I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 381 381 Old Man Madara, Limited-Time Return!

Land of Fire, Konoha Village.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows of the Hokage's office, casting mottled light and shadow on the floor.

The air carried a faint scent of tobacco. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat behind his large desk, his brows slightly furrowed as he listened to the reports from the three Special Jonin before him.

His pipe occasionally lifted to take a puff, then exhaled swirling smoke, as if trying to exhale the doubts in his heart along with it.

Namikaze Minato, who had just returned from a border patrol mission, was stating in his usual clear and gentle tone: "...In summary, Hokage-sama, the Ninja who calls himself 'Menma', after defeating A and Killer B combination, did not take their lives but allowed them to retreat. Subsequently, he himself flew off towards the west and did not show any aggressive intentions towards the Land of Fire."

Standing beside Minato, the burly Doto added in a deep voice: "Yes, Hokage-sama. The entire process was very brief, and the power he displayed... is unfathomable." His rough face carried a rare gravity.

"I've never seen Omaru like that before, as if he saw a natural enemy..." Gaku beside him also chimed in seriously. His Ninken Omaru at his feet also seemed to recall that terrifying pressure and whimpered uneasily.

Hiruzen slowly put down his pipe, his fingertips lightly tapping on the desktop.

'A never-before-seen combat system, a mysterious origin.'

'Was it some unknown secret technique?'

'Or a more rare Kekkei Genkai?'

'Or even a Kekkei Tota?'

'What was even more alarming was that the other party could so easily defeat the strongest [A-B Combo] of Kumogakure, even defeating the Eight-Tails' full Jinchuriki form with a single strike. This level of strength had already surpassed that of an ordinary Kage-level Ninja.'

Hiruzen recalled the reports from Minato and Jiraiya after their encounters with this person, 'The other party indeed hadn't shown obvious hostility towards Konoha… to a certain extent, he even seemed to carry a hint of an indescribable goodwill?'

'But what purpose was hidden behind this goodwill?'

After a long contemplation, Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weariness and deep thought: "Although his origin and purpose still cannot be determined, from the current intelligence, the possibility of him having direct hostile intentions towards Konoha is relatively low."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his three subordinates: "However, necessary vigilance cannot be relaxed. Notify the Anbu intelligence squad to have our active spies pay more attention to this person's movements and collect relevant intelligence as much as possible."

Hiruzen changed the topic, his tone becoming serious: "On the other hand, Kumogakure has suffered such a heavy blow. Given their nature, they will definitely not let it go easily. That Third Raikage isn't someone who will swallow a loss silently. Minato, the defense level on the eastern border needs to be raised. Dispatch additional patrol squads, strengthen vigilance, to prevent possible retaliatory actions or probes from Kumogakure."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Minato nodded solemnly. He had also foreseen this possibility, a flash of understanding in his blue eyes.

Just then, a peripheral glance from Minato caught the abnormality in the sky outside the window.

His originally calm expression instantly froze, his pupils slightly contracting.

"Hokage-sama, look over there!" He raised his hand, pointing to the window behind Hiruzen.

Doto and Gaku also noticed the anomaly almost simultaneously. Both widened their eyes in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.

Hearing this, Hiruzen immediately turned around.

In the northwestern sky, an indescribably enormous white sphere of light was silently expanding and blooming!

The light was so intense, even momentarily overwhelming the sun's brilliance, casting the entire Konoha Village in a deathly pale white!

The light in the office also suddenly became blindingly bright.

The sphere lasted for several seconds, then slowly dimmed and dissipated. But in its original position, the sky seemed to have been forcibly erased, leaving behind a brief void. Through that void, one could even vaguely glimpse the starlight of the deep cosmos behind!

"This... what is this?!" Hiruzen's pipe clattered onto the desk, unnoticed by him. His mouth slightly agape, even with his [Professor] knowledge, he had never seen such a horrifying sight.

This was absolutely not a natural phenomenon but a terrifying result caused by some powerful force!

Hiruzen snapped back to his senses, his face instantly covered with unprecedented seriousness. He barked sharply: "Shinsuke!"

"Hokage-sama!"

A figure wearing an animal mask appeared like a ghost in the center of the office, kneeling on one knee. It was the Anbu Commander, Sarutobi Shinsuke.

