Video version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzB8D-OhF6U&lc=45UthO1oYQYbW6W3uIrLF3c53UDvNG-qZr8PiXvcvPQ

With that, and your favorite scan of Naruto chapters handy, I’ll begin…

Obito Uchiha’s revelation in Ch. 599 is a mystery within a mystery. Kishimoto, through his writing, is attempting to show us that the “reality” of Obito perfectly encompassing the persona of who we came to know as Tobi, and subsequently Madara Uchiha, may be just a “trapping of our own perception”—a binding of what we “accept as true”, as wisely stated by Itachi (Ch. 386). Some of us, as rational beings who don’t approach the series from a juvenile and myopic standpoint, have very understandably experienced some fuzzy doubt, with regard to Tobi actually having been Obito this whole time.

Itachi’s quote—and more specifically the fact that it is his character that uttered it, will guide us to my next main point.

Boss Characters NOT being wrong, and their anecdotes that testify to this

Let’s start with the wise and perceptive Itachi Uchiha, and very soon the loyal Kisame Hoshigaki. Both of these characters joined Akatsuki knowing full well the truth behind Madara’s identity.

- Itachi gave Sasuke a history of Madara and Izuna, the Uchiha clan, and the Mangekyou Sharingan’s “final secret” that Madara was the first to discover, being the “only Uchiha in history to awaken an Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan”. He notes that “Madara Uchiha is still alive today, and so are his eyes and their power” and refers to him as “an invincible immortal,” who “trained him and provided assistance” on the fateful night of the Uchiha clan massacre (Ch. 385-386). These statements by Itachi beg the following questions to a real thinker of the series: Would somebody as perceptive and talented as Itachi be fooled by Obito into thinking he was the real Madara Uchiha?

- Kisame joined the Akatsuki very shortly after working as a Se7en Shinobi Swordsman under Madara’s direction for almost 5 years. He worked cooperatively and diligently with Itachi during both the mercenary/clandestine and active jinchuuriki mission years of Akatsuki. He ended up becoming “the last to know” among certain members regarding “Tobi’s” actual identity and this was revealed to him after Itachi’s death (Ch. 404). Notice how Kisame is comforted… assured, by the sight of who’s behind “Tobi’s” mask, calling him “Mizukage” and Madara. Years earlier, he had believed, after reasonable skepticism, after seeing the masked individual “manipulating the 4th Mizukage…a perfect jinchuuriki, only with that eye that shines in the dark—the Sharingan”, that this person could be none other than Madara Uchiha (Ch. 507). He was comforted years later that he was the one “pulling the strings”, and died an honorable death befitting a shinobi through his loyalty to Madara’s secrecy and by extension, to Akatsuki’s. Was the feared “Monster of the Hidden Mist” really fooled by the teenage Obito?

- Minato Namikaze, otherwise known as the Leaf’s Yellow Flash, and the standing 4th Hokage at the time, concluded the masked individual could be “none other than Madara Uchiha” (Ch. 502). He makes this deduction after observing several things, including slipping past the Leaf’s barrier and covertly eliminating the ANBU directly under Hiruzen, all with the knowledge of when a jinchuuriki’s seal would weaken and demonstrating the ability to control and extract Kurama. Minato, for some reason, couldn’t detect that his “student” was behind the attack. Do you think Minato came to this conclusion, and resolved that it was of utmost importance to seal Kurama into baby Naruto, from witnessing teenage Obito’s demeanor, ideology, and abilities that night?

- Jiraiya, the sensei of the boss shinobi mentioned above, came to the same conclusion as his student before he confronted Nagato, aka Pain (Ch. 370). Page 15 explicitly shows his determination that Kurama’s attack on Naruto’s birthday couldn’t be random—he was almost certain after some more rational thought about the issue, that the one shinobi capable of controlling the Nine-Tails could be responsible. His deduction was Madara Uchiha. The next page shows something else to think about: Why is Obito sitting on Madara’s statue right then? Do you really think his emulation of Madara included going that fanatically far?

- Danzo makes a statement in Ch. 458 during the Kage Summit, pertaining to his knowledge of the issue at hand—Akatsuki. He notes that “the leader of Akatsuki is most definitely Madara Uchiha”. He admits he “doesn’t get it either… but our source is certain”. The source is none other than Danzo himself, and even he is confused about it, but knows for a fact that Madara Uchiha is Akatsuki’s leader. Danzo’s dealings with Orochimaru, Itachi, Hanzo, and Madara in the context of Akatsuki will bring this even more to the fore, which I’ll explain much later on.

- Finally, we have Kurama himself. Referring back to boss characters Jiraiya and his student Minato’s conclusions, what do we notice about Kurama’s thoughts just before the Sharingan of the Masked Man took control of him? Why would the Fox say “You..!” in Ch. 501? Would a keen mind really just go with what “reality” may have shown with the mask coming off, and conclude that Kurama confused teenage Obito for the Madara he first encountered years and years ago, with such first meeting shown in Ch. 568’s flashback?

Quotations from the Masked Man himself, at particular incidents of the Plot

Ch. 509 sees the Masked Man behaving in a very interesting way, almost as though his urgency to retrieve the Rinnegan he “gave to Nagato” is bringing out his true colors. Just look closely at the condescending tone “Tobi” speaks in, calling Konan a “foolish little girl”, and at her persistence at calling him Madara. She explains why it is an insult for the Masked Man to be demanding Nagato’s corpse for the Rinnegan, ignorantly debriefing him on Akatsuki’s origins and Nagato being the one who awakened Amegakure’s rightfully-owned kekkei genkai. What do we know of how the Masked Man responded to this? Was Obito alive at the time he supposedly would have “spurred Yahiko to form Akatsuki” even if we assume Obito was going off Madara’s direct knowledge when it comes to his statement “I gave Nagato the Rinnegan”? Be patient with me here. I will develop my solid evidences in a sequential, logical, and convincing manner.

Analyzing Konan’s battle with the Masked Man takes some serious close reading of his words to her after she’s been stabbed…i.e., after the Masked Man knows she’s going to die (Ch. 510). After he survived Konan’s formidable kinjutsu, she was aghast, asking “how…what…are you?!” The Masked Man laughs, and decides it is inconsequential to reveal to Konan “a little of his techniques… and his history”. He explains the history of the Sage, and “Creation of All Things” (Banbutsu Sozo) being the basis of Izanagi—the Uchiha kinjutsu that is only available in its complete form to those “possessing both the powers of the Uchiha and the Senju!” The Masked Man says “I am Madara Uchiha, the man who battled Hashirama Senju and survived, as the real victor looking to the future! Two of the Six Paths are now one being!” as his answer to a bewildered Konan’s question. Does the way the Masked Man moved, thought, and chose to speak to Konan knowing she was going to die, line up with him being Obito? Or does a different explanation address this more appropriately while retaining consistency with the material?

Consider Ch. 501 again—the Nine-tails’ attack on Naruto’s birthday which set the premise for the series. Why would Obito, before Kurama said “You..!” ask Kushina if she “has any idea how long [he]’s waited for this moment”? If we take this to mean Obito, then this means he’s waited for essentially half a year. What about if we take this statement to mean Madara himself? Then yes, he’s waited since the conclusion of his strategic battle with Hashirama at the Valley of the End! It is consistent with Kurama saying “You..!” as he remembered Madara and his Sharingan. I will expand the bolded statement into great detail later on.

