Tobi and Black Zetsu controlled Nagato, barely dodging Zenkichi's laser in a panic.
Zenkichi slowly released the beam—golden light flaring from his body. Nagato, under the control of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, narrowly avoided the strike.
"How terrifying."
"They're fighting each other, yet still managing such clean dodges…"
"If you weren't fighting among yourselves, wouldn't I be dead already?" Zenkichi remarked casually. The laser at his fingertips kept firing, leaving glowing marks across A Fei's body.
…
In an underground stronghold in the Land of Rain, Uchiha Madara listened to Black Zetsu's report.
"Zenkichi from Kirigakure actually found Nagato? Damn it."
"Even the secret of the Rinnegan was exposed. Looks like I'll have to step in myself."
"If he seizes the Rinnegan… or worse, destroys it… everything I've built will be ruined."
Madara turned to the Gedo Statue behind him, forming hand seals. A tremendous wave of life force surged out from the statue, traveling through the chakra receiver tube into his body. As he absorbed the massive energy, Madara's withered white hair rapidly darkened, and his old face regained youth.
"Half an hour? That's enough."
With a cold smile, Uchiha Madara severed the tube and moved out—his destination: Nagato.
—Akatsuki Base—
Zenkichi fired off another laser, drawing a crude tattoo on Tobi—a Peppa Pig face emerging on his chest.
"Beautiful," Zenkichi nodded with mock satisfaction.
Black Zetsu and Tobi were on the brink of collapse. Zenkichi was clearly toying with them, which only heightened their fear and despair.
Suddenly, Zenkichi frowned and turned toward the land in front of Nagato.
The ground trembled—and shattered. A massive figure emerged.
Wild black hair, flowing like a mane. Seven thick black braids flowed down his back, covering one eye. His presence exuded dominance.
Uchiha Madara!
"So, you finally showed up, Uchiha Madara."
"You were surprisingly hard to track down. I searched everywhere but couldn't find you," Zenkichi said, his tone casual—but his eyes sharp.
Madara narrowed his gaze. "You knew I was alive?"
Zenkichi smiled. "Of course. Didn't you have someone drug me, trying to turn me into your puppet?"
"I haven't paid you back for that! I've been searching high and low to return the favor."
Madara glanced at Nagato and scoffed. "You even know about the Rinnegan… You know quite a lot."
Zenkichi smirked. "Naturally. The White Zetsu you sent knows all kinds of things."
Madara's tone turned low. "You extracted memories from White Zetsu? You've got tricks…"
Nearby, Jiraiya, Yahiko, and the others were stunned.
Jiraiya stared at Madara in disbelief. "That's… Uchiha Madara? Impossible!"
"Madara was killed by the First Hokage. He shouldn't be alive, much less looking so young."
Madara glanced at Jiraiya with disdain and ignored him completely.
Zenkichi commented dryly, "Hard to believe, right? But it's the truth."
"Uchiha Madara never died. He even awakened the Rinnegan—that's what Nagato's eyes are."
Tobi's head opened like a blooming flower, revealing Nagato's half-black, half-white face.
Black Zetsu and Tobi forced Nagato's hands to his face, gently pressing on the eye sockets. The Rinnegan was extracted.
Nagato screamed, struggling, but was pinned down by Tobi and Black Zetsu.
"Nagato!" Jiraiya and Yahiko looked on in panic, unable to act due to Nagato's restraint.
"Madara-sama, your eyes," Tobi said, handing over the bloody Rinnegan.
Uchiha Madara took them calmly and began the transplantation on the spot.
For someone like Madara, who possessed Hashirama cells, replacing eyes was as easy as plugging in a tool.
With the Rinnegan implanted, Madara declared calmly, "It was foolish of you not to strike earlier."
Zenkichi shrugged. "Really? Don't underestimate me. I'm practically a monster."
"The reason I let you have those eyes… is because beating you while you're using the Rinnegan has more value to me."
"Either way, it makes no difference to me. With or without the Rinnegan—you still won't win."
Madara's face twisted in fury. "Arrogant fool! Do you think I'm like those weaklings who couldn't touch you?"
Zenkichi spread his arms. "Haven't you figured it out yet? You're wasting your breath."
Without another word, Madara raised his hand and summoned a black receiver rod made with Yin-Yang Release. He flung it like a kunai.
"Interesting," Zenkichi said, raising his elementalized palm and catching the rod.
"Pointless."
"Unless you have the Truth-Seeking Orbs, you can't hurt me."
"What a pity…"
"War Demon—Uchiha Madara… your time ends here."
"The legend of the battlefield's thorn ends now."
Zenkichi clenched his fists and sneered.
"Speed is weight."
"Battlefield rose…"
"Ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Zenkichi casually raised his leg, golden cross-light spiraling around his heel.
---
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