Using his finely honed stealth techniques and Hiding with Camouflage Technique, Yamanaka Shinno carefully avoided the White Zetsu scattered throughout the mountainous graveyard and made his way to the edge of the massive crater.
Peering down into the abyss, he saw the remains of an enormous creature lying at the center of the pit—an ominous reminder to any intruder of the dangers lurking within.
Around the crater's rocky walls, several crudely carved openings dotted the surface like ancient ruins. Covered in snow and decayed vegetation, they bore no signs of life.
If an ordinary person had stumbled upon this place, they might have marveled at the wisdom and power of those who had once dwelled here.
"The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path..."
Shinno's sharp gaze locked onto the cave entrance situated behind the skeletal remains of the massive beast.
Even though he had suppressed his sensory abilities to the bare minimum, his instincts still scread at him—warning of the sheer terror concealed within that cavern.
That overwhelming presence, like being stared down by an abyss or caught in a dark ocean's deadly undercurrents, sent chills down his spine.
There was no doubt—
It had to be the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he reduced his presence to its absolute limit.
Burying a Flying Thunder God kunai in the snow, Shinno maintained his Hiding with Camouflage Technique and silently slipped into the crater...
...
A few torches flickered dimly, casting eerie shadows across the underground cavern.
At a stone-carved table, a hunched figure scribbled the final strokes on a scroll under the torchlight.
With an almost careless flick, Uchiha Madara tossed the scroll—sothing that rightfully belonged in the Mizukage's office—to the White Zetsu standing nearby.
Exhaling a weary breath, Madara's aged body looked as fragile as a dying candle's fla. Gone was the vigorous strength of his youth.
Even with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path sustaining him, the state he was in now felt like nothing more than a cruel joke.
A mockery of the man who had once stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
And so, ti and ti again, he found himself reminiscing…
White Zetsu caught the scroll and curled its lips into a strange grin, as if about to speak. But before a word could leave its mouth, a pair of crimson Sharingan spun in the dim cavern, silencing it instantly. Without another word, it sank into the ground, carrying the scroll back toward the Land of Water.
"Lord Madara," a voice rang out, half-mocking, half-sycophantic.
Black Zetsu, its body split between black and white, spoke in a reverent tone laced with obsession.
"As per your instructions, Kirigakure's leadership has sent an inquiry to Sunagakure, demanding an explanation for Fuguki Suikazan's death. However, there are still those within the village who wish to strike Konoha first..."
Although Black Zetsu secretly resented Madara's constant delays in initiating the war, a thousand years of patience had refined its acting skills to perfection.
Even a man as powerful as Madara saw nothing amiss.
Yet at this mont, Madara had no interest in Black Zetsu's words.
His aged lips curled into a faint smirk.
The crimson Sharingan spun as his gaze shifted toward the cavern entrance.
"Human curiosity is always so insatiable…
It drives n to explore the unknown, and it leads them straight to their deaths."
His voice, though laced with age, carried a confidence and composure that brooked no doubt.
Though his hair was now completely white, his wrinkled skin resembling brittle, dried bark, and the tubes from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path snaking into his back made him appear even more fragile—
His overwhelming presence remained as oppressive as ever.
...
Na: Uchiha Madara
Occupation: Shinobi
Traits: Yin-Yang Convergence {Weakened} (Red), Power of Indra (Red), Chosen Uchiha (Red), Sage Body (Red), Will of a Hundred Battles (Red), Rose of the Battlefield (Red), Twin Warlords of the Warring States (Purple), Song of Blood and Fire (Purple), Born Warlord (Purple),Solitary Soul (Blue), Polymath (Blue), Strategist of Chaos (Blue), Outer Path Lifeline (Blue), Brother Complex (Green), Bound by Fate (Gray), Obsession (Gray), Burnt-Out Lamp (Black)
...
"Oh, hell no. This is insane! Absolutely ridiculous!"
The mont Shinno saw Madara's status screen, his vision darkened, and his heart nearly stopped.
He had originally believed that with two "Trait Removal" abilities and two "Trait Downgrade" abilities, he could weaken Madara to a manageable level.
He had even entertained the thought that, given Madara's frail state in the original tiline—so weak he could barely walk—
He might not even need his system's help to put up a decent fight.
But this…
This was beyond belief!
Six red-tier traits, three purple, four blue, one green, two gray, and one black.
Was this the true power of the strongest boss outside the Ōtsutsuki Clan?!
Yin-Yang Convergence, the initial form of the Six Paths' power—it had enabled Madara to awaken the Rinnegan the mont he acquired it!
Though he had yet to fully master the essence of Yin-Yang Release like the Sage of Six Paths,
And though extracting the Rinnegan had left it marked with "Weakened,"
It was still an ability leagues beyond anything most shinobi could ever hope to achieve!
Even knowing that copying this ability would be useless without vast chakra reserves or Ōtsutsuki lineage,
Shinno couldn't help but drool over it.
The Power of Indra, Chosen Uchiha, Sage Body, Will of a Hundred Battles, Rose of the Battlefield…
Each red-tier trait was like a perfectly optimized data set of overwhelming power.
Even the purple and blue ones were enough to crush 99% of the shinobi world!
No wonder Ōnoki practically collapsed in fear whenever Madara's na was ntioned.
If this had been Madara at his peak—
Shinno figured even looking at him for too long might be a death sentence.
Thankfully…
The black-tier "Burnt-Out Lamp" trait was doing its job, severely weakening Madara's combat strength.
If he disconnected from the Demonic Statue, his life would imdiately begin counting down.
And prolonged combat would only accelerate the deterioration of his strength, stamina, and mind.
He still had a chance!
Wait, no!
"System, copy 'Sage Body'!"
In the end, Shinno chose his initial target—Sage Body.
[Sage Body (Red): A body brimming with imnse Yang Release chakra, granting extraordinary vitality and talent. Significantly enhances cell strength, regeneration, lifespan, chakra reserves, and Yang Release affinity. Greatly boosts natural energy affinity and elental chakra compatibility.]
While the Power of Indra was tempting, it risked influencing his will over ti.
The Chosen Uchiha ability would require an explanation for his newfound Sharingan.
Will of a Hundred Battles would turn him into a battle maniac.
And though Rose of the Battlefield enhanced combat skills, it wasn't his current priority.
But Sage Body?
The instant he obtained it, his power would skyrocket!
[Trait successfully copied! Congratulations, host, for obtaining 'Sage Body' (Red).]
Hearing the system's confirmation, Shinno finally exhaled, easing his tension just slightly.
Under Madara's increasingly impatient gaze, he deactivated his Hiding with Camouflage Technique.
His silver hair glead under the flickering torchlight, his tallic forehead protector partially obscuring his sharp, resolute face.
Cold red eyes t Madara's surprised gaze.
With a deep voice, he spoke.
"You naturally evil Uchiha old ghost... long ti no see."
"TO! BI! RA! MA!"
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