The rate at which the coalition advanced far exceeded Hyuga Soushu's expectations, and the Bloodline faction's ninja force collapsed even faster than Madara Uchiha had anticipated.
Especially after several swordsman ninjas who saw no hope of victory abandoned command and combat altogether—fleeing toward what seemed like an undefended northern route—the Bloodline faction's army disintegrated like a mountain collapsing into the sea or a tidal wave crashing ashore. Even the Sage of Six Paths wouldn't have been able to turn this disaster around.
In this situation, Uchiha Madara, stationed in the heart of the enemy camp, gradually found himself surrounded.
"Retreat quickly! Don't interfere with the battle!"
However, Hyuga Soushu issued timely orders for the coalition's ninja not to involve themselves in his fight against Uchiha Madara. After all, against Kage-level fighters like Madara, even jonin were little more than targets for a few extra strikes—essentially ineffective in such high-level combat.
"Pursue them! Immediately send both wings northward to chase down the fleeing enemies! Annihilate them completely!"
Meanwhile, the coalition officers also began issuing commands, mobilizing the recently halted coalition forces once more and pushed northward to hunt down the retreating Bloodline ninja.
The Third Raikage and Onoki felt particularly uneasy.
They hadn't expected that the Third Mizukage had managed to endure their combined assault for so long, especially without even resorting to his Secret Jutsu!
Judging from this, what level of destruction would the Third Mizukage unleash if he broke free from their combined pressure and fought without holding back?
Therefore...
"This man must not be allowed to live!"
Their tempers flaring as they exchanged determined looks, the Third Raikage, Hyuga Soushu, and Onoki reached a unified decision.
Although deep conflicts previously separated them, now they were essentially sailing on the same boat, and sure to take part in dividing the Land of Water. Thus, the most critical priority was ensuring that this formidable Third Mizukage would never leave this battlefield alive.
Otherwise, peace would never return to the entire Ninja World!
[Hell Stab: Dual Iai – Penetrating Strike!]
As Hyuga Soushu once again spun the Torch Pole into a blur of shadows, driving the Third Mizukage backward relentlessly, the Third Raikage directly unleashed his trump card taijutsu technique—a lethal blow aimed directly at the Third Mizukage's back!
This move had already pierced through tailed beasts' horns before; therefore, the Third Raikage firmly believed that ordinary human flesh and bone within the Ninja World could never withstand such a thunder-charged piercing attack!
Furthermore, just as the Third Raikage activated his secret jutsu, Onoki immediately moved to support him.
[Earth Release: Weighted Rock Technique!]
Onoki directly used ninjutsu to cast heavy earthen pressure onto the Third Mizukage, further burdening him with additional weight while he was already being hammered relentlessly, barely able to mount any defense.
While for fighters at this level, the effects of Weighted Rock Technique weren't enough to petrify them outright, it could definitely slow their movements and reactions—at least momentarily.
"Boom!"
A heavy blow from Hyuga Soushu shattered the strange flesh-like coating on Uchiha Madara's arm!
Immediately afterward, the Third Raikage's Dual Iai pierced directly into his back!
"Pfft!"
Madara Uchiha spat blood and staggered from the consecutive heavy blows.
White Zetsu Tobi, attached to him, also frantically screamed through their shared consciousness, indicating he could no longer withstand the pressure.
However, Hyuga Soushu and Onoki wouldn't let him catch his breath.
[Blood Slash!]
Hyuga Soushu charged forward immediately, first activating the innate skill of [Hunger Hydra], followed by a powerful [Power Strike] aimed directly at Madara's head.
In desperation, Madara barely managed to turn his head aside, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow to the skull.
"Phft!"
But his shoulder was smashed to pieces by the torch pole. After enduring such relentless hammering, White Zetsu Tobi's strength was no longer sufficient to provide adequate defense against high-intensity physical attacks!
"This is humiliating!" Madara raged inwardly.
This shouldn't be happening!
Normally, opponents would trade ninjutsu attacks back and forth with no clear outcome before cautiously closing in for taijutsu exchanges—this had become the established fighting pattern for powerful ninja engaging in duels over thousands of years. Madara, who rose to prominence during the Warring States era, had grown accustomed to this style of battle himself.
Although the Third Raikage had initiated the fight with Four-Finger Drill, ninja generally retreated immediately after an unsuccessful strike, seeking better opportunities later rather than continuing direct engagement.
The problem, however, lay entirely with Hyuga Soushu, who refused to play by conventional rules. Of course, the biggest reason was that Soushu had never seriously learned many ninjutsu techniques—if they engaged in a ninjutsu duel, he'd be the one taking all the hits.
So once Hyuga Soushu closed distance with a [Jumping Slash], Madara found himself completely ensnared, forced into a grueling melee battle without chance of escape.
Moreover, as the battle progressed, the coordination between Hyuga Soushu and the two village Kage grew increasingly seamless, making things even harder for Madara.
