Arc 21The Fall of Madara

Shōji defeated Konoha’s forces, brought Sunagakure under Iwagakure’s control, and faced the allied villages as they tried to stop his campaign of unification. After defeating Hashirama and Tobirama, Shōji fought Madara and exposed the truth behind the Eye of the Moon Plan, leaving Madara to reconsider his despair.

  • Shōji defeated Jiraiya, Chōza, and Might Guy, captured Nara Shikaku, and secured Konoha’s surrender after Sarutobi Hiruzen named Jiraiya Fifth Hokage.
  • Iwagakure conquered Sunagakure, killing Rasa and its other leaders, while Gaara agreed to go with Rōshi to spare his siblings and Yashamaru.
  • Obito and Orochimaru revived Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hatake Sakumo for Danzo, then revived Madara, who reclaimed his Rinnegan from Nagato and returned to life.
  • Shōji rejected Hashirama’s plea for peace through negotiation and demanded that Konoha and the other villages surrender to Iwagakure.
  • Shōji defeated Hashirama and Tobirama, but Madara arrived before Shōji could finish Hashirama and challenged him to join the Eye of the Moon Plan.
  • Shōji warned Madara that Black Zetsu had altered the Stone Tablet to manipulate him into reviving Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, but Madara refused to believe him and attacked.
  • Shōji overcame Madara’s Limbo clones and trapped Madara and Black Zetsu in his Inner Lower World, where he revealed that the Infinite Tsukuyomi would turn humanity into White Zetsu for the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
  • Madara accepted the truth about the plan, let go of his despair, and remembered the hopes he and Hashirama had shared in their youth.
Chapters 504–529 Vol. 6 Read

Ch. 504Easy Capture

Shōji defeated Jiraiya and captured Sarutobi Hiruzen, revealing that he intended to make the Third Hokage witness Konoha's destruction. As Shikaku sent reinforcements toward the battlefield, Might Guy opened the Eight Gates and raced ahead to intervene.

  • Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen attacked Shōji together, but Shōji overwhelmed Jiraiya with his powers and struck him down despite help from Fukasaku and Shima.
  • Sarutobi Hiruzen broke Susanoo's crystal with Enma's Adamantine Staff, but Shōji had lured him close and captured him, leaving him badly injured and unable to fight.
  • Shōji told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he meant to destroy Konoha before killing him and the other leaders he blamed for the Uchiha Clan's suffering.
  • Shikaku ordered Kakashi, Asuma, Chōza, Shibi, and other Jōnin to support Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen while he led the Konoha army forward.
  • Might Guy surged past the other Jōnin with the Eight Gates' power and raced toward the central battlefield.

Ch. 505The Rear Guard

Might Guy shattered Shōji’s Susanoo and helped Jiraiya and Chōza cover Konoha’s retreat, but their combined assault failed to injure Shōji. Guy then prepared to go beyond the Seventh Gate as Shōji faced him again.

  • Might Guy struck Shōji’s Susanoo apart, forcing Shōji to abandon his attempt to seal Sarutobi Hiruzen.
  • Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered a retreat, named Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage, and fell into a genjutsu slumber after Sage Fukasaku used Frog Song.
  • Jiraiya and Might Guy stayed behind to cover the retreat, while Chōza took his clan’s red secret pill and joined them.
  • Shōji attacked with Lightning Release, but Might Guy’s Morning Peacock drove off the lightning and pressured his Susanoo.
  • Might Guy, Jiraiya, and Chōza combined Daytime Tiger and their other attacks to break Shōji’s defenses, but Shōji survived without external injuries.
  • Might Guy smiled despite his pain and prepared to open another gate as Jiraiya and Chōza recognized the danger.

Ch. 506Eight Gates Formation!

Might Guy opened the Eight Gates and unleashed a devastating assault on Shōji, who used his Rinnegan powers to counter him. A cataclysmic final clash left one fighter fallen and the other standing, but the smoke had only just begun to clear.

