Chapter 273
Terrifying—utterly terrifying.
Although the Great Toad Sage and Uchiha Madara had not exchanged a single blow, everyone present could feel the pressure. Their auras clashed invisibly, shaking the very air. The collision of chakra was so intense that cracks appeared in the space around them, visible to the naked eye.
The gathered shinobi looked on in shock. The sheer force of will radiating from the two legends was enough to make hearts tremble.
For long moments—one second, ten seconds, then several minutes—the tension only grew. The momentum of the Great Toad Sage and Uchiha Madara swelled, twisting the air itself, as if the world could not contain them both.
"Th-this is unreal…" someone muttered.
"The power of shinobi who stand at the level of the Sage of Six Paths… even their presence alone is suffocating."
"Madara Uchiha has already reached this height, and yet the Fifth Hokage—Uchiha Yuta—surpasses even him… Just how strong has he become?"
Shock and fear rippled through the ranks of Kage and Edo Tensei predecessors alike. Even the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, wore a grim expression.
"Six Paths–level power… truly overwhelming," Hashirama admitted bitterly. "Madara with the Rinnegan is far beyond the man I once knew. As I am now—an Edo Tensei—it would be impossible to match him."
He clenched his fists, the weight of the reality heavy upon him.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes at the confrontation. Why is the Great Toad Sage here? He knew all too well the role the sage had played alongside Hagoromo and Hamura in sealing their mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. For the ancient being to appear now was both alarming and suspicious.
Eventually, perhaps realizing that neither could overwhelm the other without direct combat, both the Great Toad Sage and Madara let their auras subside. The atmosphere lightened slightly, though the jagged cracks in space remained as proof of what had just occurred.
"You are strong…" Madara finally said in a low, grave voice. His crimson Rinnegan glowed as he stared down the ancient sage. "You wouldn't leave Mount Myōboku without reason. What are you after?"
The Great Toad Sage's massive eyes blinked slowly. "If there were another path, I would never leave Myōboku. But the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Yuta… his power now threatens the balance of the entire shinobi world."
Madara's eyes narrowed. "Hmph. And what does that have to do with you? Myōboku has always remained neutral. Why concern yourselves now?"
The sage's tone darkened. "Because Ryūchi Cave already submitted to Konoha, and even the White Snake Sage was humiliated and defeated. If Yuta Uchiha continues unchecked, Myōboku itself may no longer remain free."
The memory of the White Snake Sage's crushing defeat lingered in the toad's mind, sending a ripple of unease through him.
Madara's expression hardened. "…Are you suggesting cooperation?"
"That is correct." The Great Toad Sage's voice rumbled like thunder. "Hagoromo—the Sage of Six Paths—appeared to me in a vision. He entrusted me with a mission: to stand against Uchiha Yuta, the Fifth Hokage, who has grown beyond mortal limits. If necessary… we must strike him down."
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