The warm rays of the afternoon sun peeked through the canopy of trees, a sign they were in the Land of Fire. Obito and Jiraiya had been wandering the world since leaving Mount Myoboku a month ago, traveling from the Land of Iron and to the land of Tea. Currently they were in the Land of Fire, and Obito was still yet to master the rasengan.

They stopped at a clearing so Obito could continue practicing. It started off promising, then he kept failing...

Obito's brow furrowed in concentration, his hands bruised from the countless attempts of performing the Rasengan. He attempted the technique once again, hoping the outcome would change.

A swirling sphere of chakra formed in his palm, but as soon as he tried to introduce the second rotational force, the orb dissipated into nothingness, a new bruise marked his hand. Obito let out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Don't get discouraged, kid," Jiraiya said, resting a reassuring hand on Obito's shoulder. "The Rasengan is an incredibly advanced jutsu. It took Minato three years to create it."

"But I've already learned Sage Mode," Obito protested, his obsidian eyes flickering with frustration. "How can I struggle with something as simple as rotating two forces of chakra?"

Jiraiya chuckled, his booming laughter echoing through the forest. "Simple? The Rasengan is anything but simple. It's a delicate balance of two opposing forces – raw power and precise control. It's like trying to contain a raging storm within the confines of a single sphere."

Obito sighed, his mind processing Jiraiya's words. "I already know that." He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to center himself. He summoned his chakra, visualizing the intricate dance of the two rotational forces.

A sphere of chakra took shape in his palm, and for a fleeting moment, Obito thought he had succeeded. But just as quickly, the orb destabilized, erupting in a burst of energy that sent him stumbling backwards.

Jiraiya caught Obito before he could fall, a proud grin spreading across his weathered face. "You're getting closer, kid. Keep at it, and you'll master the Rasengan in no time."

Obito smiled, his determination renewed. "Right, sensei!" He immediately went back to training.

Jiraiya facepalmed and sighed, "At least take a break..."

Hours later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, they reached a small town. Jiraiya stopped in his tracks, turning to face Obito with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"You know, kid, you've come a long way since we first started this journey," he said, reaching into his pack and retrieving a neatly folded bundle. "I think it's time you looked the part."

Obito's eyes widened as Jiraiya handed him the bundle, revealing a sleek, orange jacket adorned with the iconic Uchiha crest on the back. The material was lightweight yet durable, perfect for a shinobi.

"Sensei, I..." Obito trailed off, his fingers tracing the intricate embroidery of the crest.

Jiraiya clapped him on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Consider it a reward for all your hard work... and giving me a travel buddy."

Obito smiled, his heart swelling with this sense of love, like Jiraiya was an uncle or a grandfather.

As Obito donned his new attire, he felt a sense of transformation wash over him. A transformation from the once-clumsy Chunin, to a Jounin, worthy of the Uchiha name and student of the Hokage, now to a student of the Sannin.

Jiraiya quite "You've grown into a formidable shinobi, Obito. It's time we returned to the village, we should be there within three days, two if we're fast."

He hoped Shisui had done well without him, his little brother was probably ten by now. He should've been a genin by now. Obito smiled brightly, to think that he had someone waiting for him when he got home. "Leaf village here I come!" He pumped his fist into the air.

Late at night, outside the Hidden Leaf village, both the Third and Fourth Hokage were heading to an old dungeon used during the first ninja war. It wasn't a place that one went to for picnics, only misdeeds were done in a dungeon.

Minato followed Hiruzen through the narrow, winding corridors, their footsteps echoing against the damp stone walls. The air was thick with the musty scent of ancient dust, and Minato couldn't help but shiver as they delved deeper into the underground labyrinth.

At last, they emerged into a cavernous chamber, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows across the intricate seals etched into the floor. In the center knelt a young shinobi, their face obscured by the shadows, their head bowed in solemn acceptance of their fate.

"Are you certain of this path?" Hiruzen asked, his voice grave. "There is no turning back once the ritual begins."

