Chapter 46: Alliances
At the Mountain graveyard is making plans for the forces of zetsu he plans to unleash on the shinobi alliance forces.
"What is the status of the zetsu?" Madara asks
"They're adjusting to the power that we've given them via the gedo mazo." Shirozetsu says
"Good we can't afford to give them more power from the statue unfortunately." Madara says
"What shall we do with Sasuke?" Shirozetsu says
"Nothing at the moment he is still adjusting to his new eyes." Madara says
"Of course." Shirozetsu says
"Have we been able to fully analyze the intelligence that Kisame sent to us?" Madara asks
"Yes his information on Kumo has provided us with the basic idea of what we'll be facing." Kurozetsu says
"Have the jinchuriki have been relocated as we predicted?" Madara asks
"Yes they're on the island turtle as we speak but, it appears that Kisame has been killed." Shirozetsu says
"It was expected that his information gathering operation had risks but, his loss is negligible at this point." Kurozetsu says
"Indeed whether we have him with us matters little the plan can proceed without him." Madara says as he walks out to the surface of the mountain graveyard.
"It seems you're short handed these days Tobi or should I call you Madara." a voice echoes across the area.
"Who's there?!" Madara demands and out slithers from behind some rocks is Kabuto.
"Kabuto Yakushi I'm surprised to see you here." Madara says calmly
"Indeed it doesn't seem like you would expect me here but, remember I used to work as a spy for Akatsuki remember." Kabuto says with a grin
"Yes you also, betrayed us with Orochimaru." Madara says as he charges to attack but, is stopped when coffins rise from the ground containing the deceased members of Akatsuki.
"Now, Now I have come to offer my assistance in your upcoming war." Kabuto says chidingly
"Why should I trust you?" Madara asks but another coffin rises up and reveals it's contents to Madara, shocking him.
"You don't have much reason to trust me but, you don't have a choice." Kabuto says with a smirk causing Madara to laugh.
"Well you're right about that I guess I will accept your help depending what you want in return." Madara says curiously
"It's simple I want Sasuke." Kabuto says
"Very well you can have Sasuke when the war is over." Madara says
"Then we have an agreement." Kabuto says
"Good come with me so, we can plan how to incorporate your forces." Madara says as he turns to head into the hideout when he suddenly hears another voice.
"My what a gloomy place you got here Tobi or should I say Madara." the voice says
"Who is it now!" Madara says irritated as a person jumps down from hiding behind the rocks.
"Menma Uzumaki you're alive?!" Madara says surprised
"Yes it's nice to meet you in person Madara and you as well Kabuto how are your experiments with edo tensei coming along." Menma says nonchalantly
"You have some nerve to come here after you gave up the nanabi jinchuriki instead of handing it over to us." Madara says irritated
"Now remember I needed to use her as bait for the kyuubi jinchuriki besides I didn't expect to be defeated even with the other half of kyuubi at my side." Menma says with a shrug
"You still could of handed over the Nanabi jinchuriki instead of gambling her freedom!" Madara says frustrated
"I had planned to recollect her after my fight with the kyuubi jinchuriki since, I captured her once I could do it again." Menma says with certainty
"What do you want?" Madara says annoyed
"I came to team up with the two of you and thank you Kabuto you guided me here as I hoped you would. I knew you were collecting dead shinobi for a reason." Menma says appreciatively
"Why would you team up with us?" Kabuto asks
"It fits my goal to see infinite tsukuyomi initiated." Menma says
"What do you have to offer us?" Madara says interested as Menma pulls out two scrolls. The first scroll he unravels and reveals the severed head of Hidan though it was dead somehow.
"How is he dead I thought he was immortal?" Kabuto asks surprised
"He was from standard ninjutsu but, not fuinjutsu I used the soul-extraction seal on his head sending him to the afterlife and with the head you have DNA to resurrect him as one of your puppets Kabuto." Menma says as he reseals the head and tosses the scroll to Kabuto.
"What else? You have to offer better if you wish to join us." Madara says as Menma opens the second scroll to reveal blood packets with a list of names on them. Kabuto looks at the packets and is shocked.
"These are!?" Kabuto says shocked
"Yes blood samples of some of the shinobi you probably couldn't get ahold of due to their destroyed bodies." Menma says as Madara looks at the names on the blood packets.
"Where did you get these?!" Madara demands seeing some of the names
"Simple Danzo kept a storage of blood of certain shinobi he might have some use for probably to use for Edo tensei once they died. I went looking into his sanctuary and found them after slaughtering many of the remaining root members about a week ago." Menma says with a smirk
"With these will be a force to reckon with but, I'm curious about a few of these you brought. I know of one that only rings a bell to me this Sesshomaru. Why would he be valuable to our cause?" Kabuto says
"Simply, he was my nephew. I killed him while he was only seven years old. He is the kyuubi jinchuriki's son and he contains the byakugan, Sharingan, and wood release. He is impressive for his age and I believe he can play either as a psychological weapon against her or as a simple pawn either way he has his usefulness." Menma says nonchalantly
"If he is your nephew and Naruko's son wouldn't that make you her brother?" Kabuto asks amused
"Yes she is my sister but, we have different views on how to protect the clan and had a falling out." Menma says indifferently
"To be willing to sell out your own sister and use her son against her my how cold of you." Kabuto says impressed
"The Madara I heard of turned his back on his clan for the sake of his pride and eventually helped have it slaughtered years later I would say I'm in good company." Menma says looking pointedly at Madara.
