Chapter 528: Chapter 528
The Sharingan has always held an undeniable allure. From the single tomoe to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, its visual impact is captivating. The Rinnegan, on the other hand, is more difficult to describe—its appearance is striking in a wholly different way, evoking an aura of mystery and power.
As the glowing green chakra around Shinki subsided, five figures landed firmly on the ground, facing off against Uchiha Madara. Black Zetsu, however, was nowhere to be seen, leaving his whereabouts a mystery.
Madara's lips curled into a faint smirk. "I hope your performance proves entertaining," he said with a casual air. Before Onoki could respond with an angry retort, he froze, his face red with indignation.
The Third Raikage and Third Kazekage exchanged stunned glances, while Yagura scratched his head, thinking he must have misheard.
Meanwhile, Shinki's mouth twitched. Classic Uchiha Madara. His flair for theatrics was unmatched, and Shinki half-expected him to follow up with his infamous, "Do you want to dance too?"
Madara's knack for grandstanding had earned him the title of "Dance King of the Ninja World," though to Shinki, it was almost embarrassingly overdone.
"Uchiha Madara! Enough with your nonsense!" Onoki finally snapped, his anger boiling over. "Your schemes will never succeed as long as we're here!"
"To entertain you? Who do you think you are?!" Onoki's decades-long frustration with Madara spilled out as he bellowed at the former Uchiha leader. The sheer arrogance, the audacity—it was infuriating.
But Madara dismissed Onoki without so much as a glance, turning his gaze instead toward Shinki. "I had hoped you would join me in creating a new world," he said, his voice tinged with mock regret. "A world free of war and death."
Shinki rolled his eyes. Here we go again, he thought. Another self-righteous monologue. Madara's conviction in his own twisted ideals was almost impressive, but Shinki wasn't about to indulge him.
Without a word, Shinki raised his hand and extended his middle finger.
Madara's eyes widened slightly. "????"
The Third Raikage, who knew Shinki well, burst into laughter. Even the usually stoic Third Kazekage couldn't help but chuckle. Onoki and Yagura, however, exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the gesture's meaning but certain it wasn't respectful.
For all his bravado, even Madara was momentarily at a loss. Regaining his composure, he let out a soft chuckle. "In that case... let's dance together."
A surge of deep purple chakra erupted from Madara as he activated his Susanoo. The skeletal frame quickly expanded, forming the towering figure of a half-complete Susanoo that cast an ominous shadow over the battlefield.
Shinki's expression didn't waver. "Be cautious," he warned the others. Onoki, the Third Raikage, and the Third Kazekage nodded grimly. They understood that their role was not to face Madara directly but to support Shinki in any way they could.
Activating his Tenseigan Chakra Mode, Shinki emanated a calm yet overwhelming aura. Unlike Madara's dramatic transformation, Shinki's power radiated with quiet intensity. A golden glow surrounded him as he summoned the energy of the Tenseigan.
Madara's Susanoo grew rapidly, taking on its fully armored form. The enormous construct crossed its arms, striking an almost theatrical pose.
He really can't help himself, Shinki thought, amused by Madara's flair for the dramatic.
Summoning his golden rosary, Shinki condensed the orbs into a radiant blade resembling a lightsaber. The weapon shimmered with concentrated energy, its brilliance a stark contrast to the dark purple of Madara's Susanoo.
Madara's eyes narrowed. "So, the Tenseigan's attacks rely on simplicity," he remarked. But even as he spoke, his instincts warned him otherwise.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!" Shinki declared, his voice calm yet commanding. The golden blade extended with blinding speed, cutting through the ground as it arced toward Madara's Susanoo.
Madara's battle-hardened instincts screamed of danger. In a split second, he channeled more chakra into his Susanoo, completing its armor just as the blade struck.
The collision was cataclysmic. The golden blade cleaved through the battlefield, sending rocks and debris flying. The half-formed Susanoo couldn't withstand the attack, shattering under the immense pressure.
The other Kage watched in stunned silence. Susanoo, heralded as the ultimate defense, was crumbling before their eyes.
Madara barely managed to avoid a fatal blow, using Shinra Tensei to shift his position at the last moment. His Susanoo dissipated into fragments of chakra, leaving him momentarily exposed.
Though unharmed, Madara frowned. The raw power of Shinki's attack had caught him off guard. For the first time in decades, he felt something unsettling: genuine danger.
Even in his Edo Tensei form, which rendered him essentially immortal, the close call rattled him. If this had been his original body...
Madara's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Shinki. The remnants of his shattered Susanoo dispersed into the wind.
It had been years since Uchiha Madara had felt this way—pushed to the brink, even momentarily. Shinki had done the unthinkable, and Madara was determined to ensure it wouldn't happen again.