With a single slash, Saitama beheaded the enemy before him. The foe's voice stopped abruptly.
Warm blood splattered across the ground in the direction his blade swung, painting chaotic crimson patterns on the earth.
Killing wasn't anything new to Saitama — just another day at the job.
He tilted his head slightly, mouth a tight line, face calm and emotionless.
This was a twenty-one-man squad, but encountering him meant they could only be annihilated.
That was just how brutal war was.
Since both sides belonged to opposing factions, words held no place — only weapons could speak between them.
"This should be over before long."
Muttering inwardly, Saitama turned his gaze away.
Chakra pulsed through the blade, vibrating away the blood and exposing the gleaming steel underneath.
He slid the sword back into his waist sheath, ready to leave.
The battle was ongoing, and even greater confrontations awaited him ahead — he couldn't afford to waste time here.
Suddenly, in the distance, a familiar and powerful fluctuation reached him, making Saitama frown.
Natural energy? Sage Chakra?
Was it Jiraiya or Minato?
Right now, in the entire Shinobi World, those who wielded Sage techniques seemed limited to himself, Jiraiya, and Minato.
And among them, only he and Jiraiya used it as a standard technique.
Though Minato had trained in Sage arts, he'd always been a half-baked practitioner, never actually employing it in true combat.
So it was most likely Jiraiya fighting over there.
Of course, Minato wasn't entirely out of the question — perhaps he'd finally mastered rapid entry into Sage Mode during this short time?
Yet Nagato, possessing the Rinnegan and having implanted Hashirama's cells, feared neither Minato nor Jiraiya alone.
Kage-level?
No!
At full power, Nagato might have already reached the level of Six Paths.
A ninja who perfectly utilized Rinnegan powers — there was no one in the entire Shinobi World capable of defeating him.
From the very start of the war, the majority of the ending had already been laid bare.
If that Sage refused to enter the battlefield, the scales would completely tip toward Nagato's side.
While thinking this way, he still began heading in that direction.
But after just several steps, he halted mid-motion, every muscle tensing in an instant.
As if something terrifying was drawing near.
Silence settled around him — the world fell into slumber.
This was far from normal.
"Who is it?!"
Saitama's hands loosely hung at his sides, seemingly relaxed, yet his entire consciousness focused sharply on observing his surroundings.
It had been ages since he last felt such a sensation of being watched.
Thus, his first thought went to that Sage he had just mentioned — the one so eager to descend into the fray.
If it truly was him, then everything from this point onward would become complicated.
Confronting that existence alone would put him at a disadvantage.
Moments later, Saitama fixed his gaze on a tall stone pillar ahead.
An unusual aura pulsed from there.
A mass of blackness seeped upward from within the column, slowly taking human form.
He recognized this entity immediately.
Black Zetsu?!
His pupils sharply constricted. Saitama Uchiha felt deep confusion.
Previously, with Nagato's help, Black Zetsu should have already been sealed and exiled into outer space.
So why was he here again, bringing such a crushing sense of danger?
Had something unexpected happened to change everything?
Countless thoughts crashed through his mind like waves.
But now that Black Zetsu had returned, the threat they'd been carefully monitoring could be temporarily ruled out. It seemed the Otsutsuki sage hadn't decided to act yet. The pressure he now felt came solely from Black Zetsu and whatever tricks he'd prepared beforehand.
After all, Black Zetsu wouldn't possibly team up with their hidden greatest enemy—even though currently he and Nagato were obstacles preventing the other side from rescuing their mother.
"Hehe, surprised to see me again, Saitama Uchiha?"
Standing atop a stone pillar, Black Zetsu wore a mocking expression, shadows swirling in his eyes.
He dared face Saitama directly because he naturally held some trump card—thus his tone carried no fear whatsoever.
Saitama didn't respond. He simply narrowed his eyes, watching as if this fool were performing a clown act.
If he could seal Black Zetsu once, he could do it a second time. So this sudden reappearance didn't particularly bother him.
