Everything became clear!
The hidden truth of the world was finally revealed!
Uchiha Madara realized that he was beginning to understand everything. The information he obtained from Emiya Shigen's words was enough to decipher the secret inscribed on the Uchiha clan's stone tablet and even unveil the final evolution of the Sharingan.
The forces of Positive and Negative…
It truly referred to the powers of the Uchiha and Senju clans.
The interaction of Positive and Negative forces…
This referred to Senju Hashirama's chakra, which could enhance the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, allowing it to evolve into the Rinnegan—a power that represented the "All-Encompassing Force."
"Rinnegan…"
"I remember—it's said to be the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
Madara recalled the legend of the Rinnegan.
The ninja world had long passed down the story of the Three Great Dojutsu: the Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths, the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, and the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.
The Rinnegan represented the power of the Sage of Six Paths.
Madara now understood why the stone tablet of the Uchiha clan had been left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. The tablet was a guide for the Uchiha clan—a direct legacy from their ancestor.
Now…
Madara finally had all the answers! His eyes were already evolving, slowly but surely, into the Rinnegan!
"Indeed."
"The Rinnegan is the eye of the Sage of Six Paths."
Emiya Shigen didn't conceal the truth, offering more details about the connection between the Uchiha clan and the Sage of Six Paths:
"The ultimate evolution of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan leads to the Rinnegan because their origin, the Sage of Six Paths, was the father of your ancestor, Indra."
"..."
Madara remembered something Emiya Shigen had mentioned earlier.
The Uchiha clan's ancestor, Indra, had fought against Emiya Shigen and suffered a humiliating defeat—likely not much different from Madara's own defeat at Shigen's hands.
Now, the picture was complete.
It was because the Uchiha were descendants of the Sage of Six Paths that he left the stone tablet to their clan, embedding messages that only the Sharingan could decipher.
"Thank you."
Madara crossed his arms, his expression haughty but grateful. He was pleased to finally have answers to the questions that had tormented him for so long.
"You're welcome."
"These things were common knowledge in that era."
Emiya Shigen, having said this, added another explanation:
"I wasn't sure if speaking too much about these ancient matters would cause trouble in your era. After all, Tobirama warned me not to divulge too much about the past—like the fact that the Uchiha and Senju clans share the same ancestor and are both descendants of the Sage of Six Paths…"
"Hmph…"
"No wonder…"
Madara scoffed disdainfully, already seeing through Tobirama's motives:
"Tobirama has always feared the power of the Uchiha clan. It seems he was afraid that this truth would give Hashirama a reason to refuse his suppression of the Uchiha within the village. What a petty, narrow-minded man…"
How small-minded…
To even suppress such truths.
Madara was well aware that revealing these ancient connections between the Uchiha and Senju clans could have smoothed relations between the two during the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village.
But now…
It was too late.
Such knowledge might have pleased both him and Hashirama during the early days of Konoha's creation, as it would have provided a grand justification for their clans' unity.
But now…
The two had completely broken apart.
When Madara left Konoha, severing ties with the Uchiha clan, he had become an outcast—a man alone with his ideals.
"Now, I have only one question left."
Madara set aside thoughts of ancient secrets between the Uchiha and Senju clans, his sharp eyes locking onto Emiya Shigen. He sought the answer to one final question.
"Emiya-dono…"
"I believe you can see that the peace of this era is nothing but an undercurrent of darkness. I want to know—did the Sage of Six Paths leave behind a method to achieve eternal peace for the ninja world?"
Madara did not directly mention the Uchiha clan's stone tablet. He knew that once his Rinnegan awakened, he could read the entirety of its contents.
Besides…
The secrets of the stone tablet…
Perhaps even Emiya Shigen knew nothing about them.
Madara wanted to hear directly from this ancient figure. He trusted that Shigen, with his apparent goodness, would not hide anything. Whatever secrets the Sage of Six Paths left behind, Shigen would surely reveal them.
However…
Madara was disappointed.
Emiya Shigen hesitated once again.
As if afraid that Madara might again tarnish Tobirama's name, he told another clumsy lie, even as Black Zetsu eavesdropped in silence.
"Forgive me."
"I cannot tell you the whole truth."
"Please don't misunderstand—this isn't because of Tobirama's advice."
"Tobirama doesn't know the lengths to which people in ancient times went to prevent chakra from being used in warfare, nor could he understand the Sage of Six Paths' intentions."
"Hmph…"
Madara did not reduce his animosity toward Tobirama. He even grew dissatisfied with Emiya Shigen's attempts to defend the man.
Did Shigen think Madara lacked discernment?
While Madara detested Tobirama, he would not unjustly accuse him.
If he blamed Tobirama…
It was only because Tobirama deserved it!
"Still…"
Madara narrowed his eyes, analyzing the deeper meaning behind Shigen's words:
"Why can't you tell me everything, Emiya-dono?"
"As I said…"
"Because I am not very good at lying."
Emiya Shigen's sincerity in his tone left Madara momentarily speechless, even as Black Zetsu listened in bewilderment.
"There's no need to lie about this, is there?"
Madara inhaled deeply, feeling his patience tested:
"Are there secrets that those of us in this era aren't meant to know?"
"There are."
Shigen's gaze turned somber, his voice heavy with regret:
"The last person to possess the Rinnegan abandoned the means to achieve eternal peace through power. Others convinced him that humanity could find mutual understanding—that as long as people understood each other, there would be no more conflict in this world…"
"Hahahaha…"
Madara laughed scornfully, mocking the naivety of Shigen's story:
"To think someone so powerful could entertain such a childish belief. Relying on mutual understanding among humans? How ridiculous! Even if he was as strong as a god, his will was far too fragile!"
Madara assumed Shigen was speaking about the Sage of Six Paths. After all, only the Sage could have possessed the Rinnegan in ancient times.
Madara believed Shigen was awkwardly lying to shield the Sage's reputation, but his lies were riddled with holes.
"..."
Only Black Zetsu, lurking underground, felt a pang of sorrow.
It knew that Shigen was mourning his own past. This sadness made Madara's mockery all the more jarring.
Emiya Shigen…
Truly was not suited to lying.
Perhaps forcing Shigen to learn how to lie had been a mistake.
"Human nature is what it is."
"The world is ever-changing, yet humans remain caught in cycles of hatred."
Shigen's voice remained calm as he recounted another story from the past:
"Once, a god sought to alter humanity's fate through a technique powerful enough to reshape the world. But in the end, he fell at the hands of those who refused to let their fate be controlled by another."
"Hmm?"
"A technique to reshape the world?"
Madara focused intently, catching the key detail.
A sudden realization dawned on him. He thought he finally understood:
"That technique… It must have been the Sage of Six Paths' method for achieving eternal peace, wasn't it?"
"..."
Shigen gently shook his head, his tone filled with sorrow:
"That technique led humanity toward its darkest age…"
"Then…"
Madara's lips curled into a smirk, as if every answer had fallen into place:
"The current ninja world has already reached its darkest age!"
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