Especially after White Zetsu Tobi, responsible for defense and acting as a chakra source, became critically injured, Madara's situation deteriorated rapidly!
"You forced my hand!"
Roaring furiously, Madara hurled Tobi away like a living shield to intercept the Third Raikage's next attack.
As soon as he flung Tobi off, Madara's true appearance was exposed before the three opponents.
"This..."
The Third Raikage had his back turned to Madara, so he felt nothing unusual—simply using Dual Iai: Penetrating Strike to slice half of Tobi's body clean off. But Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had personally fought Madara before!
And that battle had ended with him and his teacher utterly defeated by Madara!
Such deep-seated hatred had etched Madara's extremely arrogant posture and features permanently into his bones!
Though Madara showed obvious signs of age now, those fiercely violent and disdainful expressions around his eyes and eyebrows remained hauntingly familiar!
"It had been decades!"
Madara Uchiha, known as the Shura—once the uncontested tyrant of the Ninja World—remained an unshakable nightmare in Onoki's heart. To see that familiar face again, how could he not be shaken!
"The Mangekyo Sharingan!"
At that moment, Madara's eyes flared crimson-red. Then, they split into the Three-Comma pattern before swiftly merging and transforming once more.
Onoki shut his eyes tightly and instantly activated a Ninjutsu to lift himself into the air.
Even with the strength and bravery befitting the title of Tsuchikage, Onoki couldn't help but feel powerless before those suddenly blazing red eyes. This was the terrifying might of a divine monster feared across the Ninja World—before such unearthly power, even the firmness of the earth itself seemed helpless.
"Boom!"
Hyuga Soushu showed no mercy to the wrinkled old fool. Just as Madara struggled to glare fiercely, the torch pole slammed into his chest again.
Madara Uchiha spat out another three mouthfuls of blood.
Right after, the Third Raikage, having driven back White Zetsu Tobi—who had been reduced to just half a body—charged forward once more using Four-Finger Drill.
Though he didn't fully understand what that strange empty-shelled freak was, he certainly grasped the principle of capturing the enemy by first seizing its leader. Therefore, his immediate priority was to eliminate this enemy commander shrouded in mystery, whose mere presence instilled such fear in seasoned warriors like Onoki that they were forced to flee desperately.
"[Susanoo]!"
Madara Uchiha was about to unleash the ultimate secret technique of the Mangekyo Sharingan through his ocular powers.
But once again, the Third Raikage's spear strike and Hyuga Soushu's heavy blow struck him at the same time.
"Pfft!"
Straight through his chest, the Raikage pierced clean through. His right arm was shattered beyond repair.
To any ninja, such injuries would already be fatal.
"Ugh...ugh..."
Yet Madara Uchiha remained a peerless powerhouse. Despite everything, he still summoned his last bit of strength.
Then, dark-red flames surged forth, forcing Hyuga Soushu away from the front.
Next, an invisible force field blasted the Third Raikage backward with a direct hit.
As the black-red flames spread, the Third Mizukage's Kage cloak burned completely away.
From the Raikage's perspective, while being thrown back, he clearly saw six peculiar black column-like objects attached behind the current Mizukage, subtly connected underground, seemingly absorbing or releasing some unique energy.
Hyuga Soushu's Byakugan also saw this scene clearly.
Moreover, thanks to the [Watchtower Totem] previously planted in the underground cavern system, he noticed that the Six Paths Demonic Statue—which had long appeared lifeless—was beginning to tremble slightly.
"[Chakra Dragon]!"
In an instant, the eerie wooden statue spat forth a chakra dragon so solid it surged violently from beneath the ground straight toward Hyuga Soushu.
"[Jumping Slash]!"
Hyuga Soushu naturally refused to confront this bizarre chakra dragon head-on. But instead of scattering aimlessly to escape, he executed a tactical maneuver, launching himself directly behind Madara Uchiha.
Immediately, the torch pole came crashing down onto the black column-like object fixed to Madara Uchiha's back.
"Crack!"
The crushing blow made it seem to Hyuga Soushu as if his spine were breaking.
Yet the black pillar, composed of a mysterious force, remained unscathed.
Even so, Madara Uchiha had already lost the strength to defend himself after endless assaults.
His battered body teetered on the edge of collapse from the unrelenting attacks.
Even though power kept flowing from the Six Paths Demonic Statue into him, his physical strength was nearly spent, and he could barely sustain his life force any longer.
"This time, I was truly too arrogant,"
Madara realized his days were numbered as he felt his vitality rapidly draining away.
Fortunately, he still had an consciousness clone existing. Moreover, the grotesque face embedded in his chest continuously fed vital energy into his body. Yet despite this, the overwhelming situation was beyond redemption.
"Unexpectedly, it's actually you in the end,"
Feeling that familiar warmth inside him, Madara suddenly experienced a flicker of regret.
That piece of flesh he had painstakingly acquired from his dear friend Hashirama Senju long ago had now unexpectedly become his final lifeline.
