Crunch~
The sound of bones being sliced echoed clearly through the dark cave.
The blade came to a sudden halt just inches from Madara, blocked firmly by his massive scythe, leaving Kawaki unable to push forward even an inch further.
"Susanoo."
With just one glance, Kawaki recognized exactly what that blue skeleton was.
Sure enough, even with only someone else's Three-tomoe Sharingan, it didn't make a difference—Madara could still summon his Gundam-like form without hesitation.
"You're impressive. I acknowledge you."
Looking at Kawaki's face—so unlike Hashirama's—Madara couldn't help but reveal a hint of barely noticeable admiration.
Actually, possessing the strength to damage Susanoo like this already surpassed any need for Madara's approval.
Wood Release was more of an extra bonus for Kawaki; he hadn't simply inherited the title of God of the Ninja World merely from standing on the shoulders of his predecessors.
Even without considering his Wood Release abilities, there was no question—he ranked among the absolute elite ninjas in raw power.
As they faced off, the Susanoo continued growing stronger.
The ribs Kawaki had sliced clean through began regenerating, and now each of the four hands on the skeletal frame formed into swords.
The moment all four blades were fully formed, Madara unhesitatingly controlled Susano'o to rapidly slash down at Kawaharu.
The moment all four blades were fully formed, Madara unhesitatingly controlled Susano'o and rapidly slashed down toward Kawahae.
A surge of powerful chakra filled the entire cave, and Kawaki immediately sensed a gust of wind roaring down from above.
Instead of dodging right away, he struggled to push his blade forward.
Only when every hair on his body stood on end and his skin prickled under intense pressure did he vanish from the spot.
"Hehe~ You underestimate me far too much."
Madara's laughter echoed through the cave as the four swords landed precisely where Kawaki had been standing, failing to touch him.
"I was just testing things out."
Kawaki didn't respond, though he had indeed harbored those subtle intentions.
However, after Kawaki vanished using Flying Thunder God, the Susanoo began evolving at an even faster rate.
Half of the skeletal body quickly grew a lower half and legs, and Madara shifted himself to the head area of the Susanoo.
Then, armor from the Winged-Oni Mask enveloped the Susanoo, and its size started increasing dramatically.
Had the cave not been constructed to accommodate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Madara's Susanoo would have already smashed through the ceiling.
Facing the gigantic figure before him, Kawaki inwardly trembled.
In Kawaki's mind, even at full strength, how powerful could Madara truly be—a frail old man who should have perished without the Demonic Statue supplying him chakra?
Yet he had never imagined that Madara, willing to sacrifice himself, could drive the Susanoo to such terrifying heights.
And judging from how the Susanoo was still transforming, it clearly hadn't reached its peak yet.
If Madara had control of the Nine-Tails, Kawaki thought he might actually witness the legendary might of an Amaterasu-wielding Susanoo today.
[Yasaka Magatama!]
Kawaki hesitated momentarily, but Madara wouldn't let up.
Standing tall, the Susanoo transformed its two swords into dozens of linked chakra magatamas, which were launched without the need for aim.
"This is going to be tough!"
As dozens of chakra blades hurtled toward him, Kawaki couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
If he remembered correctly, in the canon story it took both Gaara's and Ōnoki's combined efforts to barely withstand this move from Madara.
One used Sand Release while the other used Earth Release—both were highly defensive jutsu.
Thinking about this, Kawaki fully grasped the Yasaka Magatama's power.
[Wood Release: Hand Tool Manipulation!]
As Kawaki channeled a massive amount of chakra into the ground, wooden shields shaped like a demon's snarling face erupted from the earth on both sides of him.
*Crash!* *Snap!*
The two halves slammed together onto the ground, merging into one complete shield covering several dozen square meters, fully protecting Kawaki behind its massive frame.
After throwing away the chakra-charged orb, Madara didn't seem particularly concerned about the outcome.
He continued channeling immense amounts of chakra, causing his Susano'o to grow even larger.
Until it pushed against the cave ceiling, this Susano'o had already grown larger than an ordinary mountain.
Its entire body was covered in dense layers of hardened blue chakra armor, each scale-like plate meticulously forged.
The head of the Susano'o had transformed completely into a tengu-like appearance, its eyes burning like furnaces.