By the time of Ch. 511-512, there are a couple of things we the readers know. For one, Kabuto Yakushi has formed an alliance with the Masked Man. Secondly, that Kabuto has demonstrated an Edo Tensei coffin that visibly disturbed the Masked Man, making him exclaim “You bastard…! Where did you get that?!”and accept the alliance. What did Kishimoto show us later that the coffin was? Indeed, the third thing we know through future chapters is that by Ch. 511-12, Kabuto is aware that the Masked Man indeed is not Madara Uchiha, even if he doesn’t exactly know it is “Obito”. So why then, after Kabuto’s exposure, is the Masked Man saying to him “they were mine to begin with (Rinnegan)” and that the Mindless Clone was “grown from tissue I stole from our battle” in response to his questions?

Dealing with Kabuto later on in the initial stages of the War, notice how the Masked Man is very cautious and on-edge regarding the Edo Tensei. After he ruthlessly provides the criteria for Kabuto to demonstrate its workings, he makes sureto not let Kabuto leave without demonstrating how to stop it. Kabuto answers his question by repeating once again that there are “no risks” to the user, and lies to the Masked Man about the correct seals to un-do the Edo Tensei. We know this was an utter lie from what we see the seals actually are, when Itachi later uses Tsukuyomi to force Kabuto (who is under Izanami) to teach him the seals (Ch. 589). The Masked Man then calmly says “there is a risk to everything”, and suggests to Kabuto to remain on his guard. He insists that there must be some risk to the technique, and demands knowledge of how to stop it. However, the Masked Man knew that Kabuto lied to him (why he asked Black Zetsu if White Zetsu’s spores were on Kabuto). The true purpose of that interrogation was to see if Kabuto knew of the ONE flaw to the technique that Madara himself knew before he died and currently knows. The Masked Man is aware that Edo Madara has knowledge of the seal to sever the contract with the Summoner of Edo Tensei. This is because the Masked Man is Madara Uchiha. Let’s continue.

In Ch. 453, we see the Masked Man is severely disappointed in Nagato’s betrayal, saying to Black Zetsu that “The Rinne Tensei was supposed to have been for me”. From what we’ve seen of Obito’s mindset and behavior post-Madara’s reincarnation, can we really assume this is him talking? Does he actually want that badly for Madara to be resurrected? All he wants is the Moon’s Eye Plan that he adopted and plans to be the Juubi jinchuuriki himself for!

In Ch. 462, why is the Masked Man explaining Sasuke’s dogma to Naruto in the 1st person, saying he “sees Hashirama and the Senju Will of Fire in Naruto”, who he “hated and admired at the same time”. Is it really logical to say this still is Obito maintaining this charade so damn well? In Ch. 467, what does he state as his goal? He says to C that “returning to his former self” is definitely a way of describing his goal to “become one with everything and achieve a complete form”. He answers Onoki at the Summit that he can’t move with the direct aggressiveness and overwhelming force Madara Uchiha in life would resort to, because “my wounds from Hashirama are so deep, and he’s currently an empty shell of his former self”—consistent with Itachi’s words of Ch. 386!

Quotations from, and Plot connections to, Madara Uchiha himself

Ch. 560 set the Naruto community in a surprised uproar when it was him shown to have been Edo Tensei’d. Interestingly, Madara is just as surprised, if not more. He can’t comprehend at the moment how he’s been “revived into this kind of state” instead of a real, youthful, rejuvinated body from “that grown-up brat” Nagato’s Rinne Tensei. But it is important to note why exactly he’s surprised. It is because of what this implies about the secrets of his body (his original vessel). The “prime” that Kabuto does not “know” (but had hypothesized with Orocihmaru) and that Madara refers to is the Rinnegan, which Madara activates in the same chapter—demonstrating “the legendary power of the Uchiha”. Edo Madara assumes that Kabuto deciphered what Madara himself wrote on the Tablet with his Rinnegan regarding the secrets of his real body, as the reason for how he was brought back with Edo Tensei in the first place. However, we all know this wasn’t the case, since Orochimaru and Kabuto couldn’t access the Tablet. They hypothesized, after Orochimaru’s defection both from Root and Akatsuki that the Rinnegan awakens in a body that has particular Senju + Uchiha DNA. Kabuto then used the tissue recovered from “Tobi’s” left arm to reincarnate Madara Uchiha “beyond his prime”, which refers to him coming back in a prime body while still retaining all his knowledge, experience, and ocular prowess he possessed up until the moment of his death. The tissue for the Edo Tensei was recovered from “Tobi’s” left hand that was severed by Minato on the Nine-Tails’ attack night—this is because that tissue is essentially DNA of Madara’s true vessel itself. This last, relatively risky statement by me will be explained thoroughly shortly, I promise.

Ch. 568: Notice how Kurama recalls his very first encounter with Madara. Here the legendary Uchiha shows knowledge of the Rikudou Sennin’s Tablet and the Sage’s separation of the Juubi into nine Bijuu. This knowledge is elucidated even further by the Masked Man (Ch. 462, 467). This first encounter with Kurama, shown through this flashback, is happening after Madara left Konoha in Ch. 625. Here he explains to Shodai his concept of the “Real Dream”, which “looks to the future” like the Masked Man said in Ch. 510, and that Hashirama “can’t see the forest for the trees” and grasp something that is beyond the Leaf Village.

If you’ve followed my logical deductions so far, you’re ready for my next main topic, and you’ve allowed yourself to look closely at the content and see that there are words and actions by the Masked Man that aren’t very consistent with him being Obito Uchiha. I really appreciate you reading so far.

The “Real Dream”

The Sage of the Six Paths died while “true peace was still a dream” (Ch. 462). True peace, even with all the Sage’s power and influence, “couldn’t be achieved in his one lifetime”. This is something Madara realized after he read the Tablet with his fully awakened Rinnegan in Konoha. He achieved this feat with the Rinnegan’s Outer Path, by applying it through one of his In’youton/Yin-Yang-created-Zetsus. We know from fact of the content that the Outer Path technique grants the Rinnegan bearer the ability to channel his chakra, and thus ninjutsu, through Will-materialized chakra receivers/disruption blades. He used the Rinnegan’s shared visual field to slip into Konoha in order to read the original and complete contents of the Tablet, and subsequently re-write its contents.It’s important to accept that latter part for now if you’ve been following my logic so far, because it will become very clear why Madara would cunningly re-write the Tablet at every stage of the Sharingan, except EMS. Just think about it—the Sage, like Madara, bore the Rinnegan, and wrote the Tablet (Ch. 467). WHY would he leave Rinnegan-awakening secrets to his Elder Son?? Moving on… keep close in mind that the Masked Man’s words in response to the question “what is your goal? What are you trying to achieve?!” at the Summit is as follows:

“To have everything become ONE with me! To achieve a COMPLETE form, in which all is united” (Ch. 467).

The current Madara Uchiha is an Edo Tensei of the original vessel beyond its prime. However, prior to his reincarnation, he has existed and operated in the form of his consciousness and knowledge that is “Tobi”.

Obito Uchiha is unconsciously in possession of the real Madara Uchiha’s consciousness/knowledge (Yin) and DNA, due to complete assimilation of “Spiral” Zetsu. This consciousness and knowledge controls and guides him, and Obito is simultaneously unaware of this control.

