Call.
A powerful gale whipped up layers of atmospheric shockwaves, spreading wildly in all directions. The round table at the center of the venue trembled violently; chairs and utensils were flung aside by the sheer force.
"Damn it! What on earth is going on?"
"What happened?"
Even the Kage present couldn't help but pull back, bracing themselves against the invasion of the howling wind. After a moment, the gale gradually died down. Tsunade and the others finally managed to open their eyes, but the Iwakawa they saw now had completely changed.
Two long, bony horns sprouted from his head, a white mask covered the bridge of his nose upward, and his arms had transformed into a pair of jagged, serrated blades.
"What is this?" Rasa's eyes were wide, his expression dull with shock.
"Resurrección," came Kabuto Yakushi's voice, his tone turning serious. "The Arrancar's unique ability. By releasing the core sealed within their Zanpakutō, they return to their true form."
True form?
Everyone was stunned, looks of disbelief etched onto their faces. In other words, this was Iwakawa's true appearance now. No wonder Kabuto had said they had become different creatures—they truly were no longer human.
"Be careful, he's coming!" Tsunade warned loudly.
Boom.
Iwakawa slammed his right foot into the ground, the wooden floor shattering under the weight. He shot toward the Kage like a cannonball. Tsunade and the others tensed, ready to engage. However, just as the opponent approached them, he suddenly veered off, heading straight for Kabuto Yakushi.
After the initial exchange, Iwakawa's inflated ego had completely cooled. He knew very well that even in his Resurrección state, he was no match for all Five Kage at once. Furthermore, Pain—possessing the Rinnegan—hadn't even made a move yet. If he continued to waste time here, he would likely die a miserable death.
In that case, he would simply complete his task and retreat decisively.
Iwakawa's sudden pivot was truly unexpected. Tsunade and the others had no time to turn back to the rescue; they could only watch as the Arrancar raised a serrated blade and slashed at the seemingly defenseless Kabuto.
Click.
There was a crisp sound, and wood chips flew everywhere. Amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, Iwakawa's blade-hand chopped into a coffin lid that had appeared out of nowhere to block the path to Kabuto.
"When did you...?" Iwakawa's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Before you rushed over, of course." Kabuto, standing safely behind the coffin, pushed up his glasses and smiled. "Please accept this small gift I prepared for you."
Bang.
The words had barely left Kabuto's lips when a massive fist erupted from the coffin, sending Iwakawa flying.
Boom.
Under the terrifying force, Iwakawa coughed up a spray of blood and was embedded directly into the stone wall behind him. Debris flew everywhere as smoke and dust choked the air.
Tap, tap.
A man clad in dark red armor slowly emerged from the coffin, his long hair swaying gently behind him. His eyes revealed an indescribable arrogance and dominance.
"You... you are..." Ohnoki's eyes bulged, his face white with disbelief.
"Uchiha Madara?" Tsunade gasped.
Uchiha Madara? Pain glanced at the armored man and raised an eyebrow. So, the other one truly was a fake?
"This body... does this mean the reincarnation technique was a success?" Madara ignored the people in front of him, looking instead at his own hands, testing the feel of flesh and blood.
"It is not a reincarnation, Madara-sama." Kabuto's voice sounded from behind him. "This artificial body you inhabit was crafted by me personally. Are you satisfied?"
"An artificial body?" Madara turned his head, a look of slight surprise flickering in his eyes. "I remember that brat Aizen conceiving that technology. How did he actually complete it?"
He still remembered when Aizen had first proposed the idea of an artificial body to him. He had offered encouragement on the surface, but in his heart, he had been dismissive. After all, the idea of allowing the souls of the dead to reside in artificial vessels seemed like nothing more than childish nonsense.
He hadn't expected that nonsense to become a reality.
"Yes, it is finished," Kabuto confirmed with a nod and a smile.
"In that case, where is that little devil Aizen? And these people..." Madara glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the gathered Kage. Finally, his eyes settled on Pain. "I see. Nagato is here as well."
As the true master of the Rinnegan, Madara naturally knew that the Pain before him was merely a puppet.
Does this Uchiha Madara also know my identity? Pain frowned, bewildered. Logically, the person he had always interacted with was the masked "Madara." Why did this man also know his name was Nagato?
"There are many things that require explanation, Madara-sama," Kabuto said. "The reason I asked you to come here this time was to deal with—"
Boom.
A loud bang like a thunderclap interrupted him. Iwakawa emerged from the rubble, his face twisted with rage. "Unforgivable! You people are unforgivable! Die!"
Swish.
He lunged toward Madara like a cheetah, his arms blurred as the serrated blades left afterimages in the air.
This is an Actor: "It seems the performance is over."
Puff.
Just as Aizen's message was sent, Iwakawa was suddenly pierced through the heart by a long, curved blade and hoisted high into the air. The owner of the blade was none other than Uchiha Madara's Susanoo.
"Hehe... hahahaha! You're finished! You're all absolutely finished! Aizen-sama... Aizen-sama will kill every last one of you! Long live Aizen-sama!"
Iwakawa let out a frantic, dying cry. His body began to twist unnaturally until, with a violent explosion, he detonated.
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Is Uchiha Madara's resurrection also part of Anran-san's plan?"
This is an Actor: "Ah, yes. Without a character like Madara, the script would inevitably feel a bit monotonous. Don't worry about Nagato's safety; Kabuto will protect him."
Book Artist: "What if Madara decides to attack Nagato? Can Kabuto actually stop him?"
This is an Actor: "What's this? Does Kashiwagi Eri-sensei not believe in me?"
Book Artist: "Pfft—shut up! Even Anran-san isn't allowed to use my pen name in the group chat!"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Since Anran-san said so, I am relieved. Also, for dinner tonight, I'd like sweet and sour pork, twice-cooked pork, and mapo tofu. I want the tofu to be extra spicy."
Curly-Haired Boy: "?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wait, why did the tone of this conversation shift so fast? Also, why is Anran the one cooking?"
Book Artist: "So... what happened to your status as the cool boss behind the scenes?"