Kenji

Six Paths-level power!

Uchiha Madara had never believed in such a thing. He had never seen a shinobi whose power surpassed both himself and Senju Hashirama.

Yet the name Six Paths-level still stuck in his mind, because according to legend, the power of Chakra had been passed down by the Sage of Six Paths.

And what that arrogant host called Six Paths-level probably meant exactly that.

Those who possessed such power stood on the same level as the Sage of Six Paths, the legendary founder of the Ninja Sect.

It was power he had never witnessed, even after obtaining a piece of Senju Hashirama’s flesh, transplanting the cells, and spending years researching and training until he finally awakened the Rinnegan.

No, Uchiha Madara thought. Perhaps he had obtained those eyes too late. Though he had caught a glimpse of a higher realm, he had not had the time to study it.

As his thoughts raced, an immensely powerful surge of Yin-natured Chakra suddenly erupted within him. It was so powerful that it was practically impossible for a human shinobi to possess.

Even with Uchiha Madara’s knowledge, only a handful of people, such as Senju Hashirama, could possess Chakra of this caliber.

He felt that powerful Yin Chakra envelop his body almost instantly. Compared to Yang Chakra, which had a greater influence on physical energy, Yin Chakra had a greater effect on a person’s spiritual energy.

Uchiha Madara felt as though it were all destined. Just as he had sensed that this body lacked Chakra and refined it too slowly, an enormous amount of Yin Chakra surged forth within it.

Not only did this give him, one of the Uchiha Clan’s strongest, the ability to act as he pleased, but with even more powerful spiritual energy and this body’s life energy that surpassed everyone else’s, he could further refine even more Chakra.

If he had enough time, if he could fully command this body, then perhaps he could truly achieve a Chakra reserve as vast as the sea, like the Senju Clan!

The black barrier shattered all around him. The radiant Erdtree in the sky had already spread as far as the eye could see.

Golden radiance drifted continuously from the heavens like ash after a volcanic eruption. Even Uchiha Madara felt slightly uncomfortable at the sight. This familiar world had transformed into something entirely different in an instant.

As his Sharingan trembled, he quickly caught sight of the person ahead who had severed this body’s right arm with a strike from a Truth-Seeking Orb.

Uchiha Madara’s pupils contracted. The newcomer was covered in cracks, his right shoulder was missing, a part of his head had shattered, and his body seemed to be made of mud.

But that red armor, that Konoha forehead protector, and that long hanging hair.

"Senju… Hashirama…"

He swiftly rejected his own judgment. That could not possibly be Senju Hashirama. Something must have taken possession of Senju Hashirama’s Impure World Reincarnation body!

Senju Hashirama had never possessed any Six Paths-level power.

Uchiha Madara’s gaze darkened. The aura he displayed while controlling Bai Cangshu’s body was completely different from Satoru Gojo’s arrogant frivolity.

He was arrogant, but even more cold and self-assured. He could not be bothered to speak to enemies he deemed beneath him.

"Whoever you are, I advise you to leave that man’s remains immediately."

As arrogant as Uchiha Madara was toward the weak, he was equally respectful toward Senju Hashirama, the rival of his life. They were enemies and friends alike, and their bond surpassed even that of blood brothers.

With a sigh, Otsutsuki Hagoromo separated from Senju Hashirama’s damaged Impure World Reincarnation body.

Leaving aside the fact that an Impure World Reincarnation body was inherently limited and could not truly unleash the power of a Sage Body, even if it could make do, Senju Hashirama’s current state was far too strained.

The Impure World Reincarnation body was covered in Scarlet Rot. Its powerful Yang Chakra had instead become kindling for the Scarlet Rot, endlessly cycling between growth and destruction.

As the Sage of Six Paths’ soul and power left, Senju Hashirama’s damaged Impure World Reincarnation body rapidly decayed and collapsed to the ground.

Uchiha Madara’s expression grew uglier as he watched.

Pfft!

At that moment, Uchiha Obito had suffered brain damage from the massive amount of information forcibly injected by Unlimited Void. He still stood where he was as blood began spraying from the slightly torn wound on his neck.