"Very well but, you must want something?" Madara says curious
"While Kabuto wants Sasuke I want his old eyes transplanted into me with my regenerative abilities I should be able to restore them to functionality." Menma says
"Why would you want them even if you can restore them you already have the mangekyo sharingan?" Madara asks suspicious
"I noticed something unique about Sasuke's chakra and mine. I want to perform an experiment to see how they mix and see the results. If it fails I'll simply retransplant my old eyes. If it's successful then, we can give those eyes to Sesshomaru to use." Menma says
"Something unique about both of your chakra's huh like what specifically?" Kabuto says curious
"It's hard to describe but, like they have an extra source of chakra bleeding into us from an unknown source I've only encountered such a thing in me and Sasuke." Menma says
"I assume that you want to do the operation immediately." Madara asks
"Yes the sooner the better to get this experiment over with so, if it fails I can have my other eyes back." Menma says with a shrug
"Very well let's get going so, I can plan with you two how the war is going to go." Madara says as they make their way down underground not noticing earlier a white snake with golden eyes slithered into the lair of the zetsu and slithered into one of their mouths and took on a pale complexion along with golden slitted eyes.
Several days later the trio begin to move and take steps into enacting their plans.
"Kabuto I want you to try and capture one of the jinchuriki." Madara says
"That will be a tough order even for me." Kabuto says
"Use it to gauge the opponents abilities as well as your own." Menma says with bandages wrapped around his eyes.
"How is your recovery coming along Menma?" Kabuto asks
"I feel new power flowing through these eyes, something different from the mangekyo sharingan." Menma says with a smile
"Good, I'm beginning to gain interest in this experiment of yours since you gave up the mangekyo sharingan for it." Madara says
"You aren't the only one, I'm looking forward to when the bandages come off speaking of which, how much longer do you think it will take for Sasuke to adjust to his new eyes?" Menma asks
"It will take a couple more days for the eternal mangekyo sharingan to be ready to be revealed." Madara says
"While I'm hunting jinchuriki what will you be doing Madara?" Kabuto asks
"It's about time to retrieve what's mine from Nagato's body and Konan knows I'm coming for them." Madara says
"So, you're going for Pain's rinnegan and what do you mean by retrieve what's yours?" Menma asks
"It's nothing but, I gave the rinnegan to Nagato as a child when I was no longer able to make use of them." Madara says
"I see then, it's only natural the rightful owner regain them." Menma says with a smirk
"Indeed" Madara says as he begins to warp away to ame and disappears.
"Kabuto, I have an idea what I'm about to awaken with these eyes, so, if things turn out as I expect, will you loan me control of some of your edo tensei?" Menma asks
"Provided that you let me examine you and your eyes when the war is over then, of course loaning you a few edo tensei isn't a problem." Kabuto says with a smirk.
"That's fine, I'm an oddity afterall a being that carries both the byakugan and sharingan. Of course you would be curious about me." Menma says amused as he turns to his room to rest as Kabuto makes his way out of the mountain graveyard to make an attempt at the jinchuriki.
With Madara he teleports to Ame to find Konan waiting for him.
"I see you've been waiting for me." Madara says
"Yes I knew you would make a move for the rinnegan." Konan says
"Not surprising to a traitor such as you that I need it in order to control the Gedo Mazo." Madara says
"I'm no traitor, Yahiko, Nagato, and I founded Akatsuki you were the one to twist it into what it became." Konan says with narrowed eyes
"It doesn't matter all I want is the rinnegan Konan if you give me what I want then, I'll leave just as quickly as I appeared." Madara says diplomatically
"Those eyes belong to Nagato since, he awoke them and with them they shall stay." Konan says icily
"If you don't want to cooperate then I will have to force you to show me where they are Konan." Madara says as he charges toward Konan who grows paper wings and takes to the air.
"I won't let you defile Nagato's and Yahiko's grave." Konan shouts as she begins to throw paper chakrams at Madara who lets them phase through him. Konan then forms paper shuriken that she launches at Madara who lets them phase through as well. Konan then flies towards Madara with a paper javelin in an attempt to impale him. But, he lets it phase through but, as he is about to grab her the papers around her begins to smoke and the paper bombs mixed in begin to explode as Madara teleports the explosion away saving Konan who is injured and exhausted while, Madara's mask is broken on the upper right side of his face and his right arm is missing.
"I should have known better than to underestimate you after all you were once a member of Akatsuki." Madara says taking deep breaths
"I've studied your technique closely for the day when we needed to kill you and today is the day." Konan says sweating and takes deep breaths. She activates the paper person of god technique opening a chasm of exploding tags beneath Madara as he plummets into it.
