"Tsk tsk tsk."
"Not impressive at all! He fell after just a few moves..."
"Not even exciting!"
As they watched Pain get swiftly defeated by Hashirama, Shimoku couldn't help but sigh.
Of course, this wasn't surprising.
After all, Deva Path Pain was never a match for Hashirama in the first place.
Plus, the previous intense battles and the Ultimate Shinra Tensei had already drained a significant amount of Pain's chakra.
Otherwise, he might have held out a bit longer.
"Amazing! Now that's the real Wood Release!"
"This is the power of the Ninja God?"
Standing beside Shimoku, Orochimaru couldn't help but exclaim in admiration as he witnessed Pain's defeat.
Indeed, this so-called Wood Release technique...
When used by Hashirama Senju and Yamato, the difference was like heaven and earth!
"It seems it's finally my turn now..."
"You're not planning to retreat?"
Orochimaru glanced at Shimoku, somewhat puzzled.
In his eyes, this kid embodied cunning and always played it sly, never risking himself.
Yet now, facing the strongest Ninja God...
He actually volunteered to fight head-on instead of retreating?
Absolutely unbelievable!
Could it be that this kid actually plans to defeat Hashirama Senju head-on? And then use the Ninja God's body as a stepping stone to conquer the ninja world?
At this moment, however, Shimoku had no mood to respond to Lady Serpent's speculation.
Instead, he locked his gaze—and his battle intent—onto Hashirama Senju in the distant.
Meanwhile,
After quickly sealing away Deva Path Pain's corpse,
Hashirama also turned his focus toward this direction.
Instantly, their gazes met.
Two powerful presences collided in the air,
Causing every watching ninja on the periphery to instinctively shiver and feel a chill run through their hearts.
The next moment — Shimoku sprang into the air.
Red chakra surged midair.
With the aid of overwhelming ocular power, it rapidly solidified into form:
A Perfect Body Susanoo!
[Boom!]
Hundreds of meters tall, the Susanoo Demigod slammed heavily to the ground, shaking the earth itself.
Clearly,
From the moment he appeared, Shimoku held nothing back.
Would anyone really try regular ninjutsu to test the strength of the Ninja God? That'd be incredibly reckless.
At this moment,
Seeing how this young Uchiha clansman could actually manifest a Perfect Body Susanoo,
Hashirama Senju couldn't help but feel astonished.
After all, even during the Warring States era,
There weren't many in the Uchiha Clan who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan—not to mention one capable of summoning a Perfect Body Susanoo!
This kid looked around ten years old, right?
Yet he already possessed a fully matured Mangekyo Sharingan?
And such a massive amount of chakra too!
What an extraordinary prodigy!
At that moment, staring at Shimoku, Hashirama was reminded faintly of Madara…
A flood of memories and emotions surged through him.
"Kid! Don't rush into battle. Let's talk first, shall we?"
"Shimoku!" Hashirama called out, standing atop his wooden giant.
If possible,
he truly didn't want to fight against a successor from the Uchiha line of Madara.
He was already an old man, and more importantly, someone who had already died.
How could he bring himself to fight a mere child?
It would be shameful!
"All right!"
Shimoku also deactivated his [Susanoo Gundam].
Since things had come this far, he saw no harm in talking with this so-called "Ninja God."
Besides, the other party didn't possess the Frog Mouth, so he didn't need to worry about being manipulated.
"Child, what's your name? How old are you?"
"Shimoku Uchiha, nearly eleven years old."
"What youth!"
At such an age, you've awakened [Perfect Susanoo]—your talent surpasses even that of Madara at his prime!"
Hashirama gave a slight shake of his head as he spoke, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.
Then, a thought struck him.
Why would such a gifted young Uchiha, with terrifying abilities, oppose the village?
Such a prodigy—if he had stood with the village—how could Konoha have ever fallen to its current state?
Even after all these years, why hasn't my vision as the First Hokage or my dream of peace through love reached even one person among the Uchiha Clan?
What exactly has happened in the village throughout all these years?
"There's no need for such compliments; they change nothing."
"Child, then why are you attacking Konoha?"
"Why? Do I really need a reason to strike back at a village that tries to kill me and annihilate the entire Uchiha Clan?"
Shimoku replied coldly without hesitation.
Hearing this, Hashirama couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Impossible!
"The village wants to kill you? Wipe out your entire Clan?"
"That's unthinkable!"
"You're all part of the same village! How could it turn on its own people like this?"
"Tobirama! Come over here!"
