Chapter 454: Madara's Defeat
Madara was completely stunned by Obito's words.
As the former leader of the Uchiha Clan, he naturally understood the clan's mental state very well.
But he never expected Obito's mind to become twisted to this level.
Could this really be a side effect of getting cut off back then?
Madara suddenly felt some regret. If he had known this would happen, he would've left Obito half of it. Or maybe he could've used Hashirama cells and White Zetsu flesh to make him a new one and attach it.
But after thinking about it carefully, that probably wouldn't work either.
Because if he did that, would it count as Hashirama's, White Zetsu's, or Obito's?
Maybe fate would still somehow correct itself and turn him into the same mentally twisted person he was now.
Madara had no more ideas.
It seemed there was no way to talk Obito into cooperating anymore.
So he could only use force.
Madara shut his mouth and silently walked toward Obito again and again with an expressionless face, launching attacks only to be beaten back and smashed to the ground repeatedly before recovering once more.
While fighting back, Obito also kept thinking of ways to deal with him.
He had already successfully blocked Madara's mental attacks. Madara truly believed he had some strange fetish now.
But even so, Madara still refused to give up. He planned to use the most basic method possible, relying on the endless regeneration of the Reanimation Jutsu to slowly wear Obito down until he died.
What could make Madara give up?
As Obito kept throwing punches, memories from the past surfaced in his mind.
Ever since that inherently evil Kakashi had first transferred poop and then even an entire cesspit using Kamui, Obito's moral bottom line had already been dropping lower and lower.
He had even copied Kakashi and used Kamui to absorb a cesspit himself.
Not long ago, just to avoid getting hit by Izanami, he had even used that forbidden technique involving getting drenched in filth on himself.
To achieve his goal, he would use any means necessary. He could even abandon his humanity.
This was the dark will a true villain should possess.
So now, in order to avoid being slowly worn to death by Madara, he also had to throw away all morality, ethics, humanity, and common sense!
"Hm?"
Madara continued walking forward as usual, like a machine that never grew tired.
But this time, the punch Obito threw suddenly stopped halfway.
"I know what I need to do now."
Obito raised his arm and stared directly at Madara.
Madara suddenly felt something was wrong. A bad feeling rose in his heart.
"Obito, what are you trying to do? Insolence! Stop right there! How could you do this to Nohara Rin?! Stop!!!"
Madara's voice gradually shifted from anger to despair.
He never imagined Obito's bottom line could actually be even lower than his own!
Madara had thought pretending to romance Granny Chiyo in order to revive himself was already shameless enough.
But now, just to avoid being worn down to death, Obito had chosen to…
"Madara, I'll give you one more chance. Leave this place, and I'll let you go. But if you keep attacking me, then don't blame me for what happens."
"You're right. You did save my life. Since you're my savior, then of course I should devote my body to you and make you happy…"
Obito had started threatening Madara in return.
That's right. Obito realized pain couldn't stop Madara, so he chose another method instead—he decided to make Madara feel good.
And sure enough, Madara could endure pain, but he couldn't endure comfort.
"Let go of me! Obito! How about this, you give me the Hashirama cells so I can recover some of my strength. I'm skilled in Fire Release. I can help remove the restraints on your body."
"Are you really willing to stay trapped here forever? White Zetsu can't save you!"
Madara quickly proposed another deal.
Since force wasn't working, he tried taking the soft approach.
But Obito wasn't about to trust Madara's "let me do this first, then I'll help you later" routine. He immediately prepared to help Uchiha Madara enter "Sage Mode."
"Stop! I-I'm leaving!"
In the end, Uchiha Madara truly couldn't endure such humiliation and chose to retreat.
The great Uchiha Madara had actually been defeated because of something like this.
It filled him with shame.
At the same time, he felt complete disgust toward Obito's total lack of limits.
But ironically, because Obito had no bottom line at all, Madara no longer doubted Obito's earlier act about having strange tastes.
"Sigh."
Madara let out a long sigh and backed away from Obito's room.
He had no choice but to retreat.
Obito had become completely mentally twisted.
This place really was the easiest location for Madara to obtain Hashirama cells and recover his strength.
But it wasn't his only chance.
So there was no point continuing this struggle.
Uchiha Madara decided to explore the cave base and see if there were any other gains to be found.
What if this place also served as a laboratory, with some stored Hashirama cells hidden somewhere?
Madara walked toward a fork in the path. But just as he reached it, a ray of sunlight suddenly shone ahead.
The entrance had been opened again!
Someone had entered!
Madara immediately turned around, instinctively trying to hide.
But he quickly stopped himself.
What was the point of turning around?
Did he really need to search for hiding places in this cave?
After walking through it earlier, he knew the layout perfectly well.
At the end of the path behind him was Obito's room.
Even if he went back, he could only return there.
And that room only had one bed. There was nowhere to hide.
Besides, if he went back now, Obito might…
Left with no choice, Uchiha Madara could only pretend to be dead for the moment.
He stood there completely motionless.
At the same time, a group of people stood outside the cave entrance.
They were the original members of the Akatsuki.
Some of them had names, while others didn't even get names in the original story.
The ones whose names were known were:
Idaten (Swift Foot ) Kyūsuke — an absurdly overpowered-sounding name. Just hearing it, you'd think he was the Sage of Six Paths' third son. Asura, Indra, Idaten… somehow it didn't even sound out of place.
Daibutsu — ...This name was way too straightforward.
Kie —? Using a verb as a person's name?
Megue — the only woman among them with a proper name.
Kusuke — finally, a normal human name.
"Megue, I know you're kindhearted and have already let go of your hatred. We won't force you to come inside with us, so you should stay outside."
"Yeah. The hatred burning in our hearts can't be extinguished. We need to let it out. But you're different."
"Our methods might become very cruel. You really shouldn't come with us."
The original Akatsuki members spoke one after another, persuading Megue to remain outside.
And Megue agreed.
She didn't want to interfere with her companions' revenge.
She herself had let go of hatred, but she would never stop her companions from taking revenge.
Their revenge was justice. No matter what they did, she would support them.
And so, the original Akatsuki members entered the cave.
After they went inside, Megue stayed behind and sealed the entrance again for them.
"Konan-nee said the guy who killed us is somewhere inside this cave. Let's split up and search!"
Idaten Kyūsuke immediately proposed the idea to everyone.
"Split up? That guy is extremely strong. If we separate, won't he just defeat us one by one?"
Daibutsu's somewhat chubby face showed worry.
"Defeat us? So what? We're Reanimation bodies now. We're already dead. What can he even do to us?"
Idaten Kyūsuke laughed dismissively.
(End of this chapter)