"Damn they're all exploding tags?!" Madara says as the paper bombs phase through him and explode.
"Your intangibility can only last five minutes, so I placed enough paper bombs to last ten minutes you won't be able to survive." Konan says calculatingly as the paper bombs begin to go off.
"Shit!" Madara says as he breaks off the remaining upper portion of his mask as five minutes pass. The explosions continue for another five minutes leaving Konan exhausted.
"Nagato Yahiko with this the peace you sought will become reality." Konan says exhausted but hears a voice suddenly behind her.
"Celebrating is a bit premature don't you think." Madara says as he is now blind in one eye due to using Izanagi. He stabs a pipe through Konan's chest from her back. She stumbles forward and turns around to face Madara.
"But, How?! You should have died after 5 minutes." Konan says weakly
"I used the power of Izanagi to rewrite my death with the power of those with senju and uchiha DNA." Madara says as he closes with Konan
"Senju and Uchiha who are you?!" Konan asks heatedly
"I'm the second sage of six paths, the one who awakened the rinnegan and gave it to Nagato. You see you three have been dancing to my tune this whole time." Madara says as he nears Konan.
"Yahiko and Nagato weren't your pawns, they did what they thought was right this whole time just as I do now. I will become a pillar that supports a bridge of light that brings peace just as they have." Konan shouts
"If you hold the light then, I'm the darkness that snuffs out the light." Madara says making a grab for Konan who jumps back and begins throwing paper chakrams at Madara but, he dodges them and stabs the pipe back into Konan. He then grabs her by the throat and puts her in a genjutsu that reveals where she hid both Yahiko's and Nagato's bodies. Madara teleports away leaving Konan to die as he heads toward the rinnegan. But, Naruko appears via Hiraishin and teleports her to the hideaway where she treats Konan injuries. Konan comes too several hours later and sees Naruko sitting by her bedside.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" Konan asks
"The line preservation curse seal let's me know when the baby is in danger in its case it was you nearly dying from being stabbed." Naruko says
"How did you get to me in time?" Konan asks
"I knew you would confront the remaining members of Akatsuki for the rinnegan so, I placed a hiraishin seal in the line preservation curse seal." Naruko says
"Then, Madara got away with the rinnegan." Konan says sadly
"It appears so, and it seems he plans on making his move very soon." Naruko says with seriousness
"I'm sorry I failed you I was supposed to be a pillar that supported you and I failed." Konan says tearfully
"Don't fret you're a pillar of support for me both you and the baby will give me the strength to keep going when things look dark." Naruko says with a smile
"Thank you Naruko" Konan says with relief
"Stay here and rest for a while, I'll leave a clone to Hiraishin you back to ame when you have recovered." Naruko says as she gives Konan a deep kiss and gently rubs her stomach. Naruko then, quickly Hiraishin's back to the Island turtle. When she gets back she is read the riot act by Yamato for disappearing from the island when she was ordered to stay there. He only relents when she mentions that Madara had attacked Konan to acquire the rinnegan and she went there to save Konan's life. They receive a shock when the island turtle is flipped upside down and everything is flipped on its head. Everyone is cushioned by Naruko and Yamato using wood release to break everyone's fall. When Yamato goes outside he finds that the reinforcements of Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi, and third tsuchikage have captured Kabuto. When he tries to restrain Kabuto, Kabuto snatches up Yamato in his mouth and dives into the water to get into Manda 2's nostril and they disappear. While, Deidara is called back from his fight with third tsuchikage. Naruko hears from Aoba what happened and curses but, before she can take off. Bee instructs them that they still have to return to training their tailed beast powers since they aren't familiar with the delicate control necessary to handle things with chakra arms. The third Tsuchikage levitates the island turtle lightening its weight and carrying it to the shore of the land of frost where he lays it. He then reports back to the other kages along with Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi.
Meanwhile, at the mountain graveyard Kabuto and Madara return.
"Did you manage to capture a jinchuriki?" Madara asks
"No, but I did get a consolation prize." Kabuto says revealing a bound Yamato
"That isn't what I asked for." Madara says
"True but, with your sharingan and my truth serum we'll get information out of him on the progress of the jinchuriki." Kabuto says
"I suppose I can also use him to strengthen the zetsu as well." Madara says
"How is Menma doing?" Kabuto asks
"He is still recovering; he appears to be satisfied with the experiment." Madara says
"That's good for us when he recovers he'll be a useful ally against the kyuubi jinchuriki." Kabuto says
"True now I have to transplant the rinnegan into myself for the upcoming war." Madara says
"Excellent I've resurrected those 6 you requested and will hand control of them over to you." Kabuto says with a grin
"Very good I'll see you in a little while, now I have an operation to attend to." Madara says as he walks into the base and begins preparing to transplant the rinnegan into himself. Meanwhile, the shinobi forces have located the akatsuki's base and are preparing to strike.