Tobi was a special case among the White Zetsu clones, possessing the ability to use Wood Release. Madara Uchiha, having transplanted Hashirama's cells, could also use Wood Release, but he lacked the massive chakra reserves required to support it. With Tobi attached to him and the Gedo Statue supplying chakra, he was able to use the technique with ease.
Unlike other elemental releases, his Wood Release was not created from chakra but was the physical manifestation of roots deep within the earth, rapidly forced to grow. As such, it could not be absorbed.
Watching the multitude of branches erupt from the ground beneath the chakra clone's feet, Madara could almost see the look of disbelief on his face as he was impaled.
However, to his surprise, the chakra clone leaped high into the air, actively dodging the Wood Release attack. While airborne, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Sorry, are you disappointed? Did you really think I wouldn't know about the special properties of Wood Release?"
"No. Not at all."
To the chakra clone's surprise, a triumphant smile spread across Madara's face. "I was afraid you wouldn't dodge!"
As he spoke, the previously still Gedo Statue suddenly opened its mouth and spat out nine chains. Shrouded in a massive amount of chakra, they flew like nine great dragons toward the chakra clone.
The shuriken and the Wood Release had both been feints. Madara's true objective had always been to use the Gedo Statue to seize the Nine-Tails' chakra from within the clone. Once caught by the statue's sealing chains, a Tailed Beast's chakra would be sealed, rendering it unusable and easily neutralizing a powerful foe.
Watching the chakra clone, who was now trapped in mid-air with no way to gain leverage and about to be entangled by the chains, Madara said coldly, "Hmph. Pay the price for your arrogance!"
Just as he was certain of victory, an immense wave of icy energy swept over them, spreading from the ground all the way up the Gedo Statue. In the blink of an eye, the statue and its sealing chains were frozen solid, completely immobilized.
"Such a powerful ice jutsu..." Madara retreated continuously, dodging the ever-expanding layer of ice. He looked at the ice clone, whose face was a mask of indifference, and his apprehension grew. His ice jutsu activates without any warning and at incredible speed. The power to freeze the Gedo Statue in an instant is not to be underestimated. Compared to that Otsutsuki Zeroshiki, this Teishakuten is the greater threat. No wonder he's the one in charge.
Having escaped danger, the chakra clone breathed a sigh of relief and gave the ice clone a thumbs-up. "Whoa, that was a close one. Good thing you reacted so quickly, my lord."
"I told you to be careful."
"It's not my fault! That guy doesn't fight with honor; he called for backup. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost."
"Alright, stop wasting time. Let's finish him quickly," the ice clone said. "We have other work to do after this."
"Fine." The chakra clone looked at Madara and shook his head. "I was thinking of playing with you a little longer. What a pity."
"You're so confident you can take me?" It was always he who looked down on others with contempt and pity. Now, being on the receiving end of such a gaze, Madara felt his pride being defiled. "Even old and frail, I am not some insignificant creature for you whelps to humiliate! The only opponent I have ever acknowledged is Hashirama!"
He let out a great roar, slamming his hands together in front of his chest with his fingers interlocked. Chakra poured out of him as he bellowed, "Release!"
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK...
A continuous series of sharp cracks echoed from the ice binding the Gedo Statue. In less than two seconds, it shattered into a million pieces. The Gedo Statue, now free, roared at the sky. The nine eyes on its head trembled violently, but in the end, only two opened, revealing enormous, crimson Rinnegan. Its massive body leaned forward, landing on all fours, and the ten root-like appendages on its back suddenly shot out, transforming into ten long tails.
Madara had used the last vestiges of his Six Paths power to substitute for the power of the nine Tailed Beasts, forcefully stimulating the Gedo Statue and pushing it to transform into the Ten-Tails. However, that sliver of Six Paths power was far too small, and it only managed a slight change in the statue's form.
For this small enhancement, he had paid a terrible price. Not only had his face become even more aged and withered, but the dojutsu in his remaining Sharingan had been squeezed dry, causing blood to stream from it. It was as if he had aged twenty years in an instant, and he was now at death's door.
"Hey, hey, hey, do you really have to go that far?" the chakra clone remarked with a hint of sympathy.
"I... In all my life, I, Madara Uchiha, am second to none! You want me to submit? In your dreams! You can all die here with me!" With a final, furious roar, Madara Uchiha's breathing ceased.
Tobi, still attached to him, immediately took control of the body and, whimpering, began to flee into the distance with mincing steps.
"The great Madara... is dead?" The original White Zetsu, hiding in the distance, was stunned. He sank into the ground and followed after Tobi.
"He's just... dead?" The chakra clone and the ice clone looked at each other, both seeing the disbelief in the other's eyes.
At that moment, the Gedo Statue went completely berserk, swinging its arms and ten tails, attacking them wildly.
The ice clone clapped his hands together, and a massive amount of icy energy flooded out, once again freezing the Gedo Statue and temporarily halting its assault.
"Even if he's dead, we can't let his body get away!" the ice clone said urgently. "I'll deal with this thing! You go after him!"
"Got it!" the chakra clone responded, his form dissolving into a streak of golden light as he gave chase.
BANG!
Only a few seconds later, the ice shattered again, and the Gedo Statue broke free.
"Tch. That brute strength is really something else, and its life force is unbelievably tenacious. Even Absolute Zero only stops it for a moment. If I were a Fire-type, I'd have burned it to charcoal in minutes!"
Unfortunately, Ice-type attacks lacked the necessary damage output. Against this foe, sealing jutsu would be far more effective. The ice clone was somewhat at a loss. Fortunately, he didn't need to defeat it, only stall for time until the Six Paths power within it was depleted.
"I may not be able to defeat you, but I can certainly keep you busy. Let's use you to test out my new 'Gundam'."
He brought his hands together, and the frost power within him surged outward, gathering in front of him. Soon, a Nine-Tails made of solid ice appeared before the Gedo Statue. It was enormous, a head taller than the statue itself.
The ice clone positioned himself inside the giant ice Nine-Tails and began to control it, engaging the Gedo Statue in close-quarters combat. With the Icicle Plate providing a continuous stream of frost power, any damage the ice Nine-Tails sustained was instantly repaired, making it just as tenacious as its opponent. For a time, they were locked in a stalemate, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Meanwhile, the chakra clone, in pursuit of the fleeing Tobi, ran into a large group of White Zetsu clones blocking his path. Though he dispatched them with ease, he lost track of Tobi in the process.
"Heh, this Tobi is pretty fast, vanished in a flash. But you think you can escape? Not a chance! I've already locked onto your chakra."
Following the direction of Tobi's chakra signature, the chakra clone suddenly stopped mid-way.
"Huh? Why did it suddenly disappear?"