When a shinobi who already stood at the pinnacle of the Ninja World opened the Eight Gates and multiplied their strength several times over, just how terrifying would they become?
The answer was standing right there.
After taking Hayashi's kick head-on, Uchiha Madara was blasted into the ground. His body skidded across the battlefield, carving a massive trench hundreds of meters long and over ten meters deep.
Madara looked utterly battered.
His body was soaked in blood, and his right arm was gone. The devastating kick had torn straight through the right side of his torso, leaving a gruesome hole.
For any ordinary shinobi, such an injury would have been fatal.
Even this outcome had only been possible because Madara activated Shinra Tensei at the final moment, using its repulsive force to shift the impact just enough to avoid a direct hit.
Otherwise, that kick would likely have blown his head apart.
The saying that the "final kick almost ended the story" was no exaggeration.
Leaning against the wall of the crater, Madara coughed up blood. His remaining left hand covered his mouth, yet blood continued to seep through his fingers.
Despite his condition, he burst into laughter.
"I almost died, you bastard!"
Blood trickled from the corner of his lips as he laughed even harder.
"So this... is what pain feels like. Hahaha!"
He looked directly at Hayashi.
"I acknowledge you. Of everyone who has ever fought me, no one surpasses you in Taijutsu alone."
"I, Uchiha Madara, recognize you as the strongest!"
Although gravely wounded and visibly weakened, the ripple-patterned Rinnegan still shone with a frightening brilliance.
Madness.
Obsession.
Ruthlessness.
Whether it was Hashirama, Tobirama, or anyone of the current generation, none possessed such an overwhelming presence.
That was simply who Uchiha Madara was.
He lowered his hand, allowing blood to drip onto the sandy earth.
Thin wisps of white smoke began rising from his body as his injuries slowly healed.
Among all shinobi, the greatest regenerative ability belonged to those who had reached the realm of the Six Paths.
The Six Paths represented a level beyond ordinary shinobi, and extraordinary regeneration was one of its defining traits.
Just as in history, even the fully opened Eight Gates had failed to kill Six Paths Madara outright, allowing him to recover in a remarkably short time.
However, the current Madara had not yet reached that level.
Although awakening the Rinnegan had elevated him to the threshold of Six Paths power, he had yet to become a true Six Paths being.
Even so, he had already fused Hashirama's cells with Nagato's Uzumaki body.
While his regeneration could not compare to his future Six Paths self, it had already surpassed even Hashirama's legendary healing.
Within seconds, Madara struggled back to his feet.
Still, Hayashi's kick had inflicted far too much damage.
His natural recovery alone was not enough.
Fortunately, he had another source of vitality.
A White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Lord Madara," it said with an ingratiating smile. "You seem to be in quite a miserable state."
Madara snorted.
Without hesitation, he sliced off the White Zetsu's arm with his hand and attached it to his own missing limb.
The replacement fit seamlessly.
He then placed his palm atop the White Zetsu's head.
The white smoke surrounding him thickened considerably, accompanied by faint crackling sounds.
Using the Rinnegan's power, Madara forcibly absorbed the White Zetsu's life force to accelerate his recovery.
Moments later, nearly eighty percent of his injuries had healed.
Rather than charging back into battle, he remained where he stood.
His gaze settled on Hayashi.
"Rinnegan?"
"Yes," Hayashi replied calmly. "The Rinnegan."
Madara frowned.
"Where did you obtain those eyes?"
He found it almost unbelievable.
He had spent decades painstakingly awakening the Rinnegan.
Yet Hayashi had achieved it at such a young age.
It was absurd.
Hayashi smiled faintly.
"I awakened the Rinnegan the same way you did."
Madara nodded slowly and sighed.
"To reach this point, strength, fortune, and opportunity are all indispensable."
"I never imagined someone of your generation would produce a shinobi like you."
Silence lingered between them before Madara spoke again.
"Since you awakened the Rinnegan, you've read the Six Paths stone tablet beneath the Uchiha Shrine."
Hayashi nodded.
Madara studied the young Uchiha before him.
The more he looked, the more Hayashi reminded him of someone from long ago.
"Do you wish to become a Six Paths Sage? To attain true immortality... and bring genuine peace to the world?"
"Of course I do," Hayashi answered with a smile.
"Then join me."
Madara extended his hand.
"Together, we can cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Long ago, he had made the same offer to Hashirama.
Hashirama had rejected him without hesitation.
Now, he extended that invitation once more.
Hayashi merely sneered.
"Oh? Just like your partnership with Fugaku?"
Madara smiled faintly and shook his head.
"You are different from Fugaku."
That much was true.
Hayashi possessed strength equal to his own.
Fugaku never had.
Hayashi replied calmly.
"Of course I'm different from Fugaku."
"But in my eyes, you and Fugaku are exactly the same."
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Hayashi chuckled.
"Nothing. I was simply thinking."
"You keep talking about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but how can you be certain it isn't nothing more than an illusion?"
Madara answered without hesitation.
"Whether it's an illusion or reality can only be known after it's cast."
He casually brushed away the drifting dust.
His expression grew cold.
"You are the descendant of an old acquaintance and have awakened the Rinnegan. I thought you would make a worthy ally."
"Since you refuse... then so be it."
Hayashi met his gaze.
"It's not that I refuse to cooperate."
"You have your ideals."
"I have mine."
"We simply walk different paths."
Madara scoffed.
"Just like Hashirama."
"So stubborn."
Hayashi laughed softly.
"Whether I'm stubborn doesn't matter."
"But there is one thing I need to tell you."
"This era no longer belongs to you."
"I've already reserved a place for your grave beside the First Hokage's."
"So..."
"It's time for you to die."
Madara remained silent.
Perhaps it had been too many years since anyone had dared speak to him like that.
For a brief moment, he became strangely reflective.
He had never visited Hashirama's grave.
He had never imagined either of them would truly die.
Even death itself could be overturned with the power of the Pure Land.
Still...
If one day he were buried beside Hashirama, perhaps that would not be such a terrible fate.
The thought vanished as quickly as it came.
Madara looked at Hayashi once more before glancing toward Konoha in the distance.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, one that could have been regret, amusement, or perhaps both.
Their conversation had served a purpose.
Madara had been buying time to recover.
Hayashi had been quietly gathering natural energy.
When Hayashi opened his eyes again, black markings had spread across his face.
"Sage Mode."
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"The same Sage Mode as Hashirama."
He looked genuinely impressed.
"Is there anything you can't do?"
"Probably not," Hayashi answered without a trace of false modesty.
Madara nodded.
"I see."
"Without Sage Chakra... I'm still at a disadvantage."
The instant he finished speaking, he vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Jiraiya.
Before anyone could react, both of his hands clamped down onto Jiraiya's head.
A look of pure satisfaction spread across Madara's face.
Power flowed continuously into him as he began absorbing Jiraiya's Sage Chakra.
=≠=
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