What he needed to figure out now was—who gave Black Zetsu the confidence to stand before him again after escaping the seal?
And so brazenly arrogant, so utterly fearless.
The answer revealed itself soon enough.
In the silent atmosphere, light footsteps began echoing alongside the wind.
Saitama caught the gradually approaching sound—each step landing rhythmically.
"I honestly didn't expect that kid I casually saved back then would actually dare ruin my years of careful planning. That backstab was quite unexpected."
A slightly hoarse voice rang out from one side, causing Saitama's brows to furrow even deeper.
Though they hadn't interacted much, the moment this voice sounded, he immediately knew exactly who it was.
"Madara Uchiha?!"
He turned his gaze toward Black Zetsu's side. A tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind.
Crossing his arms over his chest, the man's wild long hair cascaded loosely over his shoulders. Clad in red-purple samurai-style shinobi armor from the warring era, his face radiated an overwhelming aura of dominance, exuding complete control.
Madara's appearance truly surprised Saitama.
Because under his specific instructions, Madara should still have been peacefully lying within the Coffin, unable to move—rather than standing beside Black Zetsu ready for battle.
"Oh? You remember me. Seems your memory isn't too bad after all. Then why didn't you follow the plan I clearly laid out back then?!"
Stopping just one step ahead of Black Zetsu, Madara glared directly at Saitama below.
Corporeal decay hadn't lessened his commanding aura in the slightest.
Once the supreme ruler of the Ninja World, he still bore down on Saitama with immense pressure.
So it must've been [Impure World Reincarnation] used by Black Zetsu… Troublesome, but still within controllable limits.
Saitama immediately noticed Madara's current state, and his internal tension gradually eased.
Right now, he was no longer the same as before.
Although he didn't know how Black Zetsu had acquired Madara Uchiha's body from the Impure World technique used by Orochimaru, the fact remained that Madara now stood before him.
At that time, having Orochimaru summon Madara with the Impure World technique was just a safety plan—to stop someone else from pulling the same stunt and turning Madara against them.
But now, it seemed Black Zetsu, the third child of Kaguya, indeed possessed some unique insight.
"If you're already dead, then you should rest peacefully underground. Why come back and disrupt the order once again? Whatever you're trying to achieve... I'll finish it for you. And maybe this time, things will turn out better."
A shadow of blood-red flickered in Saitama's eyes, three Tomoe distinctly emerging.
His tone was serious, his aura unwavering.
An invisible force clashed between the two, ripping through the air and tearing apart the heavens.
"Do you truly understand my thoughts? How dare you speak so boldly—claiming you'll fulfill my goal? Do you really comprehend this world?"
Madara took a slight step forward with his right leg, lowering his body as he loomed over the audacious Saitama, exuding disdain.
In his eyes, layers resembling weathered parchment peeled away like paper caught in the wind, revealing three Tomoe beneath.
And at least from appearance, those eyes brimmed with vitality.
Moreover, the Tomoe spun and twisted the moment they appeared, striving toward higher evolution—but soon stilled, settling into the state of Three-Tomoe.
Hearing Saitama's words just now, even his composed mindset couldn't help but tremble violently.
Though he himself had once used Saitama, watching him now break free from control and gain the strength to oppose him only fueled his rising anger.
Madara Uchiha was proud.
To him, manipulating Saitama for his own ends made perfect sense—after all, without him, Saitama would have long since perished.
But there's no way he'd accept a world where all his work and plans ended up benefiting someone else.
Betrayal—that's what churned inside him, again and again.
Thus, looking at Saitama, killing intent surged wildly in his heart.
Even though this was an Impure World body, Madara's oppressive presence continued rising alongside his emotions.
Behind him, Black Zetsu instinctively stepped backward a few paces, gazing at Saitama with mockery and cruelty glowing in both eyes.
This time, bringing back Madara Uchiha through the Impure World had carried immense risk for him.
Because Madara had already started doubting him, no longer trusting him as he once did.
Though nothing had been directly said, Black Zetsu could sense these subtle shifts.
