Chapter 72 Reincarnation: All Members Resurrected (Part 4)...
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The sound of the wind, the roar of the Ten-Tails, the heavy breathing of the Allied Shinobi Forces... everything fell into deathly silence the moment that blood-stained figure appeared.
What kind of scene was that?
The towering golden chains, like divine laws, radiated overwhelming power, binding the once-arrogant Ten-Tails tightly. Yet, the one who unleashed this miraculous technique was someone who seemed to exhaust all his strength even to stand.
He walked slowly, his steps unsteady, as if treading on clouds. His pale face, bathed in the soft moonlight, possessed a fragile, translucent quality, a stark contrast to the large, shocking patches of bright red on his fingertips and clothes...
Blood continued to seep from between his fingers covering his lips, sliding down his wrist and onto the ground, leaving a trail of broken, crimson blood behind him, like a withered red plum blossom in the snow, both poignant and beautiful.
Naruto Uzumaki gaped open. He subconsciously took half a step forward, as if to help the figure that might fall at any moment, but was stopped by Kakashi beside him who solemnly pressed down on his shoulder.
“He’s the one who saved us before…” Naruto’s throat was dry. He was about to explain to his teacher that the other person wasn’t a bad guy and wasn’t with Madara Uchiha, but after meeting Kakashi’s deep and serious eyes, he shut his mouth.
Kakashi Hatake stared intently at the figure that bore an uncanny resemblance to Madara Uchiha, his Sharingan in his right eye socket involuntarily twitching slightly.
Unlike a simple disciple, Kakashi sensed an aura of "destruction" emanating from that person—in reality, it was danger.
It is extremely dangerous.
Hashirama Senju's usual cheerful smile disappeared, replaced by seriousness and worry.
As a ninja possessing immense chakra and life energy, he could clearly sense that the young man who resembled Madara's life force flickered like a candle in the wind, while the power that bound the Ten-Tails and pinned Black Zetsu down was equally real and vast, as boundless as the sea...
Uncertainty about the other party's position led him to experience the aforementioned sense of contradiction.
Madara Uchiha stood high above, arms crossed, his Rinnegan as deep and unfathomable as a bottomless abyss. He looked down at his "younger brother," who was coughing up blood but still standing tall, a complex glint in his eyes.
Mei Terumi's red lips parted slightly, forgetting to close them; Onoki hovered in mid-air, his brows furrowed; Raikage A's lightning dimmed a bit... Everyone who witnessed this scene, friend or foe, felt a tidal wave of emotion surge within them.
The gazes directed at Yan Sheng, some openly and honestly, others cautiously, converged into a surging, massive undercurrent that swept across the entire battlefield, silencing all other clamor. Only that blood-stained figure remained, the sole focus of attention in the world.
He himself seemed completely unaware of all this, or more accurately, utterly indifferent. His indifferent, calm eyes were coldly fixed on the earth not far in front of him, pierced by golden chains.
***
The golden chains, like giant pythons, tightly coiled around that dark, shapeless body with terrifying "constriction."
Black Zetsu was dragged out of its supposedly safe hiding place by this enormous force, and its mind remained blank until it was slammed hard onto the cold ground.
What happened?!
It twisted and turned, trying to transform into a liquid shadow and slip away through the gaps in the chains, but the runes flowing on the golden chains seemed to carry some kind of law-like power, not only imprisoning its form but also suppressing its chakra flow, rendering its proud ability to hide and escape completely ineffective.
Was this chain intentional or unintentional?
The foolish thought was nipped in the bud as soon as it arose.
No, it's all tied up like this, how could it be unintentional!
Having lived for over a thousand years, Hei Jue believed he had everything under control. He never imagined that in the final stages of his plan, which was about to succeed, he would be forcibly exposed to the light of day in such a humiliating manner.
Who is it?!
Just then, a shadow fell, obscuring the sky above it, which appeared somewhat unreal due to the golden light of the chains.
Black Zetsu struggled to raise his head and met a pair of eyes.
Those were a pair of scarlet eyes with intricate and eerie patterns—the Mangekyou Sharingan?
No! That's not right! Deep within that pattern, faint purple ripples could be clearly seen flowing within. That was... the nascent form of the Rinnegan?
It was actually a pair of eyes that had not yet fully evolved, but which definitely possessed the characteristics of the Rinnegan.
That's impossible!
Black Zetsu screamed in his heart.
How could an ordinary Uchiha awaken the Rinnegan?! This is the power of their mother (Otsutsuki)! It requires fusing the chakra of Indra and Ashura, or possessing the bloodline purity closest to that of their mother (Otsutsuki) to achieve this!
It stared intently at the face that bore a striking resemblance to Madara Uchiha.
Madara is special; he's the reincarnation of Indra, and later he swallowed a piece of flesh from Hashirama Senju, the reincarnation of Ashura, spending decades to awaken the Rinnegan. But this person... even if you can tell from his face that he's closely related to Madara, it's impossible—what makes him so special?!
Madara's ability to awaken the Sharingan is not due to his being "Madara" or his true self, but because he is Indra. Therefore, even Madara's biological children could never have the aptitude to awaken the Rinnegan.
So! On what basis?!
Doubt, suspicion, and a sense of disbelief and anger stemming from a shattered understanding spread like venom through Black Zetsu's heart.
Its turbulent emotions were fully observed by Yan Sheng's cold eyes.