Without outside intervention, even with a top-tier Mangekyo Sharingan ability like Kamui, he might have been instantly killed here by Satoru Gojo.

But a powerful surge of Yang Chakra instantly poured into his body as Otsutsuki Hagoromo made his move.

The Sage of Six Paths did not have many options. If he wanted to act, he had to borrow the power of other strong individuals.

And at this moment, there were only a few people here capable of threatening Mercenary Tao and the monster born from that meteor.

Uchiha Madara turned his head and looked at Uchiha Obito, whom he had chosen and cultivated.

Whether it was his ambition or his combat wisdom, the other had disappointed him. The only praiseworthy thing was his intense emotions. For the Uchiha Clan, talent in awakening their eyes and ocular power surpassed talent in ninjutsu to a certain extent.

Uchiha Madara watched as the torn wound on Obito’s neck began to heal. He knew that the power and will that had just resided in Hashirama’s Impure World Reincarnation body now stood on Obito’s side.

His eyelids lowered, and a mocking curve tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Obito suddenly felt a warm power enter his body. It was power far beyond Hashirama Cells, enough for his body to begin healing in an instant.

Not only did the torn wound on his neck heal, but even the chaos in his brain vanished.

He turned around and saw only an old man in a white haori standing before him.

One of the man’s hands rested on his shoulder as powerful Yang Chakra and Yin Chakra continuously flowed into his body.

Obito suddenly felt his eyes swell. He had always possessed exceptional talent when it came to awakening his eyes, and now that power circulated within them.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his pupils had turned into rings of purple.

Rinnegan!

The Sage of Six Paths had forcibly injected another kind of Chakra into Uchiha Obito, who possessed only Hashirama Cells, and helped him fuse it with his own power, giving rise to the Rinnegan—the symbol of the Otsutsuki Clan’s power.

Uchiha Madara raised his gaze slightly at the sight, yet he still did not move. He merely stood where he was, watching as Uchiha Obito’s injuries fully healed and he activated the Rinnegan, seemingly adapting to this power.

"Obito, have you forgotten my teachings?"

"Power that cannot be freely controlled is not power at all."

He seemed to still be that aged Uchiha Madara who had once taught the young Obito.

But Uchiha Obito gently stroked his eyes. These were the eyes of a god. He now possessed the same eyes as Uchiha Madara…

These were the eyes that could activate Infinite Tsukuyomi and truly determine the future course of the world.

He unconsciously looked toward Mercenary Tao, who had lost an arm yet still stared at him with an imperious gaze from that single Sharingan. Uchiha Madara was probably inside him at this moment.

But…

"Can you still lecture me now?"

Uchiha Obito had never been loyal to Uchiha Madara. He knew full well that Uchiha Madara was using him, but likewise, he had been using Uchiha Madara.

He had merely chosen to follow Madara’s plan because of power and because he wanted to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan.

But now, true power had fallen into his hands. The once-invincible Uchiha Madara had revived inside Mercenary Tao’s body and had not even recovered his eyes.

"Look into my eyes, Uchiha Madara. The eyes of a god are in my possession…"

Uchiha Madara was not disappointed when he saw Obito betray him as expected. Instead, he burst into laughter again.

"Obito, do you know? You are actually missing something."

"Missing something?"

Uchiha Obito believed that now that he had obtained the Rinnegan, he could no longer lack anything.

Uchiha Madara looked even more disdainful.

"What you lack is wisdom."

"I used nothing more than the life of one girl to make you completely despair of this world. Heh, it really was… simple."

Uchiha Obito stared at that Sharingan. Scenes of Rin’s death resurfaced before his eyes, but this time, Madara’s figure appeared among them.

He had controlled the shinobi of Kirigakure, step by step bringing about the reality of Rin becoming a Jinchuriki and ultimately being killed by Kakashi.

"Aah!"

Uchiha Obito’s rage reached its peak. Unable to endure any longer, he vanished in an instant.

Yet Uchiha Madara revealed a smile as though everything were under his control.

The eyes of a god had come to him after all…