Avici Banquet, Infinite Hell

The Netherworld had endured to this day. Even though Infinite Hell held only the souls of the worst sinners, the ages had left countless damned souls behind. The bandages hanging from the Divine Tree's branches were proof enough!

Finding Hashirama among hundreds of millions of dead souls was impossible... but Yu had a way!

"Byakugan!"

His gaze pierced layer upon layer, taking in everything as he searched the vast forest for Hashirama!

Rumble!

Behind them, scores of white figures burst from the ground!

"White Zetsu!?" Madara turned, surprise flashing across his face.

They were White Zetsu, all right... but dark-gold pupils gleamed in their dim eyes, and sinister Cursed Seals covered their bodies. They were far more dangerous than any ordinary White Zetsu!

Hell White Zetsu was a more fitting name for them!

Whoosh! Madara formed a hand seal with two fingers, his long hair stirring without wind.

"Sage Art: Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Fwoom!

A vast sea of fire surged forward...

But the Hell White Zetsu merely raised their hands. The flames rapidly dwindled, then vanished without a trace!

At the sight of the familiar marks on their palms, Madara's pupils contracted. "Dark Release!? I see. So Dark Release comes from the Netherworld!"

Then the Hell White Zetsu's chests swelled, and they spat fire in unison.

"Netherworld: Karmic Red Lotus Flame!"

Fwoom! Fwoom! Fwoom!

A dark-red sea of fire swept toward them...

Madara frowned. "That's my father's Netherworld Fire Release. It can harm the soul!!" (Besides Madara's father, Tajima, Uchiha Fugaku had also used Netherworld Fire Release, but at the cost of sacrificing souls.)

Preta Path!

Madara immediately channeled the power of his Rinnegan and used Preta Path: Sealing Technique: Absorption. But the Sealing Barrier had barely appeared before his palm when it vanished with a pop...

"What?"