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"..."
Nagato and Konan stared at Hashirama, their eyes trembling slightly and their emotions peculiarly complex.
Not just ordinarily strange.
But extremely strange!
It was clearly you who wanted to take over the Akatsuki organization, so why does it feel like we were the ones who passed a test?
Nagato and Konan felt a mix of emotions but dared not say anything. After all, the situation was beyond their control. For now, they had to accept whatever was said.
However...
At that moment.
Hashirama said something that left them both dumbfounded.
It completely shook their souls.
"I am Madara Uchiha!"
Hashirama's casual voice echoed at the top of the tower, and the content of his words left Nagato and Konan utterly shocked.
"Wha… what?"
Nagato was stunned, his gaunt face filled with confusion. What was going on? Is everyone pretending to be Madara Uchiha now?
"What do you mean?"
Konan's expression became extremely horrified. She was already very surprised when she first heard the masked man claim to be Madara Uchiha.
But...
She gradually got used to it!
After the recent events revealed that the masked man was not Madara Uchiha, the name became mysterious again.
And now...
Hashirama Senju claimed to be Madara Uchiha?
What kind of game was this?
Were all people from the Warring States period this tricky?
Konan's eyelids twitched slightly. She felt that this man, who had suddenly emerged from history, not only adapted effortlessly to the current era but seemed determined to change it.
She couldn't understand it at all!
"It's exactly as it sounds."
Hashirama spoke while methodically forming hand seals, and instantly, a powerful chakra spread from his body.
"Wood Release: Transformation!"
Hashirama's indifferent voice echoed as vines rapidly grew from the ground, entwining around him.
In the next moment.
Black hair flowed.
An imposing expression.
Wearing a red battle armor, with the Uchiha clan emblem on his back, and extremely realistic three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes.
From appearance to aura.
He completely transformed into someone else.
"From today onward, I am the mastermind behind the Akatsuki organization, Uchiha… Madara!"
Hashirama deliberately paused after saying the Uchiha surname, then pronounced the name "Madara" in a distinct manner.
"This…"
Nagato and Konan widened their eyes. They had never seen such a complete transformation technique that changed even the aura.
Even the overwhelming dominance was vividly displayed.
Gulp...
The two of them involuntarily swallowed.
Before this.
They thought Hashirama Senju was already very domineering, with his stern face and sharp eyes…
But.
The person in front of them gave off a completely different feeling.
This wasn't the kind of dominance Hashirama had.
If they had to describe it…
Unrivaled!
Nagato and Konan could only think of such a term. The blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan revealed no emotional fluctuations, and the extremely proud and confident face of Madara Uchiha exuded an air of supreme arrogance.
Just one person standing here.
It was as if facing a vast army!
"You… you… who exactly are you?"
Nagato was momentarily confused. He was struggling to distinguish whether the person in front of him was Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha.
The same question also arose in Konan's mind.
Konan's shock was no less than Nagato's.
She mastered the technique of the God of Paper, skilled in disguises, but her transformations typically involved lifeless, static objects.
Transforming into another person.
And having the aura and demeanor of someone else.
That was almost impossible!
Even the highest-level transformation techniques didn't achieve such a perfect illusion.
Who was this person really?
Was Hashirama Senju transformed into Madara Uchiha?
Or…
Was it that Madara Uchiha had simply transformed into Hashirama Senju?
It was hard to distinguish!
However.
Konan could confirm one thing: the person before her could only be either Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha.
No one else could perform such a transformation technique!
"I am Madara Uchiha now. Not the masked man, but the real Madara Uchiha. Do you understand?"
Hashirama had intended to experiment with the Wood Release transformation technique.
Yet, even he was surprised by how convincingly the transformation was able to mimic reality.
The Wood Release transformation was already incredibly powerful.
Combined with the impure world reincarnation body, changing appearance was effortless.
It was as if he had a completely new identity!
Even the Sharingan could be transformed.
Though it had no practical effect.
"You…"
Nagato was genuinely stunned. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
After calming down.
He realized one thing.
No matter who this person was.
This person was far more terrifying than the masked man. He was powerless to resist and could only silently endure.
"What is your goal?"
Nagato had accepted that Hashirama had become the mastermind behind the Akatsuki organization. Now he just hoped that Hashirama's objectives aligned closely with his own broader goals.
"World peace!"