  • Might Guy opened the Eighth Gate and attacked Shōji with the Evening Elephant, smashing through Susanoo and severely injuring him.
  • Shōji used the Bishamonten Gate Technique to interrupt Might Guy, then struck back with a dragon-shaped blast and Takemikazuchi lightning.
  • Shōji revealed his Rinnegan and used the Way Back Technique to freeze Might Guy in place as he prepared a Truth-Seeking Orb sword.
  • Might Guy unleashed his final power as Shōji’s black blade closed in, triggering a massive explosion that forced nearby fighters to retreat.
  • As the blast subsided, everyone saw one fallen figure and one standing figure, but the chapter did not reveal their identities.

Ch. 508The End of Life and Death

Uchiha Shōji killed Jiraiya and Chōza after defeating Might Guy, then ordered Iwagakure to end its pursuit and secure the battlefield. As White Zetsu carried news of Shōji’s Rinnegan to Obito, Nara Shikaku was brought before Shōji as a prisoner.

  • Shōji killed Chōza, then granted Jiraiya a final wish before killing him; Fukasaku and Shima returned to Mount Myōboku after Jiraiya released their summoning.
  • Shōji assessed his severe injuries after surviving Might Guy’s Eight Gates attack, and Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and Deidara came to his aid.
  • Shōji ordered Itachi to stop Ogata from pursuing the retreating Konoha Ninja and to demand the surrender of those left behind.
  • Iwagakure’s forces defeated or captured the remaining Konoha Ninja, including Nara Shikaku, while Medical Ninja treated Shōji’s wounds.
  • White Zetsu left the battlefield to report Shōji’s Rinnegan and the battle’s events to Obito.
  • Ogata brought the captured Nara Shikaku before Shōji.

Ch. 509This Was the Choice Given to Them

After Iwagakure defeated Konoha’s reinforcements, Shōji persuaded captured Nara Shikaku to accept Iwagakure’s rule in order to protect his clan and allies. Shōji turned toward his plans for unification while Obito negotiated with Danzō over his stolen Mangekyō Sharingan and revealed three coffins containing Impure World Reincarnation targets.

  • Shōji ordered Ogata to gather the dead, recover anything useful, and report the battle’s results to the Third Tsuchikage.
  • Shōji reminded the despairing Shikaku that his family and clan depended on him, then urged him to choose surrender over further bloodshed.
  • Shikaku agreed on behalf of the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio to support Iwagakure’s plans, and Shōji had his restraints removed.
  • Shōji told Itachi that he wanted to unify the shinobi world while minimizing casualties, then returned to the stronghold without pursuing Konoha’s retreating forces.
  • Obito offered Danzō the means to oppose Shōji in exchange for Obito’s stolen eye, while Orochimaru stood beside three coffins prepared for Impure World Reincarnation.

Ch. 510The Mantis That Thought Itself the Oriole

Danzo negotiated with Obito and Orochimaru for control of three resurrected shinobi, while Obito secured a defensive barrier around his Mangekyō Sharingan. Danzo believed he had gained powerful allies, but Obito and Orochimaru had hidden motives; Obito then turned his attention to Akatsuki and Nagato.

  • Obito pressured Danzo to cooperate against Uchiha Shōji, and Danzo countered by pointing out that Obito also needed Konoha to remain standing.
  • Obito agreed to let Danzo use the resurrected shinobi if Orochimaru placed a defensive barrier on Obito’s eye and reinforced the reincarnation technique.
  • Orochimaru gave Danzo the control formulas and special kunai, then sealed Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan against destruction.
  • Obito and Orochimaru left the underground chamber, while Danzo opened the coffins and found Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hatake Sakumo inside.
  • Danzo celebrated his supposed advantage, unaware that Obito’s barrier formula served another purpose and that Obito had staged his earlier reactions.
  • Obito warned Orochimaru to honor their arrangement, then headed west to address Akatsuki and use Nagato to test Uchiha Shōji.

Ch. 511The Shinobi World's Repeated Shock!

Obito and Black Zetsu learned that Shōji had awakened the Rinnegan and defeated Konoha’s much larger army, so they abandoned their original timetable and decided to revive Madara. News of Konoha’s devastating defeat spread among the great villages, leaving Kumogakure retreating and Kirigakure stunned.

