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"Kiri!"
Almost the instant that figure appeared, everyone present directed their gaze towards him.
Namikaze Minato and Tsunade, among others, couldn't help but cry out.
It wasn't just them.
The moment Uchiha Madara was kicked away, even the countless colossal trees that were still continuously surging like tentacles, tearing the earth around them, stopped. It was as if time in that area had frozen for a moment.
Everyone's hearts, which had been in their throats, completely settled back into their chests the moment that figure appeared.
If there was anyone in the Ninja World in this era who could truly compare to the strongest in the world of the past, it was Sawara Kiri alone.
The faith forged by countless battle achievements, the lives of countless Ninja, and two powerful Jinchuriki, possessed such power.
Everyone present was watching him.
"Cough, cough..."
Sakumo struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. When he looked in Sawara Kiri's direction, a hint of relief couldn't help but appear in his eyes.
That student who once followed behind him had grown to such an extent.
However, Sawara Kiri didn't look at the crowd. Instead, he stared directly in the direction Uchiha Madara had flown.
He had left Megumi and the other troops behind, rushing from the front lines to this spot. It was clear he wouldn't be here for an opponent who could be dealt with by a mere kick.
"Crack."
As expected.
After only a moment, a series of rustling sounds of footsteps on dry leaves could be heard from within the dense undergrowth.
The moment that sound was heard, the noise in the arena paused again.
Clearly, that single strike just now was not enough to injure him.
"What an arrogant brat."
Uchiha Madara slowly stepped out from the trees, casually tearing off the tattered, dark cloak he was wearing to reveal the deep red Sengoku armor beneath. As he walked, the armor plates rattled with a clanking sound.
His expression was calm and composed as he brushed off a few specks of dust.
Upon seeing this, many Konoha Ninja behind him couldn't help but hold their breath.
They had all witnessed the power of that strike just now.
Even so, the opponent seemed completely unharmed?
What terrifying power did Susanoo possess?
Tsunade watched this scene, her fists involuntarily clenching for Sawara Kiri. She stared fixedly at the two standing opposite each other. Even if she wanted to go forward and help, she didn't dare to move rashly at such a time.
Although she had personally witnessed Sawara Kiri's crushing dominance against the Third Raikage, even the Third Raikage was merely an ant-like existence compared to this person. The impression her grandfather, the First Hokage, had left on everyone back then was too profound. No one dared to speculate on the true strength of Uchiha Madara, who had been able to fight him to the very end.
Furthermore, they had personally experienced that last round of combat.
Just a few playful punches and kicks, like a child's game, had rendered all their combined efforts helpless.
Could Kiri truly win?
At this moment, this thought couldn't help but arise in the hearts of the Konoha Ninja present.
Only Sawara Kiri remained unhurried, standing quietly, gazing at the tall figure opposite him with his azure eyes, a hint of teasing in his voice:
"Oh, oh."
"Lord Madara, could it be that you're already angry after just that much?"
Uchiha Madara, however, looked at the young man before him with a calm and indifferent gaze.
Even he hadn't expected that the Wood Clone he left on the front lines wouldn't even last this long, being instantly destroyed by this brat and forcing his return. This completely disrupted his original plan to first eliminate the Konoha Ninja, then cleanly and decisively deal with this 'threat' in a one-on-one situation with his full power.
However, it didn't matter.
He was Uchiha Madara.
Facing Sawara Kiri's teasing and mocking tone, he merely crossed his arms dismissively, his crimson Eternal Mangekyo fixed on him, his voice calm:
"What adult would get angry over being kicked by a child?"
"Rather, you, Sawara Kiri."
"Are you so elated just because you landed a sneak attack on this old man?"
He calmly met those azure eyes, his expression growing more serious:
"Are you ready to challenge this old man?"
Upon hearing this, Sawara Kiri suddenly curved his lips, extended a finger towards him, and said gently:
"Let me correct you."
"Uchiha Madara, you are the challenger."
The moment Uchiha Madara heard Sawara Kiri's words, his wrinkled, aged face seemed to unfurl slightly because of them, even his eyebrows rising as if in disbelief, before a ferocious smile spread across his face:
"Then let this old man witness it."
Almost the instant those words fell, both of their expressions became serious.
