Chapter 389: Dance of Titans
As the tension in their confrontation escalated, Kakashi's heart sank. It was clear this conversation was going nowhere, which meant
In an instant, Kakashi flung a kunai, its blade crackling with the lightning nature chakra he'd infused. Though everything about the man before him screamed "Uchiha Madara," the infamous Demon of the Shinobi World, Kakashi had to test him himself.
The kunai flew with deceptive speed, an attack as subtle as it was deadly most jonin wouldn't have had time to react. But for Madara Uchiha, the maneuver was a child's trick. His Rinnegan, far surpassing the insight of any Sharingan, made such an evasion effortless; with a mere tilt of his head, the kunai flew harmlessly past.
"Pathetic," Madara scoffed. "But since you dared to attack me, I'll show you no mercy, no matter how insignificant you are."
Without further banter, Kakashi was already forming hand seals, summoning a fierce dragon of lightning that surged toward Madara. The attack crackled with enough power to bring down fortress walls. Yet Madara didn't even blink he raised a single hand and absorbed the lightning effortlessly.
Kakashi's expression hardened. There was no mistaking it now this man had the Rinnegan's chakra absorbing Path. Yet Kakashi noticed something peculiar: unlike Nagato, Madara needed to raise his hand in the direction of the jutsu to absorb it. This difference, slight though it was, meant Kakashi might have a way to exploit it.
But Madara, known as both the Demon and the Rose of the Battlefield, wasn't going to give him time to strategize. With a sudden burst of speed, Madara was in front of him in a heartbeat.
"So fast!"
Kakashi's eyes widened as he tried to track Madara's movements. Though Madara acknowledged Kakashi's courage, in his eyes, Kakashi was still a mere insect one he didn't even deem worthy of a jutsu. He lashed out with a kick, putting monstrous strength into the simple move.
"Such force!" Kakashi grunted as he blocked, feeling his bones creak under the strain. Even with his guard up, the sheer weight behind Madara's attack felt on par with monstrous strength techniques.
Then, a thought crossed his mind: this was the man who had once gone toe to toe with the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, without needing his Susanoo. Realizing he couldn't afford to hold back, Kakashi quickly healed his battered arms with the Yin Healing Wound Destruction technique. Facing an opponent of Madara's caliber, there was no room for restraint.
"Sea of Sands Mode activate!"
With his entire body blazing in golden chakra, Kakashi's aura flared, taking on the strength and radiance of a chakra avatar, now dubbed the "Golden Apostle" in honor of Ye Wen. The sudden surge in Kakashi's chakra intensity caught Madara's attention, a hint of genuine interest gleaming in his eyes. No longer an ant, Kakashi had transformed into something formidable.
"Interesting," Madara smirked, a light of enjoyment flickering in his gaze. In this era devoid of Hashirama, such a worthy opponent was rare, and his blood stirred in excitement. "Come, entertain me, Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi ignored Madara's mocking tone and braced himself. With Nagato dead, capturing Madara, who bore the same Rinnegan, might prove even more valuable to Ye Wen.
To Madara's delight, Kakashi didn't reach for any jutsu, opting instead for taijutsu alone. Laughing with a thrill he hadn't felt in years, Madara leapt forward to meet him. "You think you're worthy of the dance? Show me the power of this new generation of shinobi!"
A second later, their fists collided, the force of their clash sending shockwaves rippling outward, scattering the rain into a cloud of mist. Excitement sparked in Madara's eyes. Kakashi's chakra felt different from Hashirama's Sage Mode unique, yet potent.
For a fleeting moment, the two appeared evenly matched in both power and technique. Madara, however, grew increasingly exhilarated with each exchange, as memories of battles long past surged to the surface. He could feel his body adjusting, regaining its rhythm and balance as his blood raced.
Finally, with one decisive strike, Madara's foot connected, sending Kakashi hurtling backward. Yet instead of pursuing, Madara stood still, basking in the afterglow of the exhilarating clash. Kakashi, winded but unharmed, healed quickly, but his thoughts raced with questions. Every punch he'd thrown had been strong enough to shatter stone. How was Madara, without any chakra enhancement, able to withstand him?
Then he remembered Ye Wen's teachings. "Yin and Yang form two poles. They act against each other to create all things." Ye Wen had explained that the Rinnegan was an evolution of the Sharingan, yet he hadn't fully delved into its intricacies. "If this duality refers to Yin and Yang chakra, then Madara might be far more dangerous than any Konoha record suggests."
Watching Kakashi carefully, Madara's amusement grew. "I acknowledge you, Kakashi Hatake. Among all shinobi of this generation, your taijutsu is the most impressive."
Most would have been honored to hear such praise from a legend, but Kakashi, with his higher mission, remained unfazed, glaring back coldly at Madara.
"Such a bore," Madara grumbled. Despite his irritation, he realized that it was time to get serious.
"I'll give you one last chance," he offered. "Join me. Together, I'll show you a world unlike any you've known. Your regrets, your grievances together, we can make them right."
Kakashi's reply was laced with icy defiance. "Is that your last wish? Then so be it."
In that instant, Kakashi's chakra shifted, sparking with a slight but telling change.
(End of Chapter)
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