Seeing the shock, resentment, and fear on the face of the mastermind who was even more slippery than an eel, Yan Sheng's pale lips, due to blood loss, curled up almost imperceptibly, but with a chill that was enough to make Hei Jue's heart go cold.
He was in a good mood.
very good.
Therefore, he didn't mind giving this rat, who was hiding in the shadows and stirring up trouble, a little more shock.
And so, under the watchful eyes of everyone, amidst Madara Uchiha's sudden, sharp gaze, and the gasps of the Allied Shinobi Forces once again... the skin above and below Yan Sheng's eyes, which he had been concealing with the power of the Rinnegan, began to ripple slightly.
Then, two cracks appeared, until it "stretched" into an "oval".
—Those are two pairs of eyes!
Purple ripples... it's actually the Rinnegan.
Three pairs of eyes were positioned on his face in a strange yet symmetrical manner, staring indifferently and without emotion at the almost frozen Black Zetsu below.
"!!!"
Black Zetsu's body trembled; if it weren't tightly bound by chains, it probably would have jumped up.
It emitted a shrill, distorted voice, filled with utter horror, as if it had witnessed the most impossible thing in the world: "How is this possible! You, you...you're from the main family?! A member of the Otsutsuki main family?!"
Yan Sheng was not prepared to answer Hei Jue.
Under Hei Jue's horrified gaze, he took out the sealing scroll.
—Produced by Tobirama Senju, quality guaranteed.
I've tried it in both worlds, and it works great.
He skillfully unrolled the scroll and formed hand seals.
The golden chains, receiving the command, bound the frantically struggling Black Zetsu, forcibly compressing and dragging it until it was completely sealed within the scroll. Complex sealing runes appeared on the scroll's surface, flickered a few times, and then returned to stillness.
Yan Sheng put the scroll away expressionlessly.
He has many more scrolls like these, enough for him to travel through a dozen more worlds. However, based on the current trend of his merit points increasing, if all goes well, he might reach the end of his "journey" after experiencing one or two more worlds.
Just as he put the scroll into his pocket, a powerful and familiar chakra fluctuation landed beside him.
It's Uchiha Madara.
Madara's gaze first swept over the scroll in Yan Sheng's hand, then fell back on his still pale face, which seemed as if nothing had happened. His Rinnegan eyes flashed, as if he had countless questions to ask.
However, before Ban could speak, Yan Sheng spoke first. His voice was still weak and hoarse from blood loss, but his tone was calm as he said, "Brother, let's talk."
The way he called out "elder brother" was so natural, as if he had called out to him a thousand times before.
That's indeed the case. It's just that they weren't calling out for the freckles of this world.
"Wait a minute!" Before Madara could respond, a voice interrupted.
Hashirama Senju arrived in a few leaps, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Yan Sheng and Madara. Finally, with pure curiosity, he looked at Yan Sheng: "Junior, you look so much like Madara! Could it be... that you are Madara's descendant?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Sheng turned his gaze indifferently to Senju Hashirama. The instant his gaze fell upon him, Senju Hashirama inexplicably felt a burning sensation.
But when he looked closely, he only met a pair of calm, expressionless eyes that appeared somewhat dim due to weakness. Was that feeling just now... an illusion? Hashirama Senju wondered uncertainly.
Yan Sheng did not answer Hashirama's speculation about "descendants," but said, "Chief Senju, you've come at the right time. Let's all talk about it together."
Upon hearing this, Tobirama Senju, who arrived shortly after, immediately darkened his expression.
How could he allow his older brother, who was unusually "naive" in some ways, to be so easily tricked by two Uchiha?
Although he remained extremely wary of Madara Uchiha for many years, after dealing with him for so long, he at least understood Madara's style and pride, and Madara disdained to use certain underhanded methods.
But the young man before him, who looked exactly like Madara and possessed two pairs of Rinnegan—something never seen before—was completely different! The danger and uncertainty surrounding him were immediately amplified in Tobirama Senju's mind.
"Brother, be careful, it might be a trap!" Tobirama Senju warned coldly, his hand already on his kunai.
Yan Sheng glanced at the wary Tobirama Senju, thinking of the highly effective sealing scroll he had just used, and the topic they were about to discuss. It wouldn't be a problem if Tobirama Senju overheard it.
So, under Tobirama Senju's wary gaze, Yan Sheng spoke again: "You come too."
Tobirama Senju: "?"
He almost laughed at the guy's matter-of-fact tone. Who did this guy think he was?
Ultimately, the number of participants in this impromptu conversation increased to four.
Hashirama Senju was delighted, seeing this as a good opportunity to build a good relationship with Madara's descendants. He completely ignored his younger brother's dark face and Tsunade's angry shout, "Grandpa! Where are you going?! This isn't over yet!" after giving him a few instructions. He then left with Michikatsu, leaving Tsunade gritting her teeth in anger.
The four found a relatively intact cliff face far from the main battlefield.
Despite his physical weakness, Yan Sheng formed hand seals again, creating a composite barrier that provided sound insulation and sensory shielding, ensuring that no one could overhear their conversation.
After doing all this, he turned around and faced the three people with different expressions—the inquisitive Madara, the curious Hashirama, and Tobirama, whose face seemed to say, "Let's see what tricks you're up to."
He exhaled softly and posed the first question, one that permeated the core contradictions of this world and countless worlds:
"First, let me ask you a question."
His gaze swept over the three of them, finally settling on Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
"What do you think peace is?"
Inside the barrier, the air seemed to freeze.
Yan Sheng's question was like a pebble thrown into an ancient well, creating ripples in the hearts of the three powerful figures standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world.
