Madara's underground base.
Madara looked irritably at the person White Zetsu had brought back: "This is the Kekkei Genkai of Kusagakure that masters the forbidden jutsu, Dragon Life Reincarnation?"
White Zetsu nodded: "Yes, Madara-sama, she is a core member of the 'Grass Flower Group' anti-war faction in Kusagakure, and the only one of this generation to have mastered the Dragon Life Reincarnation Kekkei Genkai."
Standing before Madara and his group was essentially a little girl, about four or five years old, with her silver-white hair tied up and a pair of ringed eyes with light purple pupils.
What a pity; if the whites of her eyes were also ringed, it would be the Rinnegan.
At this moment, she was looking at this group of fierce-looking people with some fear. She had been practicing Ninjutsu with her master in the village when she was suddenly abducted by a weirdo.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Madara coughed hard, then looked at Ryou with cold eyes: "Ryou, are you sure this child can restore my youth?"
"This..."
Ryou was somewhat uncertain. Resurrection in the world of the Hokage isn't always an equivalent exchange, nor is there a level suppression.
The Rinne Rebirth Jutsu can resurrect a large group at once. Someone of Madara's level could find anyone; as long as they had the secret technique, they could be resurrected.
But mastering a secret technique also depends on the person. For such a small child, she probably hasn't even fully understood the secret technique she mastered, so how could she resurrect someone?
Seeing Ryou's hesitation, Madara knew he had been deceived and immediately became enraged: "Take this lightning!"
"Ahhh—no! Ancestor!"
Whenever he did something that didn't suit Madara's wishes, he would get electrocuted.
Seeing Ryou treated so cruelly by Madara, the little girl became even more frightened.
Obito stepped forward to comfort her: "Little girl, don't be afraid. Big brother is here to protect you!"
As soon as the little girl saw Obito's appearance, she immediately backed away as if she had seen a ghost.
Tobi mocked Obito: "Obito, don't scare her. You're the scariest-looking one among us."
"Dammit!"
Obito was a bit broken. If even such a small girl was afraid of him, how would he ever dare to face Rin?
Would he only be able to give Kakashi back rubs for the rest of his life?
No—
After a short while, Madara finished interrogating the little girl.
She was Ryūzetsu, a member of the 'Grass Flower Group' Pacifist Faction in Kusagakure. Ryūzetsu did indeed possess the forbidden jutsu, Dragon Life Reincarnation.
But Dragon Life Reincarnation isn't for resurrecting people; it's for saving people on the brink of death. If a person has died and their soul has gone to the Pure Land, Dragon Life Reincarnation cannot resurrect them.
Furthermore, at Ryūzetsu's age, her path as a Ninja had only just begun, and she was not yet proficient in Dragon Life Reincarnation.
But Madara didn't care. He controlled Ryūzetsu with his Sharingan, preparing to use the child's life as a sacrifice for himself.
Obito rushed forward like crazy: "Uchiha Madara, to have such a small child sacrifice herself for you, are you even human?"
White Zetsu summoned several vines to bind the desperately struggling Obito.
Obito looked at Ryou angrily: "Ryou, is this your doing?"
Ryou shouted to Tobi: "Tobi, beat him, beat him until he smokes!"
"You got it!"
Tobi immediately began training Obito with great joy.
In this base, Madara had already lost all interest in Obito, and his status had plummeted; even Tobi could take a crap on his head.
Just as Madara was about to have Ryūzetsu activate the forbidden jutsu, Ryou grabbed Ryūzetsu's hand.
"Ryou!"
Madara's aura slowly rose. An old tiger still has its majesty; how could he tolerate a monkey's antics?
Ryou said: "Ancestor, Dragon Life Reincarnation is for resurrecting those on the brink of death. You aren't in a near-death state yet, so Dragon Life Reincarnation won't work."
Madara looked at Ryou: "So..."
Ryou analyzed: "Pull out the tubes behind you and put yourself in a near-death state!"
"..."
Madara stared at Ryou for about ten seconds.
The Sharingan Genjutsu on Ryūzetsu was also dispelled. After waking up, she looked at the handsome older brother holding her hand.
Ryou was probably the most human-looking person in this base!
And being so handsome, he must be a kind person.
Madara raised his hand to electrocute him, and Ryou quickly lifted Ryūzetsu up to use as a shield.
Ryūzetsu: "(⊙﹏⊙)"
Ryou was the most inhuman guy here!
"Ancestor, that's how Dragon Life Reincarnation is described. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
Madara sighed and let go: "Every second I remain conscious is a burden. Zetsu, bury them all in the latrine for me."
Ryou quickly tried to save himself: "Wait! I have a way, I still have a way!"
"Orochimaru has a forbidden jutsu called Living Corpse Reincarnation, which allows one to reincarnate into another person's body. Ancestor, you could completely reincarnate yourself into a young body."
"I've already picked the candidate for you, Ancestor! Obito! He's a once-in-a-century genius of the Uchiha! He awakened a two-tomoe right from the start!"
Obito, who was being whipped by Tobi until he smoked, cursed at Ryou upon hearing this: "Ryou, damn your ancestors!"
Madara struck Ryou with his cane: "Scoundrel, I don't want to reincarnate into anyone's body. I only want my own body to return to its peak."
Ryou clutched his head, looking at Madara's face, which looked like old autumn bark.
The older generation's views were too conservative; they couldn't accept someone else's body. With Madara's pride, he especially rejected the bodies of others.
Madara grabbed Ryou by the collar: "Ryou, I don't have time to joke with you now. I must restore my youth as soon as possible, or else you'll be buried with me!"
At this point, Ryou could only come clean: "Ancestor, my forbidden jutsu can also be developed to have the function of restoring youth for others."
"Just give me time, and I can restore your youth, Ancestor."
Madara stared at Ryou: "How long will it take this time?"
Ryou negotiated: "One year!"
Madara looked ready to electrocute him, so Ryou quickly changed his tune: "With Dragon Life Reincarnation as a reference, only one month is enough. Ancestor, surely you can't be unable to wait even that long!"
Madara lowered his hand and looked at Ryou coldly: "Fine, I'll give you one month. If you haven't developed the technique by then..."
"You, Obito, and this little girl will all be buried with me!"
Ryou nodded: "Don't worry, Ancestor, I will definitely make you young again and help you reach the peak of the Ninja World once more."
"However, Ancestor, could you satisfy a small hobby of mine?"
Madara looked at Ryou, knowing that this kind of person wouldn't act without seeing a benefit; without some incentive, he wouldn't work for you at all.
"Speak!"
Ryou requested: "I like Ninjutsu. Before, my health was poor and I couldn't perform them, but now that I'm better, can you teach me a hundred or so Ninjutsu?"
"..."
Madara was silent for a moment. Black Zetsu emerged from his shadow and merged into White Zetsu's body.
"This is the manifestation of my will. If you need anything in the future, go to him!"
As he spoke, Madara couldn't help but fall into a deep sleep; he was too exhausted.
Ryou looked at the sleeping Madara and really wanted to smash a Rasengan into his head, but with Black and White Zetsu watching nearby, he didn't dare to act rashly.
Black Zetsu turned around: "Follow me. Madara-sama's collection of Ninjutsu is right here!"