Naruto: Getting Observation Haki By Sacrificing The Byakugan

"Yes," Qingke solemnly nodded. "This news has already spread throughout the black market. It's said that Uchiha Madara himself released it—he wants to meet with the leader of the Akatsuki organization.

Lord Aoba, both Uchiha Madara and the Akatsuki leader are top-tier threats in the ninja world. If the two were to join forces, it could pose a grave danger to Konoha."

As he spoke, Qingke seemed worried that Aoba Kawaki might misunderstand his words. He quickly added, "Of course, I'm not questioning Lord Aoba's strength. But, after all, you're just one person. There are still threats that must be guarded against."

"I understand your concern, Qingke. I'm aware of the situation and will make my own decision. You may leave now."

Waving Qingke away, Aoba Kawaki's expression turned strange.

After stirring up trouble in Konoha and being beaten back, Uchiha Madara didn't seek revenge after growing stronger. Instead, he wanted to meet his alter ego.

From beginning to end, this matter felt odd. What exactly was Madara thinking?

Still, figuring it out wasn't difficult. If Madara wanted to meet, then fine—Aoba would meet him.

At worst, he'd just wear the Smoker disguise again and fight Madara once more. Besides, he was curious to see the strength of a Six Paths-level Uchiha Madara.

The next day, while in Amegakure, Uchiha Madara received a response from the Akatsuki. Aoba Kawaki had agreed to the meeting in three days. The location: the Valley of the End, in the Land of Fire.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Aoba Kawaki once again used the Transformation Technique to assume the form of Smoker. With a single step, he used Instant Transmission to arrive at the Valley of the End.

There, Uchiha Madara was already waiting.

Sensing the presence, Madara opened his eyes from meditation. Upon seeing Smoker, he smiled.

"You're not easy to meet. And it seems you've become much stronger since the last time," Madara said.

"I should be saying that. Your aura feels unfamiliar now. But that's not my concern. Tell me why you're so eager to meet me. What do you want?" Aoba Kawaki cut to the chase.

Seeing this, Madara didn't waste time either. "Smoker, I came here for two things."

He raised a finger. "First, I want to ask—did you obtain your power through your own cultivation, or was it bestowed by a figure from myth or legend?

And if it was granted, did they give you any instructions?"

Aoba Kawaki raised an eyebrow. Madara's tone made it seem like he had already concluded that the power wasn't self-earned.

But after thinking a moment, Aoba understood. Madara likely suspected divine intervention—perhaps the Sage of Six Paths—especially since the Smoker persona appeared out of nowhere.

Still, Aoba Kawaki had no intention of accepting that label.

He shook his head. "All my power was earned through my own cultivation. Step by step, I built it. No mysterious stranger gave it to me."

Madara nodded as if acknowledging the answer—but then said, "I don't believe you."

Aoba Kawaki: …

Then why the hell did you nod!?

Seeing Smoker's face darken, Madara's mood inexplicably improved.

As a seasoned powerhouse, Madara trusted his own judgment. Right or wrong, once decided, he rarely changed his mind.

Unsurprisingly, just as Aoba had guessed, Madara believed Smoker was a pawn of someone else.

Though the theory was entirely self-imagined, it made a strange amount of sense when examined logically.

Smoker's mysterious origin could be explained neatly with that assumption.

Madara even began suspecting Aoba Kawaki himself.

Young, powerful, possessing the Tenseigan—and already known to have met the Sage of Six Paths.

Thus, Madara speculated that Aoba Kawaki might have received power from Hagoromo's brother, Hamura Ōtsutsuki.

It was a flawless theory. With Aoba's partial Hyuga bloodline, it made perfect sense for Hamura to choose him.

Had Aoba heard Madara's thoughts, he would've definitely exclaimed, "Impressive!"

"Uchiha Madara, you said there were two things. I've answered your first ridiculous question. Believe it or not, that's my answer.

Now tell me the second. Hopefully, it's not another absurd question."

"The second is this—I've heard the Four-Tails from Iwagakure is in your hands."

So that's what he's after—Son Goku, the Four-Tails.

To revive the Ten-Tails, all nine beasts were necessary. With Madara's current strength, the Nine-Tails and Five-Tails in Konoha were still difficult to get. That left the Four-Tails in his alter ego's possession as a critical target.

The other tailed beasts? The villages guarding them couldn't possibly stop Madara.

Between Akatsuki and Konoha, Madara clearly viewed Akatsuki as the easier option.

Though, for Aoba Kawaki, it didn't make much difference.

"So, Uchiha Madara, you're after the tailed beast in my hands? Then I can only say one thing—sorry. The Four-Tails is vital to me and absolutely not something I'll hand over."

Aoba Kawaki's response was firm, leaving no room for discussion.

And indeed, Son Goku was key to Aoba's Saiyan bloodline completion plan. Even if the Sage of Six Paths himself asked, the answer would still be no.

Rejected outright, Madara's expression darkened.

He frowned. "You're no match for me right now. But I don't want to use force yet… Is there really no room to negotiate?"

"None. Absolutely not. Abandon the idea now."

Triple rejection—Aoba left no opening.

In truth, who was Uchiha Madara to him?

If Madara didn't still have some use, Aoba Kawaki would've ended him long ago.

