After teasing Madara, Akio's expression grew thoughtful.
He wasn't surprised that Danzō had secretly learned the Impure World Reincarnation. After all, when Tobirama originally developed the technique, Danzō served as his research assistant, it would be stranger if he didn't learn it.
But the key question was… why would Danzō choose such a suicidal resistance?
He definitely would've received reports about yesterday evening's fight. With more than ten ANBU present, Akio didn't believe none of them were Danzō's people.
Danzō should know that even resurrecting Madara wouldn't stop Akio. Yet he still went through with it… that was what felt strange.
Akio was still pondering when, on the other side, Madara spoke up:
"Not the same caster this time? I remember you, brat, Senju Tobirama's annoying disciple… Shimura Danzō."
Danzō didn't respond. He had zero goodwill toward the Uchiha, especially Madara. Instead, he turned toward Akio and raised his voice.
"Elder Akio! Everything I've done has been for the sake of Konoha! You actually want to let a little girl humiliate me! Even if I must seek a tiger's help, I will teach you a lesson today!"
Akio's brow twitched. "Who are you calling 'old man'? And what 'tiger' nonsense are you even"
Madara ignored Danzō's attitude, slowly curling his fist. "My strength… is returning."
"So you're not suppressing Madara's power anymore. You're letting him act freely…" Akio looked up. "This is how you plan to teach me a lesson? You've got guts…"
In the next instant, Akio appeared right in front of Danzō.
"First answer to my fist!"
A massive blue arm swept in and blocked Akio's punch.
Madara laughed.
"Old man, I can't let you kill him right now. Let me show you my version of a sandbag-sized fist once my power's fully restored!"
He had clearly picked up the phrase.
Akio smiled, then put more force into his right arm. Suigetsu's arm...no, Madara's Susanoo arm was shoved sideways and slammed straight into Danzō's face.
"If I want to hit someone, you can't stop me."
As Danzō tumbled across the ground, Akio repeated the same motion…
What followed was a loop of Akio flashing in, Madara intercepting, Danzō defending, and then Akio punching him in the face anyway.
Two minutes later, Madara stopped interfering.
"My power is nearly back to its prime. Since you're so eager to kill him, old man, allow me to help you!"
Akio glanced at the battered, barely breathing Danzō on the ground, satisfied. Then he turned to Madara only for surprise to flash across his face.
"Hashirama? You're here too?!"
Madara froze. He snapped his head around nothing behind him. Realizing the trick, his eyes shifted into the Rinnegan.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Behind him, Akio floated in midair, right hand shaped like a claw, still half a meter from grabbing the back of Madara's skull.
Akio glanced at the transparent repulsion barrier forming around himself and chuckled.
"You think you're the only one who can do that?"
A breath later, the barrier shattered layer by layer, and Akio's hand locked onto the back of Madara's head. With a burst of speed, he dragged Madara forward at high velocity.
If he kept fighting here, Danzō really would die…
"Bastard!" Madara roared.
Danzō had deliberately walked farther and farther from Konoha's encampment, likely afraid the battle's shockwaves would hit the Konoha forces.
"But that distance isn't nearly enough."
With one burst of full speed, Akio carried Madara several kilometers away, stopping near the Kumogakure encampment.
"Down you go."
Akio swung his arm, slamming Madara downward. Madara crashed into the ground, leaving a human-shaped crater.
They were still about one kilometer away from the Kumogakure camp. Because of Killer B, Akio didn't plan to annihilate Kumo, just scare them a bit and announce his return as the Great Demon King Akio.
Such a huge impact obviously alerted the Kumo shinobi, and several were already rushing over.
But then the earth split open.
Like a natural disaster, the land around Madara's crater, roughly a full kilometer ruptured violently. The Kumo camp suffered the shockwave as tents collapsed, and shinobi fell into fissures.
A fully armored Susanoo, shaped like the familiar tengu, rose from below. Madara's furious voice echoed inside:
"Old man! You really only know cheap tricks like this?!"
Akio glanced up and sighed.
"You actually fell for something this basic…"
"You really do love Hashirama deeply, huh?"
Inside Susanoo, Madara's face turned red. He remembered Akio's two "books"… and his rage surged.
Akio added fuel to the fire.
"Say, Madara… who's more important to you? Hashirama or Akio?"
"Old man, this is your death day!"
Right now, Akio was definitely more important as in, more aggravating.
A lightning-wrapped figure appeared in front of Susanoo.
"You bastard! How dare you destroy our village's encampment! Lariat!"
"Out of my way!" Madara roared.
Susanoo's colossal fist smashed the Fourth Raikage, sending him flying toward the ruins of the Kumo camp even faster than Killer B ever had.
"Broooother!" B shouted.
Akio locked onto him, recalling the "Yo-yo-yo" Nagato, a lifelong trauma.
"B, run! Those two are Uzumaki Akio and Uchiha Madara!" Gyūki warned from inside.
"Let me reunite you with your brother!"
Akio appeared behind B in an instant, ignoring Gyūki's extending tentacles, and kicked B straight in the backside.
"My acceleration can't lose to Madara's! Catch up to the Raikage, B!"
He watched B fly away, then extended a bone spike from his hand. With a single upward jab, he shattered Susanoo's descending fist.
Madara tensed.
"Even a complete-body Susanoo can't touch that bone…?"
Akio twirled the bone spike with a smile.
"Madara, didn't you notice yesterday? We've already reached a qualitative difference."
"Yesterday?!" Madara's expression darkened, he thought many days had passed.
"That's right. With all the ridiculous stuff happening lately, my mood has been awful. But I realized something, beating you up every day makes me feel much better."
Since Susanoo couldn't make contact, Madara slowly released it.
"Then close combat isn't ideal… I'll use Hashirama's power."
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Akio grinned. He retracted the bone spike, formed hand seals, and
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Madara froze.
"Old man…"
How the hell do you know it too?!
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