Let it be said that Lord Madara's "crit" this time really struck home, piercing Hashirama's heart.
No matter how strongly Hashirama promoted the Will of Fire,
The Senju Clan has indeed perished.
Their last surviving granddaughter still hadn't married to this day—
She was practically a spinster past her prime...
No!
Make that, practically a cranky old aunt...
Just talking about it was utterly shameful!
Even if Konoha continued to flourish and prosper in the future,
Even if lasting peace blanketed the entire Ninja World,
It would have nothing to do with the Senju Clan anymore...
Remember, this [Konoha] was originally built by the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan together!
Now one is extinct, the other completely defected.
What kind of twisted fate was that?
Like an empire once built by the Germanic tribes in Shimoku's past life, only to later be ruled by others who erased every trace of the Germans.
Tell me, could that still be called Germany?
Could this Konoha still be called Konoha?
Although...
The inheritance of the Will of Fire was important.
But as clan head, Hashirama naturally hoped even more to see the Senju Clan continue to thrive and prosper,
Rather than perish forever...
"Erm—"
Tobirama beside him opened his mouth. Normally eloquent, he had originally planned to say something in reply.
But after glancing at his older brother Hashirama,
He wisely shut his mouth again, saying no more.
After all, he also bore partial responsibility for the decline and extinction of the Senju Clan...
If, during the Great Ninja World War years ago,
He had sent fewer Senju Clan members into battle; and afterward hadn't allowed the monkey to inherit leadership, hadn't allowed Danzo and others to assist...
Perhaps this [Konoha] wouldn't be in its current state today.
...
Right now, seeing Hashirama fall silent,
Madara felt indescribable delight.
Indeed, compared to wasting words, reality's slap across the face proved far more powerful!
After so many years, finally, he got to lecture Hashirama in return.
How satisfying!
"Madara, you're wrong!"
"Even if my descendants nearly perished, they were all excellent, brave individuals!"
"They sacrificed themselves to protect the village and uphold the Will of Fire!"
"I'm proud of them!"
Hashirama raised his hand firmly and retorted with conviction.
At least since being summoned back this time, he saw many Konoha ninja unite wholeheartedly to resist foreign enemies.
Just this sight alone brought Hashirama considerable comfort.
Hearing this, Lord Madara roared with laughter, cackling in sheer mockery.
"Hahahaha!"
"Hasegawa, when did you learn to joke around?"
"Excellent descendants?"
"You mean your granddaughter who's almost fifty?"
"Also, I heard recently you lost to one of *my* descendants?"
Hashirama: ...
"Madara, you've gone too far!"
"He may be an outstanding one, but comparing him to us old fossils is unfair!"
"The future era will always belong to the youth..."
Madara: "Then why don't your Senju have such outstanding descendants?"
"Oh! Sorry, I forgot your clan no longer exists."
"There's no future left!"
"Hahahaha..."
Hashirama: ...
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Hashirama slammed his palms together and activated his Wood Release.
The wooden limbs beneath him swiftly morphed into a towering wooden giant over thirty meters tall, facing down Madara Uchiha.
"Hashirama, you've changed!"
"Can't argue your way out, so you just throw punches?"
"Fine! Let me see then—using this decaying corpse, how much strength can you really display!"
Lord Madara shook his head and laughed wildly.
Then he suddenly opened his left eye wide.
Azure-blue chakra surged out again, instantly forming a [Susanoo].
"Madara, stop this!"
"No matter what your goal is, I won't let you accomplish it!"
"And don't even think about threatening the village."
"You and I are from a bygone age—we don't belong in this time at all!"
Hashirama said while manipulating the wooden giant and launching an attack toward Madara.
His goal was to force Madara out of Konoha before the village suffered any more destruction.
"What arrogant nonsense!"
"Hashirama, do you really still believe you can defeat me?"
"So many years have passed, yet only you remain stagnant in place!"
Lord Madara's Susanoo drew its greatsword and swung to counterattack.
It easily severed the wooden limbs created by the Wood Human Technique.
Clearly, after integrating Hashirama's cells,
the power of Lord Madara's [Susanoo] had greatly improved, surpassing even his original lifetime strength.
Without even entering Perfect Body Susanoo, he was more than powerful enough to overcome Hashirama's 'Wood Human Technique'.
...
"Brother, that guy's eyes are different from before."
"It seems they've become the [Rinnegan]!"
