The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and Madara Uchiha stood side by side—three legends shoulder to shoulder, their eyes reflecting something complicated.
"Madara? How are you still alive? What happened?" Tobirama frowned, his voice heavy.
"I have no obligation to explain anything to you," Madara said coldly, giving Tobirama a sideways glance.
"Oh? Madara, don't be so hot-headed." Hashirama chuckled, relief and warmth in his eyes. "So Konoha is thriving again? That's a good thing."
"A false prosperity that vanishes in an instant!" Madara stared at Hashirama, his tone like ice. "Hashirama—everything you insisted on has already been crushed by this brat. You probably don't even know it, but that little demon has nearly conquered the shinobi world!"
"What?!" Hashirama and Tobirama both stiffened, shock flashing through their eyes.
They couldn't believe it.
What even Hashirama and Madara had failed to do… Shuoye had nearly accomplished.
And at that moment, a cold system prompt sounded beside Shuoye's ear.
[System Notification]
Option 1: Surrender immediately.
Reward: Storm Release Kekkei Genkai
Option 2: Escape—live to fight another day.
Reward: Ice Release Kekkei Genkai
Option 3: One against three—crush them head-on.
Reward: Hyorinmaru — Bankai
"Option 3."
Shuoye chose without the slightest hesitation.
Under countless stunned gazes, Shuoye spoke slowly.
"So this is Obito's confidence?" His eyes held no fear—only a measured calm. "Then let me see whether you're even qualified to stand as my opponents."
Obito stood off to the side, a faint sneer on his lips, his Sharingan glinting with an eerie light.
"Shuoye, do you understand who you're facing?" Obito's voice was sharp with certainty. "Senju Hashirama—the God of Shinobi. Senju Tobirama—the creator of the Flying Thunder God. And Madara Uchiha—the strongest Uchiha."
He paused, then smiled wider.
"But since you've chosen to challenge us… show me what you've got."
Shuoye didn't back away. If anything, his gaze hardened.
"Come together," he said. "Try me."
Shisui Uchiha felt a stab of unease. He had intended to use Kotoamatsukami to control Obito—but when he saw Shuoye's unwavering eyes, he hesitated.
Kotoamatsukami was too precious to waste on Obito.
Shuoye clearly had his own plan.
Shisui held back, choosing to watch.
"Evil Uchiha brat—die!"
Tobirama's cold laugh rang out, and the battle ignited.
His body blurred. In the next breath, he was behind Shuoye, a kunai flashing toward Shuoye's vital point.
But Shuoye moved as if he'd already seen it coming. He turned slightly and slipped past the strike with ease.
"The Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God?" Shuoye smiled faintly. "Fast. Not bad."
Then he counterattacked.
"Wind Release: Great Storm!"
Hand seals snapped into place. A violent jutsu erupted—blue light carving dazzling trails through the air as it surged toward Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara.
Boom!
Hashirama clapped his hands. The ground rumbled, and overwhelming Wood Release power surged forth—giant trees rising to block Shuoye's assault.
Madara let out a cold laugh, hands moving in a blur. A powerful Fire Release smashed into Shuoye's Wind Release midair.
The collision thundered, shockwaves ripping outward.
"Second Hokage," Shuoye said with a sneer, "dead men shouldn't be jumping into the spotlight."
His body flashed—reappearing behind Tobirama.
At the same time, a blade of chilling sharpness appeared in Shuoye's hand—an exquisitely forged weapon, as if made to cut through anything in this world.
"You can use it too?!" Tobirama's eyes widened. "Flying Thunder God?!"
Tobirama reacted instantly, triggering Flying Thunder God to evade the killing blow.
But Shuoye used Flying Thunder God as well.
Their figures tore across the battlefield, crisscrossing like twin bolts of lightning.
Then—one violent clash.
Shuoye's blade came down.
Tobirama's body split cleanly in two.
The field went silent.
Everyone stared, unable to process what they'd just seen.
Shuoye stood where he was, expression unchanged—like this outcome had been decided long ago.
Obito stepped forward, voice low.
