A lush forest.
Kaede and Hashirama stood on the branches of two giant trees, less than ten meters apart.
Hashirama said in a deep voice, "I can feel that your power has already reached the level of mine and Madara's."
"I truly didn't expect that even after our deaths, such a super genius could emerge from the Uchiha clan."
"It's just a pity… your heart is not with Konoha."
Kaede replied calmly, "From the moment I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, everything I've done has been for myself… or for my entire clan."
"The stage is set. I hope this so-called God of Shinobi can truly entertain me."
"Don't expect me to hold back by not using my full strength."
Hashirama laughed heartily. "Since this fight is unavoidable, then unleash all your abilities!"
"After all… only one of us will be walking away from here!"
Kaede's voice was cold. "You still don't even know what I'm going to do."
At this stage, he had no intention of ending the fight quickly. This was his game to play, and it wouldn't end until he decided it would.
Hashirama's smile faded. "Since that's the case…"
"I'm coming!"
Wood Release!
In an instant, countless thick tree trunks shot up from the ground, surging toward Kaede like a tidal wave, trying to engulf him completely.
"Wood Release? So this really is the power of Hashirama…"
Kaede brought his hands to his mouth.
The next moment, an overwhelming wave of fire erupted from him, igniting everything in its path.
The trees were instantly turned to ash, and even the forest beneath them became a raging sea of flames that spread endlessly.
The mighty Wood Release was burned away in moments, its remains drifting down like black snow.
"What?!"
Hashirama froze.
There was no solid ground to stand on—just the blazing inferno below. Was Kaede intending to take them both down together?
But Hashirama was an Edo Tensei; self-destruction tactics wouldn't work on him.
Then, to his shock, he saw Kaede standing unharmed atop the sea of fire, nearly ten miles away.
He was like the ruler of flames itself, untouchable.
"As expected… terrifying."
Hashirama took a deep breath and clapped his hands without hesitation.
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"
From beneath the flames, massive trees burst forth, parting the inferno.
The fire tried to consume the wood, but the regenerating trunks kept pushing forward, extinguishing the flames before they could spread further.
The Wood Golem surged forward, its massive arms reaching for Kaede.
Kaede calmly lifted his hands.
"Rise."
The flames around him gathered instantly, forming dozens of colossal fire dragons, each over ten meters long.
The roaring dragons crashed into the Wood Golem.
Boom!
The moment they connected, massive explosions rang out, sending burning debris raining down like meteors.
Hashirama was forced to dodge, but the flames never touched Kaede.
When the firestorm cleared, Hashirama looked at Kaede solemnly.
"Your fire… is extremely powerful."
He had to admit—Kaede was even more fearsome than the original Uchiha Madara.
When Madara had faced his Wood Golem, he had been forced to use his Complete Susanoo immediately.
But Kaede had burned through it in a single move, completely nullifying the technique's greatest strength—its ability to suppress chakra within its range.
"It seems these attacks won't work on you."
Hashirama clapped his hands again.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
A massive wooden giant with a serpent-like lower body and two glaring eyes rose from the earth, over a hundred meters tall.
The residual flames died instantly upon contact with its immense life force.
Kaede narrowed his eyes. "Is this your limit, Hashirama?"
The wooden titan swung its arm down in a crushing blow.
Kaede responded instantly.
"Complete Susanoo!"
A towering form of deep blue chakra erupted around him.
In seconds, a colossal Susanoo over three hundred meters tall stood before the Wood Human, dwarfing it.
The titan's fist slammed into Susanoo's armor, not even making it tremble.
Hashirama's eyes tightened. "His Susanoo… is stronger than Madara's?"
The enormous sword in Susanoo's hands gleamed ominously.
"Slash."
With a single swing, the blade carved through the Wood Human's waist, cleaving it cleanly in two.
But Hashirama wasn't done. He clapped his hands again.
Another Wood Human rose, this one over two hundred meters tall—taller than Susanoo itself.
"This is my limit. Any larger, and the chakra won't hold."
The new giant struck with a massive punch, met by Susanoo's own blow.
At the same time, the great sword swept for its midsection.
"Not so fast!" Hashirama shouted.
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Guard!"
A massive shield with a demonic face formed in the giant's free hand, intercepting the strike.
The blade rang against it with a sharp metallic clang.
Kaede's eyes glimmered with interest. "A defense strong enough to withstand my blade… interesting."
Hashirama attacked again.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
The coiling dragon wrapped around the Wood Human came alive, lunging at Susanoo and constricting its limbs, then its entire body.
The dragon began to squeeze, trying to crush Susanoo while draining its chakra.
Kaede's eyes sharpened. "Trying to absorb my chakra? I've seen this trick before."
With a surge of power, Susanoo's armor bulged, and four massive arms extended from its shoulders, tearing the Wood Dragon apart in seconds.
But Hashirama only grinned. "It's not over yet!"
Four more Wood Dragons burst from the Wood Human's body, quickly growing to full size, and lunged straight for Susanoo once again.
(End of Chapter)
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