The next moment, no one present could catch sight of their figures. They could only see a blurred, roaring gust of wind, suddenly colliding in the center.
"Boom!"
Fists and elbows met.
A violent wind swirled in all directions, kicking up countless debris and dust, stinging the faces of those nearby.
So fast!
However, in the eyes of the two at that moment, only the other remained.
Sawara Kiri's azure eyes narrowed intensely, capturing Uchiha Madara's movements from a 360-degree perspective, while using the force of their collision to push forward instead of retreating.
He stepped forward, his elbow rolling like a dragon, forcefully breaking free of Uchiha Madara's elbow strike. At the same time, his entire body crashed into the center, reaching out to grab his shoulder armor. His forward-stepping foot was poised, the taut muscles and the inertia wrapped by compressed space combining into a force that seemed ready to strike his abdomen the next moment.
Uchiha Madara's Taijutsu was equally renowned. Before Sawara Kiri could grasp his body, the hand pressed against his waist had already struck, forcing open his outstretched wrist with the power of a rising dragon. His forward elbow strike, following the inertia of his body, pressed down, blocking Sawara Kiri's knee strike with a "bang" while using the force to spin around.
Even though he was still in mid-air, his core was already engaged, and a sharp whip kick, like a black lightning bolt, swept towards Sawara Kiri's temple.
"Clap!"
An immense force slammed into the raised arm. Although the Limitless was still active, there was no contact between the arm and his lower leg.
However, the force unleashed in mid-air alone caused a storm to rage, roaring and erupting behind Sawara Kiri, carving out a trench dozens of meters long.
In terms of raw power, every exchange between the two was probably no less powerful than Tsunade's full-strength Super Strength Punch.
Sawara Kiri's speed and reactions were astonishingly fast, further aided by the intuition provided by "Mind's Eye (Fake)", which immediately led him to unhesitatingly grab Uchiha Madara's ankle with a backhand.
A tremendous force instantly dragged Uchiha Madara's floating body downwards. Just as he was about to hit the ground, the opponent suddenly propped himself up with both hands at a speed too fast for the naked eye to perceive.
Immediately after, his two arms rotated.
The force generated by his twisting arms flowed into his core, causing his long legs to spin a full circle in mid-air. The moment he broke free from Sawara Kiri's grasp, he immediately slammed a practiced Konoha Great Whirlwind towards his side.
However, before that fierce kick could land, Sawara Kiri, having stepped half a pace forward, delivered a stomping side kick, striking Uchiha Madara's abdomen with a "bang" and sending his aged yet tall and upright figure flying straight back over ten meters.
This seemingly complex series of exchanges, in the eyes of onlookers, happened in less than a single second. The speed of their combat had already reached a point where their vision could barely keep up.
Only by hearing that final dull thud and seeing the crimson figure fly out could they discern who had gained the upper hand.
"So strong!"
Namikaze Minato stared intently at the scene unfolding before him.
If his previous impression of Sawara Kiri was only of his strength in Jutsu and research, then now, he completely understood: Kiri-kun's strength was all-encompassing.
"Boom!"
Uchiha Madara, spinning in mid-air, reversed his body, landing over ten meters away with the force of Sawara Kiri's side kick. Yet, he still calmly landed on the ground, squatting slightly to absorb the impact.
His crimson Eternal Mangekyo, as he looked at Sawara Kiri, couldn't help but show a hint of excitement.
Although his body was aged, the soul that burned with fighting spirit when facing a strong opponent had never decayed.
"Very good!"
"Since Hashirama's death, it has been a long time since anyone has made me so excited."
"However, Taijutsu alone is not enough!"
Almost the instant those words fell, everyone saw Uchiha Madara form hand seals, uttering in a low voice:
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
The moment Tsunade heard that voice, she immediately realized something and quickly waved to the people around her: "Everyone, spread out! Don't get caught by this Jutsu!"
Unlike Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, the pollen released by Advent of a World of Flowering Trees has a strong paralyzing effect. If Hashirama used it, even Uchiha Madara would not be immune.
If any of them were to fall here, it would greatly hinder Kiri's fight.
However, just as the group behind them began to retreat as ordered.
They saw Sawara Kiri, who was blocking them, also forming hand seals at some point.
The moment Uchiha Madara saw that hand seal, his gaze instantly narrowed.
Is that the Tiger seal?