  • Obito left Orochimaru, who withdrew to his secret base to pursue the truth of the world.
  • News spread that Shōji had led Iwagakure to defeat Konoha’s army, killing Jiraiya and leaving the Third Hokage badly injured.
  • A White Zetsu reported that Shōji possessed the Rinnegan and that Might Guy’s Eight Gates had unleashed terrifying power before Guy died.
  • Obito questioned Black Zetsu, who urged him to revive Madara immediately because Akatsuki could no longer oppose Shōji.
  • Obito agreed to have Black Zetsu find Orochimaru and use Impure World Reincarnation to summon Madara, while keeping Nagato under control.
  • The Fourth Raikage retreated Kumogakure’s army, while Terumi Mei and Genji received the news and reeled at Konoha’s defeat.

Ch. 512Kirigakure's Move, Sunagakure's End

Kirigakure mobilized for war against Iwagakure, while Iwagakure defeated Sunagakure’s final army and began taking control of the village. Kitsuchi captured Gaara and reassured Temari and Kankuro that they would be safe.

  • Genji urged Terumi Mei to join forces with Konohagakure and Kumogakure against Iwagakure, and Kirigakure began emergency wartime mobilization.
  • Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizo died when Kitsuchi and Rōshi defeated Sunagakure’s final army, leaving fewer than three thousand wounded survivors to surrender.
  • Kitsuchi entered Sunagakure, took control of its facilities, and knocked out Yashamaru when he tried to guard Rasa’s residence.
  • Kitsuchi and Rōshi found Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara, and Gaara agreed to go with them if they spared his siblings and Yashamaru.
  • Rōshi took Gaara toward Iwagakure while Kitsuchi promised Temari and Kankuro that they would be cared for and could eventually return to their former lives.

Ch. 513A Tide Sweeping Across the Entire Shinobi World

After Sunagakure fell, Shōji ordered Iwagakure to garrison the Land of Wind and shift its forces toward Kumogakure, assigning Itachi to the coming campaign. In Konoha, the elders faced the threat of Iwagakure and debated Hiruzen’s resignation, with Tsunade emerging as the likely successor.

  • Kitsuchi reported that Iwagakure had captured Sunagakure and killed Rasa and the village’s other leaders, and Shōji ordered most of the occupying army recalled for a campaign against Kumogakure.
  • Shōji told Itachi that Sunagakure had fallen and assigned him to fight alongside Deidara and Kurotsuchi, advising him to use his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan carefully.
  • Ōnoki and Kitsuchi began preparing forces for the next campaign while arranging to garrison Sunagakure and incorporate the Land of Wind into the Land of Earth.
  • The Konoha F4 met to confront the crisis, and Danzo blamed Hiruzen for allowing Shōji to become so powerful.
  • Hiruzen accepted responsibility and said he would resign after the crisis, but then revealed that he had summoned Tsunade to return as a candidate for Fifth Hokage.

Ch. 514Scheming and Counter-Scheming

Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed uniting the shinobi villages and contacting Uchiha Obito to counter Uchiha Shōji, while Danzō insisted he could defeat Shōji with the First and Second Hokage reborn through Impure World Reincarnation. The Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and Hatake Sakumo then appeared with their consciousness intact, revealing that Orochimaru and Obito had tampered with Danzō’s plan.

  • Sarutobi Hiruzen called for Konohagakure to contact other villages and consider working with Uchiha Obito against Iwagakure and Uchiha Shōji.
  • Danzō opposed contacting Obito and claimed he could handle Uchiha Shōji himself.
  • Sarutobi Hiruzen suspected Danzō had used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, and Danzō admitted he had worked with Orochimaru to prepare the technique.
  • Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hatake Sakumo appeared as reincarnated bodies with their consciousness intact.
  • Danzō realized Orochimaru and Obito had deceived him and tampered with the reincarnated bodies and the barrier formula.

Ch. 515Hashirama Senju's Decision

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju learned how Konoha had mishandled the Uchiha and faced the threat posed by Uchiha Shōji. The chapter left them preparing to seek allies and speak with Shōji, while Tobirama ordered Danzo to stop acting against Uchiha Obito and address the modifications to his body.

  • Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hatake Sakumo reached the Hokage's office and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others to explain Konoha's history and current crisis.
  • Hiruzen Sarutobi recounted the Uchiha Clan's defection to Iwagakure, Uchiha Shōji's rise as Fourth Tsuchikage, and the devastation he had caused.
  • Tobirama Senju condemned Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Danzo for their handling of the Uchiha, while Hiruzen admitted responsibility.
  • Tobirama ordered Danzo to stop acting against Uchiha Obito and gave him three days to deal with the Sharingan and Wood Release within his body.
  • Hashirama Senju judged that Shōji might surpass even him at his peak, and Hatake Sakumo said the resurrected Hokage had only seventy to eighty percent of their former strength.
  • Tobirama proposed seeking help from other villages, while Hashirama said he wanted to speak with Shōji and try to resolve the conflict peacefully.

Ch. 516Their Separate Plans and Actions

Hashirama and Tobirama organized Konoha’s response to the looming attack while Shōji invaded the Land of Lightning to prevent his enemies from joining forces. Meanwhile, Obito ordered Orochimaru to use Impure World Reincarnation to summon Uchiha Madara, who awoke confused to find himself in an Edo Tensei body.

  • Hashirama insisted on seeking talks with the Fourth Tsuchikage, while Tobirama ordered Konoha to prepare for war and forbade Hashirama from negotiating with Shōji alone.
  • Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other leaders carried out Tobirama’s orders, and Hatake Sakumo returned home, hoping to see his son Kakashi.
  • Konoha’s senior shinobi confirmed that Hashirama and Tobirama had returned, restoring morale, while Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku remained committed to their separate understandings with Shōji.
  • Shōji invaded the Land of Lightning to weaken Kumogakure before it could join forces with other enemies.
  • Obito summoned Orochimaru and ordered him to revive Madara, explaining that Madara’s guidance underpinned their plans.
  • Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation on a White Zetsu sacrifice, and Madara awoke asking why he had been summoned in an Edo Tensei body rather than through Rinne Rebirth.

Ch. 517Madara's Resolution, Before the Clash

Uchiha Madara learned about the years since his death and set out to reclaim the Rinnegan he had given Nagato. He confronted Nagato and Konan in Amegakure, and after Nagato refused to surrender the eyes, Madara prepared to fight.

  • Black Zetsu explained to Madara how events had changed since his death, including Uchiha Shōji's rise and awakening of the Rinnegan.
  • Madara decided he needed to be truly revived to face Uchiha Shōji, then traveled with Obito, Black Zetsu, and Orochimaru to Amegakure.
  • Madara and his companions bypassed Nagato's chakra-rain detection and entered the tower where Nagato and Konan were staying.
  • Madara told Nagato that the mission was complete and that he had come to reclaim the Rinnegan, revealing that the eyes had originally belonged to him.
  • Nagato rejected Madara's claim and attacked with the Deva Path's repulsion, but Madara effortlessly blocked it and surged forward to fight.

Ch. 518End and Rebirth

Uchiha Madara forced Nagato to use the Rinne Rebirth Technique, revived himself, and took back his Rinnegan after Nagato died in despair. Madara set out for Konohagakure to confront Uchiha Shōji as Kirigakure’s army crossed the sea to join the conflict.

  • Uchiha Madara defeated Nagato’s forces, killed Konan, and had Black Zetsu take control of Nagato.
  • Black Zetsu forced Nagato to use the Rinne Rebirth Technique, restoring Madara to a living body while Nagato’s life ran out.
  • Madara gouged the Rinnegan from Nagato and transplanted them into his own eyes, completing his return to peak strength.
  • Madara summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and rejected Black Zetsu’s proposals to capture the remaining Tailed Beasts or revive more warriors.
  • Madara, Black Zetsu, Obito, and Orochimaru headed toward Konohagakure to see Hashirama confront Uchiha Shōji.
  • Terumi Mei led more than thirteen thousand Kiri Ninja across the sea toward the mainland.

