Naruto… Twice
Blood flew from the blade. Even though Sasuke was shocked, he didn't forget what he had to do. Lightning wrapped around his left hand, turning into a deafening strike aimed straight at Madara.
Losing his arm didn't seem to bother Madara at all. He calmly jumped up with his eyes still closed, moving through the lightning as if dancing. Facing Sasuke's stunned expression, he easily dodged every bolt.
When the lightning faded, Madara raised his only remaining hand. "Yin Release: Lightning Pulse!"
Yin Release? Sasuke didn't even have time to react. He swung his sword right away. "Lightning Release: Chidori Stream!"
Black and blue lightning burst from both their bodies. Madara's black lightning spread from his arm into the air like a giant web. Sasuke's blue lightning coated his sword and crashed down from above, tearing through the black net.
Madara twisted in the air, dodging the lightning again, and landed on the ground, supporting himself with one hand.
Sasuke didn't even move. He stood there as the black lightning fell, and in the end, absorbed it with his Rinnegan.
Looking at the bits of black lightning still in the air, Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "So that was Yin Release?"
When did Yin Release techniques start having a real form? Was it like the Shadow Possession Jutsu? No, that wasn't quite right. That uses Yin chakra, but it's still different. Just like how fire is different from Fire Release.
Madara stood up and moved his right shoulder stump a little, his tone a bit odd. "You're not even curious how I dodged your Amenotejikara?"
"Even Lord Tobirama was able to react after learning I had it. You being able to react too isn't really that surprising," Sasuke said with a shrug.
Yeah, he was a little surprised at first, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
If Madara had dodged without knowing about Amenotejikara, *then* Sasuke would've been shocked. But since Madara already knew about his power, of course he'd be on guard—especially someone as skilled as him.
"You're pretty calm about all this," Madara said as he formed hand seals with one hand and cast a jutsu. "Fire Release: Majestic Flame Arrow!"
"Can't afford not to be calm. I mean, look who I'm dealing with!" Sasuke planted his sword in the ground and started forming hand seals too. "Fire Release—"
"Majestic Flame Arrow!"
The massive flames clashed, exploding in the clearing and turning the area into a sea of red.
Madara: "Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Sasuke: "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
It was the same jutsu, the same hand signs, even the same flames—but Sasuke's fire was just stronger than Madara's. Even though they were using the exact same move, Madara's attack was always the first to break apart when they clashed.
Maybe realizing he was falling behind, Madara suddenly stopped mid-fight and said, "Hold on a second."
Sasuke froze, completely confused.
Madara moved his right arm again, then frowned. "Yeah, missing an arm really takes some getting used to."
After saying that, he looked at Sasuke. "Wait a bit, I need to reattach my arm."
Sasuke: "..."
Dude, we're in a battle here… and a serious one at that.
Madara didn't seem to notice Sasuke's dumbfounded face—or rather, he literally couldn't. He didn't have any eyes at the moment.
Anyway, Madara completely ignored Sasuke and casually started forming hand signs with one hand. He summoned a White Zetsu, and without hesitation, sliced off Zetsu's right arm and attached it to himself—all while Zetsu just stood there, staring blankly.
A puff of smoke rose, and just like that, Madara's arm was fully attached.
He moved it around, nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly paused and looked at the White Zetsu beside him.
That White Zetsu finally snapped out of it and smiled. "This is a gift from Obito."
"Well, guess that guy wasn't completely useless," Madara smirked. He then opened his right hand. Lying in his palm were a uniquely patterned Mangekyou Sharingan and a regular Three Tomoe Sharingan.
Without a second thought, Madara pushed the eyes into his right socket. Chakra flickered briefly, and both eyes became part of his body.
"So, that's what this eye power is… So that's what you were planning." Madara moved his eye around, still looking a bit uncomfortable. "Well, it's fine. I'll use them for now. Can't let your death go to waste, after all."
By the time he said that last part, Madara looked like he was about to laugh.
But he held it back—because he wasn't the type to laugh just because he felt like it.
At least—
Not unless someone like Hashirama was around to make him laugh.
Sasuke just stood there, helplessly watching Madara do all of this. He really felt like they were on totally different wavelengths. "Great-Grandpa Hashirama, are you sure it's okay if I just stand here and wait?"
"Well, you could go over there and stop him," Hashirama shrugged.
Sasuke sighed. "If it were anyone else, I'd already have gone. But it's Madara… and something about him reminds me of you. Like how both of you are so damn stubborn."
"Who are you calling stubborn?" Hashirama gave him an annoyed look. "This kid just says whatever he wants."
Sasuke: "..."
First time in my life—other than Naruto and Kurama—someone's left me speechless… twice!
He covered his forehead and let out a long sigh. "Why does this whole fight feel like a joke? Isn't this supposed to be a battle that decides the fate of the entire ninja world?"
Honestly, whether it was Hashirama or Madara, Sasuke didn't feel any real urgency from either of them. Weren't they super fired up when they fought before? What changed?
Or maybe… as long as the two of them are okay, everyone else just doesn't matter?
What kind of messed-up logic is that?
Sasuke looked seriously annoyed.
Hashirama was confused. Why did this kid's expression suddenly look so weird?
Sasuke didn't bother explaining.
He just turned back toward Madara's direction and snapped, "Are you done yet? Don't pause in the middle of the fight again. At least show some respect to the people who've died in this battle."
"Who gave up their life?" Hashirama asked with a curious look.
Sasuke: "..."
Well… it was probably just Obito.
"Anyway, don't let something like this happen again!" Sasuke shouted at Madara.
Madara gave him a confused glance. "Is that really so hard for you to understand?"
Then Madara shook his head. "Well, whatever."
Blue chakra started to surge. A huge skeleton formed in an instant. From that single Sharingan, strong eye power burst out, and a towering Susano'o appeared in full form.
Madara stood in the crystal on Susano'o's forehead, covering one eye and muttering to himself, "The eye power's a little weak, but the full-body Susano'o is fine."
Obito: How rude can you be?
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