Chapter 151: Uchiha Madara
"Konan, the chakra in my Wood Clone is almost depleted. It can no longer control the Six Paths of Pain."
In the sky, the Deva Path of Pain looked down at the battlefield below and lied to Konan beside him in a flat tone, "The battle on the main body's side will take some time to end. You take Yahiko's body away first and then wait for the main body to connect to the Deva Path of Pain's signal."
"Okay."
Konan didn't doubt anything. She used her Dance of the Shikigami to create a large number of paper sheets, enveloping the Deva Path of Pain, and flew away from Amegakure with him.
After a day and night of fighting, besides Konan who was still on the battlefield, everyone else in Akatsuki had already left.
Even Kisame Hoshigaki, the tailless Tailed Beast, couldn't sustain his chakra for a full day and night.
Moreover, the puppet human army's Lightning Release Chakra Mode and the Flying Thunder God Technique both countered Kisame's Water Release and chakra absorption.
On this battlefield of the puppet human army and the Impure World Reincarnation army, they, the living, were at a great disadvantage.
For Otsutsuki Toneri, killing a puppet human at most meant losing some materials.
As for corpses, he could procure them from the five great ninja villages at any time.
On the other hand, if they were injured or killed, they would only have themselves to blame and deserved it completely.
In addition, puppet humans had no blood, and the Lightning Release Chakra Mode countered Deidara's exploding clay. Even the two idiots, Hidan and Deidara, were unwilling to go all out, let alone the others.
Nagato didn't care about their departure, and even tacitly approved of it.
It was indeed too difficult for them to fight with all their might in this war of the dead.
It was enough that they helped him eliminate some of the puppet humans.
After a day and night of the final battle, the puppet human army had gone from an advantage to a disadvantage.
Although the amount of chakra from half of the Nine-Tails was still stronger than the full Eight-Tails, it was ultimately not truly unlimited chakra.
In contrast, the Impure World Reincarnation army not only possessed unlimited chakra but also an immortal body.
If they couldn't use the Sealing Book to seal the resurrected individuals during the few seconds of stiffness when the Impure World Reincarnation technique repaired their bodies, then the previous attacks would have been a waste of chakra.
Initially, Izayoi's Wood Clone and Nagato's Wood Clone didn't have the time to pay attention to every puppet human and resurrected dead.
But as more and more puppet humans and dead were lost, the number of puppet humans and dead each Wood Clone was responsible for drastically decreased to a certain extent.
From that moment on, the battle was no longer a solo fight but filled with tacit cooperation.
For severely damaged puppet humans, Izayoi's Wood Clone wouldn't give the resurrected dead the opportunity to smash them to pieces. Instead, it would control the puppet human to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, or have other puppet humans use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to send the severely damaged puppet humans away.
Similarly, when the bodies of the resurrected dead were blown apart, the other dead wouldn't give the puppet humans a chance to seal them.
As a result, only the puppet human army suffered losses, naturally turning their advantage into a disadvantage.
Without being able to seal the resurrected dead, they couldn't drop their entries.
Izayoi's points hadn't increased for a long time.
However, the situation on Nagato's Wood Clone's side, while seemingly advantageous, wasn't much better in reality.
If the Wood Clone only needed to control the resurrected dead to fight and didn't need to consume much chakra, this day and night battle would have long exhausted all its chakra and turned into small trees.
And the Wood Clone responsible for controlling the Six Paths of Pain had already run out of chakra.
The Six Paths of Pain and the Akatsuki members had also collectively retreated.
Without chakra replenishment, once all of Nagato's Wood Clones automatically dispelled, the resurrected dead would lose the control of Super-Kage level powerhouses.
If Nagato didn't restore their consciousness, these dead would be puppets without self-awareness, fighting entirely on instinct.
At that time, the puppet human army, whose chakra reserves had drastically decreased, would once again gain the upper hand.
"I'm sorry, Konan…"
Watching Konan leave, Nagato's Wood Clone controlled the Animal Path to use the Reverse Summoning Technique, leaving a simple will for Konan, then severed the signal connection to the Six Paths of Pain and whispered, "I'm afraid I can't fulfill Yahiko's dream. I hope you won't do anything rash and live well for me and Yahiko."
"Leader, we haven't lost yet."
Just as Nagato's Wood Clone was recalling the other Wood Clones to recover chakra, preparing to fight to the death with the main body with his last strength and dignity, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly entered his ears.
Black and White Zetsu emerged from the ground, their upper bodies visible, and said this to Nagato.
"Zetsu, haven't you left yet?" Nagato asked, slightly surprised.
Obito Uchiha had already run away, and he thought Black and White Zetsu had also fled.
Weren't these two a group?
"Leader, we still have a trump card."
