Facing Lord Madara's "praise," Shimoku remained completely relaxed.
Instead, he cheerfully smiled and replied:
"You flatter me, my ancestor."
Lord Madara fell silent.
He couldn't believe that among his descendants there could exist someone so utterly shameless.
At such a young age already this bold.
What an unimaginable future this kid might achieve!
"Boy, don't be too greedy."
"Just because something looks good on others doesn't mean it suits you."
"Otherwise, even if you obtain it, you won't be able to wield this eye's power!"
Lord Madara explained earnestly.
He didn't mind offering his descendant a few more words of guidance.
"In that case, why did you carve Hashirama Senju's face upon your chest? Why did you seek the power of Wood Release?"
Shimoku asked bluntly.
Lord Madara: "..."
"This is..."
"What exactly is it?"
Lord Madara hesitated, then immediately shut up and chuckled while scolding him:
"You brat, you're truly crafty!"
"With just a few words, you want to trick more information out of me again?"
Shimoku: "Just curious."
"But if you really aren't willing to part with it, then I'll have to take action myself!"
"Unless...you're afraid, my ancestor?"
Shimoku flashed a cunning look and continued provoking.
Lord Madara waved his hand toward Shimoku with an open smile:
"Alright then, don't use the same old ploy twice..."
"We've strayed off-topic enough. Come down and let's talk properly."
"You already know—I won't be the one to strike first."
"And you probably don't want to keep fighting either, do you?"
Lord Madara looked calm, clearly believing Shimoku wouldn't make the first move anymore.
In reality...
Although both belonged to the Uchiha Clan and shared the naturally combative bloodline,
Neither of them was foolish.
Lord Madara clearly understood:
This brat had the Flying Thunder God Technique, making him practically invincible.
As long as he wanted to escape, no one could stop him.
Therefore, attacking him directly would only lead to humiliation without results.
Meanwhile, Shimoku also clearly understood:
With the Wheel Demonic Shadow guarding him, killing Madara would be extremely difficult.
Even if success were possible, given Madara's character, he'd definitely be able to move or even destroy the Rinnegan before he died!
Moreover, Black Zetsu had already fled.
Killing Madara now would only eliminate one of Konoha Village's greatest enemies, serving their interests in the process.
Worse yet, it might allow Konoha to reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Clearly, this battle wouldn't yield proportional returns.
Shimoku wouldn't willingly waste his efforts like that.
If he really intended to strike, he would've attacked head-on like when he targeted Black Zetsu.
He wouldn't still be chatting idly with Madara here.
...
Shimoku jumped down from the Demonic Statue, still maintaining a distance of dozens of meters from Lord Madara.
Always ready to activate the Flying Thunder God and defend at any moment.
Better safe than sorry!
Facing someone like Lord Madara—a warlord from the Warring States period—any lapse in caution could cost your life!
Hmph! Still as wary as ever?
"Good! Truly worthy of our Uchiha name!"
"But this kid is much better than that brat Obito used to be..."
Looking at Shimoku who remained cautious, Lord Madara couldn't help but show his approval.
Indeed, compared to Obito—who had been a few years older than Shimoku back then—this young one's strength, intelligence, composure, and other qualities...
Were far superior.
Even astonishing!
Unlike young Obito, who had been a complete failure with an immature mindset.
After rescuing Obito, Madara had no choice but to spend a great deal of time just barely training him.
He had even used Rin's tragic death to force Obito into triggering the [Mangekyō Sharingan].
If he hadn't been out of options back then, Lord Madara absolutely wouldn't have chosen Obito…
...
"Let's talk."
"Kid, what's your dream?"
Lord Madara asked curiously.
Decades later, he really wanted to know what ideals the younger generation pursued now?
Especially someone like this—one with real power and capability,
Someone capable of overturning the entire Ninja World's power structure.
"To unite the Ninja World."
"Oh? Why that?"
"That way, nobody'll have to fight all the time. I can enjoy the best service, eat the finest food, and marry the most beautiful kunoichi…"
Shimoku replied honestly.
This was truly his innermost wish.
His lifelong pursuit.
Upon hearing this, Lord Madara paused momentarily, then let out a hearty laugh.
"A very worldly desire… yet quite a remarkable ambition!"
Although it was such a straightforward desire,
Very few actually dared to set this as their goal. Fewer still had the courage to walk the path toward unifying the Ninja World.
Most people simply didn't possess such bold aspirations,
Let alone having the strength to back it up!
Lord Madara continued, sighing deeply:
"I once had the same wish when I was young."
"I dreamed of uniting the Ninja World, finally ending all wars…"
"But eventually, I realized—it was all an illusion."
"Even if you unify the Ninja World, the wars still won't stop."
"If even within Konoha alone, there wasn't room for the Uchiha Clan, how could the entire Ninja World possibly resolve all its conflicts?"
"Even after conquering the Ninja World,"
"Powerful strength may force people into submission, but it cannot erase the biases and hatred in their hearts…"
"As long as hatred and hostility remain, true eternal peace can never exist!"
As Madara spoke, he tightly clenched his left hand.
