Physics is more effective than logic. This has always been an eternal truth in the ninja world.
"Madara? You, and you all…"
Seeing the three Madaras shielding him, Hashirama felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.
As expected, best friends should advance together, not be incited by Black Zetsu into misunderstandings!
"Hashirama, you're too reckless!"
"Exactly, an idiot like that isn't worth saving at all."
"Just let this idiot die!"
The three Madaras clearly despised Parallel World 6 Madara, utterly hating him. This could be considered a brief consensus reached.
Even if not for Hashirama's reluctance, the three of them most wanted to eliminate this embarrassing Parallel World 6 Madara!
"Hashirama? You? Them? What's going on? Who exactly are these people…?"
Six Paths Madara himself was utterly confused and shocked.
Hashirama's emergence and revival had already stunned him, but it was at least within understandable limits—not too outrageous.
But now three versions of himself suddenly appeared!
This was too excessive, too absurd.
Others might not know, but Six Paths Madara knew full well—these three Madaras had nothing to do with him!
He had no idea where they came from!
In fact, Six Paths Madara briefly suspected—could his Rinbō: Hengoku (Limbo: Border Jail) have slipped out of control?
But if they were truly his shadows, they couldn't possibly be this arrogant! At the very least, they wouldn't talk!
Could he be under Genjutsu?
Were Hashirama and the three versions of himself in front of him all illusions?
Had he actually been completely swallowed by Kaguya or whatever Black Zetsu had said?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
*WUUU!*
The Onmyōton sludge spreading across his chest and the rampaging Juubi inside his body caused Six Paths Madara excruciating pain, forcing him to exert all his strength to suppress it.
Such pain left him no time to care or energy to investigate where these three Madaras came from.
"Damn it!"
"You think you can scare me with three impostors?"
"Utterly stupid!"
Black Zetsu on the opposite side began mocking loudly.
He absolutely refused to believe the three Madaras that suddenly appeared were all real. It was unimaginable.
He preferred to believe this was some kind of ninja conspiracy.
For example, impostors transformed via special Ninjutsu. The clearest evidence was that none of these three Madaras were Juubi Jinchūriki! They all lacked the Six Paths Madara form…
After all, there was only one Juubi in the world.
No matter how these impostors disguised themselves, they couldn't possibly create three more Juubi!
He had seen through everything!
"…"
Seeing Black Zetsu across from him still blabbering endlessly, Parallel World 1 Madara also grew tired of listening.
"He's too noisy!"
"Go."
"The idiot from Nagato's side—leave this guy to you."
Parallel World 1 Madara was too lazy to attack and directly ordered Edo Tensei Parallel World 5 Madara.
"Why me?"
Edo Tensei Parallel World 5 Madara was certainly willing to take revenge on Black Zetsu, but being ordered by another version of himself made him unhappy.
"Because you're already dead, and because you were the most thoroughly deceived—like that idiot."
"Isn't that reason enough?"
Parallel World 1 Madara sneered without hesitation.
"You…!"
Edo Tensei Parallel World 5 Madara suppressed his anger—hard to refute.
Because what the other said was the truth. Besides Six Paths Madara, he had indeed been deceived by Black Zetsu the longest and most severely among the Madaras.
Thus, he hated Black Zetsu even more.
"Damn it! After I kill that guy, I'll settle this with you!"
Though the tsundere Edo Tensei Parallel World 5 Madara was unhappy inside, he knew what mattered more. Especially since the enemy was Black Zetsu—whom he hated most—so he didn't hesitate much and reluctantly agreed.
*WHOOSH!*
Edo Tensei Madara proactively charged at Black Zetsu.
This time, he would personally erase the great shame of being deceived!
Though Edo Tensei Madara wasn't as strong as the other two Madaras—and even his pair of Rinnegan were Edo Tensei products, unable to exert full power—he was nearly the lowest existence at quasi-Six Paths level.
Facing Black Zetsu controlling the weakened Obito as a substitute, there should be no issue.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Is… will he be okay alone?"
Hashirama was slightly worried.
"He's an Edo Tensei body—he can't die. What are you worried about?" Parallel World 1 Madara glanced at Hashirama, annoyed at his intelligence.
"Oh, right! Then it's fine!"
Hashirama slapped his forehead and immediately relaxed.
Though some Six Paths Chakra remained in Obito's body, it wasn't enough to condense another Truth-Seeking Ball.
Without the Truth-Seeking Ball threat, the Edo Tensei body was essentially invincible.
No need to worry about Edo Tensei Madara's safety at all.
"What about this guy? Hashirama, what will you do?"
Parallel World 2 Madara folded his arms, staring at the pained Six Paths Madara suppressing the Juubi with slight dissatisfaction.
