5/5
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Uchiha Madara performed an experiment on Nagato.
"…" Nagato stared silently.
"Madara… what are you even talking about?" Konan had already gotten back up on her feet.
She realized she was blasted away just now by Shinra Tensei—one of the Rinnegan's abilities.
Nagato used to love using that technique when he controlled Tendo Pain. And now, Madara was using it just as smoothly.
"Hmm… just as I expected. Using the Rinnegan again… this body can't handle it anymore."
"Luckily, I didn't use the Rinnegan again while fighting Hashi-mom."
"If I had, he would've snatched it right off."
"That Hashi-mom is already broken enough—if you give him the Rinnegan on top of that…"
"Even I wouldn't stand a chance."
Madara muttered as he looked at his left hand—his index and middle fingers were already crumbling away.
Normally, an Edo Tensei body would regenerate.
But his wasn't.
And worse, the rate of collapse was accelerating.
Meaning—the Rinnegan's power was even more overwhelming than he thought.
"What… do you mean by this?" Konan stepped in front of Nagato again.
"…"
"Hmph." Madara sneered. "You'll find out soon enough."
"Nagato… I'll be waiting for you to use Rinne Rebirth and bring me back."
"You may not know this… but I've been waiting for you to grow strong."
As he said that, Madara's body completely shattered.
"Nagato…?" Konan stared in surprise.
"Go get the Rinnegan," Nagato ordered.
"…Oh!"
Konan finally snapped out of it and rushed forward to recover the Rinnegan from Madara's crumbled remains.
Meanwhile, Obito was locked in intense inner conflict.
Madara had lost to Edo Hashirama and fled the battlefield.
And the reason was simple: he lost.
Not that losing necessarily meant fleeing—but using the Rinnegan's power pushed Kaguya's will (Black Zetsu) into motion, and Madara had already said, after that, his body wouldn't hold up.
Clearly, Edo Tensei wasn't compatible with the Rinnegan.
So Madara probably fled to return the Rinnegan… to Nagato, not Obito.
If Madara trusted him, he would've handed the eye over to him, and he would then give it to Nagato.
Which meant… Madara didn't really trust him anymore.
That was… not good news for Obito.
But—maybe it was.
Because if Madara fled to Nagato due to his body falling apart, then if Obito could intercept him in time…
He might get the Rinnegan himself.
Before, he didn't dare try taking it from Nagato, because Nagato had become too strong.
And if he wanted the Rinnegan, he'd also have to deal with Black Zetsu—Madara's lingering will.
But now that Black Zetsu had flown off to space…
Wouldn't this be the perfect time?
But…
Even if he got the Rinnegan—would it matter?
Could he really beat Hashirama?
Madara had a 200-meter-tall Susanoo. Hashirama had "Who-the-hell-isn't-dying-today" powers.
It was horrifying.
Even Obito—who once challenged his teacher, Minato Namikaze, and had a wall full of stolen Sharingan—was now questioning his life choices.
Because Minato's power wasn't even close to First Hokage level.
"…"
Obito hesitated.
And as he hesitated… he saw Tendo Pain floating midair.
He wasn't moving.
Then—
"Shinra Tensei."
The entire forest below was leveled.
"…"
Apparently, he was testing his abilities.
Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in… these were all basic Rinnegan skills.
Which meant this was just "welcome back" rehab training.
"…" Obito stared.
That little moment of hesitation… and everything had changed.
"…" Looks like he missed his chance.
Depressed, Obito burrowed into the earth.
Meanwhile, back in Cloud Village…
Kakashi and Tobirama were already tallying up the village's resources.
Tobirama had been handling administration in Konoha, so he knew their finances well—but even he was shocked by how rich the Cloud Village was.
"With this haul, even if Konoha doesn't take a single mission for ten years and focuses just on training… we'll still eat well."
"Incredible…"
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
At first, the Raikage was still trying to speak up. But when he saw the 14,000 ninja—
Even if 1,000+ died fighting Madara, there were still over 12,000 left.
Yet… one by one, they disappeared. Their chakra drained away.
All turned back into regular civilians.
He was furious. Helpless.
Because when Kitahara Kaede said only 800 Cloud shinobi would retain their rank…
There were still 12,000 left.
But only a few dared to object.
And those few?
Immediately had their chakra drained dry by the Ten Tails—dead on the spot.
The rest?
Shaking with fear, they obediently accepted their fate.
So…
Cloud Village now had only 40,000 civilians.
Every last one of the 12,000 ninja was reduced to ordinary people.
Only the 800 selected were lucky enough to keep their chakra…
…but even they had to put on Konoha forehead protectors.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: If I had known this would happen, I never would've gotten interested in the Hyuga's Byakugan.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: If I hadn't started kidnapping people, maybe none of this would've happened…
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: Good thing you're already dead.
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: You just admitted you were into the Hyuga's Byakugan.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Yeah… because it's an eye anyone can use if it's implanted.
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: That's exactly why I said it's good you're dead.
He didn't get it.
But someone who'd fought him before stepped in to explain.
[Namikaze Minato]: That's because Kitahara-kun's girlfriend in Konoha is none other than the Hyuga clan's heiress.
[Namikaze Minato]: Wait a minute…
[Namikaze Minato]: Does that mean…
[Senju Tobirama]: What is it? Minato, something wrong?
[Namikaze Minato]: Mmm… not exactly wrong.
[Namikaze Minato]: I'm just thinking—Suna attacked Konoha too, but they survived and even became a branch village.
[Namikaze Minato]: Yet Cloud was completely obliterated.
[Namikaze Minato]: Maybe… it's because Cloud tried to kidnap Hinata.
[Namikaze Minato]: So Kaede's just taking revenge.
[Namikaze Minato]: Romantic, isn't it?
You call that romantic?!
Shouldn't the takeaway be: "Damn, Kaede's scary as hell!"
Shukaku thought so.
Kaede wasn't just the master of the Ten Tails.
He also had Kaguya Otsutsuki by his side.
Either of them could eat tailed beasts like popcorn.
"…"
Is there even a future for us?
You didn't see it? The Eight Tails woke up earlier, and when it saw the Ten Tails looking at it…
It immediately freaked out.
Its tentacles curled up. It looked weak, helpless…
And really, really pitiful.
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FF92E
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