"Using Susanoo as armor for the Wood Golem Technique… your idea is truly impressive, Isamu!"
Looking at the Susanoo-clad Wood Golem before him, Indra gave his approval.
He understood the Wood Golem Technique very well. The technique possessed overwhelming offensive power, but its defensive capabilities were lacking. The Wood Golem itself did not have the all-around protection of Susanoo, and standing atop it exposed several weaknesses. However, Isamu had perfectly compensated for those flaws by using Susanoo as armor. The current Susanoo-clad Wood Golem was nearly flawless, and even Indra couldn't help but admire his ingenuity.
"This form of the Wood Golem Technique is more than just impressive. Its power has undergone a qualitative leap. In this state, I believe I can defeat you!"
Isamu floated before the Wood Golem's head, his eyes filled with confidence.
This wasn't as simple as one plus one equaling two. The fusion of Susanoo and Wood Release had elevated the Wood Golem to an entirely new level. Previously, Isamu couldn't compete with Indra in a pure Susanoo battle, but now the odds had shifted. He estimated he had at least a seventy percent chance of victory. While it wasn't enough for an overwhelming win, the scales were already tilting in his favor.
"Is that so? Defeating me takes more than words. Let me experience the strength of this form myself!"
Indra's purple Susanoo formed a second blade in its left hand and charged forward.
Isamu did not back down.
The two gigantic figures rushed toward each other.
BOOM!!!
The moment their blades collided, a terrifying hurricane exploded outward.
Trees several meters thick were uprooted and hurled through the air. The entire basin looked as though the end of the world had arrived. Violent shockwaves ravaged the landscape, and the ground continued collapsing under the pressure of their clash.
From the moment Isamu revealed Wood Release, to Indra's Complete Body Susanoo, and now the battle between two seven-hundred-meter giants, Ōtsutsuki Karura had been standing with her mouth hanging open in shock.
"Big Brother is actually using almost all of his power…"
She stared blankly at the battlefield.
"This Uchiha Tensei not only possesses Susanoo and Wood Release, but his strength is practically on par with Big Brother's. Where did this monster even come from?"
Originally, she had only encouraged the duel for fun, hoping to see what kind of person Isamu really was.
She never imagined things would escalate this far.
"No… if this continues, they won't just alter the landscape. The disturbance may even attract Second Brother, Ashura. If these two monsters joined forces… forget one Ashura—even two of him might not be enough to stop them."
Just as Karura was about to intervene, the voices of the two combatants stopped her.
"Well done, Isamu!"
Indra laughed loudly as his twin blades locked against those of the Susanoo-clad Wood Golem.
"You are the first person besides Ashura who has forced me to become this serious. You truly haven't disappointed me!"
His eyes widened with excitement.
"Come on, Isamu! Show me everything you've got! Surpass me if you can! Stop me!"
Feeling the immense pressure behind Indra's blades, sweat formed on Isamu's forehead.
He recalled the so-called prime Senju Hashirama he had fought decades ago.
Compared to Indra, that Hashirama was nothing.
The genius of the third generation of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline truly deserved his reputation. The power released by Indra's Complete Body Susanoo far surpassed that of ordinary Susanoo users. Even with the Susanoo-clad Wood Golem, Isamu found it difficult to overwhelm him.
"Although I, Isamu, am not the protagonist of this world…"
His hands pressed together.
"The conviction of the strong has never left me!"
"As long as that conviction remains… my power will never break!"
With a roar, he unleashed even more Chakra.
The eyes of the Wood Dragon coiled around the Wood Golem suddenly lit up.
ROAR!!!
The Wood Dragon shot forward like lightning and slammed directly into Indra's chest.
Caught off guard, Indra's Susanoo was sent flying.
BOOM!!!
The colossal figure crashed into a mountain over a thousand meters tall.
However, before the dust had even settled, Indra had already changed tactics.
The twin blades vanished.
In their place appeared an enormous bow.
Without hesitation, he drew the bowstring and fired.
A three-hundred-meter Chakra arrow streaked through the sky.
Isamu barely had time to react before the attack struck him.
BOOM!!!
His Susanoo-clad Wood Golem was blasted backward, crashing into the earth.
Meanwhile, within the mountain headquarters of the Ninja Sect…
Ashura suddenly opened his eyes.
The collision of such overwhelming energy could not escape his senses.
"One of those Chakra signatures belongs to Indra…"
He frowned.
"But who does the other one belong to?"
As far as he knew, he was the only person in the world capable of matching Indra.
The possibility of Isamu possessing such power had never crossed his mind.
"Who could it be…?"
At that moment, one of his subordinates rushed inside.
"Lord Ashura! A powerful energy disturbance has appeared in the direction of Indra's territory. What are your orders?"
"I know."
Ashura nodded.
"Tell everyone in the Ninja Sect not to act recklessly. I'll investigate personally."
"Lord Ashura, please be careful. It may be a trap set by Indra."
"Don't worry."
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"No trap in this world can hold me."
With that, Ashura disappeared toward the battlefield.
Back on the battlefield…
Looking at the giant bow in Indra's hands, Isamu frowned slightly.
"So you've changed your fighting style. As expected of you, Indra. Even after being knocked away, you instantly adapted and launched a counterattack."
"Heh."
Indra chuckled.
"Of course."
"How else do you think I've fought Ashura all these years?"
"Without enough skill, I would never have been able to suppress that brat."
Isamu sighed inwardly.
Poor Indra.
He still didn't realize that Ashura had been holding back all along.
Isamu could clearly sense it.
The power hidden within Ashura was greater than Indra's.
Their countless draws weren't the result of equal strength.
They existed only because Ashura had never fought with killing intent.
The proud genius before him remained completely unaware of that fact.
In a way…
It was a tragedy.