The eyes of the white cat in Kushina's hands changed instantly, the three tomoe spinning rapidly and connecting to form the shape of a Mangekyo.
The people of Konoha were struck with horror; this was the Mangekyo Sharingan, the ultimate evolved form of the Uchiha Sharingan.
Mikoto was overcome with emotion, nearly bowing down before Madara's overwhelming power.
She was somewhat puzzled; why would the Uchiha Clan betray an ancestor who possessed such formidable strength?
Could it be that back then, the ancestor left through Konoha's main gate while the Uchiha Clan was waiting at the back gate to defect with him?
Cold sweat poured down Itachi's face. Just his Chakra being transmitted from afar to Konoha made everyone feel as if a mountain were weighing down on their hearts.
The pressure is immense!
Then, the Mangekyo Sharingan changed again, turning into the rippled, circular Rinnegan.
"(ʘᗩʘ')."
The Third Hokage's pipe dropped from his mouth, and Fukasaku and Shima immediately snapped to attention.
Obito immediately found a place to curl up and hide.
He wasn't afraid of Ryou, because Ryou would only shock him with electricity, not kill him.
But Madara would truly kill him.
Paralyzed with fear, Kushina let go of the white cat and collapsed to the ground; even the Nine-Tails inside her belly was wetting itself in terror.
The full Nine-Tails could do nothing but hiss in front of Madara, let alone an Madara who now possessed the Rinnegan!
It's over; this time I'm really going to be devoured by the Ten-Tails!
The Nine-Tails was so frightened it curled into a ball, losing all the dignity of the strongest Tailed Beast.
The white cat spoke, but it was still Ryou who was in control.
Ryou, acting tough under Madara's shadow, patted Kushina's head with a paw: "Kushina, you were pretty arrogant when you were squeezing my balls just now. Not so tough anymore, are you?"
"Kneel down and call me 'Lord'! Then I'll let you and Konoha go."
Madara barked, "Get lost!"
Instantly, Ryou's Chakra retreated into a corner.
Madara jumped onto the Hokage's desk, and the Third Hokage bowed respectfully: "Senior Madara!"
Madara was old enough to be the Third Hokage's father, and moreover, he was one of the founders of Konoha.
The name 'Konoha' was actually given by Madara.
Otherwise, following the tradition of other nations, Konoha would have been called the Village Hidden in the Fire.
With Madara's prestige, only Fukasaku and Shima on the scene could afford to ignore him.
Madara ignored the Third Hokage and instead looked toward Konoha's Hokage Rock.
"In the blink of an eye, Konoha has already passed through three generations!"
Madara sighed with emotion as he looked at Hashirama's face on the Hokage Rock.
The past is like a drawing in the sand; as time passes, the sand is blown away by the wind, and memories blur.
Eventually, it all turns into a vast, indistinguishable expanse.
Fifty years had passed in a flash. The only thing in Konoha that still held any sentiment for Madara was Hashirama's Hokage Rock.
Madara looked at Tobirama's face and snorted coldly, "That devious brat Tobirama... I really want to destroy his rock carving."
Madara then looked at the Third Hokage's face: "Who is this? What level is he? How can he be ranked alongside Hashirama?"
The Third Hokage looked a bit embarrassed.
Ryou spoke up to remind him: "Ancestor, this is Hiruzen. He claims in the textbooks that he is the strongest Hokage."
Madara turned his head, his Rinnegan fixed on the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage immediately stood up straight and laughed awkwardly, "I didn't write that. It was just some ignorant juniors sucking up to me."
Madara huffed, "The Hokage really are getting worse with each generation."
"..."
Everyone was silent while the Third Hokage laughed awkwardly.
Madara's gaze swept across the area, passing over the two Sages of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya, and Minato, before finally settling on Kushina.
"The Nine-Tails... it's inside you, isn't it?"
As soon as he spoke, the entire Hokage's Office fell into a stunned silence.
