"You want to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki?"
Stifling his urge to laugh aloud, Izayoi played along with Madara's story and asked.
"Indeed. I want to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and completely eliminate those Ōtsutsuki." Madara replied coldly. "Although the shinobi world is rotten to the core, it still holds the possibility of salvation. 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' is a jutsu for eradicating mankind; I absolutely will not allow it to descend upon the world again."
Continuing to play back his conversation with Ōtsutsuki Toneri, Madara explained slowly:
"I don't know how exactly Ōtsutsuki Toneri plans to destroy the world, but judging by his demeanor, he wasn't lying. And with my current strength alone, I can't kill him. That's why I need to unite with other like-minded shinobi."
Once again, he stretched out a hand to Izayoi.
"His Tenseigan has abilities similar to the Rinnegan—especially that long-range chakra absorption power which absorbs ninjutsu and chakra at a distance. Only physical attacks can neutralize his ability. With you and Nagato providing Wood Release support, I can definitely kill him. So join me, Izayoi—let's save the world together!"
Doing his utmost not to show amusement, Izayoi sneered:
"And once you've saved the world, you'll have it all to yourself, no?"
"Huh?" Madara froze for a second.
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri wants to judge the ninja world…right before destroying it, then re-creating a 'new world.'" Izayoi retorted coldly. "If that 'incurably rotten' concept requires you to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, yet he actually possesses the power to destroy the world, there'd be no need to wait for you to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. He could just start his Armageddon. Because as long as you still have the Rinnegan, whether it's you or someone else with the Rinnegan, they can always summon the Gedo Statue and become its jinchūriki."
"If he wanted to stop you, he'd only need to kill one jinchūriki or permanently lock one away, right?"
"He hasn't tried any of that. Didn't you notice the logical holes in your little story?"
Having spoken, Izayoi eyed Madara as if looking at a fool, sneering:
"But anyway, I do appreciate you making up such a story to deceive me, because at least now I know the Gedo Statue's secret. Rest assured, you won't get your chance to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki."
Hearing this, Madara didn't get angry; instead, a thoughtful look crossed his face.
He had to admit, what Toneri said about "destroying the world" indeed contained some logical inconsistency. Back then, Madara had been too incensed to notice. But upon reflection, Toneri did come across as deliberately mystifying.
Even so, Madara felt that Toneri wasn't merely bluffing—he seemed truly certain that destroying the world was easy. Combine that with his strike from the moon to the ninja world, and Madara had to acknowledge the Tenseigan's offensive and destructive power outclassed even the Rinnegan's dominion over life and death.
But recalling the inheritance he'd obtained at the shrine, Madara showed a confident smile to Izayoi:
"That man indeed underestimates me, and he'll pay for it. You can't stop me from becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki; nor can he change this world."
Observing Madara's newfound confidence, Izayoi's expression shifted sharply and he forcibly broke free of Madara's Rinnegan illusion.
…
The moment Izayoi had fallen into the illusion…
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Because it was boring to stay home, Shion had tagged along with Hinata and Karin to help out, while also studying medical ninjutsu under Tsunade and company. She planned to return to the Land of Demons and heal her people once she had gained enough skill. Just as Tsunade was explaining something to Shion, the priestess shivered, goosebumps prickling her skin.
Tsunade, catching sight of Shion's reaction, immediately asked:
"What's wrong?"
Before Shion could answer, Tsunade seemed to notice something and her face changed drastically:
"Watch out!"
They saw the space behind Shion suddenly rippling, revealing a fist-sized black hole. A hand emerged from the hole. Tsunade instinctively shoved Shion away—but in the next instant, a colossal force slammed Tsunade, sending her flying through the wall, out of the Hokage Building.
Then that hand sprouted branches which bound the unresponsive Shion, swiftly siphoning off her priestess power. Out of the black hole stepped Madara and Obito.
Exactly then, Hinata, Karin, and Shizune, each carrying stacks of documents, opened the office door from outside.
"Bastard! Let go of Shion!"
Seeing Madara siphoning Shion's power, Karin dropped her files, vanishing in a flash to appear before Madara, delivering a punch.
Madara didn't even bother looking at her, continuing to drain Shion's priestess power. Before the punch struck, it froze mid-air—along with Karin herself.
"What…is this?"
Karin's pupils shrank, her body desperately trying to struggle, but it was useless.
Though in Izanagi mode, Obito did not attack Karin. He kept his palm on Madara's shoulder, ready to warp him into Kamui Space if necessary.
At that moment, both Madara and Obito's faces changed. Because…
They saw Hinata, who had just raised a chakra-wrapped hand but hadn't yet attacked, suddenly have her chakra dissipate. Her Byakugan automatically flared, veins bulging, as an intangible "torsion" of space shot forth.
"'Kamui'…?"
Obito stared at Hinata in shock, hardly believing it: "She awakened a personal Mangekyō ability? Are you kidding me?"
