Chapter 55: Zenkichi, A Threat.

Zenkichi was stunned. He hadn't expected Madara Uchiha to say that. He looked at Madara in astonishment, then smirked and replied jokingly: "Old man Madara!" "You've got quite the imagination—and a sharp mind to match." "What if your guess is right? What would you do then?" Madara stared coldly at Zenkichi and said, "Even though this is a world ruled by chakra, that doesn't mean other forms of power don't exist." "Kid... maybe you've encountered a power different from the chakra system, but this world is still governed by chakra in the end." "Do you know the origin of chakra? Do you understand the truth behind the shinobi world? How much do you really know about this world filled with despair?" Zenkichi casually raised his hand, and a golden, cross-shaped light spun on his fingertips. "Battlefield sage now, are we? Going to drop some life advice?" "How scary." "Has the Shura of the shinobi world stopped being a butcher and become a life coach?" With a smirk, he fired a golden laser from his fingertip. "It's useless." "Maybe I can't hurt you, but you're not defeating me either." "Susanoo combines offense and defense into one—it's an absolute defense that withstands all attacks." Madara looked calmly at the laser exploding outside of Susanoo. "Is that so?" Zenkichi replied lazily as his body transformed into countless light particles, rising into the sky and reassembling mid-air. "Yasakani no Magatama!" Golden energy bullets formed in Zenkichi's hands, pouring down like a tidal wave upon Madara below. Madara snorted coldly, his Susanoo solidifying further. The powerful defense resisted the bombardment of golden bullets. They only caused ripples across its surface—insufficient to destroy it. Meanwhile, Tobi phased into the ground and brought Black Zetsu and Nagato to Madara's side. Thanks to Susanoo shielding them from above, their location was secure. "I told you... it's useless." Seeing Zenkichi descend after the barrage, Madara sneered. "You really are something, Madara. Strong as a monster." "And Susanoo—what a terrifying defense." "If I want to defeat you, I'll have to wait until you exhaust your remaining life force." "Judging by your age, you're nearly at the end, aren't you?" "You must've paid a heavy price to return to a youthful state." Zenkichi stood opposite Madara, completely unbothered by the circumstances. "Was that intentional?" Konan watched from a distance, puzzled. Zenkichi's Yasakani no Magatama had destroyed all the forest conjured by Madara's Wood Release. Even the vines they'd been hanging from were obliterated. "Enough chatter, we have to go—now!" Jiraiya urged in a low voice, his expression tense. Madara noticed them trying to escape but didn't bother reacting. To him, they were mere ants—insignificant. "I'll seal you long before my life force runs dry." Madara clapped his hands together, chakra surging between his palms. Then, he opened his hands and launched a jet-black sphere directly at Zenkichi. "Chibaku Tensei!" The Rinnegan's sealing technique unleashed powerful gravitational force. The black sphere sucked in debris and broken wood as it flew toward Zenkichi, attempting to trap him in an artificial satellite. "Chibaku Tensei? Good technique." "But all ninjutsu has a flaw." "Unfortunately for you—I know this one's weakness." Zenkichi casually opened his mouth and fired a concentrated laser beam directly at the sphere. The sphere shattered under the fierce impact, and the gravitational pull vanished. Debris that had been midair crashed to the ground. But then— Slash! In the next instant, Zenkichi's body was split in two. As if struck by an invisible blade. "Huh?" Zenkichi's eyes widened—but he quickly understood what had happened. The shadow from Limbo: Border Jail. A unique Rinnegan ability, usable only by Madara. Limbo clones existed in a parallel dimension, invisible and untouchable to those without Six Paths chakra or the Rinnegan. "What a close call..." Zenkichi muttered, as his bisected body dispersed into light particles and reformed whole in front of Madara. "You sensed my Limbo clone?" Madara raised an eyebrow, though his tone remained calm. Limbo: Border Jail was an extraordinary ability. That's why Madara believed it would work—to strike Zenkichi when he wasn't in light form. After all, the light state couldn't be maintained indefinitely without drawbacks. (Yeah, Uses Stamina) Madara understood well how concealed Limbo clones were. Unless someone had the Rinnegan or Six Paths powers, detection was impossible. "Sense them? Not exactly." Zenkichi shook his head. "I just reacted." "My body instinctively transformed into light when I was attacked. Like a reflex." "A reflex?" Madara frowned. He didn't fully believe Zenkichi. Once again, his four Limbo clones moved in. They suddenly attacked—shattering Zenkichi's body again. Countless light particles floated up into the air and reassembled, Zenkichi now hovering above. "You didn't sense them?" Madara narrowed his eyes with suspicion. "I told you. It's instinct." "My body just reacts to danger—it's not that I saw or sensed them." Zenkichi hovered mid-air, answering casually. Madara's eyes flashed. The Rinnegan pulsed with power—he unleashed a genjutsu instantly. Zenkichi stiffened for a second—but then recovered almost immediately. Madara stomped the ground, launching himself into the sky toward Zenkichi. He reached out, grabbing at Zenkichi's body with surging ocular power. "The Human Path...?" "A soul-extracting ability? Not today." Zenkichi smirked and split into light particles, evading instantly. The Human Path could be fatal—but fortunately, Limbo clones couldn't use Rinnegan abilities. Otherwise, Zenkichi would've been in real danger. Madara attacked repeatedly, trying to catch Zenkichi with the Human Path. But Zenkichi was too nimble—slipping through his grasp like a monkey. "Madara-sama... perhaps we should retreat for now?" Black Zetsu sent a mental message from his hiding spot. He and Madara shared a form of telepathic communication. In the original history, Black Zetsu had done the same after being halved by Terumi Mei. "No." "I'm running out of time. I must eliminate Zenkichi before I die." Madara's tone was unwavering. His life was already nearing its end—and only the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had kept him alive this long, by flooding him with chakra. If Madara's body was a teacup, the vitality was tea. Time had cracked the teacup, causing the tea to leak out. The statue kept refilling it—but more cracks formed each time. Now, Madara had poured in too much chakra. The cup was shattering. Once all the tea was gone, the cup would be beyond repair. No amount of refilling could save it. "Black Zetsu, get out of here." "Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha's forces are all nearby. Lure them here." "They all possess strong sealing capabilities. If they clash with Zenkichi, maybe—they can seal him." Madara paused, forming a backup plan in his mind. No matter what, Zenkichi had to be removed before the end. Zenkichi knew too many secrets. He could derail everything. ---