Uchiha Madara had to admit...
Akihara Kagura indeed possessed power worthy of pride.
This kid from a branching line of the Uchiha bloodline wagered the perseverance of several generations, even over a dozen generations, to finally have power surpassing everyone in the Ninja World!
Even...
In this battle, I find myself at a disadvantage.
"I must admit..."
Uchiha Madara clenched his fist and praised, "Hashirama was right about one thing, you brat have truly surpassed him, and I even have an illusion of failing, something I never felt even when fighting Hashirama..."
"Maybe it's not an illusion."
Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Madara, praising his opponent, "Mr. Madara, until now, you're the only one who poses a bit of a challenge to me. If there were four more of you, it might actually be troublesome..."
"So you can see the shadow of Limbo..."
Uchiha Madara chuckled lightly, immediately catching the undertone of Akihara Kagura's words, and he became curious about the powers of Kagura's Rinnegan: "I'm quite curious, your pair of Rinnegan are the accumulation of generations, how wondrous are its powers really..."
"If you want to know..."
Akihara Kagura raised his fingers, his eyes slightly flickering: "Why not give it your all and dance to please me, perhaps then you'll have a chance to see it..."
"Then let me try!"
The pupils of Uchiha Madara shone with madness!
The shadows of four Limbo clones followed right behind him, charging alongside him, instantly surrounding Akihara Kagura!
This was the most terrifying lineup in the entire Ninja World!
Five powers of Uchiha Madara besieging one person, and even among them, the four Limbo clones were half visible, but in the current Ninja World, only Akihara Kagura could trace their presence!
Five figures flitted around Akihara Kagura!
At this moment, the battle finally reached its climax!
Akihara Kagura's body swiftly dodged, grabbing one Limbo clone's shadow and hurling another one away with a toss!
The next instant!
Uchiha Madara raised his palm!
An immense gravitational force instantly pulled Akihara Kagura upward!
The four Limbo clones simultaneously conjured Yin-Yang Release Black Rods, about to pierce through Akihara Kagura's body. At this critical moment, Akihara Kagura's figure used Flying Thunder God Jutsu to instantly appear behind Uchiha Madara!
"Flying Thunder God Jutsu..."
Uchiha Madara immediately located Akihara Kagura through his Limbo clones, crouching low and kicking hard at Kagura behind him!
Akihara Kagura's arms instantly crossed together, with lava gushing forth from them, forming a lava wall in front to deflect the attack!
In the nick of time, as Uchiha Madara's feet met the lava wall, he flipped forward, pressing a palm against the ground and spinning his body back upright!
Even so...
Uchiha Madara's feet were still scalded by the lava.
But with Senju Hashirama's body transplanted, Madara's robust regeneration made such small injuries negligible!
The next moment!
Uchiha Madara swiftly clasped his hands together!
The four Limbo clones matched his movements!
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Five meteor-like fireballs hurled toward Akihara Kagura!
"Lava Release: Lava Wall!"
Akihara Kagura clasped his hands suddenly!
Under his control, the Lava Release Chakra gathered like a Water Release: Water Array Wall, forming a wide circular water wall that intercepted the Great Fire Annihilation!
The meteor-like fireballs were instantly doused by lava!
"Sage Art: Lava Release: Rasen Shuriken!"
Akihara Kagura raised his palm, the lava from Lava Wall swirling in his hand and forming a giant Rasen Shuriken glowing with lava firelight!
"Impressive..."
Uchiha Madara immediately sensed the threat of the Rasen Shuriken: "Even Rinnegan can't absorb that Chakra in time..."
The Rasen Shuriken flew over abruptly!
Uchiha Madara decisively sent one of his Limbo clones to block it, the Limbo shadow immediately activating Susanoo to try and stop the attack!
Accompanied by a deafening explosion that echoed through the heavens and earth, a pillar of lava shot skyward!
People within a hundred kilometers or more could see the lava pillar piercing the sky, like a terrifying volcanic eruption!
At the edge of the battlefield.
A group of Konoha Ninja were utterly shocked!
They were the closest to the action, having the clearest sense of Akihara Kagura's Lava Release: Rasen Shuriken's power!
"Absolutely terrifying..."
Kakashi Hatake felt a lingering fear.
The massive Rasen Shuriken's destructive power was so immense, even one was enough to obliterate Konoha!
In the Root Ninja's direction.
Karin used her Kagura Heart Eye to perceive the battlefield, unable to see the Limbo shadows of Uchiha Madara, but able to see Akihara Kagura's power!
"As expected of Lord Kagura..."
Karin's face was flushed with excitement.
"The battle isn't over yet..."
Senju Tobirama coldly scolded Karin and said sternly, "Currently, both Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Madara are the strongest ninjas, and they pose the greatest threat to the Ninja World. It's best if they perish together in this battle..."
This was Senju Tobirama's genuine thought.
Even though Senju Tobirama was powerful, he couldn't determine their victor, only Senju Hashirama had the qualification to judge their strengths.
"Madara..."
"Might lose."
Senju Hashirama's brow showed a hint of concern.
Although his old friend's character is also quite extreme, Uchiha Madara is still much more temperate than Akihara Kagura, and he is the only one who might be able to stop Akihara Kagura...
