Madara Uchiha.
The moment that name came out, everyone fell silent.
A man from legend, a man who had built Konoha alongside the First, a man who had long since died.
Now he stood right here, alive before them.
Shuo stared at him, pushing Lightspeed Thinking to its limit.
The feel of his chakra was wrong-not a living person, but not a puppet like Pain, either.
"Impure World Reincarnation," he said.
Madara raised an eyebrow. "You've got a decent eye."
"Who summoned you?"
Madara didn't answer, his gaze shifting slightly toward Pain.
Shuo understood at once.
There was nothing these Akatsuki people wouldn't dig up.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath.
Sai rested a hand on his sword, keeping his voice very low. "Can you fight him?"
Shuo paused. "Don't know. I'll try."
He took a step forward.
The bandages across his chest turned red again, blood seeping through and dripping onto the ground.
Pain watched him. "How much of your light is left?"
Shuo didn't answer. He reached into Sai's pocket, took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and tossed it into his mouth.
Sweet.
"Enough to kill one." Chewing the candy, he swept his gaze over the three of them. "Which of you three is first?"
Nobody moved.
Three seconds of silence.
Madara suddenly laughed. "Interesting. It's been years since I've seen a brat this cocky."
He took a step forward, and a crack split the ground.
Shuo stood his ground without retreating.
His mind was still racing-the body of someone brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, its chakra supplied from outside.
Where's the source...?
His eyes narrowed.
He'd found it. East of the village, three kilometers away, inside a cave.
"Found you," he said softly.
Madara paused. "What did you say?"
Shuo ignored him and turned