You dare to use Fire Release against this old man?"
The next moment, Sawara Kiri shouted, "Crimson Blade Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
In an instant, the brilliant, scarlet, blood-red flames immediately covered everyone's vision.
The violently gushing scarlet flames, with a world-destroying momentum, swept mercilessly towards the earth where countless giant trees erupted, like a torrent, flattening everything that stood in their way.
The moment he saw the color of these flames, Namikaze Minato immediately thought of Sawara Kiri's Crimson Blade Ninjutsu, and his heart instantly trembled.
Perhaps it was because Sawara Kiri had reigned supreme in the Ninja World for too long with his invincible Limitless, that everyone had forgotten he was also a master of Ninjutsu, having pioneered his own Fire Release style.
He had always kept in mind those flames that could melt steel in an instant.
He never thought they could be applied to such a large area?
As if to confirm Namikaze Minato's conjecture, the massive Netherworld Fire, under Sawara Kiri's continuous expulsion, suddenly reached an extremely blazing and violent high temperature; the moment it was exhaled from Kiri-kun's mouth, it burned into a brilliant white light in the air.
When it burned the earth and trees, its momentum was even more unstoppable.
The crushing collision of fire and wood exploded into a continuous mass of pitch-black charcoal amidst a roaring sound.
As for the paralyzing poisonous powder gushing from the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, it was ignited and consumed by the super high temperature the moment it came into contact with the Netherworld Fire; even at a distance of a hundred meters, those around could clearly feel the heat scorching their hair and burning their skin, forcing them to protect their bodies with Chakra.
The collision, lasting several minutes, actually transformed a rectangular area several kilometers in circumference into a scorched land in one go.
The moment the Ninjutsu stopped, Sawara Kiri and Uchiha Madara looked at each other across the scorched ground, which was still emitting black smoke.
At this moment, even Uchiha Madara felt as if a fierce drum was beating in his heart, and an irrepressible excitement involuntarily appeared on his wrinkled, aged face.
"This Fire Release…"
"It's truly flavorful!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, he could no longer suppress his excitement when facing a strong opponent; he suddenly drew the Uchiha fan from behind him and shot towards Sawara Kiri.
However, Sawara Kiri merely drew the black blade from his waist and quietly looked at him.
Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face.
The Netherworld Fire ignited the blade.
In Sawara Kiri's clear blue eyes, an unusually brilliant light bloomed:
"Then I truly thank you."
"Madara-sama."
The next moment, Uchiha Madara's swung fan was already inches from his face.
However, Sawara Kiri's figure suddenly vanished.
'Shave'
Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind, carrying his figure, abruptly dissipated.
The moment Uchiha Madara swung down his fan, his heart immediately tightened.
Is it that spatial compression footwork again?
However, when his gaze swept over the scattered ashes remaining on the ground, he suddenly realized a slight difference.
Incorrect!
Almost at the instant this thought crossed his mind, his body sharply distorted in mid-air, and the Uchiha fan, like a great axe, swung towards his back.
It passed through an afterimage.
Uchiha Madara's gaze immediately narrowed.
"Here!"
The black blade, wreathed in scarlet flames, swung several times faster than the sound.
Sawara Kiri, stooping low, swept a single slash almost grazing Uchiha Madara's waist and abdomen.
"Screech—!"
The scorching sound of the blade and flames tearing through armor and abdomen was so jarring at this moment.
Although he had instinctively retreated half a step, Uchiha Madara could still clearly feel the excruciating pain as his White Zetsu armor and his aged abdominal muscles were severed.
However, this intense pain did not make him stop for a moment; instead, it made him smile with even greater excitement.
It's back!
He suddenly brought his fan down towards his figure.
In an instant, dust and smoke billowed.
Uchiha Madara's Eternal Mangekyo spun rapidly in his eye sockets like a flywheel, quickly capturing his figure, while simultaneously swinging his fan again to his side.
"Clang—!"
The collision between immense forces caused Uchiha Madara's feet to be pushed back several inches, his Ninja shoes grinding firmly into the soil, even dragging out some furrows.
The smile on Uchiha Madara's face became even more fervent.
It's all back!