Without the constant supply of vitality from that strange face on his chest—formed from Hashirama's cells—he would have already perished from life-force depletion at this moment.
"All these years, what exactly was I waiting for?"
Suddenly confused, Madara questioned himself.
But Hyuga Soushu interrupted his brooding, delivering another brutal blow to his back.
"Cursed Byakugan descendant!"
Madara snapped out of his thoughts, filled with frustration, and flew into a rage.
Immediately, he ordered the hidden White Zetsu underground to drag the Six Paths Demonic Statue away. At the same time, he recalled half-bodied Tobi to cover over his body. Simultaneously, he manipulated the Chakra Dragon to turn back around.
All targets were aimed directly at Hyuga Soushu!
[Genjutsu: Binding Stakes Technique!]
First, Madara unleashed a genjutsu to halt the Third Raikage's next assault.
Although ordinary genjutsu wouldn't significantly affect a powerhouse like the Third Raikage, the Mangekyo Sharingan was different!
Like a startled rabbit, the Third Raikage leaped high with shock!
Thus, the only remaining adversary now was Hyuga Soushu.
"I don't intend to live anymore!" Madara spat fiercely.
With his ultimate trump exposed, the Ninja World would certainly never allow him to go unpunished.
Neither the Four Great Hidden Villages nor other factions would remain indifferent toward the ultimate Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan. Moreover, he was now gravely wounded and approaching his last moments. Even if he somehow escaped, death would only be a matter of time.
"Better to die sooner than later!"
Hyuga Soushu swung his Torch Pole viciously, moving so fast it created afterimages.
"Then die with me!"
Madara roared.
The returning Chakra Dragon roared through the air toward Hyuga Soushu.
At the same time, Madara suddenly acted as if preparing to escape underground using Earth Release, assuming the posture of someone trying to flee.
Simultaneously, deep below ground, the Six Paths Demonic Statue was gradually dragged further down by the White Zetsus, slowly disappearing from Soushu's Byakugan vision range.
"You're not getting away!"
Hyuga Soushu couldn't quite predict Madara Uchiha's intentions, but he was certain about one thing—if this guy managed to escape right now, the consequences would be endless!
[Weapon Master!]
[Counter Storm!]
In an instant, Hyuga Soushu activated his ultimate skill and launched an attack straight into the path of the incoming Chakra Dragon aimed at Madara Uchiha!
"Puff!"
With a single strike, half of Madara Uchiha's body exploded into fragments!
At the same time, White Zetsu Tobi clinging onto him suddenly extended his claws, grabbing Hyuga Soushu's arm.
"Huh?"
Hyuga Soushu intended to use [Flash] for an emergency dodge, but that brief moment of hesitation caused by being grabbed slowed him down just enough.
"Boom!"
The Chakra Dragon crashed into him!
Immediately, his body started to wither—its chakra was entirely drained away by the Chakra Dragon!
For any ninja, total chakra loss meant only one thing—death!
"Good!"
Madara Uchiha, standing at the very last moment, couldn't help clapping in excitement.
Meanwhile, Third Raikage and Onoki were both shocked beyond words!
However, he had celebrated too soon.
Because after losing all power and seeing the Six Paths Demonic Statue gradually drift away, the Chakra Dragon immediately dissipated on the spot after hitting Hyuga Soushu. Madara Uchiha had barely enjoyed even a second of relief when suddenly, a glowing light enveloped the fallen body of Hyuga Soushu.
This unexpected phenomenon even stunned Madara Uchiha himself, who stood right beside it.
"You really thought I was dead, didn't you?"
Suddenly opening his eyes, Hyuga Soushu grinned at Madara Uchiha.
Especially within his once flawless Byakugan, shimmering starlight began to sparkle.
"What?!"
Madara Uchiha's mind went completely blank.
Can the dead come back to life?
He had never heard of the Hyuga Clan having a dojutsu ability like Izanagi!
Before he could think further, Hyuga Soushu thrust a palm straight toward his chest, shattering the face of Hashirama's reincarnated form!
"I am the immortal Hyuga!"
Hyuga Soushu made sure to add salt to the wound with a final taunt, "I am destined to become Lord of the Ninja World! And you..."
Even Madara Uchiha's already severely weakened body could no longer withstand the invading force of Hyuga Soushu's Gentle Fist, while White Zetsu Tobi was instantly drained of all energy, reduced to a tiny spore that fell underground and disappeared without a trace.
"Just another fool who got played!"
Hyuga Soushu abruptly surged his chakra, methodically destroying what remained of Madara Uchiha's withered body piece by piece.
"Heh..."
A strange expression emerged in Madara Uchiha's eyes.
He no longer even had enough strength left to activate Izanagi.
"Great treasures! Now they're mine!"
A rush of triumph surged through him. Hyuga Soushu lunged forward and savagely tore both Mangekyo Sharingan eyes from their sockets!
Then, Madara Uchiha's remaining corpse disintegrated completely into a puff of smoke, vanishing into thin air along with the wind.
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