Chapter 22: Madara’s Rebirth

Ever since Shanks figured out how to train Observation Haki, it was like he had returned to square one. 

To be precise, this was actually the normal way people trained Observation Haki—starting with raw intuition. 

"A frightening level of talent... But as a pioneer, it makes sense for Shanks to have this kind of ability." 

Even someone as proud as Madara had to admit that, in this aspect, Shanks was simply superior to him. 

At this point, Madara had only just begun to grasp Observation Haki. His progress was slow and barely noticeable. 

Meanwhile, Shanks had already reached the point where he could sense the state of the plants around him using Haki. 

By normal standards, reaching this level would already be impressive. 

"But he's still training... Is there something else he can't sense yet?" 

Madara looked at Shanks, who was sitting by the lake. 

On the water, there was a battered, broken-looking boat. 

It was new, but somehow, it was still terrible. 

Clearly, neither Shanks nor Zabuza had any talent for shipbuilding.

"That doesn't make sense. A ship should have its own soul. Does that mean mine doesn't?" 

Shanks looked at his worn-out, wind-leaking ship. No way. It had to be his Observation Haki that wasn't trained well enough. After all, he could even sense the state of a rock. 

"Something lifeless like this might be detectable through natural energy, but it doesn't emit energy on its own. Observation Haki shouldn't be able to sense something like this." 

Madara finally had enough. He didn't have time for this. He wasn't here to watch Shanks stare into space. 

"Impossible. Even if something is lifeless, it still has its own presence." 

Shanks refused to believe otherwise. What people called lifeless things were just objects that remained still—but that didn't mean they were truly dead. 

"Alright then, tell me, what is this sword in my hand thinking?" 

Madara mocked him as he pulled out his katana. 

From Madara's point of view, Shanks had hit a dead end in his thinking. 

It wasn't a big deal—someone with Shanks' talent and ability would figure it out sooner or later. 

But by the time he did, Madara might not be around anymore. 

Shanks didn't take Madara's words as a challenge. Instead, he immediately used his Observation Haki. 

As his vision shifted into another realm, Shanks saw a countless number of cracks covering Madara's katana in a black-and-white world. But more than that, he felt the overwhelming pride radiating from the blade. 

It was just an ordinary sword, yet the belief attached to it was immense. That belief was what kept the blade intact despite the passage of time. 

Shanks couldn't fully read the sword's presence, but he could sense enough. 

This wasn't just any katana—it had survived countless battles alongside its master. 

It wasn't the blade itself that was strong. It was the one who wielded it. 

Through that boundless pride, the katana that had accompanied its master through endless fights became the most trustworthy weapon in his hands. 

And that pride was what the sword carried. 

"Pride. It's proud to have fought alongside you so many times. Without you, it would just be an ordinary blade. But you took it into battle and won, again and again." 

"This sword carries only one belief—pride. And that pride is yours as well, Madara-senpai. It will never submit to anyone. It will never yield to any challenge. Even though it's covered in cracks, in your hands, it remains as sharp as ever." 

"Oh? It won't submit to anyone?" 

Madara raised an eyebrow at Shanks' words, then slowly drew his katana. 

Just as Shanks had said, cracks covered the blade. 

An ordinary sword could never hold up against monsters like Hashirama. 

And yet, this one had. 

Its immense pride had kept it going. Even with its body shattered, it remained sharp. 

But in the end, it wasn't the weapon that was truly strong—it was the one who wielded it. 

Forget weapons—even if it were a manifestation of pure will, it would still bow before its master. 

Madara shook his head at the thought. 

"Then why does it submit to me?" 

"It's not submission—it's trust." 

Shanks shook his head. 

"Even if the day comes when you can no longer swing it, this sword will still fight alongside you. 

Until… neither of you can carry that pride any longer." 

"If a weapon in Madara-senpai's hand were to submit, then how could it ever truly embody your will?"

"If I am to be a weapon in your hands, then I must also carry the same pride as Madara. Everything may change, but a person's will never does." 

Shanks drew his sword. 

A blade that carried the will of freedom. 