The figure nodded, their resolve unwavering. "I am prepared to make this sacrifice for the sake of the village."

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering towards Minato, a silent question lingering in his eyes. Minato's jaw tightened, and he gave a slight nod, steeling himself for the grave task ahead.

Hiruzen turned back to the volunteer, his expression somber. "Very well. May your spirit find peace in the next world."

With practiced precision, Hiruzen began to weave a series of hand seals, his chakra rippling through the air like a tangible force. The intricate markings on the ground began to glow, bathing the chamber in an ethereal light.

Minato watched, his heart heavy, as the young shinobi's form began to be engulfed by an endless torrent of paper. The paper formed a man wearing blue armor with red eyes and white hair, a large metal forehead protector adorned his head.

Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, stood before the present Hokage, his eyes narrowed and assessing as he took in his surroundings. His gaze settled on Hiruzen, and a flicker of recognition passed across his face.

"Saru," Tobirama spoke, his voice resonating with the weight of authority. "I'm sure you know the dangers and consequences of using a forbidden jutsu."

Hiruzen bowed to his mentor, "I'm sorry, Lord Second, but we've become very desperate and you may be the only person who can help."

Minato stepped forward and then bowed, "My name is Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. Recently I was attacked by someone able to use your jutsu, the flying thunder god comparable to myself. The man was masked but he bore one Sharingan and incredible skills with a scythe." Minato paused for a moment, the masked man's voice echoing in his mind. "He announced himself as the chain breaker, Madara Uchiha."

Tobirama was stunned, the words 'chain breaker', he'd heard them once before. The Second adjusted himself, talking about Madara was the most uncomfortable thing he could ever think of. "This chain breaker, you wish to know if he's the real Madara, yes?"

Sarutobi nodded, "Ideally. But we have other questions regarding your knowledge of the Sharingan itself. We've yet to ask the Uchiha clan for assistance because we don't know if they have anything to do with the assailant."

Tobirama stroked his chin, "It's highly possible that they colluded. Did the sensory unit pick up anything about the culprit?"

"They discovered absolutely nothing. The man was a ghost." Hiruzen answered flatly.

Minato continued, "They didn't even find a body after I hit him with a lethal blow. His body was indented into a large oak tree, he should've died let alone be able to move afterwards."

Tobirama's gaze drifted to the Fourth's right arm or the lack of one, "I assume you lost your arm in the battle."

"In a mutual strike we both lost our arms." Minato replied.

"Hmm..." Tobirama thought about it. The individual shared some things but there was no physical or meta physical way the Chain Breaker was Madara Uchiha. "Without a doubt this man cannot be Madara Uchiha."

Hiruzen was somewhat unsure, his mentor seemed as though he knew from the very beginning that the man was not Madara, so why wait to answer?

Tobirama's gaze drifted to the Fourth's right arm or the lack of one, "I assume you lost your arm in the battle."

"In a mutual strike we both lost our arms." Minato replied.

"Observant as always, Saru." Tobirama remarked, "Yes there is something I'm not telling you, but it is not out of malice I hide it. For the sake of the village and my elder brother, I cannot answer all of your questions about Madara. Some secrets are best taken to the grave."

Minato and Hiruzen were more confused than anything about the Second's answer, what was so disastrous about Madara that wasn't already known?

Rin, Shizune, and Tsunade were sleeping at an Inn within the Land of Fire. Tsunade felt like there was very little that she could teach Rin. But there was another reason, Tsunade kept having dreams since the injured hall of civilians in the Land of Frost. That memory of her grand parents saving that black haired woman. It was significant for multiple reasons, but something always bugged her. Why had her grandfather taken her home instead of the hospital? There was more to the raven haired woman than at first glance.

Another memory surfaced, involving the woman and her grandfather.

Late at night within the Senju estate, Tsunade at five years old got up to get a drink. Her small feet padded across the cold wooden floor as she made her way to the kitchen. She grabbed a cup and carefully poured water from a pitcher, trying not to spill a drop. After quenching her thirst, she turned to head back to her room.

