*WHOOSH!*
Who would have thought... at the moment the Limbo shadow launched its surprise attack, Ayato mysteriously tilted his body... and dodged!
Madara was shocked: "What!?"
"Damn." In an extremely backward-leaning position, Ayato thought to himself: (This Madara is impressive, using Limbo right from the start? If I didn't have Omodaru, it would be extremely difficult to face him directly here!)
Though surprised, Madara remained a highly experienced veteran.
(Hm? His gaze isn't following the Limbo shadow's movement. This means he actually can't see that shadow? Can't see it but can dodge—does he have sensory abilities like Naruto?)
(No, too early to conclude. Let's test further!)
The Limbo shadow turned around, throwing a punch toward the back of Ayato's seemingly defenseless head.
That was the second attack!
*WHOOSH!*
Ayato's backward-leaning body instead ducked forcefully, once again evading Limbo!
"That!" Madara narrowed his eyes, catching one key detail.
When the Limbo fist was about a palm's distance from the back of Ayato's head, its speed strangely slowed down!
(Making close-range attacks slow down? But that alone doesn't explain how he can avoid an invisible attack!)
(Let's increase the intensity!)
Limbo: Hengoku!
Both of Madara's eyes activated Limbo simultaneously!
Four shadows launched rapid attacks alternately without stopping!
Ayato also felt the pressure increase invisibly. He chose to close both eyes, raising his concentration to maximum!
His footsteps shifted, rotated, his hips and arms moving his body forward-backward and up-down!
Beneath his black robe, every inch of his trained muscles seemed to have their own consciousness, performing extreme movements that even expert taijutsu ninja couldn't possibly do!
If there was a clueless third person there, they would only think Ayato was dancing rhythmically against empty air.
"How is something like this even possible..." Madara clenched his arms tightly. He was watching Ayato dance amid his Limbo attacks!
(Around his body, there's a personal barrier layer about thirty-three centimeters thick!)
(Its shape changes following body movements, but always covers his entire body. Limbo attacks, from whatever direction they touch the edge of that barrier, will slow down. This mechanism is what gives him the primary condition to dodge Limbo.)
(Besides that, when the barrier is touched, there will be a transmission effect like ripples from outside to inside. These ripples faithfully transmit the location and direction of external attacks to his skin through tactile sensation.)
(So he's not seeing Limbo, nor can he sense it directly, but through this indirect perception, he can perform evasive movements.)
(Considering Limbo's signs can't be detected, this personal barrier should always exist as long as he activates his Mangekyo, similar to Kamui in Obito's right eye.)
(However, his greatness isn't just in his Eye Technique, but in a body capable of reacting quickly and precisely to indirect perception from those ripples.)
(This proves he has extraordinary physical quality. His ability in Taijutsu and Shunshin no Jutsu must be at a very high level.)
(Limbo is a technique that can only be countered by Rinnegan and Six Paths Senjutsu, but he with only Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan can handle it casually. With this point alone, he's already worthy to stand before me!)
*WHOOSH!*
Madara stopped Limbo.
Ayato immediately straightened his body without excessive movement. However in reality, that action was extremely close.
(Avoiding the combined attack of four Limbo is the maximum reaction limit my current body can perform with the personal barrier's help. If the Limbo shadows increased by one more, or Madara himself joined attacking with his shadows, I might have to use another method to deal with it.)
Moreover, Limbo could also use the user's abilities, like Susano'o. Madara clearly wasn't serious and was only testing, so Ayato also felt no need to be serious.
Ayato said calmly: "Is the test of my strength finished?"
"Hmph." Madara answered neither confirming nor denying, "The Eye Technique you used from your right eye earlier, what's its name?"
"Omodaru."
"Omodaru? A rare time Eye Technique."
"That's correct, Madara-sama, to immediately recognize this as a time Eye Technique."
