Аt thаt mоment, Mаdаrа's соnsciousness wаs аdrift in his own spirituаl world. Just a mоmеnt аgо, hе hаd sensed thе prеsenсе of sоmething ехtraоrdinary within his mind.
Fоund it.
A соlossаl trее that blоttеd оut the sky, with whitе thrеads hаnging dоwn likе vinеs, swаying without а brеezе, hаd abruptly apреarеd in his mind.
Is this… thе sрirituаl form оf thе Divinе Trее?
Uсhiha Mаdаrа's ехpression froze. Hе sаw cосoon-like branсhes оn thе Divinе Treе. Sасrifiсеs?
Аfter thе Infinite Tsukuуоmi fаiled, hаdn't the Divinе Тrеe bеen trаnsportеd awaу by those twо brаts? Why wоuld it aрреar in mу consciousness?
Madara began to rack his brain, trying to recall the details of the Fourth Shinobi World War. When he became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he hadn't felt the slightest bit of discomfort.
Madara remembered it clearly. Whether it was when he became the Jinchuriki, during the heat of battle, or at the moment of his defeat and death, his consciousness had never wavered.
He looked up at the Divine Tree before him.
So, after my death, is this the reason for my resurrection in this world?
Madara suddenly reached a hand toward one of the sacrifices on the tree.
Universal Pull.
He yanked one of the sacrifices directly to him. With a slight exertion of force, he peeled open the giant cocoon and pulled out the person inside.
Looking at the terrified face before him, Madara's brow furrowed slightly. He didn't seem to recognize this person, nor was he wearing a ninja headband.
Just as he was pondering the origin of the corpse in his hand, the space before the Divine Tree rippled like the surface of a mirror, forming a watery screen that began to play a series of images.
A cold voice was heard. "Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial." Countless branches shot up from the ground, forming an enclosed space that gradually tightened, crushing everyone inside to death.
Madara looked down again at the face of the corpse. He understood now. This was a crew member from the pirate band he had slaughtered during the day.
So that's how it is. Anyone I kill in the outside world becomes a sacrifice for the Divine Tree in my mind.
But Madara was rather indifferent to this. The number of sacrifices required for a Chakra Fruit or the Ten-Tails was far too immense. If he wanted to kill that many people in this world all at once, he would probably have become the world's public enemy by then.
A small number of sacrifices could, at most, be used to create some White Zetsu. Those strange things weren't particularly strong in combat power, and since he wasn't planning on starting a war, they were completely useless to him.
As if it had read Uchiha Madara's thoughts, the Divine Tree hurriedly extended a branch. On it rested a seed that radiated a gentle, white light.
Uchiha Madara took the seed in his hand. He was still a bit puzzled at first, but in the next second, his pupils constricted, and a hint of delight crept onto his brow.
Is this? A Chakra Seed?!
As someone who had frequently communed with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in his past life, Uchiha Madara's understanding of the Divine Tree was quite profound.
I see. The people I kill in this world can be absorbed by the Divine Tree and converted into Chakra Seeds. This way, the people of this world can learn to use Chakra.
At this thought, Uchiha Madara stood up to leave but was stopped by the Divine Tree. A branch slowly extended before his face, trembling slightly.
It wants me to touch the branch?
Without a second thought, Uchiha Madara grabbed the branch. In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded his mind.
It turned out that from the moment Madara became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki in his past life, a seed of the Divine Tree had lodged itself in his consciousness, accumulating energy through the slaughter of the Shinobi World War.
After his death, a part of the Ten-Tails' body had carried his soul through Amenominaka and subsequently arrived in this world.
It had initially landed at the bottom of the sea. After absorbing the souls of a vast number of sea creatures, it combined a portion of its heartwood and pith to barely construct his current body before falling into a deep slumber.
It was only today, when he began killing to acquire nutrients, that it had finally reawakened. However, the loss of its heartwood and pith had caused the original body of the Divine Tree that had crossed over to die.
