(A/N: It's been a while since you guys got a bonus chapter, right? Let's change that!)
Tsunade's voice wavered, the name drawing her back to a distant memory. "Madara Uchiha…"
The weight of that name pressed down on her chest like a stone. Not only had she heard of him, but she had seen him in the flesh.
Back when Konoha was still young—its foundations newly laid by her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha—the man had been a towering force of power and ambition. She remembered when he abandoned the village, his lofty ideals clashing with her grandfather's vision of peace. Years later, Madara returned, waging a battle against Hashirama that would be etched into legend. Hashirama had emerged victorious, but the price had been steep—Madara was defeated, yet her grandfather's vitality waned soon after, as if victory itself had drained him.
She had met Madara once, as a child. Even then, his aura had been overwhelming, a suffocating pressure that seemed to vibrate the air around him. A man like that had no equal. To hear Obito sully his name so casually now was like a slap in the face.
The mention of the Infinite Tsukuyomi snapped her back to the present. She had heard Gojo—her insufferably flippant step-son—explain the concept once, though his explanation had been peppered with jokes about "ultimate nap time" and "dream vacations." Still, she understood enough to know it was a threat of catastrophic proportions. The idea that Obito could have orchestrated such a plan left her both alarmed and skeptical.
"Madara Uchiha's death at the hands of the First Hokage is a historical fact," Gojo chimed in, leaning against a nearby rock like they were lounging at a hot spring instead of a battlefield. His smirk, as always, was infuriatingly self-assured. "So how could he be alive?"
Onoki, the wizened Tsuchikage, nodded gravely, his arms crossed. "The boy is right. Madara's death is well-documented. Even if he had survived, his age alone would make his return improbable."
Obito, still hidden behind his mask, let out a low chuckle. "I am indeed dead," he said evenly, his words hanging in the air like a death knell. "That's why I need the power of the tailed beasts—to fully revive myself."
The declaration left the gathered Kage and their allies momentarily speechless.
"Dead? And you're trying to... what, become a zombie overlord?" Tsunade scoffed, folding her arms. "You've got some nerve."
Obito's tone remained eerily calm. "I am nothing more than an empty shell. With the power of the tailed beasts, I will become whole once more."
Onoki's patience had clearly run out. His palms began to glow with the energy of Dust Release, the sheer intensity of the technique radiating outward. "Relics of the past have no place in the future. Leave this world to the young."
Without hesitation, Onoki released the attack, obliterating the ground where Obito had stood. When the dust settled, only a crater remained. But Obito reappeared, perched atop a broken statue, unscathed. His voice was colder than before.
"Dreams?" Obito's bitterness filled the air like poison. "In this hopeless world, dreams are meaningless. The so-called stability of the Five Great Nations is what led to Rin's death. This reality is flawed. That's why I'll create a world free of pain and despair. A world where Rin can smile again."
The Raikage, ever the hothead, surged forward in a blur of lightning-infused fury. His fist sliced through the air—and nothing else. Obito remained intangible, unfazed by the attack.
"Damn that weird ability!" the Raikage roared, clenching his fists in frustration.
Obito ignored the outburst. He raised a hand, pointing at the assembled group with an air of finality. "Surrender the tailed beasts: the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails. With their power, I will become the Sage of Six Paths and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi. I'll create a world where dreams come true—a world without war, pain, or despair."
Tsunade's amber eyes narrowed into sharp slits. Her voice was steady, but her fury simmered beneath the surface. "A false world is no world at all. Dreams can't thrive in lies."
Obito tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "Is that so?" His tone was unreadable.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed a bloodstained forehead protector onto the ground. The crescent moon insignia was unmistakable—Jiraiya's.
Time seemed to freeze. Tsunade stared at the bloodstained metal, her breath caught in her throat. Her hands trembled as she whispered, "No... Jiraiya..."
Obito's voice was merciless. "Reality is cruel. Can you still cling to your naive ideals after this?"
Tsunade's knees threatened to buckle, but before she could falter, a familiar hand landed on her shoulder. Gojo Satoru had appeared beside her, his gaze unreadable, but his presence was like an anchor in the storm.
"Hey now, no need to bully my precious Tsuna-chan. That's my job," he quipped, his voice light but carrying an undertone sharp enough to cut through steel. He leaned down slightly, his grin widening. "You can play dress-up as Madara Uchiha all you want. But laying a finger on Tsuna? Now that's a crime punishable by eternal suffering."
Despite her grief, Tsunade found herself gripping his hand, grounding herself in his infuriatingly steady presence.
The shinobi gathered around were momentarily stunned. Gaara, arms crossed and expression stoic, muttered under his breath, "This is absurd."
Obito dismissed the theatrics with a wave of his hand. "Feel the despair of reality. One day, you'll understand this world is broken."
With that, his Sharingan began to spin, distorting the space around him in preparation for his escape. Just as he was about to vanish, Gojo materialized in front of him in an instant, still holding onto Tsunade like a scene from an action-comedy romance.
"Leaving already? How rude!" Gojo grinned, his teeth practically gleaming. "You drop bad news, monologue about despair, and then run off? Come on, let's settle this like adults."
Obito's Sharingan pulsed dangerously, but Gojo simply tilted his head, his smile never faltering. "You may have Madara's name, but let me remind you: legends like him are meant to stay in the past. Now, how about we have some real fun?"
The tension in the air was palpable, but Tsunade, her composure slowly returning, couldn't help but glare at Gojo. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Of course," Gojo replied, flashing her a cheeky wink. "What's life without a little chaos?"