A faint sound caught her attention, like the whisper of the wind. Curiosity piqued, Tsunade followed the noise to the courtyard. Sliding open the decorative door, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

The woman with long, raven hair that shimmered like silk under the moonlight stood in the center of the courtyard. Her pale skin was marred by scars, signs of her being a seasoned Shinobi. The woman dressed in black pants and bandages wrapped around her chest, she moved with a fluid grace that defied the wounds that marked her body.

As Tsunade watched, the woman executed a series of intricate movements, her limbs slicing through the air with precision. But when she landed from a flip, her body trembled, a brief grimace flickering across her face as an old wound protested.

Tsunade gasped and the woman's eyes snapped to Tsunade. Her eyes as black as coal boring into the child. For a heartbeat, they stood frozen, until the woman's lips curved into a small smile.

"Do not be afraid, little one," she said, her voice a blend of gravel and refinement. "Come on out."

Tsunade hesitated, but there was a warmth in the woman's gaze that drew her forward. As she stepped into the courtyard, she noticed the woman wore black gloves, the material gleaming dully in the moonlight.

The woman regarded her with curiosity, her intense stare seeming to peer into Tsunade's very soul. "What is your name, child?"

Tsunade swallowed, finding her voice. "Tsunade," she replied, her small voice wavering only slightly.

The woman's smile widened, and she inclined her head. "A pleasure to meet you, Tsunade. I am..."

"Lord Second, why can't you speak of Madara Uchiha?" Minato pressed, his brow furrowed with concern. "What truth could possibly be so dangerous?"

Tobirama's jaw tightened, his gaze flickering towards Hiruzen. "The man who attacked the village is not Madara Uchiha, that much is certain. As for his identity, I cannot say."

"But why?" Hiruzen insisted. "We need to understand who our enemy is."

Tobirama's eyes clouded with a haunted expression. "Some secrets are better left buried, Hiruzen. The truth I am withholding is one that could shatter the very foundation of our village."

"How can you be so sure this masked assailant isn't Madara?" Minato countered. "He possessed the Sharingan and claimed to be Madara himself."

Tobirama shook his head. "It just isn't possible, Madara perished long ago during her final battle with Hashirama in the Valley Of The End."

A sudden silence, followed by a realization. Tobirama either misspoke or revealed his hand. Minato decided to test which one it was. "Her? You refer to Madara as..."

Tobirama's shoulders tensed, realizing his slip of the tongue. He exhaled slowly, meeting Minato's gaze with a weary resignation. "So I've been had." He straightened himself up, "Yes, Madara Uchiha was a woman."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed in shock. "But... how is that possible? Madara was revered as the most fearsome shinobi of that era, a legend. I was a child then, I would have surely seen her with my own eyes."

"You give your younger self too much credit, Saru. You can't have been looking for what you didn't intend to find." Tobirama reprimanded Sarutobi. "But to answer your question. Madara's gender was carefully hidden, the first by Madara, not intentionally, rather a byproduct of her reputation, and the rest by me." He continued to elaborate, "To the world, Madara was known as a cold and bloodthirsty warrior, one who could realistically only be a man. But within the confines of the Leaf, she was the cold-hearted leader of the Uchiha clan. Many regarded her as the 'princess in red'. A nickname made out of mockery but true nonetheless."

Minato's mind raced, trying to comprehend the implications of Tobirama's revelation. "Why would you keep Madara's gender a secret?"

Tobirama's expression darkened. The real reason... "Because of gossip. Many gossiped in our time, some believed in an affair between Madara and my brother, Hashirama... Which they'd be right."

Minato couldn't believe what he was hearing, a man cheating on his wife with his best friend. It was unforgivable, even for a Hokage, THE Hokage. "You're saying Lord First was... a cheater?"

Tobirama shook his head, "If you think he cheated on Mito then you'd be wrong. Hashirama and Madara were always close, since childhood, but the creation of the Leaf allowed them to rekindle their friendship. Just think of two stunted teenagers who barely understand what complicated emotions were, discovering these feelings for one another. It didn't happen over night, but it wasn't until twenty one months after the village's foundation that I noticed what was happening. Madara was craving sweets, her appetite tripled from normal, and Hashirama was panicked."