Everything that has to do with Madara’s motivation for his plan as well as what the Sage of the Six Paths/Rikudou Sennin did and the events surrounding his life must be analyzed in context of the Tablet’s words. More specifically, the words Madara explained to Shodai Hashirama in Ch. 625 he had read on the Tablet with his Eternal Mangekyou shortly before he left Konoha for good. He explains to Hashirama that this Tablet had been passed down the clansmen that descended from the Elder Son (what else does it mean for it to have been passed down by the Uchiha?) and only their Dojutsu can interpret it. He says to Shodai that it reads (with his EMS): “Looking for stability, God was divided into Yin and Yang. The action of these two opposing forces Created All Things in nature”.

Hear me out on the breakdown that follows. “Creation of All Things”/Banbutsu Sozo was explained by Tobi in Ch. 510, wherein he says the Sage, who is a Senju and Uchiha in one body, used his mastery over Yin and Yang to “create many things”. This cannot be interpreted any other way than to be what is meant by “created all things” on the Tablet that Madara read with his EMS. Unlike how Shodai interpreted this, Madara explains that there’s “another interpretation”, that “cooperation is nothing more than engaging in a silent struggle…My dream is beyond your grasp” (Ch. 625). This is directly related to him stating as Tobi to Konan that the real victor was “he that looked to the future…I fought that battle to gain his abilities”. Yes indeed—Madara interpreted the Tablet to mean he must battle Hashirama in order to attain the power of a God, the Rinnegan. He recognized and told Shodai that “only you are capable of competing with me” because Madara and Hashirama are each shinobi who are true “Paths” of the Sage. The “Paths” will be expanded upon in much detail later, even if they’re mentioned a couple of times inbetween, because it forms the core of my theory.

Madara fought the battle at the Valley of the End fully intending to survive. Knowing full well the story of the Sage and his dealings with the Juubi, Kishimoto shows us through Kurama’s flashback I’ve referenced earlier that Madara sought him out and subdued him with his Sharingan. Madara accomplished this spectacular feat, born as the most powerful Uchiha example of “great and sinister chakra” (Ch. 309, Ch. 398) as a true heir of the Sharingan and “Path” of the Sage. As such he wields the ability to control Tailed Beasts—the same as Hashirama, also a “Path” that wields the same ability through Mokuton, the absolutely rare and true kekkei genkai inheritance of the Senju. Realizing these facts that Hashirama didn’t, he understood that Shodai was “the only one who could compete with him” (Ch. 625). Seeking the power of a “God” to look for “stability/peace”, he challenged Hashirama again and again and finally, once more with Kurama in his control. He sought the Kyuubi because he had to match Shodai Hashirama who had acquired another “Path” of Sage Mode in the meantime (this fact will become very relevant in Ch. 647). This final, epic landscape-tearing battle that formed the Valley of the End was fought with a specific purpose for Madara. To achieve this purpose, he needed Hashirama to battle him with all his strength, and to exhaustingly be brought to the point of striking Madara with a fatal blow. This goal was to narrowly survive with Izanagi, and acquire a sample of Hashirama’s tissue during battle.

Look very closely, comparatively, at the Madara Uchiha facing Hashirama Senju in their legendary battle and at the Old Man Madara he survived to become. I mentioned these two life stages of Madara in this sequence for a reason (Ch. 626, Ch. 602). Madara awakened the Rinnegan after years of suffering and clinging to life support through the Gedo Mazou. He had been integrated, since surviving in Ch. 626, with DNA from the true “Path” that is Hashirama and thus established the conditions necessary to awaken “God’s” eye years later. But what do we notice about Old Man Madara from Ch. 602 to when we last see him in Ch. 606? Peculiarly, the right side of his face continues to be concealed from view just like his younger self’s always had been, except for him showing his right, squinted, empty eye socket to Obito. This is the right-side socket that held the Sharingan used to cast Izanagi in the Valley of the End, to survive Shodai’s fatal blow (Ch. 626).

Thousands of Naruto fans have their thoughts on how Madara survived the fatal sword thrust of Ch. 626’s epic battle conclusion, in which Madara’s right side of his face keeps on being concealed from our view. We notice that before the final clash, Madara’s Eternal Mangekyou is shown, and yes, this is almost irrefutably the left one. In fact, it wouldn’t make sense for it to be the right eye even if that would further corroborate my next point, because Kishimoto here is trying to stealthily hide the fact that the right-side, concealed Sharingan was preparing a technique in that moment of battle. This technique is none other than Izanagi. Kishimoto used Madara’s right-side hair to conceal his activated right Sharingan that was preparing to execute Izanagi—an Uchiha kinjutsu Shodai did not know about. We know from Ch. 587 through Itachi’s explanation of the Uchiha kinjutsu Izanami that it was partner to the kinjutsu Izanagi, which he obviously learned from Madara himself. Once Hashirama was sure he saw the “Madara” (it was the Izanagi illusion, think back to Sasuke vs. Danzo) in front of him “die”, what do we see? What does that diamond-like mark that flashes above Shodai’s head always mean in the series? Yes! Shodai had sensed someone’s presence atop the Valley… because he is a sensor, and in that moment exhausted so much chakra that he fell to his knee in utter fatigue. Madara had survived the ordeal, and just before that brought Hashirama to the brink of complete chakra depletion, which enabled him to walk off “thought to be dead”. He forever lost his light in his right eye in that moment, and this is reflected in Ch. 602-606’s Old Man Madara. Madara thus awakened the Rinnegan—one Rinnegan—only in his left eye, years prior to encountering Obito. This Rinnegan was surely not transplanted directly into Nagato, who we know definitely possesses two of them (Ch. 444, last page!)!

Think carefully about the points you’d make to refute the above statement, and analyze them in context of what is seen in the manga. Kishimoto puts nothing random into his content. Upon awakening “God’s” eye, Madara had the realization that pain and hatred (Ch. 445) could also advance the ocular prowess of an Uzumaki who has transplanted Senju + Uchiha DNA. Old Man Madara said “the Rinnegan will not open unless you possess both Senju + Uchiha DNA (Ch. 606). Yes, Madara did not directly implant his one and only Rinnegan into Nagato, but “gave him the Rinnegan” by transplanting his own DNA into the 5-year old without him knowing—setting up the conditions necessary for Nagato to awaken his own Rinnegan after the trauma of Madara’s tactful destruction of Uzushiogakure. The Sharingan in the left eye that Ch. 602-606 Old Man Madara shows Obito is none other than the same Sharingan that awakened the Rinnegan. It stands completely to reason that a Rinnegan can revert back to EMS, MS, and then to the Sharingan. How else would Madara have been able to use the In’youton/Yin-Yang technique explicitly shown in Ch. 606? In’youton, as well as the not explicitly shown in this chapter “Six Paths Technique” (referring to Outer Path specifically), requires the Rinnegan. What do we observe when Old Man Madara performs the In’youton to create Black Zetsu and to produce the black staff towards the end of Ch. 606? Madara’s left eye is obscured in the first instance, and is also conveniently shut by his left eyelid as he’s producing the black staff with In’youton. I want you to observe these instances within the context of Madara saying to a crawling Obito “you can leave if you want, but I’ll take your Sharingan. I’ve entrusted my original eyes to someone else, with this being a spare I implanted (a lie). I need both eyes to awaken their full power”. Old Man Madara basically told Obito he would take his right Sharingan to implant in his own empty socket, so he’d have both eyes to unleash the full power of his real (not spare) left Sharingan, which is the same and only one that awakened the Rinnegan. There’s no wayMadara would have transplanted his actual only Rinnegan of his left eye with “all these preparations” (possibly already plotting with Danzo, approaching and convincing a young Jiraiya-trained Yahiko to form Akatsuki, creating Zetsu clones with In’youton for Outer Path utility in order to seize complete control of Kirigakure, and looking for any opportunity he can to obtain the Nine-Tails) as stated by “Spiral” Zetsu. There is also no way that Madara, having suffered and planned for decades of years, was waiting to find someone to entrust all and everything to and leave open the possibility of utter betrayal, which we clearly see is the case later. This cautious planning in advance will save Madara’s ass on more than one instance as he subsists in the form of “Tobi”. This leads me into my next point.