Almost without hesitation, with an idealistic glint in his eyes, Hashirama Senju spoke first, his voice loud and infectious: "Peace! It means that children no longer have to go to the battlefield, that everyone can sit at a table to eat, and laugh and talk about tomorrow's weather! It means mutual understanding, mutual trust, and building a village where all children can be protected!"
This was his lifelong dream and his original intention in establishing Konoha.
Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha's lips curled into a mocking smile. He crossed his arms and said coldly, "Mutual understanding? Hashirama, you're too naive. As long as there are struggles for interests and selfish desires, true mutual understanding is nothing but a pipe dream. The peace I pursue is to eradicate the root of all conflict in this world and create a perfect world without regrets or loss!"
He was referring, of course, to the dream world created by Infinite Tsukuyomi. Even after learning of Black Zetsu's conspiracy, he did not completely abandon this "eradication" approach to peace.
Tobirama Senju interjected at the opportune moment, his tone calm and realistic, as if reminding his elder brother: "While your ideals are admirable, Madara's words also point out the key issue. Resources are limited, desires are endless, and hatred is interconnected—these are all objective factors that trigger conflict. So-called mutual understanding is often incredibly fragile in the face of reality."
Although he disliked Madara, he acknowledged that some of Madara's ideas were correct.
Yan Sheng listened quietly, his pale face expressionless. Only after all three had finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth: "The Senju clan leader's ideals are admirable. My brother's ideals aim to eradicate suffering. But Tobirama-sama has seen the cruelty of reality."
He first gave a seemingly positive assessment, then abruptly changed the subject.
"But, Chief Senju, what guarantees your so-called mutual understanding? Is it your prestige? Or is it that your successors will be as powerful as you and have the world at heart? But when your prestige fades, the strong pass away, or when a more powerful external threat emerges, how long can the understanding and trust you have built last?"
Hashirama opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that what Yan Sheng pointed out was precisely the issue that he himself had been vaguely worried about deep down, but had been unwilling to delve into.
He was not entirely unaware of the internal political infighting and undercurrents between clans after the establishment of Konoha.
Yan Sheng turned his gaze to Madara: "Brother pursues the eradication of strife and the creation of a world without regrets. Regardless of whether the Infinite Tsukuyomi is essentially an illusory dream, even if it could truly be realized, unifying everyone's will into a perfect dream, what difference would that make from destroying everyone's self? Is a world without differences, without choices, and without genuine emotional clashes truly peaceful, or just another form of death?"
Ban narrowed his eyes slightly. Yan Sheng's words were like sharp thorns, precisely piercing the contradiction in his own beliefs that he knew but deliberately ignored.
Often, we do something not because it's the best way, but because it's the only way.
Finally, Yan Sheng looked at Tobirama Senju: "You have seen the root of the conflict. So, according to your thinking, how should it be resolved? Should we strengthen control, establish stricter rules, and use stronger power to deter? This might maintain stability temporarily, but under high pressure, the flames of resistance will only burn more fiercely. Hatred will not disappear because of stricter rules; it will only be suppressed and then wait for a more violent eruption."
Tobirama Senju frowned, not immediately refuting, because what Yan Sheng said was exactly the problem he had been thinking about and trying to circumvent with various systems and methods, but had never been able to solve perfectly.
"So, in your opinion, what exactly is peace?" Ban asked in a deep voice.
A sudden itch in his throat made Yan Sheng cover his mouth and cough uncontrollably twice, a few drops of blood seeping from between his fingers, but he wiped them away without a care and continued:
"I believe that true, sustainable peace is not the absolute absence of conflict, which goes against the nature of life and development. Peace should be a stable order."
"An order based on the deterrence of absolute power, capable of effectively managing conflict, limiting struggle to a controllable range, and guaranteeing the most basic rights to survival and development."
“It’s impossible for everyone to understand each other. But we can build a system where most people feel that ‘following the rules is more beneficial than breaking them.’ When the cost of waging war far outweighs the benefits, when the price of evil is unbearable, and when basic survival needs are guaranteed, large-scale, destructive conflicts will naturally be suppressed.”
"Just like taming wild animals, the goal is not to eliminate their wildness, but to make them understand that they can only get food and safety within the fence."
Madara Uchiha remained silent.
Because he was somewhat persuaded by Yan Sheng.
Pursuing an absolutely perfect, strife-free utopia is indeed unrealistic, but establishing an order dominated by him, maintained by absolute power, and capable of achieving long-term stability... seems to be a more workable path.
Moreover, this path can also achieve his goal of "ending the chaos," or even more thoroughly.
The scales in his heart began to tip.
Hashirama Senju frowned. He instinctively felt that Yan Sheng's words were too cold and lacked emotion, but he had to admit that Yan Sheng was describing a kind of peace that could be seen, touched, and possibly achieved.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say, "Peace gained in this way is devoid of warmth," but found himself unable to refute that it was indeed the most effective way to avoid large-scale war at present.
He was caught in a deep dilemma and contemplation.
Tobirama Senju stared sharply at Yan Sheng and said coldly, "Sophistry! Your argument is essentially just that might makes right!"
Yan Sheng met Tobirama Senju's sharp gaze and asked calmly, "So, Lord Tobirama, in your opinion, is it better to maintain a fragile balance that appears equal on the surface but is actually turbulent and could break out into a great war at any time due to interests or hatred; or is it better to establish a stable order in which the rules are set and maintained by a recognized and irresistible strongman, which may lack warmth but can effectively prevent large-scale bloodshed?"
