Chapter 284: Six Paths Madara's Assault
Snapping out of their shock, Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato's expressions instantly grew heavy.
"Madara will never play it straight. Once he gains overwhelming power, he's bound to become a threat to the entire world…"
Nagato had barely finished speaking when he suddenly noticed that Senju Hashirama's expression had shifted strangely.
Instead of replying to them, Hashirama turned his head to look toward the distant horizon.
The three of them immediately followed his gaze, but saw nothing.
Nagato instinctively pushed his sensory abilities to the limit, and at last, he detected something faint.
A terrifying power seemed to be rushing toward them—familiar, yet strange.
"It's… Madara!"
After concentrating for a few seconds, Nagato suddenly realized the truth, his face changing drastically.
Konan and Yahiko saw his expression and instantly grew alert as well.
Uchiha Madara had already stolen the nine tailed beasts.
If he was returning now, it likely meant he had already absorbed their power.
From the information they had gathered, once the Nine-Tails was added and sealed into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Ten-Tails could be revived.
Though Konan, Yahiko, and the others had no idea what the Ten-Tails truly was, its very name alone told them it was nothing ordinary.
At that moment, they all subconsciously turned to look at Senju Hashirama.
Nagato said grimly, "Madara's power has grown immensely—dozens of times greater than before! This chakra… I've never felt anything like it!"
"Ah, so it seems he has succeeded."
Hashirama's expression also grew solemn, the lightheartedness from earlier completely gone.
His sensory ability far surpassed Nagato's. He not only sensed Madara's overwhelming chakra drawing closer, but also something else hidden within it.
Within that terrifying chakra lay an air of arrogance, domineering might, and utter disregard for everything.
More precisely, it was "hostility."
Madara had gained the Ten-Tails' power—yet returned to Konoha carrying nothing but enmity.
This was no good sign.
Even Hashirama's heart grew heavy.
As everyone waited nervously, Uchiha Madara finally arrived before them.
Seeing Madara in his Six Paths state, Hashirama's expression became both shocked and guarded, his heart deeply shaken.
"So this is the power of the Ten-Tails? Looks like he's truly become its jinchūriki!"
"What a terrifying strength… There may be no chance of victory against him…"
Hashirama thought with unease, but quickly steadied himself.
Fixing his gaze on Madara, he asked, "Madara, so you've succeeded. But what about the other jinchūriki?"
Floating high in the air, Madara looked down on him with a condescending gaze, letting out a meaningful cold laugh.
"You really haven't changed at all, Hashirama. Still as naïve as ever."
"What do you mean?"
Hashirama's heart tightened, his voice deep.
"It means there was never such a thing as a promise."
"Whether the jinchūriki are revived or not makes no difference. Because soon, this world itself will have no reason to exist. You'll all become the nourishment for my evolution."
Madara laughed arrogantly.
"So you intend to go back on your word!"
Though Hashirama sometimes appeared simple, once he grew serious he was anything but.
As he spoke, he instantly entered Sage Mode.
In an instant, his chakra aura multiplied tenfold.
Even so, the gap between him and Six Paths Madara was still immense.
Seeing that battle was imminent, Nagato quickly said to Konan and Yahiko: "Take Naruto and return to the village, now!"
"What about you?" Konan asked.
Nagato didn't answer, his eyes fixed firmly on Madara.
Madara, after staring at Hashirama for a few seconds, smirked coldly. "Once, you were indeed my strongest opponent. But now, our power levels are no longer even comparable, Hashirama."
"There's no need for such meaningless resistance."
"And as for you—my eyes—it's time you returned them to me."
His gaze fell on Nagato.
With just that look, Nagato's heart jolted. His body trembled slightly, and to his shock, he found himself unable to move—as though crushed beneath a mountain.
His expression changed drastically, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"I won't stand by and watch you destroy this world! The shinobi world has only just begun to find peace!"
With a roar, Nagato exploded his chakra outward, forcing himself free of Madara's oppressive force. Regaining his freedom, he immediately launched an attack.
"Shinra Tensei!"
He thrust out his hand, unleashing a powerful repulsion that twisted the very air.
Yet when it struck Madara, it had almost no effect.
Madara floated there, unmoving, like an immovable mountain. The only result was a few ripples in his clothes.
Seeing this, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko were stunned.
Even Hashirama couldn't help but widen his eyes.
As the God of Shinobi, he could tell just how strong that Shinra Tensei had been.
Even he, if caught off guard, might not have withstood it so easily.
Yet Madara had brushed it off without doing anything at all.
It seemed he truly had become overwhelmingly powerful…
Nagato, unwilling to accept it, quickly launched another attack.
This time he fired his Asura Cannon.
A barrage of rockets shot toward Madara and exploded.
But as everyone watched clearly, the moment the shells neared him, the strange black orbs behind Madara shifted to his front, forming a protective shell like an eggshell.
All the explosions failed to cause him the slightest harm.
"These eyes… in your hands, they're nothing but a disgrace."
Madara's voice was cold as he prepared to strike back at Nagato.
But just then, countless strong wooden tendrils suddenly shot up, wrapping around his body.
Madara looked down and saw Hashirama had made his move.
Wood Release had taken form, binding him tightly.
Yet Madara only sneered, "You think this can hold me?"
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