Hashirama immediately shouted, summoning Tobirama forward to face them directly.
"Brother Tobirama?"
Tobirama instantly leapt over and landed upon the shoulder of the wooden giant.
He couldn't help but be startled by the towering [Susano'o Demigod] emitted by Shimoku.
Unbelievable.
Except for Madara Uchiha, who else in this world could develop the Sharingan to such an extent!
"This evil little Uchiha brat... actually managed to develop the full form of Susanoo..."
Tobirama murmured in astonishment.
"Tobirama! This kid says he rebelled because the village intended to eradicate the Uchiha Clan entirely."
"You explain yourself properly."
"Tell me, brother, what did you do to their clan after my death?"
Hashirama loudly questioned.
Clearly, he was deeply dissatisfied with how the Uchiha Clan had been treated.
After all, without the Uchiha Clan back then, the Hidden Leaf Village wouldn't even exist!
"Me?"
"I never did anything specific toward the Uchiha Clan! Not only did I establish the Konoha Military Police Force and entrust it to them,"
"I even recruited outstanding ninja such as Kagami Uchiha into my Personal Guards. I've never treated them unfairly at all!"
Tobirama hurriedly explained.
This accusation was too heavy—he wasn't about to take the blame for something he hadn't done!
Of course, he was telling the truth.
Considering the Uchiha clan's tendency to be easily influenced by emotions, Tobirama indeed harbored some prejudice against them deep in his heart.
He often openly expressed hostility toward the Uchiha, constantly throwing around words like "treacherous" and "deceptive" when referring to them.
Yet throughout his rule, he had never targeted or oppressed the Uchiha clan. Not only did he appoint Kagami Uchiha as his personal guard, but he also granted the Uchiha hereditary control over Konoha's Military Police Force.
During his leadership, the status of the Uchiha clan significantly rose, and their relationship with Konoha was quite harmonious. After all, he had always planned to gradually dismantle old clan identities using Konoha's ideology, gently integrating the Uchiha into the village, transforming them from an uncontrollable threat into a controlled asset!
All positive developments!
In truth, he had always honored his elder brother Hashirama's dying wish—striving to fully integrate the Uchiha clan into the village.
Hashirama: "Then what about afterward?"
Tobirama: "After me? Then the monkey will take over. It seems he served as Hokage for quite a while; you could ask him!"
Hashirama: "The monkey has already passed on..."
Tobirama: "..."
Obviously, due to lack of knowledge, both were unaware of the level of hostility and discrimination the Uchiha faced during the Third Hokage Sarutobi's rule.
"Hey! Brat from the Uchiha, what exactly do you intend to do?"
"Konoha has already given your clan more than enough. Why are you still not satisfied?"
Tobirama shifted his focus onto Shimoku, questioning loudly.
What he had bestowed upon the Uchiha before his death was already more than sufficient.
Externally, they held full command of Konoha's Military Police—a true seat of authority.
Internally, figures like Kagami Uchiha were included in core decision-making circles.
At their height, the Uchiha clan reached unmatched prestige and power within Konoha; how could Konoha dare launch a purge against them?
"Heh... So Konoha has given us enough?"
"You're referring only to the powers granted to the Military Police Force?"
"Do you know whether your successors—the other clans of Konoha—could tolerate the Uchiha possessing such real power?"
"Have you seen how our clan was marginalized to the outer fringes of the village?"
"Have you seen how our people were constantly monitored even when simply dining or gathering together?"
"Have you seen how our fallen warriors' bodies were exhumed post-battle just to confiscate their eyes for Konoha's use?"
"Tobirama Senju! Not every successor would treat our clan as fairly as you did!"
"The power you gave the Uchiha was exactly the spark that ignited the village's attempt to eradicate us later..."
Shimoku's rebuttal left Tobirama Senju speechless.
After all, he truly didn't understand the extent of antagonism and actions taken by Konoha against the Uchiha afterward.
Judging by this situation, Konoha must bear some guilt after all, which must have driven the Uchiha clan to this desperate state...
"Kid, calm down first. There must have been many misunderstandings..."
Hashirama Senju interjected peacefully to mediate.
"Enough. No more useless talk."
"Time to fight!"
"Today, either Konoha or Shimoku shall fall!"
Shimoku let out a cold snort. His eyes blazed with a fierce crimson glow, and his Perfect Body Susanoo instantly drew its sword, exuding a soaring battle aura.
Reconciliation is absolutely impossible!
The only truth... is the blade in my hand!
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