Beside the battlefield.
Orochimaru watched the three people who had suddenly appeared, his gaze sweeping over Minato and Shizune, and landing on the nearly dead Naruto.
"Hehehe, is there anything you need my help with?"
"Edo Tensei the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki." Minato said hurriedly.
His heart was very uneasy, and he was very worried that Orochimaru would refuse.
But he didn't expect Orochimaru to agree so quickly. "I need someone who is dead."
Sasuke stared coldly at Naruto on the ground. Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, he snapped out of it, as if he had never looked at Naruto, closed his eyes, and sneered, "So you are such a benevolent person."
"Hehehe, after all, I am still Hiromi's subordinate now."
"Hmph!"
Minato immediately disappeared to grab someone who was looting during the war and returned in less than three minutes.
The one Orochimaru Edo Tensei'd was the former Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee.
"Fool, ya fool!"
After Bee reflexively struck a hip-hop pose, he felt his condition, felt the disgust for the world, and looked around in confusion.
Bee was not stupid. In fact, he was quite smart. In just a few seconds, he understood his situation.
"I have already died, yet now I am alive..."
He looked at Orochimaru and asked, "Did you resurrect me?"
Orochimaru smiled. "It doesn't count as resurrection, it's just the soul descending back."
Seeing this, Minato immediately came to Naruto's side and asked, "Naruto, Bee has appeared. What's next?"
Naruto was in great pain, his consciousness drifting, as if he wanted to enter a certain place but could never get in.
Bee's gaze was drawn over by Minato's words. His gaze landed on Naruto, and in just an instant, he sensed the eight Tailed Beast Chakra within Naruto and couldn't help but let out a surprised "Eh".
Then, he smiled. "Although I don't know what's going on, since they are all willing to believe you, I'll believe you too."
"Gyuki, sorry."
Bee poured the remaining Eight-Tails Chakra from his body into Naruto.
Naruto's consciousness arrived at a strange place, listening to a strange old man tell a strange story.
—
The battlefield.
Madara no longer maintained his Susanoo, instead entering the fray with taijutsu against the Uchiha, intending to eliminate the Mangekyo users first.
Although he had killed six Mangekyo users and used his Rinnegan to absorb Ninjutsu, he still found himself locked in a grueling battle.
At this moment, he sensed something and revealed a wild, fervent smile. "Finally, I can have a real fight!"
"This fluctuation is..."
Shisui also sensed it, his expression shifting slightly.
Rinne Tensei!
Hissing white mist rose from Madara's body, and at the same time, a strange thumping sound echoed.
Thump-thump!
Thump-thump!
Thump-thump!
The next moment, a formidable Chakra raged out from within Madara's body. It was several times more powerful than before.
"This blood-boiling sensation... that's what you call a battle!" Madara felt the intense vitality surging within him, wild and exhilarated.
At this moment, the Rinnegan in his eyes began to crack. Soon, his eyes vanished, leaving only two pitch-black sockets.
Suddenly, black flames erupted from his body for no apparent reason.
Amaterasu!
At the same time, various Mangekyo abilities were unleashed upon him.
All the Mangekyo users realized one thing—if they didn't kill him now, it would be too late.
That raging Chakra, and the ocular power that was still surging even without eyes, all indicated that once Madara possessed eyes, he would be worlds apart from his former self.
And this was precisely why Sasuke stopped sitting on the sidelines, entering the fray to launch a sneak attack with Amaterasu.
But Madara's taijutsu was already formidable, and after restoring his physical body, it became even more so. His speed skyrocketed, allowing him to dodge the abilities of the other Mangekyo users, he was only hit by Sasuke's initial Amaterasu.
The Mangekyo users felt uncomfortable.
To think only Sasuke had succeeded!
Didn't that mean they were inferior to that traitor?
Madara's red armor fell away, and the black flames of Amaterasu left his body, revealing his upper body. On the left side of his chest was a face of Hashirama with eyes closed.
"The untold story of Madara and Hashirama?!" Raichi was shocked, the words slipping out before she could think.
The other clan members were stunned, their expressions gradually becoming twisted.