"Being able to slow down Limbo which isn't bound by this world's physical laws, that's definitely not a slowdown at the physical level. Besides time technique, what else could it be? Omodaru's true power shouldn't be limited to just that personal barrier, right?"
Ayato openly acknowledged: "Yes, that's just the most basic ability."
Madara lowered his previously folded arms, looking enthusiastic: "Show me its higher-level ability!"
It seems that despite experiencing a bitter end, Madara's fighting desire remained unchanged, and he could even set aside other matters for the moment.
Ayato said: "That's not a problem for me. But rather than my Eye Technique, shouldn't Madara-sama first ask why you were revived with Edo Tensei here?"
"Hahaha." Madara laughed briefly, then said in a dark tone: "If I ask, I might have to finish you off immediately! If I don't ask, I can still have a little more fun!"
"I see, truly..." Ayato already understood the situation.
Before his actual death, Madara had achieved a hundred years of peace with Hashirama, and could be said to have acknowledged Hashirama's ninja way.
The Madara standing here now was no longer a symbol of darkness. If Ayato truly had ill intentions toward the ninja world, Madara would definitely finish him off on the spot.
Madara stretched his arms, taking a few steps to get accustomed to this body. It was clear he wasn't underestimating his opponent at all, but rather considering him an equal. Besides... other than Naruto and Sasuke, only Ayato before him could dodge Limbo!
He said enthusiastically: "Come here~ next I won't use Limbo, attack me as you like!"
Ayato didn't respond immediately; he looked down at the mechanical watch on his right wrist.
The time showed 7:58 PM.
(Alright... for Madara-sama to listen to me seriously, I must first satisfy his curiosity.)
*CRACK!*
Ayato activated a very strong purple lightning element in his left palm, covering the wrist until it solidified.
This hand-seal-less lightning ninjutsu was Shiden—a technique Kakashi developed after losing his Sharingan following the Fourth Ninja World War.
"Purple lightning element, development of nature transformation? Its power seems quite decent." Madara said casually while seeing the purple lightning glow in his eyes.
(Then, how will you use your right eye's ability so that technique can hit me? Let's see.)
"Huuu." Ayato took a deep breath inward, then launched a frontal attack toward Madara!
(Oh? Attacking from the front? Want to approach me while using Omodaru to slow my movements? Too bad, I won't let you get close that easily...)
Madara raised his hand and formed the Horse seal in front of his chest! "Katon: Goka Mekkyu—"
At that moment, when Ayato ran to the position where Madara had stood during his earlier warm-up, he raised Shiden and his right eye emitted a garnet red glow!
"Reverse!"
Omodaru!
*WHOOSH!*
Madara, who had almost released his fire ninjutsu, suddenly disappeared from his spot. Along with faintly vibrating black lines in the air, he suddenly appeared right in front of Ayato's palm, right at the sharp edge of Shiden!
He returned to the starting point when he had just begun his warm-up movements. What was more fatal, his hand seal movements also repeated back to their initial position when he was still folding his arms. Even the fire element chakra that had already gathered in his throat... vanished without a trace!
*ZRIIII!*
Realizing something serious, Madara took a sharp breath and tried to distance himself with all his might!
However... Ayato had already taken full advantage with his Eye Technique, and his follow-up movements were very fast and flowed like water!
*SWISH!*
Shiden shot forward, destroying Madara's left arm that hadn't had time to lower, while simultaneously slashing the Hashirama facial features displayed on his chest!
Madara retreated and stopped his steps, staring at Ayato speechless for several moments.
Ayato didn't continue attacking recklessly; he stopped his Shiden and said: "Reversing time, that is the higher-level use of Omodaru."
"And to still be able to avoid a fatal attack while already hit by that technique, only the legendary Uchiha Madara could do it!"
*CRACKLE-CRACKLE!*
Dust reformed Madara's left arm, then smoothed back the Hashirama face on his chest.
After a long time, Madara finally came to his senses and asked: "What's the maximum time limit you can reverse?"
"About five minutes." Ayato answered calmly.
