Chapter 259: Madara, I, Uchiha Yasushi, Will Call You the Strongest
The intense light gradually diminished. Everyone's vision slowly returned.
Two titan-like Susanoo stood pressed close together, their weapons mutually piercing each other's bodies.
The Armored Susanoo gripped its blade with both hands, stabbing through the crystal position of the crimson Susanoo's head—completely penetrating the skull front to back.
Yasushi within naturally had the massive blade pass through his body as well. But judging from his leisurely composure, he'd suffered no damage whatsoever. His body had transferred into the Kamui dimension.
The crimson Susanoo's spear had likewise pierced the Armored Susanoo's mask but failed to penetrate the Tailed Beast's skull. Instead, it embedded into an enormous sand and stone shield, stopping directly before Madara.
The Shukaku Shield—Tailed Beast-level defensive protection.
After breaking through the Armored Susanoo's defense, the crimson Susanoo's spear lacked force to breach Shukaku's Shield. It only penetrated halfway before losing forward momentum.
"Hahahaha..." Madara threw his head back in triumphant laughter. "Looks like I've won!"
"Heh. Not necessarily!"
Yasushi sneered coldly. The Kamui Mangekyo hidden beneath his clothes began rotating slowly. A spatial vortex suddenly appeared behind Madara.
Yasushi's timing proved impeccable—precisely when Madara believed he'd secured victory. At this moment, Madara's vigilance stood at its lowest.
But Madara's reactions were extraordinarily fast. The instant he detected the spatial vortex, his body instinctively fled that location.
All reflex training beaten into him by that bastard Tobirama!
Unfortunately, Kamui differed from Flying Thunder God. Kamui itself possessed tremendous offensive capabilities.
No matter how fast Madara reacted, he still got caught by Kamui.
Rip! Madara's Edo Tensei body was immediately torn apart—losing nearly half.
This time, Yasushi's turn came to laugh wildly.
"Hahahaha..."
"Madara, your performance was excellent. I, Uchiha Yasushi, will call you the strongest!"
"But unfortunately, compared to me, you still fall half a step short!"
"If not for your Edo Tensei body preserving your life, you'd already be dead!"
"Ahahahahahahahaha..."
"Tch!" Madara's expression darkened. Extremely displeased, he snorted and dismissed the Armored Susanoo.
He wasn't someone who couldn't accept defeat. He wouldn't make excuses like "Edo Tensei immortality means it doesn't count as losing."
He simply felt annoyed that before even deploying the Rinnegan's numerous abilities, Yasushi's dojutsu had caught him off-guard.
"You bastard, you..."
The moment Shukaku regained freedom, it erupted furiously, pointing at Madara ready to curse. But Madara's dark glare silenced it immediately.
"You... you..."
Shukaku fumed for some time but ultimately didn't dare provoke Madara. It glanced around, wanting to flee but fearing being captured midway with no rescue.
After much consideration, it decided only Yasushi treated it well. So it scurried back toward Takumi Village's side, burrowing underground—this time not even showing its head.
'If I don't make eye contact, how can you control me?'
Seeing the titan battle's outcome decided, spectators on both sides simultaneously breathed sighs of relief.
The pressure had been overwhelming!
Either combatant possessed capabilities to crush entire villages. Tension was inevitable.
But now that hostilities ceased, new problems emerged. How should they coexist with these two behemoths?
Takumi Village's side erupted in celebration. As for Konoha Village's side...
Kazuma felt profoundly unwilling, but he'd already attempted every method—none could convince Hashirama.
Hashirama resembled a stone in a latrine pit—both smelly and hard, extremely stubborn. Nothing worked on him.
He'd tried approaching the Second, but Tobirama—being so shrewd—looked down on his type completely. Tobirama wouldn't even spare him a glance, ignoring his words entirely. When sufficiently annoyed, he'd deliver scathing verbal abuse.
No choice remained. Kazuma had to target the Third again.
He'd dealt with the Third before, understanding his personality fairly well. Knowing this person was relatively easy to talk to, he pressed:
"Lord Third, the First and Second have forgotten they're Konoha Village members, refusing to contribute. You won't shirk responsibility too, will you?"
"Aren't you called the 'Strongest Hokage'? Now's your time to shine."
"Quickly display your divine might and boost village morale!"
The Third's aged face reddened. He didn't dare raise his head to meet his teacher's peculiar expression. Lowering his head submissively, he mumbled:
"Skills... inadequate... skills inadequate..."
Kazuma had fought alongside the Third before—understanding his capabilities perfectly. He harbored no hope of sudden miraculous improvements. So he pleaded instead:
"If you can't personally engage, at least devise a solution! How should Konoha Village overcome this crisis?"
"You wouldn't be as carefree as the First, willing to dissolve Konoha Village, would you?"
"Well..." The Third immediately grew troubled.
Though he'd died, the Sarutobi clan hadn't been completely exterminated!
During Konoha Village's previous destruction, Yasushi had controlled the Nine-Tails to fire a Tailed Beast Ball at Sarutobi clan territory, nearly wiping them out.
But due to wartime conditions, many clansmen had been evacuated from clan grounds. Numerous shinobi were fighting enemies elsewhere, absent from the compound.
Post-battle tallies revealed considerable Sarutobi survivors.
Through subsequent battles, the Sarutobi clan had indeed suffered heavy casualties. They no longer qualified as a major clan. But minor clans were still clans!
How could the Third bear watching his remaining bloodline descendants get devastated by Uchiha Yasushi?
But with insufficient strength, what could he do?
How could he have known this Uchiha Yasushi would prove so monstrously powerful? Did that mean every previous engagement, he'd been holding back?
Considering this, the Third suddenly conceived an idea. He exchanged meaningful glances with Kazuma before approaching Hashirama.
"Well... Lord First, regarding the Uchiha clan matter—that was my error. I'm willing to accept all responsibility."
"However, for the village's peace, could Lord First discuss reconciliation with Lord Yasushi?"
The Third understood clearly—if he negotiated reconciliation with Yasushi, it definitely wouldn't succeed. He lacked the standing!
But if the "God of Shinobi" negotiated reconciliation with Yasushi, matters might prove feasible.
If the First could beat Yasushi first, then negotiate reconciliation, success rates would increase significantly.
Even if Yasushi ultimately refused, at least the village had demonstrated peaceful intentions, extending the olive branch first. With the First's simple nature, he'd surely forgive them.
Then if Yasushi attacked again in the future, they could simply summon the First once more. Surely even if reluctant, the First wouldn't allow their annihilation, right?