Everyone showed doubtful expressions, clearly they quite agreed with Hidan's words.
Madara was a legendary ninja whose battle against Hashirama shook the ninja world. Even Hashirama himself had long been dead, even if he hadn't died, it was impossible for him to turn into this old man, right?
Only Nagato remained silent. His current condition wasn't much better than Madara's; the Life Lamp had been completely used up, and now he too was only prolonging his life.
The Rinnegan in both his eyes rotated slowly. He felt power that made his heart beat rapidly emanating from the old man before him.
However, before Hidan finished speaking...
Suddenly, Madara snorted coldly. Both his eyes instantly transformed into a pair of large windmill patterns with flashing red light.
A very large blue energy giant rose from the ground, and its giant hand directly slammed Hidan, who was still chattering, onto the ground.
"Do you believe me now?" Madara stared down at Hidan from above, his eyes filled with overflowing killing intent. His aura became more ferocious; how dare this person speak to him like that.
Hidan was pressed down very hard, who knows how many bones throughout his body were broken. He looked up with difficulty at that energy giant. The other members also showed expressions of disbelief.
"This... Susano'o?" Nagato's pupils contracted.
Madara's gaze shifted and fell toward Nagato. He smiled meaningfully: "Uzumaki Nagato... long time no see!"
"Long time no see?" Nagato was stunned for a moment, his eyes narrowed sharply. The Six Paths of Pain immediately protected him in the center, he asked in a demanding tone: "What do you mean?"
Madara waved his hand to dismiss Susano'o, the corners of his lips lifted: "You can't possibly think you truly awakened this Rinnegan through your own talent, can you?"
Nagato's face changed drastically: "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Madara stepped forward approaching Nagato, revealing the truth from years ago.
"Those eyes were given to you by me when you were still very young. Haven't you ever been suspicious? You are a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, on what basis could you naturally awaken an eye technique this powerful?"
"And now, it's time for me to take them back!"
Konan's face also changed. Her body flickered blocking Madara, she shouted: "You're lying! Nagato's eyes awakened through his own ability, what does it have to do with you?"
However, Nagato remained silent. Actually, he had long suspected this, and unexpectedly the truth turned out to be like this. Now he believed that the old man before him was that legendary ninja, Madara.
"Come here, boy. Return my eyes to me. Your dream, I will be the one to fulfill it. You've already done more than enough. Your suffering, your hatred, I will settle them one by one for you!" Madara's words contained a strong tone of instigation.
Konan turned to look at Nagato, said anxiously: "Nagato, don't listen to him! We can solve our own problems!"
"Get lost!" Madara's expression suddenly became cold. He gripped Konan's neck with one hand. The windmill pattern in his eyes spun rapidly, giving her Genjutsu influence.
Konan's pupils instantly widened, her entire body kept trembling as if experiencing extraordinary suffering.
Madara threw her aside disrespectfully.
No one helped.
When Susano'o appeared earlier, the Akatsuki members were already almost completely convinced of Madara's identity. Moreover, the black-robed leader they had previously obeyed now appeared very submissive to this old man.
"Don't touch her!" Seeing Konan's condition, Nagato's expression changed drastically. The Six Paths of Pain around him moved simultaneously attacking Madara from all directions.
However, at that moment, the black-robed figure shot forward blocking in the middle, shouting coldly: "Nagato, stop!"
The Six Paths of Pain's movements halted.
Madara said: "Haven't you realized the reality yet? Uzumaki Nagato, your entire life is a tragedy. Losing your family, your friends also died. What is the meaning of your existence now? Return my eyes, and I will create a world completely without pain. Isn't that your dream?"
Nagato turned to look at Konan who had just escaped from the illusion and was panting, then stared at his own palm that was already decrepit and full of wounds. He was aware in his heart that even if he didn't fight again and didn't use forbidden techniques, his time wasn't long anymore.
"Are you really Uchiha Madara?" Nagato stared at Madara.
"Genuine without a doubt!" Madara smiled thinly, sensing the change in Nagato's mentality.
"Alright!" Nagato took a deep breath. Suddenly he spread both his hands, forming a very strange hand seal. His Rinnegan eyes rotated wildly.
"Let the rest of my life help you for the last time. Madara, don't disappoint me! Remember what you promised me!"
Under everyone's shocked gazes...
A giant and terrifying figure broke through the ground and emerged to the surface. Its face was horrifying like an evil demon, with a large mouth slightly open, showing sharp teeth packed densely like a shark's.
"Gedo — Rinne Tensei no Jutsu."
"This is..." Madara's eyes shone brightly, he laughed uproariously: "Good, good, good! Nagato, go in peace. I will be the one to fulfill your resolve!"
This giant demon figure was the King of Hell who stored countless souls in its belly. Nagato's eyes shed bloody tears, his face appeared increasingly withered.
"Madara, begin!"
"Good!" Suddenly Madara turned around and pressed down on Hidan who was standing watching beside him. His Sharingan eyes rotated, and he formed a seal with one hand.
A transparent white robed shadow appeared behind his back.
"Shiki Fujin—"
The terrifying Death God extended its hand, directly penetrating Hidan's body. Hidan showed an expression of extraordinary fear as his soul was forcibly pulled out from his physical body. He didn't understand why Madara suddenly attacked him. His immortal body indeed wasn't afraid of physical wounds, but he didn't expect the opponent to have a way to attack souls. In the face of this technique, his immortal body was completely useless.
The Death God could only be seen by the technique's user and its victim. Others only saw Hidan stiffen in place after being gripped by Madara, his eyes empty; his soul had been devoured and sealed by the Death God. Kakuzu sensed something was wrong, but he didn't move.
Then, Madara took out a kunai and stabbed it right into his own throat. Blood spurted, and the rest of his life energy also vanished. This shocked everyone.
What does this mean?
Sudden suicide?
Did Madara just die because of his own words?
A soul was pulled out from Madara's body and sucked into the large open mouth of the King of Hell. Nagato's Rinnegan eyes rotated madly again, he vomited fresh blood and his eyes bulged sharply: "RETURN!"
Madara's soul that had just been swallowed by the King of Hell was vomited back out and directly entered Hidan's body.