Inside the Tai Chi Hall of Pangu City,
Kaito hurried back and successfully met up with Madara.
From him, he learned a shocking piece of news.
Black Zetsu had abducted Izuna!
“Impossible!” Kaito blurted out.
“Izuna shouldn’t be able to move too far away from the caster, and Tobirama can always release the Impure World Reincarnation Technique.”
“Under normal circumstances, yes,” Madara replied grimly.
“But listen to what happened.”
After pursuing and killing Abe Akiteru, Madara had continued his pursuit of the fleeing daimyō all the way into the Land of Earth.
After eliminating all resistance, he successfully slew the Land of Earth’s daimyō before the capital itself.
Afterward, he fought a series of battles against the Onmyōji, the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa, and Ishikawa’s disciple, Mū.
In the end, he killed both the Onmyōji and the daimyō, completely intimidating the Hidden Stone forces into submission.
The unexpected turn of events began only after Tobirama and the others arrived.
Black Zetsu had never truly died.
He had been hiding in Izuna’s shadow the entire time.
When Izuna approached Madara, Black Zetsu took advantage of Madara’s exhaustion, instantly seized control of Izuna, dispelled the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, and stabbed Madara from behind.
Fortunately, Madara had activated Sage Mode in time.
Together with the Konoha shinobi, he managed to force Black Zetsu back.
While controlling Izuna’s body, Black Zetsu sneered hatefully:
“Uchiha.
Senju.
None of you will have a good ending.
I promise I’ll repay you properly.”
“Brother!
Attack with everything you’ve got!
Don’t worry about me!” Izuna shouted desperately.
But his body continued sinking into the ground until he disappeared completely.
“Damn it!”
Madara smashed the table before him into pieces, killing intent erupting from his body.
“I should have examined him more carefully!
Damn that Black Zetsu!”
“Since things have reached the point of irreconcilable hostility, we need to prepare for the worst.”
Kaito looked at him.
“I have good news.”
“Remember when I told you I had a way to evolve your eyes into the Rinnegan?”
“Oh?”
The word “Rinnegan” instantly captured Madara’s attention.
“What method?”
Without hesitation, Kaito drew a kunai.
Under Madara’s shocked gaze, he stabbed it into his own chest.
He dragged the blade across with force.
Blood immediately soaked his clothing as he carved out a large piece of flesh and stored it inside a prepared container.
“Hashirama!”
Madara’s expression changed.
“What are you doing?!”
He immediately activated Sage Mode and began stopping the bleeding.
Pale-faced and clearly in pain, Kaito forced out an answer.
“The method…
is to implant my flesh—or more precisely, my cells—into your body.”
“That will awaken the dormant Ōtsutsuki lineage hidden within your bloodline.”
“No.”
Madara’s voice was absolute.
“Put your vitality back where it belongs.”
Kaito gave a bitter smile.
“So you noticed.”
“To shorten the fusion process, I also extracted the Wood Essence I’ve accumulated over this period.”
“Take it.”
“For the sake of finding Black Zetsu and rescuing Izuna.”
“I said no!”
Madara’s voice rose.
“I don’t need your help!”
“Neither of us can find Black Zetsu right now,” Kaito replied calmly.
“If we wait too long, his hidden preparations will put us at a serious disadvantage.”
“It’s not as if I can’t recover.”
“Just take it.”
Ignoring Madara’s objections, Kaito forcibly pushed the container into his hands before calling for Tobirama.
“Do it exactly as we discussed.”
“Start the experiment.”
Tobirama shot Madara a furious glare before examining Kaito .
After confirming that there was no life-threatening damage, he snatched the container from Madara’s hands.
“Hmph.”
“If Black Zetsu weren’t a threat—and if my brother hadn’t ordered me—I would never help someone like you.”
With that, he stormed off toward the laboratory.
Madara remained silent.
He simply continued healing Kaito .
Soon, the wounds had closed.
However, Kaito ‘s face remained pale from the severe loss of vitality.
Madara stepped forward to support him.
For a brief moment, a trace of gentleness appeared in his eyes.
Along with something else.
Ding! This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
[Congratulations!
Host has triggered Uchiha Madara’s special scenario: Beyond Bonds!]
Objective: Cause Madara to develop feelings surpassing ordinary bonds and successfully hold hands with the Host once.
First Reward: Uchiha Ancestral Necklace (Enhanced Version)
Basic Functions:
Enhances all ninjutsu and Sage Arts used by the wearer.Can store vast amounts of chakra.
Special Functions:
Seal Resonance: Allows the use of a powerful sealing technique.
If both bonded users cast it together, its power greatly increases.
Eternal Bond: Consumes a large amount of chakra to instantly summon the bonded partner.
Shared Fate: If one user is near death, the necklace temporarily links their life forces, sustaining both until one escapes danger.
“Damn!
That’s absurdly powerful!”
“Who cares about dignity?
I’m getting that necklace no matter what!”
Suppressing his excitement, Kaito prepared to act.
