Six Paths level.
This was the realm that Uchiha Madara had pursued his entire life.
Yet, even in death, he had never reached that level. Even after awakening the Rinnegan, he had remained far from it—at best standing at the peak of "Super Kage."
But now, the man he had once treated as a mere pawn—Uchiha Obito—had actually stepped into the Six Paths realm, possessing the very power Madara had dreamed of! For Madara, besides the initial shock, there was curiosity and excitement.
What had happened after he entrusted everything to Obito? What was the state of the shinobi world now? And what had become of his grand plan?
Could it be… even after breaking into the Six Paths, Obito still hadn't managed to seize complete control of the world?
And why would Madara think this way?
Because he knew Obito too well. If this brat had truly mastered everything after becoming Six Paths-level, he would never have bothered to summon him back!
"Madara…"
Looking at the Edo Tensei Madara before him—not the frail, withered old man he had been, but his prime self, complete with Rinnegan—Obito glanced sideways at Black Zetsu. Inwardly, he already understood.
But this wasn't the time to dwell on such things. He needed Madara's strength.
"All of it… starts from after your death," Obito began, slowly recounting the events that had unfolded since Madara's passing.
The conclusion of the Third Great Ninja War.
The rise of Yuki Yoru.
Alliances formed and broken.
The spread of spiritual power.
His dominance shaking the shinobi world…
"Nagato has already become Yuki Yoru's lapdog. The Rinnegan you left him still rests in his eyes.
Though I achieved the Six Paths level through the Chimera Technique ritual, the captains under Yuki Yoru's command are all at or close to the Six Paths level. Whether in terms of strength or influence, Yoru is already standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
The entire shinobi world has become his stage. Small nations bow, great nations follow. He has accomplished what neither you nor Senju Hashirama ever could."
Obito Uchiha concisely told Madara everything that had happened in the past few years, leaving Madara Uchiha stunned.
Especially the last sentence, that Yuki Yoru had done what he and Hashirama Senju had never been able to do, which caused Madara's mind to explode.
Could it be that this was a case of the new generation pushing out the old?!
Madara had known Yuki Yoru might grow terrifyingly strong. Even before his own death, that man had already shown signs of invincibility. His soul-devouring, infinitely-growing power was far too abnormal—Madara had mentally prepared himself.
But he never imagined Yuki Yoru's strength would climb to such a level!
Even Obito, having reached the Six Paths level, could only match Yuki Yoru's subordinates. And with the so-called Quincy Royal Guard beside him… how could they possibly resist?
"But Lord Madara," Black Zetsu quickly interjected, seeing Madara's proud expression shift into uncertainty, "although Yuki Yoru is strong, we still have an opportunity!
With Lord Toneri's aid, we've confirmed all the remaining tailed beasts are sealed within Kirigakure. Lord Toneri can even help us shatter the Kirigakure's barrier, making their capture far easier.
Furthermore, the captains of the Soul Soceity have also suffered significant losses. And we have other allies on our side. With the enemy exposed while we lurk in the shadows, if you strike alongside us and reclaim all the tailed beasts, we still have a chance to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan!"
The Eye of the Moon Plan…
That long-forgotten name made Obito pause.
This was once the goal he had pursued. Yet at some point, it had quietly shifted into something else— a relentless struggle to grow stronger, just to defeat Yuki Yoru.
And now, with Black Zetsu bringing up the plan once again, Obito felt as if a lifetime had already passed.
"Madara, I need your help."
Obito spoke slowly. "I still have other powerful allies… Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō. Through the Chimera Technique ritual, both of them have pushed their strength to the level just below the Six Paths."
"Add Toneri… and you. With the five of us striking together, Kirigakure won't possibly be able to respond in time!"
Two more at near-Six Paths level?
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō?
That white-haired dog Tobirama's students actually managed to reach such heights? The Chimera Technique Ritual can grant such power?!
Ripples stirred in Madara's heart, but outwardly his expression calmed, even showing a faint eagerness.
This… this was interesting. This felt right!
In the old world, only Hashirama had ever earned his recognition, only he could dance alongside Madara.
But in this world—there were so many strong ones waiting.
He could hardly wait to clash blades with the mighty of today's shinobi world!
But first…
Madara's Rinnegan glimmered faintly. In an instant, he cast a genjutsu and pulled Black Zetsu into an illusionary space.
Obito's words were only one side of the story. Black Zetsu had said plenty as well, but there were countless details left unclear.
"Black Zetsu. Tell me everything that has happened."
Within the illusionary space, Kaguya's third son crouched like mud on the ground—submissive, deferential, almost groveling—as he explained everything that had transpired, including the present state of affairs.
When the illusion dispersed, what had taken days in reality felt like only an instant to Madara.
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri, was it?"
Ignoring Obito and Black Zetsu, Madara turned to the silent figure at the side.
Though Toneri appeared young, from Black Zetsu's account—and from those radiant eyes in his sockets, no weaker than the Rinnegan itself—Madara had no choice but to take him seriously.
Not to mention the setting itself…
The moon. The place he had gazed at countless times in life—yet there were people here. Descendants of the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother, no less…
"Uchiha Madara."
Toneri inclined his head slightly, his gaze calm as it rested on the Shura of Shinobi World. "Next, I will grant you a true resurrection. But know this: the eyes you bear now are false, sustained by Edo Tensei. They will shatter."
"Of course. The eyes I entrusted to Nagato—I'll be taking them back."
From Black Zetsu's explanation, Madara already understood the situation.
At present, a super-kage level powerhouse was still a pillar, yes, but to stride across the battlefield without challenge, one needed to be semi-Six Paths or truly Six Paths level.