He paused, then emphasized, "Between the fragility of ideals and the stability of reality, which do you choose? Or, do you have a third, feasible path that can guarantee absolute fairness and understanding while eliminating all conflict?"
Tobirama Senju remained silent.
He excels at identifying problems and setting rules, but creating a utopia that everyone understands and where there is absolute peace? He can't do that.
This is something even a god couldn't do.
In fact, he had to admit that, given the existing and harsh reality, the order proposed by Yen Sheng, which was maintained by absolute power, although it sounded cold, was indeed the most effective way to achieve long-term peace that could be thought of at the moment.
For a moment, a complex silence fell within the barrier. Uchiha Madara seemed to be persuaded, his eyes gleaming with new ambitions; Senju Hashirama was caught in a struggle between ideals and reality; while Senju Tobirama, rationally agreeing but emotionally resisting, raised Yan Sheng's danger rating to the highest level.
Yan Sheng's gaze calmly swept over the Senju brothers, each with their own distinct expression, before finally settling on Uchiha Madara.
For him, neither Hashirama Senju's idealism nor Tobirama Senju's rational vigilance were the key factors. The only one with the real ability, the courage, and the potential to put this concept of "order and peace" into practice was Madara.
In other words, he earned the majority of his merit points from Ban.
Fortunately, regardless of which world Madara Uchiha lived in, his unwavering dedication to his goals and extraordinary decisiveness remained constant.
After a moment of silence and deliberation, a familiar light rekindled in Madara's eyes—a confidence that came from finding a new direction and being certain that he could achieve it.
"Hmph, to establish an order maintained by power, huh?" Madara's lips curled into a cold, arrogant smile.
He made a decision: to abandon the Eye of the Moon project, which he had been planning for decades, and instead embark on a more challenging but more aligned path to domination.
Looking at his friend's expression after finding a new goal in life, Hashirama Senju's eyes were filled with complex emotions, but more than anything, there was a sense of relief and...gratification?
He scratched his cheek, revealing a somewhat silly but incredibly sincere smile, and said in a gentle voice:
"Ban, actually... I feel like I'm not as good as you," he said with emotion. "No matter what you encounter, you can always find a way forward and move forward without hesitation."
Madara was disgusted by this remark and got goosebumps all over. He retorted without hesitation: "Hashirama, you look better when you're gloomy than when you're not."
"Hahaha!" Upon hearing this, Hashirama was not annoyed at all, but instead burst into laughter, as if he had returned to the time when he was young and skipped stones with Madara on the banks of the Naka River.
Some things seem to have never changed.
......
The decision has been made, but the reality before us is incredibly daunting—the Ten-Tails has revived, and the Eye of the Moon plan is just one step away from completion. Now, to change course, the primary challenge is how to deal with the Ten-Tails.
“Re-splitting the Ten-Tails won’t be that easy,” Tobirama Senju calmly pointed out the key point. “The Ten-Tails was sealed by the Sage of Six Paths a thousand years ago and split into nine tailed beasts. Although it doesn’t have a clear self-awareness, as a living being, it must have an instinctive will to survive and resist being split again. Forcibly splitting it would probably trigger an unpredictable backlash.”
Just as everyone was pondering a solution, three small heads made of chakra, which had been quietly inside Yan Sheng's pocket, poked out.
These are the One-Tailed, Five-Tailed, and Seven-Tailed creatures of the Yan Sheng world.
Since these three tailed beasts followed Yan Sheng through the world, apart from a brief period of activity in the first world, they have spent most of their time either sleeping or watching the show in Yan Sheng's pocket.
Shukaku: "Normally speaking, it would be incredibly difficult to disassemble that thing again. But—" Its small eyes glanced at Yan Sheng, "Didn't you have your bloodline purified by the old man's mother... the Goddess of the Rabbit? With your current bloodline purity, plus the power of the Rinnegan, it's not impossible to forcibly seal and disassemble the Ten-Tails, even if it takes some effort."
The sudden appearance and speech of these three miniature tailed beasts surprised the three big shots present.
Hashirama Senju's eyes widened as he curiously leaned closer: "Wow! What a tiny tailed beast!"
Tobirama Senju instantly analyzed the state of the three tailed beasts and their relationship with Yan Sheng, raising his assessment of Yan Sheng's danger level once again.
Madara Uchiha raised an eyebrow and unceremoniously reached out and grabbed the One-Tailed Beast to examine and scrutinize it.
One-Tailed Beast: "Waaaaah! You despicable bastard, let me go right now!"
Madara concluded that the One-Tail had been compressed to this size by a special force, and scoffed dismissively at the One-Tail's cries before stuffing it back into Michikatsu's pocket.
The last practical question was raised by Tobirama Senju: "So, Madara, how do you plan to explain things to Obito Uchiha?"
At this time, Obito was still the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and the executor of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Ban snorted coldly, "An explanation? What explanation? There's no such thing."
Tobirama Senju: "."
Very well, Madara is still the same, which is why he hates Madara.
Right now.
Inside the Divine Might Space.
If Obito Uchiha, who was engaged in a seemingly intense but actually deliberate exchange with Kakashi, knew their concerns, he would most likely just scoff.
For example, the reason he's holding back now is so that he can let Kakashi pierce his heart at the right moment, thereby removing the trap Madara left on him.
