Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 182: Impressive Eyes

Madara.

Uchiha Madara.

There was only one man in the entire shinobi world worthy of such reverence from Kabuto.

Orochimaru's blood surged as he realized what was happening, panic and fury swelling in his chest.

What the hell?!

Was this some kind of joke?

Kabuto—this man had actually hidden Uchiha Madara among his private "collections"!

Even Itachi and Kisame, usually calm, could no longer maintain their composure. There was not a single shinobi who could afford to overlook Madara's name.

Clatter...

From the shadows emerged a man with loose, wild hair. He wore crimson battle armor, and a cold, expressionless face. With a few slow steps out of the coffin, he cast his gaze on Second Tsuchikage Mu.

Just those few steps—

Unleashed a wave of terrifying pressure.

The man who once rivaled Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, in a duel that ended only in mutual death... the man feared as the Demon of the Shinobi World—Shinobi no Shura.

"Hmm?"

"The Edo Tensei technique?"

Madara flexed his arm, immediately understanding the nature of his body and Mu's state, and sensing the one controlling the jutsu.

He'd also overheard a name that piqued his interest.

"What's going on? Where's that brat Nagato?"

Madara crossed his arms. His voice softened slightly, though his face remained ice-cold.

"And you... What's your relationship with Lord Shigen?"

"I am a subordinate of Lord Shigen."

Kabuto's voice carried a quiet chuckle, and he wasted no time in turning Mu's gaze toward Orochimaru's side.

"The shinobi world has encountered some... complications. Obito stole your Rinnegan, joined with traitors, and betrayed both Lord Shigen and your will. I had no choice but to reanimate you, Lord Madara."

"That fool betrayed me?"

Madara's face shifted—then slowly twisted into a cold, mocking grin.

"Hmph. Not surprising in the slightest."

Of course...

He'd never trusted Obito. Even in death, he'd implanted a cursed seal on Obito's heart—expecting betrayal.

But Obito's treachery was a minor concern.

Madara could crush him like an ant.

"So, Lord Shigen has returned as well?"

That was what truly concerned him.

Lord Shigen—his trusted ally in the Moon's Eye Plan, the one who had both strength and vision. His guidance had shaped much of Madara's grand ambitions.

"Yes."

"By twist of fate."

Kabuto's tone held amusement.

"Thanks to a certain someone—Orochimaru, who sought to exploit Lord Shigen's power—he was revived into this world once more."

"Hmm..."

Madara nodded faintly, glancing lazily toward Orochimaru and the others.

"So then... he wants me to deal with these traitors?"

"More precisely..."

"To retrieve the boy from them."

Mu pointed toward Uchiha Sasuke.

"Since your Rinnegan was stolen by Obito, the Akatsuki plan needs a new candidate. That child is the one Lord Shigen believes has the most potential to awaken the Rinnegan."

"If I'm here, there's no need for some candidate..."

Madara scoffed. His return alone rendered contingency plans unnecessary.

But then he saw Sasuke—and paused.

That face...

It looked exactly like his younger brother, Izuna.

"...Interesting."

Madara's curiosity flared. He recalled Shigen's high expectations and was genuinely intrigued.

"Does Lord Shigen truly believe this boy can awaken the Rinnegan?"

"Yes."

"He's the reason I brought you back now, Lord Madara."

"Hmm..."

Madara gave a slow nod. He had accepted Kabuto's reasoning and was willing to help retrieve Sasuke.

He wanted to see what kind of potential this boy—who looked so much like Izuna—really had.

After all...

As someone who had truly awakened the Rinnegan—

No one knew better than Madara how difficult it was.

Even achieving the Eternal Mangekyō was not enough. One needed Hashirama's cells and decades of cultivation to awaken the eye of the Sage of Six Paths.

And this boy...

Could he really reach such heights?

While Madara silently observed Sasuke, Orochimaru and the others were suffocating under the pressure emanating from him.

Even just a hint of his chakra and the legendary aura from the Warring States era left them too terrified to move.

"Itachi-san..."

Kisame's usual smugness vanished. He gripped Samehada tightly, a cold sweat dripping down his shark-like face.

"I don't think we can win against this one..."

Of course not.

Even Kisame, with all his chakra reserves, could sense the immense gap between them.

Itachi understood it even more clearly.

As a fellow Uchiha, he knew better than anyone what Madara represented.

"We need to retreat."

Orochimaru's gaze lowered. He was already thinking about abandoning Itachi and Kisame to use them as a distraction to escape with Sasuke.

But before they could make a move—

Madara agreed to help retrieve Sasuke.

"Then..."

"I leave everything in your hands, Lord Madara."

Kabuto's tone smiled as he handed over full control.

"Very well."

Madara nodded lazily.

With that...

He began walking toward them.

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Each step he took increased the pressure on everyone.

"..."

Kisame's expression changed. The sound of Madara's footsteps made his heart pound instinctively.

A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead. He gripped Samehada—and struck first!

Clang!

He lunged, slashing at Madara's neck with Samehada, its bandages tearing to reveal sharp spikes.

"Hmm?"

"One of the Hoshigaki?"

Madara tilted his head, dodging with ease and grabbing Kisame's wrist.

Samehada tried to bite back—its handle extending—but Madara was faster. His Sharingan flared, reading every movement.

Crack!

He drove his elbow into Kisame's jaw, sending the massive man flying!

Then—Madara flashed in the air.

Thud!

A kick slammed into Kisame's chest, launching him like a ragdoll!

Caw! Caw! Caw!

A flock of crows burst out, forming Itachi in mid-air.

He slashed at Madara's chest with a kunai.

"A Genjutsu-based sneak attack?"

Madara sneered, deflecting Itachi's strikes with just his wrist.

"Uchiha-style swordplay..."

"Your technique's not bad."

Itachi said nothing.

He followed with three more swift slashes, then hurled the kunai like a shuriken.

In that same second—he was already forming hand seals.

His speed was breathtaking.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive fireball roared forward!

"Good seals. Solid ninjutsu..."

Madara calmly matched him.

"Lucky for me, I'm decent with Fire Style myself."

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A bigger fireball erupted from Madara's mouth, swallowing Itachi's technique whole.

Flames surged forward!

Itachi raised his hand, blood dripping from his Mangekyō.

"Amaterasu!"

A flicker of black fire burst out.

It clung to the flames themselves—using them as fuel—and erupted into an even more terrifying inferno.

"It can even ignite fire itself..."

Kabuto's voice echoed from behind.

"That's Amaterasu,"

Madara smirked, unshaken.

"One of the Mangekyō's abilities. Said to burn all it touches. Impressive eyes they have over there..."

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