Uchiha Itachi appeared on the training ground a short while later. He looked at Hashirama Senju with a serious expression.
Hashirama Senju was also looking at him at the same time, without speaking. To be able to unleash this level of power at the age of fourteen, Uchiha Itachi had already surpassed the fourteen year old version of himself.
Uchiha Itachi waved his right hand. A red Susanoo enveloped his entire body. It roared towards the sky, "Roar."
The roar of the Susanoo was extremely intimidating, causing Hashirama Senju at this moment to pause involuntarily, as if recalling the scene of his first great battle with Uchiha Madara on the battlefield back then. One person controlling a Wood Human, the other wielding a Susanoo, fighting until the sky went dark and the earth turned dim.
Uchiha Itachi manipulated the Susanoo. Its left hand held the Chixiao Sword, its right hand held the Sword of Totsuka. At this moment, he had transformed from the sword and shield form into the dual sword form. In the next moment, he turned into a red meteor, charging towards Hashirama Senju to engage in battle.
The Sword of Totsuka in its right hand thrust forward, aiming straight for the Wood Human's head. In the next moment, the Wood Dragon soared out again, coiling around the Wood Human, and charged towards the Sword of Totsuka. The Sword of Totsuka possessed great sealing power, yet did not lose its sharpness. It pierced through the Wood Dragon's head.
The Wood Dragon, as if not feeling any pain, continued its forward charge. The Sword of Totsuka erupted with a golden radiance. Chains flew out, carrying sealing power to bind the Wood Dragon.
Then, Uchiha Itachi, piloting the Susanoo, withdrew the Sword of Totsuka. The Wood Dragon, bound by the golden chains, lost its ability to fly and heavily crashed to the ground, raising a billowing cloud of dust.
The more the Wood Dragon struggled, the tighter the chains imbued with sealing power bound it. Only when the Wood Dragon's chakra was completely exhausted, turning it into a lump of useless wood, did it vanish.
Hashirama Senju manipulated the Wood Human to run wildly towards Uchiha Itachi. Uchiha Itachi had just activated the Sword of Totsuka's skill and could not yet use its sealing power again. Therefore, he placed the Sword of Totsuka in front of him as a shield. Red Susanoo chakra continuously surged upwards.
The Wood Human roared and threw a punch, striking the blade of the Sword of Totsuka. The sound of clashing metal rang out. Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo was forced back twenty meters. At the same time, the tremendous force transmitted to his right arm made him question reality.
For such a powerful entity as the Susanoo to be shaken by a single punch was one thing, but how could the force that transmitted through even after dampening still be so strong when it reached his body.
If it weren't for Uchiha Itachi's diligent and unwavering training over the past ten years, which had built a solid foundation, that single punch just now would have been enough to knock both him and the Susanoo over.
Hashirama Senju fell silent. Just now, he too thought Uchiha Itachi would be broken by this strike. But the current result made him sigh again involuntarily at Uchiha Itachi's strength.
Uchiha Itachi's eyes turned sharp. He looked at Hashirama Senju, preparing to fight again. Ryun Uchiha used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear between the two of them. A golden Susanoo rose from the ground, immediately assuming its complete form.
It spread its arms. Huge golden chains bound both the Wood Human and the red Susanoo. "Enough, the outcome is decided." Ryun's sudden appearance caught both Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Itachi off guard.
Their techniques were completely sealed, making them fundamentally unable to execute them. Moreover, this sealing power even transmitted through the techniques to their own bodies, instantly immobilizing them both in place.
Uchiha Madara, who was observing the fight, smiled. He hadn't expected his eldest grandson's power to have reached yet another level. What truly unmatched talent.
Uchiha Izuna sighed. It seemed the younger generation really was surpassing the older, leaving them behind in the dust. The current Ryun was probably only comparable to the legendary Sage of the Six Paths.
(The soul of the Sage of the Six Paths: *Yawn*. I feel like someone is muttering about me behind my back.)
Uchiha Ju was puzzled. "Can the Sage of the Six Paths catch a cold too?" She asked the wisp of soul power within her. The Sage of the Six Paths remained silent.
Training Ground
Ryun extended both hands. He looked at Uchiha Itachi and smiled. "You won. Hashirama Senju used nearly sixty percent of his power. The moment he summoned the Wood Human, he had already lost."
Hashirama Senju's face darkened. He looked at Ryun and snorted. As long as Ryun didn't say it, and others didn't say it, how could Uchiha Itachi possibly know he had used sixty percent of his power.
Besides, Ryun cheated by giving such a powerful divine weapon to Uchiha Itachi. So, using a bit more of his own power should be acceptable, right.
It was completely unfair.
Uchiha Madara, seeing Hashirama like this, used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before him. Then, with both hands, he grabbed the chains on Hashirama's body and pulled. Crack.
The chains shattered with the sound. Hashirama Senju grinned and immediately hugged Uchiha Madara. "Madara, I knew you were the best. Not like that grandson of yours."
Hashirama Senju began to mutter and complain to Uchiha Madara about Ryun, saying this guy had no martial virtue, resorted to sneak attacks, deception, and theft.
Uchiha Madara just looked at him, nodding his head from time to time. If you asked for his opinion, he would just say "Ah, right, right, right." And Hashirama Senju, completely unaware that Uchiha Madara was humoring him, talked more and more enthusiastically.
