Hearing Uchiha Madara's playful, mocking words, the Sage of Six Paths' face remained a mask of detached kindness, but a barely perceptible solemnity flickered in his ancient eyes.

He sighed, a sound heavy with the weight of ages, and his tone became deep and powerful. "Madara, my power is indeed vast, but I am already a dead man. I should not interfere in the affairs of the mortal world." The Sage adopted a look of profound helplessness. "But it is undeniable that this man is powerful. If he were left to his own devices, the Ninja World would surely be destroyed. Otherwise, I would not have chosen to possess this child and resurrect you."

His expression was so sincere, so filled with a pained reluctance, it was as if this entire situation had been forced upon him.

"Oh?" The corners of Uchiha Madara's mouth curled into a predatory grin, his eyes blazing with a renewed fighting spirit. "There is such a powerful person in this new era? What is his name?"

Uchiha Madara had lived a life of constant battle. The prospect of facing such a legendary foe ignited a fire in his soul. He wanted to prove that he, Uchiha Madara, was inferior to no one. He was itching for a real dance. Still, he did not completely believe the Sage's words. He would judge the truth of the matter with his own eyes.

Hearing the Sage's tale, Hashirama Senju's face filled with a simple, righteous indignation. "How could such an evil person still exist in this world!" He looked at the Sage, his expression serious and determined. "Do not worry! For the sake of peace in the ninja world, we will not allow this person to do as he wants.!" The ninja world being plunged into war would inevitably threaten Konoha, and he would never allow anyone to endanger the village he had built.

Listening to their predictable reactions, a barely perceptible smile touched the Sage's lips. He looked at the two legendary shinobi, his face a mask of sorrow. "This man's name is Uchiha Kagami, one of the few remaining members of the Uchiha clan. Perhaps out of a desire for revenge, he has slaughtered many of Konoha's finest shinobi and countless innocent civilians. He has even extended his massacre to the other great villages."

At this, the Sage sighed again, a trace of profound sadness in his voice. "Kagami is a poor, lost child. If it were possible, I would not wish to see him go further down this dark path. But he has killed so many, and he now prepares to launch a war against the entire world. For the sake of peace, I must stop him."

He looked utterly remorseful, as if he deeply regretted his inability to prevent Kagami from making such tragic mistakes. His performance was flawless.

Hashirama was completely convinced, his heart filling with a deep disappointment for this Uchiha Kagami. "Konoha is a village for all! How could he be so cruel as to attack his own comrades?" To Hashirama, this was the ultimate sin. Even if mistakes were made, why turn your sword on your own people? Why not sit down and negotiate, find a path to mutual understanding? He had always believed that as long as people tried to understand each other's pain, peace was possible. But now, he saw that he was wrong. People like Kagami would never understand the pain of others; they would only inflict it. He regretted not being there to stop Kagami's rise, to prevent him from committing such unforgivable acts. He now felt it was his duty to stop this man before he could drag the entire world into the abyss.

When Uchiha Madara heard the name Uchiha Kagami, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. And as he heard of the boy's deeds, a dark, primal sense of pleasure surged through him. He had always been disgusted by the hypocrites of Konoha. As expected of an Uchiha, he thought, we are born to be killers. His interest in this Kagami grew immensely. As for the dead... they were just grains of sand in the desert, not worth a moment's thought.

But one detail puzzled him. Why had the Sage said Kagami was one of the few remaining Uchiha? Could it be... the clan had been exterminated? If that were the case, then Kagami's massacre of Konoha's shinobi made perfect sense. Konoha must have tried to wipe out the Uchiha, but this Kagami must have awakened his Mangekyō at the critical moment and turned their own blades against them.

From the Sage's few words, Madara had already deduced the likely truth. He also judged that this Kagami must be exceptionally powerful, enough to make even this god-like Sage wary. Otherwise, the Sage would have dealt with Kagami himself long ago. As for the nonsense about the dead not being able to interfere in the mortal world... only a fool like Hashirama would believe that. You claim you cannot interfere, yet you interfere by resurrecting us? A curious contradiction.

It was simple. Kagami possessed an ability that threatened the Sage, making him unsure of victory. And so, he had resurrected them to act as his cannon fodder, to wear Kagami down so he could deliver the final blow. Thinking of this, Madara's wariness of the Sage grew. This ancient being was definitely not just a good person as he has ulterior motives.

Though his mind was racing with suspicion, Madara did not let it show. He was no match for the Sage now. If he was going to turn on him, he would have to wait until he had reclaimed his own Rinnegan.

"My Rinnegan... they should still be with Nagato, right?" he thought, his eyes scanning the perpetually rainy sky. They were in the Hidden Rain Village.

He turned to the Sage, his tone impatient and demanding. "Hey, old man Six Paths, are you going to release us or not? Surely you don't plan for us to fight this Uchiha Kagami while we're bound like this?"

He felt no murderous intent toward this Kagami. On the contrary, he felt a certain kinship. A man whose entire clan was slaughtered by his own village, who then awakened the Mangekyō and sought revenge... such a man would be utterly disillusioned with this world. He would be the perfect candidate for the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But before he could recruit him, he needed his eyes.

Hearing Madara's impolite tone, a flash of coldness appeared in the depths of the Sage's eyes, but he simply smiled and nodded. "Of course." Though he was deeply dissatisfied that a mere chess piece would dare to speak to him in such a way, he needed Madara to deal with Kagami. He would not argue.

With a wave of his hand, the invisible restraints on Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were released.

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