"Immediately assign an Anbu Team best at tracking and reconnaissance!" Hiruzen spoke rapidly, issuing orders. "Target, northwest direction! At all costs, determine the origin and cause of this explosion! Confirm if there are unknown powerful Ninja fighting! I want a preliminary report in the shortest time possible!"

"Yes!" Without the slightest hesitation, Shinsuke's figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

The office fell into a brief, dead silence.

Doto rubbed his eyes, breaking the silence in his deep voice, which carried a hint of an uncertain tremor: "Hokage-sama, whoever could cause such a commotion... wouldn't it be... that guy named Menma again?"

Gaku took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock in his heart, and continued: "Doto has a point. An explosion of this scale, its power far exceeds the Eight-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb! Looking across the entire Ninja World, apart from him, I really can't think of a second person capable of causing such destruction."

Minato didn't speak immediately. The image of that mysterious youth's final form clearly surfaced in his mind.

Enveloped in a brilliant golden Chakra Cloak, a fissure opened on his forehead, revealing that golden eye containing the power of all creation.

That pressure, as if transcending all living beings, still made his heart tremble when he recalled it now.

Minato slowly nodded, saying in a deep voice: "Although it cannot be confirmed, the suspicion of it being Menma... is indeed the greatest."

Hiruzen silently picked up the fallen pipe and took another deep puff.

Amidst the swirling smoke, his eyes were unfathomably deep.

An existence of unknown origin but possessing strength powerful enough to affect the entire Ninja World's balance… his every action tugged at the nerves of countless people.

Meanwhile, not just Konoha.

Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure...

Even the Land of Iron, Land of Hot Springs, and other forces and Ninja Villages large and small… anyone who could see this explosion was shocked by this divine spectacle.

The Kage and leaders of various countries and villages, after a brief moment of horror, made decisions similar to Hiruzen's, dispatching elite reconnaissance forces at all costs to uncover the truth behind this terrifying explosion.

For a time, countless figures surged like hidden currents towards the direction of the explosion. The situation in the Ninja World became even more unpredictable and treacherous because of this sudden variable.

...

Meanwhile, deep underground in a mysterious space somewhere in the Land of Fire.

Dampness and darkness were the eternal themes here.

The enormous Gedo Statue, like a slumbering ancient titan, stood in the center of the space. Countless distorted pipes extended from the statue, connecting to a shriveled figure sitting on a strange stone throne below.

Several White Zetsu, resembling plankton, protruded halfway from the ground and walls. Their faceless faces seemed capable of displaying fawning and fearful emotions.

One of the White Zetsu was receiving information transmitted from afar through the special Chakra Fluctuations of the vast underground plant root network, converting it into fragmented speech to report to the pitch-black Black Zetsu beside the throne.

"...Amegakure... battle ended... that one called Otsutsuki Isshiki... defeated... dead..." White Zetsu's voice carried a twisted excitement.

"So amazing... that young man named Menma... pounded Isshiki into the ground... couldn't fight back at all..."

Black Zetsu's pitch-black, writhing body rippled slightly. Its yellow pupils flickered with an elusive light.

Otsutsuki Isshiki...

This name stirred up a storm in its heart.

It was almost certain that this was definitely one of his mother's enemies from back then!

'It seems now, that was history before Hagoromo and Hamura sealed Mother, which also explained why Mother mass-produced these White Zetsu… they were all expendable supplies prepared for war!'

'But that guy named Menma...'

'What is his purpose?'

'The power he displayed, especially that third eye, was very similar to Mother's image...'

'Could he also be an Otsutsuki clansman? But why did he fight Otsutsuki Isshiki?'

'And his attitude towards Nagato and others—' Black Zetsu feels deeply uneasy.

'Would this variable affect its thousand-year-long plan to save Mother?'

Suppressing the turmoil in its heart, Black Zetsu used its hoarse, gloomy voice to instruct Zetsu: "Report this intelligence, exactly as it is, to Madara. Watch your tone, don't let him notice anything abnormal."

It knew well that although Madara was powerful, he knew nothing of the Otsutsuki Clan's secrets. This was precisely what it could exploit.

