But cliché as it may be, before seeing a turning point where Madara could be defeated, Ryou would never betray Madara.
He spoke, imitating Madara's tone: "In this world, things do not always go as you wish. The longer you live, the more you realize that reality is filled only with helplessness, pain, and emptiness."
"In all things of this world, wherever there is light, there must also be shadows. If the concept of a winner exists, there must also be a loser."
"If one harbors the selfish thought of maintaining peace, it will provoke war."
"If one wishes to protect, love will inevitably give rise to hate. There is a causal relationship between them that cannot be separated. This is reality."
Madara nodded from above; it seemed Ryou had truly taken his words to heart.
He wasn't so beyond saving after all.
Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta and shouted at Ryou, "Ryou, do you really believe a world of Genjutsu can solve the curse of the Ninja world?"
Ryou shouted back, "Jiraiya, you are as naive as ever. The resources of this world are limited."
"The Land of Fire is the most resource-rich country on the Ninja Continent, which is why Konoha can talk grandly about peace to small nations that have nothing while living without worry."
"Look at this country. The Land of Rain is a nation whose very name carries tears."
"The rain never stops year-round, and the flames of war never cease. The Daimyo and nobles are extravagantly wasteful, while the survivors of natural disasters are numb and indifferent, like the walking dead."
"When I went to save him, he refused, saying it was God's punishment."
"Jiraiya, tell me, with what can such a country and such a people be saved?"
"..."
Jiraiya fell silent.
Too many people fell silent.
They felt the Eye of the Moon Plan was wrong, but they had no way to make the world better or stop the wars.
They were even more incompetent than Madara. At least Madara was trying to save the world, walking the path he believed in, even if the road ahead was a dead end.
While they only spoke big words about mutual understanding, but would get defensive the moment donating money was mentioned.
Gamabunta barked at the silent Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, why are you wasting your breath on him? Do you need to talk logic when you're here to cut someone down and wreck the place?"
Gamabunta drew his massive tantō and slashed toward Ryou.
Susanoo!
Ryou's Sharingan dōjutsu power erupted, and a half-bodied skeletal giant formed from black Chakra shielded his entire body, blocking Gamabunta's slash.
"What is this?"
It felt to Gamabunta as if he had struck steel.
Jiraiya's expression turned grave. "The same technique as Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha Clan's ultimate Dōjutsu, Susanoo! Has this kid Ryou awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Fukasaku shook his head while looking at Ryou's eyes. "No, his eyes are still three tomoe, but the dōjutsu power they possess far exceeds the three tomoe."
"This skeletal giant is only half-bodied; he cannot yet summon the Perfect Susanoo!"
Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that it wasn't the Perfect Susanoo.
Jiraiya was already struggling a bit against the current Ryou; if it were a Perfect Susanoo, Jiraiya would truly have to flee with his tail between his legs.
"A black Susanoo?!"
Madara watched Ryou's Susanoo.
A Ninja's Chakra is generally blue, which is its base color.
But some special Ninjas or Tailed Beasts have Chakra colors other than blue.
A Tailed Beast's Chakra is red, giving off an ominous and unsettling aura.
Madara's Susanoo is deep blue, and his Chakra is also deep blue.
But Ryou's Susanoo is black, meaning his Chakra is also black, proving that this person is sinister beyond measure, to the point that even his Chakra has become sinister.
Ryou's Chakra was even more evil than Madara's.
Failing his strike, Gamabunta was joined by Gamahiro and Gamaken, who both drew their weapons and attacked Ryou.
Ryou controlled the first stage of Susanoo, using its fists to block the attacks of the three giant toads.
"Villain, take this!"
Gamahiro slashed at Ryou's Susanoo with his twin swords.
Ryou's Susanoo caught Gamahiro's twin swords with its hands.
Gamabunta and Gamaken took the opportunity to attack the Susanoo's flanks.
The strength of a giant Summoned Beast rivaled Monster Strength.
Ryou's Susanoo was still only in its first stage, with neither meridians nor flesh formed, so it naturally couldn't be called an absolute defense.
With a loud crack, Gamabunta and Gamaken shattered Ryou's Susanoo.
Gamabunta shouted, "Ryou, take my blade!"
Monster Strength!
Ryou took a sharp breath as Monster Strength erupted in his arms, his immense power instantly catching Gamabunta's dozen-meter-long cleaver.
Gamabunta's toad eyes widened in shock.
"Ryou, you brat, did you eat fodder or something? To have such great strength."
The tomoe in Ryou's Sharingan spun rapidly, layering dōjutsu power comparable to a dozen Uchiha Clan Jonin, and cast a glance at Gamabunta.
Although Gamabunta also had Sage Chakra in his body, his mastery of Sage Mode was inferior to Shima and Fukasaku, making him unable to resist Ryou's Dōjutsu.
Fukasaku shouted a warning, "Little Bunta, don't look into Little Ryou's eyes!"
But it was too late; with Gamabunta's massive size and huge eyes, there was no way to hide.
Gamabunta's toad eyes changed, reflecting Ryou's three tomoe.
Gamabunta... was controlled by Ryou's Sharingan.
Ryou's current Sharingan dōjutsu power was comparable to a Mangekyo. Although Gamabunta surpassed an average Jonin, the dōjutsu power Ryou released also far exceeded a Jonin's.
With that single lapse in attention, Gamabunta was brought under control.
Once controlled, Gamabunta swung his cleaver to slash at Gamaken and Gamahiro.
Jiraiya quickly formed hand signs and summoned Gamabunta back to Mount Myōboku.
Gamaken and Gamahiro also realized the power of Ryou's Sharingan and did their best to avoid his gaze.
Jiraiya jumped onto Gamaken's head, and Fukasaku reminded him, "Little Jiraiya, conventional Ninjutsu is useless against Little Ryou. You guys stall him."
"Mother and I will prepare the Toad Song of Death!"
Unexpectedly, Ryou overheard Fukasaku and shouted, "Fukasaku, if you dare to perform the Toad Song of Death, I'll dare to summon the Wood Golem."
If Infinite Tsukuyomi is the strongest visual Genjutsu, then the Toad Song of Death is the strongest auditory Genjutsu.
Once heard, one becomes a captive of the illusion; it is a lethal duet!
Even if Madara were hit by this move, it would be difficult to break; the Rinnegan cannot grant immunity to the Toad Song of Death.
Back then, Madara was also controlled because he was caught in the Toad Song of Death. If not for Izanagi, Madara would have met his end right then and there.
But Fukasaku and Shima ignored Ryou's threat.
They began forming hand signs, puffing out their throats, and were about to activate the Toad Song of Death.
"You forced my hand!"
Ryou had no way to deal with the Toad Song of Death at all.
Instead, he steeled himself and delivered two heavy punches to his left and right ears, causing blood to instantly leak from his ear canals.
Ryou used Chakra to destroy his cochleae and auditory nerves.
The Toad Song of Death is an auditory Genjutsu; as long as I can't hear, I won't fall under the technique.
Just like how Guy deals with Kakashi's Sharingan, as long as I don't look into your eyes, I won't fall for the Sharingan's Genjutsu.
By the same logic, if I can't hear, how can you cast a sound-based Genjutsu on me?
Gossip exists all day long; if you don't listen, it naturally ceases to exist!