Within the genjutsu space, Madara learned the truth behind the shadows over the Shinobi World, and finally understood why he had such a deep bond with that fellow Hashirama Senju.
The fate that had entangled them years ago had not ended with his generation, but had continued into the next.
Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha.
In the end, it was also those two who successfully sealed Kaguya once again, resolving the greatest crisis.
Likewise, the third-generation Indra still lost to the third-generation Asura.
Besides showing Madara the entire Fourth Shinobi World War, Lin Xiaoran also showed him the peace that followed in the Shinobi World.
Faced with powerful enemies like Obito, Madara, and Kaguya, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had achieved good results by forming the Allied Shinobi Forces. The hatred between shinobi had noticeably diminished, which could be considered the realization of their ultimate ideal: [peace].
After watching all this, Madara said nothing.
Proud, conceited people never believed there was anything wrong with them until they failed.
Madara was no different. Had he not learned the truth, he would never have believed his plan could go wrong, nor would he have believed that he was merely a pawn.
But that was the reality, and it dealt Madara a heavy blow.
"What do you think... I should do?" Madara suddenly asked.
First of all, he certainly could not repeat his mistakes.
Leaving aside whether Kaguya would emerge, with the Sage of Six Paths' chakra there, even if she appeared, it would not be much of a problem.
The main thing was that Madara was unwilling to remain a pawn.
Besides, the Shinobi World had developed quite well afterward. It did not need him at all.
Then, after returning to the Shinobi World, should he return to the Pure Land, or do something?
"As the saying goes, without destruction, there can be no creation. If the Fourth Shinobi World War ends too easily, the hatred between shinobi won't diminish much, nor will they understand how hard-won peace is.
"Besides, do you really think the Shinobi World will be free of trouble from then on?"
"What else? Don't tell me a Fifth Shinobi World War breaks out?!" Madara asked, startled and uncertain.
"Not that. Keep watching."
As Lin Xiaoran spoke, she played the story of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations for Madara as well.
"The Ōtsutsuki Clan..." Madara's brows knitted tightly.
Were these the enemies Kaguya feared?
They had indeed come to the Shinobi World.
In that case, the crisis facing the Shinobi World had not been resolved.
And under certain circumstances, the Five Great Shinobi Villages still stood in opposition to one another.
The clearest example was Sunagakure's Kazekage, Gaara, who actually took a different stance from Naruto.
The understanding, love, and friendship they once shared had slowly changed in flavor with the passage of time and the influence of vested interests.
"The Shinobi World's system needs reform."
Madara spoke thoughtfully, but as for exactly how to reform it, he was utterly lost, without a single idea.
Lin Xiaoran thought for a moment, then briefly introduced the system of her own world to Madara for reference.
Then she dispelled the genjutsu, took out a tent, and crawled inside to get ready for bed, leaving Madara alone to think.
The fifth day arrived. It was also the final day of this round of the game.
Lin Xiaoran and the Challenger Alliance finally met.
There were a few more people this time than last time, and the quality of their Heroic Spirits was a little higher too.
At the desert's endpoint.
The group led by Sophia had finally waited long enough for Lin Xiaoran to arrive.
They clearly had the most people, yet none of them felt confident. They had no idea what formidable abilities Lin Xiaoran's Heroic Spirit would reveal this time.
[Here she comes! Here she comes!]
[The final showdown!]
[What showdown?! This is clearly going to be a stomp!]
[Great, great! We get to see Lord Madara's Susanoo again!]
[Only a few dozen of them. One stomp will crush them all!]
[Forget everything else. I have just one thing to say: welcome back in triumph, Student Lin!!]
Country L's viewers were already cheering and celebrating in advance, absolutely confident in Lin Xiaoran!
The others, by contrast, had bitter expressions, without a trace of a smile.
Many people simply left their own country's challenger livestream, unwilling to watch the painful sight of them being defeated by Lin Xiaoran again. It was truly too unbearable!
"Hehe, with Student Lin's score so high, I wonder what the national fortune reward will be? I really can't wait!"
Jiang Jiayou stared at the livestream and could not help laughing aloud.
Over fifty thousand points!
He would not have dared dream of it!
"Yes! I'm afraid no one but Student Lin herself will ever be able to break her score record this time! This time, our Country L will take first place worldwide!"
Che Yisi rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting the final national fortune reward, their eyes fixed on the livestream.
By comparison, they were not particularly concerned about how Lin Xiaoran would defeat the Challenger Alliance.
Madara asked from beside her, "Should I use the perfect form?"
His words stunned the people opposite them.
What perfect form?
Lin Xiaoran thought for a moment and decided to take the shock all the way. "Let them witness you at your peak!"
"Oh?" Madara understood. She wanted him to activate his Rinnegan. "Just as well. There's a ninjutsu I want to test out too."
That was Hashirama Senju's Wood Release!
It was a release technique he had inherited after fusing with Hashirama's cells, but he had never had the opportunity to use it.
As he spoke, Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan began to spin. Finally, the black patterns joined into a line, spreading outward from the pupils at the very center like ripples on water, ring after ring, covering his entire eyes.
Rinnegan, activate!
[Hiss! What kind of eyes are those!?]
[So terrifying!]
[Wait, wasn't that Perfect Susanoo last time his final trump card!?]
[Good grief, Lord Madara, just how many surprises do you have left that we don't know about!?]
[Did you guys feel that? Even though I only met Lord Madara's gaze through the light screen, all my hair stood on end! Lord Madara's gaze was like he was looking at dead people! There wasn't a trace of emotion!]
[Yes, yes! Me too! He's way too intimidating!]
[I don't even dare look into his eyes anymore!]
Even the viewers watching the livestream reacted that way, let alone the challengers standing opposite Madara inside the game instance.
At that moment, when they met Madara's gaze, everyone, Sophia included, was frightened pale by those cold, indifferent eyes!
Those with weaker nerves stumbled several steps back!
"This guy... just what kind of Heroic Spirit is he!?"
"What a terrifying gaze!"
"That's definitely a god of slaughter with blood-soaked hands!"
"We have absolutely no chance of winning!"
Many of them could not help voicing the fear in their hearts.
Never in their dreams had they imagined that Lin Xiaoran's Heroic Spirit could make them feel such terror with his gaze alone!
The fight had not even started! Yet their momentum had already lost by eighty percent!
If they actually waited for him to strike, they might not even have a chance to fight back!
"Damn it! This again!!"
Once again, the challengers were crushed by Lin Xiaoran's Heroic Spirit!
They could not see even the faintest hope of victory!