Hiruzen's eyes widened, "You mean..."

"She was pregnant with his child," Tobirama confirmed solemnly. "Madara's pregnancy was a huge secret, before and after. I made sure no one discovered their son but Madara didn't wish to be a mother. After birthing her son, Madara cast a genjutsu to conceal her child's existence, even from Hashirama. I was lucky that I recorded events in my notes, otherwise I wouldn't know either. That was until Madara's death. Her genjutsu lifted and all of my memories and my brothers memories resurfaced. They didn't effect me much, but Hashirama was... different, changed. He left the village within a week, unable to stay in a place full of tainted memories. To this day I don't know what fate befell him."

Minato's heart sank, how could someone erase the memory of love? Of a child born of love? "What became of the child?"

Tobirama's gaze grew distant, as if peering into a past he wished to forget. "Abandoned, clueless to the identity of his parents. He was just another parentless Uchiha to the village. He was an adult by the time that Madara left the village, consumed by her hatred and resentment, on her quest for power."

Hiruzen shook his head, a weight settling upon his shoulders. "All this time, we've been harboring the offspring of Madara and Lord First, without ever knowing."

Tobirama's eyes hardened. "That child's existence must remain a secret, even now, for the sake of the village. The truth would only breed more conflict and hatred."

Minato nodded slowly, his mind reeling from the revelations. "Lord Second, I know it's not my place to ask but do you know who their offspring was? There could still be members of Lord First's descendants among the village."

Tobirama was hesitant, as Hokage he did everything for the village and it's image, but as an uncle Tobirama never did anything for him besides...

With an exacerbated sigh Tobirama closed his eyes and envisioned his first nephew, "Hashirama and Madara's child was named Kagami, who was once on my squadron with you, Saru."

Hiruzen felt sadness, he knew Kagami well enough but to think he was the son of two legendary Shinobi and a great Shinobi in his own right. "Did he know, ever?"

Tobirama shook his head, "No. It was better that way. But with the way I treated him It's possible that he could've interpreted it that we were family in some way."

Minato couldn't believe it, Obito was a descendant of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha. If the village found that out, a schism might be born and most would view the Senju and their successors terribly. "I see now why you'd hold onto such a secret. The whole foundation of the village would come into question."

Hiruzen then began to ask, "What about Lady Mito? She was married to Lord First around the founding of the village, surely she would've known about her husband's infidelity."

Tobirama folded his arms reminiscing about the early days, the good and the terrible. "Hashirama and Madara became intimate roughly before the third year after the foundation, a year later my brother married Mito to secure an alliance with the Uzumaki and quell rumors between him and Madara. It is not impossible to think Mito knew of Hashirama's feelings for Madara, he wasn't exactly subtle, nor was he a good liar. She most likely accepted the fact that Hashirama loved Madara but knew that they could never be together openly, so she played the part of a loving wife and mothered a child and grandchildren. I don't doubt she did love my brother, but one can't sleep well knowing your spouse's heart belonged to another."

Hiruzen and Minato knew the life of being married, but only one of them had children, well soon enough Minato would too, Kushina was expecting any day now.

Tobirama continued speaking, the double life of Hashirama and Madara must've fascinated him and caused him immense sadness. "My theory as to why they came to be is that Madara was fed up with the way she was treated, and my brother consoled her, and with those two I assume it was during a sparring session that they got hot and bothered. But knowing Madara, she was likely the one who wanted secrecy and that's why their relationship never went public."

Minato thought about how he'd feel if he kept his relationship with Kushina a secret, he'd probably die from holding in his love. But the idea of fighting a woman you loved for years was something that even Minato couldn't ever consider, the First was courageous in that regard.

Hiruzen stroked his beard, "Sensei, what caused Madara's downfall? It was always ambiguous. Is Lord First to blame?"