Furthermore, let's not even talk about him not needing to explain; his relationship with Ban was one of mutual exploitation, so there's no question of who owed whom anything.
Moreover... during the battle with Kakashi, seeing Kakashi's eyes filled with pain and guilt yet still trying to awaken him, and hearing him repeatedly mention Rin and the past... Obito's heart, frozen by hatred, had already begun to crack.
Ultimately, his joining the "Eye of the Moon Project" was less about his firm belief in the project's potential and more about an escape from and a form of revenge against the harsh reality.
He has already subconsciously "betrayed" them. He just hasn't realized it yet.
......
When Kakashi's Chidori, crackling with lightning, pierced Obito's heart as if fate itself had been reenacted, the world seemed to fall silent.
Obito could clearly feel the loss of his life force, as well as a twisted, vengeful pleasure.
He deliberately adjusted the angle, making his current "death" overlap with the scene of Rin collapsing in Kakashi's arms years ago. He wanted to use this method to carve the deepest, most unhealable scar on Kakashi's heart.
He looked up and, as he had hoped, saw the emotions brimming in Kakashi's usually languid, half-drooping eyes—extreme pain, utter despair, unbelievable horror, and the emptiness of a world collapsing...
The face that was always hidden by a mask was now completely drained of color, leaving only a deathly pale complexion and violently trembling lips.
Yes, that's it. Kakashi, feel it all, feel the pain I felt back then, feel this despair of helplessness!
Obito laughed silently in his heart, the intense pain and morbid pleasure intertwining, almost making him laugh out loud.
He ceased maintaining the Kamui Space, and with a thought, accompanied by the distortion of space, he and Kakashi crashed heavily onto the battlefield outside.
Kakashi lost his balance and collapsed to his knees. His hands, stained with Obito's blood, fell limply to his sides, and his eyes lost focus, leaving only a deathly grayness.
He stared blankly at Obito lying motionless on the ground, watching the glaring blood gushing from his chest, as if his soul had been ripped out.
In the whole affair, Kakashi was arguably the most innocent party.
If we have to point out a fault, perhaps his fault lies in the fact that he was too weak back then.
Too weak to save Obito from being crushed by rocks at Kannabi Bridge; too weak to protect Rin from the encirclement of the Hidden Mist Anbu; too weak to watch helplessly as Rin, to protect the village and to prevent him from getting his hands stained with the blood of his comrades, willingly charged into his Lightning Blade...
If... back at Kannabi Bridge, if Obito hadn't pushed him away, if Obito hadn't been buried by the rocks in his place, then the person who died there would have been Kakashi Hatake.
—Obito's tearful, blood-soaked interrogations, his words laced with resentment and accusations, were like sharp blades, slowly tearing apart Kakashi's already wounded heart.
Obito must regret saving him back then.
Countless nights, Kakashi would wake up from nightmares, drenched in cold sweat, a single thought echoing in his mind: If only Obito had survived. If only Obito hadn't saved me.
Now, years later, still unable to let go of the past, he once again killed his most important companion with his own hands.
really......
If only he had been the one to die.
Just as Kakashi was immersed in boundless self-blame and pain, while Obito lay on the ground, feeling the passing of life and savoring the twisted pleasure of revenge, four powerful auras approached from afar.
The four—Kenshō, Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama—who had just finished their conversation, returned.
Yan Sheng didn't even glance at Obito, who was "playing dead" on the ground, or Kakashi, who was on the verge of collapse. He had a clear goal and walked straight towards the Ten-Tails, which was being suppressed by his Adamantine Lock and was roaring in resentment.
Then, he raised his hands, forming ancient and complex hand seals. His chakra began to fluctuate in a unique rhythm—following the guidance of the One-Tailed Shukaku within him, he attempted to forcibly extract the vast and chaotic chakra source from the Ten-Tails, intending to split it apart again.
Lying on the ground, savoring the taste of revenge, the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki suddenly sensed something was wrong and abruptly opened his eyes. He realized that the connection between himself and the Ten-Tails was being forcibly weakened by a powerful external force.
Ignoring his feigned death and the still-bleeding, gruesome wound on his chest, Obito used a Body Flicker Technique to appear between Yan Sheng and the Ten-Tails, shouting sharply:
"Old man! What are you doing?!" He glared at Yan Sheng, then abruptly turned to Uchiha Madara, who was standing by with his arms crossed, not only not stopping him but also seemingly protecting him, and roared in fury, "Why didn't you stop him?!"
Madara merely glanced at Obito, his eyes devoid of any emotion, his tone as calm as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather: "Oh, you mean that? I've suddenly come up with a better idea. I've abandoned the Eye of the Moon Plan; now I intend to achieve peace through a different method."
"What did you say?" Obito could hardly believe his ears. He had sacrificed so much for this plan, betraying everything he could... and now Madara was casually saying he wanted to give up?
He laughed in anger: "And what about me?"
Ban replied matter-of-factly, "You should change it too."
"Are you fucking crazy?!" Obito was completely enraged, his rationality snapping instantly. Seeing that the Ten-Tails' power was about to be drained away bit by bit, he roared and charged towards Yan Sheng, trying to interrupt him.
Yan Sheng didn't even lift his eyelids. With a slight thought, a golden chain that had originally bound the Ten-Tails changed direction like a serpent, about to wrap around Obito.
At the same time, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha also moved almost simultaneously, preparing to stop Obito.
At this tense moment—
The entire space seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, which then twisted it.
Light and shadow shifted instantly, colors were stripped away, and all sounds disappeared.
