Blinding light swallowed the towering hundred-meter giant, illuminating everything like a miniature sun.
Kyusei braced himself against the violent shockwaves, his eyes locked onto the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path that Nagato had summoned.
Others might not recognize it—
But he did.
That grotesque monster…
Was the husk of the Ten-Tails.
Even Kyusei didn't know how durable it truly was, but the attack he and Nao had unleashed together—
Was already their strongest.
Inside him, Kurama was equally tense.
As a tailed beast, he knew exactly what that thing represented.
If all tailed beasts were absorbed—
The Ten-Tails would be reborn.
And now that he was free—
He would never allow that to happen.
After what felt like an eternity, the blinding light finally faded.
The battlefield reappeared.
The Demonic Statue—
Was charred black.
Its chest had caved in, viscous yellow fluid oozing out like a foul stream.
Its upper body slumped forward, barely supported by its legs—
Like a puppet with broken bones.
"…What is that thing?"
"To take that attack and only end up like this?"
Tobirama stared, visibly shaken.
"Nagato!"
A black-and-white creature emerged from the ground—
Dragging a massive coffin.
Nagato was in terrible condition.
His chakra was nearly depleted.
His body was scorched—
Skin cracked like charcoal, exposing raw flesh beneath.
Yet—
He was still alive.
"This is your teacher—Uchiha Madara."
"The only way now is to revive him with Rinne Rebirth!"
"Hurry!"
"If you die, everything we've worked for will be lost!"
Black Zetsu urged frantically.
"…Teacher…"
Nagato slowly raised his hands.
"Not good!"
"Stop him!"
Kyusei's expression changed as he dashed forward.
But—
Someone was faster.
Kaoru.
And Tobirama.
Both used Flying Thunder God—
Appearing instantly beside Nagato.
"Sage Art: Rasengan!"
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
Their attacks struck almost simultaneously.
Yet—
Somehow—
Nagato endured.
With a final burst of strength—
He roared:
"Outer Path—Rinne Rebirth!"
A forbidden technique beyond taboo—
True resurrection.
The power of the Rinnegan—
Unleashed.
A colossal King of Hell rose from the ground.
Blinding white light erupted—
Engulfing everything.
A green soul emerged from its mouth—
Flying into the coffin.
"…This…"
Tobirama froze.
His body—
Was changing.
His Edo form—
Restored.
Flesh.
Blood.
A beating heart.
He had been revived.
Before he could process it—
The coffin creaked.
"…What's going on?"
"Why am I still this old?!"
Madara pushed open the lid—
Confused.
Then he saw Tobirama.
"…You?"
Black Zetsu screamed.
"Why?!"
"Why is he still old?!"
"Why did Tobirama come back at full strength?!"
No one answered.
Because Kyusei—
And Nao—
Were already there.
Kyusei almost laughed.
In the original timeline, Madara had been revived at his peak.
Now—
Without that step—
He returned as an old man.
"Die."
Before Madara could react—
Kyusei's blade fell.
His head—
Severed instantly.
"…Nine-Tails…"
Madara's eyes widened in disbelief.
This body—
Could not resist.
"There's one more."
Kyusei turned coldly—
Toward the root of all evil.
But Nao was faster.
Her Truth-Seeking Orbs formed a triangular barrier—
Trapping Black Zetsu.
"No—wait!"
"You can't kill me!"
For the first time—
Black Zetsu panicked.
Nao hesitated briefly.
She sensed something…
Familiar.
Kyusei spoke.
"Kill him."
"Wait! I know everything!"
"I know the past thousand years—"
Before he could finish—
Nao clenched her hand.
The barrier filled with slicing winds—
Grinding him to nothing.
Silence.
Kyusei turned—
Toward Nagato.
He was already dead.
Rinne Rebirth—
Had cost him everything.
Without hesitation—
Kyusei reached forward—
And removed the Rinnegan.
Placing them into a prepared container—
The legendary eyes sank into the solution.
"…So this is the Rinnegan."
Tobirama stared.
"…Interested?"
Kyusei asked.
"…Of course."
"But later."
"Madara and Hikari come first."
—
Elsewhere—
Hashirama stood calmly—
Holding an unconscious Hikari.
Before him—
Yūgen.
Both eyes—
Gone.
"…Impossible…"
"…No one can resist that…"
"Izanami…"
"…How can you?!"
Even blind—
He was losing his mind.
Izanami—
Had no effect.
Hashirama had broken free instantly.
His will—
Too strong.
"I said it before."
"Anyone who opposes the village…"
"I will not forgive."
Yūgen screamed.
"No!"
"That's impossible!"
"Everyone has regrets!"
"Everyone has pain!"
"No one is that resolute!"
Hashirama sighed.
"Sage Art—Wood Release: Cutting Technique."
Roots surged.
Yūgen—
Could not escape.
Moments later—
He was impaled from all sides.
"…Still can't accept it?"
Hashirama looked toward the distance—
Where two Susanoo clashed.
Madara glanced back—
And sighed.
It was over.
No chance remained.
He needed to leave.
With a sharp movement—
He forced Sasuke back.
Then kicked him aside.
"…You lack experience."
"These eyes are wasted on you."
Sasuke's expression darkened.
Too late.
He had wasted too many years.
Madara turned—
And left.
He had no reason to stay.
Nagato was dead.
Yūgen was dead.
Hikari—
Lost.
But it didn't matter.
His world—
Still had her.
He would return—
And take her eyes.
Especially—
That ability.
Memory manipulation…
Similar to Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Perhaps—
Even better.
His speed increased.
"Stop!"
Sasuke chased—
But Madara ignored him.
Soon—
He reached the Dragon Vein.
Orochimaru stood guard—
With Deidara and Sasori bound beside him.
"…You!"
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
"Move."
Madara activated his Sharingan.
Orochimaru froze.
"Madara!"
Hiruzen attacked—
Fire roaring forth.
"…Pathetic."
Madara raised his fan.
Uchiha Reflection.
The flames reversed—
Striking back.
Hiruzen's Edo body—
Was shattered.
"…Clown."
Without another glance—
Madara leapt into the Dragon Vein.
A flash of purple light—
And he vanished.
"…Damn it…"
Hiruzen clenched his fists.
Madara's escape—
Meant uncertainty.
He now knew—
Of this world.
And he might return.
Someday.
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