HUMMM!
The Super-Weighted Boulder JutsuMadara unleashed on the spot multiplied the weight of True Several Thousand Hands a thousandfold, turning this Vajra Demon Subjugation strike into a blow worthy of the gods!
"So that's your play..."
Facing Madara's all-or-nothing attack, Naruto couldn't be sure of victory—but he still met it head-on!
CLANG!!!
The thousand-armed Kannon's Buddha palm hammered down onto the divine shield, Yata no Yae-gaki, sending endless ripples shuddering across its surface!
Even after the shield absorbed most of that monstrous force, the leftover power was still savage and unstoppable.
Naruto's Susanoo was driven downward, plunging toward the abyss left by the Chibaku Tensei's impact!
CRACK! CRACK!
As he fell, fractures began to spread across the armor of Susanoo.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Even after dispersing the excess force through Susanoo's massive body, it still causes this much damage? This move... it's terrifying. In pure physical might, it might only be second to Might Guy-sensei's Night Guy!"
Madara roared, veins bulging in his bloodshot eyes. "RAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
It'll break, it'll break! Madara was certain—if Naruto's Susanoo touched the ground, that instant of "stopping force" would utterly shatter the Susanoo: Ultimate Form.
At this point, neither of them could be sure of the outcome!
Naruto was already planning: If I can't withstand this, what's my next move?
BOOM...!
With a thunderous crash, Naruto's Susanoo slammed feet-first into the bottom of the abyss!
BOOM!! The ground caved in even deeper, collapsing until it struck the unyielding mineral layer far below—finally stopping its descent!
CRACK! CRACK...!!
The immense shock spread more fractures across Susanoo's armor!
Naruto's gaze sharpened. "Is this it?"
CRACK, CRACK...!
With a sharp, echoing snap, it was actually True Several Thousand Hands' arm that shattered first under the pressure!
You have to be strong to forge iron—there's no shortcut!
"Hahahaha! Still not tough enough, huh...!"
Madara laughed, grief and pride mingling in his voice.
Naruto's eyes flashed. "Now's my chance—RAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Bearing the crushing weight, Susanoo rallied, channeling all its own power—and the force absorbed by Yata no Yae-gaki—into a single, explosive shield bash!
BOOM!!!
True Several Thousand Hands' massive body was launched from the abyss, sent flying skyward by the shield, slamming into the underside of the Chibaku Tensei satellite. With a thunderous rumble, boulders crumbled and True Several Thousand Hands was deeply embedded into the satellite's base!
Madara had leapt away from True Several Thousand Hands at the very last moment, now sprinting along the bottom of the abyss!
Ten seconds—just ten more seconds and his Limbo would be off cooldown. Then he could turn everything around!
Beneath the Chibaku Tensei, Naruto frowned. "His Limbo's almost ready. At this distance, chasing with Susanoo isn't practical!"
Without hesitation, he dispelled Susanoo, gauged the shortest distance between himself and Madara, gripped a Flying Thunder God kunai, and focused his left eye.
—Ōmononushi!
WHOOSH!
A duplicated kunai appeared three hundred meters away, diagonally below!
Naruto flashed through it—then repeated the process, teleporting back and forth with Flying Thunder God. After several jumps, he landed on solid ground—now just three hundred and ten meters from Madara!
Madara counted silently: Seven seconds left!
WHOOSH!
Another kunai appeared three hundred meters out. Naruto teleported once more!
Madara's back was now within arm's reach.
Zzt!
But after this use of Ōmononushi, the six tomoe in Naruto's left eye vanished!
"Left eye's ocular power… exhausted?"
SNAP! Naruto caught the duplicated kunai, leaving it behind, then hurled the original forward!
SWISH!
Madara, alert to every movement behind him, sidestepped the moment Naruto threw—five seconds left!
SWISH!
Naruto flashed from the thrown kunai, caught it in reverse grip, turned, and blocked Madara's path!
Madara glanced at the kunai left behind. "He's calculated everything. If I turn back, he'll teleport for a backstab. So be it—when two warriors meet on a narrow path, courage wins. Retreating now would be disgraceful…"
POOF! With his single arm, Madara summoned a scythe from a scroll!
Three seconds until Limbo was ready!
WHOOSH! After a brief face-off, both men charged!
The scythe was longer than the kunai—its blade reached Naruto first!
Madara's mind raced: Two seconds left. If Naruto teleports behind me to attack, he'll be too slow. If he blocks with his kunai, he'll miss his chance. So—I win...
But then, Naruto thrust his right hand straight into the path of the scythe!
SLASH...!
Naruto's right arm was severed at the shoulder, flying skyward!
But at the instant his palm touched the blade, his right Rinnegan flashed!
—Ōmononushi!
WHOOSH!
The scythe vanished—erased by the ocular power of Naruto's right eye!
Ignoring the pain, Naruto lunged forward!
Madara couldn't halt his momentum, frantically counting: One second...!
THUD!
Time froze.
Madara lay half-prone, right hand braced against the ground, while Naruto pressed him down, a kunai in his left hand poised at Madara's throat!
Blood poured from Naruto's severed arm, but his clear eyes never wavered as he asked calmly, "Still want to keep fighting?"
At that moment, Madara's Limbo power had just recovered.
But the kunai was at his throat a split second before.
Madara knew—if Naruto had meant to kill, he'd have been beheaded right then and there.
This wasn't the first time.
In every past duel, Naruto had always held back when he could have delivered the killing blow.
Madara wasn't someone who couldn't accept defeat.
He just wanted to be truly convinced.
In the past, his Rinnegan had been in Naruto's hands—he could never fight at full strength.
So no matter how dazzling Naruto's power was, Madara could never fully accept it.
But this time, he'd fought with his own eyes—freely, with nothing held back.
Thinking deeper—
Naruto had so many terrifying techniques, yet he'd only used the native powers of the Rinnegan. Not a single one of those hellish combo moves.
He'd changed his fighting style, just to match Madara's taste.
In this life-or-death battle, how much courage and resolve did that take?
For true warriors, a single exchange is enough to understand another's heart.
Madara could feel Naruto's sincerity, plain as day.
So, for this outcome, he had nothing left to say. He was utterly convinced.
After a long silence, a serene smile finally curled at Madara's lips.
"I… lost..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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