Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 478 Uchiha Madara

For the first time, the hall fell into complete silence. All four Kage wore expressions of varying degrees of shock, staring intently at the Hokage. This Kage, who had been remarkably amiable since entering, had become utterly cold when the topic of the Uchiha clan came up. Now, meeting his unwavering, icy face, they finally began to believe that this young Hokage had indeed risen to power through sheer strength.

"Is this... real?" This was Shuiying's voice, which trembled slightly.

"Is he still alive? Didn't he die decades ago?" This was Fengying's question.

“That’s right…that guy should have died a long time ago.” This was the Tsuchikage speaking at a slightly faster pace.

"We couldn't believe it when we received the intelligence, but... after multiple confirmations, we can confirm that the person is the culprit who controlled the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha sixteen years ago." The Hokage's expression became even colder, and the chakra in his body was no longer stable. The slight agitation alone made the Tsuchikage and Kazekage, who were nearby, feel a sudden increase in pressure.

However, the Raikage, who was far away, was a loose tongue. He was there to demand accountability, not to listen to these people shift blame. He already couldn't trust such a young Hokage, and this guy's bringing up a legend of someone who had long since died only made him more distrustful.

"How did you confirm something that happened sixteen years ago?!"

The Hokage suddenly opened his closed eyes, and the immense pressure of the Tailed Beast instantly overwhelmed the guards who had never faced a Tailed Beast before.

"I've confirmed it. Any objections?" The Hokage's voice became deep and resonant, his blood-red eyes, like those of a wild beast, meeting the Raikage's gaze directly.

The oppressive aura vanished in an instant, replaced by azure, and the Hokage once again wore his impeccable smile, saying, "Sorry, Kurama has a rather volatile temper."

Even the Raikage had never seen someone suddenly summon a tailed beast while talking. Killer Bee, despite his good relationship with the Eight-Tails, was bound by the seal and couldn't unleash the Gyūki. What's going on with the Hokage? Are his seals just for show?!

The Raikage slumped back down, not because his legs were weak, but because his opponent had displayed strength worthy of his respect.

Are you trying to say he's immortal?

Tsuchikage, still traumatized by childhood, was breaking out in a cold sweat. "Could he really be a monster?"

"Heh, isn't it impolite to call someone a monster behind their back? Ohnoki."

A nightmarish voice rang out, and the quiet hall instantly erupted into chaos. The guards, who had been waiting behind their flags, sprang into action, each taking a position in front of their own shadow figure. At that moment, all the dim lights came on, illuminating the area directly opposite the Five Shadows' round table.

Everyone clearly saw that a person wearing an orange swirling mask mysteriously walked out of the wall and ruthlessly took the seat that Mifune had vacated.

"My name is Uchiha Madara. I have something to discuss with you. After you understand, I have something to ask you, Uzumaki Naruto."

The Hokage's guards, finally appearing, blocked Madara's gaze from directly towards Naruto. Neji had already activated his Byakugan, attempting to see through this strange man, but he didn't recognize the face covered in bizarre scars beneath the mask. He could only confirm that the man's two eyes were intact, and not entirely the same color. Before he could finish looking, a strong wave of dizziness washed over him, and everything before him suddenly turned crimson. Madara opposite him had transformed into Naruto, his chest riddled with holes, his eyes wide open in death!

"Don't look him in the eye."

The strange phenomenon flashed by, and as Neji gasped for breath, he saw a hand on his shoulder. It was Izuma who had broken the illusion.

Of all the people in the room, only the Hokage was sitting the most comfortably. He even waved his hand to signal his two guards to step back, and then changed to a more relaxed sitting posture.

But the other four Kage and Mifune dared not relax so much. They had all grown up hearing that terrifying name, and some had even faced Madara directly. Although they did not seem particularly cautious, their stances were genuinely vigilant.

"What do you want to say?" Raikage asked.

"My goal is Project Eye of the Moon."

The Raikage, known for his speed, was indeed astonishingly fast. His lightning armor was instantaneous, and he flew out in an instant, aiming straight for Madara's face. However, his fist ended up hitting the wall behind Madara. He actually passed through Madara's body and the table and chair he was sitting on, leaving only a large crater in the wall.

Having missed his first attack, the Raikage didn't intend to return to his original position, but instead continued to keep a close watch on Madara from behind.

"Xiao's plan is definitely not good, I can't understand it. Don't even think about messing with my brother."

Madara tilted his head as if ignoring what had happened and said, "Then listen carefully to my explanation, and we'll decide based on your answers."

"Why don't we listen to what he has to say? 'The Eye of the Moon,' that's the only piece of information Itachi hasn't figured out," the Hokage advised.

"Hmph, because I know that guy is restless, but he has a pair of very useful eyes, it would be a shame not to make use of them," Ban retorted.

The Hokage's smile cracked slightly, but he held back and didn't react.

Seeing that the five Kage had calmed down, Madara nodded in satisfaction and finally began to describe the abstract Eye of the Moon plan.

As is widely known, the Sage of Six Paths is recognized by the vast majority of ninjas as the progenitor of all chakra, from whom all chakra in the world originates. Over a thousand years, many records have been lost, and the reason why the Sage of Six Paths is worshipped as a god is long lost to history. However, the Uchiha clan, a powerful clan with a thousand-year history, still possesses something related to the Sage of Six Paths. It is a stone slab, which still lies beneath Konoha.

The amazing thing about this stone slab is that people without pupil power cannot see its true contents at all, but as pupil power gradually increases, the information that can be deciphered will also become richer.

The stone tablet records the Sage of Six Paths' most important achievement: saving the world from a monster.

"A monster?"

“Gaara, what’s inside you is just a part of the sealed monster, and the same goes for Naruto. It’s the aggregate of all the tailed beasts, the one with the strongest chakra.”

"Ten tails."

In the silence, the Hokage said, "The thing you used to seal the tailed beasts, is that the Ten-Tails?"

"Oh, did Itachi tell you this? That's the Gedo Mazo, indeed an empty shell of the Ten-Tails that has lost its power. Only by collecting all the tailed beasts can it be fully revived."

"In order to protect the world, the Sage of Six Paths developed a ninjutsu called the Jinchuriki sealing system."

"That's right, the Sage of Six Paths was the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails."

While the Sage of Six Paths was alive, the Ten-Tails was indeed not a threat, but after his death, it was highly likely that no one would ever again be able to suppress it. Therefore, the Sage of Six Paths divided the Ten-Tails' chakra into nine parts, and finally sealed the powerless shell of the Ten-Tails within the moon.

This seemingly magical legend does indeed have some historical basis, it's just that... modern humans cannot imagine such tremendous power as moving mountains and filling seas.