Chapter 309: The Dancing Uchiha Madara
"So, Douhuan," amidst the grave silence, Minato Namikaze's clear and calm voice rang out, pulling everyone's attention back to reality. "What is your specific idea? Faced with two such unimaginably powerful enemies, how should we respond?"
For a time, all eyes focused on Uchiha Douhuan.
Uchiha Douhuan met everyone's gaze, pondered for a moment, then looked up and slowly revealed his bold and even insane plan:
"My idea is very simple, and it comes down to one sentence—let Uchiha Madara fight Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."
"Let them... fight each other?" Senju Tobirama immediately grasped the key point. He habitually began to analyze, his brows tightly furrowed, "Right now, both of them desperately want the Ten-Tails to reappear in the world. But their ultimate goal is to take the power of the Ten-Tails for themselves and become the new Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. This means..."
"It means that there is the most fundamental and irreconcilable conflict of interest between them," Uchiha Douhuan took over the Second Hokage's words, his tone cold and certain. "There is only one Ten-Tails, and only one Chakra Fruit. They both want to become that one and only god, so a conflict between them is inevitable. And it will be the most tragic, life-and-death conflict. We just need to create a suitable opportunity to light this fuse."
"So, your meaning is to guide them into a 'dog eat dog' situation?" Senju Tobirama summarized. When this word came out of his mouth, it carried a cold cruelty and precision. Although it sounded harsh, it hit the nail on the head.
"Yes," Uchiha Douhuan admitted frankly. Although this plan sounded less than "above board," when facing such a desperate situation, any effective means was worth considering. "Although I am very reluctant to admit it, as things stand now, Uchiha Madara, who has been revived with a young body, a complete Rinnegan, and the terrifying combat experience accumulated through countless battles that allows him to bring his power to its fullest, is very likely the only existence in the entire ninja world who is qualified and capable of confronting Ōtsutsuki Isshiki on a frontal battlefield."
"Damn it!" Senju Tobirama couldn't help but slam his fist lightly on the table, his face filled with unwillingness and confusion. "Logically speaking, Uchiha Madara shouldn't have become this strong! Back then, in the final battle at the Valley of the End, although it was a difficult victory for my brother, he did kill him with his own hands. At that time, although he was powerful, he was far from reaching the... near-monstrous level you're describing!"
This was not only his doubt, but the doubt of everyone present except Uchiha Douhuan. Uchiha Madara's strength seemed to have surpassed what common sense could explain.
Hearing this, Uchiha Douhuan sighed deeply and revealed a truth that had been buried for decades: "The problem is precisely here. Lord First Hokage, back then... you did not truly and completely kill Uchiha Madara."
"How is that possible!?" Senju Tobirama questioned, his tone decisive. "Back then, his corpse, my brother and I personally confirmed that all vital signs had completely disappeared, and we watched him being buried with our own eyes! How could he not be dead?"
Faced with the doubt, before Uchiha Douhuan could explain, the black shadow that had been silent all this time—the "Black Zetsu" disguised by Tobi—slowly spoke, his voice hoarse and ancient, carrying the vicissitudes of someone who had personally witnessed history:
"Descendant of Asura, it is indeed the truth. As the incarnation of Indra's will, I have been silently watching the changes in the ninja world, especially a descendant like Uchiha Madara, who inherited the pure Indra chakra and had outstanding talent. Back then, I personally witnessed him use a special forbidden jutsu, Izanagi, to tamper with his own 'death' reality at the moment of near-death. He quietly woke up in his grave, then dug his way out of the mud and returned to this world."
"Izanagi..." Senju Tobirama's expression became extremely ugly. He naturally knew of this Uchiha forbidden jutsu, which sacrificed the light of one Sharingan in exchange for briefly changing reality. He had never imagined that Uchiha Madara could have preset this jutsu under such circumstances!
"And that's not all," "Black Zetsu" continued in a tone of stating ancient facts, his gaze turning to Senju Hashirama. "What's more important is that in that earth-shattering final battle with you, he did not come away with nothing. Through that battle, he successfully... obtained the most crucial thing from your body."
"The most crucial thing... from my body?" Senju Hashirama was stunned upon hearing this. He subconsciously touched his body, his face full of bewilderment.