Black and White Zetsu took out a scroll and said to Nagato, "As long as you use this Impure World Reincarnation trump card, you will definitely be able to turn the tide."
Nagato didn't feel joyful but instead said meaningfully, "Since you have such a trump card, why didn't you take it out before?"
"Because Obito wouldn't allow it," Black Zetsu directly sold out Obito Uchiha, saying, "He said if this trump card fell into your hands, perhaps you would no longer need him."
Nagato remained silent, confirming something in his heart.
Obito Uchiha, he seemed to be… not with Black and White Zetsu.
What that guy said to him in the Kamui dimension was indeed not the truth.
The whole thing about the Uchiha clan bearing the mission of guiding the Rinnegan owner was a lie.
His Rinnegan was indeed not natural but was transplanted into him at a very young age.
Both he and Obito Uchiha were just pawns of the person behind the scenes.
Black and White Zetsu were very likely the monitors of him and Obito Uchiha.
Only in this way would Obito Uchiha guard against Black and White Zetsu, and only in this way would Tobi choose him without hesitation over Obito Uchiha.
The trump card inside this scroll was probably that… person behind the scenes.
Nagato already had a guess in his heart but still needed confirmation.
So, he said, "Open the trump card and let me see it."
"Yes."
Black and White Zetsu didn't know that Nagato had already guessed what the trump card was. They quickly opened the scroll and took out what was inside.
With a poof, smoke filled the air.
A corpse that had been repaired using Hashirama cells, White Zetsu cells, and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, different from its withered and old state at death, but restored to its golden age, was revealed.
Seeing this corpse, a hint of realization flashed in Nagato's eyes, and he murmured, "Uchiha… Madara."
"The soul of the First Hokage has been sealed by the Reaper Death Seal, but the body of the Ninja World's Grim Reaper is in our hands," Black Zetsu said. "With a White Zetsu clone as a sacrifice, Uchiha Madara's strength will be infinitely close to his prime. With the leader's strength, you can completely control Uchiha Madara's body. As long as another super-standard combatant appears on our side, we can turn the tide." "Just Impure World Reincarnation?"
Nagato looked at Black and White Zetsu with a half-smile, asking, "Not the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique?"
White Zetsu's expression instantly became blank.
Black Zetsu also paused slightly, then revealed a strange smile and said, "There's no other way. Leader, your changes have been too great. We can only resort to this inferior plan."
In the next second, Nagato's expression stiffened slightly.
Immediately, he looked at Black Zetsu, who had detached from White Zetsu's body, and said calmly, "Does Tobi also have this ability?"
"Tobi is a simple child. His mission is only to prevent you, Leader, from destroying the Rinnegan."
Black Zetsu, whose lower body attacked Nagato from behind through the ground and successfully possessed Nagato, controlled Nagato to raise his hand and perform hand seals while sighing, "We originally just wanted to help you recover to your prime so that you would have the strength to resist Otsutsuki Toneri. We didn't expect you to be so outstanding, almost like a completely different person. As expected of… Lord Madara's carefully chosen genius who simultaneously awakened the bloodlines of the Uzumaki and Senju clans, the most suitable person to transplant the Rinnegan!"
Looking at the White Zetsu clones emerging from the ground, Black Zetsu and Nagato's Wood Clone shouted in unison, "Ninja Art… Impure World Reincarnation!"
As tadpole-shaped runes spread out, screams of agony immediately resounded.
Before long, an astonishing mass of chakra appeared in the darkness of the underground base.
A voice filled with dominance and a hint of admiration sounded.
"It has finally come to this day. That brat Nagato has finally grown up."
Looking at the man in front of them, wearing a black tight-fitting combat suit with red layered armor, long black hair, and cracks all over his body, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu both smiled and said, "Lord Madara, welcome back!"
"You've worked hard, Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and Nagato… hmm?"
Just as Uchiha Madara was about to praise the meritorious individuals of the plan, he seemed to notice something. He lowered his head, looking at his white glowing hands, and frowned slightly. "No sensation, and this feeling of collapse… is this Impure World Reincarnation, not the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique?"
"Sorry, Lord Madara, the plan had an unexpected turn. We could only revive you in this way," Black Zetsu said with a slight apology.
Uchiha Madara didn't speak but quickly performed hand seals and then crouched down and slammed his hands on the ground.
In the next second, the white light enveloping his body dissipated, and Nagato's main body instantly lost control of Uchiha Madara.
"What happened?"
Uchiha Madara, who had regained control of the Impure World Reincarnation, asked Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu didn't speak but detached from Nagato's Wood Clone's body and attached himself to Uchiha Madara.
In an instant, a large number of images and information flooded into Uchiha Madara's mind.