Because in his plan, Madara and "someone else" were very important characters, and they would work together for a long time, so there was no need to hide something that would be revealed sooner or later.
Madara's gaze became heavy.
Omodaru was undoubtedly an Eye Technique more unreasonable than Obito's Kamui mechanism. Moreover, reversing time might not yet be the entire power of this technique, let alone the entire power of both his eyes. Someone who could awaken eyes like this... in any era, couldn't possibly be an unknown person.
Madara asked with a serious expression: "Ayato? Your power is very impressive. Why wasn't your figure seen during the Fourth Ninja World War?"
"Because at that time, we were still in the development stage. My brother and I only had ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan. Why waste our limited eye power in a war that would definitely be won?"
"My initial plan was for the two of us to give each other one eye so each would obtain Eternal Mangekyo. After the war ended, we would convince Naruto and Sasuke to form an alliance to face powerful enemies from outside."
"But I never expected that one day my brother would leave me, dying in an unclear way. Even with Edo Tensei... his soul couldn't be summoned back! I also never expected Naruto's side to be that stubborn. Finally, I was forced to inherit both my brother's eyes and readjust my plan!"
Ayato thought of many things, but what came out of his mouth were only four words: "The time hasn't come."
"Hm?" Madara raised his eyebrows, staring at him deeply.
The time hasn't come.
In the Fourth Ninja World War, the five great nations formed an alliance, Obito and he alternately absorbed the Juubi to become Juubi Jinchuriki, after that bastard Black Zetsu betrayed him, even Otsutsuki Kaguya descended... a war that tremendous, yet the other party said "the time hasn't come"?
So actually, what does the other party want to fight against?
Those four words, brief yet full of mystery, made Madara curious about the man before him—a man whose face resembled young Hashirama but whose aura resembled his younger self.
(Young man, you've succeeded in catching my attention...)
Madara asked: "Tell me, what's your purpose in reviving me with Edo Tensei here!"
Ayato looked at his watch once more. 8:00 PM sharp. It seemed it was time. He raised his face to ask Madara's opinion: "Would you mind if we talk somewhere else?"
Madara had already noticed Ayato kept looking at his watch.
(Heh, interesting, seems he's someone who really values time...)
Madara: "Why? Is there a difference?"
Ayato: "Yes. This place is specifically prepared for the Edo Tensei ritual, it's gloomy and the lighting is poor, not a pleasant place for chatting. Moreover, there are no comfortable chairs, nor delicious tea and snacks. Two men chatting dryly here are like sick people."
Madara thought to himself: (Heh, seems he not only values time but also values location comfort. I intentionally want to make it more difficult.)
"What if I don't want to go?"
Ayato said: "Then please feel free to look around first, see the current condition of the ninja world. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock sharp, I'll come looking for you!"
Madara tilted his head, feeling puzzled.
It seemed Ayato wasn't only strong in the concept of time and place but also had strong principles!
Wasn't the other party really afraid that in one night he would do something excessive out there? Wouldn't Naruto and Sasuke seek a reckoning with him?
"Alright, where are we going?"
Besides, rather than having nothing to do, let's see what he wants.
"To my home."
"Where is your home?"
"A thousand kilometers from here, in the Land of Lightning."
"Are we walking there?"
"No, flying."
Ayato took large steps approaching Madara, then placed his hand on the legend's shoulder.
*BUZZ!*
A black vortex emerged from Ayato's right eye.
After being sucked in, a vast white world appeared before their eyes, many box-shaped rooms visible there.
"Where is this?"
"The Dataru Time Zone, a dimensional space inside my Omodaru. Using this space as a transit point, I can also perform space-time movement..."
Madara: "😐"
*BUZZ!*
The scenery changed again. Under the night wind and moonlight, a warm little cottage appeared before their eyes. A beautiful woman was already waiting there to welcome them.
"Darling, welcome home~. And next to you... is Madara-ojisan, right?"