Certainly, Madara Uchiha's attitude was as arrogant as ever.
However, the White Snake Sage, having witnessed countless events throughout her long life, puffed out a plume of smoke and declared imperiously, "All who come to seek enlightenment must bow and pay homage after passing the trial. Only then will I grant them Sage Power. This is the rule, and there are no exceptions. Madara Uchiha, bow before me!"
"What? You want me, the great Madara Uchiha, to bow before you?"
Madara's anger flared, but recalling his previous experience at Shikkotsu Forest, he understood well that the Three Great Sages were reclusive monsters not to be trifled with. If he were to provoke them, the consequences would undoubtedly be dire.
Before arriving at Ryūchi Cave, Black Zetsu had advised him: "Lord Madara, there's an old saying—when under someone else's roof, one must lower their head. These old beings just want to be flattered and revered. Go along with it, and things will proceed smoothly."
Madara, however, had scoffed, "Then I'll just tear down the roof so I can raise my head again!"
Such arrogance!
Even so, unlike Sasuke, Madara's arrogance carried a certain maturity.
Madara did not let his anger show on his face. Instead, he calmly asked, "White Snake Sage, tell me, what does it mean to bow?"
The White Snake Sage replied without hesitation, "To lower one's head to the ground—that is bowing."
Madara continued, "Then tell me, what is the ground?"
The White Snake Sage answered, "The soil and stones beneath your feet—that is the ground."
"Very well."
Crack! A smirk tugged at Madara's lips as he stomped his foot, causing a brick at his feet to pop up.
He caught the brick without a second thought and smashed it against his forehead.
Crash!
The brick shattered, leaving his face bloodied.
Even the White Snake Sage was momentarily stunned.
Crack! Madara crushed the remaining half of the brick into powder and tossed it to the ground with a resounding thud. "I've bowed. Now, will you grant me Sage Power?"
"Oh?" The White Snake Sage narrowed her ancient eyes. "Are you trying to be clever with me?"
Madara argued, "You said it yourself—soil and stones beneath one's feet are the ground, and lowering one's head to the ground is bowing."
The White Snake Sage retorted, "What you did wasn't lowering your head to the ground; it was the ground coming to you."
Madara smirked, "Either way, it's still bowing. You never specified who should bow to whom, did you?"
Drip.
Blood trickled from Madara's forehead wound, dripping into the cracks of the shattered brick.
The White Snake Sage's tone turned cold. "What if I say your method doesn't count? That you must bend your body, kneel properly, and bow respectfully, and then clean up the mess you made before it counts?"
Madara responded without hesitation, "Then I won't learn your Sage Art! I may not be your match now, but if I wish to leave, who here can stop me? Thirty years east, thirty years west—when I gain power, I will return and tear down this temple of yours!"
"Impudent!!" The White Snake Sage's slit pupils contracted sharply.
An overwhelmingly terrifying chakra surged forth like a roaring white tidal wave.
Rumble!
The entire temple—no, the entire Ryūchi Cave—shook violently.
Swish!
Madara leapt back, activating Susano'o. The veins near his right temple bulged, and his Byakugan locked onto the massive figure on the throne.
Her chakra alone could rival the Ten-Tails, likely without breaking a sweat. And if her Sage Power were included...
Boom!
The raging chakra abruptly calmed.
The faint sound of falling debris echoed in the silence, proving that the earlier events were no illusion.
"Enough." The White Snake Sage's voice carried both thunder and rain. "I dislike those who are all talk and no action, but I do admire those with ability and determination. Madara Uchiha, step forward."
Standing within Susano'o, Madara's face showed doubt. "Are you saying you're willing to grant me Sage Power?"
The White Snake Sage replied, "That's right. Step forward."
Madara hesitated.
The White Snake Sage taunted, "What? After all your bold words, you're afraid to come forward now? Afraid I'll eat you?"
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Madara deactivated Susano'o and strode forward confidently.
The White Snake Sage remarked, "I truly don't understand. It's just kneeling—why do so many of you make such a fuss over it?"
Madara's response was shocking: "You wouldn't understand. Sometimes, even when circumstances force you, kneeling once means you'll never stand up again. I, Madara Uchiha, bow to neither heaven nor earth, and I will never kneel to anyone in this lifetime!"
"Hmph, at least you haven't disgraced Indra. You're far better than the current one."
Swish!
As she finished speaking, the White Snake Sage's massive body leaned forward, her fangs sinking into Madara's neck.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Pure Sage Power poured into Madara's body.
Crack!
Madara clenched his fists, guiding the Sage Power through his chakra pathways. Two horns emerged—one from his chest, the other from the Hashirama face on his forehead.
Madara chuckled, "Ha, how ironic."
Snap!
The White Snake Sage withdrew her fangs and returned to her throne. "The Sage Power has been granted. Go to the rear mountain to train. For you, it should take no more than a day and a night."
"Understood." Madara turned and walked toward the temple exit.
"Wait." The White Snake Sage called out to him.
Madara stopped and glanced back. "What is it now?"
The White Snake Sage asked curiously, "You also have Katsuyu'sSage Power within you. I know her temperament—how did you convince her to teach you?"
Madara hesitated, as it was not something he was proud of.
The White Snake Sage continued, "If you don't want to say, I won't force you."
Finally, Madara admitted, "I threatened her with Mito's granddaughter."
The White Snake Sage chuckled, "I see. You certainly know how to adapt your approach. But with me, even if you killed everyone in the world, you wouldn't be able to force my hand."
"Is that all?" Madara asked.
The White Snake Sage replied, "I know some things about your origins. If you're interested, come see me before you leave. If not, that's fine too. Go on."
Madara considered for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and headed toward the rear mountain.
The White Snake Sage sighed, "It's remarkable that he's come this far without knowing his true origins. The Rinnegan that Naruto possesses—it originally belonged to him."
In Amegakure.
Konan: "Our scattered Anbu have all been recalled."
Naruto: "Good. Seal off the village immediately. Until I awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, no one is to leave the village!"
Bang!
The gates of Amegakure slowly closed.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
Four black rods shot toward the four corners of the village.
In Sage Mode, Naruto formed hand seals.
Barrier: Four Red Yang Formation!
Rumble!
The unprecedentedly grand Four Red Yang Formation enveloped Amegakure, isolating it from the outside world.
Late at night, outside the village, a masked man in a black cloak gazed at the grand formation under the night sky.
Tobi: "Ah, it seems they've anticipated our next move."
Obito: "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll emerge victorious in every battle. Let's see what they're up to."
With that, Obito stepped forward, followed by his shadowy companions.
Obito instructed, "Tsuchikage, your phasing ability is limited by time and will be detected by the rain. Stay here."
The shadowy figure halted.
Whoosh! Obito phased through the barrier.
Splash! Rain passed through his intangible body as he walked slowly through the downpour, his gaze fixed ahead, dark and unreadable.
"With Edo Tensei, neither chakra nor ocular power will deplete. My phasing ability now has no time limit."
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