Suddenly, he staggered.
And fell directly into Madara’s arms.
Madara froze.
He wanted to push him away but feared using too much force.
In the end, he only gently tried to steady him.
Kaito seized the opportunity and grabbed Madara’s hand.
“Sorry for worrying you.”
“I can walk on my own.”
“Enough.”
Madara intended to pull his hand away.
But after hearing those words, he ultimately didn’t.
After taking a few steps, Kaito suddenly coughed.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
Madara’s expression darkened.
“I already healed your wounds.”
“Why are you still bleeding?”
Kaito answered weakly.
“Maybe I’ve damaged my vitality.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“The Rinnegan is more important.”
Madara fell silent.
Kaito ‘s heart immediately rose to his throat.
“Damn it.
Is he actually leaving?”
Just as he was beginning to panic, Madara walked in front of him.
Then, slowly, he crouched down.
He swallowed nervously before speaking.
“Get…
get on.”
“What?”
Kaito blinked.
“I didn’t catch that.”
Madara lowered his head.
Though his face couldn’t be seen, Kaito clearly noticed that both of his ears had turned bright red.
“Get on.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“Uh…”
“Maybe that’s not necessary.
You’re the Hokage.
A proud warrior like you doesn’t need to—”
“Stop talking.”
Madara grabbed Kaito ‘s legs and lifted him onto his back.
He even found a blanket and carefully placed it against Kaito ‘s chest.
“Madara.”
Kaito ‘s voice softened.
“You’re the first person who’s ever carried me.”
“Not even my father or family ever did.”
“You’re…
really kind.”
Even Kaito himself felt nauseated saying it.
But for the necklace, sacrifices had to be made.
“I…”
Madara’s voice faltered.
“Me too.”
“Stop moving around.”
Kaito gritted his teeth and leaned fully against Madara’s back.
Only then did he realize how broad and solid it felt.
Strangely…
It made him feel safe.
“Madara.”
“You smell nice.”
“Huh?
Where did you buy it?
Maybe I’ll get one too.”
“This?”
Madara lifted the pale jade pendant around his neck.
“It’s an heirloom of the Uchiha Clan.”
“It stores chakra and enhances ninjutsu.”
“That’s amazing.”
“What a shame.”
“I was hoping to buy one just like it.”
“…”
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Kaito quickly changed the topic.
He talked about their childhood.
Skipping stones by the river.
Standing behind Madara and making him too embarrassed to relieve himself.
How their fathers and brothers had forced them onto opposite sides.
Before long, they arrived outside the laboratory.
“Aren’t we going in?”
Kaito asked.
Madara carefully set him down.
Then he stared at him.
For a long time.
Long enough that even Kaito became uncomfortable and avoided his gaze.
“Take it.”
Kaito looked up.
Madara had removed the necklace from around his neck.
“You can’t.”
“It’s an heirloom.”
“I don’t want it that badly.”
“When I give something away, I never take it back.”
Madara shoved the necklace into his hand.
“You’ve done too much for me.”
“It’s only a necklace.”
“Besides…”
“It can symbolize the true friendship between the Uchiha and Senju.”
His expression hardened.
“Take good care of it.”
“If you lose it, I won’t forgive you.”
Supporting Kaito , he walked into the laboratory.
Ding!
[Congratulations!
Objective completed!]
[Uchiha Madara Bond Value increased.]
[Current Bond Value: 98%]
[Reward distributed.]
Suddenly, the necklace in Kaito ‘s hand erupted with brilliant light and an unknown energy fluctuation.
Madara’s expression changed instantly.
He activated Susanoo and snatched the necklace away.
“Hashirama, get back!”
“I’ve never felt energy like this before.”
He tossed the necklace into Susanoo’s hand.
However, after several moments, the light and energy simply disappeared.
Nothing happened.
Madara frowned.
“Strange.”
“Could this be the Sage of Six Paths’ doing?”
“It became stronger.”
After examining it carefully, he returned the necklace to Kaito .
Then, personally, he placed it around Kaito ‘s neck.
“In that case…”
“It’s fate.”
Kaito ‘s body instantly stiffened.
“Uchiha Madara is putting a necklace on me?!”
He didn’t even know where to put his hands.
Before he could examine the necklace further, Tobirama hurried out.
“Hurry up.”
“I have plenty of work left.”
“Let me make one thing clear.”
“I can only guarantee about a seventy percent cellular fusion rate.”
Madara nodded and strode toward the operating platform.
As he lay down, his clenched fists unconsciously relaxed after seeing Kaito nearby.
In the past, such a thing would have been impossible.
But with Hashirama present…
He felt reassured.
A long time later.
The procedure ended successfully.
Hashirama’s Wood Essence and cells had been successfully implanted into Madara’s body.
Before Kaito could ask anything, Madara slowly opened his eyes.
The crimson tomoe that once filled them had disappeared.
In their place were concentric purple ripples.
And at the very center…
A tiny black pupil.