"Got it~" White Zetsu replied cheerfully, then turned to the old man on the stone throne. Using its characteristic exaggerated and comical tone, it described everything that happened in Amegakure, especially the details of Isshiki attempting to capture Nagato and showing keen interest in those Rinnegan.

On the stone throne, the shriveled, white-haired figure of Uchiha Madara, who relied on the Chakra and life force transmitted by the Gedo Statue to barely maintain his vitality, slowly opened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Despite his aged body, deep within those eyes still burned an undying ambition and pride.

When he heard the name 'Otsutsuki Isshiki', his brows slightly furrowed… this name was also unfamiliar to him.

But when White Zetsu described the other party's attempt to control Nagato and showed extraordinary interest in the Rinnegan, alarm bells instantly rang in Madara's heart!

The Rinnegan...

That was the door to the power of all creation that he, Uchiha Madara, had poured his life into, fused with Hashirama's cells, and only managed to open in his old age!

It was the core of his future resurrection and his [Infinite Tsukuyomi] plan!

Currently entrusted to Nagato, it was only part of the plan!

"Who was the final victor?" Madara's voice was hoarse and low, carrying an air of authority.

"It was that one named Menma!" Zetsu gestured animatedly, its tone exaggerated. "He's super strong! That Isshiki was no match at all, completely crushed!"

Black Zetsu timely added: "Moreover, according to intelligence, that Menma seems to have a very close relationship with Nagato, Yahiko, and the others. His appearance in Amegakure and conflict with Isshiki... it's hard to say if it wasn't also for..."

Black Zetsu didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Madara's eyes suddenly became as sharp as a hawk about to pounce!

'For the Rinnegan?!'

A sense of crisis instantly seized him.

'If that powerful Menma also had his eyes on the Rinnegan, with the strength he displayed, Nagato would be powerless to protect it!'

Once the Rinnegan fell into Menma's hands, his meticulously crafted plan, into which he had poured countless efforts, would be utterly wasted!

Retrieving the eyes from the opponent would be as difficult as climbing to the sky!

It's absolutely intolerable!

These eyes could only belong to him, Uchiha Madara!

A thought formed in Madara's mind.

He could wait no longer. He had to personally intervene, to take back what was his before any unforeseen event occurred!

"Hmph..." Madara let out a low, cold snort. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan erupted with astonishing brilliance.

Without hesitation, he concentrated his will and began to forcibly manipulate the massive Gedo Statue behind him!

Hum—!

The Gedo Statue's withered, wooden-like body trembled slightly, emitting a low hum.

The pipes connected to Madara's back and arms suddenly lit up, emitting a gloomy glow.

A sea of Chakra and immense life force, at an unprecedented speed, like a bursting dam, flooded madly into Madara's already parched, on-the-verge-of-collapse aged body!

"Urgh—"

Accompanied by a low roar mixed with comfort and relief, Madara's hunched body began to undergo a visible, astonishing transformation!

His wrinkled, bark-like skin rapidly became plump, firm, regaining a healthy glow.

His head full of white hair, starting from the roots, was dyed back to an ink-black color at an incredible speed.

Atrophied muscles bulged back up as if inflated, full of explosive power.

His body, which originally needed the stone throne for support, became straight as a pine tree, like a peerless sword long sheathed, about to be drawn!

Within a dozen seconds, the old man on the verge of death disappeared. In his place was Uchiha Madara, restored to his prime form… the one who had once vied with the God of Ninja, Senju Hashirama!

He abruptly raised his hand, roughly tearing off all the pipes connecting him to the Gedo Statue!

He casually flung aside his old, dark blue robe, revealing his well-built upper body.

Under his bronze skin, muscle lines were distinct and angular like steel, full of a sense of power.

On his left chest, the white skin transplanted from Hashirama, showing the contours of Hashirama's face, appeared particularly eye-catching and eerie.

Madara slowly raised his head, cracking his neck with a crisp sound.

An aura of looking down on the world, believing oneself peerless, terrifying momentum spread out from him as the center, even making the surrounding White Zetsu instinctively shrink back.

This aura was deeper, more overbearing than when he fought Hashirama at the Valley of the End!

He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the surging, seemingly endless power within his body. The corner of his mouth lifted into a wild, arrogant curve.

"The Rinnegan... cannot fall into his hands."