Madara Uchiha didn't immediately comprehend the purpose of the surrounding cloud formation—but it hardly mattered. Without the unpredictable variable that was the cloud cover, Yuren already held a complete advantage.
During the prior skirmish, Yuren's side had already dominated most of the battlefield. Only Yun's position—despite ten elite Jōnin combining efforts—remained untamed, as he held them at bay single-handedly, overwhelming them to the point of helplessness.
Now that Yun had been isolated by Madara, those ten elite fighters were again at Yuren's disposal, pushing their advantage into overwhelming dominance.
And beyond that, there was still an Absolute lurking in the shadows, biding his time, waiting to strike.
This time, Madara Uchiha truly relished the thrill of the hunt.
Despite Yun's prior Fire Release not exhibiting catastrophic explosive power, its corrosive properties were formidable. Even from a significant distance, Madara could perceive the heat and chakra fluctuations, sensing danger.
Only once before had he witnessed such evolution in Fire Release. It was clear Yun had broken through a chakra control barrier, evolving beyond elite Jōnin.
Such talent indicated Yun's potential for transcending to the super-Kage class—a level far beyond what most shinobi could aspire to.
After all, elemental nature transformation is the backbone of a ninja's arsenal. To push its boundaries was to open the path to the realms reserved for legends.
Though Yun's current classification labeled him an elite Jōnin, Madara wasn't buying it.
After parting ways with the Akatsuki headquarters, Yun had flown several kilometers, seeking out a secluded battlefield.
"Here. This will do," he muttered, eyes scanning the surroundings.
His heart raced—not from fear, but exhilaration.
Back in the past, his space-time projection had battled Madara at full power. The legendary Uchiha had been toying with him then, the real Madara barely exerting himself while Yun had struggled to survive.
Now he had a second chance.
Clone or not—it didn't matter. Madara was still Madara.
And regardless of his enemy's current condition, Yun had no intention of offering mercy.
"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Mode!"
Flames ignited, engulfing Yun's entire form. They crackled with violent fury, threatening to erupt outward at any moment.
This wasn't merely a transformation—it was an evolved state of the Explosive Fist Technique that Teru had once taught to Obito. Now, Yun had refined it into something uniquely his.
His chakra control and mastery of Fire Release were impeccable. Despite the inferno cloaking him, Yun moved freely, unhindered by the heat or pressure.
Flames burst beneath his feet, propelling him with incredible force as he blurred forward via Body Flicker Technique. At that instant, his speed approached the extreme.
Burst Fist!
Before Madara could even blink, Yun was upon him. His right arm swung forward, igniting his fist mid-strike.
Boom!
Madara's body was blasted backward, dragged across the battlefield. His heels gouged two deep trenches as he resisted being flung farther.
Yun's expression remained grim.
Even with that direct hit, the Uchiha's physical resilience was absurd. Despite his weakened state, he still radiated terrifying strength.
"So... you want to dance as well?" Madara said coolly, his voice deep and amused.
He rolled his shoulders, his body beginning to emit surging energy. His eyes glowed scarlet—each Sharingan spinning lazily with three tomoe.
"Huh? You're not surprised," Madara noted.
Yun's composed reaction caught him off guard. Most would tremble in awe at the sight of the Sharingan.
But then again, Yun wasn't most. With his own enigmatic dual-pupils, perhaps he saw things even the Sharingan could not.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Yun moved swiftly, spitting out a volley of fireballs aimed precisely at Madara.
He no longer held back.
The previously hidden corrosive nature of his flames had shifted. Now they radiated searing heat, capable of combustion upon contact.
He focused and merged multiple elemental branches together, refining them and channeling them into the Fire Release technique. This was his apex form—his most honed state.
The air rippled from the heat. The very space shimmered with distortion as flames howled forward.
Madara narrowed his eyes. The intensity alone confirmed what he already suspected—Yun's chakra nature transformation had advanced to a rare pinnacle.
Aside from himself, Madara had never encountered someone with such Fire Release mastery.
"Your fire style... is invigorating," he said, voice calm yet delighted.
Despite his interest, his battle instincts remained razor sharp. He analyzed the trajectory of each fireball, and his body flickered, dodging them effortlessly.
Then, with fluid ease, his fingers flew through hand seals.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Madara inhaled deeply, then exhaled with force. A colossal wave of fire burst from his mouth, spreading wide into a sea of flames. It rushed toward Yun like a living inferno.
Even kilometers away, shinobi at Akatsuki's stronghold could feel the heat.
"What kind of power is this? This isn't Yun's fire nature!" one murmured.
Yahiko's palms were sweaty. His gaze locked on the distant horizon where flames illuminated the sky.
He gritted his teeth.
His hatred toward Hanzo grew. A man unfit to lead, now consorting with unknown enemies against their organization.
This wasn't about politics anymore—it was survival.
He didn't recognize Madara, but anyone with power on that level was no mere wanderer. He had to be a shadow-level shinobi from one of the Five Great Nations.
Yahiko wasn't the naive youth he once was. He understood that shinobi of this level came with backing and history.
Hanzo remained clueless but allied with Madara for the moment.
Fueled by fury, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato fought back harder than ever. Their aura intensified—awakening power that had slumbered until now.
A breakthrough was imminent.
Hanzo recognized it immediately—he had seen it before.
This was the same feeling when Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru had broken past his limits.
History repeated itself—and he hated it.
"Hmph. Break through? Not if I have a say," Hanzo sneered.
He no longer cherished talent. Now, only his grip on power mattered.
He lunged, his blade sweeping toward Konan with violent force.
Paper Release: Paper Clone!
Shinra Tensei!
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
The trio reacted in perfect synchronicity. Konan's paper clone absorbed the fatal blow. Nagato's repulsion countered the blade's edge. Yahiko took the opening to launch a massive attack.
The battlefield, soaked by earlier rain and residual water from Yun's previous defenses, now became Yahiko's weapon.
With masterful control, he summoned a towering waterspout that surged toward Hanzo.
Hanzo countered with twin sword strikes, but he was in a lull—his chakra flow interrupted.
Caught at a vulnerable moment, he tried to block with his blade, coating his body with chakra for defense.
It wasn't enough.
The waterspout slammed into him, forcing blood from his lips.
Elsewhere—
As Madara's sea of fire surged forward, Yun's dual pupils glowed intensely. Complex patterns danced within them.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Sage Art: Water Gathering Technique!
Natural energy surged through the battlefield. Rain and moisture condensed instantly, forming a towering wall of water.
At the same moment, Yun vanished.
Body Flicker. Burst Mode. Push Technique—all at once.
Dragon Fist!
The air compressed. His fist exploded forward, flames and chakra coiling into the shape of a dragon.
Boom!
Madara's eyes widened.
Yun was there—right in front of him.
The air cannon and flame burst struck simultaneously. Madara grunted, blood spraying from his mouth.
But the real weapon wasn't the punch—it was the transformation technique.
Hollow Man!
Ordinarily, Madara's Sharingan could detect chakra movement, even through invisibility. But in the sea of flames surrounding them, Yun had perfectly blended in—rendering him invisible, even to Madara's heightened perception.
There are no useless jutsu—only unused potential.
In Yun's dual-pupil system, every jutsu was recorded, enhanced, and executed without seals or chakra buildup.
Even the simplest Transformation Technique became lethal in his hands.
And alongside it, he'd embedded the Clone Technique.
Not Shadow Clone. Not Earth Clone. Just the most basic form—weaponized.