"Those eyes!"

While the Raikage and Uchiha Madara were locked in their "fierce" battle, Tsunade had kept her gaze fixed on the mysterious man, desperately trying to analyze his techniques. It was a pity the Raikage had been defeated so quickly; she hadn't even seen how he had been sent flying. But she had seen the change in Madara's eyes with perfect clarity.

That color, that rippling texture… Could it be the legendary Rinnegan?! How was that possible?

Her chest heaved, her breathing ragged and shallow. She truly couldn't believe that the eyes of legend, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths himself, actually existed.

No, it must be fake! she thought desperately. It was a Sharingan just a moment ago. How could it transform into the Rinnegan? It must be a genjutsu! An incredibly powerful one!

Tsunade knew the Uchiha clan's prowess in illusionary techniques. She didn't care that she was caught; she just needed to break free.

"Release!"

"?"

Tsunade brought her hands together, focusing her chakra to break the illusion she believed she was under. But she found her chakra flow was completely normal. The so-called illusion was nothing more than a figment of her panicked imagination.

When she looked up again, Madara was standing before her, the distance between them nearly zero. She stared into his deep, dark, swirling eyes, and her consciousness began to blur. The world went black, and she fainted.

"Hmph. The Senju clan has truly fallen into decline," Madara remarked with a cold, sarcastic sneer. He then dissolved into a shadow, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Across the street, under Samui's constant and forceful persuasion, Raikage A had finally relented, releasing his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to allow her to treat his injuries.

"Samui, hurry!" he urged. "I'm afraid Tsunade can't handle him alone. She can't die before Omoi is cured!"

"I know, Lord Raikage! I'm just performing emergency treatment!"

"Right," the Raikage nodded, gritting his teeth. "I will use all my strength. I'll defeat him in one move, at my fastest speed. I won't give him a chance to react!"

Just as he finished speaking, Uchiha Madara's cold, taunting voice materialized from behind him. "I wanted to use you to test my eyes, but I find myself in a hurry. I no longer have time to play with you."

"Give me what I came for."

"!!!"

Hearing the voice, the Raikage was paralyzed with shock. He had no idea how Madara had appeared behind him without making a sound, without a single flicker of chakra.

When he turned and met Madara's gaze, he didn't even have time to be surprised. He only felt the world go dark as he, too, fainted instantly. The same fate befell Samui.

"Hmph."

Looking down at the two unconscious shinobi, Uchiha Madara said with disdain, "And this is the power of a Kage from one of the great nations? Perhaps I have been overthinking things. I wanted to wait until I had returned to my prime before emerging, but it seems the Kage of this era are not as strong as they used to be."

Madara bent down and took the secret scroll of the Land of Sugi from the Raikage's arms. He opened it and gave it a cursory glance.

"Hmph. This rubbish is what a nation values as a secret ninjutsu? How utterly boring." Uchiha Madara shook his head, a little disappointed with the overall strength of this era.

Black and White Zetsu emerged from the ground at Madara's feet. "Lord Madara," White Zetsu reminded him, "Shiro and Yakumi have just finished searching the last town and are now heading this way."

Madara closed the scroll, his voice cold. "Good. I understand. Let's go back."

Black Zetsu added, his voice full of its usual oily praise, "Lord Madara, you have truly worked hard. To travel so far and take action yourself, all to educate your son and help him grow."

"Hehe…" Madara laughed softly.

"I can't help it. After all, I am his father."