The translucent screen displaying Tobirama Senju's footage flickered once, twice, then dissolved into motes of golden light. The massive scroll hovering above Konoha trembled—not violently, but with a deep, resonant hum that vibrated in the chests of every shinobi across the world.
In the Pure Land:
Tobirama crossed his arms, watching the scroll with narrowed eyes. "Finally. Let's see who the scroll dares to place above me."
Hashirama bounced on his heels like an excited child. "Ooh! Ooh! I bet it's me!"
Madara stood apart, arms folded, expression carefully neutral. Inside, his jaw was clenched. If Hashirama takes first... I'll accept it. But if it's anyone else...
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena:
Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped his staff, knuckles white. His ranking had been a humiliation, but now the real titans were being revealed. Part of him was curious. Part of him was terrified of being shown up even more.
Naruto grabbed Hinata's hand without thinking. "This is it! The top two! Who's gonna be first?!"
Hinata's face erupted in steam, but she didn't pull away. "M-My guess is Lord First... he's the God of Shinobi after all..."
Sasuke, still standing at the edge of the arena after his near-departure to Amegakure, watched with narrowed eyes. The Seventh Hokage should be on this list. But I'm not. Which means... the ones above me are legends.
The scroll erupted in golden light.
FIVE KAGE COMPOSITE RANKING — #2: UCHIHA MADARA
Evaluation:Evaluation: Co-founder of Konoha. The eternal rival to the God of Shinobi. Possessor of the Rinnegan. Master of the Perfect Susanoo. Wielder of Wood Release through Hashirama Senju's cells. The only man who could truly challenge the First Hokage. Orchestrator of the Fourth Great Ninja War from beyond the grave. His name alone struck fear into the hearts of nations. In an era of gods, he stood as a god among them.
Reward:Reward: Complete Rinnegan Restoration — Full power, no drawbacks. The ability to use all Six Paths techniques simultaneously. No more chakra drain. No more limitations. The Rinnegan, as it was meant to be wielded.
Group Chat
The silence lasted exactly three seconds.
Then the chat exploded.
FirstHokageHashiramaSenjuFirstHokageHashiramaSenju: MADARA! YOU'RE SECOND?! WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE FIRST?!
SecondHokageTobiramaSenjuSecondHokageTobiramaSenju: This is an outrage! He's ranked above me?! Above me?! What has he ever done except cause problems?!
UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: NII-SAN! NII-SAN! NII-SAN! YOU'RE AMAZING! I KNEW IT! I ALWAYS KNEW IT! YOU'RE THE GREATEST!
UchihaMadaraUchihaMadara: Hmph. Second place is... acceptable.
UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: ACCEPTABLE?! NII-SAN, YOU'RE BEING TOO MODEST! YOU SHOULD BE FIRST! YOU'RE THE STRONGEST! YOU COULD BEAT ANYONE!
SecondHokageTobiramaSenjuSecondHokageTobiramaSenju @ UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: Anyone? Really? Even my brother?
UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: ...Okay, maybe not Hashirama. But everyone else! Definitely!
UchihaMadaraUchihaMadara: Izuna. Calm yourself. You're embarrassing the clan.
UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: Sorry, Nii-san! I'm just so proud!
UchihaMadaraUchihaMadara: Though... I am curious. Who does this scroll consider stronger than me? @Everyone
The chat fell silent. Then, slowly, every single person's mental gaze turned toward one individual.
FirstHokageHashiramaSenjuFirstHokageHashiramaSenju: ...Why is everyone looking at me?
SecondHokageTobiramaSenjuSecondHokageTobiramaSenju: Nii-san. You can't be serious.
FirstHokageHashiramaSenjuFirstHokageHashiramaSenju: What? I don't know! Maybe it's the Sage of Six Paths! Or that Kaguya woman! Or—
UchihaMadaraUchihaMadara: Hashirama. Stop deflecting. We both know.
FirstHokageHashiramaSenjuFirstHokageHashiramaSenju: ...Madara. If it is me... I'm sorry.
UchihaMadaraUchihaMadara: Don't apologize. If anyone deserves to be above me... it's you.
UchihaIzunaUchihaIzuna: NII-SAN?! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!
SecondHokageTobiramaSenjuSecondHokageTobiramaSenju: ...I actually agree with Madara for once. If it's Nii-san, that's acceptable.
FourthRaikageAFourthRaikageA: This is disgusting. Can you two stop being emotional for five seconds?
ThirdTsuchikageOˉnokiThirdTsuchikageOˉnoki: Let them have their moment, A. This is history.
Pretending−to−be−YoungOldLady—TsunadePretending−to−be−YoungOldLady—Tsunade: ...My grandfather really is something else, isn't he?
ImmatureTsunadeFan—MeiTerumiImmatureTsunadeFan—MeiTerumi: Old hag, even I have to admit—your family's genetics are insane.
Meanwhile — Amegakure, Akatsuki Base
The battle had frozen.
Madara—the real Madara, standing in the crater he'd created with his arrival—felt the golden light descending from the scroll. It wrapped around him like a second skin, warm and electric.
When it faded, he gasped.
The power was... indescribable. His Rinnegan, which had always felt slightly off, slightly borrowed, now pulsed with perfect harmony. He could feel every Path, every technique, every possibility.
Nagato stared at him, his own Rinnegan eyes widening. "That chakra... it's different. It's... complete."
Obito took an involuntary step back. "Lord Madara...?"
Madara opened his eyes. For the first time in decades, they didn't ache. Didn't drain him. They simply were.
"Hoh..." A slow smile spread across his face. "Now this is power."
Hashirama's voice echoed from the chat: "Madara! How does it feel?!"
Madara's smile softened, just slightly. "It feels... like I should have had this from the beginning. Thank you, Hashirama. For everything."
Hashirama: "Don't thank me! Thank the scroll! And when this is over... let's talk. Really talk."
Madara was silent for a long moment. Then: "...Perhaps."
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