"Yes, your flesh and blood," Tobi unhurriedly revealed the terrifying secret hidden in the dust of history. "He deliberately collected the blood and cell tissue splashed from your wounds during the battle. From then on, he had gathered both the Senju power, which represents the ultimate 'physical power,' and the Uchiha power, which represents the ultimate 'spiritual power.' When these two powers, originating from the Sage of Six Paths but opposing each other, fused within his body, he was able to glimpse the principles of all creation, and finally... awakened his own pair of Rinnegan."
"Rinnegan!?" Senju Hashirama was shocked again. "The ninja world... isn't Nagato's pair the only Rinnegan?"
"The pair of Rinnegan that Nagato possesses was personally transplanted into him by Uchiha Madara himself before his own lifespan was about to end and his physical body was on the verge of collapse," Uchiha Douhuan let out a long sigh.
"Not only that, after he escaped from his faked death, in the long years before he truly died of old age, he had secretly arranged countless backup plans and pawns in the ninja world. The Akatsuki was just one of them. His ultimate goal, from the very beginning, was to wait for a perfect moment to resurrect himself at his full strength. He had long anticipated this day of his return and had planned for it for decades."
Hearing this, Kakashi, who had been silent, unconsciously clenched his fists, which were placed under the table, so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms. He knew that his former best friend—Uchiha Obito—was one of the most important and tragic pawns chosen by Uchiha Madara, ultimately played with in the palm of his hand, turned into a form that was neither human nor ghost, and walked towards destruction in endless pain and distortion.
"That is indeed the case," "Black Zetsu" timely let out a heavy and helpless sigh, his acting skills truly perfect. "I also, not long after he fused the powers and awakened the Rinnegan, appeared in the identity of the ancestor's will, attempting to persuade him, hoping he would not walk down this paranoid and dangerous path. But... unfortunately, he had already completely fallen into his own obsession with the 'Eye of the Moon.' My words, he wouldn't listen at all." This speech perfectly crafted him into the image of a helpless elder who had tried but failed.
"Indeed! Uchiha Madara, this person, is naturally evil! Paranoid and arrogant! For the sake of his own ambitions, he did not hesitate to plot to this extent, to play with life and death, and even to regard the entire ninja world as his chessboard!" Senju Tobirama timely made his signature summary, his tone bone-chilling, filled with extreme disgust and vigilance.
"Douhuan," the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been listening quietly, blew out a puff of smoke at this time and raised the most critical practical question, "Then, how do you specifically plan to operate to ensure that these two powerful enemies of ours will clash head-on as we wish, instead of joining forces to deal with us first, or one side being quickly swallowed by the other?"
"This will require the full assistance of you predecessors," Uchiha Douhuan leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the table, and began to elaborate on his operational plan. "My plan is to carefully mark out a vast, relatively complex terrain area in the eastern part of the ninja world, near the coast, which is easy to seal off, to be used for large-scale ninjutsu."
"The first step is to evacuate all civilians and unrelated personnel from the area in advance."
His gaze swept across the successive Hokage present, "Then, with my and Kakashi's cooperation, we will accurately open the exit of the alternate dimension that is temporarily trapping Uchiha Madara, and guide him to this predetermined area."
"At that time," Uchiha Douhuan's voice became grave, "we will need to gather our strength and engage in a real battle with the revived, full-powered Uchiha Madara.
The purpose of this battle is threefold: First, to further enrage and confuse Uchiha Madara, making him believe that we are the obstacle that must be cleared for him to implement the Eye of the Moon Plan. Second, through the huge energy fluctuations erupted in this high-intensity battle, to actively attract Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who has been hiding in the shadows and must be paying close attention to the movements of the Tailed Beasts and the Ten-Tails!"
"Third," Uchiha Douhuan continued, "and most importantly, we need to use the battle to skillfully restrict Uchiha Madara's range of activity within this area we have demarcated in advance, to avoid the battle affecting innocent towns and commoners as much as possible."
"When Ōtsutsuki Isshiki is successfully attracted and is confirmed to have intervened in the battlefield," Uchiha Douhuan finally said, "our mission will be basically completed. At that time, we can rely on the immortal characteristics of the reincarnated bodies and flexible tactics to gradually fade out of the main battlefield, and leave the stage... completely to those two."