When their vision returned, they found themselves in a strange, completely dark, and boundless space. The surface beneath their feet felt like water, yet there were no reflections.
Besides Madara, Kokushibo, Hashirama, and Obito, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha also appeared in this space.
***
In the endless darkness, the sense of time's passage becomes blurred.
The Sage of Six Paths—Hagoromo Otsutsuki, an old man who has long since become the will of chakra and remains in the world, originally only intended to summon his two sons, the third reincarnations of Indra and Ashura—Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, to explain the cause and effect of the past thousand years to them, to grant them the power to fight against their mother Kaguya, and to guide them in sealing the Gedo Mazo (Ten-Tails).
However, just as he was about to cast the spell, an aura that shared the same origin as his mother's, like a lighthouse lit in the darkness, drew all his attention.
This aura... is so close to Mother's essence? Could it be that Mother has other backup plans?
Shocked, Yu Yi subconsciously expanded the range of his summoning, not only forcibly pulling the owner of that aura into this spiritual realm, but also bringing along several beings closest to that person without warning.
Thus, the quiet space that should have been occupied only by Naruto and Sasuke now seemed somewhat "crowded".
Hidden deep within, the Sage of Six Paths' wrinkled old face flashed with a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment.
This was truly... below par. But since things had come to this, in order to maintain the image of the patriarch, he could only cough lightly, pretending that everything was under control, and while everyone was still in a state of confusion and vigilance, he slowly appeared from the darkness—holding a sage's staff, wearing a white magatama robe, with a Rinne Sharingan on his forehead and Rinnegan in his eyes, floating in mid-air.
"I am the creator of world peace and order, the Sage of Six Paths." The aged yet majestic voice echoed through the space.
Then, he began to recount events from a thousand years ago—the story of how his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, devoured the fruit of the Divine Tree, quelled the chaos of the world, and gradually became tyrannical due to her fear of power and desire for control, ultimately being sealed away by him and his younger brother, Hamura.
The story then goes on to explain the origins of chakra, the truth about the God Tree and the Ten-Tails, Kaguya Otsutsuki's obsession with chakra, and the potential danger of her return...
Then, his gaze fell on Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, his tone carrying a hint of fatalistic感慨:
"And you, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, are the reincarnations of my two sons, Ashura and Indra. Your struggles and bonds began a thousand years ago and continue to this day."
These words elicited varying reactions from the crowd.
Tobirama Senju was the first to express his disbelief; his face turned ashen, and he almost blurted out, "Absurd!"
Madara Uchiha frowned, his face showing undisguised disgust, as if he had heard something extremely disgusting.
After a brief moment of surprise, Hashirama Senju quickly accepted the idea, flashing a bright, goofy grin. He patted Madara's shoulder (which Madara dodged in disgust) and exclaimed happily, "So that's how it is! That's great, Madara! I never imagined we were brothers in our past lives! This proves our destiny was meant to be!"
Madara gave Hashirama Senju a cold look.
Finally, the Sage of Six Paths discussed the possibility that Kaguya might be resurrected using the Rinnegan and the Gedo Mazo, as well as the role Black Zetsu played in this.
Apart from Madara Uchiha, who had already learned the inside story from Yan Sheng's "information package" and remained expressionless, and Yan Sheng himself, who remained calm, the expressions of the others changed drastically.
Hashirama Senju's smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.
Tobirama Senju quickly analyzed the intelligence and realized that the seriousness of the situation was far beyond his imagination; the level of the opponent was completely different.
Obito's face was grim. The Eye of the Moon Plan had turned out to be a complete hoax from beginning to end. What about all his actions over the years? A joke?
Naruto and Sasuke felt immense pressure; they were actually the key to saving the world?
The Sage of Six Paths' gaze finally passed over everyone and landed on Yan Sheng, who had not uttered a word from beginning to end.
He could clearly sense that the aura that shared the same origin as his mother's, yet seemed more restrained and profound, came from this young man.
"Young traveler," the Sage of Six Paths said, his tone carrying a subtle hint of inquiry and caution, "you possess the same power flowing within you as my mother. I wonder where you come from, and what your purpose is in this karmic entanglement?"
He subtly inquired about Yan Sheng's background and purpose, his heart filled with vigilance.
Yan Sheng met the scrutinizing gaze of the Six Paths Immortal and naturally understood his unspoken meaning.
“Sage of Six Paths, there’s no need to worry,” Yan Sheng said calmly. “I simply had some dealings with Kaguya Otsutsuki before, which led to some of my encounters.”
He paused for a moment, then said, "I did not come here for the conflicts of this world, nor do I intend to stay here for long. Once this matter is settled and the Ten-Tails crisis is resolved, I will leave without interfering with the future development of this world."
"Besides, you're too late. The Ten-Tails' problem is almost solved."
Sage of Six Paths: "Huh?"
The heretical demon statue that he had envisioned needing to be sealed with the power of Yin and Yang and undergo a fierce battle was now being claimed by this young man to be "almost done."
Is that right?
Oh, the other person is the same as your mother. Then it's alright.
After leaving the Sage of Six Paths' mental space, Yan Sheng, disregarding his physical weakness, continued the process that had been interrupted.
With the purified Otsutsuki bloodline and the power of the Rinnegan, and with the guidance of the three tailed beasts within him, he forcibly separated and restored the massive and violent source of the Ten-Tails' chakra.