No matter what stood in its way, it had the power to cut through all restraints. That was Shanks' will, his belief— 

The belief of a true warrior. 

"So only then would I be worthy of you?" 

Madara was momentarily stunned. 

That's right. It wasn't just him—Uchiha Madara. The entire Uchiha clan had always been this way. 

If a weapon in his hand submitted to him like a mere servant, then how could such trash be worthy of being his weapon? 

He, Uchiha Madara, had no need for trash. Pride—this was his strongest belief. 

No matter who the enemy was, Uchiha Madara always had the confidence to defeat them. That confidence was his pride. 

Even if, one day, he had to face himself, he would never abandon that pride. 

"Wait… if that's the case…" 

At that moment, something clicked in Madara's mind. 

Of course—Black Zetsu. 

Now that he thought about it, Black Zetsu's existence was highly suspicious. 

It claimed to be a manifestation of his will, yet it did not carry his pride. 

A will born from Uchiha Madara that didn't even dare to challenge its own source—could that really be his will? 

Looking back, Madara had never questioned it before. 

After all, he was Uchiha Madara. A will like that seemed reasonable. As his own manifestation, it was only natural for it to obey him. 

But after hearing what Shanks said— 

How could Black Zetsu possibly be his will? The will of Uchiha Madara… had spent decades as a servant to someone else? 

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. 

Madara was proud, but he wasn't a fool. 

If Black Zetsu were truly his will, then the moment it was born, it should have been looking for ways to eliminate him. 

After all, he was Uchiha Madara. And Black Zetsu? What was it? Some worthless old relic? No power, no ability—how dare it claim to be the real one? 

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, but the logic was sound. 

"I was tricked." 

Then what exactly was that thing? It had countless chances to kill him, yet it never did. Instead, it kept pushing this entire plan forward. 

"So Black Zetsu was using me?" 

At that moment, Madara finally understood. 

Yes, someone had definitely been manipulating him. 

Even Obito, a disgrace to the Uchiha name, had planned to seize the power of the Sage of Six Paths for himself after completing the plan. 

Even someone like Uchiha Itachi, whose thinking was twisted, would never blindly serve another. 

And yet, he, Uchiha Madara—his so-called will wasn't even as ambitious as Obito? That was impossible. 

"Madara-senpai, what's wrong?" 

Seeing his face grow darker, Shanks asked with concern. 

"Nothing. I just remembered something I never finished. But… it's too late now." 

Madara sighed. He had realized the truth too late—there wasn't enough time left to deal with Black Zetsu. 

"Dreams and beliefs… I'll leave them to the next generation to carry on." 

"People will die eventually. But as long as their beliefs and dreams are passed on, death will have meaning." 

Shanks sighed. 

It wasn't just Madara—he himself was the same. 

He was one of the Four Emperors, yet he had placed his hopes for the future on Luffy. 

"Inheritance? The next generation doesn't have what it takes to carry on such beliefs and dreams. Not everyone is like you, Shanks." 

"And not everyone is like me. There are things that only I can do." 

Madara scoffed. People at their level were nothing like ordinary people. 

Yet Shanks was still talking about letting the next generation take over. Ridiculous. In this era, there wasn't a single person who could challenge him. 

If no one even had the qualifications to stand against him, how could they possibly help him get rid of Black Zetsu? 

"My pride has never come from myself. It comes from believing that there are stronger people out there in this world, out on the seas. That's where you and I are different, Madara." 

"My belief, my pride, is in the future." 

Shanks didn't know exactly what Madara planned to do, but he knew they were completely different. 

Madara's pride came from himself. 

But Shanks had his own pride—his strongest belief was in the countless powerful figures who had emerged in the Great Age of Pirates. 

He was just one of them. 

"What if that future never comes?" 

"Then I'll risk everything to create a future where my belief can be passed on." 

Shanks' face turned red with emotion. 

As he spoke, his Conqueror's Haki burst out uncontrollably. 

A future he would stake everything on. 

Even if he had to create a new era himself, that era would still need someone to inherit its beliefs. 

Or perhaps… many people. 

Boom! 

Dark clouds gathered in the sky. 