Obito was a necessary sacrifice to allow Madara to reach his “Real Dream” of Ch. 646

In Ch. 605, “Spiral” Zetsu takes over Obito, after he and Zetsu mysteriously know what Rin and Kakashi look like in order to warn Obito of where they are and the nature of their plight. Ignoring the suspicious element I just highlighted for now, I want you to notice “Spiral” Zetsu enveloping Obito so he can “wear his body”. During these moments of “Spiral” Zetsu closing in on Obito’s eye and fully enveloping him, Old Man Madara is never conscious/awake or talking. He was “asleep” the whole time “Spiral” and White Zetsu talked and helped Obito, and always is “asleep” when “Spiral” Zetsu is fully enveloping Obito, not otherwise. This is not a coincidence. Neither is it a coincidence that “Spiral” Zetsu seems to be a perfect form-fitting armor for Obito, and was in the process of being created while Obito was in a coma from the boulder. After Obito witnessed Rin’s tragic death, his anguish unleashed his Sharingan’s power and he advanced it to the Mangekyou. But why was it necessary for “Spiral” Zetsu to envelope him at this moment? Not only that, but notice how this is the first instance we see black blades erupting from Obito’s body, and this is before Old Man Madara taught him the Outer Path. Why exactly does Obito, in this moment, on all manga scans, say “where am I? What is this?” after “Spiral” Zetsu encloses him fully as he awakens the Mangekyou? Why is the “Spiral” armor still on after Old Man Madara sends off Obito with his dying words, and then is mysteriously (I repeat, mysteriously) completely gone by the time of the Nine-Tails’ attack on Naruto’s birthday? We know that White Zetsu obviously knows “Spiral” Zetsu, so why does the keen mind observe Zetsu speaking to “Tobi” just like he’s “Spiral” Zetsu, when “Tobi” joined Akatsuki? Or observes that “Tobi” at times behaves literally identical to “Spiral” Zetsu? Or that Zetsu said “Tobi is a good boy” just like White Zetsu said to “Spiral Zetsu” years earlier? What do these clear as day connections mean?

Madara needed a weaker vessel in order to carry on and see his goal through himself, rather than placing every fiber of confidence in Obito Uchiha, a teenage boy. Madara orchestrated Rin’s death through his control of Kirigakure, which he had been manipulating for 24 years up until the point we’re looking at right now, which is 13 years before the series started. He needed Obito to go through hell from pain and suffering turned to hatred, and awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan to make his plan easier. Notice how this is no different from how he manipulated Nagato—he principally destroyed Uzushiogakure with Kirigakure to remove the Fuinjutsu-adept Uzumaki as a threat. However, we know now that it also was also to disperse the refugee Uzumakis, a 9-year old Nagato could be monitored—he couldn’t let his Rinnegan investment roam unwatched.

Initiating the process upon finding a comatose Obito, Old Man Madara employed his Left Rinnegan, and used Banbutsu Sozo/In’youton to integrate his “‘Eyes’… chakra and spiritual energy”, i.e. the basis of his consciousness and knowledge (‘Yin’), into ‘Spiral’ Zetsu. The corresponding ‘Yang’, which is ‘Spiral’ Zetsu’s life force and physical energy—is the “Mindless” (absent of ‘Yin’) catalyzed tissue of Shodai. By the time of the night of Naruto’s birth, ‘Spiral’ Zetsu had fully assimilated and bonded with Obito’s Uchiha body and Sharingan and “unleashed the full power of [Madara’s] Sharingan”, granting the same ocular strength and power to Obito’s right Sharingan through this process. Madara tested out just how compatible this would be, in Ch. 605. This also explains exactly why “Obito/Tobi’s” genjutsu execution and prowess is of such a masteful level - one would say legendary. Why the hell would Madara want Obito’s starkly inferior skill with Uchiha dojutsu and ocular genjutsu to be a hamper to his progress? His progress to his goal that strove him to subsist in who must serve as a temporary “shell of his former self”? Why would Madara want Obito to execute an incomplete Izanagi in case he runs into situations like Konan “The Angel of Death”? Without a doubt, Danzo’s laughable incomplete Izanagi couldn’t have saved him from Konan’s Paper Person of God. So then why don’t sensible people wonder where “Obito’s” Left eye, that used a complete Izanagi, came from? Why can’t every girl you bring back give it up the first night? Haha, in all seriousness though, these are important questions. Tobi’s Left eye is Old Man Madara’s Left Sharingan, the same one that awakened the Rinnegan and is capable of a complete Izanagi. This is because only Madara Uchiha’s Sharingan, whose essence had been integrated into ‘Spiral’ Zetsu along with his consciousness through Banbutsu Sozo, is the only one capable of a complete Izanagi. A derivative of Banbutsu Sozo, Izanagi in its complete form requires the combination of both true “Path” kekkei genkai in one body. Old Man Madara achieved this through ‘Yin’ Madara’s subsistence within Obito’s body. So as is with his bodily actions being controlled, Obito is completely unaware of Madara’s knowledge and real power that resides within his “weaker vessel” (Ch. 467). Remaining cautious so as to not to empower Obito too much, but give him the tools to survive and fulfill his purpose, he taught him three specific techniques, and nothing more, nothing less. ‘Spiral’ Zetsu is not a random character whatsoever…he is a product of Madara’s In’youton, and is also a strategic tool whose integration with Obito’s body allowed him to perform those three taught techniques: 1. A complete Izanagi. 2. In’youton for the purpose of creating the Zetsu army. 3. The Outer Path, to channel techniques through the black staff created only by Madara.

Thus, after Old Man Madara used Kirigakure to put together eliminating the “jinchuuriki-zed” Rin once he encountered Obito and extracted information about her (through his mention of her and Kakashi in his dreams and combining that with Zetsu intel), he started making moves to end his “true vessel’s” life.

As I outlined heavily previously, he had planned Nagato’s role because he is an Uzumaki, whose DNA, in combination with Madara’s transplanted Senju-Uchiha DNA, were the necessary conditions to awaken the Rinnegan through pain turned to hatred (Ch. 444-445). Once Madara garnered intel that this had been successful, he recorded on the Tablet his real vessel’s secrets (probably his dead vessel’s location being in the cave) with the Rinnegan, knowing no one else could decipher them. This is principally why Edo Madara suspects Kabuto deciphered the Tablet without the required Dojutsu—instead, ingeniously using Orochimaru’s hypothesis, Kabuto actually gathered the tissue from Tobi’s left hand severed by Minato from the night of the Fox attack, knowing the Masked Man (‘Yin’ Madara) could have been the only responsible party. He used this tissue to reincarnate Madara Uchiha through Edo Tensei, with a modified youthful body—taking the technique to another level. This enabled him to expose the Masked Man’s deception prior to the war, and revealed that Orochimaru and Kabuto had deduced for some time that Tobi was in fact ‘Yin’ Madara Uchiha—unbeknownst to Tobi.

