal suppression and protection!

Even Uchiha Madara dared not act rashly.

At the Akatsuki base he left only "Tobi" behind—

Black Zetsu, of course, still lurked at his side.

"You truly disappoint me…

Obito."

Madara had never exposed Obito's identity in public, but with only the two of them present he had no scruples.

Obito was silent for a moment.

"Madara, why have you appeared in an Edo Tensei body all of a sudden?

That was not in our plan."

Madara snorted.

"If I waited for you to follow the plan, the whole shinobi world would already belong to Uchiha Chiyu!

All these years you paraded around in my name—what have you actually accomplished?

During the Nine-Tails incident you had a chance to seize Kushina Uzumaki, but instead you vented your anger, let the beast ravage Konoha, and forced Minato to seal it again!

On the Night of the Clan Massacre you were thrashed by Uchiha Chiyu, disgracing the name Madara beyond belief!

And as for the Tailed-Beast Hunt—how much have you completed by now?!"

Obito replied coldly:

"Things are not as simple as you imagine.

Uchiha Chiyu… that man is far too strong—perhaps already above you."

Madara laughed.

"Just because he defeated an Edo-Tensei Hashirama?

You know an Edo body can't show its full strength—except, of course, for this special vessel I possess now.

Besides, I have awakened the Rinnegan, fused Hashirama's cells, and know Wood-Release. The present me is no longer comparable to Hashirama.

I could just as easily defeat an Edo-Tensei Hashirama."

Obito shook his head.

"Even so, you can't be certain of defeating Uchiha Chiyu."

Madara chuckled.

"Trying to provoke me into fighting Chiyu so you can reap the benefits, are you?

Well, your mind has indeed matured.

But do you think I, Uchiha Madara, act on impulse?

For the Eye of the Moon Plan I have schemed and lain dormant for decades; you know that better than anyone.

Nagato, you—both of you survive only because you're still useful to me; otherwise I'd simply force Nagato to use the Rinne Rebirth to revive me outright.

What I need now is more power—my own, and…

Even with Chiyu in the way, I have other means to complete the Tailed-Beast Hunt."

Obito's eyes narrowed.

"What means?"

Madara only smiled enigmatically, while Zetsu watched the drama in silence.

Within today's Akatsuki, everyone used everyone else:

Nagato manipulated by Obito,

Obito manipulated by Madara,

Madara manipulated by Black Zetsu—

a web of plots and counterplots, with victory awaiting whoever laughs last.

…

After subjugating the five great villages, Chiyu kept the promise he made at the first Five Kage Summit of the new era and did two things.

1. Erasing the "Bloody Mist"

What was an intractable cancer for Kirigakure proved trivial for Chiyu.

He crushed the hard-line faction still loyal to Yagura and installed Mei Terumī as the new Mizukage.

The brutal "Bloody Mist" policies were abolished; persecution of kekkei-genkai clans ended; prisoners branded rebels were re-examined and released; even the missing-nin Momochi Zabuza—once condemned for attempting to assassinate the Mizukage—was declared innocent and summoned home.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, crippled during the Third War, were to be rebuilt. Chiyu ordered the recovery of all lost swords and had Hōzuki Mangetsu temporarily hold the remaining four: the Twin Swords Kiba, the Blunt Sword Kabutowari, the Long Sword Nuibari, and the Explosive Sword Shibuki, seeking suitable successors such as Ringo Ameyuri.

Chiyu's iron-fisted suppression of radicals, salvation of doomed clans, sweeping reforms, promotion of young talent, and determination to recreate the Seven Swordsmen left the entire village both shocked and grateful—he truly pulled the Mist from the brink. What began as submission to sheer power turned into heartfelt loyalty.

2. Neutralizing the Akatsuki

Externally, Chiyu implemented his Anti-Akatsuki Policy. He gathered the remaining jinchūriki—Gaara (One-Tail) and Utakata (Six-Tails)—in Konoha with Naruto (Nine-Tails) under his personal watch, leaving the Akatsuki too fearful to make a move.

For the deceased jinchūriki whose Beasts might revive at unknown times, he dispatched elite teams from each village to patrol continuously.

With strength and strategy combined, the five great villages bowed completely, uniting like an iron wall. New laws brought unprecedented order: villains had no place to hide; the innocent could sleep in peace—Chiyu's original ideal made reality.