After all, he had already slain Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo. What's one more Uchiha Madara?

On the other side, Uchiha Madara, completely unaware that he was already on the verge of death, gradually adopted a dangerous expression.

The aura of a Six Paths-level powerhouse erupted from his body, directly pressuring Kawaki Aoba, using sheer force to intimidate him.

Having long suspected that he and others were being used as pawns, Madara hadn't initially intended to escalate the conflict. But the firm and silent stance of the Akatsuki leader before him left no room for diplomacy.

He was left with no choice.

Kawaki Aoba, feeling the crushing pressure of Madara's Six Paths aura, frowned. His own base combat power hadn't yet reached that level.

Should he use the Kaio-Ken?

If he unleashed the Kaio-Ken, it might close the gap in aura for a short time. But judging from Madara's presence—now brimming with power likely on par with the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo—Kawaki knew brute strength wouldn't be enough.

Moreover, unlike Hagoromo, Madara had years of battle experience and instinct honed by war.

If Madara had possessed this power during their last encounter, Kawaki doubted he could have survived.

But now, as his eyes settled on the ancient Zanpakutō placed atop the altar in the space behind him, Kawaki Aoba smiled confidently.

The power of the Sheep Talisman—one of the twelve magical talismans—was now integrated into his body. It guided out the latent force hidden within his soul.

Spiritual Pressure.

Kawaki Aoba's soul was that of a Soul Reaper, forged over a millennium of dormant reincarnations.

Usually, this spiritual power remained suppressed in his physical vessel, unable to manifest without proper transformation into a Soul Reaper. But now, with the Sheep Talisman channeling that spiritual essence, Kawaki could harness it in his living body.

And in his hand, he held the key to focusing this power.

With a calm breath, an ancient Zanpakutō manifested in his grasp.

Then, raising it, he intoned the release phrase:

"All things in this world turn to ash—Ryūjin Jakka!"

Blazing flames exploded outward from the blade, engulfing his body in a fiery cloak. Miraculously, the raging fire did not burn him—it obeyed him.

Uchiha Madara's eyes narrowed sharply. The moment the sword materialized, he sensed danger.

That flame-clad blade could actually threaten the life of a Six Paths-tier being. It was both astonishing and terrifying.

Madara realized the man before him was not one he could easily manipulate. The leader of Akatsuki possessed power worthy of standing as his equal.

And yet, Madara's suspicion only deepened.

Anyone capable of opposing him must also be under the influence of forces beyond this world. He was now certain—Kawaki Aoba, too, was a pawn, just like him.

The temperature continued to rise. The Valley of the End, once cool and misty, now felt like an open-air furnace. The river nearby steamed and hissed.

But Madara ignored all of it, eyes locked on Kawaki Aoba.

In response to the threat, Madara's skin paled as his body began transforming—features aligning with those of the Ōtsutsuki clan. Behind him, six black orbs—the Truth-Seeking Balls—materialized and hovered.

He extended his hand, and the spheres merged into a staff: the Six Paths Shakujo.

The air trembled between them. A standoff of titanic forces.

Finally, Madara broke the silence:

"I can feel it… that sword of yours truly could kill me. But if we do fight, your odds aren't great."

He narrowed his eyes.

"If we destroy each other, the one lurking behind the scenes will only benefit. Why don't we talk, instead? I do want the Tailed Beasts. So… what are your terms?"

Madara's voice softened—but only slightly. For him, such restraint was already a significant concession.

Kawaki Aoba understood his reasoning.

Madara believed they were both being manipulated and saw no gain in eliminating an equal. And to be fair, Kawaki wasn't eager to destroy Madara either.

Behind Madara stood the Sage of Six Paths himself—watching with a mysterious, unreadable gaze.

But Kawaki would never hand over Son Gokū, the Four-Tails.

Yet an idea sparked in his mind—a bold one.

'Konoha is already under fire from all directions. My presence alone is making many factions hesitant. Still, the minor skirmishes never cease. Perhaps it's time to draw them all in and wipe them out in one strike.'

The thought was dangerous… and deeply appealing.

But first, there was one key question: How urgent was Madara about reviving the Ten-Tails?

"Madara," Kawaki said, expression calm but calculating, "You want the Tailed Beasts… to revive the Ten-Tails, don't you?"

Madara's expression didn't change, but a glint passed through his eyes.

"As expected—you know," he said.

But inwardly, he sneered.

'Heh. And yet you still claim you're no pawn?'

Only Madara and Black Zetsu had ever deciphered the truth from the Sage's stone tablet—reviving the Ten-Tails to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Even the other Akatsuki had only been told to "awaken" the beast, not revive it.

So how did Kawaki know?

Madara became more convinced: this man had also been contacted by some ancient force, much like himself.

That meant the Eye of the Moon Plan might not be as foolproof as he believed.

Watching Madara's expression shift, Kawaki Aoba could tell what he was thinking—but didn't care.

Madara could speculate all he wanted. Even if Kawaki told him the truth now, he doubted the man would believe it.

Calmly, Kawaki continued:

"To revive the Ten-Tails, you need all nine Tailed Beasts and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. True, I have the Four-Tails—but until the others are gathered, it's not exactly irreplaceable."

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