Chapter 357: Hurting My Feet
"What is this?" Guy asked, looking at the white mass in confusion.
"Since our opponent is immune to ninjutsu, I knew your Taijutsu would be the key. I got this good stuff from Orochimaru specifically for you. Stop talking and hold still."
Tonbo Tobitake's hand hovered over the white matter, surrounded by a swirl of emerald chakra.
"Yang Style: Life Return."
He slammed his palm against Guy's chest. The white matter began to dissolve, seeping bit by bit into Guy's sternum.
Kakashi's eyes widened. "Such intense life force."
"Those are Hashirama's cells, aren't they?" Minato Namikaze noted. As a Hokage, he was well aware of that specific line of research.
"Exactly. Orochimaru's research into Hashirama's cells is now quite thorough. This was specially prepared for this moment."
Gradually, the cells integrated into Guy's body. Tonbo had a deep understanding of the Eight Inner Gates; after becoming the Acting Hokage, he had researched them extensively and discussed them at length with Guy.
The Eight Gates within the chakra pathway system are objective realities. Opening the Gate of Death normally burns away the user's entire life force. Tonbo had spent a long time thinking about how to "close" that gate. His research suggested it would take a force dozens of times stronger than the Gate of Death itself to force it shut, or—as Naruto did in the original timeline—using a powerful surge of Yang energy to sustain the body's vitality before the soul departed for the Pure Land.
This concentrated mass of Hashirama's cells was his insurance policy. It ensured that after the Gate of Death was exhausted, Guy's body would remain intact and his life preserved. It was far more effective than a temporary surge of Yang energy. At the very least, once the Fourth War ended, Guy would be able to return to his original self, likely with even greater vitality.
Hashirama cells truly were a miracle.
"Come! Let me see your full power!" Uchiha Madara laughed maniacally at Guy. He had noticed Tonbo's actions, but he didn't care. He had surpassed the Sage of the Six Paths; he was fearless.
"What incredible vitality... Gate of Death, Open! Watch me burn the last of my youth!"
Guy stepped forward, massive amounts of chakra converging at the Gate of Death in his chest.
BOOM!
In an instant, blood-red steam erupted. The sheer pressure of the released chakra pushed the surrounding air away. Minato, Kakashi, and the others could barely keep their eyes open.
"Alright, I'm in too. Sage Art: Instant Release!"
Tonbo wanted to see how he measured up against Six Paths Madara without relying on "bugged" ninjutsu like Enforced Execution.
Boom!
Black light flickered, intertwining with Guy's crimson aura. With his body evolved to its current state, Tonbo could finally withstand the full output of his Phantasm-Taijutsu combined with Sage Art. The data he had harvested from the Ten-Tails made his physical structure even more resilient. The combined power of the two men caused the very air around them to warp and distort.
"Such powerful Taijutsu..." Minato watched them, his face filled with amazement.
Kakashi thought to himself: I didn't realize even his Taijutsu had reached this level! Tonbo exceeded his expectations every single time.
"Go for it, Guy-sensei! Tonbo-sensei!" Lee shouted. Seeing them so dominant, he almost wanted to charge in with his own developed move. But knowing it couldn't compare to the Eight Gates, he had to suppress the urge.
"Evening Elephant!"
Before the onlookers could even blink, Guy had lunged.
Bang! Bang!
Even Madara could only barely keep up with the rhythm, using his Six Paths staff to block Guy's kicks.
"One Thousand Years of Death!"
At that moment, Tonbo lunged forward with his fingers held together, treading on the air like an arrow. He aimed for a very specific target on Madara's person.
Swish!
The Truth-Seeker Orbs transformed into a shield, blocking Tonbo's strike. It seemed the "Thousand Years of Death" carried even more concentrated force than the Evening Elephant. However, because Madara focused on Tonbo, Guy managed to snap one of the horns off Madara's head with a kick.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
It was a total beatdown. Tonbo's feet were a blur, repeatedly stomping into Madara's face. Red and black lights flashed, suppressing Madara so heavily he was forced to rely entirely on the Truth-Seeker Orbs for defense.
"Come on! Of all those I have fought, you are the strongest in Taijutsu!" Madara roared with laughter. To his Six Paths body, this level of damage was acceptable.
Is a Six Paths body really this tough? Tonbo thought as he attacked. His Taijutsu strikes felt like hitting high-density rubber—they landed, but they didn't have a decisive effect.
Ultimately, his Phantasm-Taijutsu hadn't been developed to the same absolute peak as the Eight Inner Gates' life-burning power. Even at full strength, Tonbo's attacks only left two footprints on Madara's face, which healed almost instantly.
Stats can't beat "broken" mechanics... the thought rose in Tonbo's mind again. He had originally developed this Taijutsu for the specific purpose of fighting Six Paths Madara if his ninjutsu failed, but it wasn't quite enough. Thankfully, his ultimate moves were still iterating and evolving, otherwise he'd be in a tight spot.
"Tonbo, I'm going for the big one! Get ready to finish it!" Guy crouched low, his chakra beginning to pool.
Vroom!
"Understood," Tonbo whispered.
"This chakra... I acknowledge you! You are the strongest Taijutsu user I have ever seen!" Madara laughed like a man who had just lost his mind.
The dragon emerged.
"Night Guy!"
BOOM!
Space itself distorted. Speed became a blur. Even the Alliance members miles away felt the shockwave of energy.
Bang!
Madara was sent flying three thousand meters. By utilizing the distance and the warping of space, he managed to bleed off most of the force. Even so, half of his torso had vanished. However, flesh began to sprout immediately, knitting his missing body back together.
Guy collapsed to the ground, his skin glowing a terrifying, molten lava color.
Thump! Thump!
At that moment, the Hashirama cells Tonbo had sealed within him began to pulse. Vitality spread from his chest to his extremities. The neural threads Tonbo had placed on Guy began to distribute this life force—prioritizing vital organs first, then general cellular repair. Slowly, the charred flesh began to recover. Guy's shattered leg bone was set straight by the neural threads and healed by the surge of vitality. His chakra was gone for now, but he would live.
Swoosh!
A black flash blurred toward Madara, stomping down on him.
Boom!
Madara raised his staff with his remaining hand, blocking the strike. "It's over. That was your last bit of strength," Madara laughed. He looked at Tonbo, clearly not seeing him as a threat anymore.
"Tch. I just didn't want to get my hands dirty, otherwise you'd be finished by now," Tonbo muttered, clicking his tongue. That Six Paths staff was incredibly hard.
It's really hurting my feet.
"Sage Art: Storm Release Light Fang!"
Slash!
Bang!
Tonbo dodged the sudden beam of light spat from Madara's mouth, retreating to a safe distance.
"Tonbo-sensei, leave it to me."
Naruto suddenly appeared, launching a Sage Art: Rasenshuriken. He left Tonbo with a view of his back. Madara's body had fully recovered, and he nimbly dodged Naruto's attack—only to find Sasuke, wielding the Kusanagi sword, appearing right behind him.
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