"I'll go take that woman on!"
In the stands, Madara rose to enter the arena!
"A-Ban, wait..."
Ali stopped him and held a peeled orange segment to his lips, smiling. "Have some orange before you go."
Madara took it into his mouth and chewed heartily, the sweet, tart juice moistening his lips and tongue.
"I'm off..."
Whoosh!
An azure Susanoo enveloped his entire body. Beating its wings, it rose into the sky amid a storm, then landed in the arena with a thunderous crash!
Whoosh!
The Susanoo dissolved. Madara stood with his hands behind his back. "I knew you were bound to stir up trouble, woman. Well, I'll take whatever you throw at me!"
Mito stood regally and met him head-on. "Madara, I heard the Netherworld, which governs life and death, punished you for breaking its rules in the past."
Madara tilted his head. "Word travels fast. Unfortunately for you, I'm back. That must really disappoint you, Mito."
Mito smiled, her gentle words hiding a barb. "Not at all. Now that you've turned over a new leaf, you're an indispensable fighting force for the ninja world. I wouldn't lose sight of right and wrong over something like this."
"It's just... a younger member of your Uchiha clan ended up paying for your past mistakes. As his ancestor, you must find that rather embarrassing."
She was alluding to the price of Madara's return to the living world: Sasuke had been chosen as a "Tree Hunter" by the Lord of the Land of Yomi and would have to reside in the Netherworld in the future!
Madara cared deeply about his pride. Her mockery had undoubtedly struck a nerve!
Madara clenched his fist, but he refused to play right into Mito's hands.
"Hmph. Sasuke is Indra's reincarnation after me. Causes in a