"You're overestimating yourself."
With that, his figure blurred—so fast he skimmed across the ground like a shadow—and closed the distance between himself, Ōnoki, and Mu in an instant.
Madara's speed was overwhelming. Ōnoki and Mu had no time to react.
With a fierce sweep of his palm, a powerful repulsive force erupted from Madara. Ōnoki was blasted away like a ragdoll, crashing into a distant cliff face. The impact sent boulders raining down, burying him beneath the rubble.
Mu's eyes widened. He quickly began forming hand signs, preparing to unleash his Dust Release to counter Madara's assault. But before he could complete the jutsu, Madara casually raised one hand. An invisible force locked Mu in place, sealing his movements and cutting off his technique entirely.
"Hmph. Parlor tricks like that are useless before me." Madara snorted. Then, with a swift kick, Mu's body was sent hurtling through the air like a cannonball, slamming into a massive boulder with a thunderous crack.
Having dealt with the two of them, Uchiha Madara didn't even pause. He continued forward toward his true objective.
Along the way, every member of the Allied Shinobi Forces he encountered was so overwhelmed by his sheer presence that not a single one dared to step forward.
...
Suddenly, a figure dropped from the sky like a falling star, slamming into the earth and carving a crater into the battlefield.
From within the smoke and dust stepped a lone figure—Hyuga Gakuya, who had rushed over the moment he received the alert from the command center. A faint smile played on his lips, as if he were looking forward to the upcoming fight.
"That's Uchiha Madara," Ōnoki warned grimly. "Incredibly powerful... and he possesses the Rinnegan."
Gakuya waved him off with a calm smile.
"I know, I know. Lords Tsuchikage, take your forces and go support the other fronts. Leave this one to me."
Mu, now recovered, floated back into the air.
"Are you sure? Maybe we should fall back for now. You might not fully understand the threat Uchiha Madara poses."
But Ōnoki held Mu back, cutting off any further protest.
"Relax, Lord Mu. His strength is enough to rival Madara's."
Ōnoki had no doubts. He had witnessed Gakuya in action—he knew the depths of his power.
Hearing his disciple's words, Mu said no more. He gave a nod and departed with the Allied Forces.
...
Madara's eyes narrowed. He had just sensed a chakra presence comparable to Hashirama Senju's—enough to make even him take notice.
And at that moment, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Madara-sama, the man in white before you is currently recognized as the strongest in the shinobi world—Hyuga Gakuya."
The moment he heard that voice, Madara instantly understood.
So, the caster of the Edo Tensei finally speaks up.
He glanced at Gakuya with mild interest and responded inwardly,
"Oh? And who might you be?"
Thousands of miles away, in a shadowy base, Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses and answered,
"My name is Kabuto. I'm a collaborator of Obito's. Your original plan has... encountered some complications. It's a long story, but the short version is: both the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails are still in enemy hands. We were forced to launch the Fourth Great Shinobi War ahead of schedule."
Madara's gaze remained flat—he still didn't consider the so-called strongest shinobi in front of him to be worth taking seriously.
"So, you know all about the plan, huh?"
"I do. But first, I humbly request that you eliminate the enemy before you. He is currently the greatest obstacle to our strategy. To ensure you returned in peak condition, I prepared the finest offering for your reincarnation."
"You've seen me at my peak?"
"No... but I'd like to witness it now. The power of the legendary Uchiha Madara."
"Heh. Very well."
...
Madara finally raised his head and looked at Gakuya.
"So, you're the so-called strongest in the shinobi world?"
Gakuya lazily pulled a rubber band from his pocket, tied back his loose hair, and gave a faint smirk.
"The strongest? Maybe. But meeting the legendary Uchiha Madara... now that is interesting."
Madara scoffed. "Arrogant brat. Is this what the shinobi world has come to? How utterly decadent. Looks like I'll have to discipline you myself."
Everyone who faced Uchiha Madara did so with fear and reverence. This was the first time he'd encountered someone so brazenly insolent. It pissed him off.
Gakuya shrugged. "Oh? Then I'll be watching closely, legend. Let's hope you don't disappoint me."
Madara's eyes flashed with disdain.
"Ignorant fool. You'll pay the price for your arrogance soon enough."
Gakuya's gaze sharpened. "Then let's go. Let's see if your legend holds up... or if my strength surpasses it."
Madara formed a hand seal.
"In that case, take this first!"
An immense surge of chakra erupted from his body.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A sea of fire surged from Madara's mouth, rolling toward Gakuya like a tidal wave of flame.
...
Facing the incoming inferno, Gakuya remained perfectly calm. With a single swipe of his hand through the air—
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive torrent of water appeared from thin air, crashing into the oncoming flames. The two forces collided with a deafening roar, sending steam billowing across the battlefield, cloaking both combatants in a dense fog.
Madara's voice pierced the mist. "Not bad. But this is only the beginning."
As he spoke, his form flickered—vanishing from sight.
Gakuya instantly sensed a powerful aura behind him. He turned and launched a punch.
Boom! Fist and palm collided, unleashing a shockwave that cracked the earth beneath them.
"Hmph. Quick reflexes." Madara smirked.
Gakuya grinned. "Not too shabby yourself."
They separated instantly, only to clash again. Madara lunged, each footstep generating gusts of wind.
Gakuya charged forward to meet him. Their fists and feet became blurs, weaving a storm of afterimages through the air.
Madara's blows were brutal and direct—the forerunner of the Leaf's Fist style. Gakuya countered with fluid, adaptive strikes, a refined evolution of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist.
Wham!
Gakuya narrowly dodged a straight punch, twisting around to drive his elbow toward Madara's ribs. But Madara reacted instantly, blocking with his palm and grabbing Gakuya's arm, trying to hurl him away.
Gakuya used the momentum, flipping midair. His other hand shifted from a fist to a blade-like palm, chopping down toward Madara's head.
Madara let go and stepped back, narrowly evading the strike.
The two exchanged blow after blow, fists and palms slicing the air, generating booming shockwaves with every strike. The dust around them was whipped into a swirling haze, masking their relentless clash.
...
Then came another full-power collision. Madara's Edo Tensei arm shattered on impact, forcing him to leap backward, retreating from the blast of force.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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