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The samurai fled in disgrace. Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows. "Lord Madara, forgive my bluntness once more. A united front of the Five Kage is no trivial matter. It would be wiser to wait until the Black Cursed Seal's liberation progresses further—at least until you can manifest the Susanoo—before engaging them."
Madara, thirsting for battle, had no patience for Zetsu's caution. "Speak another word, and I'll kill you first, then deal with the Kage."
Damn it, Black Zetsu seethed inwardly. Even the reborn Sasuke only chose to face the Five Kage during the Seventh Great War! This Madara, resurrected only by my hand and not yet fully stable, wants to fight them from the get-go? If he dies, my new Mother-saving plan is ruined! I should have spent more time erasing his will from the seal, like Orochimaru did with the White Cursed Seal he gave Sasuke, letting only Naruto inherit the power! But regrets are useless now. I can only hope he pulls off a miracle.
"Lord Madara," Zetsu said, sinking into the earth. "I wish you glorious victory."
"Hn."
Madara's gaze returned to the snow-swept valley entrance, his eyes dark and profound.
"I've largely grasped the nature of this Black Cursed Seal. The fastest way to grow is through battle. Battle that makes the blood sing!"
"Currently, the Rinnegan has fallen into Obito's hands. The Eight-Tails is struggling to survive. As for the Nine-Tails, besides the other half sealed by the Fourth Hokage, there are fragments scattered in Kumogakure. Who knows if that fanatic Obito will choose to resurrect the Ten-Tails early using parts of the Eight and Nine-Tails and launch the Infinite Tsukuyomi ahead of schedule?"
"And that Uchiha Sasuke Zetsu mentioned… I don't consider him a threat, but I must still be prepared."
He looked down at his palm, slowly clenching it into a fist. "I must recover my strength swiftly. With my current power, fighting the Five Kage does carry significant risk. But risk brings reward. Hn. Feel honored, Five Kage. You shall be the stepping stones for the true revival of Uchiha Madara!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Five streaks of motion shattered the snowy veil.
"They're here…"
Madara lowered his hand, turning to face them. "That little old man charging at the front… Ah, it's that little brat Ōnoki of Iwagakure. The same kid who once knelt before me now dares to bear the title of Kage."
In the midst of the charge, Ōnoki caught sight of the figure. "Is that… Madara???"
At fifty meters, the figure's form became clear. Tsunade and Gaara froze in shock.
The hair color was different, but who else could that be but Uzumaki Naruto?!?!
Gaara's voice was tight. "It's Naruto…!!"
The Raikage roared. "Naruto? The Fourth Hokage's son? Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?! He calls himself Madara? Hey!!! Hokage!!! What the hell is going on in your village?!"
Tsunade's mind was in chaos. She had worried endlessly for Naruto's safety after he fell into the hands of Akatsuki's Black Zetsu. But now, appearing here, attacking the Five Kage Summit, calling himself 'Uchiha Madara'… She knew Naruto better than anyone present. And that knowledge filled her with a chilling, gut-wrenching clarity. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.
Mei Terumi intervened. "Raikage, hold your anger. There must be undisclosed circumstances here. Let's hear what he has to say!"
The Five Kage halted twenty meters away. The corpses of the samurai at Madara's feet were already half-buried by snow, only their armor plates visible.
Death's shadow fell over the battlefield before the first blow was even struck.
The Kage's guards and the samurai led by Mifune arrived, stopping behind the Kage. Seeing his men's bodies, Mifune's eyes burned with rage. He drew his blade. "Villain! You dare slaughter my warriors! Today, you will be buried here!!!"
"Hn."
Madara scoffed, not even deigning to look at Mifune. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the Five Kage, taking in their varied expressions.
"Unease. Uncertainty. Of course. Ōnoki is the only one among them who has seen me. Seeing me like this must fill him with doubt."
"The Hokage and Kazekage… also uneasy, uncertain. But there's more. Anxiety. Concern. The unease comes from the name 'Madara.' The anxiety and concern are for this brat, Uzumaki Naruto. They must be close."
"The Raikage. His face shows nothing but anger and… constipation. Just like the First Raikage. Hn. He'll be the first to charge, screaming."
"The Mizukage. More curiosity than fear on her face. She knows the name, but not the weight it carries. Heh. I'll save her for last. Let her share her final thoughts."
Despite the silent testimony of the samurai corpses, Tsunade clung to a final shred of hope. She clenched her fists, forcing her voice steady. "Naruto. What is the meaning of this? Where is the one who calls himself Madara?"
"…" Gaara watched, hoping against hope it was all a misunderstanding.
Reality was merciless.
Madara's voice, cold in a way Naruto's could never be, rang out. "The boy called Uzumaki Naruto… is no more. The master of this body now is I—UCHIHA MADARA!"
Tsunade and Gaara felt as if struck by lightning.
CRACKLE…!!!
Lightning chakra erupted. The Raikage's hair stood on end.
"I don't give a damn if you're Madara or Naruto!!! YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE…!!!"
Tsunade and Gaara shouted. "WAIT!!!"
Flicker. Madara's eyes flashed crimson. The Sharingan spun to life.
WHOOSH!
In the next instant, the Raikage's lightning-fast left fist was already in his face.
POOF!
Madara's body exploded into white smoke. The Raikage burst through, his fist lodging into a solid log.
A simple Substitution Technique. The terrifying part was pulling it off against speed rivaling the Yellow Flash. It proved Madara's reflexes were on par with Minato's.
Swish!
Madara reappeared to the side, his gaze sharp and fluid.
"With my current setup, against the Raikage's nin-taijutsu, I have no counters besides Substitutions and clones. Best to neutralize him for now and deal with him later…"
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Forming a seal with two fingers, three black rods pre-buried in the snow ignited, forming a triangular barrier that imprisoned the Raikage.
—Uchiha Confinement!
From the shadows, Black Zetsu smirked. Hah. At least he knows when to be pragmatic.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The muffled impacts of the Raikage pounding the barrier echoed through the snowy valley. The remaining four Kage were on high alert.
Ōnoki's face was grave, but his mind was clear. "Executing a Substitution against the Raikage's speed, then instantly deploying a barrier even he can't break… It confirms it. He is indeed Uchiha Madara. But his choice to seal the Raikage away first also proves he is not yet at full power!!"
"Listen, Hokage, Kazekage," Ōnoki said, his voice low and urgent. "I know you are distraught. I know you cannot fight with full focus. But I must say this: if you wish to save Uzumaki Naruto, you must first fight with the intent to kill him. Because what stands before you… is UCHIHA MADARA…!!!"
Madara unzipped his orange jacket, resting a hand on his hip. He looked down on them, a bloodthirsty smile on his face.
—"Well said, youngsters. Now… dance for me. Strut and preen. Amuse me. Amuse UCHIHA MADARA!"
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