Tobirama halted Hiruzen, "My brother was the only light in Madara's life, thanks to my actions..." He said grimly. "Imagine being a legendary Shinobi, unparalleled in every aspect, but you're the only woman in a male dominated field. She was the first and only woman to be a clan head at the time and as such many mocked and belittled her just for gender without any merit. Madara was frequently called a princess because of her relation to her predecessor, her father Tajima."

Everyone stood there in silence, thinking about the sudden flood of information. Tobirama decided to continue. As much as he disliked Madara even he couldn't help but feel sympathy and understand the woman his brother chased for so long. "Even the strongest wills are broken after so long, Madara was no different. She was a loyal member of the Leaf for twenty four years, but think of the amount of verbal abuse one must take after so long. Belittled for your gender, your family, your title, your position, and always being second best. It doesn't help that you know your lover has children with another woman, it eats away at your sanity, your worth, your morals. Madara had one of the strongest wills I had ever known. It's a true tragedy what happened."

Minato bowed his head, listening to Lord Second made Minato question himself. Was the village a just system or was it a broken machine that needed change?

A small smile graced the woman's lips, "Madara Uchiha," the woman said to the young Tsunade.

In the present, a cold chill creeped down Tsunade's neck. It couldn't be, was this an illusion embedded in her memories? Madara Uchiha couldn't be a woman, the stories said so. A woman couldn't have battled to the death against her grandfather. Even Tsunade paled in comparison and she was the greatest kunoichi of all. So why would something like Madara Uchiha's gender be a secret?

Madara gestured to the wooden bench nearby. "Would you sit with me for a moment and watch the stars?"

Tsunade nodded, her curiosity piqued by this mysterious woman. She scampered over and clambered onto the bench, her legs swinging idly.

The woman lowered herself onto the bench with a grace that belied her battle-worn appearance. She tilted her head back, gazing up at the twinkling expanse above them.

"Do you know the stories behind the constellations, Tsuna?" she asked, her voice soft and wistful.

Tsunade shook her head, her eyes wide with wonder.

"My family had a belief that every star is someone we lost. I watch the stars most nights hoping I see my brother's light in the sky." She frowned, remembering something dreadful. "I wish every night that I could join him and see his face one last time."

Tsunade didn't know what to say or feel, Madara was truly hurting but what could a five year old understand out of that? Tsunade hugged Madara, giving her warmth. "I hope Nawaki doesn't become a star anytime soon." Little did she know.

Madara was frozen, a statue unbreathing. Madara gazed down and looked into Tsunade's amber eyes, a strange feeling, maternal in nature. It terrified her, thinking of being a mother.

"Madara, you should be resting, not stargazing."

Tsunade nearly jumped out of her skin at the soft voice that cut through the night. Her grandfather stepped into the courtyard, his face creased with disapproval as he regarded Madara.

Madara merely quirked an eyebrow. "You know I cannot sit idle for long, old friend."

Tsunade's grandfather sighed, but there was a fondness in his eyes as he lowered himself onto the bench beside them. "At least have the good sense not to reopen your wounds." He glanced at Tsunade, his stern expression softening. "Did Madara regale you with tales from our youth?"

Tsunade shook her head, "Nope."

Hashirama looked at Madara, "Did you not tell her about the time we raced to the top of that mountain?"

Madara chuckled, "With good reason. You cheated."

Hashirama laughed quietly, trying not to wake anyone. "It's not cheating to state the facts. It was on you to be dumbstruck."

A broad smile graced Hashirama's features, "It reminds me of that one time you and Mito went to the Stone for negotiations. You couldn't move after being courted by a young kid."

Madara narrowed her brow, "How do you know about that?!"

Hashirama shrugged, "How else? Mito told me."

Madara sighed, "I have had enough, my bones are aching to relax. I will see you in the morning." She stood up, walking away from the courtyard.

Tsunade looked at her grandfather, watching him stare as Madara retreated inside. Her older self understood what this meant, her grandfather was in love with Madara Uchiha.