"Moon visitor, Otsutsuki Toneri, Tenseigan, retrieving the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Izayoi…"
Uchiha Madara quickly digested this information, and a smile of interest appeared on his face. "Interesting. The ninja world actually hides such secrets. No wonder you revived me in this way. You've really worked hard."
"This era is even more exciting than the era of you and Hashirama Senju, Lord Madara," White Zetsu said with a teasing smile.
"Hmph, still far from it."
Uchiha Madara immediately crossed his arms, scoffing with disdain, "Although they are young and possess this level of strength, it is indeed very remarkable. However, their Wood Release and eye power are still some distance away from Hashirama and me."
Neither the meteor shower nor the Heavenly Obstacle Meteor, nor even the Wood Human Technique, were anything remarkable.
Because compared to Hashirama Senju's Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands – Top Transformed Buddha, the Wood Human Arhat was just an ornament on the head of the Thousand-Armed Buddha statue.
Similarly, as long as he was fully revived and regained the Rinnegan, he would gain absolute control over the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and unlock the Rinnegan's exclusive pupil technique, Limbo: Border Jail.
If the Tenseigan only had that much to show, it wasn't worth mentioning at all.
"The Rinnegan, it is indeed yours."
At this moment, Nagato's voice entered his ears.
Looking at Nagato, who had regained control of his body, showed no resistance, and had no trace of panic on his face, Uchiha Madara's eyes were filled with appreciation. "You were able to hold out until now against the combined efforts of those two brats. As expected of the person I chose. Revive me, Nagato. This is your mission."
"Obito Uchiha, was he your pawn?" Nagato asked.
"Indeed, he was also my proxy," Uchiha Madara nodded.
"Your goal is to collect the nine Tailed Beasts to revive the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and use the strongest chakra to plunge everyone in the ninja world into a dream?" Nagato continued to ask.
"You know all this? Did Obito tell you?" Uchiha Madara was slightly surprised, then also nodded without hiding anything. "Indeed, my goal is the same as yours, to achieve peace. It's just that unlike your deterrence through force, I want to sever the cause and effect of the world and achieve eternal peace."
"Don't you know that this will lead to the extinction of humanity?" Nagato said the words he had once said to Obito Uchiha.
"Humanity will not perish."
Uchiha Madara smiled. "As long as I become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, I will be the second Sage of the Six Paths, possessing power that no one can resist. I will immerse most of humanity in a beautiful dream, release a small portion of humanity for reproduction, and then let them enter the beautiful dream again, repeating the cycle."
"What about after you die?" Nagato asked again.
"I will not die."
Uchiha Madara spread his arms, smiling confidently, "Just as I stand before you at this moment."
Nagato remained silent.
After a long time, he slowly said, "Don't you think this way is an escape?"
"Yes, it is an escape."
Unlike Obito Uchiha's emotional breakdown, Uchiha Madara agreed with Nagato's statement, his eyes filled with vicissitudes as he said, "However, in this world where war never ends, the average lifespan of the people is extremely low, and human nature is full of darkness, like hell, countless people want to become this escaper."
"They need a savior, and I… am their savior!"
"But you are depriving others of their happiness!" Nagato retorted.
"War will have its sacrifices, and so will the Eye of the Moon plan," Uchiha Madara said with firm eyes. "I am only depriving a small portion of people of their current happiness, but I am letting everyone in the ninja world immerse themselves in eternal happiness, eliminating the cause and effect of peace leading to war, success leading to failure, and health leading to illness… do you think it's worth it?"
Looking at Uchiha Madara, who showed no pretense and was as pure as Yahiko and himself, Nagato was rendered speechless and could only sigh, "This is not the peace that Yahiko and I wanted."
"This is what I admire about you, Nagato," Uchiha Madara smiled. "Your way of achieving peace is very similar to Hashirama's. As expected of the descendants of the Uzumaki and Senju clans. But the current ninja world is the result of your and Hashirama's approach. Since that's the case, why don't you join me and create another kind of peace?"
"I promise you, if this kind of peace cannot be achieved, I will release all of humanity."
Uchiha Madara extended his palm towards Nagato, issuing an invitation. "Join me in severing the cause and effect of the world, Nagato."
Nagato's eyes flickered slightly, but they quickly became firm again. He shook his head and said, "I still believe that this is not the peace that Yahiko and I wanted. However, I am willing to revive you and return the Rinnegan to you, to witness your way of peace as an observer."
"Rest assured, the world will become better than it is now, it definitely will," Uchiha Madara said with a determined expression.
Black Zetsu, who had already detached from Uchiha Madara, stood beside him in silence, constantly recalling the bitterness of the past thousand years, just barely managing not to laugh out loud.
(End of this chapter)
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