Unlike Ōnoki's displeasure, everyone else in the meeting hall gasped in shock when they saw Shinju instantly obliterate the masked man with Dust Release...
If Shinju could kill the masked man in a flash, then killing them would be just as effortless...
Hokage Tsunade sensed the strange tension spreading through the room and took the initiative to speak.
"By the way, that masked man should be dead now, right?"
Ōnoki seized the chance to boast, puffing his chest with pride.
"Do you think the Dust Release of my Iwagakure is some ordinary ninjutsu? Dust Release is formed by combining Wind, Fire, and Earth chakra. It can disintegrate matter at the molecular level! Even I didn't sense when Shinju moved just now—there's no way that guy's still alive! (o´Д`o)ノ"
"But Shinju, you acted too quickly. If you'd waited, we might have captured him alive and gotten intel on the Akatsuki..."
Under the Tsuchikage's slightly reproachful gaze, Shinju didn't respond directly. Instead, his eyes fixed on the spot where he'd unleashed his Dust Release.
"That man claimed to be Uchiha Madara, and his dōjutsu was connected to space-time. If I hadn't attacked fast enough, he would've escaped."
Ōnoki, who had lived seventy or eighty years, naturally knew the name Uchiha Madara. He was stunned.
"Uchiha Madara? Didn't he die decades ago?"
Shinju shrugged.
"Well, that's what he said. If he wants to play pretend, let him. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Ōnoki frowned, looking increasingly confused.
"What are you even talking about? (||๐_๐)"
Before his words could settle, everyone in the hall suddenly felt another shift in the atmosphere.
All eyes turned toward one corner of the room—where an eerie ripple of space distorted once again!
Then, the orange mask reappeared.
The masked man spoke in a mocking tone.
"Shinju, your attacks are still as sharp as ever. (◔◡◔)"
Shinju stayed silent.
The masked man's single eye swept across everyone as he continued.
"I suppose you still don't know who I am, so let me introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Madara."
"I came here today to tell you something. And once you've understood it, I have a question for you all."
"Shinju, could you please lower your hand seals first... (´இ皿இ｀) I really just came here to have a chat!"
Shinju paused his hand seals.
"Fine. Go on, then."
Seeing Shinju stand down, the others—like the impatient Raikage—also lowered their hands.
They wanted to hear what this self-proclaimed Uchiha Madara had to say.
The masked man exhaled softly, relieved, and began speaking again.
"I'm sure you're all curious about my purpose."
"..."
No one answered, and the masked man felt a little awkward. Still, he went on.
"My goal has always been to realize the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"There's a stone tablet passed down through the Uchiha clan for generations. It contains the secrets left behind by the Sage of Six Paths."
"The Uchiha's eyes can decipher the tablet—Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Rinnegan reveal its contents layer by layer..."
Ōnoki snorted dismissively.
"The more you talk, the more ridiculous it sounds. The Sage of Six Paths is just a figure from myth and legend."
But the masked man stood firm.
"The Sage of Six Paths truly existed."
The hot-tempered Raikage barked, "Cut the nonsense. What does your goal have to do with the Sage of Six Paths? (′д｀σ)σ"
The masked man didn't get angry. He just kept talking calmly.
"Do you know why the Sage of Six Paths was revered as a god and worshipped by all?"
"It was because he once saved the entire world from a monster."
"That monster was called the Ten-Tails."
"To combat the Ten-Tails, the Sage developed the jinchūriki sealing system—and he himself became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki."
"Later, to prevent the Ten-Tails from ravaging the world again after his death, he divided its chakra into nine parts—the nine tailed beasts we know today."
"And the Ten-Tails' body—he sent it far away, to the moon!"
"That's getting more and more far-fetched," said Mizukage Mei Terumi. "A being with the combined chakra of all nine tailed beasts... just how powerful would that be? 눈_눈"
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward Shinju in the distance.
That red-haired guy... wasn't he the best example of that power?
The masked man continued.
"My goal is to gather all nine tailed beasts, resurrect the Ten-Tails, and become its jinchūriki!"
Raikage frowned.
"Even if what you're saying is true—what then? You planning to destroy the world?"
The masked man shook his head.
"You're underestimating me, Uchiha Madara. ∩_∩"
"In a sense, my final goal is the same as the Sage of Six Paths—saving the shinobi world!"
"After becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, I will project my eyes onto the moon and cast an enormous genjutsu—Infinite Tsukuyomi!"
"I'll trap everyone on earth within my illusion. I'll control them all myself. The world will become one, with no more conflict or division..."
"This... is my Eye of the Moon Plan."
Shinju's expression twitched. (´°Δ°`)
Whether it was Pain before or the masked man now, their so-called ideals all aimed at world peace... just through utterly insane methods.
Could it be that everyone in Akatsuki were actually... good guys?
Of course, that thought only flashed through Shinju's mind for an instant.
After all, both of their ways of "achieving peace" were far too deranged.
He might not have the best education, but he understood one thing—life and death, rebirth and decay, the endless cycle of existence.
Forcing every living thing into an illusion? Even if it worked, it would bring countless problems.
Rather than placing others under genjutsu, it was more like the masked man had cast a genjutsu on himself—for the sake of his own peace.
Naturally, the other Kage weren't fools either.
Kazekage Gaara was the first to speak up.
"What meaning is there in false peace? We should strive for peace in the real world!"
Mizukage added, "What's the point of living in an illusion? The peace you speak of is nothing but your own delusion!"
Tsunade nodded in agreement.
"You're not creating a peaceful world—you're creating a world that only fits your ideals!"
The masked man didn't argue back. Instead, he chuckled.
"You're all right in your own way. But you just sit here talking big while doing nothing to actually bring about peace."
"As long as people exist, true peace may never be possible."
"So why don't you hand over the remaining tailed beasts now—and help me realize the Eye of the Moon Plan?"
Saying that, his single exposed eye turned toward Shinju.
"What about you? What's your opinion?"