A transparent, pentagonal crystal rested on its forehead, housing Madara within.
*Whoosh~*
With a mighty flap, a pair of huge wings sprouted from Susano'o's back, accompanied by twin swords.
Broad wings, also encased in radiant blue scales, generated powerful gusts with every slight movement.
Boom!! Boom!!
A series of explosive sounds rang out, but despite the relentless bombardment from the orbs, the demon-faced shield still hadn't shattered.
When the aftermath finally settled, the once-imposing shield was now utterly unrecognizable, battered beyond belief.
Its fangs were nowhere to be seen, blown apart; only half of the demon's nose remained visible. Truly, a pitiful sight.
Nonetheless, it was satisfying to see that Madara's assault had been completely blocked.
Kawaki simply gave the merged shield a light push, causing it to collapse and shatter loudly.
Right at that moment, he saw Susano'o cleaving straight through the cave's ceiling.
Innumerable rocks large and small rained down upon it—but they might as well have been mere annoyances, like pebbles bouncing off a mountain.
In the next instant, the tremendous figure of Susano'o soared freely out of the collapsing cave.
"It's been so long since I last saw the sun."
Madara lifted his gaze toward the sky, feeling oddly elated.
After staying too long underground in caves plotting endlessly, he felt like he was becoming a burrowing rodent.
Feeling the faint warmth above, Madara stretched his arms wide.
[Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!]
Emerging outside the cave, Kawaki formed a hand seal, summoning five red torii gates descending rapidly from the heavens.
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Two horizontal and one vertical pillar—colossal formations charging forward at incredible speed, emitting piercing whistles as they sped toward Susano'o.
If struck, it would surely pin Susano'o from midair straight into the ground.
"Different enemy, same old tricks," Madara mused aloud, glancing up slightly with a smirk curling his lips.
Under his control, Susano'o suddenly ascended higher while the crimson torii gates drew ever closer.
Four blades swung in seemingly simple arcs, deceptively ordinary in appearance.
Yet every single strike cleanly sliced through the red gates, eliminating all threats overhead in the span of a few breaths.
"I'd like to see what you'll use to defend yourself now."
Madara muttered under his breath, and Susano'o flapped its wings violently, diving sharply toward Kawaki.
With four sharp blades raised high, it looked utterly merciless, poised to reduce Kawaki to dust.
"You don't have much time left either."
"Senya Shindenju."
Kawaki could tell Madara's life force had nearly run out after he unleashed one powerful technique after another.
Using this ultimate Wood Release technique to send him off might even be called an act of mercy.
A colossal thousand-armed Buddha statue shot up from the earth, towering far above even Susano'o's perfected form.
The statue's hands were clasped in prayer, its eyes tightly shut, while countless arms formed radiant halos behind it.
Perched atop the Buddha's head, Kawaki watched the perfected Susano'o hurtling toward him.
"I didn't expect you to know this technique too."
Madara wasn't sure if he should feel envious. Despite mastering Wood Release for many years, he had never managed to learn the Thousand Hands Manipulation Force.
"There's more!"
[Summit Enlightened Thousand-Armed God-Cannon!!!]
Kawaki had no intention of wasting more time. Even if he held back, Madara wouldn't last long anyway.
A torrent of fists erupted from behind the Buddha statue, each strike channeling the full might of the Thousand Hands Manipulation Force.
"Ahh~"
Madara's eyes widened, his roar sounding painfully weak.
He saw his fate unfold—just as before, he was still no match.
The glorious perfect Susano'o barely blocked a few punches before its swords shattered.
Then, the blue armor began cracking under the Buddha's fists and eventually shattered completely, piece by piece.
Without Susano'o's protection, Madara soared skyward like a broken kite, blood spewing from his mouth.
Before Madara even touched the ground, Kawaki sensed that his life signal had vanished completely.
In the end, time had worn down even a god, leaving the once-mighty figure stripped of his former glory.
Leaping from the top of the Buddha statue, Kawaki strode slowly across the shattered battlefield.
Gazing at the silent figure in the distance, a wave of mixed emotions washed over him.
A legendary genius, defeated by his own hands.
Kawaki couldn't quite describe how he felt right now.
It wasn't happiness, nor was it quite sadness either.
...
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