"The Second Hokage's Impure World Reincarnation body is still limited in the end…" He exhaled. "Shuoye, you really are a monster."
Shuoye didn't bother to answer. His eyes shifted to Hashirama.
Interest flickered there—curiosity, as if he wanted to see what the so-called God of Shinobi truly had.
"First Hokage," Shuoye asked, "what do you think of the Uchiha's power?"
Hashirama blinked, surprised by the question, but answered honestly.
"The Uchiha are strong. But the Senju weren't weak either."
Shuoye's smile turned colder. "Then do you know what's become of the Senju?"
Hashirama's expression tightened. "The Senju… what happened?"
Shuoye briefly laid out the Senju's decline—and Danzō's schemes—his voice steady, as though he were recounting someone else's tragedy.
But Hashirama and Tobirama felt their hearts sink.
"Gone…? The Senju clan is gone?!" Tobirama roared, rage and disbelief twisting his face.
Shuoye let out a short, mocking laugh. "Second Hokage, you really raised a pack of ungrateful wolves. Danzō… he was one of your prized disciples, wasn't he?"
Tobirama's teeth clenched. "Hiruzen…! I was blind."
Obito sensed the situation slipping and stepped in, voice firm.
"Second Hokage, this is the perfect chance to set things right—to restore Konoha's order."
Shuoye cut him off with a cold glance.
"Obito. Stop playing clever games."
Obito's expression shifted. He looked to Hashirama, hoping Hashirama would restrain Shuoye.
But Hashirama only stood there quietly, as if thinking through something deep.
Then Hashirama's eyes steadied.
"Thank you for telling us, Shuoye." His tone was calm, but heavy. "But with the Senju already fallen… the Uchiha's rise makes me uneasy."
"I can't allow Konoha to descend into chaos again."
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
The moment the words fell, Hashirama unleashed Wood Release.
Massive trees burst from the earth, drowning the battlefield beneath a vast green ocean.
Wood Release in Hashirama's hands was overwhelmingly stronger than Madara's.
People stared, trembling with awe and fear.
"So this is the God of Shinobi's power…?!" someone cried.
"Interesting." Shuoye's eyes sharpened—finally serious. His voice dropped, controlled and cold. "Then… let's raise this slaughter to the next level."
"Bankai."
In the next instant, a gigantic ice-blue Zanpakutō appeared behind Shuoye, cold radiating from it like a living storm.
"Sit upon the frozen heavens… Hyorinmaru!"
Shuoye's eyes snapped open. His voice carried crushing force.
Hyorinmaru transformed violently. Intricate patterns surfaced along the blade, brimming with endless frost.
Thick ice formed around Shuoye, layering over him—wrapping him completely.
When the ice fully set, a new Shuoye stood there.
Heavy ice armor covered his body. In his hand was Hyorinmaru, spilling boundless cold.
His gaze was frozen and resolute—like he meant to seal everything beneath a sky of frost.
"Is this… Shuoye's true power?!" someone shouted, unable to hide the terror.
Hashirama felt the immense spiritual pressure pouring off Shuoye, and his face grew grave.
This young man was no longer someone he could defeat casually.
Hashirama drew in a breath and cast Wood Release again, trying to block what was coming—
But Shuoye didn't give him the space.
Hyorinmaru swung.
A massive frost blade wave tore forward, slashing straight at Hashirama.
Hashirama resisted with full force, yet the freezing strike drove him back step after step.
Disbelief crossed his face.
How could someone this young hold such power?
And Shuoye didn't slow.
He swung again.
And again.
Frost blade waves rained down like a storm, engulfing Hashirama, Tobirama's remaining halves, and Madara all at once.
For a moment, even those legends were forced into a bitter struggle.
This kid's insane—he's serious!
No… we have to stop him!
Madara's eyes tightened. Susanoo's long blade cleaved down toward Shuoye.
Clang!
Metal rang. Sparks exploded.
Madara's blade struck Shuoye—yet it didn't leave even a scratch.
Instead, a blinding light burst from Shuoye's body, forcing Madara's pupils to shrink.