Even if he returned, Madara would only be at the super-kage peak. Only by reclaiming his own Rinnegan—and coupling it with his unique dōjutsu, Limbo: Border Jail—would he reach quasi-Six Paths.
Only then would he have the power to join Obito's grand plan of seizing the tailed beasts!
"Well then, Uchiha Madara—are you ready to welcome your second life?"
"Do it!"
Toneri looked at Madara. The Tenseigan in his eyes radiated dazzling brilliance as his hands slowly came together in a solemn seal.
At that moment, Toneri Ōtsutsuki drew upon the power of the Giant Tenseigan. Pale-green radiance poured down like heavenly rain, descending upon Uchiha Madara's body.
In just an instant, Madara's pallid, cracked Edo Tensei form began to regain color and luster before the naked eye, thin wisps of smoke rising from his flesh.
Thump! Thump-thump!
With the renewed beating of his heart, the Rinnegan in Madara's sockets began to splinter apart and dissolve into nothingness. Yet Madara paid no mind—instead, he bit deeply into his own arm.
The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, accompanied by a sharp pain, and Madara threw back his head in manic laughter.
"Hahahahahaha! Yes! This is the feeling!"
"Take it."
With a ripple of Kamui, a great war fan and a sealed vessel appeared in his hands, which he tossed to Madara. "These were always yours."
"The Gunbai…"
The moment the old companion returned to him, Madara's face broke into an arrogant grin. Crushing the vessel, he retrieved a pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan and pressed them directly into his empty sockets.
Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes—open and close, instant synchronization.
Now all that remained… was to reclaim the Rinnegan!
...
Tracking Nagato's whereabouts in the vast shinobi world was not so simple for Obito now. White Zetsu was no longer the same as before—without the endless White Zetsu army, Zetsu's reconnaissance ability had declined by several levels.
But with Toneri—the very embodiment of a walking cheat—on their side, Madara's group quickly located Nagato.
In the Land of Fields.
After several clashes with Sarutobi Hiruzen's clone army, Nagato had withdrawn to an Akatsuki base there to recuperate, all the while using the Rain Tiger at Will Technique to monitor his surroundings.
"Hah, who'd have thought I'd ever get to cross hands with the Second Hokage? That was fun, un!"
Deidara grinned as he molded explosive clay. "If the old man knew I was trading blows with Tobirama's clones, he'd probably have his jaw hit the floor!"
"Hmph. Childish."
Hidan shot him a glance, scoffing. Yet the pride tugging at the corners of his mouth couldn't be hidden.
Even if they were clones, they were still the clones of the great shinobi of the past! And now, he could keep up with them. He was no longer chasing after the Sannin—he had already reached the same level as the legends themselves!
The group laughed and bantered, and even Nagato, seated in the main seat, wore a smile. Compared to the grim, vengeful Akatsuki of old, this atmosphere was like night and day.
The path he had chosen was not wrong. This—this was the right path!
"Hmm?!"
Nagato's expression hardened as he suddenly stood, brows furrowing.
"What is it, Nagato?" Konan asked in surprise.
"There's a powerful chakra… no, wait—" His eyes widened. "It's here!"
Without another word, he used Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull) to draw Konan behind him for protection.
The next instant, the entire Akatsuki base collapsed in an earth-shaking roar. As smoke and debris filled the air, Hidan's face darkened, Deidara gaped in shock, and Sasori remained impassive.
As the dust cleared, Nagato's gaze immediately locked onto Obito. The face before him was unfamiliar—but that chakra, that presence, was unforgettable.
But soon, Nagato's gaze was drawn to the other two figures. One, though young in appearance, had eyes like glittering constellations, his bearing noble and transcendent.
The other wore crimson battle armor, his aura commanding and peerless, with a pair of cold, spinning three-tomoe Sharingan in his sockets.
What mattered most, however, was that face.
Nagato had seen it before—at the Valley of the End.
"Uchiha… Madara…"
The true Madara had returned, and what was more, he stood alongside Uchiha Obito, coming directly for him.
"It's been a long time, Nagato."
Obito's calm gaze rested on his former partner, as well as on Hiruko and the others. "I didn't expect you to side with Mizunazuki Yoru. It seems you've completely forgotten what we once promised each other."
"I'm simply walking the correct path, Uchiha Obito." Nagato stared back coldly, his voice frosty.
"What a pity. I thought when we met again, we could speak as we once did—cooperate, strive toward a shared goal."
Obito sighed, as if deeply regretful. His tone only darkened Nagato's expression, and his reply came like ice: "Now I fight for peace. And you… you are my enemy!"
"It seems there's nothing more to discuss."
Madara's detached voice cut through their exchange. His gaze was locked squarely on Nagato's eyes—the pale purple Rinnegan. He could feel the chakra and the resonance within them, like a treasured possession recognizing its master, eager to fly back to its rightful home.
"Hand them over."
"What?" Nagato froze.
"The eyes I entrusted to you, Nagato." Madara pointed at Nagato's sockets, his tone calm. "You've chosen your own path. Then those eyes I left in your care—it's time you returned them to me."
"Ridiculous!"
Before Nagato could speak, Konan's sharp voice rang out from behind him, full of fury. "The Rinnegan belong to Nagato! Since when were they ever yours?!"
"Oh?"
Madara arched a brow. "Then perhaps I should educate you."
"The Rinnegan—the Sage of Six Paths' eyes. Ever since he spread chakra to the world, they have never naturally appeared again. To awaken them requires first the power of the Uchiha, then combined with the chakra of the Senju."
"Yin and Yang united, birthing all creation. Tell me, Nagato—how could you, a mere member of the Uzumaki clan, possibly have awakened the Sage's eyes?"