"So, you're saying that you stole the remains of the Uchiha ancestors sealed beneath the shrine and used them as sacrifices to perform the Impure World Reincarnation, summoning me," Madara Uchiha said, his voice growing darker with each word.
The terrifying aura emanating from him seemed to freeze the very air around them.
His gaze, filled with deep disappointment, fell upon Obito.
He couldn't believe that he had entrusted his life's work to such a fool.
He had handed over everything to Obito, and yet, this idiot couldn't even handle a measly Nine-Tails without resorting to summoning him using the remains of their ancestors and the despicable forbidden technique of Impure World Reincarnation.
For the proud Uchiha, this was nothing short of a disgrace!
Feeling the weight of Madara's disappointment, Obito's earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by a hint of guilt.
Fortunately, Madara didn't dwell on the matter.
What was done was done, and there was no point in dwelling on the past.
If Obito claimed that Konoha was too powerful to handle, then Madara would simply crush Konoha himself.
For Madara, anything that could be solved with force was no problem at all.
However, there was one thing that bothered him more.
"When did you learn the Impure World Reincarnation?" Madara asked, not even looking at Obito, yet his presence alone was suffocating.
Faced with the question, Obito had no choice but to explain honestly, "It wasn't me who performed the Impure World Reincarnation. It was a shinobi named Orochimaru. I only summoned you here."
"Orochimaru, huh," Madara muttered, not entirely unfamiliar with the name.
After all, he had lived a long life. If he hadn't given his Rinnegan to Nagato, he might have lived even longer.
By the time of his death, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had already been in power for many years.
And as Hiruzen's prized student, Orochimaru had naturally caught Madara's attention.
"So, it's Tobirama's grand-disciple. No wonder he uses such underhanded forbidden techniques," Madara said, his tone dripping with disdain for Tobirama Senju.
In his eyes, all of Tobirama's forbidden techniques were nothing more than cheap tricks.
Only Hashirama Senju was worthy of being his opponent.
After getting a rough understanding of the situation, Madara turned his attention back to the battlefield.
He took a few steps forward, positioning himself slightly ahead of Obito, then tilted his chin up and looked down at Danzo with a condescending gaze.
"Brat, are you sure you want to challenge me?" Madara asked, though it felt a bit odd for him to call an old man like Danzo a "brat."
But in terms of age and seniority, he had every right to say it.
And given his legendary strength during his lifetime, he had every right to call anyone a "challenger."
"A challenger, huh..." Danzo chuckled, feeling the overwhelming pressure emanating from Madara.
"Actually, I do want to see for myself just how powerful the legendary 'Ghost of the Uchiha' really is."
As he spoke, Danzo straightened his back, a rare sight.
His exposed eye gleamed with intense fighting spirit, shining like a bolt of lightning piercing through the darkness!
Seeing that Danzo wasn't crushed by his aura but instead radiated such fierce determination, Madara actually smiled.
"You're more interesting than that Tobirama fellow," Madara said, rolling his wrists and tilting his head.
"Although this body can only wield less than half of my peak strength, it should be more than enough to deal with Konoha as it is now."
If anyone else had said such a thing, Danzo would have dismissed them as an arrogant fool.
But when Madara Uchiha said it, no one could doubt its truth.
This was the weight of the title "Ghost of the Uchiha."
And the stronger a shinobi was, the more they understood the significance of those four words: Uchiha Madara.
Madara slowly raised his hand, and a terrifying pressure swept over the area.
"Tsunade, take Kushina and get out of here," Danzo said in a low voice to Tsunade behind him.
Kushina's seal hadn't been fully restored yet.
If she fell into the hands of Madara or Obito, the situation would become even more dire!
"Understood," Tsunade said quickly, moving to Kushina's side.
As she prepared to leave, she glanced back, her expression filled with concern.
Before she could say anything, Madara finished his hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
With a single exhale, a sea of flames spanning over a thousand meters engulfed the entire area.
The surrounding forest was instantly consumed, the thick tree trunks turning to charcoal in the inferno, crackling and popping as they burned.
The intense heat and airflow stirred Danzo's short hair. This time, he didn't hold back. He tore off the bandages covering his face.
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Danzo pressed his hands to the ground without hesitation.
The surrounding trees began to grow wildly, as if injected with steroids, forming a shield that temporarily blocked the incoming wall of fire.
Though it was only a temporary measure, it was enough. Danzo's goal was simply to buy time for Tsunade and Kushina to escape.
Seeing Danzo's Wood Release and the crimson in his eyes, Madara's expression showed a hint of surprise.
"I didn't expect you to possess both the power of the Senju and the Uchiha," Madara said, the flames in his mouth slowly dissipating as he spoke with interest.
Danzo slowly rose from the molten forest, his tanto drawn from his waist. He grinned, revealing a smirk that mirrored Madara's own arrogance.
"Let me witness your power, Uchiha Madara!" Danzo declared, pointing his tanto directly at the legendary figure.
Hearing Danzo's challenge, Madara laughed.
It had been a long time since he'd heard such a foolish challenge.
"It seems the name Uchiha Madara has been forgotten for too long in the shinobi world, and people have lost their fear of it," Madara said. "In that case, let me remind you of the terror that name once inspired."
Madara stood alone, his figure not particularly tall, yet he exuded the overwhelming presence of a war god.
In response to Danzo's challenge, he decided to show a glimpse of his true power.
"If you want to witness my strength," Madara said, his voice cold, "then prove it with your life."
In the next moment, his Mangekyō Sharingan activated!
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