Madara Uchiha gradually left the area devastated by the Sage Art: World Nuclear Peace Technique, his usually imposing face slightly pale as he paused to recover. If he had still possessed a living body of flesh and blood, no amount of recovery would have been enough after suffering such a bizarre attack. Fortunately, he had been revived through the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), the forbidden technique created by Tobirama Senju. As long as the technique remained active, his body would continuously regenerate from almost any damage, making him effectively immortal.
Even so, being resurrected by Tobirama's forbidden jutsu did nothing to improve Madara's opinion of the Second Hokage. If anything, it only reminded him why he had disliked Tobirama throughout his life.
Back during the Warring States Era and even after the founding of Konohagakure, Madara and Hashirama Senju had clashed countless times. Their battles often lasted from sunrise until sunset, with neither side able to decisively overwhelm the other. They fought as lifelong rivals who understood each other's strength better than anyone.
Their younger brothers, however, were an entirely different matter.
While Madara and Hashirama exchanged gigantic Fire Release and Wood Release techniques before casually continuing their conversation, Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha fought with absolute killing intent. There was never any room for sentiment between them.
Hashirama Senju: "Madara! This fighting has gone on long enough!"
Madara Uchiha: "You're still too naïve, Hashirama!"
Tobirama Senju: "Flying Thunder God Slash!"
Izuna Uchiha: "What—?!"
…
Madara could still remember that fatal strike vividly. Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Slash had pierced Izuna's vital organs before anyone could react. Despite every effort to save him, Izuna ultimately died from the severe injuries inflicted by Tobirama, a hatred Madara never forgot.
Years later, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, after Madara himself was revived through Edo Tensei, seeing Tobirama again immediately reignited that old grudge. Madara repeatedly impaled Tobirama's Edo body with his Truth-Seeking staff without the slightest hesitation. Even after pinning him to the ground, he still looked as though he wanted to continue beating the Second Hokage purely out of spite.
"What a troublesome girl."
Madara clenched his fists, veins bulging slightly across the backs of his hands.
"She's practically another Tobirama Senju. It's one thing that she mastered his Flying Thunder God Technique, but she even developed an even more troublesome forbidden ninjutsu of her own. I originally intended to leave her alive and make use of her abilities… but now, I absolutely cannot allow her to remain alive."
A terrifying pressure spread from Madara's body as killing intent filled the surrounding forest.
Meanwhile, inside Konoha, Chinatsu had already summoned everyone for an emergency round-table meeting.
Inside the Uchiha residence.
A large round table.
Thirteen chairs.
Main seat: Chinatsu.
Seats to her left and right: Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
The remaining seats were occupied by Hidan, Kakuzu, Sasori, Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki, Nagato Uzumaki, Konan, Torune Aburame, Fū Yamanaka, and… Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi narrowed his visible eye in confusion.
Since when had he become one of Chinatsu's people?
Yet after thinking about everything that had happened recently, even he couldn't find any reason to leave. Somehow, sitting at this table actually felt perfectly natural.
As for Naruto and Sasuke, Chinatsu originally had no intention of allowing the two teenagers to participate in a meeting involving Madara Uchiha and the Akatsuki. However, both of them stubbornly insisted on attending. Considering that their current strength already surpassed that of many elite jōnin and that both possessed abilities directly connected to the coming conflict, Chinatsu finally relented and allowed them to stay.
Looking around the table, Chinatsu slowly spoke.
"As everyone should already know, the purpose of today's meeting is very simple."
"Madara Uchiha has been revived through the Impure World Reincarnation."
"The moment he awakened, his first objective became recovering both Rinnegan."
"Those eyes are the foundation of the Eye of the Moon Plan. As long as we control them, Madara cannot become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki or carry out the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"So no matter what happens, the Rinnegan must never fall back into his hands."
Her gaze finally settled on Nagato.
"Especially you, Nagato."
As she spoke, Chinatsu reached into her storage scroll and produced the Rinnegan she had personally removed from Obito during the battle.
The ripple-patterned eye rested quietly in the center of her palm.
Although everyone present had seen Nagato's Rinnegan countless times, seeing one lying separately in someone's hand still produced an indescribably eerie feeling.
Every pair of eyes around the table unconsciously focused on the legendary dōjutsu.
"Nagato."
Chinatsu lightly tossed the eye toward him.
"Put it back."
Nagato immediately raised both hands and shook his head.
"I'd rather not."
He smiled bitterly before continuing.
"After losing one Rinnegan, I discovered that I can still use the abilities of the Six Paths Technique, although their power and control have declined somewhat. Since that's the case, it's actually safer for you to keep the other eye."
He looked directly at Chinatsu.
"To be honest, after today's battle, I no longer have the confidence to protect both Rinnegan by myself. If Madara attacks again while possessing Obito's Kamui, I may lose the remaining one as well."
Chinatsu remained silent for several seconds before slowly nodding.
Nagato's judgment was correct.
Keeping both Rinnegan inside one person would only make Madara's objective easier.
Separating them was undoubtedly the safest choice.
Chinatsu fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement.
Nagato's reasoning was sound.
If both Rinnegan remained with one person, Madara would only need to defeat a single target to recover both eyes. Separating them drastically reduced that risk. As long as the two Rinnegan remained in different locations, Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan would never proceed smoothly.