Yet all of it remained worthwhile.
Only by destroying Saitama and Nagato's plan could the opportunity he desired possibly arise; otherwise, everything would be meaningless talk.
Madara was unpredictable now—but still a piece that fit perfectly into Black Zetsu's age-spanning strategy.
As long as Madara didn't deviate from his so-called "Eye of the Moon" plan—the Infinite Tsukuyomi—Black Zetsu's chance of rescuing Kaguya would keep increasing indefinitely.
And whether Madara's Impure World form could generate enough threat to correct the supposed errors... Black Zetsu had no doubt about that.
As the previous generation's Indra, Madara's strength was unquestionable.
As for Black Zetsu himself?
After being sealed by Saitama, he used Secret Arts to split his body into two parts, escaping the seal and achieving "Resurrection" through White Zetsu.
Everything led to this one moment.
The battle between Madara Uchiha and the "traitor" Saitama Uchiha!
"You're still going on about understanding me? Don't you think, as your elder, this kind of meaningless chatter is quite tedious? What we both pursue is true peace for the entire shinobi world—the methods just differ greatly! Moreover, do you really think you can cause us any significant damage now? I'm no longer that kid who would be speechless from just one glare from you!"
Saitama faced Madara's gaze calmly as he spoke.
"Hehe, excellent! Saitama Uchiha, do you know what kind of person I despise most in my life? Traitors like you! You're no different from those in the Uchiha Clan of Konoha Village."
Madara chuckled coldly, his eyes brimming with murderous intent that felt almost tangible, piercing toward Saitama, the Tomoe within spinning even faster.
Uncontrolled pawns were the hardest thing for him to accept.
Because that was betrayal.
And in Madara Uchiha's heart, betrayal was his greatest taboo!
"If you're about to lecture me about your Moon Eye Plan, sorry—but that's exactly what I cannot agree with. As for being saved by you back then, I'm truly grateful. Now, the only thing I can do is show you the peace the Shinobi World has yearned for, so at least you won't feel so regretful anymore."
"Then I have no choice but to correct everything myself."
Madara snorted contemptuously, his gaze sharp and terrifying.
Madara stared at Saitama coldly. No matter what the other said, if it didn't align with his own ideals, it was simply wrong!
Upon hearing Madara's words, Saitama furrowed his brows again.
Madara's pride made him incapable of accepting advice; once he set his mind on something, it was nearly impossible to change.
"Do you really believe everything you know is absolutely correct? Take the Moon Eye Plan, for instance—or Black Zetsu's true intentions?"
Facing the reincarnated Madara Uchiha, Saitama remained completely fearless, so he decided to keep trying verbal persuasion a little longer.
Because unnecessary fights were troublesome for him and wasted precious time.
"Let's set aside Black Zetsu for now. Perhaps during these years I've been gone, he's pursued his own hidden motives, or maybe he's been deceiving me all along. But at least he's still following the steps I instructed to complete the mission. However, *you*—you've deeply disappointed me!"
As he spoke, Madara shot a sharp glance to the side.
Black Zetsu's expression flickered momentarily, though he showed no exaggerated reaction.
This situation had been within his expectations.
"It looks like we'll have to settle this with a fight first. Maybe I should let you know—times have changed?"
For such an unreasonable Madara Uchiha, Saitama found himself at a loss for words. Finally, all those words melted away into action.
"I'm looking forward to seeing your performance. Although this decaying, broken body can't display full strength, I don't mind warming up a bit. At the very least, I believe capturing you shouldn't be a problem!"
Madara straightened his posture, the armor plates on his body clanking with each movement. His words remained as domineering as ever.
No unnecessary probing, no excess dialogue—once both parties decided to fight, they acted immediately.
[Fire Release – Dragon Flame Jutsu!]
Saitama clasped both hands together in front of his chest, observing Madara Uchiha's movements through his Sharingan.
He approached Madara with full respect and no room for underestimation.
Regarding this man capable of turning a basic fireball technique into something akin to a forbidden-level jutsu, Saitama maintained a respectful attitude.
