[Sage Art - Creation of All Things]
Shhh!
A drizzle as fine as ox hair fell from the thunderclouds created through Terrestrial Release (Kun)—countless purple raindrops filled with life energy drifted down, gently landing on everyone.
Ashina Uzumaki and the others quickly noticed their wounds had healed completely. Everyone felt energized again, restored to full vitality and vigor.
Such a medical ninjutsu was simply unheard of before—a true miracle.
All members of the Uzumaki clan cast grateful and reverent glances at Heiyan. Except for…
Genichiro, the Six-Tails jinchuriki.
Heiyan swept his gaze across the crowd and found the man staring back at him calmly.
This guy had hidden himself incredibly well. During the battle, he had fought courageously, appearing utterly fearless and suspicious in no way, serving as the spiritual leader of the Uzumaki clan on the battlefield.
So Heiyan subtly shifted his gaze away without lingering on Genichiro.
He had no intention of giving himself away early. Instead, he planned to wait for this mole to expose himself voluntarily before making his move. This would save a lot of trouble.
Across the field.
After recovering from the shock, the Third Raikage and Third Mizukage were escorted by their subordinates, leading the armies of Cloud and Mist to gather together, facing off against Heiyan's group from afar.
Five hundred versus ten thousand.
Although heavily outnumbered, the Uzugakure side had just witnessed an awe-inspiring performance from Heiyan, like a celestial sage descending upon the battlefield. Morale surged among them.
Outnumbered twenty to one, the defenders of Uzugakure showed not a hint of fear.
Once again, both sides stood poised for battle, tension thick between them. Everyone knew that once the silence shattered again, it would be to fight to the bitter end—no surrender, no retreat.
On a tall tree several kilometers away.
Danzo had watched everything unfold through his telescope, and the hand gripping it trembled unconsciously.
Initially, he had hoped Heiyan's power had been exaggerated—maybe even faked.
But when he personally witnessed Heiyan descend onto the battlefield, single-handedly repelling both the Raikage and the Mizukage while intimidating nearly ten thousand soldiers, Danzo finally faced a grim truth:
As long as Heiyan lived, he would never return to Konoha again.
Thus—
"So—Hurry up and die! You have to die!"
Danzo's eyes bulged, bloodshot veins crawling across his eyeballs as his expression twisted with fury. Through the lens of his telescope, he stared hatefully at Heiyan's back, inwardly cursing violently for this enemy to perish here on the battlefield of Uzu Country.
Of course, Danzo wasn't the only one wishing for Heiyan's death.
In a secret underground chamber beneath the Mizukage's tower in Mist Village.
Madara stared in shock at the image of Heiyan displayed within the crystal ball, his heart pounding wildly.
There was no mistake—the same sage facial markings as Hashirama Senju. Then there was the jet-black long hair and that enormous scroll identical to the one before. In that moment, Madara felt like he was seeing Senju Hashirama reborn.
At that instant, vivid memories surged back—what had happened many years ago.
When he obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, developed the Perfect Susanoo, and gained control of the Nine-Tails, Madara truly believed himself invincible within the ninja world. Yet when he returned to Konoha to challenge Hashirama Senju once again, the latter merely looked at him with a sorrowful expression and said:
"Madara, I don't want to kill you."
Hashirama was so confident because he was relying on the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest.
And now, another Hashirama Senju had emerged.
However, Madara was certain about one thing—if he were to stand before Heiyan right now, the other would definitely say: "Madara, I will kill you immediately."
Thinking about it, even the mighty Madara Uchiha felt a trace of fear.
Mount Myoboku.
"Huh, finally time for the decisive battle?"
Gamamaru watched the image in the crystal ball, where both armies stood face-to-face. The vision of Heiyan's death that Gamamaru had foreseen was growing more and more like the future he saw in his dreams.
"Dear, the sage markings on Heiyan's face... they aren't from our Mount Myoboku, are they?"