He had Kirigakure keep their Tailed Beast—the resurfaced Three-Tails after Rin’s death— under control while he fulfilled two crucial objectives as Tobi: First was to orchestrate removing the same Yahiko he had spoken to several years earlier as Old Man Madara from the picture, and subsequently make Nagato unleash the Rinnegan’s second stage of the Six Paths—allowing manipulation of him into one of his pawns much easier. He achieved the first and second objective with Danzo, with whom we know he had established contact, and plotted with extensively. Danzo then sought Hanzo of the Salamander’s partnership in a scheme for power, betraying the Ame Orphans’ Akatsuki (Ch. 531). Although Yahiko is successfully killed, it simultaneously cost Danzo and Hanzo their men. Next would begin his 2nd objective: to obtain the elusive Nine-Tails, and exact his revenge on the Uchiha that abandoned him. This objective started coming together with Nagato seeking him shortly after Yahiko’s death, just as he had expected. He formed Criminal Akatsuki with Black/White Zetsu, Nagato, Konan, Kakuzu, and Sasori, giving orders from the shadows and changing the group’s original goals for negotiating peace, which it had kept for the past 7 years under Yahiko.

***Brief history of Akatsuki***

With Kirigakure still keeping the resurfaced-from-a-dead-Rin Three-Tails in control and stabilized, Madara left things in charge of the powerful but untrustworthy Fuguki Suikazan of the Se7en Shinobi Swordsmen. With the Yellow Flash being honored the position of Yondaime because of his performance in the 3rd Shinobi World War, power-hungry Danzo informed Madara of Kushina’s impending childbirth—looking to covertly remove Minato from the position. Taking quick note of Itachi’s pacifism and worldview that transcended the clan, Danzo cunningly instigated the Uchiha’s strange absence during that fateful night of the Fox’s attack. At the same time, as Danzo’s support of Hanzo suddenly halted, Nagato & Konan conquered Amegakure, and Madara moved to strike Konoha after learning of Naruto’s birthing location through Obito, seeing his first opportunity in over fifty years to get the Nine-Tails back in his control (Ch. 501).

The story shows us that this was ultimately thwarted, and the premise of Naruto Uzumaki’s life was thus set that night. Wounded and deprived of one of his best weapons, Madara still knew the “Fox, and the world, would be his…as he still has other plans” (Ch. 502). Taking this threat very seriously, upon analyzing this mysterious enemy who the Shinobi World would have to face, Yondaime Hokage was forced to make Naruto the third Kyuubi jinchuuriki at the expense of his life.

Madara then returned to Kirigakure, subdued the Three-Tails with his Sharingan, and sealed it into his figurehead “perfect jinchuuriki” Yondaime Mizukage known as Yagura, just as Nagato solidified control of Amegakure and killed Hanzo (Ch. 531). To his dismay, Madara gathered through Kisame’s assassination of Fuguki Suikazan that his dead subordinate had been leaking intelligence to other villages and nations. Seeing great potential in Kisame’s strength and sense of duty, he also observed his exasperation with a life of duplicity and betrayal, since he was just forced to bring to the ground his own treacherous superior. Resolved to take this gamble, Madara, recently injured and bandaged from his battle with Minato (through Obito’s body), reveals himself to Kisame (Ch. 507). Upon seeing real truth for the first time in Madara’s desire to escape a “world of lies”, Kisame became the next pioneering member of Akatsuki, and one of Madara’s most loyal. Directly under “Mizukage” Madara’s orders, he then works as the Se7en Shinobi Swordsman’s “Monster of Kirigakure” for 5 years, conducting espionage and performing several unauthorized assassinations of Feudal Lords and high-ranking officials.

Orochimaru then joined Akatsuki as Sasori’s partner shortly after Hiruzen couldn’t tolerate his horrific experiments in the village any longer, failing to kill his former prized student upon discovering these. These experimentations with Shodai’s cells also involved Danzo’s arm as he worked for him as a Root shinobi before and after his forced defection from Konoha by Sandaime Hiruzen. He operated within Akatsuki and Root as part of Tobi and Danzo’s agreement and developing conspiracy to eliminate the Uchiha Clan for good—brooding dissent and distrust had already been effectively instilled because of the events surrounding the Fox’s attack, not to mention the entire clan’s re-location to an observable corner. Tobi, in Ch. 478, muses that Orochimaru must have “spent a lot of time working with Danzo”, all this while hypothesizing and theorizing regarding Shodai’s specific Senju DNA and its ability to extend Danzo’s use of both Kotoamatsukami with Shisui’s eye and arm, and Izanagi with the Sharingans collected from the Massacre by Tobi and Danzo. This, and knowing of the incredible might of Itachi’s Sharingan, confirmed Orochimaru’s hypothesis—he desired the power of a true Sharingan heir and “Path” of the Sage, and schemed to capitalize on Tobi and Danzo’s arrangement for Itachi to join Akatsuki post-Massacre. By the time Danzo sent him the mission to eliminate the dangerous-information-containing Kabuto (or Nono—whichever survived their twisted encounter), Orochimaru’s attempt to steal Itachi’s body and Sharingan had already failed. With Itachi proving too powerful to defeat, he sought to keep Kabuto alive and use him as his right-hand man. To the organization’s seething contempt, he left Akatsuki with all his knowledge and secrets, planning all the while to invest in another true Sharingan heir and blood relative of Itachi: Sasuke Uchiha.

Kisame Hoshigaki is then instructed to formally join Akatsuki to be Itachi’s new partner, after working as a Se7en Shinobi Swordsman for 5 years. Two years later, Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori force Deidara into membership to be Sasori’s new partner under the orders of Nagato. Deidara learns of Orochimaru’s confrontation with Itachi, relationship of respect and great accomplishment with Sasori his Senior (“Sasori no Danna”), and ultimate treachery and defection—and received the order to finish him. Deidara, in his efforts to prove himself to the elite and dangerous organization, made it his personal commitment to complete the order and kill the traitor Orochimaru (Ch. 238, Ch. 354). Finally, to stabilize Kakuzu from his murderous fits of rage that had been killing his previous partners, the immortal Hidan joins to be his partner one year later. With Madara as “Tobi” hidden in the shadows, these 9 members formed the infamous Akatsuki, which served as a professional mercenary and clandestine force for almost 5 years after the 3rd Shinobi World War (Ch. 458). As the mission to extract the Bijuus commenced, Akatsuki inevitably started antagonizing its former client countries as the 3-year time skip drew to an end.

Madara Uchiha’s Ultimate Plan

As I mentioned before, it is extremely important to analyze all of Madara’s actions in preparation for his Ultimate Plan in the context of the Sage’s Tablet. With his EMS, Madara Uchiha read the Tablet and it said: “Looking for stability, God was divided into Yin and Yang. The actions of these two opposing forces Created All Things in nature” (Ch. 625).

Ch. 646 reveals a fact about Madara that can’t be overlooked. Through his battle-chat with Shodai, Edo Madara demonstrates that when he was alive, he used the Rinnegan to view the entire contents of the Tablet and thus what the Sage’s full words left behind were. These details were the history of mankind even before the malicious Juubi, in which Kaguya Otsutsuki ate the forbidden fruit of the conflict-neutral and sentient Shinjuu.