"Grandpa, she's nice." Tsunade's young voice stirred Hashirama out of his gazing.

He smiled and ruffled Tsunade's hair, "She's the best, just like you." He stopped and picked her up, "Now let's get you to bed, Tsuna."

Tsunade woke up in a deep sweat, the revelation that her grandfather was in love with Madara Uchiha troubled her. She needed answers, real answers. The Leaf would have any and all the answers she needed, but returning to Leaf wasn't something she was entirely happy with. "Back to the Leaf. Hopefully Sensei will have some answers."

Minato was deep in thought, was it possible that Obito could awaken the wood style? Or was there too much Uchiha blood?

Hiruzen decided to ask Tobirama a question, "Sensei, I know we've obtained the information we summoned you for but I must ask if you'll stay here longer? Until this threat of the chain breaker is resolved."

Tobirama thought about it, returning to the pure lands would be nice but when there was a threat to the Leaf he could never rest easy. "Until the threat of the chain breaker is done, I will stay within the land of the living."

Hiruzen and Minato bowed, "Thank you, Lord Second." They said in unison. Minato was going to walk away but something was knawing at him, he had to tell Second about Shisui and Obito. "Lord Second, I feel I should tell you about your grand nephews. Would you want to meet them, or even tell them the truth at all?"

Rationally, Tobirama knew it would probably cause more trouble than it was worth but meeting his brother's descendants did intrigue him. Then the thought of his descendants came up, how had they been? Had they died out? "Saru, you probably don't know this but I had a son of my own, Sakumo Hatake. Is he still alive?"

Both Hiruzen and Minato grimaced, knowing what fate befell Sakumo. Sarutobi cleared his throat, "Sakumo died several years ago, but he had a son..."

Minato spoke up, a bit of pride showing through. "Kakashi Hatake was my student. A true prodigy." He was proud of Kakashi, but the boy lacked social skills. Minato started to frown, "But he died two years ago during the third great Shinobi war."

Tobirama sighed, another tragedy had befallen the Senju family. "I see."

Minato brightened up though thinking of his prime student, "But there's another student of mine who I discovered was the grandson of Kagami, Obito Uchiha. He's the kindest boy you could ever know."

Tobirama snickered, "I believe it." He imagined Kagami's grandchild, he must've inherited Madara's looks and Hashirama's kindness." He had a smile, almost forgetting that his lineage was dead.

Hiruzen sensed a change in the air, happiness. He couldn't believe his mentor was happy. "Lord Second, would you like to meet your nephews?"

Tobirama quirked a brow, "Multiple?"

Minato nodded, "Obito the elder at fifteen and Shisui at ten."

"Two? Well at least the Senju bloodline lives on through them and Tsunade."

Minato thought it was best to add, "I don't know much about Shisui but he seems nice, a bit too polite but other than that he's great. But you should know that Obito awakened his Mangekyou when Kakashi died."

Tobirama furrowed his brows, thinking. "The Mangekyou?! That must mean he's quite powerful."

Minato smiled proudly, "He is. I suspect he'll surpass me one day, but if he's got Lord First and Madara's blood then he'll blow way beyond them too."

Tobirama liked to imagine an Uchiha Hokage, they deserved it for their role in the foundation. "Let's hope no more tragedies befall him. Even the brightest stars can fizzle out under the right circumstances."

Hiruzen reached into his pocket grabbing his pipe, Tobirama glared at him. "Saru, those things can kill you. It'd be better for your family if you stopped."

Hiruzen just continued along, "I'm sorry, Sensei, I've tried quitting before this chainbreaker business but since Minato's battle I haven't been able to stop. Especially since Danzo's death."

Tobirama sighed, Danzo's death wasn't on his radar. "So I take it the chainbreaker was involved in his death?"

Minato specified, "We don't know for sure, but it's very likely."

Tobirama felt a bad feeling, a pit in his stomach. Wait, he didn't have a stomach. Regardless, he felt that whoever this chainbreaker was going to be a great threat to the village. But with someone as promising as Obito Uchiha, someday those two would clash. Maybe it'd be better to teach the boy about his lineage sooner rather than later, "Fourth, is it possible for me to meet my nephews tomorrow?"

