Chapter 182: The Legend Returns—Uchiha Madara!
"Finally…my ocular power's restored…"
On the border of the Land of Fire, Shisui was on his way back to the Land of Earth to continue his duties as Tsuchikage.
He felt the spell in his eyes recovering and let out a sigh of relief.
Three years ago, in order to survive against Sukuna, Shisui had used Izanagi.
Under normal circumstances, even Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan–level eyes, such as Uchiha Madara's, only recovered vision upon evolving to the Rinnegan.
Judging by pure ocular power alone, Shisui's eyes didn't measure up to Madara's Rinnegan.
But he had his elder brother.
Rather than simply restoring Shisui's eyesight for him, Uchiha Kagami taught Shisui how to repair his eyes with Yin–Yang Release.
Learning that technique alone took Shisui two and a half years, while the final actual recovery took only a few months.
Now, countries like Grass and Bird had been annexed into the Land of Rain.
Hence traveling to the Land of Earth would inevitably take Shisui through parts of the Land of Rain.
As he approached the Rain's borders, a terrifying chakra presence from afar made him freeze in place.
His Mangekyō, with four-bladed tomoe spinning, saw it:
That ominous mass of chakra rising from the ground!
A presence completely surpassing even Nine-Tails–level Bijūdama!
"What…is that…?"
Shisui recognized Nagato's chakra. This wasn't Nagato's.
If that thing exploded…
Shisui could foresee the Land of Rain's total destruction.
Since the Rain lay at the intersection of the Land of Wind, Fire, and Earth, if it was destroyed, the consequences would be devastating.
Swish!
Without hesitation—knowing he had a Flying Thunder God seal somewhere in the Land of Rain—Shisui instantly teleported.
---
Between Life and Death
On the Sage of Six Paths' staff, soul-fire flickered wildly.
Soon, a tall man's figure took shape.
He leapt free of the soul-flames, sensing the summons.
Faintly glowing Rinnegan turned, meeting the Sage of Six Paths' gaze.
Their eyes met; Uchiha Madara curved his lips in a faint smile.
"It's…you, the Sage of Six Paths."
"I'm about to fulfill your desire—bring the ninja world eternal peace!"
…
The Sage of Six Paths regarded Madara with mixed emotions.
How could he explain that the tablet Madara had seen was tampered with, that it didn't reflect his true will?
But there was no time.
He extended his hand. A black crescent of energy melded into Madara's spirit. It was the Yin power he had preserved until now.
"Madara, perhaps you've sensed it. You carry Indra's chakra.
And Senju Hashirama…is your brother, the reincarnation of Asura."
"You two will meet again in the ninja world. Please, save that world…"
Madara's spirit faded, returning to the real world.
At the last moment, Madara looked back with a grin.
"I'm not Indra, nor is Hashirama Asura.
What you're saying reminds me of something a brat once told me…"
"I am who I am—Uchiha Madara!"
---
Land of Rain
Thunderous black clouds pressed low over the sky.
Momoshiki sneered, flinging out a huge ball of chakra: "Let's just…give the ninja world a small greeting!"
BOOM!!!
A giant rotating orb of dense, dark chakra shot straight toward Amegakure.
Wherever it passed, enormous shockwaves erupted, triggering violent explosions, vaporizing water in an apocalyptic scene!
…
Light.
A dazzling blue glow flared from within Amegakure, rising skyward like a comet, ripping apart the dark clouds.
…
One glimpse, and dread welled up.
At last, that primeval god of war's form appeared—
Susanoo.
A savage storm of chakra, absurdly shredding the black clouds, conjuring a raging tempest!
A man clad in Warring States–style, dark-red armor stood within the colossal cobalt giant. His jet-black hair stirred despite no wind.
With eyes still closed, an incomparable aura twisted the weather.
Simply by standing there, he made all who saw him feel awe.
This presence was not innately gifted but forged by countless battles, producing an overwhelming sense of oppression.
…
Boom—
A hundred-meter Susanoo blade swung upward from below—
A scintillating arc of brilliance cleaving the giant chakra sphere's underside!
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!!!!
A maelstrom of explosive roars echoed!
The massive sphere's trajectory was forcibly altered, shooting upward.
—
Thud!!!!!!
After a brief pause, the shockwaves from the explosion slammed against every tower in the Land of Rain, rocking them violently!
…
"It's…Uchiha Madara…"
Nagato's breath was frail, his once fiery-red hair now thoroughly gray.
One hand braced his swaying body.
Full of hope, Nagato turned.
Was that him…?
But all he saw was the tearful face of Konan.
…
Why?!
Why didn't Yahiko come back too!!
Nagato couldn't comprehend it. Overcome by bitter regret, he lost consciousness, eyes dimming.
Suddenly, space distorted beside him. A hand shot out, trying to snatch his Rinnegan!
Crack—
That hand stopped half an inch from the Rinnegan.
Armored plates clanged, and a figure gripped the hand, forcibly yanking it out of its swirling intangibility.
"What are you doing, Obito?"
Standing with eyes still closed, a mocking smile tugging at Uchiha Madara's lips.
Obito, sprawled on the ground, clutched his chest…
That… must have been the curse mark's effect.
"It's nothing. Just wanted to help you retrieve your Rinnegan."
Madara shook his head, disappointed.
"Only your own eyes are the strongest.
Why can't you grasp that?
If you could break your limits like Kagami, you wouldn't have stagnated so many years at this trifling level."
Riled like a cat having its tail stepped on, Obito bristled.
"And what right have you to evaluate me?!"
Madara gently pushed Konan aside, drawing out his two eyes from Nagato's sockets at a deliberate pace.
"On what grounds?"
"Why…because I'm Uchiha Madara!"
Boom!
The Rinnegan's chakra surged like a tidal wave, crushing Obito under oppressive might.
Black Zetsu then draped himself in liquid form around Madara, voice low:
"The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is short a few Tailed Beasts—they're in Obito's Kamui dimension."
Madara stared silently at Obito.
He didn't need Obito's cooperation; his eyes morphed into Mangekyō. At once, Tailed Beasts from the Kamui dimension surged into reality!
…
"Oh~ So these are lumps of 'solid chakra' extracted from the God Tree, I see."
"Not bad. The lesser creatures of this world can do some interesting things, it seems."
Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.
Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki.
The three gods who had descended to the ninja world watched from overhead.
Impatient aggression didn't suit a god's refinement. At last, Momoshiki's icy gaze settled on Madara.
"Hey, human.
Your eyes are intriguing. You qualify to serve as my slave."
…
Madara let out a light chuckle.
He formed seals.
"I'm not sure what you are. But wait a moment—won't take long. Maybe…just a few seconds."
Boom!!
Billowing smoke erupted, and the terrifying Gedo Statue materialized.
From its gaping maw, chains of violet light whipped out, coiling around the Tailed Beasts' necks, dragging them forcibly into the statue's depths!