Notice the “spirals” that seem to permeate the Narutoverse. Each Uzumaki clan seal, each Uzumaki clan symbol, so many Uchiha clan fire techniques, the flames of Amaterasu, various clothing on characters like Naruto and Hinata, puffs of smoke from clone techniques, Itachi’s Yata Mirror, Sasuke’s Amaterasu Orb,the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Elder Son of the Sage’s Dojutsu, the fruit of the Shinjuu, the list goes on. I actually made this specific list for a reason. This reason is it begs the following question: Why are we seeing Uzumaki-style spirals permeate Uchiha clan techniques especially?

We’re getting towards the end, so the following statements won’t attempt to reason you through their veracity, you must simply take each of them and deduce why I’m right. It’s as simple as that. Of course, there will be direct references.

His Plan in relation to The Sage, the “Six Paths”, and the Juubi/Shinjuu

The Juubi’s eye appearing as a 9-tomoed Sharingan prior to its defeat by Hagoromo Otsutsuki is for a specific reason. Its appearance changes to a 6-tomoed variant because of the Sage’s use of 1/3rd of its power, in his attempt to “divide into Yin and Yang” as he looks for “stability” through distributing this division between the Elder Son clans and the Younger Son clans.

The Sage’s two sons look nothing alike, and this is because they were each made with Hagoromo’s “Creation of All Things” (Banbutsu Sozo), rather than being his direct flesh and blood—who are actually those that became the Uzumakis. The Elder Son, created with the Sage’s use of Banbutsu Sozo to administer the spiritual basis that forms Yin, consumed one tomoe of the Juubi eye (1/9th of its chakra). The Younger Son, created with the Sage’s use of Banbutsu Sozo to administer the physical basis that forms Yang, also consumed one tomoe of the Juubi eye (another 1/9th of its chakra). The Sage used the last of the three tomoes to use Banbutsu Sozo and separate the Juubi’s Yin (mind/consciousness) from its Yang (body = Gedo Mazou), and sent its Yang into space and sealed it with stone through Chibaku Tensei. He did this so it would be essentially impossible to fuse these two components (being the Yin that existed within him and Yang sealed within the Moon) together to re-form the Juubi even in the absence of “God’s” eye, the Rinnegan—which, logically, became the key to unlock the Juubi’s Yang from its Moon prison. Then, with “the last of his strength” (Ch. 467), meaning the last portion (1/3rd) of the Ten-Tails’ chakra that dwelled within him, he divided into Yin and Yang once again. He used Banbutsu Sozo, administering spiritual energy/thought form & imagination (making Bijuu designs) and combining that with physical energy/vitality & life (making Bijuu designs real) to create the 9 Tailed Beasts. Hagoromo overexerted himself, turning his ancestral Uzumaki red hair white, and told the “young” Bijuu (they’re now 1/3rd of what they were, this is why they appear young) that “unlike when you were inside me, the day will come when you are led down the right path…once you have learned what true power is” (Ch. 572). This can only mean that unlike when the Bijuu were inside him (when they were full of hatred), Hagoromo knew one day there would be a shinobi like Naruto who would lead them down the right path, after learning that love is the source of true power.

Enough of that for now. We need to focus on this interesting Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. This is the thing: it’s one big bad ass mafucker, and big Chouza and Chouji Akimichi or not, get the fuck out of its way. The Gedo Mazou being the Yang component of the Juubi makes complete sense, because: 1. It proliferates Hashirama’s tissue into a “Mindless” (i.e. without Yin) Clone, 2. it is capable of producing 100,000 copies of intelligent Zetsus when combined with Bijuu chakra (its Yin) through In’youton. Hashirama, being the bearer of extremely rare Mokuton DNA “Path” of the Sage, inherited the life force and physical energy (Yang) of the 1/9th fragment of the Juubi’s power through Hagoromo’s use of Banbutsu Sozo. This makes his tissue respond and rapidly proliferate into a “Mindless” (no Yin) clone, but alive nonetheless. Thus, being that the Gedo Mazou is the Yang half of the Juubi and is full of life energy - we can make complete logical sense out of Madara’s ability to extend his life beyond his natural lifespan - and use a raw, explosively powerful Mokuton that no one else has been able to replicate on such a scale. It is important to note that even though the Statue granted him this, his frail body at the time didn’t allow him to “try these techniques” until later as an Edo Tensei. Among these techniques he couldn’t try, which explains White Zetsu’s shock at seeing it later in Itachi for the first time, is Susanoo. Specifically, Old Man Madara’s frail and weakened body clinging to life NEVER was able to unleash the TITANIC, “stabilized” Susanoo that stood before the 5 Kage. What do I mean by what I’m saying? Could I possibly be implying that the overwhelming, Bijuu-matching, “destroying all matter” Susanoo of Madara’s in Ch. 589 requires the Rinnegan? I may have digressed a bit, but the answer to this gets us back to the Sage.

Why was the Sage known as the shinobi of the “Six Paths”? Could we assume this to mean the six forms of nature transformation of chakra? This would be inconclusive and going off of a fact twisted to fit the hypothesis. The bearer of the Rinnegan is known to be able to master all forms of nature transformation. We know that there are more than six forms of nature transformation, even if we don’t count the kekkei genkai & kekkei tota advanced combinations. So then can we assume this to mean the literal “Six Paths” of the Rinnegan, which Nagato channeled through the Outer Path into corpses that Jiraiya had encountered in life? Of course we can. However, there is an even deeper meaning to the perfect jinchuuriki that “became a God” being called the Sage of the “Six Paths”.

Kaguya Otsutsuki ate the fruit of the Shinjuu, the Shinjuu being the final form of the Juubi and its natural form, should it not be consumed with hate and malice (Ch. 646).When Kaguya ate this fruit that peculiarly has the Uzumaki clan symbol, she “gained the power of a God”; now able to stop all senseless and violent wars just by herself. She consumed the forbearance of the “God Tree”, which is its fruit. This made all her descendants, Hagoromo included, a “Path” that is the Shinjuu Fruit. These descendants are the Uzumaki. The God “Tree”—the true and final form of the Juubi—is composed of its wood and its flower, which makes sense in order for it to bear the aforementioned fruit. Kaguya’s son, the Sage, being a direct product of the God Tree’s fruit, enabled his body to absorb natural energy to the highest extent, because the Shinjuu is nature itself. This allowed Hagoromo to reach the first Sage Mode in history, and was named such for any shinobi that came after him able to reach such a feat with natural energy. This gave birth to Senjutsu, and the Sage combined that with his clan’s powerful sealing techniques to confront the Juubi and seal its foul and terrible essence into his own body, save the world, and become its first jinchuuriki. We know from logical deduction that the Rinnegan comes from the Juubi, and didn’t just arise as a kekkei genkai naturally occurring within just Hagoromo Otsutsuki. We also know from Madara’s explanation at the Summit that the “Juubi’s chakra was massive and foul”. The Sage achieved the “power of a God”/Rinnegan after he suppressed the Juubi’s massive, foul and full-of-hatred chakra with his incredible Willpower. The power that transcended humanity was achieved by Hagoromo when, in combination of having the right body (one with nature), he gained control of the Juubi with his incredible will—this power was not only the Rinnegan, but Yin-Yang element/governance over all ninjutsu, aka Creation of All Things (Banbutsu Sozo) (please read Ch. 467, 510, 640-641).

