Chapter 18: Susanoo, The Leaf Village Boils Over!

Uchiha Madara.

An uninvited guest.

Emiya Shiyuan already possessed some intelligence regarding Uchiha Madara. However, he could not reveal this in front of Black Zetsu; he even looked at Black Zetsu with a feigned expression of bewilderment, hoping it would provide information about the intruder.

"Black Zetsu..."

"Do you know him?"

"..."

Black Zetsu was at a loss for how to respond. After all, Uchiha Madara was the new pawn it had selected to resurrect Kaguya, and it had even prepared a meticulous plan for Madara to fall into its trap. It had only intended to discard this pawn immediately after encountering Emiya Shiyuan.

Of course, such things could never be spoken aloud.

"I know him." Black Zetsu nodded.

However, Black Zetsu did not have time to communicate much with Emiya Shiyuan before Uchiha Madara arrived. It had to seize the moment to ask a critical question.

"Shiyuan."

"When you obtained the power of the Sage of Six Paths back then..." Black Zetsu stared at Emiya Shiyuan, looking into his ordinary eyes. "Is the pair of Rinnegan you transplanted still in this world?"

The Rinnegan. It had always been the most crucial issue. The Rinnegan was the starting point for Black Zetsu’s desire to resurrect Kaguya.

"That pair of Rinnegan..." Emiya Shiyuan rubbed his brow, appearing to be faced with a problem that gave him a massive headache. "I remember having Katsuyu destroy them. Because I wanted to preserve my corpse as a medical specimen for future generations, and I was worried that if someone else obtained those Rinnegan, they would use the power within them to harm the ninja world. After returning to Shikkotsu Forest, I removed them and re-transplanted my own eyes..."

"..."

Black Zetsu fell silent. In truth, it had already guessed as much. If the Sage of Six Paths’ eyes were destroyed, so be it. Black Zetsu had actually been worried that if they remained, they would only cause trouble.

"Never mind. It does not matter." Black Zetsu hurriedly waved its hand, taking the initiative to comfort Emiya Shiyuan. "Although the birth of a Rinnegan is extremely troublesome, it is not unsolvable... And, the person arriving is a suitable candidate. Someone who can truly awaken the Rinnegan."

Black Zetsu could sense Uchiha Madara drawing closer. Its figure quietly submerged into the shadows, leaving only one final instruction: "Shiyuan, do not leak our secrets, and do not harm him. First, carefully probe his intentions..."

"..."

Emiya Shiyuan’s eye twitched. This was a challenge. Because he played the role of a good-natured person who was poor at deception in front of Black Zetsu, he could not lie to Uchiha Madara without hesitation. He could not communicate properly, for that would lower Black Zetsu’s trust. Even if it meant putting this uninvited guest, Madara, into a crisis, he could not lie to him recklessly. If he appeared too unfamiliar with lying, Madara would grow suspicious; if he appeared too skilled, Black Zetsu would grow suspicious.

Moreover, this Uchiha Madara was clearly not a pushover. Due to the limitations of his Reanimation Jutsu vessel, Emiya Shiyuan could not easily access his own power. Coupled with Black Zetsu’s surveillance, he could not use the power of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan or the Rinnegan. If Uchiha Madara came to cause trouble, it would be quite a difficult fight.

At this moment, it was highly probable that Uchiha Madara was here to cause trouble. Perhaps... Uchiha Madara simply wanted to kill him. Unless, of course, this arrogant man chose to use Sharingan genjutsu against him without observing him first.

*Creak.*

The window was quietly pushed open. Emiya Shiyuan subconsciously looked back.

A crimson eye appeared before him. The red eye was like a full moon, reflecting into Emiya Shiyuan’s pupils, with three black tomoe swirling within, looking exceptionally eerie.

"Hmph... Indulge in the illusion of the Sharingan..."

A cold, mocking smirk hung on Uchiha Madara’s lips. The man, filled with arrogance, stood by the window with his fingers pointed, directly invoking his Sharingan genjutsu to control Emiya Shiyuan. This was the simplest way to fight. It was the most effective way to fight. It was the safest way to fight. Uchiha Madara did not want to cause any commotion; he intended to abduct Emiya Shiyuan silently. And he possessed the strength to do exactly that.

Uchiha Madara possessed the highest-level Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Even though one of his eyes had gone blind from using Izanagi, the genjutsu cast with the remaining eye was enough to easily control a Tailed Beast.

"Aside from Hashirama..." Uchiha Madara looked contemptuous, extremely confident in his genjutsu. "No one in this world can escape a genjutsu of this level..."

"..."

