How exactly is the Rinnegan obtained?

Idk actually, I thought that was the only way.

I also thought that was the only way O.O Perhaps it's because they powers are not balanced out? Like you need exactly 50% Senju and 50% Uchiha to acquire it an Madara only reached that point until many of years after.

The Sharingan needs to be activated by the user when they are faced with a difficult circumstance or placed under emotional stress, right? Then it evolves to the mangekyou when one really feels the death of someone really close. You can trade eyes with your brother, "an act of love", to make it even stronger, and combining the eyes.

So you've got the EMS and you're getting old. Your best friend tried (and nearly succeeded in trying)to kill you, your clan and your village abandoned you.

You're probably feeling so much pain, both emotional and physical. And it just so happens, you've gotten a hold of your friend's super dna and you can augment it with your own super dna.

Omg, I'm getting goosegumps just thinking about it! HashiMada forever~

there have only been 2 rinnegans.
the so6p and madara.
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the sage had it because he is teh god of all shinobi so that one is obvious.
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but for madara he said he awoke it just before his death, so it seem to be a rather complicated jutsu.
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what do we know?
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the sharingan is obtained when experiences intense loss. (tobirama)
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it is possible you need both senju and uchiha dna, but that only seems to be the frist step if a step at all.
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my theory is.
1. have senju and uchiha dna.
2. have a pursuit of peace.
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madara before he died imagined eye of the moon plan which is a "peace"
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this was the sage goal peace. the rinnegan must be activated by a desperate need for peace. just like the sharingan is when you lose love, the rinnegan must occur when one establishes a plan for peace, with the combination of the two brothers power(senju and Uchiha)
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however there has to be a third element, because tobi accepted this as well and has both senju and uchiha dna.
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the third element is simple. after the first two steps one must posses immense knowledge. both Madara and the Sage had years of knowledge and experience. with the lack of experience the rinnegan cannot be awaken.
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these are just my thoughts so please no flaming

Well the best way to gain the Rinnegan is for an Uchiha to have the EMS and to have Senju DNA implanted into them.

also the other way is to have them implanted into you, like Nagato did when either Madara or Obito put them in him.

Actually I think there is a third element needed to obtain the Rinnegan - Uzumaki DNA. Just a theory of mine but the Sage of Six Paths had a third child who would become the Uzumaki ancestor. So what did the Uzumaki inherit? The Bijuu which explains why Mito, Kushina, and Naruto made 'Perfect Hosts'.

What I think what happened is that Hashirama knew about Juubi and was afraid that Madara was going to try and recreate it. So Hashirama and Mito approached the Uzumaki and convinced them to give up the Bijuu and to hand them over to the other villages to keep them from being easily captured.

Madara read the Uchiha Tablet which validated Hashirama's fears. Madara knew there had to be a third element in gaining the Rinnegan. This happened when he was manipulating a young Nagato and discovered the Uzumaki DNA were the final piece of the puzzle.

Strawberry wrote:^Yes, we've already established there needs to be some sort of combination with Uchiha + Senju DNA. But the question is, what else could be needed, since Madara had both for a long time and didn't get the Rinnegan until he was on his death bed.

Remember this is anime, we dont need a reason to give it to anyone,
kishi can give naruto or hinata them and explain later... he does have author powers.