"Be careful!"
Tobirama called out from behind.
A few days ago, he had thoroughly studied the corpse of Yahiko — the very one known as Deva Path Pain, who had been captured by Hashirama.
Naturally, he knew it was nothing more than a lifeless body.
That Rinnegan wasn't genuine either!
Yet even that false, projected Rinnegan possessed terrifying power.
This sufficiently proved the immense might of the Rinnegan itself.
Moreover, considering Madara's personality,
he would never stoop to using fake eyes for intimidation!
That left eye must definitely be genuine.
Therefore, he had to warn his older brother carefully—otherwise he might fall prey to an unseen power of the Rinnegan.
...
"Tch! Annoying bastard."
"Shut up already!"
[Limbo: Border Jail]!
Madara glanced toward Tobirama in the distance and spat in disgust.
The next moment, he secretly activated another unique ability granted by his [Rinnegan]: [Limbo: Border Jail].
Instantly, a 'shadow' of himself split apart.
These 'shadows' could both attack and defend, possessing considerable strength.
Most critically, aside from the Six Paths Sage Mode and the Rinnegan users, ordinary ninja couldn't see or sense these shadows at all.
Even someone as powerful as Tobirama couldn't detect them at all, unless they possessed Six Paths Sage Mode or a Rinnegan.
Of course, with only one eye active, Madara could summon just one "shadow"—once he fully activated the second Rinnegan, their number would increase to four!
"Crack!"
---
An invisible "shadow" swiftly leapt before Tobirama and swung a slap.
It struck Tobirama directly across the face.
Sending him flying over a hundred meters, crashing violently into a shattered building.
"What's going on?"
"Who attacked me?"
"Why was I sent flying like that?"
Tobirama climbed out of the rubble, using Impure World to heal his cheek while muttering in confusion.
That strange sensation of being hit without warning...
Felt absolutely awful!
So powerless...
Damn it, it must be Madara Uchiha!
Right—that bastard did it!
"What kind of ninja technique is this? How could I not sense it at all?!" Tobirama growled angrily.
Falsely blaming Madara Uchiha? Never a bad idea!
After all, among everyone present, he was the only enemy here.
...
Meanwhile, seizing this momentary gap,
Hashirama activated [Bursting Palm Jutsu] once again, sending forth massive wooden appendages from underground.
They immediately grabbed Madara's Susanoo and hurled him beyond the village limits.
"Invisible attacks?"
"And falling meteors from the sky?"
"Madara, it seems you've certainly mastered many new abilities!"
"But even if you've grown stronger..."
"I won't let you do as you please!"
Hashirama controlled the Wooden Giant, jumped outside the village, chasing after Madara.
And immediately launched technique after technique.
[Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!]
[Wood Release: Wood Clone!]
Five colossal Torii Seals descended from the heavens, instantly suppressing and trapping Madara and his [Susanoo].
The Sage Art sealing technique packed massive pressure. It could suppress an opponent's chakra—including that of Tailed Beasts—for a short period, enough even to restrain the Ten-Tails!
At the same time, dozens of Wood Clones sprang forth one by one.
Rushing quickly toward the suppressed Madara.
Preparing to further execute sealing techniques to restrict Madara's movement.
Even though Hashirama had suffered heavily before under Madara's [hit with something like 'slammed around like a ragdoll'] assault,
He still had the fight in him.
At the same time, he knew very clearly:
No matter how strong he appeared now—having fused with remains through Impure World, regaining strength nearly equal to his peak—
It was temporary and expendable!
Compared to the completely resurrected Madara, he remained at a disadvantage.
After all, remains were still just remains.
Even if preserved well,
Once the seal was broken, his residual vitality would start to fade—permanently.
And the fiercer the battle, the faster the decay...
If dragged into a prolonged fight until the residual vitality within the remains was completely drained.
Then defeat would be inevitable!
Moreover, Madara, who already possessed one [Rinnegan], would undoubtedly be far more powerful than before.
Hashirama no longer had time to keep testing Madara back and forth.
He had to seize every opportunity to defeat and reseal him as soon as possible!
To protect the village.
Thus, Hashirama unleashed [Torii Seal] instantly.
Hashirama took advantage of Madara before he activated [Perfect Susanoo], starting suppression early.
Otherwise, once [Perfect Susanoo] was deployed, it wouldn't be so easily restrained by [Torii Seal].
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