Thus, here we have the Six Paths of the Sage:

1. Willpower

2. Fruit of the God Tree/Body of the Sage or Sage Mode

3. Flower of the God Tree/Shinjuu Eye

4. Wood of the God Tree/Shinjuu Body

5. The Rinnegan/Eye of the Sage

6. Yin-Yang Element/Governance over all ninjutsu/Creation of All Things

Now that we know the Paths of the Sage, let’s examine something directly related to them in order to quell some confusion about, and shed proper light on Susanoo. Did anyone notice that Madara himself named it as Perfect Susanoo just as the pre-“stabilized” form appeared in Shippuden 339? Though I typically hate the anime adaptation, in this episode they name this form of Madara’s Susanoo appropriately: Perfect Susanoo. This Susanoo is the form taken by an Uchiha that wields a perfect Sharigan - one that won’t lose its light, the Eternal Mangekyou. However, when Madara took it a step further and assimilated his own true Uchiha “Path” DNA with Shodai’s true Mokuton “Path” DNA, he awakened, after years of pain and suffering, the Rinnegan, or Eye of the Sage. Not only that, but he also gained the ability to unleash a Perfect TITANIC, “stabilized” Susanoo. However, Old Man Madara could not perform it with his infirm, frail body at the time, and used it for the first time as an Edo Tensei. Specifically, what I mean is that it was as an Edo Tensei that he first unleashed such a COLOSSAL Perfect Susanoo (bigger than “KURASANOO”), and that he FIRST “stabilized” it, DUE TO HAVING THE RINNEGAN. The scale is below:



Final Susanoo (MS) < Perfect Susanoo (EMS) < “KURASANOO” (+Kyuubi, which is 1 Tail less than the Juubi) < Perfect TITANIC, “stabilized” Susanoo (EMS DNA+MOKUTON DNA, ie. the RINNEGAN)



Indeed, as the Juubi’s Perfect Jinchuuriki and bearer of the Rinnegan, “God’s” eyes that were awakened after years of pain and suffering to suppress and control the Juubi with his incredible Willpower, the Rikudou Sennin was the first to wield a Perfect TITANIC “stabilized” Susanoo. This Susanoo was “destruction incarnate”, and “it is said anyone who sees it dies” (Ch. 589). These were descriptions of the Sage’s Susanoo, as worded by Hagoromo Otsutsuki himself, NOT Madara Uchiha. Ask yourself: Did Madara unleash this mountain-cutting, Bijuu-comparable Susanoo in his fight with Shodai? Okay maybe he did… kind of, in “KURASANOO“ - but not quite as fucking HUGE and DOPE and on HIS OWN. As far as Madara allowed, Shodai survived that fight. He wouldn’t contradict himself while speaking to the inferior 5 Kage. This God’s Susanoo can “match a Bijuu”, and one swing of its sword can “destroy all matter” - the same level of power used by Hagoromo Otsutsuki to also “Create all Things”.

This explains why Madara awakened the Rinnegan—after years of pain and suffering after their battle and showing the will to live, the condition of Madara’s true “Path” Uchiha DNA (perfect Sharingan that kept its light, ie. Flower of the God Tree) integrating with Hashirama’s true “Path” DNA (Mokuton, ie. Wood of the God Tree) inside his body awakened the Eye of the Sage.

With his body too frail and weak to handle being the Juubi’s jinchuuriki, he began preparations for his Ultimate Plan. The integration of all Six True “Paths” into one body, “becoming one with everything and achieving an Ultimate Form”, is the Ultimate Plan and Goal of Madara Uchiha (Ch. 467, Ch. 647).

This plan has spanned over half a century, and Madara, as Tobi, already has “two of the Six Paths in one being!” (Ch. 510). Naruto thus thwarted Madara’s progress with regard to assembling six complete Paths—when he convinced the “Third Six Paths” Nagato to use the Rinne Tensei not as promised and by him dying as well, he unknowingly completely removed the manipulated Uzumaki’s usefulness to Madara.

The Sage, having become a perfect jinchuuriki only because of suppression of the Juubi through his incredible Will and possessing a body of Shinjuu’s fruit, “transcended humanity and became a god” (Ch. 467), awakening the Rinnegan and complete mastery over Yin and Yang/Banbutsu Sozo (in case you didn’t notice, I essentially named all six “Paths” in that last sentence). Complete ninjutsu governance as a “Path” is seen by Obito’s acquisition of this mastery only after he gained control of the Juubi—Hiruzen served as an example, returning intact after being hit by Obito’s technique prior to said control, consisting of black malleable chakra. The Sage used the “Sword of Nunoboku” (Ch. 651) to “create many things/the world” (Ch. 510). Yes indeed, the Sword of Nunoboku is the manifestation of Banbutsu Sozo. Being composed of Yin and Yang, it metaphorically contains the “spirit” (passion/intensity/WILL) of the Sage, as said by Obito. Hagoromo was the “God” looking for “stability/peace” that “divided things into Yin and Yang” and had the “action of these two opposing forces create all things in nature” (Ch. 510, 625, 651). Obito’s version of the blade broke when it clashed with Naruto’s version, whose WILL “Path” as their blades collided was stronger! Kishimoto does not put random friendship nonsense without a purpose in the manga, I’m telling you! Prepare to be mind blown about what comes next!

Itachi’s “Sword of Totsuka” is simply the Yin half of the Sword of Nunoboku. This is why spirals are seen on the “Yata Mirror”. Look at the Sword of Nunoboku and shield that Obito pulls out in Ch. 651—do you see the slight, but noticeable structural similarities between Itachi’s final Susanoo and this weapon that “created the world”/all things? Itachi’s “Totsuka” and “Yata” tools are simply his Sharingan’s Tsukuyomi channeled into his Susanoo. As a Sharingan true heir and “Path” of the Sage that is a Tsukuyomi master, his Susanoo’s tools are not physical; with the blade able to seal any matter into a “genjutsu-like” dream and the shield turning any physical matter unreal, making him almost “invincible” (Ch. 392-393). In a similar manner, Sasuke is Itachi’s blood relative and also a true Sharingan heir, being a “Path” of the Sage that is an Amaterasu master. Sasuke’s Susanoo’s tools are physical; with the weapons able to coat themselves in black flames from Amaterasu Orb and Susanoo’s body being able to form an almost invincible shield of Amaterasu black flames. Also like Itachi’s counterpart, Uzumaki spirals are seen on Sasuke’s Amaterasu Orb of Susanoo and also on the shield (Ch. 648). These spirals, which are reflective of Uzumaki-style sealing techniques Hagoromo and his clansmen were masters of, emerge in Uchiha techniques to show how the Uzumaki, Senju, AND Uchiha have a relationship. Make no mistake, the actual blood descendants of the ancestral Otsutsuki became the Uzumaki, while the Elder and Younger Son were created by the Sage with Banbutsu Sozo, using the Juubi’s power.



