Madara had encountered many types of barriers in his lifetime, but this one was unlike anything he had ever seen. It operated automatically, allowing entry to anyone at the command of its owner. However, what intrigued him the most was the fact that it wasn't powered by the supposed owner at all.
Though he had yet to test its durability, judging by its capabilities, it was safe to assume that it was of high quality. A barrier with such advanced functions had to possess considerable strength.
His sharp eyes moved toward the small, unassuming house beyond the barrier. Something about it piqued his interest. If there was another barrier inside, it could prove useful.
Madara turned slightly and asked, "What's inside that house?" His voice was calm, yet laced with quiet curiosity as he observed the structure.
The boy beside him, an ugly little thing with a nervous look, immediately answered, "There are some pieces of equipment, some armor, and… uh, a few wall decorations."
Madara barely spared him a glance before striding forward. The boy, seemingly hesitant but unwilling to be left behind, quickly followed. As they entered the house, a dim, almost eerie darkness greeted them. There was no source of light within, making it difficult to see for most. But for Madara, the lack of illumination posed no issue—his vision remained sharp, able to pick up every detail within the room.
His gaze instinctively swept across the interior. The space was simple, cluttered with various items, most of which seemed old yet well-maintained. Then, something caught his eye—a glint of light reflecting off a particular object to his side.
A sword.
Madara turned his head slightly, his keen vision locking onto the weapon. The blade rested against the wall, its polished surface catching the faintest rays of sunlight seeping through the small openings.
"That sword… it looks pretty good," he muttered to himself, stepping closer.
Weapons were unnecessary for someone like him. His strength alone was enough to overpower any foe. However, if there ever came a time when he needed one, he did have preferences. The Uchiha Gunbai, a traditional war fan, was his favored weapon. A shinobi blade was also acceptable. And though he rarely wielded swords, he was more than capable of handling them.
In truth, as long as he had witnessed someone using a weapon just once, he could wield it with absolute proficiency.
He bent down slightly, grasping the sword's hilt with ease. As he lifted it, the blade shimmered under the sunlight pouring in from outside. The weapon was black, sleek, and undeniably sharp. The craftsmanship was impressive.
Madara twirled the sword once in his hand, testing its weight before letting his gaze wander further into the house. His eyes soon landed on something that stood out—something that did not belong among the furniture and weapons scattered about.
A gate.
It was different from everything else in the house, almost as if it didn't belong to this world. Its frame pulsed faintly with an unknown energy, giving off a strange yet compelling aura.
His eyes narrowed.
"So this is it," he murmured, stepping toward it. "The gate to another world."
Madara placed the sword back where he found it and turned his attention fully toward the gate. His steps were slow but deliberate as he approached, eyes narrowing slightly in observation.
Despite its unusual presence in the house, the gate itself emitted no energy, no power—nothing that suggested it was linked to another world. That was odd. A gateway meant to connect different dimensions should have at least some form of detectable energy signature.
Madara knew this well. After all, his Rinnegan was capable of opening portals to different spaces as well. However, such feats required an immense amount of chakra—an amount that would drain even the most powerful shinobi in mere moments. Not that it was a concern for him. His chakra reserves were monstrous, leagues above ordinary beings.
When he had obtained the power of the Sage of Six Paths, his chakra had expanded to an unimaginable level, vast enough to be compared to an entire planet's worth of energy. And his recovery rate? Near instantaneous. At that point, he had been, for all intents and purposes, immortal.
But dwelling on the past brought back unwelcome memories.
Madara's expression darkened. His mind unwillingly drifted to that moment—the disgraceful, humiliating betrayal.
Black Zetsu.
The mere thought of that wretched being made his blood boil.
To be used… to be cast aside as nothing more than a pawn in someone else's will… it was a stain on his legacy that could never be erased. No matter how much time passed, the sensation of that treacherous stab, the bitter taste of defeat, would never leave him.
His fists clenched unconsciously, but he exhaled, forcing himself to move past it. He was here now. And here, he would forge a new path.
Madara refocused his gaze on the mysterious gate before him.
"Well… let's check out this other world," he muttered, stepping closer. "Perhaps I'll find something useful… something that can help me return home."
A thought crossed his mind.
'Wait… is this gate only connected to a single world? Or does it have the capability to link to multiple ones?'
His fingers brushed against the gate's surface as he contemplated the possibilities.
'If it can connect to different worlds… then this could be worth further experimentation.'
Madara pushed against the massive gate, expecting some resistance, but to his surprise, it swung open effortlessly—far too smoothly for something that appeared so large and imposing.
Creak… Grooooaaan…
The deep, eerie sound echoed through the dimly lit house as one side of the gate moved. But what lay beyond was nothing but darkness. A pitch-black void, swallowing all light, making it impossible to discern what was on the other side.
It reminded him of a wormhole or a portal—an unknown passage where sight was useless. The only way to truly know what was beyond it was to step through.
Madara narrowed his eyes slightly before turning his gaze to the boy standing nearby.
"Hey… kid," he called out in a commanding tone. "Go inside."
The boy without any hesitation nodded and stepped forward. Without question, he obeyed, disappearing into the darkness beyond.
And Madara followed him.
A/N: Any ideas or what Madara should do, for me i'm gonna make him beat some thugs and some nonsensial people and then manipulate the fat kid into beating his brother and sister and then have him serve under him. (And for some people who are thinking that kids are alone in the town in an inn, dont worry Madara made sure to leave one wood clone to keep them in watch. So, even if whole town came at kids it wont be a problem.)