Therefore, when casting ninjutsu, he channeled full power from the very start without holding anything back.
Thus, flames surged forth like a tidal wave across the sky, with a faintly visible dragon shape roaring within.
The temperature spiked dramatically.
Madara also released his own Fire Release—its scale just as immense as Saitama's, descending as if heavenly fire had fallen from the heavens.
Boom—
The two similarly colored techniques collided midair, producing a dull crashing sound.
Then, the flames scattered mid-sky, covering hundreds of meters of ground below beneath their scorching heat.
"Impressive! Truly Madara Uchiha!"
This was Saitama's first battle against Madara.
Back when he had been rescued before, Madara was already showing signs of aging; though his spirit remained strong, his actual strength hadn't fully manifested.
Hence at that time, it wasn't possible to accurately judge Madara's might, only roughly recalling based on memory.
But now, despite still not being in his complete state, the pressure he exuded was unparalleled in the entire shinobi world.
Perhaps the strongest opponent Saitama had faced thus far!
Before the residual effects of their jutsus completely faded, Saitama vanished from his original spot, leaving behind only a deep crater where he stood.
In the next moment, Saitama flashed behind Madara like a dark blur and stood there clearly.
He threw a punch toward Madara's back while extending his other arm wrapped in Chidori Current toward Black Zetsu nearby.
"Not bad! I didn't believe Black Zetsu when he told me you'd reached this level—but looks like even he underestimated you!"
Madara swiftly turned around, blocking the attack with both arms while slightly tilting his head up to glare at Saitama.
At the same time, Black Zetsu sensed Saitama's strike and instantly melted into the earth, disappearing from the area.
Faced with Madara's counterattack, Saitama aimed precisely at the side of the knee and kicked hard.
That blow neutralized Madara's attack, and without hesitation, Saitama increased the output of his Chidori Current, breaking free from Madara's grip.
"Fascinating!"
Madara glanced at the charred black palm struck by the electric current, smirking faintly.
Judging from their brief exchange, Saitama's power was formidable indeed.
To put it plainly, in this state, Madara probably couldn't defeat him head-on.
But would he give up just like that? Naturally not.
Madara Uchiha was someone whose name alone could strike fear into an entire era—for good reason.
Recognizing the gap in their strength, Madara became even more aggressive, surging forward to chase the retreating Saitama.
Seeing Madara rushing toward him, Saitama clenched his right fist. A blue Chidori Current surged and shaped into a long spear in an instant.
He gripped the shaft tightly and aimed straight at Madara's body, stabbing downward fiercely the moment the opponent closed in.
Accompanied by a sharp piercing sound, lightning pierced through the charging Madara.
But the moment the strike landed, Madara's body turned into a brown Wood Release Clone, his face twisting into an eerie smile.
Before Saitama could react, another figure shot out from behind the wooden clone.
Madara unleashed the same Ninjutsu, flashing past Saitama's eyes in an instant.
"That's not right—could that also be a clone?"
Just before Madara's strike connected, Saitama's form violently shattered into a puddle of water.
It was none other than his rarely-used Water Shadow Clone.
Madara hesitated briefly, then leapt backward.
However, a sharp whistling sound followed from above.
KABOOM—
Madara was struck and blasted into the ground.
Saitama leaped out of the crater, landing nearby. He glanced toward the Impure World Madara whom he had struck hard with Rasengan, right in the shoulder.
Although thanks to his control over the Sharingan, the Impure World version of Madara remained at the Three-Tomoe state.
Nevertheless, as an Impure World body, Madara was naturally at a disadvantage when facing Saitama, who now fully mastered the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Slowly rising, Madara's body near the neck along with nearly half of its torso turned into pieces of paper scrap.
Even after the attack, he remained expressionless at that moment.
Because indeed, even though he possessed pride and confidence, Saitama's growth was terrifying.
In this condition, he could suffer greatly if he wasn't careful.
Madara's body was slowly regenerating—it might have been the only benefit of being in the Impure World state.
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