The Ten-Tails, symbolizing destruction, struggled and twisted violently between the Gedo Mazo and the chakra forms of the various tailed beasts, finally separating completely amidst a dazzling light and a deafening roar.
Meanwhile, the two key figures who ignited the Fourth Shinobi World War, which nearly destroyed the world, were in a daze, their eyes vacant, immersed in self-doubt and confusion; Madara Uchiha had abandoned the Eye of the Moon Plan and was plotting a new hegemony.
Thus, the massive Fourth Shinobi World War abruptly came to an end in a way that no one had anticipated.
Madara Uchiha frowned slightly as he looked at his reanimated body.
He has new goals to achieve and can't continue existing in this form of the dead. His original plan was for Obito to use the Rinne Rebirth technique on him at the right time, but judging from Obito's appearance, it seems unlikely.
He considered grabbing anyone to perform the spell on.
Knowing Ban's plan, Yan Sheng said, "There's no need for that."
He first sought out Hashirama Senju, who readily agreed to help. Yan Sheng placed his hand on Hashirama's shoulder, absorbing the vast and vibrant Yang Release chakra as if recharging, allowing his body to return to its optimal state.
Then, he formed a hand seal, and his Rinnegan emitted a rich life force.
"Heretical Path: The Art of Reincarnation and Heavenly Life!"
A massive life force enveloped Madara Uchiha, the cracks in his Edo Tensei quickly healed and disappeared, his cold body became warm again, and his strong heartbeat rang out once more.
Hashirama Senju: "Wow...! Madara, I can help with your plan, take me with you!"
***
With the war over, the next step was reckoning and reconstruction.
However, the handling of "war criminals" became the most difficult issue.
No one dared to lay a hand on Uchiha Madara. Leaving aside the fact that he had just been resurrected and was at his peak strength, his fearsome reputation as the "Shura of the Ninja World" was enough to silence all those who clamored for "blood for blood." As for the title of "war criminal," Madara himself scoffed at it and didn't care at all. He had already borne the name of Shura; why would he fear the title of war criminal?
However, Obito Uchiha became the target of public criticism. As the actual controller of Akatsuki, he orchestrated numerous horrific incidents, including manipulating the Fourth Mizukage to create the Bloody Mist Village and instigating multiple conflicts, among other crimes.
He is now depressed and seems indifferent to his fate, but this has not quelled the anger of the victims and their families.
Within Konoha and even throughout the Allied Forces, there was a strong call to execute Obito.
Kakashi couldn't accept it. He looked at his comrade, who was once full of sunshine but was now like a walking corpse, and his heart was filled with complicated emotions—feelings for the past, heartache for what Obito had done, and deep guilt.
He felt he bore an inescapable responsibility. So, disregarding his own reputation and the pressure he might face, he began to tirelessly work to find a way to both appease public anger and save Obito's life.
Yan Sheng, having successfully completed his mission, was granted a three-month stay as usual. He knew that although Uchiha Madara was powerful, he was practically illiterate in politics, economics, and management. In order to achieve that "order and peace," he had to once again act as a teacher, re-instilling the topics he had taught in the other world into Madara in this world.
During this time, he closely monitored the developments in the ninja world. He was naturally aware of the controversy surrounding the "war criminal" Uchiha Obito.
In reality, his true purpose in remaining in this world was not merely to teach Madara: he discovered that the threat from the Otsutsuki clan still hung over this world like the Sword of Damocles, because he had not yet obtained the merit that could be gained from resolving this threat.
After thinking it over, Yen Sheng decided to give it another push.
He recalled the Rinnegan mark that the Sage of Six Paths had secretly left in his spiritual space when he was pulled there. With this mark, he activated the spatial teleportation ability of his first pair of Rinnegan, and his figure vanished from the spot.
The next moment, he appeared in the Sage of Six Paths' spiritual space and got straight to the point:
"You must have a premonition about the potential threat of an attack from the Otsutsuki main family in the future. The core forces capable of resisting them are now labeled as war criminals and are in a precarious situation. If you don't want this world to be destroyed by the Otsutsuki in the future, you'd better take action and intervene in the current situation."
When faced with the existential question posed by Yan Sheng that concerned the very survival of the world, the Sage of Six Paths, after a brief silence, displayed a decisiveness far beyond what ordinary people could imagine—in a simple and brutal way that left Yan Sheng speechless.
His majestic figure, radiating a peaceful light and boundless majesty, appeared directly in the heavens above the present world. Not confined to a single region, but like a projection, he simultaneously appeared in the skies of every corner of the world. Whether in a ninja village undergoing reconstruction or a remote town, everyone could clearly see the image of this legendary creator, and hear his aged yet powerful voice resonate deep within their minds.
He announced to the world the devastating threat that the Otsutsuki clan from outer space might descend in the future, and clearly pointed out that the existing ninja world forces would have difficulty even protecting themselves in the face of an enemy of that level.
Then, he changed the subject and mentioned Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha.
He acknowledged that the two men committed unforgivable crimes in the recently concluded war, causing profound suffering and irreparable wounds to countless people. However, he also emphasized that in the face of the impending crisis concerning the very survival of the world, the power possessed by these two men is a crucial force in the fight against the pandemic.
Then, the Sage of Six Paths made his compensation.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people around the world, his ethereal figure, suspended in mid-air, raised his hands, and a vast, ocean-like surge of chakra swept across the heavens and earth.
"Heretical Path: The Art of Reincarnation and Heavenly Life!"
This time, it's not targeting any one person, but rather the entire world.