Ch. 519Choice and Advance

Terumi Mei joined Konoha’s forces after learning that Iwagakure’s Fourth Tsuchikage, Uchiha Shōji, possessed the Rinnegan, while Hashirama and Tobirama explained the limits of using Impure World Reincarnation. When Shōji redirected his forces toward Konoha and sent Kitsuchi’s army against Kumogakure, both sides prepared for a confrontation at the village.

  • Terumi Mei asked whether Impure World Reincarnation could summon past shinobi to help defeat Shōji, but Tobirama explained that the technique required living sacrifices and had severe limitations.
  • Sarutobi Hiruzen reported that Iwagakure’s vanguard was advancing through the Land of Lightning, so Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure coordinated their forces near the Land of Iron.
  • An Anbu reported that Shōji was leading another Iwagakure army directly toward Konoha, and Hashirama recognized the move as Shōji’s response to his invitation for talks.
  • Shōji sent Kitsuchi, Akatsuchi, Itachi, Deidara, Kurotsuchi, and eight thousand Iwagakure Ninja toward Kumogakure, then marched south with Ōnoki, Shisui, and the remaining forces.
  • Shōji told Ōnoki and Shisui that the reincarnated Hashirama and Tobirama would likely be weaker than they were in life, and he resolved to face Konoha while remaining wary of Madara and Black Zetsu.

Ch. 520Beyond the Clamor of Konohagakure

Shōji brought Ōnoki to meet Hashirama and Tobirama before the combined Konoha and Kirigakure army faced Iwagakure. He argued that unifying the shinobi world under Iwagakure was the surest path to peace, leaving the two Hokage silent and visibly wavering.

  • Hashirama and Tobirama led Konoha's adult forces out to meet Shōji's Iwagakure army, while Terumi Mei's Kirigakure elites joined them.
  • Shōji and Ōnoki approached Hashirama and Tobirama, exchanged respectful greetings, and recalled their past encounters.
  • Hashirama urged Shōji to end the war and settle conflicts through dialogue, but Shōji rejected the appeal as naive.
  • Shōji argued that Konoha's founding had united rival clans and proposed that Konoha merge into Iwagakure to create one nation and village.
  • Shōji blamed Hashirama's refusal to unify the shinobi world and his distribution of the Tailed Beasts for the wars that followed.
  • Hashirama and Tobirama struggled to refute Shōji's argument and began to waver over whether his plan could bring peace.

Ch. 521Arriving Guests, the Battle Begins

Shōji and Hashirama failed to negotiate, with Shōji insisting that Iwagakure would unify the shinobi world by force. Their battle began as the armies clashed around them, while Madara watched from afar and Shōji prepared to face Hashirama and Tobirama.

  • Hashirama argued that peace required mutual understanding and negotiation, but Shōji rejected his proposal and said the other villages must surrender to Iwagakure.
  • Hashirama vowed to stop Shōji, and Ōnoki withdrew as the opposing shinobi prepared for battle.
  • Madara arrived with Black Zetsu, Obito, and Orochimaru to watch the confrontation, while Shōji sensed his presence.
  • Shōji summoned his Susanoo and blocked Tobirama’s Water Dragon Bite Explosion Technique as Hashirama summoned a Wood Dragon.
  • Ōnoki and Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered their forces to attack, and the Kage-level fighters and Tailed Beasts unleashed their strongest techniques.
  • Shōji faced Hashirama and Tobirama’s Wood Dragon and formed a glowing blade in his Susanoo’s hand.

Ch. 522Effortless Offense and Defense

Uchiha Shōji overwhelmed Hashirama and Tobirama with his Susanoo and powerful Dōjutsu while the wider battle continued around them. Hashirama summoned his Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, leaving Shōji facing the Hokage’s strongest attack.

