With Black Zetsu's possession, Madara successfully activated the Summoning Technique once again.
He summoned back the [Demonic Statue of the Outer Path].
This was the foundation for his path to becoming a Six Paths powerhouse—absolutely not something he could afford to lose!
As for the minor damage to the statue's head, that wasn't much of a concern.
With the Demonic Statue's tremendous vitality,
it would regenerate quickly enough...
Moreover, recalling the Demonic Statue also brought another benefit.
Lord Madara laboriously lifted his hand, forming a seal to control the statue.
"Open!"
"Whoosh——"
Several black rods composed of Yin–Yang Release shot out from within the statue, instantly piercing through Madara's chest.
Soon after, immense vitality and dense chakra flowed through the rods and into Lord Madara's body.
Working in tandem with the Hashirama's cells within his body, they rapidly regenerated his heart and arms, efficiently healing his injuries.
This was one of the unconventional uses he had discovered for the Demonic Statue.
Back then, it was precisely by drawing upon the Demonic Statue's life force that he had managed to survive until the end of the Third Great Ninja War, secretly plotting his schemes all along.
However, it was fortunate indeed that he had captured two Tailed Beasts beforehand, sealing them into the statue as its power source.
Otherwise, instead of drawing strength from the statue like now,
he would've ended up like Nagato—completely drained dry by it…
Within minutes after drawing power from the statue, most of Lord Madara's wounds had healed. His left chest, including the face embedded in it, had regrown.
Only his severed left hand was healing more slowly, having regenerated only up to the wrist so far.
But still, his condition had improved greatly—he had regained some combat capability. No longer did he rely entirely on Black Zetsu's possession to barely stay alive.
"Lord Madara, what next?"
"For now, let's retreat."
"After I recover my right eye and gather all the Tailed Beasts, I'll come back for Hashirama!"
Madara stood up and touched the face on his chest lightly, showing no anger at all.
He had weathered fifty years of solitude already.
His willpower had long become as solid as unbreakable stone; trivial setbacks like these wouldn't shake him even slightly.
He was certain—victory would ultimately be his!
...
Yet, just as the two were about to leave,
beside the massive body of the Demonic Statue, a strange spatial fluctuation suddenly spread outward.
"Whoosh——"
A Flying Thunder God Mark activated, and Shimoku Uchiha instantly appeared at the scene.
Clearly, Shimoku had been certain all along:
after the battle, Lord Madara would quickly summon back the Demonic Statue.
So long as he had left a mark upon the statue's main body,
he could teleport directly to the severely injured Madara's location, pulling off the perfect "oriole behind the mantis" move—or better yet, kicking a wounded dog while it's down.
"Shimoku Uchiha! It's you!"
Black Zetsu exclaimed with a sinister tone, clearly caught off guard by the boy's sudden appearance.
Certainly, they hadn't expected the little brat to show up like this.
"So this is Shimoku Uchiha? My successor? The one who defeated Hashirama?"
Lord Madara murmured slightly, taken aback.
At the same time, looking at Shimoku's appearance, he couldn't help but feel amazed deep inside.
To be honest, this kid just looked way too young!
He simply refused to believe it.
Could such a young junior really defeat Hashirama?
Just how much did Hashirama hold back?
...
As for Shimoku,
Upon spotting Black Zetsu coincidentally next to Lord Madara as well, he became overjoyed.
Next second.
Without a word, he launched into action.
Instantly activating [Setsuna], his speed skyrocketed as he shot straight toward Black Zetsu!
Aiming for a one-hit kill, he wanted to eliminate that scheming old bastard Black Zetsu immediately!
This sudden and decisive attack greatly startled Black Zetsu...
He couldn't understand—shouldn't this brat be laying eyes on him for the first time?
Why would he launch such deadly attacks the moment they met?
Why wasn't he going after Madara, who was right there, injured, and clearly more threatening?
Who exactly had he offended here?
Surely not because he was black-skinned and ugly looking—
That he deserved such a beating?
No, judging from the boy's intense killing intent,
It was clearly intentional—he really wanted to kill him!
...
Shimoku moved with terrifying speed.
Within less than a tenth of a second, he'd already dashed over a hundred meters and appeared right before Black Zetsu.
Leaving Black Zetsu absolutely no time to dodge or resist.
Moreover, combat wasn't even his specialty.
Although other than his extraordinary concealment abilities,
his other skills weren't inherently weak,
they were nowhere near comparable to an average Kage-level expert.
There was no way he could stand up to someone as powerful as Hashirama or Madara.
If he truly possessed such strength, he wouldn't have had to survive secretly all these thousands of years...
Unfortunately,
had it been only Black Zetsu present,
Shimoku's attack definitely would've succeeded.
But alas, by Black Zetsu's side stood the battle-hardened [Warring States Rose]!
Even though Madara's wounds hadn't yet healed,
the moment Shimoku moved, Madara himself was fully prepared as well.
Swiftly splitting out 'Wheel Demonic Shadow' to prepare a counterattack.
