The chakra light faded completely.
Madara lay on the ground, his body riddled with wounds. He gasped shallowly for breath, looking up at Sasuke as he descended from the sky. Then, his gaze shifted to Naruto, who was slowly approaching from the opposite side.
The two approached, one after the other. Madara was overwhelmed by a sense of shock as he recalled their coordinated attacks. He should have been far more powerful than both of them combined. Yet, under their seamless teamwork, he'd been completely unable to mount a defense. He had been utterly outmatched. Although his body was now rapidly healing, as Madara slowly pushed himself to his feet, Sasuke's earlier words echoed in his mind: "You... have the look of death on your face."
Could this be it? Was this where he was finally stopped? But why? Why, after becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki, reaching a level comparable to the Sage of Six Paths himself, had he been defeated?
Losing to Sasuke Uchiha was one thing Sasuke's talent was undeniable. His power was truly monstrous, rivaling even the Sage of Six Paths through his own sheer ability. Compared to Madara, who relied on the Ten-Tails, it was like comparing heaven and earth. Losing to someone like Sasuke, Madara could accept.
But… losing to Naruto? Being dominated by a mere Nine-Tails jinchuriki? Madara couldn't comprehend it. It made no sense. "A mere Nine-Tails… how can it possess such power?!" Suddenly, as the two drew closer, Madara spoke, his voice laced with frustration, almost a whine.
However, Sasuke simply smirked. "Can't figure it out?"
Madara looked up at Naruto. "Sasuke Uchiha, I concede defeat to him. His talent is truly remarkable." "But you… you're just a Nine-Tails jinchuriki, while I am the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki!" "Why?!" "Why?!" Madara's roar reverberated, and Hashirama and the others sighed, helpless. Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent.
Sasuke slowly began to explain. "Because… he, like you, received a gift from the Sage of Six Paths!"
"Like me? What do you mean?" Madara turned sharply to Sasuke, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt.
"You obtained the Ten-Tails, which is the Sage of Six Paths' power. But Naruto also received the Sage's power!"
Hearing this, Madara frowned. "The Nine-Tails?" If it was just the Nine-Tails, how could it possibly compare to him, who possessed the Ten-Tails?
Sasuke shook his head. "Of course, it's not just the Nine-Tails!" He glanced at Naruto, whose expression remained unchanged, and continued. "Naruto received the Six Paths' power directly from the Sage of Six Paths himself!" "So, in essence, he has the same gift as you. Isn't it natural that he can rival you?"
Hearing this, Madara was stunned. Naruto received the Six Paths' power from the Sage? When had this happened? And wasn't the Sage of Six Paths long dead? Even if he wanted to give Naruto power, how could that power have been preserved for so long?
"It seems, Madara, you truly know nothing." Sasuke smiled as he spoke. "Naruto is the reincarnation of Asura, the Sage of Six Paths' son. That's why the Sage bestowed the Six Paths' power upon him!" "Do you really believe a being like the Sage of Six Paths would simply cease to exist after death?" Sasuke gestured towards Hashirama and the others nearby. "Even they, after dying, were revived and brought back to this world. What makes you think the Sage of Six Paths is any different?"
Hearing this, Madara was taken aback. Indeed! Even he had been revived through the Rinnegan and other means. The Sage of Six Paths could surely do the same. But the Sage chose not to revive. That didn't mean he had completely vanished. His chakra still existed. So, this was how Naruto gained the power to rival him.
Damn it! Why? He had strived so relentlessly, schemed for so long, to reach this pinnacle. Yet Naruto, simply by being the reincarnation of Asura's chakra, effortlessly obtained the Six Paths' power.
"By the way, the previous reincarnation of Asura's chakra was Hashirama Senju!"
Hearing this, Hashirama was dumbfounded. "Me?"
Sasuke nodded. "What? Haven't you noticed that your Wood Release has become significantly weaker?"
Hashirama paused. Of course, he had noticed. But he had simply assumed it was due to being in an Edo Tensei body.
Naruto glanced at Madara. "So surprised? Didn't you know that in your previous life, you were also the reincarnation of Indra's chakra?"
"Indra?" Madara was stunned. He was someone's reincarnation?
"Asura and Indra, the sons of the Sage of Six Paths, clashed due to their differing ideals. They have been reincarnating and fighting ever since," Sasuke explained slowly.
Hearing this, Madara seemed to grasp the situation. "So, you're saying that I was once Indra's reincarnation, and Hashirama was Asura's reincarnation." "And in this life, Naruto Uzumaki is Asura's reincarnation, while Indra's reincarnation… must be you!" Madara narrowed his eyes, looking intently at Sasuke.
Sasuke nodded. "Correct!"
The others looked at Sasuke in surprise. "No wonder you gained such immense power. It seems the Sage of Six Paths also granted you power."
"No!" Naruto suddenly interjected. He looked at Sasuke, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "Sasuke didn't receive the Sage's power. He reached this level entirely through his own strength!" "Indra's chakra only helped Sasuke awaken the Rinnegan!"
Hearing Naruto refute his claim, Madara laughed. "How do you know?"
Naruto: "I heard it directly from the Sage of Six Paths. If Sasuke had received the Six Paths' power, there would be no one in this world who could stand against him!"
Hearing this, Madara was stunned. From the Sage of Six Paths himself? But wait, the Sage had been dead for so long. How could Naruto have…
"Madara! It seems you still don't understand. Everything you've done has been in vain." "Let me tell you one more thing." "The Infinite Tsukuyomi's true purpose isn't to create some ideal, peaceful world." "Its true purpose is to gather chakra, to collect all the chakra in this world!"
Hearing Sasuke challenge the very core of his lifelong plan, Madara shook his head. "You simply don't understand the greatness of the Moon's Eye Plan. This is the path to true peace!"
"Zetsu, do you know how he came to be?" Sasuke suddenly pointed to the people ensnared by the Divine Tree, their chakra being drained. "These people, in this state, will soon be transformed into White Zetsu!" "Right now, they're trapped in an illusion, but that's only temporary. Do you really think they'll remain like this forever?" "Once they die, your so-called ideal world will crumble piece by piece. What will be left of the world you created then?"
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