Hashirama smiled slightly. With Madara's visage, his smile carried a hint of malevolence.
Such a smile.
Sent shivers down Nagato and Konan's spines.
It was unnerving.
"How specifically do you plan to achieve that?"
Nagato, with his Rinnegan focused on Hashirama, was extremely nervous and anxious.
"Collect the tailed beasts."
Hashirama answered slowly. The response was exactly what Nagato wanted to hear.
"I understand."
Nagato nodded, sighing in relief. He was worried that Hashirama's plans might diverge from his own, which would complicate matters.
"Collecting the tailed beasts should be prioritized and accelerated. We'll officially start once these people outside recover."
Hashirama immediately issued the order.
The sooner the nine tailed beasts were collected.
The sooner the task would be completed.
Restoring Hashirama's cells was the most crucial thing!
After all, it related to his own resurrection.
Otherwise, if he waited for the original plot to unfold, two years would pass before the Akatsuki could act.
"Yes."
Nagato promptly agreed. His previous hesitation was due to the timing not being right. With such a powerful ally now, everything became much easier.
"Then it's settled. Follow the plan. I will come find you when I have matters to discuss."
Hashirama casually turned and walked towards the corridor.
As he was about to use the stairs.
He decided against it.
Instead, he turned and stepped onto the windowsill, leaping down from the high platform.
Crash!
Hashirama's body collided with the ground, causing a loud sound that shattered the stones on the surface.
In the next moment.
He walked away.
As he walked, the wooden exterior fell off, returning to his original appearance as Hashirama Senju.
He couldn't maintain Madara Uchiha's appearance indefinitely.
Occasionally using the identity was rather fun!
Hashirama's foot slammed down on the ground, exerting force, and he shot off like a projectile, quickly leaving the Land of Rain.
The departure of Hashirama Senju.
The Land of Rain was restored to calm.
The fallen Akatsuki members on the ground were picked up one by one by Konan.
Everyone's injuries were not severe.
Among them, the most injured was Hidan, but such injuries were commonplace for him. The next was Kakuzu, who had lost a heart, but that was manageable; he could simply capture another one to replace it.
As Konan assessed the situation, she found that everyone's injuries were not serious. Instead of physical wounds, they had suffered a psychological blow.
Previously confident, everyone now appeared dejected.
Hearing names like "Hashirama Senju" triggered uncontrollable fear, leading to physiological reactions such as sweating and a cold, clammy feeling throughout their bodies.
...
After leaving the Land of Rain, Hashirama slowed his pace, almost strolling towards the Land of Fire.
"Ying Ying Ying~"
The voice of the Ying Ying monster echoed in Hashirama's mind, fluttering around with its big eyes and constantly seeking attention.
"Host!"
"I didn't expect you to actually transform!"
"Just now, I almost thought you were a different person!"
The Ying Ying monster's voice was filled with excitement.
"You were hoping I was a different person, weren't you?"
Hashirama replied irritably. The little girl might seem cute, but she had a mouth on her.
What a shame...
It would have been much better if she were mute!
"Can the host transform into anyone?"
The Ying Ying monster didn't catch the tone of Hashirama's complaint and continued to ask curiously, its big eyes brimming with anticipation.
"Sort of."
"This transformation is based on Wood Release."
"It can produce very realistic results."
"But the transformed appearance doesn't change one's actual strength; it's only a visual effect!"
Hashirama explained briefly.
This transformation technique reminded him of the Seventy-Two Transformations, a spell of the Monkey King.
Of course...
He couldn't compare to the Monkey King; that was a true deity!
"So, does that mean you can change into many different people?"
The Ying Ying monster's voice grew extremely excited, with a hint of mischievousness in its big, expressive eyes.
"Theoretically, yes."
"But."
"Only Madara Uchiha is worth transforming into."
"As for others."
"They don't deserve it!"
Hashirama's tone was filled with disdain. If transforming into someone was less impressive than himself, what was the point of the transformation?
"Then… then… what about transforming into a 'big sister'?"
The Ying Ying monster's face lit up with excitement, and its speed around Hashirama increased, seemingly twice as fast as usual.
Hashirama's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably as he looked at the Ying Ying monster, which appeared as if it had discovered a new continent.
"I refuse to transform!"
Hashirama suddenly made a funny face at the Ying Ying monster, with an exaggerated expression.
Come on!
Let's hurt each other!
(End of Chapter)