Shanks stared at Madara with unwavering determination. 

Madara looked up at the sky, then stood up and walked away. 

At that moment, he seemed like an old man with nothing left, his hunched figure carrying a sense of loneliness. 

The only thing that had stayed with him since the Warring States era was the sword at his side. 

"Looks like it's going to rain." 

Madara's voice drifted in the wind. 

He didn't believe anyone in the future could inherit Shanks' dreams and beliefs. 

Madara's pride had always come from himself. 

But as for Shanks, he acknowledged him. 

Shanks' strength, his spirit— 

Even Madara himself didn't have that kind of spirit. 

If someone could truly inherit this man's dreams and beliefs… it could only be himself. 

What Shanks couldn't accomplish, only Uchiha Madara could. 

As for anyone else? Were they even worthy? 

Buzz! 

For an instant, Shanks sensed a sudden surge of power from Madara. 

A pride that stood above the heavens, a presence that looked down upon all living beings. 

An unshakable belief. 

Conqueror's Haki! 

Everything Shanks had experienced, Madara had been through as well. 

So-called Sage Mode, the so-called reverse force—Madara had already mastered them. 

Which meant he had the potential to wield Conqueror's Haki. 

And in this moment, Madara's pride shattered the final barrier. 

Whether it was out of pride or the beliefs he had upheld for decades, Madara's will and strength had become one. 

As Uchiha Madara, his pride and beliefs would never allow themselves to be trampled. 

Conqueror's Haki cannot be trained after birth because not everyone has the potential to be a king. 

And now, Madara had that potential. 

Because his pride did not allow him to "submit." 

If Madara still believed that his own will could be forced into submission, he would never take this step in his entire life. 

But now, Madara not only refused to let his will bow to himself, but he also wouldn't allow a future where no one was capable of inheriting Shanks' beliefs and dreams. 

Of course, Madara himself was unaware of this. 

What he had always wanted was not submission—but an opponent. 

That was the quality of a true king. 

"Shanks, let's make a bet." 

Standing at the door with his back to Shanks, Madara spoke. 

"Your dream is to create a new era, isn't it?" 

"I'll make it happen," Shanks said with a smile. He was sure of it. 

"I believe you. Then I'll do the same. I'll bet everything on the future as well. I want to see this new era you speak of, and whether you can find someone to inherit your beliefs and dreams." 

With that, Madara turned and walked back into his room. 

Unknowingly, he had changed too. 

Belief... 

"Who can inherit my beliefs? Who can do what I have done? Heh." 

If Black Zetsu wasn't just an extension of my will, there would be too many things to investigate—Izuna's death, everything that happened over the past decades. 

"I don't have the boldness of Shanks. If there's anyone who could truly stand against me, it would have to be the sages of the Three Great Lands." 

That was the only possibility Madara could think of. 

He was running out of time. 

After being played by Black Zetsu like this, there was no way Madara wasn't furious. 

If possible, he would take revenge with his own hands, but… 

"Boar—Dog—Rooster—Monkey—Sheep, Summoning Jutsu!" 

The next moment, as smoke filled the air, a cat appeared before Madara. 

"If you're from the Uchiha clan, go find Hinai instead. Meow!" 

An old cat appeared in front of Madara. 

It looked at the elderly man before it. 

He looked familiar, but the cat couldn't recall who he was. 

Judging by his appearance, though, he was probably from the Uchiha clan. 

"You are…?" 

"Uchiha… Madara." 

"Meow!!!" 

Hearing that name, the old cat's fur stood on end. 

Then, it passed out on the spot. 

It must be dreaming. There was no way it was seeing this person. 

Yet, when it woke up ten minutes later, the scene before it remained unchanged. 

"I need your help with something. It involves Izuna's death, the First Hokage, and many events from the Warring States era." 

"My time is running out. I need you to go to the Three Holy Lands, find one of the sages, and make a deal with them." 

Madara's voice left no room for refusal. 

Cold sweat dripped from the old cat's forehead. 

How could it handle something this important? 

The Three Great Lands… Was that a place it could even set foot in? 

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