Uchiha Izuna held his head. He really didn't understand why a natural airhead like Hashirama possessed such formidable power, even being able to steadily suppress his own brother during the Warring States Period.
Ryun looked at Uchiha Itachi. Seeing that he had calmed down, Ryun snapped his fingers. "Alright, recall the Susanoo. Keeping this thing active for too long is bad for your body."
After speaking, Ryun activated Samsara, restoring the ocular power and chakra Uchiha Itachi had consumed during the fight.
Uchiha Itachi nodded. He was very obedient, especially since Ryun was Uchiha Ju's father. He definitely needed to perform well.
Uchiha Itachi handed the Chixiao Sword to Ryun. Ryun thought for a moment. "You use this sword for now. When I need it, I will come to you." After speaking, Ryun patted Uchiha Itachi on the shoulder.
Then he turned to look at Hashirama, who was currently being very clingy towards a man, and the corner of his mouth twitched. No wonder everyone said if either Hashirama or Uchiha Madara had been gender swapped, there would have been no place for Uzumaki Mito, and presumably Uchiha Madara also wouldn't have left Konoha.
Watching Hashirama Senju stick to Uchiha Madara like he was acting cute, Ryun couldn't help but let his thoughts wander. Uchiha Madara maintained his aloof demeanor, observing the situation between Uchiha Itachi and Ryun. When he saw the two finish their conversation.
He used a Substitution Technique, dodging Hashirama's embrace, and simultaneously moved towards Ryun. Hashirama was stunned. Why did the feeling in his arms suddenly become so much harder? He opened his eyes and saw that the Uchiha Madara in his arms had turned into a wooden log.
The corner of his mouth twitched. Then he released the log. This awkwardness also restored his rationality, and he walked towards Ryun.
Uchiha Izuna flashed to Uchiha Madara's side, looking at Uchiha Itachi.
"The fight here is over, time to go back. We've been out for ten minutes already. Any longer and Tsunade and Rou Rou will notice something is off." After speaking, Ryun had everyone place their hands on his body.
Then he instantly activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting everyone present back to the Hokage's villa. Just as the group appeared inside the villa, the next second the door was pushed open.
Uchiha Ju walked in and saw the five people inside. Her eyes lit up, and she rushed towards Ryun. "Daddy, hug." Ryun immediately perked up. His face beamed with a joyful, reddish glow as he smiled. "Okay." Then he crouched down, picked up Uchiha Ju in his arms, and lifted her up.
The Sage of the Six Paths within Uchiha Ju opened his eyes and looked at Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara. For a moment, his eye sockets grew slightly moist. He called out in his heart, "Indra, Asura..."
At this moment, a wave of sorrowful emotion arose from within both Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara. They simultaneously looked towards Uchiha Ju, feeling somewhat strange.
The Sage of the Six Paths could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down his aged face. Then he projected his image, appearing within the Hokage's villa.
At that moment, Ryun suddenly froze. Sensing the powerful soul energy, he held Uchiha Ju protectively in his arms and looked towards the projection.
"Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of the Six Paths?" Ryun suddenly frowned.
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, hearing Ryun speak his name, withdrew his gaze fixed on Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara and looked at Ryun. Then he nodded.
"The Sage of the Six Paths?" Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara were puzzled. They looked at Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki also turned his benevolent gaze towards the two of them.
Suddenly, the figures of Asura and Indra overlapped with the two of them.
"May I ask why the Sage of the Six Paths has come to my villa?" Ryun saw that Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's gaze, looking at Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju, held benevolence.
He immediately understood. At this moment, he was looking at the reincarnations of his two sons, recalling sad memories.
"Nothing, I just wanted to see what kind of remarkable youth managed to bring peace to the millennium long conflicts of the shinobi world." Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki smiled, answering Ryun's question.
Ryun rolled his eyes. This old guy really wasn't being honest. He was clearly here to see his sons, but insisted on saying he came to see a great contributor like himself.
"Have you finished looking, old man? If you have, then please leave quickly." Ryun waved his hand.
The corner of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's mouth twitched. Indeed, Ryun was still this infuriatingly cocky attitude, making people furious and wanting to hit him. If only his physical body hadn't been destroyed, he would definitely have a clash with Ryun.
Hashirama Senju, however, wore a grave expression. "Ryun, the Sage of the Six Paths appearing suddenly must mean he has something important to say. Moreover, he is a senior elder. We should respect him."
The corner of Ryun's mouth twitched. Classic you, big pillar. With your personality and this accepting nature, no wonder Uchiha Madara left you back then, and the Five Great Nations only obeyed you superficially, not in their hearts.
Uchiha Madara didn't speak. He just stared at the Sage of the Six Paths' phantom. For some reason, an indescribable rage arose in his heart. His Mangekyō Sharingan instantly activated.
However, this time it wasn't his usual Mangekyō pattern, but a hexagram star shape.
Seeing this Mangekyō, Uchiha Izuna was stunned. What was going on? Why had his elder brother's Mangekyō pattern changed? And why had the aura of his chakra become so gloomy.
The originally blue chakra had now turned purple. Uchiha Madara's expression held anger as he looked at the Sage of the Six Paths.
The Sage of the Six Paths was stunned. Seeing these Mangekyō, his mouth opened, trembled, but ultimately no words came out.
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