The discussion then shifted to another crucial topic.
Uchiha Obito.
The moment Obito's name was mentioned, Kakashi's visible eye widened in disbelief.
"Obito…?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
In truth, Kakashi had already begun to suspect something.
After all, Kamui was the Mangekyō Sharingan ability shared by his left eye and Obito's right eye. During today's battle inside Konoha, Obito had repeatedly activated Kamui. Although Kakashi wasn't particularly gifted in sensory perception, the resonance between the paired Mangekyō Sharingan had still given him a vague feeling.
He simply hadn't wanted to believe it.
Obito…
Was really still alive.
Seeing Kakashi's shocked expression, Chinatsu decided there was no point hiding the truth any longer.
She calmly explained everything.
Obito had survived the Kannabi Bridge incident.
He had been rescued by Madara Uchiha.
He was the masked man who had manipulated the Nine-Tails during the night of Naruto's birth.
He was responsible for the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.
And…
He had personally witnessed Kakashi drive the Raikiri through Rin Nohara's chest.
Silence instantly filled the room.
Even though most of Kakashi's face remained hidden beneath his forehead protector and mask, everyone could clearly see the shock in his lone visible eye.
His breathing unconsciously became heavier.
The others exchanged glances but asked no questions.
No one questioned how Chinatsu knew so many secrets.
After everything they had witnessed over the past months, it almost seemed natural that she possessed information nobody else in the shinobi world knew.
If Chinatsu suddenly announced tomorrow that the Sage of Six Paths had left behind another secret, they would probably accept it without much surprise.
Allowing everyone a few moments to digest the information, Chinatsu lightly rested her chin on both hands before speaking again.
"Obito and Edo Tensei Madara together aren't impossible to deal with."
"As long as the situation remains similar to today's battle, I'll continue holding Madara back."
"The rest of you only need to focus on Obito."
"If we coordinate properly, driving them away isn't particularly difficult."
Her expression gradually became more serious.
"What truly worries me…"
"…is everything that happens after that."
Only Chinatsu herself understood the true meaning behind those words.
Originally, she had possessed the greatest advantage imaginable.
She knew the future.
She knew every major event.
She knew every hidden mastermind.
She knew every crucial turning point.
It was like standing upon the shoulders of giants while looking down upon the entire timeline.
But now…
That advantage had almost completely disappeared.
The original storyline had already been shattered beyond recognition.
Nagato had defected.
The Akatsuki had practically joined her side.
Obito had lost one Rinnegan.
Madara had been revived through Edo Tensei far earlier than he should have.
Even the battle between Madara and herself had occurred years ahead of the original timeline.
The future…
Had become completely unknown.
Fortunately…
The two most important pieces on the board still remained in her hands.
The two Rinnegan.
Thinking of this, Chinatsu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as she controlled both Rinnegan…
Madara's greatest objective could never be completed.
Want to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
Keep dreaming.
Want to revive Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?
That was even less likely.
According to the information left behind on the Uchiha Stone Tablet and the truth revealed by Black Zetsu, only after gathering the tailed beasts, reviving the Ten-Tails, becoming its jinchūriki, and awakening the complete power of the Rinnegan could someone cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi and ultimately become Kaguya's vessel.
Without both Rinnegan…
Everything was impossible.
Therefore, as long as Chinatsu firmly controlled the Rinnegan, Kaguya could only continue sleeping within the seal of the moon.
Just as Chinatsu was about to conclude the meeting…
Her expression suddenly froze.
"…"
Her pupils contracted slightly.
Everyone around the table immediately noticed the abnormality.
The relaxed atmosphere instantly disappeared.
Naruto was the first to stand.
"Chika!"
"What happened?"
"Were you injured during your fight with Madara?"
The others also rose one after another, instinctively preparing for battle.
Even Nagato frowned.
For someone capable of fighting Madara head-on to suddenly reveal such an expression…
Something serious had definitely happened.
Chinatsu slowly raised one hand and pressed it against her chest.
"No…"
"I'm not injured."
"…At least, nothing serious."
Her voice had become unusually solemn.
Back when the Akatsuki had captured several tailed beasts, Chinatsu had secretly requested tiny portions of chakra from Isobu, the Three-Tails, and Son Gokū, the Four-Tails.
The chakra fragments were far too small to affect the tailed beasts themselves.
Their purpose was simply to establish a spiritual connection, allowing her to sense their condition from afar.
Just moments ago…
The fragment of Isobu's chakra within her body had suddenly trembled violently.
It was exactly like the resonance between two identical chakra sources.
Without hesitation, Chinatsu immediately used that tiny fragment of chakra to contact Isobu mentally.
"…"
No response.
Not even the slightest reaction.
Her expression gradually darkened.
Something…
Had happened to the Three-Tails.
Isobu…
Was in trouble.
Who could have done it?
Madara?
No…
That possibility was extremely low.
Madara had only just escaped from the blast radius of the Sage Art: World Nuclear Peace Technique. Judging from the timing alone, it couldn't have been him.
Then…
Who else possessed the strength to threaten a tailed beast?
A terrifying possibility suddenly flashed through Chinatsu's mind.
"…Could it be…"
"…the Ōtsutsuki…"
"…have they descended ahead of schedule?"
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