After that brief exchange, Madara was finally able to determine that his opponent's counter technique was fundamentally different from the Uchiha Gunbai.
The Gunbai required absorbing an enemy's attack first, converting that energy into a wind projectile to send it back.
But Mitsuki's counter ninjutsu skipped that step entirely—he could reflect chakra-based attacks directly and instantly.
'So that means… I'll have to rely on physical attacks, huh? It's quite similar to the Rinnegan's Preta Path absorption,' Madara mused inwardly.
When Madara unleashed his sword aura through Susanoo, Mitsuki had already been prepared to activate Full Counter for a perfect reversal—yet the slash never targeted him.
Madara had deliberately avoided him.
No opening, no opportunity to retaliate. That was experience talking.The old really were the craftiest—Mitsuki couldn't help but acknowledge it. Even though he hadn't hidden his ability, Madara had already analyzed its weakness this quickly. Truly worthy of being called one of the strongest of the warring states period.
Mitsuki sheathed Mistcutter, holding a Flying Thunder God kunai horizontally in front of him as several space–time seals carved themselves into the air.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!"
From Madara's vantage point high above, he saw the incoming blast wave ripple across the battlefield—but right at Mitsuki's position, there was a clean gap. Everything caught within that distorted space—dust, debris, even the air pressure—was teleported away, dumped unceremoniously into the deserts of the Land of Wind.
Within moments, the violent aftershock had finally passed.
The once lush and tranquil forest was now nothing but scorched wasteland — razed to the ground by the clash of two powers that stood at the very pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Meanwhile, White Zetsu used the Mayfly Technique to quietly slip into Madara's hideout.
"Lord Madara, the plan failed… that Ruri—she…"
Madara listened to the report with no visible emotion. Plans failing was normal; nothing ever went perfectly. His will was far beyond being shaken by such things.
White Zetsu asked nervously, "Lord Madara, what now? Without the bait and a fixed battlefield, that Mitsuki could escape at any time using his space–time jutsu."
Madara smirked faintly, a glint of confidence in his eyes.
"Heh… mere Flying Thunder God. Tobirama's parlor trick. Before true power, such jutsu are worthless."
He had already noticed—just as he wanted to use Mitsuki for his own ends, Mitsuki harbored the same lethal intent toward him. Unless faced with a battle he knew he would lose, Mitsuki wouldn't flee .Which meant, even without Ruri as bait, Madara could exploit that very bloodlust.
Space–time techniques were formidable — but not invincible.If he could seize even a single momen t— cast Genjutsu before Mitsuki teleported, or seal his chakra using Fūinjutsu or Yin–Yang Release—the victory would be his. Especially if he managed to trap Mitsuki under Genjutsu — then his possibilities would multiply endlessly.
As his thoughts raced, countless strategies formed in Madara's mind—ways to use Mitsuki to drive Obito into darkness. But all of that depended on capturing Mitsuki first.
Back on the battlefield — Mitsuki stood on the scorched ground, slowly lowering his Flying Thunder God kunai. His gaze locked onto the towering Complete Susanoo above.
So even after seeing Full Counter, Madara still dared to bring out his full form? Did he think Mitsuki's reflection had an upper limit?
Mitsuki chuckled softly. If there was a limit to Full Counter, it was only his own reaction speed. After all, it was an active skill—it required his timing. But with an opponent this massive? He was more than confident he could handle it.
Without hesitation, the sound of Chidori crackled through the air as Mitsuki gripped Miscutter. Like a lone hero out of myth, he charged headlong toward the colossal beast.
Madara knew he couldn't let Mitsuki touch Susanoo — if the Complete Form was destroyed, even this Limbo clone would be rendered useless. Mitsuki was like a hedgehog — lethal to the touch. But Madara already had a countermeasure in mind.
Gazing coldly at the boy below, Madara's hands blurred through hand seals.
"To deal with a fidgety hedgehog… Hashirama's jutsu should work just fine."
"Deep Forest Emergence!"
The ground rumbled violently as enormous tree trunks — each dozens of meters thick — burst forth, their limbs whipping through the air to block Mitsuki's charge.
Madara clapped his hands.
"Adamantine Beckoning Tree!"
Dozens of massive branches surged from all directions, converging upon Mitsuki like a closing trap.
Mitsuki raised an eyebrow. "Figures I'd have to fight Wood Release sooner or later…"
With a flick of his wrist, one of his Rasengan Orbs spun free from behind him — landing squarely on Kirisame's blade.The blade began to glow with a radiant white light as Mitsuki traced his sword fingers along the edge.
In the next instant — The blue lightning arcs along the sword turned into dark violet flames, blazing fiercely.
Mistcutter's chakra conductivity was superb—within fractions of a second, it channeled the entire surge of fire chakra through the weapon.
Mitsuki condensed the high-density fire chakra into tangible form, extending Mistcutter's short blade into the length of a full katana.He swung it effortlessly, releasing several arcs of dark purple sword energy.
Each slash vaporized the incoming wooden tendrils, severing the massive trunks, their remnants crashing to the ground and burning silently as the purple fire clung to them.
Then Mitsuki drew out a torrent of Shukaku's chakra from his seal — these trees were becoming a nuisance, and he intended to clean house properly this time.
High above, Madara watched as his Wood Release failed to restrain the boy. His hands flashed through more seals.
"Deep Forest Bloom!"
The sea of trees surged again, the forest floor erupting with a tide of massive trunks that twisted and writhed like giant serpents, spreading outward in every direction. At the tops, enormous crimson buds began to bloom under Madara's control — unfurling to release a dense, pink mist.
Countless hallucinogenic pollen particles filled the air, blanketing the entire battlefield.