Madara's lips curled slightly as he murmured,
"If our enemy comes from beyond this land, then we must rebuild its very foundation."
He slowly turned his gaze to Uchiha Yoru. The sharpness and intensity of his eyes had faded, replaced by a stillness that almost seemed to resonate with Yoru.
"Yoru, I once thought you only wanted to trample the Ninja World beneath your feet... Now I understand. You want to make sure no one ever tramples this land again."
At that moment, Madara's conviction in Uchiha Yoru grew firmer. Yoru's ambition far surpassed the obsession Madara had once held.
Uchiha Yoru gave a slight nod, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful. Yet behind that calm, an unmistakably fierce will burned.
"Before the shadow of a god descends, someone must be the first to light the flame."
His voice was low and resolute, as if heralding the arrival of fate.
"We are that flame."
Madara gazed up at the sky. It was as dark as iron, with low-hanging clouds and howling mountain winds, as though the entire world held its breath in anticipation.
"Then let me become the blade of that flame."
As the words fell, a gale rose. Their robes snapped in the wind as the two figures stood solemnly on the eve of the apocalypse, like monuments carved into the storm.
Uchiha Yoru walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down into the ravine. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"Summoning Technique: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"
As the incantation rang out, the valley trembled. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared from thin air, bringing divine pressure down upon the mortal world.
Nine enormous arms slowly emerged from behind the statue, like silent judges pointing toward the heavens.
They reached with chilling precision