Listening to Madara's subconscious grumbling, Uchiha Hikaru seized the opportunity with merciless precision.
Following the principle of breaking someone mentally before destroying them physically, Hikaru decided to keep pushing with his best weapon—his tongue.
"That's right. The Nine-Tails that once belonged to you? Yeah, Hashirama gave it to his wife, Mito, after your death~"
"Mito treated the Nine-Tails like a household pet and sealed it inside her body."
"They even passed it down like a family heirloom through the Uzumaki clan. It's already been handed to the third generation~"
"And from what Kurama told me, he hates you the most. He'd rather be sealed in a Jinchūriki than be your summoning beast."
"Oh, and you didn't even know the Nine-Tails' name, did you? It's Kurama."
Each word from Hikaru was like a serrated blade twisting in Madara's chest.
Madara's twisted expression made his fury and heartbreak obvious.
He had once believed—no, trusted—that Hashirama had lost his original ideals, become ruthless and cold.
After all, in the Valley of the End, Hashirama had stood behind him and stabbed him straight through the heart.
He and Hashirama had been like brothers, playing together, trusting each other. He had even shared his biggest weakness: that he couldn't fight properly if someone was behind him.
And yet, Hashirama had used that very weakness to stab him in the back.
But Hikaru's words painted a different picture. That Hashirama hadn't done any of it out of justice or righteousness. No—he had given the Nine-Tails to Mito just to make her happy, like a gift... like a family heirloom?!
AAAHHHHHHH!!!
You betrayed me!!!
Even when Hashirama's blade pierced his chest, Madara hadn't felt such rage. He'd believed they were simply on different paths. That it was destiny.
But now, with Hikaru's relentless goading, Madara's heart finally cracked—shattered.
Seeing Madara begin to lose control, his chakra flow suddenly spiked with disarray.
Uchiha Hikaru and Sword—his Mangekyō ability—linked in perfect unison.
Sword suddenly transformed into a heavy chain in Susanoo's grip. Hikaru spun it once—twice—forming a glowing iron circle, and hurled it at Madara.
"Eat my Lasso Fang!"
The sudden shout jolted Madara back to his senses—but it was too late.
The glowing chain ring encircled Madara's Susanoo, and Hikaru yanked with both arms.
SNAP!
The ring tightened instantly, binding both of Madara's Susanoo arms like a trap snapping shut.
Madara's expression contorted with shock as he felt a terrifying devouring force rip through the chain, siphoning chakra directly from his Susanoo. Faint sealing runes shimmered across its surface.
Panicked, he twisted his body and roared toward Obito.
"You useless fool! What are you standing there for?! Help me!"
"Use your Kamui and get me out of here!"
Just as Obito prepared to act, Saya stepped between him and Madara—blocking his path completely.
"Kamui!"
Obito snorted. Hmph. Even if I can't beat you, you can't touch me either.
He activated his intangibility, his body slipping partially into the Kamui dimension.
But the next second—his eyes widened in disbelief.
He could see Saya inside the Kamui space!?
In that moment of shock, Saya kneed him hard in the gut.
"Ah—ugh!!"
Obito doubled over. The sudden pain sent bile and stomach acid surging upward. He collapsed to his knees, dry heaving uncontrollably.
Damn it... this Women can copy Kamui?!
What kind of broken eye ability is this?! It's even more busted than my space-time jutsu!
Realizing he had no chance of rescuing Madara now, Obito changed tactics.
Madara didn't even have the Rinnegan yet—better to retreat and regroup.
Once Black Zetsu revives Madara in his full glory with the Rinnegan, they'll crush Hikaru.
With that thought fueling him, Obito's eyes lit up with renewed energy.
He summoned Zetsu and merged into the ground, disappearing using his intangibility and earth phase technique.
Madara, still trapped, watched Obito vanish and completely lost it.
"Uchiha Obito?! You cowardly little bastard!"
"You might as well just call yourself Uchiha Runt! Ugh—I'm so pissed off!!"
"Black Zetsu! Cancel the Impure World Reincarnation!"
"When you summon me again, do it in my prime! Then we'll wipe this bastard out!"
Black Zetsu nodded and quickly formed a series of seals.
"Impure World Reincarnation: Release!"
Suddenly, across the entire battlefield, every reanimated shinobi froze.
Even those that had been sealed inside scrolls began glowing with white light. Their souls slowly lifted from their puppet-like corpses and drifted into the sky.
Second Tsuchikage Mu, Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hōzuki, and Third Kazekage all regained their minds.
"Ōnoki... you've turned into an old man?" Mu asked, blinking. "Is Iwagakure okay?"
Tears welled in Ōnoki's eyes. The sight of his master, restored even briefly, shattered his composure.
"Master Mu... I swear! I'll protect Iwagakure with my life!"
Beside them, Gengetsu smirked and looked at Mei Terumi.
"Yo~ So you're this generation's Mizukage? Damn, you're a beauty. I'm relieved."
"Is Kirigakure doing alright?"
Even the ever-sarcastic Gengetsu, watching from afar, held his tongue. The dead had no need to argue anymore.
Mei Terumi's eyes sparkled as she looked toward Hikaru's figure in the distance. She nodded proudly.
"Of course. I'm the woman of the man who's going to become Hokage."
Gengetsu froze.
He glanced in Hikaru's direction, blinked... then sighed and held his forehead.
"Whatever. As long as Kirigakure prospers, do what you want."
"That guy's pretty good-looking... not gonna lie, I'm jealous."
Meanwhile, Rasa, usually rigid and unflinching, faced his own master with a strange, twisted smile—his stiff features betraying the emotion he couldn't voice.
"Sandaime-sama... who killed you?"
The Third Kazekage sighed.
"It was Sasori. He poisoned me."
"And then... he made my corpse into a human puppet."
"I never imagined death would lead to something that twisted."
"Rasa, take care of the Sand Village. I've seen that Uchiha's power... and how it overwhelms him."
"If the day comes when you can't defeat him—then surrender. Join Konoha."
He looked toward Tsunade in the distance, a wistful smile on his lips.
"She's inherited Wood Release, just like Hashirama. If Konoha can help heal Sunagakure's lands... why not align with them?"
"I've been resurrected twice already. If you die... clean up after yourself."
"I wouldn't mind being taken back to the world of the living, but in the end—I'm still dead."
"Let me rest in the Pure Land this time... and don't bring me back again."
With that, the three former Kage ascended skyward.
They faded—smiling—into light.
In the midst of this, A stood silently, a strange emptiness blooming inside him.
A treacherous thought slipped into his mind—one he knew his father wouldn't approve of:
If only Father had been brought back too...
I wanted... to say goodbye, just once.
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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