Sage Shima uttered a quiet gasp before turning toward Fukasaku.
"I noticed that too," Sage Fukasaku replied with equal perplexity.
"Mm... That eyeliner pattern is definitely the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest," Gamamaru replied with smug composure, clearing up their confusion.
"The Shikkotsu Forest known equally alongside our Mount Myoboku?"
Hearing this, the Toad Trio below exchanged curious glances. The eldest among them, Gamabunta, couldn't help but eagerly ask Gamamaru:
"Sage Art of Shikkotsu Forest? Compared to our Toad Sage Techniques, which one is stronger?"
"Heheh..."
Gamamaru chuckled slightly, speaking leisurely, "Gamabunta, there's only one thing you need to know: Over a thousand years ago, even the Sage of Six Paths—who created the ninja world—followed me and learned the Sage Art of Mount Myoboku."
Though it didn't directly answer Gamabunta's question, the implication was already very clear.
Truth be told, although Gamamaru always gave off an unambitious and peaceful vibe, deep down, it was extremely proud.
Though Mount Myoboku, Ryuchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest were all revered as the three sacred locations, and Gamamaru, the White Snake Sage, and Katsuyu were regarded as the Three Great Sages, Gamamaru had never considered those two creatures equals.
The White Snake Sage was nothing more than an uncivilized giant white snake, hiding underground all year eating humans.
As for the Katsuyu Sage, it was even more pitiful—trapped in Shikkotsu Forest for over a thousand years like a prisoner, having long since lost even basic freedom.
But Gamamaru possessed intelligence far beyond ordinary humans and excelled in strategy.
It was Gamamaru who orchestrated the betrayal of the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother against their mother, enabling the two to accomplish the great feat of matricide, ultimately saving the world.
Gamamaru was indeed the savior of the planet.
The ninja world is the game board, and all beings are merely pawns—that was the true power of a genuine immortal sage.
Just as Gamamaru was basking in his own glory,
"Great Elder, I still don't get it," Gamabunta scratched his head persistently asked, "If our Sage Mode is so much better, why is Heiyan bothering to learn the Sage Art of Shikkotsu Forest instead? Why go through such trouble?"
"Uh..."
Gamamaru's face went blank as he heard those words. Stuck with Bunta's deeply probing question, he found himself momentarily at a loss for an answer.
Indeed, why is that?
The few frogs there all thought the same thing at once—could it be that the Sage Arts from Shikkotsu Forest were truly the strongest?
Inside the temple, an awkward silence fell over the space.
"Cough cough."
Sage Fukasaku cleared his throat to break the awkward silence and shift the topic. Pointing at the crystal ball, he quietly exclaimed, "The battle has started!"
As soon as he spoke, the effect was immediate. Every frog turned their eyes back to the image inside the crystal ball.
On the battlefield,
Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga approached from the front, taking positions on either side of Heiyan, standing together against the enemy army.
"It's about time we showed our true abilities."
Fugaku put away his blazing war fan, slowly forming the Tori Hand Seal. Calmly, he said, "Leave the Third Mizukage to me."
No sooner had he finished speaking than streams of chakra surged from his body, outlining the figure of Susanoo.
"As for me, I'll have a few more rounds with the Third Raikage. After all, I'd like to know which Taijutsu truly stands superior—the Lightning Release Chakra Mode or the Eight Gates technique."
Hiashi smiled confidently. Without hesitation, he too formed seals and activated the Eight Gates style, opening straight to its fifth gate: Limit Gate. Green energy radiated from his entire body.
Heiyan didn't say anything. Without a word, he snapped his hands forward. From his palms shot two red chakra chains, covered in mystical runes.
[Left hand wielded Demon-Subduing Chain; right hand held Celestial Binding Chain.]
"Go!"
With Heiyan's low command, all three sprang into action. Meanwhile, the 500 ninja of the Uzumaki clan behind them fearlessly charged forward into the enemy ranks.
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