Now, it needed Uchiha Madara's help to reconstruct its body, and then, together, they would ascend to the Six Paths and return to the Shinobi World!
Become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and return to the Shinobi world again?
Don't be ridiculous, you ignorant tool. The stage that belonged to us has already seen its final curtain fall.
The existence of the Divine Tree and the Chakra Seed was, admittedly, a huge surprise for Madara.
Originally, due to the different energies they used, teaching the little brat had been met with great resistance, to the point where he had to specifically study and try to convert his Chakra-based abilities into Haki.
Hmm, with the Chakra Seed and the Chakra Refining Technique, that should be enough for the little brat to study for a while. Besides the Three Basic Jutsu, I'll pick out a few more Ninjutsu that are suitable for her.
Don't misunderstand. This was simply part of repaying a debt of gratitude. The little brat was not his apprentice!
.......
Knock, knock, knock. Uchiha Madara had just left his consciousness space when a series of urgent knocks came from the door.
"Master~ Master~ I've run into a problem! Open up~"
Speak of the devil. Uchiha Madara hadn't even had time to select the Ninjutsu before the little brat had arrived uninvited.
Just as Uchiha Madara was about to get up and open the door, he saw it was already open. The little brat, covered in injuries and grime, came running in.
Ah, right. She had ripped the doorknob off when she'd burst out earlier…
Watching the little whirlwind of a girl barge in, Uchiha Madara expressionlessly lifted her by the scruff of her fated neck and placed her outside the door.
Gion: Huh?
He closed the door and silently recited in his mind.
Wood Release: Handle Restoration.
From the hole where the handle had been, a mass of wood quickly grew, forming the shape of a simple doorknob.
"I did not permit you to enter. How rude, little brat. Knock again!"
Gion: ..... This damned sense of ceremony. Are you a Virgo, Master?
Only after going through the whole process again was the little brat allowed inside.
"Speak. What is it?"
Gion suddenly put her hands on her hips, a smug look on her face.
"Hehe, I've already learned the sword style you taught me, Master! n(≧▽≦)n"
Uchiha Madara was somewhat surprised. How long had it been since he taught her? An hour?
"Are you certain?"
Gion nodded.
"Yeah, yeah! I learned it in less than three days! I just told Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku, but they didn't seem very happy about it."
Uchiha Madara froze at her words.
Three days? He had clearly only been communicating with the Divine Tree for a short while. How had three days passed?
But no trace of surprise showed on Madara's face.
"Oh? Show me."
Gion's expression turned a little sheepish. She pressed her index fingers together and said, "Well, I'm still missing a tiny little bit. It's just… it's just that after I finish, I can't seem to make the dummy's neck catch on fire."
As she spoke, she peeked cautiously at Madara. If his expression changed, she was prepared to bolt at a moment's notice.
Madara, however, showed no unusual reaction. That was just something he did out of habit. He never expected Gion to learn it in the first place; the important parts were just the power application and footwork. After all, she didn't even have Chakra.
"A delayed Chakra explosion technique? You can think about that after you've mastered Chakra."
Gion, however, seemed to have spotted a contradiction. She asked, puzzled, "But, didn't Instructor Zephyr tell me that your abilities can't be taught?"
Madara held out his hand. A wooden, spiraling flower bud materialized in his palm. As the bud slowly opened, it revealed a seed inside, radiating a gentle aura.
"A Chakra Seed. With this, you will be able to use the same power as me."
Gion stared blankly at the seed before her, her little mind gradually filling with images of Madara's various abilities.
'Let me show you that man's Jutsu! Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial!'
'Mere specks of dust! Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!'
'This world… needs power. What it needs… are people like you two, who can dance freely before me!!'
'Then, witness the true power of Admiral Gion!!'
At this thought, tears of emotion streamed from the corners of her mouth. Imagining herself returning to Marine Headquarters and reciting these lines under the adoring gazes of her peers, Gion's eyes, as she looked at Uchiha Madara, were filled with a fanatical obsession.
To be continued...