July 2nd, 6:06 PM.
Deep within Konoha's forest.
Akira and Madara emerged from a space-time vortex.
In the distance stood a large pavilion.
Madara recognized it at once.
It was exactly the location shown in last night's genjutsu—where Naruto and Shin would clash.
Akira had already scouted the area and marked spatial coordinates nearby, but it was still some distance from the battlefield.
"Why not go directly there?" Madara asked.
"As witnesses, we need a bit of insurance first," Akira replied.
As he spoke, his left eye turned toward Madara and glowed crimson.
——Poniashu!
Whoosh!
A hazy gray aura enveloped Madara's entire body.
"This feels like that Second Tsuchikage brat's Dustless Bewildering Cover," Madara said. "A concealment technique?"
"Not exactly," Akira replied.
"That technique avoids visual and chakra detection, but physical methods can still find you."
"Poniashu nullifies all detection—physical, chakra-based, sage sensing, everything."
"Because it erases 'presence' itself."
Akira then cast Poniashu on himself.
It was worth noting that Umotoryu in his right eye and Poniashu in his left were his Mangekyō's innate abilities.
With just these two powers, Akira had once moved through decisive battlefields unseen, making countless secret preparations that shaped the future of the ninja world.
No one had ever noticed him.
"A technique this convenient must have drawbacks," Madara said.
"Yes," Akira admitted.
"It's invincible only for observers."
"The weakness is that the user must restrain themselves. The moment killing intent leaks out, the concealment collapses."
Madara's gaze darkened.
"So it's useless in real combat."
Akira smiled faintly.
"If your killing intent is well-controlled, silent assassinations are still possible. But against someone like you, even if an enemy sneaks behind you, you'd counter instantly."
Madara recalled that filthy black silhouette.
Black Zetsu…
Tch. Talking about sore spots.
Still, he wasn't angry.
Akira hadn't mentioned it directly.
And if he was angry, it was at his former self.
"Akira," Madara said coldly, "I'll be clear. If this turns out to be nothing, you know the consequences. I don't tolerate deception."
Akira met his gaze calmly.
"Rest assured. Unless absolutely necessary, I never act without certainty. So far, I've never reached that 'absolute necessity.'"
So… he even has confidence against me?
Madara wasn't offended.
Instead, he admired him more.
Because Akira thought like a true powerhouse.
Whoosh!
The vortex spun again.
They landed atop a tall tree.
In the clearing ahead—
Naruto was sitting on a rock with a young girl.
Sasuke leaned against the pavilion doorway.
"…"
Seeing Naruto's back, Akira lowered his gaze slightly.
"We came at the right time."
Madara stared at the scene, identical to the genjutsu.
"…So it's real."
Akira shifted his gaze to the girl.
"That's Sarada. Sasuke's daughter."
"I skipped the details in the illusion to save time."
"In short, Sasuke's been away too much."
"She once saw a photo of him with a former teammate from his Hawk days and suspected her real mother."
"So she ran out to investigate."
"She and Sasuke just reunited inside. She couldn't accept that he didn't recognize her at first. Naruto's comforting her."
Madara snorted.
"I'm not interested in family drama."
"What I care about is whether Naruto and Sasuke have really declined that badly."
"They're here," Akira said quietly.
He glanced at a black vortex forming on the pavilion roof.
Then at his watch.
6:32 PM.
Madara looked over.
A bald man in a red cloud cloak and a boy with onion-like hair stepped out.
The bald man's head was covered in Sharingan.
All Mangekyō.
With inverted black triangle patterns.
Uchiha Shin.
And his clone child.
Madara had already seen everything about Shin and this battle in the genjutsu.
He had come for only one reason—
To confirm Naruto and Sasuke's current state.
He prayed silently.
Akira can foresee the future. I'm convinced.
But Naruto… Sasuke…
You were once strong enough to push even me to the brink.
Prove him wrong!
At least…
Don't let that pathetic scene happen again!
Crush that Mangekyō-covered clown into the dirt!
Now!
Swish!
As Shin appeared, he locked onto the two on the ground and flung his sleeves.
Dozens of ringed shuriken shot out.
Buzz!
His ocular power activated.
Ability: Control Marked Objects.
Every shuriken had been pre-marked with his dojutsu.
Under his control, they tore through the air toward Naruto and Sarada.
Naruto sensed it instantly and turned coldly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His right arm burst from beneath the cloak, whipping up a gale that scattered their trajectories.
"Heh, not bad," Shin sneered.
Activating his power again—
The deflected shuriken spun violently and curved back, flying toward them on bizarre paths.
Boom!
To protect Sarada, Naruto released Kurama's chakra.
A golden fox head manifested, blocking them all.
At that moment, Sasuke's black cloak fluttered.
He flashed into midair, charging Shin.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
Shin grinned and flung more shuriken.
They split apart and converged under his control.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With masterful swordsmanship and Sharingan precision, Sasuke knocked them all away.
In the next instant, Shin rushed in.
Close combat.
He grabbed Sasuke's blade barehanded.
His clone followed, stabbing forward with a giant shuriken.
Rinnegan flashed beneath Sasuke's bangs—
Amenotejikara.
Positions swapped.
He spun back and fired a Great Fireball.
"What?!"
Shin saw it with the Sharingan in the back of his head.
He pulled his clone in front as a shield.
The flames exploded, slamming the clone into him.
"AAAH!"
Shin screamed.
Still gripping the sword, he crashed downward.
Why emphasize that he held the Kusanagi Sword?
Because something was wrong.
Before hitting the ground, the sword slipped from his grasp.
Madara's eyes sharpened.
Shin scrambled up, looking disheveled.
"So that's your power… Uchiha Sasuke."
Madara grew restless.
So far, everything matched the vision.
This shouldn't be happening.
Why are you hesitating?
And haven't you noticed?
That trick on the sword?!
Time is running out!
Tell me this isn't real!
You're just toying with him—right?!
Akira whispered,
"Control your killing intent. Or Poniashu will deactivate."
Slash!
Suddenly—
Within Kurama's chakra cloak, Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
A blade pierced his abdomen.
Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword.
Both Madara and Akira saw it clearly.
Shin's feigned clumsiness had lowered their guard.
Then he used his dojutsu to control the pre-marked sword—
And drove it straight through Naruto.
Blood sprayed from Naruto's back.
Sasuke and Sarada froze in horror.
"Heh…"
A hollow, despairing laugh escaped Madara.
Then Shin's arrogant voice rang out across the field—
"How about it?! My ocular power isn't inferior to yours, is it, Uchiha Sasuke?!"