Amidst the furious onslaught, Madara, a battle-hardened veteran, finally tore open a sliver of a gap in the impenetrable attack net.
"A chance!"
Madara's body shot up in the brief lull of attacks, his hands rapidly forming seals, and his chest puffed out.
Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique!
Four ferocious, roaring giant fire dragons accurately lunged at the four shadows.
The four shadows clapped their hands together.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
Four thick water dragons soared into the sky, bravely meeting the fire dragons.
Sizzle!
Deafening steam explosions erupted as water and fire violently collided, and the massive fire dragons were instantly engulfed and completely consumed by the surging water dragons.
Just as water and fire clashed, and white mist obscured vision—
Water Release: Water Trumpet!
A giant water vortex rose from the ground, roaring as it rushed towards Madara.
"Petty tricks!"
Madara's Rinnegan flashed with purple light.
Blocking Technique Absorption Seal!
The moment the giant water vortex touched Madara's body, it was seemingly swallowed by an invisible abyss. Its energy was rapidly absorbed, eventually dissipating into nothingness.
Madara sneered, landing steadily. "Brat, your combat experience is still far too..."
Before he could finish—
Bang!
Madara's body flew backward violently, smashing into a huge rock.
Amidst the swirling dust, he looked up in astonishment, only to see Satoshi's figure had appeared at his previous standing position at some unknown time.
His right fist was still in the striking posture, with a faint green glow of natural energy swirling around it.
I'll let you show off!
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!
A ferocious wood dragon covered in hard wooden armor burst out of the ground, and at the same time, its huge dragon tail swept horizontally, attempting to crush Satoshi, who was as small as a bean below.
Sage Art: Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
The water pillar rotated at high speed like a drill, instantly piercing through the wood dragon's solid body, shredding it to pieces.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!
The moment the wood dragon collapsed, Satoshi's Rinnegan erupted with even stronger ocular power.
A darkness more powerful and profound than Tobirama's original version, like viscous ink, instantly swallowed all light. It dragged the entire battlefield, including Madara in the air, into a lightless abyss.
Madara's Rinnegan vision was completely deprived for the first time.
"Damn Tobirama, and you, brat, to be able to evolve his technique to such a degree..."
Whoosh!
A sharp whooshing sound tore through the darkness.
A cold black rod, with incredible precision, pierced through Madara's shoulder blade, and a powerful sealing force instantly invaded.
"Damn it!"
Madara forcefully twisted his body, trying to land and stabilize himself.
But the moment his toes touched the ground, Satoshi, at some unknown point, had already appeared behind him.
Whoosh!
A second black rod mercilessly pierced through Madara's head.
"Hmph!"
Satoshi's powerful ocular jutsu was forcefully activated again.
Takemikazuchi!
The despair-inducing spatial confinement force suddenly descended, and Madara's body was locked as if by invisible shackles. He was once again firmly pinned in place, unable to move.
The shadows seized this opportunity.
Whoosh... Whoosh...
The sounds of rushing air merged into a continuous stream.
More black rods shot out from all directions. They pierced Madara's limb joints, pinning him firmly to the cold ground.
"Damn it!" Madara shouted in anger.
He was actually ambushed by this despicable brat, who used the power of his own Rinnegan to lock him to the ground.
Despicable!
Shameless!
Exactly like a young Tobirama!
Satoshi lightly said, "It seems I won this battle."
Madara said, "I never thought such a powerful junior like you would appear among the Uchiha."
He sneered, "However, Konoha and even the Ninja World is not worth protecting at all."
Satoshi said, "Madara, I once said. As long as someone wants to harm my Konoha, I will never let them go."
Madara sneered, "Foolish Uchiha descendant, I had the same thoughts as you back then. But later I discovered that the peace Hashirama and I pursued throughout our lives was nothing but an illusion."
"There will never be peace in the Ninja World. Darkness will continuously devour everyone's fragile hearts, and the Ninja World will eventually perish."
At this point, Madara decided to reveal his insane plan. Perhaps, he could make this white-haired brat change his mind.
"Brat, you cannot protect Konoha at all. Only the Eye of the Moon Plan is the ultimate destination of the Ninja World."
"Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi is the true path to saving the Ninja World."
Satoshi showed a perfectly timed look of confusion. "Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Madara said, "How pathetic. You have never even tried to decipher the stone tablet that carries the ultimate answer to the world."
"The stone tablet beneath the Naka Shrine is inscribed with the precepts left by the Sage of Six Paths."
"Only by immersing the entire Ninja World under the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, allowing everyone's desires to be fulfilled in an illusory dream, can the chains of hatred be completely severed, and eternal peace be ushered in."
Satoshi looked directly into Madara's eyes. "A phantom world is ultimately fake, and besides, Madara, you've been deceived."
"The contents of the stone tablet have already been tampered with."
Madara's expression immediately became grim. "Brat, what are you talking about? No one in this world can deceive me, not even Hashirama's despicable younger brother."
Satoshi sighed deeply. "I know that stone tablet. It is hidden deep beneath the Uchiha Shrine, and as the Sharingan's ocular power evolves, deeper truths can be deciphered."
He abruptly changed his tone, "But, its contents have been tampered with. These eyes of mine can already see traces of that alteration."
Madara snorted coldly. "What do you mean 'your eyes,' those are my Rinnegan."
Satoshi shrugged. "That's not important. What's important is, what is the truth?"
"The truth?"
Madara was suddenly a little confused.
What nonsense was this white-haired kid talking about?
What truth could a twenty-year-old kid know?
However, Madara still decided to listen. Because he had to listen anyway and it could buy Black Zetsu some time for Obito, that foolish boy, to come help.
Satoshi paused slightly, then slowly began. "All of this begins with Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, also known as the Sage of Six Paths."
"He defeated Kaguya, who had transformed into the God Tree, dispersed the God Tree's vast and dangerous Chakra into nine Tailed Beasts, and sowed the seeds of Chakra among the people, founding Ninshū."
"His lifelong wish was to create a world filled with understanding and love, hoping that Chakra would become a bridge connecting hearts, not a weapon for conflict."
"Later, he fathered children. His eldest son, Indra, was exceptionally talented, born with powerful ocular prowess and strength, and was the progenitor of the Uchiha clan."
"His second son, Asura, was initially worse than Indra in terms of talent but possessed incredible charisma and affinity, and was the ancestor of the Senju clan."
Satoshi paused.
The show was about to begin!
"However, few people know, or rather, it has been deliberately forgotten, that he had a third child."
Madara's heart skipped a beat.
Wait, could it be...
"His third child's name was Black Zetsu."
Madara's mind instantly went blank, as if all thought had frozen.
Black Zetsu was clearly a tool he created at the brink of death, by fusing the Chakra of the Gedo Statue with his own will, to execute his plan.
Why was he now the child of the Sage of Six Paths?
How was this possible? This was too absurd!
But besides him and Obito, no one knew of Black Zetsu's existence.
Obito, that boy blinded by hatred, though foolish, would never betray him. And it was even less likely that he would reveal Black Zetsu's secret to this Satoshi.
Could it be...
(End of Chapter)
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