  • Shōji destroyed Hashirama’s wooden dragon with the Totsuka Blade and forced Tobirama to defend against his Yasaka Beads Technique.
  • Tobirama used Flying Thunder God and Water Release to crack Shōji’s Susanoo, but Shōji quickly repaired it.
  • Hashirama trapped Shōji with Deep Forest Emergence and attacked with wooden golems, which Shōji destroyed using Takemikazuchi.
  • The fighters on both sides watched Shōji suppress the former Hokage, while Ōnoki renewed his attack on Sarutobi Hiruzen.
  • Hashirama’s Sage-enhanced defenses and Gate of the Great God failed to stop Shōji, so Hashirama summoned True Several Thousand Hands as his final attack.

Ch. 523An All-Out, Overwhelming Suppression

Shōji overwhelmed Hashirama and Tobirama with his Rinnegan and defeated them, while Iwagakure gained control of the surrounding battlefields. With the allied Konoha and Kiri forces on the verge of collapse, Shōji confronted the immobilized Hashirama and declared that his path to peace had become the world’s choice.

  • Shisui restrained his power while steadily suppressing Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu so he could capture them alive, as the other battlefronts increasingly favored Iwagakure.
  • Shōji empowered Susanoo with Sage Mode and the Dragon Vein, broke through Hashirama’s Kannon Wood Statue, and forced Hashirama to flee with Tobirama’s help.
  • Shōji activated his Rinnegan, used Banshō Ten’in and the Way Back Technique to immobilize the brothers, then destroyed Tobirama’s reanimated body with a Truth-Seeking Orb Sword.
  • With Tobirama gone and Hashirama defeated, the allied Konoha and Kiri forces lost morale as Iwagakure’s troops celebrated their overwhelming advantage.
  • Shōji approached the immobilized Hashirama and told him that his ideals had lost to reality and that Shōji’s chosen path was the world’s only route to peace.

Ch. 524The Arrival of Uchiha Dance King!

Shōji prepared to kill Hashirama when Uchiha Madara intervened, forcing the battle to resume and revealing himself as a living Rinnegan wielder. Shōji confronted Madara over the Eye of the Moon Plan, and the chapter ended with Shōji explaining how Madara survived and was revived through Nagato’s sacrifice.

  • Hashirama accepted that Shōji’s vision of peace might be right and asked him to minimize bloodshed before Shōji raised his Truth-Seeking Orb sword.
  • Uchiha Madara arrived and struck at Shōji, interrupting the execution and causing The Way Back Technique to fail.
  • Hashirama recognized Madara as his living former rival, while Shōji and the arriving Black Zetsu, Obito, and Orochimaru assessed the threat posed by Shōji’s Nine Tomoe Rinnegan.
  • Shōji ordered the Iwagakure Ninja to resume their attack, and fighting continued across the battlefield as the allied forces reacted to Madara’s appearance.
  • Shōji identified Madara’s Eye of the Moon Plan and said Nagato had become Madara’s pawn; Madara invited Shōji to join him, leaving Hashirama confused.
  • Shōji explained that Madara had survived Hashirama’s attack with Izanagi and later used the Rinne Rebirth Technique, which required Nagato’s life.

Ch. 525The Truth Behind the Eye of the Moon Plan

Shōji revealed that Black Zetsu had altered the Stone Tablet to manipulate Madara into reviving Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, but Madara rejected the warning and chose to fight Shōji. Madara immobilized Hashirama and sent Black Zetsu to join the battles below, while Shōji prepared to stop them from escaping.

  • Shōji explained that the Eye of the Moon Plan was false peace and claimed that Black Zetsu had altered the Stone Tablet to arrange Ōtsutsuki Kaguya’s revival.
  • Black Zetsu denied Shōji’s accusations, and Madara chose to trust him despite the doubts Shōji had raised.
  • Madara rejected Shōji’s warning and demanded that he join the plan or oppose him, prompting Shōji to prepare for battle.
  • Hashirama tried to stop Madara, but Madara pulled him close, immobilized him with a Truth-Seeking Orb, and pierced his neck with a black rod.
  • Madara allowed Black Zetsu to assist the forces below in capturing the Tailed Beasts, while Shōji resolved not to let Black Zetsu and Obito escape.

Ch. 526Showdown Between Rinnegan Users

Shōji summoned Satoru to hold off Black Zetsu and joined Uchiha Madara in a battle between Rinnegan users. Madara’s Limbo clones and senjutsu attacks pressured Shōji, who ended the chapter by manifesting his complete Susanoo.

