In the silent hospital room, watching his little cousin's shoulders quiver slightly, Gin was doing everything he could to hold in his laughter. With a gentle pat on Izuna's shoulder, he spoke up,
"Izuna, let's go check on Big Cousin."
He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he really would burst out laughing.
"Damn Senju... Big Brother got hurt too, didn't he?"
Wiping away his tears, Izuna's eyes were red and filled with murderous intent. Gritting his teeth, he looked up and asked,
"No, not quite. Big Cousin just inherited Uncle's legacy and came out of surgery."
Gin shook his head with a trace of melancholy in his eyes. He pointed at the bed where "Tajima" lay, his eyelids sunken, and briefly explained the situation to his little cousin.
"Mm."
Still numb from the shock, Izuna simply responded softly and followed Gin out of the room toward the one where Madara was recovering.
"Eh? Big Cousin, you're awake!"
As they entered Madara's room, they saw a familiar figure standing by the window. Gin was surprised. Madara's body was in better shape than expected. The anesthesia should have taken at least three hours to wear off—but it had only been one.
"Uuuuh~ Big Brother, I'm sorry!"
Izuna, whose emotions had barely calmed, instantly broke down again upon seeing his older brother. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
"Cousin. Izuna."
Madara slowly turned around at the sound of their voices. His eyes were heavily bandaged, his expression unreadable. When he spoke, his voice was as cold as the winter wind.
"I will avenge our father."
He spoke to no one in particular. Then, he raised his hands and began unwrapping the bandages covering his eyes. As the white cloth came off strip by strip, a pair of eyes with intertwining patterns appeared—strange, beautiful, and dangerous.
"With this divine power awakened by our father's sacrifice."
Madara's chest heaved slightly, the power of hatred swelling within. The sinister, oppressive chakra that poured out filled the entire room. Even Gin had to avert his gaze.
"Big Cousin, you just transplanted your Mangekyō. If you lose to that bowl-cut brat again, Uncle's death would've been for nothing."
Gin spoke "sincerely," though a twitch of unease passed through his otherwise expressionless eyes.
"No need. I'm terrifyingly strong now."
Feeling the surging power of the Eternal Mangekyō, Madara was filled with newfound confidence. He turned to Izuna and beckoned.
"Izuna, go deliver a challenge to the Senju. Tomorrow will be the day of our final battle."
"Yes!"
Still stunned by what he had seen, Izuna snapped back to reality at Madara's call. Sensing the terrifying evolution of his brother's eyes, he stood tall and shouted his reply.
"Well then, may fortune favor you on the battlefield~"
Seeing that his "advice" had no effect, Gin put on a difficult expression and sighed softly, offering his blessing.
"I shall crush the Senju and unite the Land of Fire!"
The next day, at dusk.
The agreed battlefield was a canyon not far from the Naka River. Madara arrived with a small group of elite guards to await Hashirama's arrival.
It wasn't long before Hashirama showed up in his red armor, accompanied by his younger brother and several followers. The moment they met, the atmosphere grew tense.
"Madara, how's your father doing?"
Feeling guilty, Hashirama frowned with concern, intending to explain yesterday's incident.
"He's dead. Succumbed to his wounds."
Madara's tone was frigid, devoid of the warmth that used to linger during their "friendly sparring." The hatred in his crimson eyes made Hashirama feel like he was facing a stranger.
"So stop spouting your childish nonsense. Come—fight me, Hashirama!"
Blinded by hatred, Madara's Eternal Mangekyō spun rapidly. A massive blue demon formed behind him as his chakra surged. This wasn't just a spar—it was a declaration of war.
Seeing his friend so determined, Hashirama's expression hardened. The giant behind Madara was more solid than ever. With a serious look, Hashirama began forming hand seals. Chakra surged within him.
"Wood Style: Flower Tree World Blooming!"
Massive tree branches burst from the ground and entangled the limbs of Madara's blue Susanoo, halting its advance. Madara's confident face suddenly tensed.
"Tch… Tch…"
Just as Madara prepared to break free, thunderous rumbling erupted around him. He quickly noticed enormous branches emerging from every direction, far thicker and stronger than his own Susanoo.
They moved like countless tentacles, aggressively wrapping around him. His giant avatar began swaying, losing balance.
"Whew… whew…"
Just as he caught his breath after repelling the wooden attacks, Madara caught the scent of a strange floral aroma in the air. Then, he saw them—countless massive crimson flowers blooming across the battlefield, shaking their stamens and releasing golden pollen into the air.
"Poisonous pollen?"
He had unknowingly inhaled several breaths of it. His chakra extraction slowed, and his limbs felt numb. Even Susanoo's legs gave out slightly and dropped to a knee. If this wasn't Hashirama's doing, Madara might as well be blind.
"Stop this, Madara!"
Hashirama, hands clasped together in a sealing gesture, pleaded sincerely.
"This fight is meaningless."
"If it's so meaningless, then why is my father dead?"
Madara, gritting his teeth, shot back. His voice shook with anger.
"…"
Hashirama lowered his head, guilt weighing heavy. He couldn't answer. After all, his father had also died in front of him. He understood Madara's pain deeply.
"Because you killed him."
Once again reminded of his father's death at Tobirama's hands, Madara's sorrow turned to power. His Eternal Mangekyō spun rapidly. Susanoo erupted with energy, releasing a shockwave that sent nearby shinobi scrambling for cover.
His Susanoo began to grow—no longer just a towering giant. It now reached for the heavens, donned in thick armor, with massive wings sprouting from its back. A fearsome tengu mask covered its face.
The complete body Susanoo had appeared.
"That's…"
From behind the trees, Tobirama looked up, stunned by the sheer size of the monstrous giant. He glanced at the blade in his hand and instantly felt its uselessness.
Standing atop Susanoo's head like a cockpit, Madara crossed his arms and looked down at Hashirama. Previously, he had only barely managed to form a complete Susanoo—but nothing like this. This was in a league of its own.
"Wood Style: Wood Golem Technique!"
Feeling a rare sense of danger, Hashirama didn't hold back anymore. He performed seals once more, unleashing his full power. Branches twisted together as a large wooden figure rose from the earth, shrouded in smoke.
When the dust cleared, a comical-looking wooden Buddha figure wrapped in wooden dragons stood face-to-face with Madara's Susanoo.
"Ha! Shi! Ra! Ma!"
Despite the absurd sight, Madara's confidence soared. With his new eyes, he saw no one as his equal. He moved Susanoo forward, aiming to grab the wooden figure.
"Ma! Da! Ra!"
From atop the wooden golem, Hashirama did not back down. Their clash began.
BOOM!
The two giants collided. The shockwave forced everyone else to retreat.
"Wood Dragon Technique!"
Hashirama seized a chance to send a wooden dragon after Susanoo. Madara frowned—but anticipated this. He had already installed an extra pair of arms on Susanoo's back. With a quick strike, he crushed the dragon.
"Wood Dragon Technique!"
Unfazed, Hashirama summoned four more dragons. They surged forward.
"Did I win?"
As the dragons landed and the battlefield filled with smoke, Hashirama cautiously lowered his hands. His heart raced, uncertainty in his handsome face.
"Oops~ forgot to hold back. Hope Madara's okay."
But as the smoke cleared, an unbelievable scene unfolded—even Hashirama couldn't help but be amazed.
Madara's Susanoo had grabbed all four dragons in a tight hug. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape. As Hashirama stood dumbfounded, a cold voice echoed beside his ear.
"Hashirama, have you ever experienced… an Uchiha Suplex?"
(End of Chapter)
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