…

Chiyu turned the Five-Kage Summit into a standing institution conducted by long-distance video. Such technology had always existed in the shinobi world—radios for squad communication, surveillance in the Chūnin Exams, televised meetings before the Fourth Great War—Chiyu merely mainstreamed it.

After hearing each village's report, Chiyu nodded calmly. Then Anbu Commander Hatake Kakashi announced earth-shaking news:

"Fellow Kage, as I have already reported to the Lord of the Shinobi World, I must inform you all as well—

the real Uchiha Madara has appeared!"

Ōnoki, Mei, Darui, and Baki all blanched.

"The real Madara?

Wasn't the masked man calling himself Madara?" Ōnoki growled.

Kakashi explained that Orochimaru had used Edo Tensei to summon the true Madara, who then seized control of the entire Akatsuki by overwhelming force. Their enemy was no longer the "old" Akatsuki, but an Akatsuki led personally by Madara.

Upon questioning how such sensitive intel had leaked, Kakashi only smiled:

"We have our channels."

Mei let it drop; Darui sighed that Madara was likely even more troublesome than Hashirama; Ōnoki agreed, noting Hashirama could at least negotiate, whereas Madara brooked no opposition. Baki observed that Madara's inaction showed he still feared the Lord of the Shinobi World.

Kakashi concurred: step one of the Eye of the Moon Plan remained the Tailed-Beast Hunt, yet Madara dared not strike while Chiyu personally guarded all jinchūriki. The villages merely had to tighten patrols for the Beasts still awaiting rebirth.

Chiyu, however, cautioned:

"Do not underestimate Madara.

He is no mere brute; when strategy is required, he is more patient than anyone.

He has chased the Eye of the Moon Plan for decades and will not abandon it easily.

Remain vigilant and intensify your searches."

All five Kage agreed in unison.

After the call, Chiyu glanced at Kakashi.

"Kakashi, the spy inside the Akatsuki…

It's Yakushi Kabuto, isn't it?"

Kakashi smiled.

"As expected, nothing escapes you, Lord. Yes—our source is Kabuto.

Originally an orphan rescued by Mother Nono, Kabuto was coerced by Danzō into Root espionage, then drifted to Orochimaru. When you destroyed Root and killed Danzō, Kabuto was freed from his curse marks.

You saved the kids Root had abducted and rescued Yakushi Nono herself. Kabuto has never met you, yet he is profoundly grateful. Remaining beside Orochimaru and the Akatsuki, he passes intel to repay you and Yakushi Nono."

Chiyu nodded; even he had not foreseen this twist, but it was within reason.

"How is Uzumaki Naruto?"

Kakashi:

"Very well. At the Academy a teacher treats him like his own—Iruka Umino. Thanks to you revealing Naruto's heritage as the Hokage's son and a hero's child, many villagers now look at him with respect. Some even idolize him—but a few remain afraid."

Chiyu:

"Bring Naruto to me."

Naruto arrived, five or six years old, eyes wide with awe.

"Lord of the Shinobi World! You know, my dream used to be becoming Hokage—now I want to be someone like you!"

Chiyu asked about school; Naruto happily recounted Iruka's kindness and new friends, though some people still feared "the monster" inside him.

"What monster, Lord?"

"The Nine-Tails," Chiyu said. "I called you here to talk about it."

Before Naruto could react, scarlet light flashed; his consciousness plunged into a dark, damp chamber a few centimeters deep in water. A massive iron gate loomed, plastered with talisman seals; beyond it an enormous, dreadful chakra stirred.

Standing beside Chiyu, Naruto trembled.

"Th-this is the monster in me?!"

Chiyu uttered coldly,

"Kurama, behave."

An aura more terrifying than the Nine-Tails erupted. Waves exploded over the watery floor; the Fox's murderous chakra was obliterated, crushed flat.

From the darkness the beast's slit pupil opened, only to shudder beneath an overwhelming, six-path-level pressure.

"Eternal Mangekyō and the Sage's Rinnegan fused perfectly… Even the Madara of old was nothing compared to this! At this rate his power may surpass the Sage of Six Paths—approach Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself! How can such a being exist?!"

Kurama trembled but forced its prideful voice:

"Uchiha Chiyu! What do you want?!"

Chiyu answered evenly:

"You know what I want—your willing submission, Kurama."

Hearing its true name struck the Fox's soul. Chiyu's killing aura intensified, nearing the Sage himself. Kurama suffered a double blow, terror and shock entwined.

"How… how do you know that name…?

Who—what on earth are you?!"

~~~

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