  • Shōji summoned Satoru from the Box of Paradise and ordered it to attack Black Zetsu, while Obito and Orochimaru moved to meet the creature.
  • Shōji and Uchiha Madara clashed with Truth-Seeking Orb swords, then countered each other’s lightning techniques and Madara used Limbo: Border Jail.
  • Shōji saw Madara’s four Limbo clones, blocked their attack, and pressed toward Madara with his Lightning Release technique.
  • Shōji used The Way Back Technique to restrain Madara, but a Limbo clone blocked his strike and Madara escaped the technique’s hold.
  • Madara struck Shōji with Sage Art - Storm Release Light Fang Technique, breaking Shōji’s Truth-Seeking Orb Sword, then attacked again with water-wave lasers.
  • Shōji summoned his complete Susanoo to face Madara’s continuing attack.

Ch. 527The Gap in Dōjutsu Power!

Shōji gained the upper hand against Madara through his superior Rinnegan power and relentless lightning attacks, while the allied forces were overwhelmed elsewhere on the battlefield. Madara summoned a meteor to disrupt Shōji, who restrained Madara’s Limbo clones and flew upward to meet it.

  • Shōji’s lightning attacks restrained Madara’s Limbo Shadow Clones as the Iwagakure Ninja cheered and the Konoha and Kirigakure forces suffered heavy losses.
  • Madara realized Shōji’s Nine Tomoe Rinnegan gave him a clear advantage in Dōjutsu Power, and Shōji’s lightning struck and wounded him.
  • Madara used Wood Release to trap Shōji, but Shōji broke through the barrier with a surge of lightning and forced Madara onto the defensive.
  • Madara rejected the idea of retreating and summoned a gigantic meteor with Tengai Shinsei to shake Shōji and affect the wider battlefield.
  • Shōji used Thunderstorm Rampage Technique to restrain Madara’s four Limbo Shadow Clones, then flew toward the sky as a scorching wave erupted.

Ch. 528Dance of the End

Shōji overpowered Madara in their battle, leaving Madara severely injured and forcing him to gamble on a final attack with Black Zetsu and his Limbo Shadow Clones. Shōji revealed that his preparations had reached their climax and seized control of the four clones, leaving Madara horrified.

  • Shōji destroyed Madara’s giant meteor, broke through his Chibaku Tensei, and struck him with lightning that shattered his Susanoo.
  • Madara detonated a cluster of Yasaka Beads to escape Shōji’s finishing strike, but the blasts severely injured them both.
  • Shōji recognized that Madara had summoned Black Zetsu to support a desperate plan to kill him and regain the Rinnegan.
  • Madara charged Shōji with a Truth-Seeking Orb sword as Black Zetsu moved to attack, but Shōji’s gathered powers restrained the weapon and threatened Madara.
  • Madara summoned his four Limbo Shadow Clones and detonated another attack, but Shōji used the Way Back Bishamonten Gate Technique to take control of them.

Ch. 529The Steps That Never Cease

Shōji trapped Madara and Black Zetsu in his Inner Lower World, then revealed the truth about the Infinite Tsukuyomi and challenged Madara’s belief that an illusory dream could bring peace. Madara accepted that Shōji was right and faced the future with renewed calm.

  • Shōji used the combined suppression of The Way Back Technique and the Bishamonten Gate Technique to seize control of Madara’s Limbo clones and trap Madara and Black Zetsu in his Inner Lower World.
  • Shōji silenced Black Zetsu and explained how Black Zetsu had deceived Madara about the Eye of the Moon Plan.
  • Madara argued that the Infinite Tsukuyomi could still create peace, but Shōji sent him information revealing that it would turn humanity into White Zetsu for the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
  • Shōji rejected Madara’s dream of permanent illusion, defended humanity’s capacity for goodness, and declared that he would keep moving toward a future of endless possibilities.
  • Madara conceded that Shōji was right and let go of his despair, recalling the hopes he and Hashirama had held in their youth.
Arc 21 of 22