That blend of history, experience, blood, and tears was hard to argue with.
Even Shimoku had to admit,
That right now, as one of the great villains,
Lord Madara indeed seemed far more impressive than himself.
He still had a long way to go…
"So what about you now?"
"Have you given up on that old ideal?"
"Are you planning to use so-called divine power to create a perfect world without pain?"
Shimoku continued questioning.
Lord Madara's heart trembled slightly, before suddenly understanding.
This kid also possessed the [Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan], his ocular power no weaker than his own.
Naturally, he could interpret the Uchiha family's Stone Tablet too, understanding the truth inscribed upon it.
Therefore, guessing his plan was no surprise at all.
"You speak wisely. I may enjoy the thrill of battle."
"But I've long grown weary of war itself."
"For me, the source of some hatred no longer lies with our enemies, but with war itself."
"Wouldn't it be amazing to obtain true divine power and create a world of lasting peace?"
"Come on! Join me now!"
"Kid, join me!"
"With your help, success will be within reach!"
"You can have anything you want in this new world!"
"I am your ancestor—you can always count on me!"
Lord Madara stretched out his hand, trying to entice Shimoku.
If he could truly gain the support of this brat, he would surely achieve his wish and reach that perfect new world!
"Pfft!"
"You actually believe dreams can come true?"
"If your so-called divine power could really create an eternal peaceful world, why are we still stuck in this hell?"
"Ancestor, how could you be so foolish?"
Shimoku retorted without holding back.
Lord Madara's face stiffened, unsure how to respond.
"Brat, what did you just say?!!"
"Foolish? You, a mere child barely out of diapers, dare to so arrogantly deny me?"
"What proof do you have?"
Madara angrily demanded, raising his voice.
Fortunately, this was his own descendant.
If it were anyone else,
he wouldn't waste time talking—he'd charge straight in and kill them...
"Proof?"
"Fine then. Let me ask you—when you lost to Hashirama and officially 'died,' why didn't you also leave behind a Stone Tablet explaining your plan, letting future generations carry it out for you?"
Madara: "Because I..."
Shimoku: "Because you already had a backup plan—you'd already prepared everything so someone would follow your scripted path and bring you back to life."
"Then, you could personally continue pursuing your dream."
"Right?"
Madara nodded.
After all, that was exactly what he had planned.
Madara: "Exactly! That was my plan. Because..."
Shimoku: "Because a person who is truly powerful, firm in will, and confident in themselves would never place their hope in others!"
"Isn't that right?"
Madara: "Correct!"
Shimoku: "Great."
"In that case, how can you be sure?"
"That what's recorded on the Stone Tablet is actually the truth left by those before us?"
"If that ancestor was truly as extraordinary as you claim—capable of understanding divine power—why did he fail?"
"Why would he place hope in future generations?"
"Why didn't he, like you, leave behind a plan, arrange everything carefully, resurrect himself, and then complete his mission?"
"Or perhaps, that Stone Tablet was part of his plan?"
"And you're just another piece in his resurrection scheme?"
Shimoku coldly questioned, reasoning, and guessing aloud...
He made no outright statements at all.
Everything he said came in the form of rhetorical questions—questions aimed straight at Lord Madara, quietly nudging him toward certain realizations.
Clearly, Shimoku had chosen not to reveal his full hand yet.
After all, judging from Hashirama's previous behavior…
Shimoku immediately realized that convincing a feudal warlord as formidable as Lord Madara with words alone was practically impossible.
To directly refute someone's ideals...
It would be like some random stranger popping out of nowhere and saying, "You're not even your parents' real kid!"—with zero proof.
Most people would just dismiss them as crazy and chase them away.
They'd never believe such a thing.
But what if the other party knows you inside and out, and instead uses questioning and reasoning to guide you? To push you into analyzing and deducing from aspects like your parents' personalities, lifestyles, and pregnancy timelines?
Then you might unavoidably begin to harbor some doubts...
After all, humans are naturally the most skeptical creatures on earth!
Take marriage for example.
Even if someone said "I love you" a million times, it still wouldn't erase the smallest hint of doubt in someone's heart.
Hearing this, Lord Madara also suddenly felt startled, instinctively getting goosebumps.
From his perspective,
the doubts and guesses of this brat named Shimoku were absolutely absurd! Completely unreasonable!
But, speaking honestly...
Isn't it possible that everything here is just an elaborate setup?
Isn't it possible that he himself had also been deceived?
Isn't it possible that he was just someone else's pawn?
It's possible!
Even if there's only a one in ten thousand, or one in a hundred thousand chance...
it would still be extremely dangerous!
In the past, he had firmly believed in the records passed down on the family's ancestral Stone Tablet, hardly ever doubting them.
But now, reminded by this brat...
Madara suddenly realized something.
What if the Stone Tablet was fake?
What if it was just another fabrication?
Another piece of someone else's grand plan?
Wouldn't that make him just another pawn, like Nagato?
"No! Absolutely not! I'll never allow it!"
Lord Madara proudly roared inwardly, vehemently denying the thought.
Clearly, the seed of doubt had already been planted...
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