Is Nagato Still Alive?

After hearing Uchiha Ensei's account, Madara Uchiha fell silent for a long time.

When Madara first learned of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, he had scoffed. Mere aliens...

But when he learned that the Rinnegan he took such pride in was standard among the Ōtsutsuki Clan, he realized how powerful his enemies were.

Only now, hearing Ensei describe them firsthand, did he understand the gulf between them.

And that was just one crippled member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

Madara could no longer imagine how formidable a full-strength member might be.

For the first time, he truly felt how old he had become...

Ensei had little idea what Madara was thinking. If he had known, he probably would have explained.

After all, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was among the strongest of his clan. From the memories of his previous life, Ensei knew that the likes of Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, and Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki could not compare to him.

Ensei did not know whether anyone stronger existed, but even if they did, there could not be many.

If, decades from now, their power grew beyond anything he could handle, he would have to find a way out of this world.

"You came to ask me for the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and those White Zetsu... to deal with the contingency Ōtsutsuki Isshiki left behind?"

Ensei had only told him about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and the clone he had left behind. He had not yet described how that battle ended.

"No. The contingency Ōtsutsuki Isshiki left behind..."

"I suppose you could say I've sealed it for now. I have no plans to assemble the Ten-Tails yet."

"So are you giving them to me or not? Stop dragging this out."

Ensei offered no further explanation. He had already told Madara everything he was willing to tell him.