"The battle over there started! Minato, go support them!"
"Tsunade-hime, we agreed earlier—we're not interfering with that side. Kyoichi will handle it. What we need to do is hold this position so none of these things escape."
Minato was speechless.
This sibling pair… He really didn't know what to say. They were both very good at giving him orders, but could they at least agree on which order?
One side told him to maintain control here.
The other told him to protect Kyoichi.
What did they think he was—
two people?
Well…
He could split.
Shadow Clone…
But—
Considering Kyoichi's strength, Minato was being rational: he didn't think that side needed him.
If Kyoichi could handle it, he didn't need help.
If he couldn't handle it…
Then Minato helping wouldn't matter either.
And besides—
Jiraiya-sensei was with Kyoichi.
That alone should guarantee some level of safety. If something had gone wrong, they would've sent word already.
So—
After much thought, Minato spoke again:
"Tsunade-hime, I personally believe we need to secure this area and eliminate these things as soon as possible. If they escape, we'll face trouble later."
"Don't worry, both of you," Oriri returned from her sensory state.
"With my Kagura Mind's Eye, I can sense a huge range. Based on the current situation, Kyoichi-sama seems to have already finished over there. Everything's gone quiet."
Oriri's sensory ability had grown sharper as her strength increased.
She could feel that Kyoichi and Madara were no longer exchanging blows.
After such an intense clash earlier, the battlefield now felt… settled.
Tsunade brightened immediately.
That meant—
Kyoichi was safe.
"Let's not worry about that brat anymore. We'll finish the fight here. Minato, go support the others. I'm fine on my end."
"Yes!"
This time Minato didn't argue.
Because with Tsunade's strength, she truly didn't need his protection. In fact, Minato suspected that despite Tsunade being older than him, if he were to die…
Tsunade might still survive.
The Senju clan's vitality and lifespan were on an entirely different level.
He sighed internally—
Then disappeared from sight.
He rushed to support Obito, Kakashi, and the others—naturally prioritizing Konoha. If he couldn't even protect his own people, how could he protect anyone else?
Tsunade, though outwardly calm, still couldn't help worrying about Kyoichi.
Yes, Kyoichi was strong, but…
His opponent was Madara.
A living legend from her grandfather's generation—equal in fame and power.
Not worrying would be impossible.
But she didn't know that right now, Kyoichi and Madara were surprisingly peaceful, sitting on a rock and having a friendly conversation.
Of course—
Madara did not fully believe Kyoichi's words.
Kyoichi's statements startled him at first, even shook him, but soon Madara realized a key point:
"Only those with the Sharingan—or Rinnegan—can read that stone tablet. Besides the Sage of Six Paths, who else could? His brother?"
This was why Madara had never questioned the tablet.
Only the Rinnegan revealed its complete content.
In other words—
Without the Rinnegan, how could anyone know how the tablet worked?
"Based on previous deductions, my guess is: what if Ōtsutsuki Kaguya left behind a fragment of consciousness—or some special form of existence? After all… Ōtsutsuki Kaguya is the Sage of Six Paths' mother."
This was intel Kyoichi had "acquired" from the Great Toad Sage.
Madara fell silent.
He genuinely did not know this.
If Kaguya was the Sage's mother, then the Rinnegan might very well have been inherited from her. And furthermore…
Kaguya's eyes could easily surpass the Rinnegan itself.
Madara understood Kyoichi's implication:
If Kaguya left behind a conscious remnant or similar existence, then as the one who understood the Rinnegan best, she would certainly be capable of altering the tablet—guiding its content toward her desired direction.
For example—
Adding a single misleading line to lead someone toward a false conclusion.
The one who fit such criteria…
Suddenly—
A figure flashed through Madara's mind.
Black Zetsu…
"With your intelligence, I'm sure you already have an idea. Because that individual must've been by your side all along—watching you, nudging you toward exactly the path they needed."
"Whether that's true or not—that depends on your own judgment."
Kyoichi stood.
Madara was spent—death was only a matter of time. No need to rush.
Letting him die with doubt not only eliminates future dangers but also plants a devastating trap for Black Zetsu in case they fail to capture him.
Why not?
Madara sank into deep thought.
He did suspect Black Zetsu—but at the same time, he believed Black Zetsu was something he had created, so how could it possibly be an enemy?
This contradiction perplexed him.
But—
Once suspicion takes root, many unanswered questions suddenly gain clarity.
He created Black Zetsu using Yin-Yang Release.
But…
Would someone like Kaguya—powerful beyond compare—not know Yin-Yang Release?
Impossible.
Therefore—
Kaguya certainly possessed the ability to create Black Zetsu—and likely a version far more sophisticated and powerful.
A version capable of deceiving even him.
A substitution.
A planted imposter.
The more Madara thought, the more plausible it seemed.
He fell silent completely.
Kyoichi's "conspiracy theory" had successfully planted doubt in him.
"Take your time. No need to rush."
Kyoichi created several Wood Clones and teleported them away via Flying Thunder God. Madara saw it, but didn't stop him.
He was too consumed by Kyoichi's words.
Was Black Zetsu truly his ally?
If Black Zetsu was Kaguya's descendant—and the one who altered the tablet—then hadn't he been kept in the dark all along?
A complete fool?
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"Have you figured it out yet? If not, let's talk about your idea of ruling through genjutsu. Genjutsu-induced peace—putting aside whether it even works long-term, how are people supposed to live under an illusion?"
"A peace built on genjutsu… feels far too hollow."
Kyoichi chuckled.
"If you really want to use a genjutsu, why not create a separate illusion world? Whoever wants to fight can go fight in there. Honestly, that might be more practical."
"A separate illusion world?"
Madara frowned.
The idea was… unconventional.
But after thinking on it, he shook his head.
"Impossible. Aside from a Sage, no one can maintain such a vast, long-lasting genjutsu. And even if it existed, it would only shift the battleground. As conflict escalates, war will still return."
"At least the cycle would be longer. And frankly, it's more realistic than your plan."
"Heh. Who can say?"
Madara shook his head lightly—not agreeing, but not denying.
He admitted Kyoichi's words were tempting—tempting enough that he genuinely doubted Black Zetsu and even the validity of Infinite Tsukuyomi.
But he did not believe Kyoichi's alternative was correct either.