After all, the 'Wheel Demonic Shadow' was one of the abilities granted by the [Rinnegan]; as long as chakra remained sufficient, it would still operate at peak condition, unaffected by Madara's own weakened state.
"Boom——"
Just as Shimoku was about to land his strike on Black Zetsu,
the invisible 'Wheel Demonic Shadow' struck instead.
Manifesting a chakra-infused hand blade, it fiercely stabbed toward Shimoku.
Of course, since it was his own junior, Lord Madara held back deliberately, guiding the shadow to strike only at Shimoku's non-lethal abdominal area.
"Whoosh——"
A sharp whistling cut through the air once again.
Despite being unable to see the 'Wheel Demonic Shadow', relying on the powerful sensory ability granted by his [Sage Body], Shimoku sensed the danger in advance and activated the [Flying Thunder God] technique instantly.
He reappeared atop the distant Demonic Statue once more,
barely dodging the ambush from the 'Wheel Demonic Shadow' in a hair's breadth.
Unfortunately, he also failed to hit Black Zetsu.
...
At this moment, Black Zetsu, having barely escaped death,
couldn't help but feel chilled with fear inwardly.
Just now, they'd been that close—
He might've died!
So close,
and his thousand-year-long plotted [Mother-Saving Plan] would have ended in complete failure!
How could he not feel terrified?
Thankfully, Lord Madara still proved somewhat useful by blocking the brat's attack...
However, Madara's current condition was extremely poor as well.
Probably not even this brat's match?
Should he retreat first?
Hesitating for merely a second, Black Zetsu made his decision.
Immediately liquefying his body, he quickly dove underground and fled the scene,
and without even asking Madara's permission!
It was clear he'd really been spooked.
Besides, if this ox-like tool Hashirama died, he could always be replaced. But if he himself died, that would be it.
He wouldn't gamble on that!
"Tch! Cowardly trash actually ran away first?"
Madara glanced at the spot where Black Zetsu had vanished,
muttering curses under his breath.
He decided he'd definitely have to discipline Black Zetsu later — as his own consciousness avatar, how could he be so cowardly? So embarrassing!
Then, Madara turned his gaze toward Shimoku in the distance.
He spoke first:
"So you're Shimoku Uchiha?"
"Your sensing ability is very sharp. Just now I nearly succeeded..."
"[Flying Thunder God Technique]?"
The young Uchiha nodded slightly,
"Hmm."
and continued sensing the trail of Black Zetsu's escape.
Unfortunately, that sly old snake's concealment ability was indeed extremely strong.
After intentionally hiding himself, even he couldn't detect any trace of him.
Especially with Lord Madara and the Wheel Demonic Shadow obstructing pursuit.
Continuing the chase seemed impossible.
Indeed, without the [Rinnegan] and [Six Paths Mode] to see through the Wheel Demonic Shadow,
it was really troublesome!
Shimoku analyzed silently.
At the same time, after receiving a definite answer,
Lord Madara couldn't help but curse:
"So it really was the [Flying Thunder God Technique]!"
"Tsk! That damn technique invented by Tobirama again—truly annoying!"
Right now, he also felt slight regret in his heart.
Should've known better than to keep creating those weird, annoying kinjutsu...
"Hey!"
"You over there are quite impressive!"
"Impressive for someone your age to have this kind of power."
"However, attacking suddenly upon meeting face-to-face like this..."
"Is this how you treat your ancestor?"
Madara had always been extremely accommodating toward outstanding juniors,
praising generously.
In his eyes, such raw talent deserved careful cultivation—to become one of his powerful assets!
"Ancestor?"
"What good is a useless old man who can't even take care of himself? Why should I respect him?"
"Especially when you recently lost to Hashirama and humiliatingly escaped here..."
"Do you really deserve to show off here?"
Shimoku scoffed contemptuously.
Shimoku was highly experienced at provoking enemy emotions with just a few words.
Predictably, hearing his descendant compare him to Hashirama—
and as the inferior side—
Lord Madara's expression immediately darkened, rage rising within him.
He couldn't wait to properly teach his young descendant a lesson right now...
Yet, considering his current injuries,
Madara quickly suppressed his anger.
Instead, Madara let out a loud laugh.
"I did lose, but that's nothing shameful. As long as I win next time."
"Now then... You're quite something."
"That's the spirit!"
"No wonder you were willing to lead the Uchiha Clan away from Konoha."
"A true warrior must have exactly that kind of arrogance and confidence!"
"Hahaha!"
Lord Madara let out a hearty laugh.
If this brat had really been afraid because of his connection to my lineage and held back from attacking, that would truly be shameful!
Madara would've thought less of him.
Such a coward wouldn't deserve to be a descendant of mine!
Shimoku: "Ancestor, aren't you just fishing for an excuse to save face?"
Madara: "Hmph! You smart-mouthed brat—you remind me of that bastard Tobirama. Tell me, why did you attack Zetsu?"
Shimoku: "He's hideous, okay?"
Madara: "...".
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