Chapter 48: Mad Laughter
Chapter 48: Mad Laughter
Madara's voice faded, but the aura he left behind lingered.
Though it wasn't Izuna, Madara now understood why Zetsu had compared Kagami to himself.
An unyielding, absolute self-centeredness—an unwavering belief in one's own supremacy.
Madara laughed—a rare, deep sound echoing through the cavern.
How long has it been since I laughed like this?
This child, from the clan he abandoned, had turned out to be so... interesting.
"Kagami, our goals may differ, but your will—I acknowledge it."
"Come to the Land of Grass. I'll let you witness the true power of the Uchiha clan."
Madara's voice turned mocking, taunting.
"Someone as competitive as you—will it break your heart to lose?"
The connection through Zetsu's Sharingan dissolved, but Kagami's resolve remained undeterred.
"I have no need for empathy toward the defeated. I will always be the victor."
Inside Kagami's mental space, the King of Curses stirred.
This time, Sukuna wasn't mocking or roaring with laughter. Instead, he studied the recent exchange with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"This world… still harbors beings like him…"
Without Sukuna's cursed energy, Kagami knew he wouldn't have stood a chance against Madara's overwhelming ocular power.
Even in his weakened state, without his Rinnegan, Uchiha Madara was a living legend—a god among men.
"You're seriously going to meet him now?" Sukuna's voice echoed, neither mocking nor derisive.
For once, the King of Curses wasn't eager for chaos.
"You're strong, but facing him? That's borderline idiotic. He's not just anyone, Kagami."
"Of course I'm going," Kagami replied coolly.
He felt the strain of suppressing in his Sharingan's evolution. The moment to unleash it had to be perfect.
"It's not about recklessness. I have things I need to confirm."
Sukuna's eyes narrowed.
"This world… the humans here are overflowing with energy. And you've grown so much in so little time—too fast, even for you."
He chuckled darkly, his four arms flexing as cursed energy surged around him.
"And me? I've grown stronger, too. You've given me that. This world… truly fascinating."
Then his tone shifted, becoming more sinister.
"I can feel it—that other force lurking in your spirit, the one you keep locked away."
"Why resist it? Embrace the madness, Kagami. Let it out!"
"With you and me combined, we could annihilate this entire world! Do whatever we want!"
Kagami's voice was flat.
"You want me to lock you away for another year? Keep talking."
Sukuna's lips curled into a snarl.
"Kagami! You need me! We're two sides of the same coin—whether you admit it or not!"
"I need your power, Sukuna," Kagami admitted, pulling a significant amount of cursed energy into himself.
But as he left the mental space, he threw one last remark over his shoulder:
"Remember your place. You're just a weapon."
Within the skeletal confines of his prison, Sukuna's fury burned like an inferno.
One day… one day, he would teach Kagami the true meaning of terror.
"I am your curse," Sukuna growled, his eyes blazing.
"Why do you always use genjutsu on me the moment we meet?!"
Obito's voice was shrill, filled with frustration.
"What the hell did you even do this time?!"
Kagami didn't respond. Instead, he flicked Obito on the forehead, hard enough to stagger him.
"You should thank me. I'm strengthening your mental defenses."
The surrounding barrier Kagami had set up dissipated, and Kakashi and Rin approached.
"You're leaving?" Kakashi asked, noticing Kagami's movements toward the western border.
He wanted to ask more but decided against it. A classified mission, he thought.
For some reason, though, an unsettling feeling gnawed at Kakashi's chest.
As Kagami disappeared into the distance, Kakashi's unease grew.
Something about this departure felt... final.
"Why does Kagami always pick on me?!" Obito grumbled, nursing a lump on his forehead.
"Maybe he sees potential in you," Kakashi replied, half-joking. "After all, he doesn't even bother with me or Sensei."
Obito rubbed his head thoughtfully.
"Potential, huh… Maybe you're right."
But Rin's expression darkened.
Unlike the others, she sensed it clearly—Kagami didn't see potential in Obito.
Kagami's disdain for him wasn't hidden. If anything, it was painfully obvious.
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The war had entered a more prolonged phase. The initial chaos had given way to tactical maneuvers and calculated strategies.
Kagami informed Jiraiya briefly before heading off on his own.
Meeting Madara was only the first step.
Once that encounter was over, he would proceed with perfecting his Mangekyo Sharingan—his ultimate goal.
In Kagami's eyes, the Eternal Mangekyo wasn't just another step. It was the pinnacle.
The Rinnegan, despite its connection to the Uchiha's lineage, was irrelevant.
The Sharingan was their true legacy.
And Kagami would push it beyond its natural limits.
Suppressing his emotions as he traveled, Kagami focused on maintaining control.
He couldn't afford for his Sharingan to evolve prematurely.
But the thought of meeting the legendary Uchiha Madara, of standing face-to-face with that historic figure...
A maniacal grin spread across Kagami's face.
He tried to suppress it, but it burst forth anyway—a laugh that echoed through the forest.
Pure, unrestrained, maniacal laughter.
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