Madara’s Mangekyo Sharingan evolved.
It transformed into the Rinnegan.
This outcome would have occurred even without Hui. However, Hui could sense that the brewing energy within Uchiha Madara’s eyes had already reached its critical point.
In a few more years, Madara would have awakened his Rinnegan naturally.
But just now, Hui had accelerated this process.
Not only had he helped Madara awaken the Rinnegan, but he had also used his immense life force to restore Madara’s body to its prime.
The current Uchiha Madara was as powerful as the time in the original story when he freed himself from kabut’s impure world reincarnation.
Now, Uchiha Madara stood tall.
His body, restored to that of a thirty-year-old, no longer had the frailty and hunch of his old age. He was as sharp and imposing as a sword, as immovable as a mountain.
His once-white hair had turned into a rich, jet-black color.
In the gentle breeze, his black hair swayed lightly.
With his cold and merciless Rinnegan and his natural commanding aura, Madara was no longer an elderly man on the brink of death.
He was a peerless force, a domineering presence who reigned supreme over the world.
He raised his hands, gazing at his youthful palms and feeling the boundless power coursing through his body. He was overwhelmed with excitement.
This excitement was not only in his heart but also resonated throughout his entire being.
One hand gently reached up, as though he intended to touch his own eyes.
At that moment, Madara realized that he had gained so much and understood even more.
He couldn't help but extend his other hand, grasping at the empty air in front of him.
A stone nearby was immediately pulled toward him by an invisible force.
However, before it reached his side, the stone suddenly shattered—due to an opposing force acting upon it in an instant.
Attraction and repulsion. One of the Rinnegan’s abilities.
These two powers had been fully demonstrated through Pain’s Deva Path, becoming renowned throughout the shinobi world.
These abilities were known as Bansho Ten’in and Shinra Tensei.
“So this is... the essence of all things... This is... the Rinnegan.”
Madara muttered, his emotions complex.
This was what he had always sought.
Now, he had finally obtained it.
Even if the concept of the "Shinra Bansho" was nothing more than a lie spun by Black Zetsu...
A sudden cough broke through Madara's thoughts. He turned and saw Hui holding his hand over his mouth, his face slightly pale.
“Congratulations,” Hui said, his tone calm. “You now possess the same eyes as the Sage of Six Paths—Rinnegan.”
He slowly lowered his hand from his mouth, doing so subtly, but Madara noticed the red stain on the edge of Hui’s fist.
Moments ago, this young man had coughed up blood.
Madara's emotions became even more complex. Although he felt the urge to say words of gratitude, they remained stuck in his throat.
Madara was a proud man.
Moreover, expressing thanks didn’t suit his personality.
“Next, you should be able to deal with Black Zetsu,” Hui continued. “Even if you can’t kill it outright, with the power of your Rinnegan, you should be able to uncover some truths from it.”
Hui shifted his gaze downward toward Konoha.
His expression was profound, as though he wasn’t looking at the present village but a future yet to come.
“Due to Kaguya’s influence, members of the Otsutsuki clan will undoubtedly descend upon this planet in the future. They will be the enemies of the entire shinobi world.
“It would be a common enemy.
“You now possess the Rinnegan and have the strength to stand against such beings.
“So, whether it is Konoha or the entire shinobi world, they will need us to protect them together.
“I’ve said it before, peace and war are like the cycle of light and darkness.
“All we can do is prolong the peace for as long as possible, to extend the light for as long as we can.
“Our duty is to guide people toward peace through the chaos of war and to shield them as they await the dawn in the darkness.
“And now, war is about to return once more.
“The shinobi world may soon be plunged into a terrifying darkness.
“And you and I... are currently the only ones in this world who can lead the people back to peace and protect them through the dark times.
“So, no matter who you were, what you’ve done, or what you thought...
“From now on, you are no longer Madara, the rogue shinobi of Konoha.
“You are my comrade, standing side by side with me, Mochizuki Hui, the Third Hokage of Konoha.
“You are Uchiha Madara... of the Uchiha clan of Konoha.”
Hui’s words left Uchiha Madara deeply shaken.
In that moment, Madara saw the figure of Hashirama Senju in Hui.
And he saw the person he had always aspired to be.
At that moment, Madara felt the brilliance emanating from Hui.
Suddenly, he understood why so many people admired and followed this man.
Because this was someone who inspired greater trust and loyalty than even Hashirama Senju, a person worthy of unwavering faith.
Even in his heart, Madara couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement and a burning desire to fight alongside Hui.
A small smile appeared at the corner of Madara’s mouth.
Something within him seemed to shatter, while something new seemed to be born.
He, too, looked down at Konoha below.
“This is a beautiful place. It seems that Hashirama and I had good taste after all.
“If someone wants to destroy the place I choose... let them come.
“I’ll make them understand what it means to be an Uchiha. What it means... to be Uchiha Madara!”
Madara’s declaration made Hui smile faintly.
He knew his persuasion had worked. He had changed Madara for the better.
It was unexpected, after all, this was Madara.
But at the same time, it felt inevitable.
If Madara hadn’t grown old and weakened...
If Madara hadn’t learned the truth about himself and fallen into a brief period of doubt...
If Madara hadn’t been in Konoha, a place that fit the ideal in his heart...
This attempt to change Uchiha Madara might have failed.
But there were no "ifs", everything had aligned perfectly. The time was right. The place was right.
And... there was someone with a silver tongue.
Unbeknownst to him, Hui had mastered the technique that Naruto would become most famous for in the future, the most powerful technique in the shinobi world:
With the perfect alignment of time, place, and circumstance, this change in Madara’s mindset had succeeded.
It was a miracle, but one that felt destined.
Hui knew that from this moment on, the Madara obsessed with achieving "eternal peace" at any cost, the man twisted to extremes by Black Zetsu’s influence, was gone.
The Madara who now stood before him was once again the dominant, ambitious man who fought for his ideals, yet was also willing to compromise for friendship and dreams.
And now, he would be Konoha’s Uchiha Madara.
“Well then... I hope you find Black Zetsu soon and confirm the truth in your heart.
“After you’ve taken care of that... come to Konoha.
“A great change is coming, a transformation that will affect the entire shinobi world, every person in it, and the hope of facing the Otsutsuki clan in the future.
“Konoha still needs your strength.”
Hui turned and began to walk away. He spoke as he walked, his voice gradually fading along with his silhouette.
Madara stared at the spot where Hui had disappeared for a long time before finally speaking to himself.
“Mochizuki Hui... what an impressive young man.”
As he spoke, Madara laughed softly.
Then, his gaze shifted once more to Konoha below.
A few seconds later, his body vanished from where he stood.
He was going to search for Black Zetsu.
This time, he was confident that he would uncover the truth from Black Zetsu.
Although... it already seemed somewhat unnecessary.
Because... in his heart, he had already placed complete trust in this young man.
And he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming urge... to fight alongside Hui!