The secret room fell into a brief silence. Everyone was digesting the details of this plan and the risks involved.
After a while, Senju Tobirama was the first to speak. Although he didn't like Uchiha Madara, he had to admit that this plan had its feasibility, "It sounds... indeed operable. My big brother, the Fourth, and I are all in Impure World Reincarnation bodies now, possessing infinite chakra and immortal characteristics. Even if our individual strength may not be a match for Uchiha Madara at his full strength, with the three of us joining forces, supplemented by the mobility of the Flying Thunder God Technique and various forbidden jutsu, it shouldn't be a problem to hold him off for a period of time and control him in a specific area."
Senju Hashirama also nodded. Although his expression was still complicated, his determination to protect the ninja world was beyond doubt, "I understand. Although I don't want to fight Madara again, in order to guide him to deal with that more dangerous enemy from beyond the heavens, this is a necessary battle. I will go all out."
Minato Namikaze also solemnly stated, "The Flying Thunder God Technique is most suitable for containment and area control. I will do my best to coordinate with Lord First and Lord Second."
"Kakashi," Uchiha Douhuan looked at the Sixth Hokage-designate beside him, "your Kamui is key. Opening and maintaining the alternate dimension passage, as well as the emergency intervention that may be needed at the most critical moment, I'm counting on you."
"Understood," Kakashi nodded concisely, a determined light flashing in his single eye.
"Then," Uchiha Douhuan stood up, his gaze sweeping over all the Hokage present, a resolute aura rising spontaneously. "The plan is roughly so. We still need to further refine and perfect the details. Everyone, for the future of the ninja world, this operation must succeed. Failure is not an option!"
While Uchiha Douhuan was planning to let Uchiha Madara and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki have a dog-eat-dog fight, inside the Kamui dimension, Uchiha Madara had already engaged the reincarnated successive Kage.
Uchiha Madara stood in the center of the desolate battlefield with his arms crossed, his crimson Sharingan slowly sweeping over the figures surrounding him, a cold and arrogant arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Truly... a nostalgic lineup," his low voice carried a trace of mockery. "Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, hmph. Unfortunately, not a single one of Konoha's Hokage came? Is that fellow Hashirama afraid?"
In front of him were the successive "Kage" who had once shaken the ninja world. Their bodies were wreathed in the dust of the Impure World Reincarnation, their eyes empty, yet they instinctively exuded a powerful chakra pressure.
"Don't you dare be arrogant! Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was the first to act. A massive wave of gold sand rose from the ground like a golden tsunami, pouncing on Uchiha Madara from all directions, trying to completely swallow and crush him.
Almost at the same time, the Third Kazekage coldly raised his hand, "Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!" Countless pitch-black iron sands condensed into sharp senbon, shooting towards Uchiha Madara like a torrential rain, sealing off all his escape spaces.
"Boring," Madara didn't even move his feet, just slightly raised his eyelids. "Susanoo."
Weng—!
A blue chakra shot up into the sky, instantly constructing a huge skeleton ribcage, protecting Uchiha Madara within. Whether it was the heavy gold sand or the sharp iron sand, they only made clanging sounds upon hitting the Susanoo, unable to shake it in the slightest.
"Is this all you have?" Madara sneered. The skeleton ribcage instantly grew flesh and meridians, transforming into a giant upper-body warrior. One of its giant hands fiercely swung out, and with the force to smash rotten wood, it directly smashed the massive wave of gold sand into flying splashes! Rasa let out a muffled grunt, and even his reincarnated body showed fine cracks.
"Wind Release: Infinite Sand Cloud Great Breakthrough!" The Second Kazekage tried to use a powerful Wind Release to disturb his vision with sand.
"Magnet Release: Giant Iron Sand Needle!" The Third Kazekage condensed a huge iron sand weapon and stabbed down fiercely.
Uchiha Madara didn't even bother to use his complete Susanoo. The chakra sword in the other hand of the upper-body warrior casually swung, and it cut the giant iron sand needle in half from the middle! The blast wave from the explosion directly dispersed the Second Kazekage's Wind Release.
...
(End of chapter)