But...
Akihara Kagura's performance was still relaxed and unrestrained.
In contrast, Uchiha Madara was already fighting with full power!
Uchiha Madara knew very well that his Limbo clones could not fight outside for long. They needed to return to the Rinnegan for recuperation after fighting for a certain period or after being defeated...
That recuperation time for the Limbo Shadow...
Could be the moment when he would lose to Akihara Kagura!
Because Uchiha Madara had already confirmed in the previous battles that in terms of Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and even in the regular encounters such as Susanoo, he was at a disadvantage. The only thing he could rely on was the ability of the Rinnegan!
Four Limbo clones appeared at the same time...
This was already Uchiha Madara's strongest form!
However...
The battle had only just begun...
A Limbo clone was directly hit by a Rasen Shuriken...
Uchiha Madara had to hastily recall that injured Limbo Shadow, allowing it to return to his Rinnegan for recovery!
Uchiha Madara, with three Limbo clones, launched another simultaneous attack, the four figures continuously besieging Akihara Kagura, releasing Ninjutsu non-stop, forcing Akihara Kagura to expose a flaw in his Taijutsu defense!
"Fire Release: Great Flame Song!"
Huge dragon-headed fireballs were rushing headlong toward Akihara Kagura.
While Akihara Kagura was battling the Limbo clones, the moment the four dragon-headed fireballs were about to hit him, his figure utilized the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to reappear beside Uchiha Madara, avoiding the Great Flame Song!
"Flying Thunder God again..."
Uchiha Madara slightly furrowed his brow.
If nothing unexpected happened, it should be from their first Taijutsu clash when Akihara Kagura left a Flying Thunder God Mark on him...
However...
This time is different!
Uchiha Madara's figure, as if anticipating this, raised his hand to strike Akihara Kagura's chest, a Black Rod condensed in his palm!
The next moment!
Uchiha Madara's body suddenly froze in place!
"I can't move..."
Uchiha Madara looked at his palm and the Black Rod in his hand, unable to move, inexplicably rigid and stationary!
"Is this... Shadow Possession Jutsu?"
Uchiha Madara's eyes instantly narrowed, immediately identifying the Jutsu, surprised that the Nara Clan's shadow could still control a ninja of his caliber.
"When light is born, shadows follow behind..."
Akihara Kagura raised his palm, and the shadows on the ground suddenly came to life like flowing water, the huge shadow cast by the overcast sky descended like a living creature!
Everything present...
Was already under Akihara Kagura's control through the shadows!
This was Akihara Kagura's [Light and Shadow] trait upon becoming a Jonin!
The Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu was controlled to perfection by Akihara Kagura, and though controlling Uchiha Madara for only a short time, that time was enough!
Uchiha Madara furrowed his brow, observing the constantly shrinking shadow on the ground: "The Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu... you've actually controlled it to such an extent... at the start of the battle, you had already set up the shadows in advance..."
"I just don't want to get hurt..."
Akihara Kagura's Rinnegan gazed at Uchiha Madara before him, speaking softly: "If you don't want to get hurt in battle, you have to learn a bit of elegant combat art..."
Akihara Kagura raised his palm, snapping Uchiha Madara's Black Rod in half and reversing it to thrust toward Uchiha Madara's chest!
Bam!
A Limbo clone was summoned directly over!
Even though Uchiha Madara couldn't move, he could still instantly switch places with the Limbo Shadow!
The swapped Limbo clone was immediately stabbed through the chest with the Black Rod in Akihara Kagura's hand, forced to return to Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan for recuperation!
This short time...
Was enough for Uchiha Madara to break free from the shadow's restraint!
As soon as Uchiha Madara broke the restraint, he took a deep breath, still gasping for air, with only two usable Limbo clones left, standing in front of him...
However...
Akihara Kagura did not give him time to breathe!
"Sage Art: Lightning Release: Chidori!"
"Sage Art: Dust Release: Rasengan!"
Akihara Kagura extended his hands, a silver-glowing Chidori formed in one, a combination of the Chidori and Sage Art, while a white-light glowing Rasengan, a fusion of Dust Release and Sage Art Chakra, appeared in the other.
The next moment!
Akihara Kagura's body turned into a beam of golden light, rushing straight toward Uchiha Madara's two Limbo clones, the two Sage Arts instantly destroying the Limbo clones!
"This guy..."
Uchiha Madara watched with wide eyes as his Limbo clones were destroyed, a trace of shock and disbelief appeared in his eyes, feeling this moment exceeded his understanding!
"To be able to use two different Ninjutsu at the same time, condensing different Chakra within, and both Jutsus possess terrifying power..."
Moreover...
The most terrifying thing was...
These two Jutsus that could threaten anyone, even Jutsus that even Uchiha Madara didn't dare to counter, were merely a casual strike by Akihara Kagura.
This guy...
Had even more terrifying cards in play!
Uchiha Madara fully realized a problem, his Rinnegan ability had been thoroughly broken, his trump card already torn apart by Akihara Kagura...
"Mr. Madara..."
Akihara Kagura gently spread his hand, lightly clasping his fingers, as if holding everything within his grasp: "Now, you can start to escape..."