Jiraiya stared at Kushina, his eyes nearly popping out of his head: "The Ni... Ni... Nine—"
Underground, Orochimaru, Hiruko, and Hatake Sakumo were all equally shocked.
The strongest Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails... was in Konoha!
Mikoto gripped Itachi's hand tightly, her heart in a state of immense shock.
She never imagined that her best friend was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
No wonder Kushina was always surrounded by so many Anbu guards.
No wonder the Anbu explicitly forbade her brother from getting close to Kushina?
So that was it; Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
How did Madara know the Nine-Tails was sealed inside Kushina's belly?
Because the Nine-Tails had once been Madara's Summoned Beast, and there was a connection between Madara's Rinnegan and the Tailed Beasts.
Besides, was it even a question?
Such massive Chakra, such vibrant red hair.
At first glance, Madara almost thought she was Uzumaki Mito!
Back then, even with the Nine-Tails, he was no match for Hashirama. Hashirama said the Nine-Tails was too strong, and the next second, the Nine-Tails fell fast asleep.
After Hashirama controlled the Nine-Tails, Madara knew without thinking that it must have been sealed in Uzumaki Mito's belly; only someone with Uzumaki Mito's massive Chakra could suppress the full Nine-Tails.
The Third Hokage and Minato did not step forward to stop Madara from pointing out that Kushina was the Jinchuriki.
Because there was no longer any need to keep it a secret.
Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan involved collecting the Nine Tailed Beasts, and the Nine-Tails inside Kushina was one of them.
The story was nearing its climax; why bother hiding it anymore?
Madara approached Kushina, staring at her with his Rinnegan: "Hand over the Nine-Tails, and I can spare Konoha."
Kushina was too terrified to look into Madara's eyes.
Minato blocked Madara's path, shielding Kushina behind him: "Impossible. I will never hand Kushina over to you."
Madara added, "With Ryou's Forbidden Jutsu, she can survive even if the Nine-Tails is extracted from her."
"Konoha has always been sealing the Nine-Tails' power; it is nothing but a burden to you."
If it were the Madara from before the Golden Wheel Rebirth Explosion, would he be so easy to talk to?
He would have come to Konoha with the Gedo Statue to seize it by force.
But because of his wariness toward the celestial gods, Madara was clearly a bit hesitant.
He wanted to avoid fighting if possible, striving to obtain the Nine-Tails at the lowest cost.
Ryou pleaded with Madara: "Ancestor, just getting the Nine-Tails isn't enough; I want Kushina too."
"I've liked Kushina for a long time. I must have her! If I can't get her, I'll snatch her; if I can't snatch her, I'll steal her."
"I must have the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero!"
Kushina was furious; she peeked out from behind Minato and made a face at Ryou.
Madara shouted, "Shut the hell up!"
Madara released a bolt of electricity, shocking Ryou over in Amegakure until he started foaming at the mouth.
Obito had a reflexive reaction, his body beginning to tremble.
Seeing this, Kakashi felt a pang of distress and quickly offered his hand to Obito, who immediately relaxed.
The Third Hokage said solemnly, "Uchiha Madara, Kushina and the Nine-Tails will not be handed over to you. Your Eye of the Moon Plan is detached from reality."
"You have never considered the feelings of others; you are selfishly imposing your own interpretation of peace upon everyone."
Madara sneered: "And what about you? In the three Ninja World Wars, Konoha was a primary participant. How many small nations has the Daimyo of the Land of Fire ordered you to destroy?"
"..."
The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment before saying, "Konoha belongs to the Land of Fire. Konoha's policy has always been the Balance of the Great Nations; this is the path set by the First Hokage."
"Hashirama?! Hmph, hmph, hmph..."
Madara couldn't help but chuckle. He looked at Hashirama's Hokage Rock: "I will prove that Hashirama's balance of power is wrong. Only absolute force can bring peace to this world."
"And the way to end all curses is the Eye of the Moon Plan. No one can stop my Eye of the Moon, not even Hashirama."