Madara, likewise, was appalled. Before he could speak, the warped space advanced upon him, forcing him to leap aside. A ripping sound, like tearing cloth, resounded. As though slicing with a blade, that spatial distortion severed the branches binding Shion while also detaching them from Madara's palm.
Hinata immediately dashed in beside Shion and Karin, channeling more ocular energy. She knocked Shion and Karin into that different space, then once again gathered chakra around her hands, forming a pair of purple lion heads, and charged toward Madara.
But at that second, Hinata stiffened, hair standing on end, as if an invisible blade pierced through her. An inaudible attack, a Limbo clone, had passed through her body.
"So it really is Kamui," murmured Madara, seeing that his Limbo attack was ineffective. "It seems the Byakugan is indeed a mutated Sharingan or vice versa, but the man who told me the 'world's truth' said the Rabbit Goddess' Byakugan didn't have a personal Mangekyō either. What's going on?!"
No time to think further. Madara summoned branches from his palm again, aiming to reabsorb Shion's power—only to be interrupted.
A figure silently appeared beside Hinata, conjuring a black orb that shot forth like a beam at Madara and Obito. Even though Obito was in Izanagi mode, a chill shot through him. He almost left Madara behind and fled alone.
But just as that black beam flew out, it froze in midair as though hitting an invisible shield. In Ten-Seg, that "shield" was actually Madara's Limbo clone blocking the Truthseeker Ball.
"Victory is mine!"
A Madara wood clone, also in Six Paths Sage Mode, smirked at Izayoi's own wood clone.
Then Obito and Madara vanished.
"Izayoi, rest assured—Shion and Karin are safe," Hinata hurriedly said.
Izayoi did not care about Madara and Obito's getaway, but instead looked at Hinata in delight:
"Hinata, what was that ability?"
She shook her head blankly:
"I… I don't know. It felt like it emerged on its own."
At that, Izayoi used his ultra-sensitive perception to examine her. Several differently colored bubbles floated around Hinata, three of them changed color. As of the start of this year, her Byakugan had quietly advanced to [Bloodline Limit · Byakugan (Red)], and her formerly purple "Ninja Aptitude" advanced to [Kage-Elite Aptitude (Gold)]. Right now, Hinata had two red and one gold trait.
Logically, by normal progression, Hinata's limit would be somewhere around the Three Sannin's level. Without awakened Tenseigan, she would never reach something like Pein Six Paths' super-kage threshold. Yet at some unknown time, the "Ōtsutsuki Bloodline" trait (once blue) had become purple. Without question, it was Izayoi's doing, or more precisely, it was thanks to his Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Multi-Color). She, in effect, had turned into a "lower-tier" version of him.
Realizing this, Izayoi instantly asked:
"Hinata, that separate dimension—where does it lead?"
"A dark, rocky space," she said. "Don't worry, Izayoi. Karin and Shion are in there, but we didn't detect any other chakra. It's certainly not that masked man's Kamui dimension."
"Take me in to check."
"Got it."
So Hinata guided Izayoi's wood clone into her dimension.
…
Meanwhile, the sirens were blaring across Konoha; ninja were rushing civilians to shelters.
At Izayoi's traditional house…
Exiting the illusion domain, Izayoi gazed at Madara, who showed a slight grin. Izayoi asked plainly:
"Quite the scheme you have there."
"No choice—I know the Five Great Shinobi Villages too well." Madara spread his arms, then shook his head. "You, grown up in such an environment, are nothing like Nagato or Hashirama. I expected you would refuse me."
"A man with your power wouldn't let an equal become stronger than you."
Madara once more extended his hand and spoke earnestly:
"That Tenseigan guy is truly arrogant, so eventually he'll pay for underestimating us. Right now, you can't stop me from being the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, nor can he rewrite the fate of the world."
Izayoi sensed something off and said nothing, only sneering:
"So you threaten me?"
"Threaten? No," Madara said with a smirk. "I want a simple 'non-aggression' agreement: I won't touch Konoha, and you don't harm any jinchūriki. Let's leave the final showdown for some deserted place. Otherwise, with your level of power, even an unintentional clash would kill countless bystanders."
At that, Izayoi pretended to hesitate, and Madara seized the chance. His figure vanished. High above, a giant blue Susanoo manifested, spread its wings, and swiftly flew away from Konoha. Despite not attacking, it still caused an uproar because that blue Susanoo was famed as the "God of Destroyer."
Watching the enormous Susanoo vanish, Izayoi decided not to chase. Instead, he smirked and thought:
"You with such feeble purity have no qualification to harness the Priestess Power and enter Six Paths Sage Mode. I wonder how the Sage will help you—will he show up in person, or give you instructions in spirit form? The moment you gain that perfect Six Paths Sage Mode, what will you do first?"
Izayoi looked up at the sky, his gaze piercing the clouds to focus on the moon, revealing a mischievous grin within. He mused:
"If so, you'll never escape being somebody's pawn. Come be my free labor, Madara."
~~~
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