Uchiha Madara

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Countless blades of Susanoo descended like a torrential storm, severing the hundreds of Vajra arms of the Edo Tensei Giant Buddha one after another. They crashed down like landslides and tsunamis, causing the very heavens and earth to wail in agony!

As the Buddha's arms collapsed, the earth shook and the mountains swayed. Fissures tore through the ground like a subterranean dragon awakening, while billowing smoke rose to blot out the sun!

The three Hokage turned pale, exerting every ounce of their strength to force the Edo Tensei Giant Buddha into a retreat, yet they could not withstand the crushing pressure and were forced back step by step!

"We cannot keep clashing head-on!"

Senju Tobirama roared, his face livid as he attempted to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape—

But—

It was too late!

The countless arms of the Susanoo Great Buddha converged, molding into a single, massive limb like a pillar of heaven, its giant chakra blade pointed directly at the Buddha!

BOOM!!!

The chakra blade tore through the void, blasting a hole straight through the chest of the Edo Tensei Giant Buddha. The echo of the explosion was deafening, the Buddha's light extinguished, and the divine statue disintegrated!

The Buddha's head shattered like a falling star, fragments flying in every direction; the dignity of a god was utterly trampled under this single strike!

The entire giant Buddha collapsed with a thunderous roar, sending dust and sand soaring into the sky as the world trembled!

The three Hokage tumbled from the crumbling Buddha, their figures disheveled and robes tattered. Before they could even touch the ground, a dark shadow descended!

"Whoosh—!"

Three black Truth-Seeking Orbs streaked through the air, instantly expanding into rings like three black moons. They precisely enveloped the three Hokage, pinning them firmly in mid-air!

"Hm?!"

Hashirama's gaze sharpened, his expression instantly darkening.

"This is..."

The power of the Truth-Seeking Orbs transformed into chains, slithering like living creatures to bind the chakra nodes of the three men, rendering them unable to move an inch!

The Third Hokage's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat streaming down his skin!

"To be able to manipulate the Edo Tensei body... this is no longer a mere ninjutsu!"

Senju Tobirama gritted his teeth, his brows furrowed tightly.

Hashirama's expression was graver than ever: "The Susanoo Great Buddha, combined with this bizarre sealing... Uchiha Yoru is no longer a foe that can be defeated by human strength."

—And at this moment.

The heavens roared, and the gale-force winds cut like blades!

Uchiha Yoru stood at the center of the Susanoo's brow, his pitch-black trench coat fluttering violently. His purple Rinnegan glowed with a chilling, cold light as he looked down upon the three Hokage like a god judging the mortal realm.

"The old era you protect... ends here."

"And I, with the hand of a god, shall reshape the Ninja World."

His tone was calm, yet the pressure was as deep as an abyss, impossible to resist!

As his voice fell, he flicked his finger.

"Clang—!"

The Truth-Seeking Orb chains tightened abruptly, jerking the three Hokage upward to hang suspended in the air, sealed away as if they were mere statues.

The Susanoo Great Buddha stood tall between heaven and earth, like a true god descended upon the world!

A thousand meters away, behind a pile of ruins, a gaunt figure slowly emerged.

Orochimaru!

His pupils shook violently, cold sweat rolling down his cheeks, and even his habitually arrogant fingers trembled uncontrollably.

"Is this... the Susanoo Great Buddha?"

He whispered, his voice hoarse.

Even from a thousand meters away, the oppressive force of that strike felt like a thunderbolt piercing his heart!

"The First was a monster... but Yoru is even more terrifying."

He turned his head, staring at the young man standing between heaven and earth—

Uchiha Yoru.

Those purple eyes were as deep as an endless night sea, as if they could devour all light.

Orochimaru licked his parched lips, his eyes burning with uncontrollable obsession and madness.

"Lord Yoru... you no longer belong to the category of ninja."

"Your bloodline, your ocular techniques, your taijutsu, your chakra... you are an existence that simply could not be born in this era."

"Who on earth... forged you into a god?"

Orochimaru gazed at the Susanoo statue standing tall against the world, his eyes flashing with brilliant, turbulent emotions.

He knew, of course—the Uchiha Yoru before him was no longer an existence he could hope to oppose.

That overwhelming power, even just its aftermath, was enough to reduce him to ashes.

If it were in the past, he might have felt unwilling, angry, or even attempted to find a flaw and quietly lay out a scheme.

But now...

"An existence that cannot be defeated should be understood."

Orochimaru slowly closed his eyes, a faint chuckle escaping his throat.

Uchiha Yoru's goal was the unification of the Ninja World; to end the chaos of war and reshape the order.

And he, Orochimaru, detested nothing more than the chaos and hypocrisy that shackled freedom.

"A unified Ninja World... if that can truly be achieved, it would be the most ideal laboratory."

No interference from disputes, no foolish power games. As long as he demonstrated his value, he could obtain stable resources, a stable environment, and even... gain the "experimental privileges" personally approved by Lord Yoru.

Orochimaru licked his lips and whispered to himself:

"I can endure submission... as long as it does not restrict my research."

"As long as it allows me to see—the gate leading to the truth."

He was a smart man who knew what to fight for and what to yield to.

If Uchiha Yoru could truly become a god, then why couldn't he, Orochimaru, become the god's left hand?

"Surrender? No... this is not a surrender."

"It is... an investment."

The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and his mouth curled into a cunning yet expectant smile.

"Lord Yoru... pray do not disappoint me."

Meanwhile—

On the other side of the battlefield.

Although the two Susanoo Great Buddha had already altered the heavens and the earth, causing the world to change drastically, that area seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier; the violent aftermath disintegrated entirely at the perimeter, unable to advance even an inch.

Black Zetsu had quietly set up multiple barriers long before the war broke out, all to safeguard this critical moment and ensure no variables could interfere.

An anxious Konan was repelled by the barrier time and time again until she fainted.

Its expression grew increasingly gloomy, cold light swirling in the depths of its eyes.

"As expected... this guy is no longer within the scope of a normal human."

"That aura... it is even identical to that detestable older brother!"

At this moment, Nagato knelt on both knees, his face as pale as paper, his body trembling, yet he still held his arms high, allowing that world-destroying chakra to surge madly from his body.

His Rinnegan flickered violently, the purple light illuminating the earth, as if trying to pierce through the barriers of heaven and earth to connect the living and the dead!

Black Zetsu's chakra had long since eroded his will, driving this body to become a vessel for sacrifice.

Nagato opened his mouth and roared, his voice seemingly piercing through heaven and earth:

"--Outer Path: Samsara Heavenly Life Technique!!!"

In an instant, the void shook, space-time rippled like water, and an invisible yet incomparably heavy power descended with a boom from the depths of the Pure Land!

An ancient and powerful soul was precisely locked onto and dragged into the present world!

Winds rose and clouds surged, the world lost its color!

On the earth, dust flew, and a blurred figure slowly took shape amidst the surging chakra—

Blood and bones wove into flesh, skin and hair were reshaped in the wind!

His figure was tall, his expression majestic, clad in a dark red battle robe with the Uchiha clan crest imprinted on the chest!

Those Rinnegan eyes slowly opened, cold and arrogant, as if born to look down upon all things!

"It seems... the plan went smoothly."

Uchiha Madara!

His voice was deep, echoing across the battlefield!

Black Zetsu walked out of the shadows with a sinister smile and bowed respectfully:

"Lord Madara, everything is according to plan."

"Welcome back... to this Ninja World, which is already prepared to be your stage."