At the center of the battlefield, Madara looked down at his hands. His body, summoned through Impure World Reincarnation, was covered in fine cracks, like a piece of porcelain that had been shattered and glued back together.
He clenched his fists. He couldn't feel blood flowing, couldn't feel a heartbeat, couldn't feel the warm strength that came only with being alive.
He frowned.
"What a shame."
His voice was low, carrying an indescribable frustration.
"I wasn't brought back to life. Even Hashirama was resurrected, and yet I..."
He turned toward Obito, his gaze sharp.
"Obito, what happened?"
Obito had already picked himself up out of the muddy water.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse.
"Genya Uchiha threw everything off."
He paused, as though gathering his words-or recalling all those past events that had given him such a headache.
"He shook Nagato's resolve, delaying the tailed beast plan. He resurrected Hashirama, wiping out our original advantage. We had no choice but to bring you out early."
Madara fell silent for a moment.
"I'll deal with Nagato myself."
Madara's tone was calm, but Obito could hear the displeasure beneath it.
"What about the tailed beasts?"
"We've secured Kumogakure's Two-Tails, Iwagakure's Four-Tails, and Kirigakure's Six-Tails."
Obito paused.
"We're still collecting the others."
Madara snorted.
"Too slow."
Obito didn't argue.
Gathering tailed beasts under Genya and Hashirama's noses, three was already the most they could manage.
In the distance, Pain listened to their words. Tailed beasts. Plans. The Rinnegan.
My Rinnegan. So I really am Madara Uchiha's pawn.
From beginning to end, he had been nothing more than a pawn.
Konan gently rested her hand on his arm without saying anything.
On the battlefield, Genya stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Madara and Obito chat