He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

He drew the katana he carried with him.

From his perspective, Shanks had hit a dead end—at least to some extent.

It wasn't a problem that Shanks was stuck; with his talent and aptitude, he'd find his way out soon enough.

But by the time he did… Madara might no longer be around.

Yet, when Shanks heard Madara's words, he didn't think Madara was giving him a hard time.

Instead, he activated his Observation Haki.

As his vision shifted into a different dimension, Shanks perceived the black-and-white world—and on Madara's katana, he saw countless fine cracks. But more than that, he felt the aura of pride emanating from the blade.

It was clearly just a regular sword, yet the belief carried within it was overwhelming. That belief had kept the long-broken blade functional even after all this time.

Shanks couldn't fully perceive Madara's katana—but even the faint impression he received was enough.

An ordinary blade that had survived countless battles alongside its master.

What made it powerful wasn't the sword itself, but its wielder.

Under that prideful disdain for everything and superiority over all, this seemingly normal sword had become the most trustworthy weapon in the hands of that man.

That pride—was what Madara's sword carried.

"Pride—it's proud because it fought beside you through countless battles.If it weren't for you, it would've been just a normal sword.But you took it to the battlefield, and it triumphed countless times."

"The only belief etched into this blade is pride.And that's also your belief, Madara-senpai."

"This prideful belief… won't allow the sword to yield to anyone, nor to any obstacle.Even if it's covered in cracks, in your hands, it remains the sharpest blade."

"Oh? Won't yield to anyone?"Madara chuckled with interest and drew the sword.

Just like Shanks said, the blade was covered in cracks.

A normal sword shouldn't be able to stand against a monster like Hashirama.

And yet, this sword had.

Its immense pride allowed it to endure, to remain sharp even as its body shattered.

But the real strength didn't come from the weapon—it came from him, the master.

Forget weapons—even embodiments of will must submit before him.

Madara shook his head.

"Then why did it submit to me?"

"It didn't submit—it trusted you,"Shanks replied, shaking his head.

"Even if one day you can no longer wield a sword,it will still carry you forward, fighting alongside you...Until the day your body can no longer bear that pride."

"If a weapon in your hands were to submit to you,how could it ever carry your belief, Madara-senpai?"

"Any weapon worthy of your hand must inherit your pride.Things may change, but a man's will—that does not."

Shanks then drew his own saber—

A blade that carried the will of freedom.

No matter what stood in its way, it would cut down all restraints.That was Shanks's will. His pride.

The pride of a true strong man.

"Only a blade like that… is worthy of me, huh?"

Madara paused.

Yes. Not just him—all of the proud Uchiha clan had always believed that.

If a weapon submitted to its master, how could that trash be called a weapon?

He, Uchiha Madara, had no need for such garbage.

Pride—that was Madara's ultimate belief.

No matter the opponent, he believed he could win.That belief was his pride.

Even if the day came when he had to face himself, he would not lose that pride.

"Wait… if that's the case…"

Suddenly, a realization dawned on Madara.

Black Zetsu.

This raised serious doubts about Black Zetsu's identity.

If it truly were a manifestation of his will, why didn't it inherit his pride?

If Uchiha Madara's will incarnate couldn't even rebel against its original self, how could it be called his will?

In the past, Madara had never questioned this.

He was Uchiha Madara, after all. Of course, it made sense to have a will avatar obedient to him. That was normal.

But after hearing Shanks…

How could that be his will incarnate?

Black Zetsu had served someone else like a slave for decades.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Madara might be prideful—but he wasn't an idiot.

If Black Zetsu had truly been born from his will, then the moment it manifested, it should've been plotting how to eliminate him—the original.

After all, I am Uchiha Madara. Who are you? Some old, powerless trash? You think you're the original? Are you worthy?

Strange as it was to think like this—that was the logic.

"I was played…"

"So what exactly is that thing?It had countless opportunities to kill me, but it didn't.Instead, it carefully advanced this entire plan…"

"That means… Black Zetsu was using me?"

And in that moment, Madara finally understood.

Yes. He had been used.

Even Uchiha Obito, a disgrace to the clan, had intended to claim the Sage of Six Paths' power for himself after the plan.

Even someone as unhinged as Itachi was never blindly loyal.

And yet, he, Uchiha Madara, had a will avatar weaker than Obito? That made no sense.

"Madara-senpai, are you alright?"

Seeing the increasingly dark expression on Madara's face, Shanks asked with concern.

"It's nothing…Just remembered something I haven't finished.Unfortunately, I'm out of time,"Madara said with a sigh. He now realized it was too late to settle things with Black Zetsu.

"Let dreams and beliefs be passed down to the next generation.Everyone dies eventually—but if belief and dreams endure,then even death becomes meaningful."

Shanks mused aloud.

And not just Madara—this was true for himself as well.

He was one of the Four Emperors, after all.Yet here he was, placing the future in Luffy's hands.

"Inheritance?The next generation doesn't have the strength to carry such beliefs.Not everyone is like you, Shanks."

"And not everyone is like me.Some things—only I can do."

Madara scoffed. People on their level were different from the masses.

And Shanks still wanted to leave things to the next generation? Ridiculous.

In this era, Madara hadn't found a single person qualified to oppose him.

Without even the right to stand before him, how could anyone take down Black Zetsu?

"My pride… never came from myself.I believe there are people out there, on the seas,stronger than me.That's where we differ, Madara-senpai."

"My pride and belief—are in the future."

Shanks didn't know what Madara intended to do.

But he and Madara were fundamentally different.

Madara's pride came from himself.Shanks's pride was rooted in the Great Pirate Era—in the rise of countless strong warriors.

He was merely one among them.

"What if there's no future?"

"Then I'll stake everything I have to create a future worthy of inheriting my belief."

Shanks flushed red with passion.

As he spoke, his Conqueror's Haki flared uncontrollably.

A future he'd stake everything on.

Even if he had to forge a new era himself—an era still needed people to inherit its ideals.Or rather… many people.

BOOOOM!!

Dark clouds rumbled across the sky as Shanks met Madara's gaze, unwavering.

This—was Shanks's belief.

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

In that moment, he seemed like a lonely, aging man—with no one to rely on.His only companion was the katana that had stayed with him since the Warring States era.

"Looks like it's going to rain."

Madara's voice drifted in the wind.

He didn't believe anyone in the future could carry Shanks's ideals and dreams.His pride had always come from within.

But even so, he respected Shanks.

Shanks's strength. Shanks's spirit.

Even he, Uchiha Madara, lacked that kind of spirit.

If anyone could inherit Shanks's beliefs and dreams—it could only be himself.

The things Shanks couldn't achieve—only he, Madara, could accomplish.

Anyone else? Not even qualified.

BUZZ!!

In that moment, Shanks sensed a surge of energy—an explosive aura bursting from Madara.

A pride that stood against the heavens.An arrogance that looked down on all beings.A supreme, unyielding belief.

Conqueror's Haki.

Everything Shanks had gone through—Madara had already experienced.

Sage Mode. Reverse chakra flows. All of it.

Which meant Madara had long possessed the hardware needed to awaken Conqueror's Haki.

And now, at this moment—Madara's pride shattered his inner shackles.

Whether from his belief in himself, or a conviction built over decades—his will and strength fused.

Uchiha Madara's pride and faith would never tolerate being trampled.

Conqueror's Haki can't be trained—because not everyone has the qualifications of a king.

And now, Madara finally had those qualifications.

Because his pride would never allow submission.