"This… I just don't want him to die so pathetically at Black Zetsu's hands, and I don't want him swallowed and revived by that Goddess. Madara, do you have a way to help him? He's a victim too…!"
Hashirama pleaded sincerely.
He had some feelings for this Six Paths Madara, but not much.
Of course, far less than for his Parallel World 1 Madara. He just hoped the other wouldn't die in such a careless, pitiful way…
"Sigh…"
Parallel World 1 Madara sighed helplessly. Since Hashirama had pleaded, how could he refuse?
He could only look at the weakened Madara.
Six Paths Madara was currently half-kneeling on the ground. One hand gripped the Six Paths staff, the other clutched the black sludge at his heart, suppressing it in extreme pain.
"Who exactly are you all? Why…"
"Shut up, you fool who got played!"
Parallel World 1 Madara cursed as he approached and began examining Six Paths Madara.
After a moment, he concluded: "Very bad."
"The Juubi in his body is out of control, and there's also Black Zetsu's Onmyōton sludge eroding him."
"If this continues, he won't last long."
Parallel World 1 Madara gave a fairly accurate assessment.
Actually, if only the Juubi in his body were rampaging, with Six Paths Madara's will and spirit, he could easily suppress it.
Similarly, if only the Onmyōton sludge were eroding him, Six Paths Madara could quickly eliminate it with Six Paths power.
But now, both were combined and resonating.
Far more troublesome than 1+1.
One side made it hard for Six Paths Madara to suppress the Juubi; the other prevented him from expelling the sludge. He could only delay with great difficulty.
In fact, some could see that the massive Chakra absorbed by the God Tree from the entire world was continuously and passively flowing into Six Paths Madara's body, absorbed by the Juubi.
Though not as strong as when controlled by Black Zetsu, as long as Chakra kept entering Six Paths Madara's body—strengthening the Juubi—the speed at which Madara was devoured by the Juubi would accelerate dramatically, nearly irreversible.
If this dragged on and worsened, just as Black Zetsu said, it wouldn't be long before Six Paths Madara was fully swallowed and became Kaguya's revival vessel!
"Then what should we do?"
"Is there a way to stop it?"
Hashirama asked anxiously.
"I can't think of anything. I don't know much about Six Paths level."
"However…"
"We could get those sneaky snakes to research it—and the Minato kid too. They should know more about this. Maybe they can find a solution…"
Parallel World 1 Madara suggested again. Hashirama jolted in shock.
"Makes sense! Then please help me guard this Madara."
"I'll go back for help now!"
Hashirama didn't hesitate. After leaving two requests, he hurriedly activated Mokuton (Wood Release).
A massive wooden vine shot up from the ground, carrying him flying quickly back to the aerial barrier.
Leaving only the other two Madaras staring helplessly and disgustedly at the suffering Parallel World 6 Madara…
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time.
While the three Madaras and Hashirama were studying a solution around Parallel World 6 Madara.
On the other side, 17-year-old Six Paths Naruto, Sasuke, and the others were in complete disarray.
From Black Zetsu stabbing Six Paths Madara in the back, to the revived Hashirama forcefully interrupting, and finally three Madaras appearing…
These consecutive changes.
Let alone Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—even Kakashi's genius brain nearly overheated. He couldn't comprehend the current situation at all.
"Huh? Kakashi-sensei, why are there three more Madaras?"
"Is that a new eye technique?"
"Or did the shadows gain physical form?"
Naruto looked utterly confused, unable to understand, only guessing wildly.
"I don't know either. Maybe it's really clones made by Madara's ability?"
Kakashi shook his head in confusion. He also had no idea why.
Lack of information meant Kakashi and the others never considered parallel worlds. They only assumed this was a new ability of Six Paths Madara.
After all, the earlier Limbo shadows had left too deep an impression.
"And the First Hokage Uncle seems alive again? And he saved that Madara?"
"This… I don't know either. Maybe someone else's doing?"
This was even more confusing. Kakashi could only guess—perhaps Orochimaru had acted, using some Forbidden Technique to fully revive Hashirama?
"Then what should we do?"
"The First Hokage Uncle really seems to want to save that Madara?"
Parallel World 6 Naruto grew confused. He was slightly unsure which side to help.
"Sasuke, what do you think?"
"Me? No opinion. It's good if they fight among themselves. Then we just kill that Madara first!"
Parallel World 6 Sasuke was extremely decisive.
Right now, he was the most arrogant, confident, and hot-blooded 17-year-old Six Paths Sasuke, not bothering to think about anything else.
He didn't care why Black Zetsu stabbed Madara in the back, didn't care where the three Madaras came from, and was even lazier to consider Hashirama's choice…
He just needed to kill all enemies!
