"······"
Feeling the memory deep within his soul — it was Uchiha Madara's insight into Fire Release techniques, containing the power of Madara's Fire Release.
"Hahaha! This power is simply incredible!"
Uchiha Sasuke felt his mastery over Fire Release increase tremendously. At this moment, the Fire Release techniques he could now use would be more than three times as powerful as before.
Not to mention, there were also those forbidden-level Fire Release techniques!
It was well known that apart from the fame of their Sharingan, the Uchiha clan was also renowned for their formidable Fire Release techniques.
And Uchiha Madara's Fire Release had reached the very limit of what a ninja could achieve.
With this insight into Uchiha Madara's Fire Release, Sasuke might one day be able to recreate that Fire Release which once overwhelmed the entire Ninja Alliance.
Just this Fire Release insight alone made Sasuke feel his trip had been worthwhile—
Not to mention, there was also a powerful weapon!
Thinking of this, Sasuke's eyes lit up as he murmured to himself:
"According to Uchiha Madara, it's a weapon only gods can wield… what could it be?"
Inside the golden treasure chest, now devoid of its radiance, lay two items. One looked like a stone tablet, presumably the "Six Paths Heavenly Book" that Madara had mentioned.
Although Sasuke didn't know exactly what Madara meant by gathering the Six Paths Heavenly Books, at this moment, he wasn't interested in that.
Instead, his gaze went to the other item — a sword that seemed almost alive.
As Sasuke gently gripped the blade, information instantly flooded into his mind:
> [Ryūjin Jakka – Weapon of the Shinigami, the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō. Its power is supreme, capable of controlling temperatures akin to the sun's core, enough to burn away everything in existence. It possesses the ability to suppress souls.]
[Remember, do not treat Ryūjin Jakka merely as a weapon. Call its name, and you will gain the power of the Shinigami — the power to burn!]
"Ryūjin Jakka… a Zanpakutō, huh…"
Sasuke muttered softly, and Ryūjin Jakka transformed into a beam of light that entered his body, as if fusing with him completely.
Though the blade had disappeared, Sasuke was not alarmed.
He could feel the heat within him — a heat capable of burning all things — and it felt strangely intimate to him.
Almost like a family member!
"So it really does have life… no wonder it can't be treated as just a weapon!"
It was said that Ryūjin Jakka was the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō, belonging to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
The flames that could incinerate all things had forged Yamamoto's fearsome reputation.
Even in its Shikai form, its power was enough to destroy the vast majority of opponents!
Now that Sasuke had obtained Ryūjin Jakka and fully fused with it, although he couldn't yet unleash its full might,
With his talent, the day would come when he could master all of Ryūjin Jakka's power.
After that, Sasuke turned his attention to the stone tablet. Picking it up, another piece of information emerged:
> [Six Paths Heavenly Book – Left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo. It possesses mysterious powers.]
"Such a brief description… What exactly is this Six Paths Heavenly Book? Why did Madara want me to collect them? Seems like there's more than one…"
Sasuke frowned slightly.
"Sas… Sasuke, who was that just now? This treasure is actually real!? Then…"
Gulp!
Naruto Uzumaki, snapping out of his daze, looked at Sasuke with a trembling voice, still shaken to the core.
Uchiha Madara's overwhelming presence had struck Naruto's very soul.
Haruno Sakura was just as shocked, staring at Sasuke's delighted expression.
"Uchiha Madara!"
Still showing traces of shock on his face, Hatake Kakashi spoke in a trembling but heavy tone:
"That man is the legendary ninja who stood shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage — Uchiha Madara!"
"Shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage? But… doesn't that mean Madara was from that era? How could he be here?"
Sakura's mouth fell open in disbelief.
"If I'm not mistaken, that Madara probably wasn't his real self — more likely some kind of spiritual remnant…"
Saying this, Kakashi looked toward Sasuke, who was smiling faintly.
In his heart, he thought:
"It seems this treasure from Uchiha Madara has greatly satisfied Sasuke. At the very least, he's gained something to significantly boost his strength. And earlier, that Madara did mention a Fire Release insight, didn't he?"
But even so, such a method was already far beyond what an ordinary ninja could achieve, leaving Kakashi deeply shocked.
At the same time, that Zanpakutō from before had made his very soul feel suppressed — an overwhelming pressure like nothing he had ever experienced.
"Still… for some reason, Madara's legendary power feels oddly… natural!?"
"Mm!~"
At these words, Sasuke nodded calmly and spoke in a soft voice:
"That was Uchiha Madara — an ancestor of the Uchiha clan. I don't know the exact reason, but he left behind this treasure."
"This Zanpakutō…"
As he spoke, Sasuke's right hand closed in the air, a flame flickered to life, and Ryūjin Jakka emerged from it, firmly in his grasp.
"Its name is Ryūjin Jakka. It once belonged to a Shinigami, and it can control flames that burn everything!"
"Zanpakutō!?"
"A weapon of the Shinigami!?"
Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura all stared wide-eyed, utterly shocked.
"Zanpakutō, huh?"
Kakashi's eyes flickered with thought as he pondered:
"From the name, it sounds like it targets the soul… No wonder I felt that pressure on my soul earlier. It's quite possible!"
"Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka… If that's the case, then there must be more than one of these blades. And as Madara said, they're not from this world."
"In that case…"
Kakashi's gaze shifted from the flaming Ryūjin Jakka in Sasuke's hand to the golden treasure chest on the ground.
He couldn't help but recall that pillar of golden light from before.
Suddenly, his instincts screamed at him, and he said urgently:
"This is bad! We have to get out of here — this place isn't safe!"
"Hahaha! If you want to leave, hand over the treasure first!~"
A wildly arrogant voice rang out, and two figures in black cloaks with red clouds blocked Team 7's path.
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