Hearing Obito's words, Uchiha Madara showed a rare hint of surprise.
He fixed his gaze on Obito and asked, "Only I can deal with him? Who exactly is this person? Has Hashirama been brought back again?"
In Madara's view, there was no one in the entire ninja world who could stand against him except Senju Hashirama.
If someone required him to be reincarnated just to handle them, then it could only be Hashirama.
"No, it's not Hashirama," Black and White Zetsu replied from the side. "Hashirama has already been defeated by that person. That man has even taken his title as the God of Shinobi."
Madara's expression finally changed.
"Hashirama was defeated?"
No one understood Hashirama's strength better than he did. Even with the Nine-Tails under his control, he had still lost back then.
Now someone had defeated Hashirama?
"Who is this person?" Madara's eyes sharpened. "Who could possibly reach that level?"
Obito spoke, his tone heavy.
"Ironically, he's from our clan. Uchiha Ryūjin."
Even saying the name made him uneasy.
With Kamui, Obito had always believed himself untouchable in most situations. Even against legends like Madara or Hashirama, he could retreat safely if things went wrong.
But Ryūjin was different.
Killing him had been effortless.
A few shadow clones, a barrier, and a relentless storm of gold dust had completely shut him down. If not for Izanagi, he would already be dead.
Even now, Obito had no clear answer for how to counter that method.
As much as he hated to admit it, he was no longer on the same level.
"A member of the Uchiha clan?" Madara's surprise faded quickly, replaced by his usual cold composure. "Explain everything about him."
Obito began describing Ryūjin's abilities in detail.
The more Madara listened, the more his expression shifted.
"The Rinnegan?" he muttered. "And not just that, multiple dōjutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique, Magnet Release, and several bloodline abilities?"
Obito continued.
"He also has the Tenseigan. He wiped out three thousand shinobi with a single strike, and even cut through Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands in one blow."
Madara fell silent for a moment, then let out a low breath.
This sounded absurd.
There should not be a second pair of Rinnegan in the world.
And Hashirama's ultimate technique was something even his Susanoo struggled against. Cutting it apart so easily made no sense.
Still, Obito had no reason to lie.
After thinking it through, Madara reached his own conclusion.
"Then Hashirama must not have been at full strength after being revived."
His tone was certain.
"It would already be generous if he could use half his power. That explains everything."
Obito did not respond. He had never witnessed Hashirama in his prime, so he could not argue.
And honestly, the explanation sounded reasonable.
Black Zetsu remained quiet as well.
He knew the truth.
He had witnessed that battle. Hashirama had indeed displayed his full strength, yet he still lost.
Ryūjin's power was real.
But revealing too much would raise suspicion.
"Madara, Ryūjin is the strongest person alive right now. You shouldn't underestimate him," Black and White Zetsu said carefully.
Madara gave a faint, dismissive smile.
"The way you speak about him makes me curious. I'd like to see him myself."
With an immortal body and endless chakra, he saw no reason to take Ryūjin seriously.
Then his gaze turned sharp again.
"You said he is interfering with our plan. Does that mean he knows about it?"
Obito nodded.
"He has the Rinnegan and read the stone tablet at Naka Shrine. He knows about the plan, but he doesn't fully believe it. Still, for some reason, he has been targeting the tailed beasts."
He explained Ryūjin's so-called theory involving Senju Tobirama.
Madara scoffed.
"Tobirama altering a tablet created with Yin-Yang Release? Ridiculous."
He dismissed it outright.
Black and White Zetsu added, "Even so, Ryūjin has already taken action. Aside from the Eight-Tails, he captures other tailed beasts temporarily, then releases them. We still don't understand his purpose."
That uncertainty was dangerous.
If Ryūjin ever chose not to release them, everything would collapse.
And both the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails were currently in Konoha.
If they wanted to proceed with the Eye of the Moon Plan, they would have to face him.
Madara's eyes grew cold.
"I don't care what his intentions are. Since I'm back, I won't allow anyone to interfere with the tailed beasts."
He paused briefly.
"And since the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails are in Konoha, I'll go meet him myself."
Obito and Zetsu exchanged a glance, both feeling relieved.
If anyone could handle Ryūjin, it had to be Madara.
...
Konoha.
Inside the conference room, Ryūjin sat at the head of the table.
Nara Shikaku, Hyūga Hiashi, and other high-ranking shinobi sat across from him, their expressions serious.
Shikaku spoke first.
"Hokage-sama, in the past two months, the three great villages have been maintaining frequent secret contact."
"Since the new Mizukage and Tsuchikage took power, those meetings have only increased."
"We have reason to believe they are planning a joint attack on Konoha."
No one in the room was surprised.
Ryūjin had killed their leaders. From both personal and political standpoints, retaliation was inevitable.
The silence so far was only temporary.
Shikaku continued, "Our latest intelligence indicates they intend to gather at least thirty thousand shinobi."
The room grew heavier.
Thirty thousand.
Everyone knew Ryūjin could annihilate thousands in a single strike, but that kind of move had to be limited.
Could it be used repeatedly?
No one believed so.
Ryūjin raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Thirty thousand? Do they even have that many left?"
Shikaku nodded.
"They've negotiated with smaller allied villages and pulled additional forces from them."
"I see."
Ryūjin leaned back, completely unfazed.
"Hokage-sama, should we prepare countermeasures?" Hizashi asked.
"No need," Ryūjin replied casually. "Thirty thousand isn't worth worrying about."
He meant it.
With Hashirama's Sage Body, his power had reached a new level. If they really came, it would just save him the trouble of hunting them down.
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Confidence was one thing.
But this felt excessive.
"If you're worried, do what you think is necessary," Ryūjin added before standing up and leaving.
The room was left in silence.
...
Out on the streets, villagers greeted him with enthusiasm.
"Hokage-sama!"
Ryūjin acknowledged them with a simple nod.
Eventually, he reached the shopping district, where Kurenai Yūhi was already waiting.
"Are you done with work?" she asked.
"Yeah, just some small issues. Nothing important. Let's go."
Only then did she relax, and the two walked together through the village.
They wandered through the streets and eventually reached a small forest on the outskirts.
At that moment, Ryūjin suddenly sensed something.
A massive surge of chakra.
Without hesitation, he entered Sage Mode to analyze it.
Even then, the scale surprised him.
It was enormous.
Not quite on the level of the Uzumaki clan, but far beyond an average shinobi.
Then, a figure appeared.
Madara.
He looked Ryūjin up and down, slightly disappointed.
"So you're Uchiha Ryūjin. I expected someone more... impressive. You're just a kid."
Ryūjin narrowed his eyes.
"You're here for me? Who brought you back?"
The only ones capable of using Impure World Reincarnation were Orochimaru and Obito.
Orochimaru would not interfere like this.
And Obito should be dead.
Madara did not answer.
He moved instantly, closing the distance in a blur and reaching out to grab Ryūjin.
Ryūjin disappeared with a Body Flicker, reappearing a short distance away.
He stared at Madara, his expression unimpressed.
"Uchiha Madara."
A faint smirk formed on his face.
"You looking to get beaten?"