Hashirama was also taken aback. Under normal circumstances, he would have laughed heartily and said that he and Madara were good friends. But now, he clearly sensed something was wrong.
Madara felt disappointed in this group of Mangekyo users. "A bunch of losers who don't even have a pair of Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan because of some so-called brotherly bond."
Madara curled his lips at Hashirama.
"When the two opposites interact, they bear the power of creation. Hashirama, do you still remember what I said to you in front of the Uchiha stone tablet?"
Hashirama answered, "You thought the meaning of the words on the stone tablet was that by working together, two opposing forces could achieve true happiness."
Madara said, "But I also said there was another way to interpret it, right?"
Hashirama's expression was extremely solemn. "That is..."
"Uchiha and Senju—one who possesses both these powers can attain true happiness. Can it not be interpreted that way?" Madara said.
Amidst their conversation, the Mangekyo users couldn't help but burst into laughter, which made Madara somewhat angry, while Hashirama felt it was bizarre.
"What are you laughing at!" Madara shouted.
The Mangekyo users laughed even harder.
Shisui stepped forward and said, "Madara, we cannot see the text on the stone tablet, but Hiromi definitely can. Yet, he never mentioned it. Do you know what that means?"
"Hiromi?" Madara frowned.
"You don't even know of Hiromi's existence?" Shisui frowned, sensing something was amiss.
Perhaps there was some misunderstanding between them and Madara.
Hashirama also sensed it, but he was more aware of Madara's impatience, so he immediately asked to stall for time, "Hiromi? The strongest of the Uchiha clan?"
Shisui said with a smile, "It seems Orochimaru has told you everything."
But Madara laughed. "The strongest? Why doesn't he dare to appear before me? He's just a cowardly weakling!"
As soon as these words fell, the smiles on the faces of the Mangekyo users vanished. Their expressions turned grim, and the killing intent they exuded was several times more ferocious than before. It was as if Madara had touched their reverse scale.
"Shisui! He has already fallen into demonic madness!"
"I never expected that the once strongest of our Uchiha clan would be so ignorant and opinionated!"
They acknowledged Madara's combat prowess, but were very disappointed in Uchiha's naive ideas.
To pin everything on just a stone tablet?
Such a person, and he dares to offend Hiromi?
Unforgivable!
"Shisui, no need to waste words with him!" Raichi wanted to move to kill Madara.
But Shisui shook his head slightly.
The Mangekyo users clenched their fists, suppressing the impulse in their hearts, and stared coldly at Madara.
Although they were reckless, it was only in minor matters. In major issues, they were very obedient. Otherwise, Hiromi would have split the clan long ago.
Shisui looked at Madara and said, "We have all transplanted Hashirama cells."
Madara frowned, sensing something was wrong, but he couldn't quite grasp what it was.
Hashirama was shocked. "You..."
He hadn't expected that his cells were not only possessed by Madara, but even these Uchiha had them.
"Orochimaru helped us transplant them."
Shisui's words instantly caused Hashirama to shift his focus, staring at Orochimaru in the back.
Orochimaru bowed slightly in a leisurely manner, as if to say: "You're welcome."
Hashirama's fists tightened but for now, Madara's situation was more important.
Shisui continued, "The cells of other Senju have no effect on us at all, while a Wood Release brat born from Hashirama cells, who transplanted a Sharingan, couldn't even awaken the Mangekyo."
Madara narrowed his eyes, realizing what it was. "Are you trying to say that Hashirama and I are special?"
"It seems so."
"So what?"
"So, was that Uchiha stone tablet meant for the Uchiha to see? No, it was meant for you to see. It was intentionally shown to you." Shisui played his move, checkmate.
But how could Madara, who had the same personality as Sasuke, possibly reflect on himself?
He would only feel even more convinced that he was indeed the protagonist. He was the only one who could save this world.
"Hahahaha! That's why I am the correct one!" He laughed wildly without stopping.
Shisui's face showed disappointment, and he shook his head, saying nothing.
The next moment, fierce killing intent surged forth.
"Kill!!!"