In an instant, Emiya Shiyuan was caught in the Sharingan’s illusion.

However, battles of genjutsu often hinge on spiritual energy. When Uchiha Madara’s consciousness appeared within Emiya Shiyuan’s mind, intending to plant a brand of control, he faintly sensed that something was not quite right.

Because... Uchiha Madara saw a calf.

Under normal circumstances, when an Uchiha clan member casts genjutsu, they appear as an invincible god-like figure or a terrifying eye within the opponent's mind. That god-like, immense spiritual energy is innate to the Uchiha, capable of completely crushing the opponent’s willpower, forcing the brain to generate fear and succumb to their control.

But as the strongest of the Uchiha, Madara realized his genjutsu had encountered a problem.

Uchiha Madara in the spiritual realm looked up. He followed the calf upward and saw a majestic figure several times taller than himself. The opponent's spiritual energy was even stronger!

What kind of powerful soul resided within this person!

"!!!"

The crimson Sharingan was filled with shock!

"Good evening."

In the spiritual realm, accompanied by a voice like rolling thunder, Emiya Shiyuan’s palm descended from the void, lightly pressing down on the shoulder of Uchiha Madara’s spiritual energy, shattering his will in an instant!

"How... is this possible?"

Uchiha Madara clutched his eyes in agony! What kind of joke was this? In this world, besides Senju Hashirama, how could anyone resist his genjutsu, let alone break it with such ease!

The collapse of the spiritual realm made the backlash of the failed genjutsu more intense than ever! Before Uchiha Madara could react, Emiya Shiyuan had already pressed forward, a black curse mark flickering on his fingertip as he struck toward Madara’s arm!

"A curse mark?" Uchiha Madara scrambled to dodge!

Too late! He did not have much chakra in his body! Emiya Shiyuan’s finger tapped Uchiha Madara’s arm!

A black curse mark rapidly spread across Uchiha Madara’s arm!

"A mere curse mark..." Uchiha Madara forcefully suppressed the splitting headache, intending to lift his finger to undo the seal, only to realize in an instant that this energy was extraordinary!

It was Nature Energy! Uchiha Madara was not ignorant of Nature Energy, as Senju Hashirama had boasted more than once about the Sage Mode he had mastered using it!

Who on earth was this guy! Where exactly did Senju Tobirama find this doctor! Uchiha Madara could not imagine that such a powerful individual existed in the ninja world. He could only vaguely recall Senju Tobirama referring to him as "Lord Emiya"...

He had been reckless. His actions were far too rash! He had assumed the honorific "Lord Emiya" was merely a sign of respect for the doctor's status, never imagining it might be a sign of respect for his power...

This was bad! His plan...

Uchiha Madara was well aware of his own weakness. Due to his battle with Senju Hashirama, he had indeed used Izanagi to escape death, but his chakra was nearly depleted, and his ocular power had not recovered. With his current strength, he could at most release a third-stage Susanoo!

This time, he had been far too careless! Most importantly, his plan to abduct the man silently had failed. Any further commotion would surely alert Konoha. No, Konoha was already alerted, and he was likely in big trouble!

This was the worst-case scenario! He had wanted to hide his faked death, but because he had underestimated his opponent, he had exposed himself!

Uchiha Madara ignored the pain and leaped up; he knew he could not remain here any longer!

"Trying to run away?" Emiya Shiyuan raised his finger.

Under his control, black curse marks surfaced all over Uchiha Madara’s body. The Nature Energy seals made it impossible for him to use chakra! He couldn't even make a move!

Unless he used Susanoo... But once he used Susanoo, his faked death would definitely be exposed! Yet, if he continued to fight like this, he would likely be defeated. Falling into their hands was only a matter of time!

Uchiha Madara knew well the terrifying recovery ability of Senju Hashirama. He knew that once Hashirama learned of his presence, he would rush over, and Hashirama’s recovery speed would certainly outpace his own. Plus, with a despicable man like Senju Tobirama and the forces of the other Konoha clans...

"This guy..."

Uchiha Madara gritted his teeth, his face twisted in rage as he clenched his fists. The meager ocular power he had just recovered surged forth; his intense emotions greatly influenced the power of the Sharingan!

Only a Susanoo, fueled by ocular power, could break the seal on his body!

*BOOM!*

A towering blue Susanoo erupted into existence! Even though this giant Susanoo wasn't wearing armor and was barely a complete humanoid shape—with some parts of the head still unfilled—it was far too familiar!

This blue Susanoo had been seen by too many people!

All of Konoha was thrown into an uproar in an instant!

"That is..."

"Is that Uchiha Madara’s Susanoo?"