In front of all the members of the Akatsuki…
Leo stepped forward with a calm, commanding presence and declared, "The leader has been replaced!"
The room fell silent.
Uchiha Itachi, Kakuzu, Hoshigaki Kisame, Deidara, Sasori, and the rest of the Akatsuki couldn't help but widen their eyes. Their pupils shrank in shock and confusion.
Forget the question of why there were suddenly two "Uchiha Madara." Perhaps one was a clone or an imposter…
But a new leader?
Uchiha Madara?
What in the world was going on?
---
Tap. Tap. Tap.
As Leo's voice faded into the silence and no one responded, only Konan remained kneeling respectfully on one knee. The man beside Leo—his expression cold and imperious—stepped forward.
Arms folded across his chest, he scanned the group.
"Anyone have any objections?" Uchiha Madara asked, his voice low and filled with power.
He stood there with absolute authority, and then—
Zheng—
His eyes closed momentarily. When they reopened, a pair of glowing lavender [Rinnegan] shone ominously in their sockets.
"Nani…?!"
"That's... the Rinnegan of the former leader?!"
Deidara, Sasori, and Kisame all reeled in shock.
Everyone present stared at Uchiha Madara—arms still crossed, his expression unchanged. That lavender glow from his Rinnegan burned into their minds. Uchiha Itachi narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing. Could it be? Had the previous leader, Nagato—no, Pain—been killed by these two Madaras?
Had his Rinnegan been taken?
They all knew what the Rinnegan meant. Its power was legendary—unmatched. Without it, Pain wouldn't have been able to rule Akatsuki.
Now, that same power was in the eyes of the legendary ninja—the once-feared Shura of the Shinobi World:
Uchiha Madara.
If anyone had paid attention to the news from Konoha, they would know just how terrifying this man was. The one who tore through Konoha with godlike strength…
And now, with Rinnegan added to his arsenal?
No one could possibly contest his claim to leadership.
Still, someone had to speak.
"Hey... You two look exactly the same. Who the hell are you really?" Deidara finally asked, his mind still catching up. "And where did you get those Rinnegan? Where's the old leader?"
But before anyone could answer—
"Uchiha Madara…" Kakuzu muttered, cold sweat forming at his temples as he trembled.
"What?" Deidara blinked.
He turned back to the two men again, taking a closer look.
It was true. Though they weren't wearing the iconic red armor, they matched the descriptions—almost perfectly—of the "Uchiha Madara" who had recently annihilated the Konoha Shinobi.
Deidara's expression darkened.
"Uchiha Madara…" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
"Chief!" Kakuzu suddenly bent down in a deep bow to the two figures standing in front of them.
The other members—Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, and Deidara—turned toward him in surprise.
"Kakuzu! You bastard!" Hidan shouted in frustration. "You wouldn't help me get revenge, and now you're pledging loyalty to him?!"
His voice echoed across the underground chamber, despite his wounds. Hidan's body was still pinned by the massive Yasaka no Magatama attack, yet he managed to pry himself free slowly, bit by bit, groaning in pain as he spoke.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, five black rods shot through the air.
Before Hidan could react, they pierced through his body, slamming him against the underground wall.
"Gahhhh!" he cried out in agony.
The rods didn't just wound—they sealed. The chakra-suppressing effect of the black receivers rendered him completely helpless, like a pinned decoration on a wall.
The attacker? Uchiha Madara—his Rinnegan active.
"Too fast!" Kisame muttered under his breath, his shark-like grin fading into awe.
Sasori and Itachi narrowed their eyes, silently acknowledging the sheer speed and precision of the strike.
Madara glanced around once more.
"I'll ask again," he said, slowly clenching his right fist.
BOOM—
A monstrous surge of chakra exploded outward from his body.
The energy was immense—terrifying. A pressure wave radiated through the base, shaking the walls and sending a paralyzing force through the room.
In an instant, all the Akatsuki members felt it.
All of them—except Konan and Kakuzu—were driven to their knees or forced into painful resistance. Uchiha Itachi, usually calm and reserved, gritted his teeth.
No one could fight back.
If someone wanted to kill them at that moment, they would be powerless to stop it.
"This… This chakra… Is this the power of the legendary shinobi?" Kisame gasped, beads of sweat rolling down his face.
Itachi looked up, stunned.
Something didn't add up.
The chakra coming from this "Madara"… was different.
It felt stronger—sharper—than the one he had encountered before.
Wait… Was the other one a fake?
Unbeknownst to him, the "Madara" he had previously met was actually Uchiha Obito. Not the true Madara.
Standing calmly behind the real Uchiha Madara, Leo watched silently, a faint smile on his lips. He hadn't said much yet, but his presence was felt—cool and composed, like a strategist behind a general.
Then, just as it felt unbearable—
Uchiha Madara eased the chakra pressure.
Everyone immediately felt the change—like someone had lifted a crushing weight off their bodies.
Sasori exhaled, his face respectful.
"With chakra like that… and the Rinnegan… I have no complaints," he said first, breaking the silence.
"Brother Sasori..." Deidara grumbled. "Since he's given in, I'll join too. Fine."
"Leader," Uchiha Itachi said simply, lowering his head slightly in quiet acknowledgment.
"The legendary shinobi Uchiha Madara? He's more than qualified," Kisame added, nodding.
"You're all traitors!" Hidan shrieked from the wall, still nailed in place, flailing helplessly. "Bunch of cowards!"
But no one paid him any attention.
Then Kakuzu broke the silence again.
"The previous leader… he wanted to collect all the Tailed Beasts and carry out some sort of plan," he said carefully, glancing between the two Madaras. "What about you? What is your goal?"
Itachi, Deidara, Sasori—and even Hidan—turned their eyes toward the two men.
Especially Itachi.
Why had Uchiha Madara—who had already crushed Konoha—come to take over the Akatsuki?
What did he want?
Uchiha Madara turned slightly, glancing back at Leo.
Their eyes met. A shared understanding passed between them.
Then both men spoke together:
"Our goal… is the Ninja World. Unification!"
Their voices echoed together like thunder.
The members of Akatsuki froze.
Unify the entire ninja world?
Was that even possible?
Were they serious?
Were they insane?
"That's right," Leo said, finally stepping forward, his black pupils calm and resolute.
With that quiet strength in his voice, he continued, "Allow me to introduce the newest member of Akatsuki…"
He paused for a moment, then spoke a name that sent chills through the room:
"Uzumaki Nagato."
---