Not gaining the upper hand in the contest of strength, he decisively delivered a side kick, using the momentum to fly several meters away, and formed hand signs again.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Flames, like meteors, shot out in clusters, chasing Sawara Kiri's constantly disappearing and reappearing figure, exploding into one scorched mark after another on the ground.
However, Uchiha Madara showed no sign of stopping due to his current age and decline.
In his heart, there was only boundless excitement.
The feeling of fighting Hashirama in those years, it had all returned!
Uchiha Madara never expected that this era could also produce Ninjas like them.
Within his decaying body, his blood seemed to be boiling.
The total amount of Yang Release Chakra infused into him by the White Zetsu armor was increasing, but it could never keep up with his consumption; Uchiha Madara's body instinctively urged this Chakra, wanting him to return to his peak era, so he could fight to his heart's content with this young man in front of him!
"Boom—!"
Another explosion of flames.
Catching the momentary flaw when Sawara Kiri floated in the air, Uchiha Madara's figure, like a shadow shooting across the ground, suddenly wielded the fan in his hand and swept it towards the direction he was about to land.
He completely failed to notice that his wrinkled face was gradually regaining the firmness and vitality of his youth.
At this moment, Uchiha Madara no longer cared about any plans.
He wanted to defeat this young man in front of him.
'Moonwalk'
However, just as Sawara Kiri was about to land, his foot suddenly stepped in mid-air, actually causing his body to rise several more inches in mid-air, while at the same time, the black blade in his hand ignited with flames, and his entire being rotated like a spinning vehicle, sweeping down with successive rounds of explosive scarlet fire.
"Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel!"
"Clang—!"
The flying, slashing wheel-blade collided with the suddenly raised fan, exploding into a continuous burst of blooming Hanabi.
Their figures separated.
They landed again.
That series of battles, whether it was the clash of Taijutsu or Ninjutsu, left all the Konoha Ninjas present dazzled.
No one had imagined that such a level could be reached just by relying on their bodies and Ninjutsu!
In just a few seconds of combat, the surrounding hundred-meter radius of earth and trees were completely torn apart by the two's extremely fast exchange, and even the spreading shockwaves caused many Ninjas to be unable to stand steadily.
In front of them, whether they were so-called Chunin or Jonin, they were all as fragile and naive as infants who had to learn to breathe first.
Even Jiraiya, the strongest in close combat among them, at this moment, had involuntarily released his Sage Mode, and along with Fukasaku and Shima, the two Sages, he held his breath, watching the scene unfolding before them, a wry smile appearing on his face.
No matter which of them he faced, he would probably be taken down in an instant, right?
This feeling of defeat, it's truly…
Are these the true monsters?
"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"
"Truly exhilarating!"
Looking down at the scorched marks on the surface of his fan, Uchiha Madara let out bursts of uncontrollable wild laughter.
His scarlet eyes stared intently at Sawara Kiri's figure, his fighting spirit reaching its peak.
"Kid!"
"Among all the opponents I've fought, no one is stronger than you, except for Hashirama!"
"I acknowledge you!"
"But…"
"How will you deal with this move?"
Almost at the instant his voice fell, a surging azure Chakra continuously constructed itself around Uchiha Madara, based on his ocular power, forming a terrifying giant hundreds of meters tall.
The Third Power: Susanoo!
Perfect Susanoo!
This giant, just by standing there, gave off an unyielding sense of pressure; with just a slight movement of its limbs, a violent, roaring gale would erupt around it.
However, facing this Susanoo, Sawara Kiri showed no sign of backing down.
He glanced at the Konoha Ninjas who had already retreated a sufficient distance, then looked back towards Uchiha Madara, and smiled coolly.
"This kind of toy…"
Sawara Kiri's clear blue eyes suddenly widened, his Six Eyes and Limitless abruptly pushed to their limit, erupting with a dazzling brilliance from deep within his body that was impossible to look at directly.
A pitch-black spherical domain suddenly spread out from his body.
"Watch me smash it in one go!"
Almost as soon as he spoke, Uchiha Madara immediately sensed the strong Yin Release Chakra reaction erupting from his body, and his expression couldn't help but harden as he fully activated the Susanoo around him.
'Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void'
The next moment.
The suddenly expanding spherical domain violently collided with the Perfect Susanoo.
Amidst their mutual crushing, a ripple erupted that caused everyone in the distance to tremble from head to toe.
The greatest sound is silence.
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