Minato chuckled nervously, "You can meet Shisui, but as for Obito, he's not in the village. It might be some time until he returns with my Sensei."

Tobirama grunted, "Very well." He was disappointed to hear that he'd only meet one of his nephews but one was better than none. "Tomorrow then."

Within the Land of Rain, the tallest tower within the Rain village held a meeting. A dark room with a roundtable, eight seats and five seated. A man wearing a white mask resembling a wolf, Hanma was the man's alias. He sat at the head of the table, his arms folded, "The objective of this organization is to capture the tailed beasts and seal them away from the world."

A man with long dark hair chuckled, "The tailed beasts, quite a goal. But I doubt the villages would give them up, especially not the Leaf. The nine tails is like a family heirloom." His yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness.

A woman with blue hair spoke her mind, "Taking the tailed beasts could possibly lead to war, surely you have thought of it."

Hanma looked at the woman with his right eye, "It's only natural to have a plan to prevent such circumstances." He changed his eye to the Sharingan, "With the Rain under my control there will be Rain ninja but those not from Rain will bare their village's headbands, so if blame ever comes it will be placed on singular entities than a whole village. That way we can operate without being impeded."

Sasori piped up, "Hanma's plan is ingenious, if either of you can't see that you could always be added to my collection..."

Hanma raised his hand, "That's enough, Sasori. They're going to be members just like me and you, threatening them does no good."

"Hmph..." Sasori grunted, listening to his superior. He still glared at the yellow eyed man.

The final member of the meeting decided to speak, their voice weathered, yet they shimmered with a green and black light. "We need ten S class Shinobi to seal the tailed beasts away. Both of you would be excellent members." An older woman, shrouded in darkness with static swirling her words.

Both the bluenette and the dark haired man seemed uneasy by the woman's voice. Hanma cleared his throat to get back on track, "Orochimaru of the Sannin and Konan of the Rain, we would be humbled to have either of you. Now, please follow Sasori to your quarters."

Sasori stood up and the two recruits followed. Once their footsteps could no longer be heard, Hanma looked at the mysterious woman, changing his voice. "I have an idea I want to run by you."

"Hmm?"

"Getting recruits this way could be slow, too slow for project Tsuki no me. We need a way to go about garnering supporters fast, even back up members."

"What do you suggest?" The woman's voice sounding more full of static.

Hanma walked over to her seat and placed a roster of Shinobi from all the villages, "A tournament. Where all the major villages are invited."

The woman was intrigued, "You want to offer a new refuge to those questioning their allegiance. You know that could be a hindrance as well? The Rain will gain many new eyes upon it, good and bad."

Hanma shrugged, "We need the manpower, Sasori and I can't seal the tailed beasts into the gedo statue, and neither can you do anything to help. But if the Hidden Rain village becomes compromised then we play the victim, recuperate our losses and tug on these times of veiled peace."

Hanma walked over to her seat and placed a roster of Shinobi from all the villages, "A tournament. Where all the major villages are invited."

The woman's eye flickered, an expression unseen changed. "You may go forth with your idea for a tournament but be cautious. The Four Kage may see it as a declaration of war if the prize isn't lucrative enough."

Kakashi understood what she meant, "Yes, I've got an idea for the prize..."

The hologram flickered again, and the woman, Madara Uchiha tapped her cane. "Inform me of your progress then, It has been some time since I last saw a bout, I wish to see you in action primarily. I doubt it will be too interesting but I hope you make it worth my while. Especially if it's the modern Senju vs Uchiha." Her lips curled into a smirk, "Wake me when you require my assistance." Madara's form disappeared, leaving Kakashi in the meeting room alone.

"Fighting Obito again? It might be enjoyable, if he's grown at all." Kakashi said to himself. But entertainment was all Obito was, nothing more. He needed to gather the tailed beasts and restore the ten tails, along with killing those who didn't deserve the perfect world.