Madara Uchiha was born into the clan “with the greatest, strongest chakra they had ever seen” (Ch. 398), and was known to be the only Uchiha in history to awaken an Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Like Itachi years later, Madara awakened a Mangekyou and was a master of Tsukuyomi. When his blood relative Izuna, also a “Path” and true Sharingan heir, lovingly and willingly gave up his eyes and died entrusting Madara to protect the clan, Madara’s Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan was born—bringing him even closer to “God’s eye” and allowing him to perfect Susanoo—just as Sasuke achieved the same feat through transplanting Itachi’s (his loving brother who he also dearly loved) eyes. This requirement for a perfect Susanoo also explains why both Tsukuyomi (“darkness of the spiritual world”) and Amaterasu (“light of the material world”) are needed to awaken Susanoo. It is very likely that Izuna Uchiha was the one more skilled in Amaterasu than Madara, being the first example of that before Sasuke and Itachi’s mirror example.

Basically, “a Sharingan that awakens Susanoo is a rarity” (Ch. 467), which explains Madara’s active obsession with Sasuke the minute Itachi was out of his way. A Sharingan with the ability to awaken Susanoo is the polar opposite rare “Path” to a Senju that possesses the rare Mokuton kekkei genkai—so rare, that of the Senju it was seen only in Shodai in history. Have we seen any other Uchiha demonstrate Susanoo besides Madara, Itachi, and Sasuke—the three that Itachi spoke of with the “ability to wield the Mangekyou”, on the night of the Massacre (Ch. 385)? Both “Paths” have the ability to control Tailed Beasts, and Sasuke demonstrated his Sharingan’s great potential in this regard very early on in Part II when he first re-encounters Naruto (Ch. 309). In the course of plotting his vengeance on the Uchiha, Madara realized that like him, Itachi possessed a “Path” Sharingan when his Mangekyou awakened Susanoo during their training. Itachi had the same conclusion, realizing exactly what Tobi had—that as his blood relative, Sasuke held striking potential to also possess a “Path” Sharingan, which we have seen is the case because Sasuke awakened Susanoo. Itachi deduced that the Masked Man who was slipping past Konoha’s barrier, meeting with Danzo, and visiting the Tablet had to be an Uchiha who was looking for revenge. He understood, after reading the Tablet with his Mangekyou, that Madara had changed its contents to false instructions on how to evolve the Sharingan—so that Uchihas would sacrifice countless lives in such flawed effort to obtain the fabled EMS of Madara. Itachi told Madara “not to lay a hand on Sasuke”, before he joined Akatsuki under Danzo’s agreement and direct instruction to watch them internally, and to a cunning Orochimaru’s delight (who had come to very similar conclusions through his independent research).

With a potential true “Path” like Sasuke learning the full facts behind Itachi and experiencing the anguish that came with that knowledge, Madara knew Sasuke’s awakened Mangekyou would subsequently be able to advance to EMS—it would be the first time in history since he himself accomplished this feat, as the “permanent light” Sharingan would have been acquired the proper way also for the first time since him. Madara was well aware of this possibility within Sasuke to awaken Susanoo after the Mangekyou did, and prove these observational guesses as true. So he schemed to remove the incredibly powerful, wise, and perceptive Itachi Uchiha from the picture. Let’s analyze Sasuke vs. Itachi in Ch. 384-394—but instead of the actual fight, let’s pay attention to what Kishimoto stealthily reveals through Zetsu’s assignment to watch the fight. Kishimoto makes it clear who is thinking between Black and White Zetsu. In spite of Black Zetsu repeatedly saying “so I hear…” and “so it says…” for his observations of Mangekyou techniques, this is a bluff to fool the audience. Since Black Zetsu is Madara’s will materialized …he has direct knowledge of ALL Mangekyou techniques, and it makes sense White Zetsu would have all those questions about it—he has never seen them before. Notice Black Zetsu’s thoughts in response to White Zetsu’s bewilderment at Itachi’s constant coughing of blood, and weakened reflexes. White Zetsu imagines this may be due to overusing the Mangekyou and chakra exhaustion, but Black Zetsu mysteriously responds “not necessarily…” (Ch. 394). These quotes, in combination with Madara being the only one to explicitly state that Itachi had contracted an illness, led me to believe that Madara fatally poisoned or infected Itachi at some point during his tenure with Akatsuki, contracting him with a deadly illness and eliminating him as an obstacle to both Sasuke and Konoha (Ch. 404, last page).

So with Nagato dead, and Obito Uchiha seemingly thwarting his plan to become the Juubi’s jinchuuriki, what would Madara’s “trump card” entail?

Putting everything I’ve already explained together, you may have come to the answer already. Perhaps not. But believe me, Madara has already given us a major hint to his “trump card”—his ace in the hole that will accomplish his objective in spite of his setback by Obito. In Ch. 647, Madara puts everything I’ve developed in this article together through him revealing to Edo Shodai what his trump card is. He says that within fifteen minutes, which is the time limit before the Shinjuu Flower blooms, he will “switch” with Obito using Shodai’s Sage power and be the one to implement Mugen Tsukuyomi. This “switch” would entail what exactly? Madara gives us a clue as he extends a Chakra Disruption Blade from his hand during his little battle-chat, attempting to strike Edo Shodai with it in the ensuing chapter. Analyzing this in context of Madara’s Ultimate Plan, we can conclude only one objective of the much-speculated “trump card”: To use a Senjutsu-Rinne Tensei to forcibly switch vessels with Obito, by implementing the Outer Path through Hashirama. Furthermore, being the only one with knowledge that the Shinjuu Fruit will emerge once its Flower blooms, Madara, now in Obito’s body, will consume it and acquire the last “Path” of the Sage.

This grants Madara almost all Six Paths of the Sage (Willpower, Rinnegan, In’youton, and Body)—he’s missing the Shinjuu’s chakra that Ch. 653’s impending release may show to have been taken by Naruto at the last minute, through Talk no Jutsu to Obito Uchiha. This is Naruto’s most powerful jutsu - it’s a jutsu so strong, that it even makes antagonists want to kill themselves! LOL! (*cough* Zabuza Momochi *cough* Nagato). This would make sense, being the second time in a row that Naruto Uzumaki has completely thwarted Madara’s Ultimate Plan without having a clue as to what that plan IS, all because of Talk no Jutsu. Ultimately, Talk no Jutsu is the greatest weapon of the next preaching Sage Naruto Uzumaki, who will use this Jutsu to spread his “Ninja Way”.

A possible saving grace to such a catastrophically terrible climax could be Madara taking his trump card to action before Obito’s good-at-heart decision can be made. If not, then after Madara switches with Obito, it truly seems that the Shinjuu’s Fruit lies at the heart of his Trump Card, which I hinted at already. This is because the Fruit grants power that can rival the combined might of the Shinjuu’s 9 Bijuu components, exemplified by Kaguya Otsutsuki. This would explain exactly how Naruto Uzumaki and Madara Uchiha would battle as Two Sages of the Six Paths each pursuing their own “Dreams”. This is one of the only two interpretations of what the Great Elder Toad meant in his prophecy; regarding the Child of Prophecy facing a man with “Great Eyes”. The second interpretation and outcome of the prophecy refers to none other than Sasuke Uchiha.

Naruto will realize that Talk no Jutsu will not work on Madara Uchiha. Naruto Uzumaki will have to change to accomplish his dream, just as Shodai said he and Madara were each forced to, in order to walk their dreams’ paths (Ch. 626, last page).

With such different outcomes that things could take from Ch. 655, 656 or so onward, this is the first time for upcoming chapters in the Naruto series wherein I’ve thought: “We can only pray”. Seriously, thanks for reading. I welcome any and all criticisms—I’m confident I can address them. Disqus and Facebook comment apps are below.