Moreover, the now-kneeling, slightly swollen Six Paths Madara looked very similar to Obito's abnormal state earlier when he couldn't control the Juubi.
A weakened Six Paths Madara like that was a perfect chance to take his life!
"Sasuke, wait…!"
Before Naruto could finish, Sasuke activated Amenotejikara in a second, swapping positions with the air beside Six Paths Madara, condensing Chidori on a kunai and stabbing straight at Six Paths Madara's head!
*CLANG!*
A crisp collision sounded. A black staff swung from Parallel World 1 Madara's hand, blocking Sasuke's attack.
Clearly, Madara naturally wouldn't allow something as humiliating as a junior killing his future self in front of him.
Moreover, Hashirama had asked him to temporarily protect this trash Six Paths Madara.
"!"
Sasuke was slightly shocked. He hadn't expected this Madara clone to react so quickly—nothing like the clumsy Limbo shadows earlier.
"Sasuke? This kid is far more reckless than the one over there…"
Parallel World 1 Madara sighed.
This Sasuke was crazier than he had been in his youth!
"Just a clone—don't pretend there!"
Sasuke shouted angrily. Even the real Madara—an old relic—he had no respect for, let alone a mere clone.
Banshō Ten'in!
Sasuke activated his Rinnegan ability, pulling the defenseless Six Paths Madara toward him.
Shinra Tensei!
Parallel World 1 Madara instantly activated his Rinnegan ability, using Shinra Tensei's repulsion to cancel Banshō Ten'in's attraction.
"Hmph! You'd better stop. I'm not interested in you—"
Madara snorted coldly, but before he could finish, Six Paths Sasuke activated Amenotejikara again in a second.
"Obstacle! Get lost!"
*WHOOSH!*
Parallel World 1 Madara was forcibly swapped by Amenotejikara, exchanging positions with the distant Kakashi. He appeared beside Six Paths Naruto in a second.
Forcibly swapping enemies like this consumed more Chakra, but for the current arrogant Six Paths Sasuke, he had no concept of restraint.
Parallel World 1 Madara was shocked and immediately cursed.
"You little bastard!"
But before he could rush back, Six Paths Naruto beside him also attacked.
Though Naruto was slightly hesitant about Hashirama, he wouldn't hesitate against the enemy Madara he had fought so far. Moreover, he didn't know this Parallel World 1 Madara came from another spacetime.
Since Sasuke had swapped him to his side, he naturally had to attack and suppress him.
At the very least, he couldn't let him harm Sakura, right?
*BAM!*
Six Paths Naruto threw a punch. Though not at full power, it directly shattered Madara's black staff and sent him flying with one blow—nearly killing him instantly.
This was Six Paths Naruto who could compete in normal attack power with Kaguya. In close-combat ferocity, Parallel World 1 Madara was certainly no match.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side, Sasuke immediately shouted:
"I'll hold off the other clone."
"Kakashi, go kill the real Madara's body!"
Sasuke accelerated his attack on the other Parallel World 2 Madara, preparing to restrain him and give Kakashi time to kill Six Paths Madara alone.
A fully-powered Six Paths Madara certainly wasn't Kakashi's match, but a weakened Madara who had lost combat ability and was kneeling on the ground—Kakashi had a chance to kill him solo!
(Huh? Me killing Six Paths Madara alone?)
Kakashi was stunned. Looking at Six Paths Madara just a few meters away, he felt it slightly unreal.
But he was only dazed for a moment.
Kakashi gripped his kunai and stabbed fiercely and decisively at Six Paths Madara's eye!
In seizing opportunities and killing enemies, Kakashi would never hesitate.
This was also why Sasuke didn't swap Sakura for an absolute kill.
If Sakura hesitated again, it would waste such a perfect chance.
Kakashi wasn't sure if the kunai could pierce Six Paths Madara's physical defense, so he didn't aim elsewhere.
But the kunai could definitely pierce and blind the fragile Rinnegan!
If thrust slightly deeper, it might also damage the enemy's brain and thus kill him completely!
Killing must target the right angle!
But just as Kakashi was about to succeed.
*KA-BOOM!*
As the air-splitting sound rang out, a stronger arm pressed down on Kakashi's shoulder, stopping his attack.
"Enough, Kakashi."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded.
Kakashi turned with difficulty and was immediately shocked:
"Minato-sensei?"
But an even more terrifying voice followed in succession:
"Yo! Kakashi-kun, long time no see! Did you miss us?"
At that moment, three long tongues extended simultaneously, licking Kakashi's cheek and mask hard.
"Orochimaru!!!"
Kakashi suddenly cried out in shock. His hair stood on end. He once again recalled that familiar suffocating sensation—and it was a triple shock.