The banquet was held in the Everlasting Imperial Palace and lasted a full three days and three nights.
Under Yuzuru's development, the ninja world was now in a period of rapid growth, with resources in abundance. Naturally, he indulged without restraint.
Combined with the unparalleled, breathtaking scenery atop the Everlasting Imperial Palace, everyone experienced a truly extravagant and intoxicating atmosphere.
After the banquet ended, Yuzuru gathered Kitsuchi, Pakura, Mei Terumi, Fugaku, Onoki, Nagato, Orochimaru, and other key figures.
Along with Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama, the spacious conference room felt completely filled to the brim.
Before Yuzuru arrived, the people inside began chatting among themselves, though most of their attention was fixed on Madara.
After all, Madara was a legendary figure who had once reshaped the ninja world alongside Hashirama, establishing the one country, one village system.
Being able to see such a person in the flesh naturally stirred great curiosity.
Madara ignored all of it, his gaze lowered in silence.
Before long, Nagato stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the Rinnegan in Madara's eyes.
"Uchiha Madara… these eyes of mine really belonged to you?"
The moment his words fell, the room instantly fell silent.
Nagato was reserved and rarely appeared in the ninja world, so most people present knew little about him.
They only knew he possessed the same eyes as the Sage of Six Paths.
But now, he was claiming those eyes originally belonged to Madara…
Naturally, it sparked everyone's curiosity.
Madara lifted his gaze slightly and looked at Nagato.
"You've grown. When I implanted those eyes into your body, you were still just an infant."
Nagato took a deep breath, fury blazing in his eyes.
If not for the setting, he truly would have wanted to fight Madara on the spot!
This man who had treated him like a pawn and toyed with his entire life—how could he remain so calm in the face of questioning?
What…
did he even see other people as?
Sensing Nagato's emotions, Madara spoke expressionlessly.
"You should be grateful for that brat Yuzuru's naivety. Otherwise, in my plan, you would have used your life to revive me."
Nagato clenched his teeth.
"Yuzuru-sama's ideals are far better than yours. The peace in the ninja world today is all thanks to him."
Madara let out a cold chuckle.
"Just fleeting illusions. When Hashirama and I first established Konoha, the ninja world looked just as prosperous."
"And what was the result?"
"In less than a century, multiple great ninja wars broke out."
"Only my Eye of the Moon Plan can truly save the world."
Onoki couldn't help but ask, "What is the Eye of the Moon Plan?"
Madara glanced at him, a faint smile forming.
"That chakra… you must be Onoki, that little brat from back then?"
"You've aged quite a bit. Now you've become a little old man."
Unpleasant memories surfaced in Onoki's mind. He coughed lightly.
"I'm not here to reminisce. Just explain your plan."
Madara paid no mind to his attitude and instead scanned the room with interest.
Although Yuzuru hadn't followed his plan, it didn't stop him from revealing it.
Everyone here was a ruler of their own domain.
If he could gain their approval, the plan might still be carried out.
With that thought, Madara spoke.
"The Uchiha clan possesses an ancient stone tablet passed down since antiquity. It contains information left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. After awakening the Rinnegan, I was able to fully decipher its contents."
"The ninja world wasn't always like it is now, with nine Tailed Beasts. Originally, there was only one—the Ten-Tails, the complete form of the nine beasts."
"The Sage of Six Paths was the first Ten-Tails jinchuriki."
"Before his death, he split the Ten-Tails into the nine beasts we know today."
"According to the tablet, if all nine Tailed Beasts are sealed into the Ten-Tails' husk, the Ten-Tails can be revived, and one can become a second Sage."
"With the power of the Ten-Tails, one can cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, plunging all people into a genjutsu world."
"In that world, everyone becomes the center of their own reality. Anything they desire can come true."
"Tell me… isn't my Eye of the Moon Plan better than what Yuzuru is doing now?"
After hearing his explanation, Onoki, the Third Raikage, and the others were all stunned.
It was the first time they had heard such secrets.
But soon, the Third Raikage slammed his fist onto the table with a loud bang.
"So the great Uchiha Madara is just a coward who wants to escape reality. I used to admire you so much."
"Someone like you doesn't deserve my respect!"
Madara frowned slightly and said coldly,
"In the Infinite Tsukuyomi, people can experience everything they can in reality."
"Pain, exhaustion, joy, comfort…"
"There is no difference from reality. How can it be called escaping?"
Nagato retorted,
"No matter how you twist it, reality and illusion can never be the same."
Tobirama nodded.
"I agree."
"Madara, you've grown weak."
Madara let out a cold laugh.
"Then by your logic, is the Sage of Six Paths also a coward?"
Onoki frowned.
"The Sage of Six Paths? What do you mean? He founded Ninshu—he never tried to carry out something like your plan."
Madara's voice deepened.
"Then think about it—if he never intended to implement the Eye of the Moon Plan, why would he leave it recorded on the tablet?"
"After founding Ninshu, he gradually realized that people might never truly understand or trust one another."
"And so, the idea of the Eye of the Moon Plan began to form in his heart."
"At the time, humanity was sparse, and conflicts were rare."
"That's why he never carried it out. But having lost faith in humanity, he left the plan behind on the tablet."
"So that when the path of Ninshu failed, future generations would have another way to create a new world."
Madara's words rang out with force, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
If he truly learned of the plan from the tablet…
did that mean even the Sage of Six Paths once supported the idea of placing all humanity in a genjutsu world?
Only Onoki remained frowning deeply.
'Something's not right…'
'What Madara is saying now… doesn't quite match what Yuzuru told me before.'