What…?
A terrible unease crawled up Madara's spine.
"Impossible. Even I couldn't be surrounded by three and take no damage." Madara's eyes turned vicious. "He's forcing it—he has to be."
Madara's sword ripped through the air again, screaming toward Shuoye.
He needed to kill Shuoye now.
Watching the blade close in, Shuoye's lips curved into a calm, indifferent smile.
He raised Hyorinmaru, pointing it at the charging Madara.
Boom!
A violent explosion bloomed into a dazzling fireball.
The frozen ground shook, cracks racing outward through the ice like veins.
"Argh—!"
Madara screamed as the blast tore him apart, flesh mangled and blood spraying.
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood burst from Madara's lips, splattering the ground.
He clutched his chest, face twisted in pain, staring at Shuoye in the distance.
He couldn't understand it.
Why was Shuoye's defense so monstrous—more terrifying even than Hashirama's?
"You lost," Shuoye said flatly, his eyes sweeping over Madara without emotion.
Madara's pupils tightened. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened.
He wanted to rush forward and tear Shuoye apart—
But reason told him he couldn't.
"Madara," Shuoye said, voice steady, "your obsession and your power—I've always respected them."
"But the future isn't fixed. It's full of variables."
"Let me show you with your own eyes…"
"Heavenly Time Command!"
Shuoye's voice carried weight, each word pressing down like a mountain.
He lifted his hand. The Rinnegan shimmered with a deep, eerie blue.
This was Shuoye's second Rinnegan ability—touching the authority of time and space, even allowing him to glimpse the future for a brief moment.
Madara's face stayed cold, his eyes holding suspicion—and contempt.
But as Shuoye's Rinnegan power spread, scene after scene unfolded before Madara—
Black Zetsu's ambush.
His heart being torn out.
That despair. That unwillingness.
Kaguya's revival—followed by a world collapsing into chaos and destruction.
And the stone tablet—tampered with—guiding him step by step into a lie.
"This… this is real?!" Madara's pupils shrank violently, fury and shock twisting across his face.
He had never imagined the "truth" he believed in was nothing more than a carefully woven deception.
"Yes, Madara." Shuoye's voice stayed calm, unwavering. "The future can change. But first—you face the truth."
Madara's fists trembled. His chakra surged, tearing at the air around him.
"Black Zetsu… you filthy insect." Madara's voice turned murderous. "You dared to toy with Madara Uchiha's fate?! I'll make you pay!"
But as Madara moved to pursue—
Obito and Black Zetsu vanished like ghosts, leaving only a sharp cry lingering behind.
"Madara! You've been fooled by that brat—"
They understood it now.
Madara was no longer a piece they could control.
Shuoye watched them go, then turned back to Madara, offering something reckless—and direct.
"Madara. The Uchiha and Konoha aren't what they used to be. Konoha needs your strength."
"And you… might find a new meaning here."
"Come back to Konoha. Use your own eyes to witness this era—and guard it."
Madara let out a cold laugh, pride refusing to bend—yet the shock in his heart forced him to reassess everything.
"Go back?" His gaze sharpened. "Hmph. Madara Uchiha won't be chained."
"But I can stay in Konoha—for now."
"If something happens that pleases me… lending a hand isn't impossible."
Shuoye's eyes flickered with faint satisfaction.
He knew it.
Even a temporary Madara was an immeasurable force.
Against the Ōtsutsuki threat—and whatever else awaited—Konoha would gain another pillar.
In a hidden corner far away, Obito and Black Zetsu stood in the darkness, their silhouettes long under the dim light.
Their plan—once proclaimed as the only path to "save" the world—was unraveling.
Even Madara had slipped beyond their control, becoming an enemy they could no longer avoid.
"I didn't expect even Madara…" Obito's voice was rough, low with fury and unwillingness.
Black Zetsu's shape trembled slightly, but his voice remained grim.
"There's still one last hope, Obito…"
"Impure World Reincarnation—revive the Sage of Six Paths' son…"
"Indra."
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