Chapter 223: I've Come to Take Back My Eyes
Seeing Uchiha Madara turn to leave, Black Zetsu's clone hesitated for a moment before nonchalantly following.
For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
Ideally, Madara would eliminate Uchiha Dali along with all other obstacles, then continue with his original plan—to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi on the entire world, revive the Ten-Tails, and ultimately bring back his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
Otherwise, Black Zetsu wouldn't mind sending Madara on his way himself.
"So you really plan to go meet that brat?"
Black Zetsu's clone still found this idea somewhat absurd.
If Uchiha Dali refused to even give Madara face, wouldn't that be dangerous?
He thought Madara was a fool.
But in truth, Madara wasn't nearly as reckless as he imagined.
At this moment, Madara stopped walking and turned his head toward Black Zetsu's clone. "Nagato is in Konoha right now, correct?"
"That's right. He and Obito—everyone—have joined Uchiha Dali's team."
Black Zetsu's clone nodded.
Hearing that, Madara immediately activated his sensory abilities.
He closed his eyes slightly, sensed for a moment, and locked onto Uzumaki Nagato's location. "Your task now is to bring me the original Impure World Reincarnation scroll. The rest is none of your concern."
"Understood."
Black Zetsu's clone watched Madara's figure continue forward. This time, he didn't try to stop him.
Just now, Madara had mentioned Uzumaki Nagato, which meant he was most likely going to reclaim his Rinnegan.
If that was the case, there was nothing to worry about.
Once Madara regained the Rinnegan, his strength would rise another level—more than enough to deal with Uchiha Dali.
…
Outside Konohagakure, atop a high mountain.
From here, one could overlook the entire village and see the Hokage Rock in the distance.
Gazing at the vast, peaceful village, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan couldn't help but feel emotional.
"So this is Jiraiya-sensei's village."
Nagato murmured to himself.
"It's so peaceful," Konan added in admiration.
"The shinobi world is completely unified now. We might soon witness the birth of a true era of peace," Yahiko said.
Just as his words fell, all three of them suddenly tensed.
They turned simultaneously to see a figure landing slowly behind them.
The newcomer looked somewhat strange—his body seemed molded from clay, fine cracks running across his skin.
But even so, this man radiated a powerful sense of oppression.
"Finally found you."
The landing Uchiha Madara fixed his gaze on Nagato as if staring at prey.
Having never seen Madara's true face, the three naturally didn't recognize him. Nagato asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"
"Uchiha Madara. I've come to take back my eyes."
Without another word, Madara launched his attack.
As he charged forward, Konan and Yahiko reacted instantly. But before Konan could even finish forming her hand seals to use Dance of the Shikigami to restrict his movement, Madara's kick sent her flying.
Yahiko engaged Madara in close combat, but within just a few moves, Madara's punch sent him crashing away as well.
However, both quickly recovered and rejoined Nagato, surrounding Madara together.
"Has my strength really weakened this much…"
Madara frowned at his own hands.
If he were in his prime, those earlier blows would have already flattened opponents of this level.
The fact that he had grown so weak irritated him greatly—but also made him take the fight seriously.
"If you really are Uchiha Madara, then you've come to the wrong place. Your enemy isn't here!"
Nagato, knowing the truth, understood Madara was just another victim of Black Zetsu's deception.
His sudden appearance was clearly Black Zetsu's handiwork.
Nagato intended to explain everything and tell him the truth.
But Madara had no intention of listening.
"Warm-up's over. Time to get serious."
His figure blurred—faster than before, and his punches now carried far more force.
Konan once again took the first hit, without even the chance to counter.
"Konan, fall back! Leave him to me and Nagato—go alert Lord Dali!"
Yahiko, seeing her take repeated blows, instantly recognized the threat and gave the right order.
Keeping her here would only get her hurt and hinder their fight. Against Madara, getting reinforcements was the smartest move.
Konan didn't hesitate.
Paper wings sprouted from her back, and she shot into the sky toward Konoha.
Madara looked up, and a wooden spike sprouted in his palm.
He hurled it like a spear.
It was about to strike Konan when it suddenly slowed, then stopped midair.
In the next instant, it spun around and hurtled back toward Madara.
"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you could develop the power of these eyes to this extent."
Madara looked at Nagato.
It was Nagato who had used Universal Pull to halt and redirect the Wood Release spear.
With a swish, it struck where Madara had been—but he had already vanished.
"Nagato, behind you!"
Yahiko spotted him reappearing and shouted as he unleashed his own Rinnegan powers—his palm splitting open to reveal a barrage of Shura cannons.
Ever since being revived by Uchiha Dali, Yahiko not only retained all the Deva Path abilities he'd had as Nagato's corpse, but had also gained the powers of the other five Paths, making him equal to Nagato in strength.
The pressure on Madara instantly spiked.
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