The gentle yet powerful rain fell like spring rain, nourishing the wounds of the Ninja Alliance members who had sacrificed their lives in the war, and the civilians who were unfortunately caught in the crossfire... As long as their bodies remained intact, their wounds began to heal, their cold bodies warmed up again, and their lost spirit returned to their eyes.
The fallen are resurrected on a large scale.
This scene was more convincing than any words. The return of sacrificed family and comrades instantly dispelled the hatred and gloom that permeated the ninja world. Using countless resurrected lives to offset the killings and pain caused by Madara and Obito—this method was simple, direct, and even unreasonable, but it effectively silenced the vast majority of people.
Witnessing all this, Yan Sheng, despite his extensive experience, couldn't help but remain silent for a moment, ultimately only able to comment in his heart: Indeed, simple and crude.
But undeniably, this is indeed the fastest way to quell disputes and consolidate forces.
With the core crisis resolved, external threats revealed, and internal conflicts temporarily suppressed by the Sage of Six Paths' astonishing methods, Yan Sheng was preoccupied with another matter—the Sharingan.
Only a complete pair of Sharingan can unleash its full power. In order to deal with the future threat of the Otsutsuki, every bit of power is worth taking seriously.
So he went to find Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake.
Obito seems to have come to terms with things these days, or perhaps he hasn't at all. He's just suppressed all his obsession, regret, and confusion deeper inside, which manifests in his increasingly eccentric behavior and unpredictable actions, carrying a dangerous neurotic quality.
Kakashi insisted on living with him. The stated reason was "to make it easier to keep an eye on this dangerous war criminal," but deep down, it was clearly for atonement, or perhaps because he didn't want to lose this comrade he had regained, or both.
Obito was initially indifferent to this; he didn't even care about living or dying, so why would he care who lived with him?
Later, when he came to his senses, he didn't send Kakashi away. He felt that having Kakashi by his side would make it easier for him to "torture" him. Of course, Obito's so-called "torture" was currently limited to verbal sarcasm and occasional pranks, and he hadn't actually done anything to cause any real harm.
Therefore, Yan Sheng found the two men without any difficulty.
Since finding one person means you can find another.
Yan Sheng stated his purpose directly: "To deal with future threats, the Sharingan needs its full power. Kakashi, you'd better return your left eye to Obito."
Upon hearing this, Kakashi did not hesitate for a moment. His right eye, which was exposed, even curved slightly, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief or felt a sense of liberation. He calmly replied, "Of course."
This eye was a gift from Obito, but also a shackle he had carried for over a decade. If returning the eye would allow him to unleash greater power, protect more people, and atone for their shared sins, Kakashi would do so willingly.
However, his decisive and even relieved attitude stung Obito's sensitive and twisted nerves.
Obito let out a cold laugh, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips as he spoke in a sarcastic tone:
"Oh? You agreed so readily? Do you think my eye is a burden to you? Or do you think it's dirty to your eye socket and unworthy of you, Hatake Kakashi?"
Obito's words were like poisoned needles, piercing Kakashi's heart. Kakashi opened his mouth, but in the end, he only lowered his eyes and whispered, "You know that's not what I meant."
"Then I'd like to hear what you mean?" Obito sneered, taking a step closer. "Are you eager to get rid of this burden? Or have you finally found a legitimate reason to discard it?"
"Enough." Yan Sheng interrupted their standoff. "This isn't about asking for your opinions. To deal with future threats, the Sharingan must be complete."
He turned to Kakashi: "Let's begin now."
Kakashi nodded and was about to gouge out his eyes when Yan Sheng raised his hand to stop him: "There's no need for that."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi suddenly felt a burning sensation in his left eye. The next second, the Sharingan that had been with him for many years detached from his eye on its own, hovering in the air and slowly flying towards Obito.
Obito stared blankly at the scene. The eye that once belonged to him gleamed crimson in the air, its three tomoe slowly rotating, as if telling the story of the past years.
"Catch it." Yan Sheng said calmly.
Obito instinctively reached out, and the Sharingan fell into his palm. The warm chakra fluctuations made his fingertips tremble slightly.
"Put it back into your eye socket," Yan Sheng said. "My Rinnegan can temporarily enhance your cell activity, making the transplant take effect immediately."
Obito hesitated for a moment, but did as he was told.
As he pressed the Sharingan back into its empty eye sockets, a long-lost feeling of fullness instantly surged through his body. His vision was finally complete, and chakra flowed smoothly within his eye sockets. That familiar yet strange sense of power left him momentarily stunned.
Kakashi watched this scene and unconsciously raised his hand to touch his left eye socket. It was now empty, yet he felt a strange sense of relief.
“Very good.” Yan Sheng nodded in satisfaction. “Next, Obito, you need to readjust to the coordination of your eyes. As for Kakashi…”
Yan Sheng took out a perfectly preserved eyeball from somewhere, and a faint chakra glow lingered around his fingertips.
Kakashi felt a cool sensation in his left eye as Yan Sheng skillfully inserted the eyeball into his empty socket. After a slight sting, he experienced the fullness of seeing with both eyes simultaneously.
Kakashi raised his hand and gently touched his eyelids, saying softly, "Thank you."
Yan Sheng nodded slightly, said no more, and his figure disappeared like mist.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The two characters lost their eyeballs for too long; my time rewinding can't go back that far [cat head emoji], so I can't exploit the bug.
The next chapter will explain what happens next, and then the Fourth Shinobi World War will be over. [doge emoji with rose in mouth]
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