"Excellent taijutsu."
When Madara Uchiha saw Ryūjin effortlessly evade his attack, a trace of admiration flickered in his eyes.
It seemed that Obito had not exaggerated. This man truly possessed strength capable of rivaling Hashirama Senju.
"Madara Uchiha?"
When Kurenai Yuhi heard that name, her expression changed instantly.
That name carried immense weight within Konohagakure. Even though Madara had betrayed the village, he was still one of its founders alongside the First Hokage.
At the Valley of the End, his towering statue still stood opposite Hashirama's, symbolizing their equal standing.
But Madara had been dead for years.
So why was he here now?
Kurenai also noticed the strange cracks covering his body. He did not look like a normal living person.
"Kurenai, head back first. This senior from our clan has something to discuss with me," Ryūjin said casually, as if none of this concerned him.
There was no worry in his expression.
With his current strength, dealing with Madara was no longer a problem.
"Ryūjin…" Kurenai hesitated, concern evident in her eyes.
Madara's reputation alone was enough to unsettle anyone. Even though Ryūjin had defeated Hashirama, the weight of Madara's name still lingered.
After all, even Hashirama had died not long after defeating him.
"Don't worry," Ryūjin said, giving her shoulder a light pat. "Just go."
Kurenai paused, then nodded. She knew she would only get in the way. With a swift Body Flicker Technique, she disappeared.
"Now, speak. What do you want, Madara?" Ryūjin asked, his tone flat.
Madara stood arrogantly before him.
"First, your reason for targeting the Tailed Beasts. Second, hand over the Eight Tails and Nine Tails."
He paused briefly, his gaze cold.
"As for what happens to you, that depends on your answer."
Ryūjin let out a long, mocking laugh.
Then he looked directly at Madara, his expression showing pure mockery.
"An outdated relic, don't embarrass yourself."
Madara's eyes narrowed.
"Arrogant brat."
In an instant, he rushed forward.
Clang, clang, clang.
Their clash erupted immediately, the sound of impact echoing as the two engaged in fierce close combat.
After only a few exchanges, Madara's expression shifted slightly.
This man… was matching him completely.
Not only that, Ryūjin was pushing him back.
Swish, swish, swish.
Several Anbu Black Ops appeared nearby, drawn by the disturbance. The moment they saw the battle, they froze.
"That face… Madara Uchiha?"
Shock spread among them.
"Everyone, fall back," Ryūjin ordered as he disengaged briefly.
This level of battle was beyond them.
Then he glanced at Madara.
"I won't hold back inside the village. I'll be waiting at the Valley of the End. I beat Hashirama there. I'll beat you there too."
With that, he vanished.
Madara scoffed and disappeared as well.
---
News spread quickly through Konoha.
Madara had returned.
And Ryūjin had challenged him at the Valley of the End.
No one could stay calm.
One ninja after another rushed toward the battlefield.
---
By the time they arrived, the fight had already begun.
The two figures moved too fast to follow, clashing again and again, their speed leaving afterimages.
"So that's Madara…"
Only the Hokage could stand against someone like that.
"Fire Style, Great Fire Annihilation."
Madara unleashed a massive sea of flames that spread across hundreds of meters.
The watching ninjas were stunned.
Such a scale should not exist in Fire Style.
Ryūjin's eyes shifted to the Rinnegan.
"Preta Path."
The flames rapidly shrank and vanished, completely absorbed.
Madara's expression hardened.
Then suddenly, Ryūjin disappeared.
Madara's instincts flared.
A moment later, Ryūjin appeared right in front of him, a Rasengan already formed.
Madara reacted instantly, activating the Rinnegan and raising both hands to block.
The energy was absorbed, but the impact still forced him back.
"You rely on tricks," Madara said coldly.
"Yeah, and you're still getting hit."
Ryūjin's eyes shifted again.
"Kamui."
An invisible force twisted toward Madara's head.
Madara abandoned defense immediately and flickered sideways, barely avoiding it.
But the Rasengan still struck.
Boom.
He was slammed into the ground, rolling across the battlefield.
The surrounding ninjas were stunned.
Madara… had been knocked down.
Madara rose slowly, his expression dark.
"You're worth fighting," he admitted.
Then he clapped his hands.
"Wood Style, Deep Forest Emergence."
The ground shook violently as massive trees erupted outward.
Ryūjin barely reacted.
His eyes turned into the Tenseigan.
A golden blade formed in his hand.
With a single swing, the forest was cut apart instantly.
The slash continued.
Madara's head separated from his body.
It fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Had Madara just been killed?
But ash gathered.
His body regenerated.
"So, how was that?" Ryūjin said, smirking slightly.
Madara's expression turned grim.
Without another word, his Sharingan spun.
A massive Susanoo formed, towering over a hundred meters tall.
It charged forward, sword raised.
Ryūjin didn't move.
He simply lifted his golden blade and swung once.
A single streak of light cut through the Susanoo.
It split cleanly in two.
Madara's body split along with it.
The Susanoo shattered.
Madara's severed body fell from the sky.
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
Madara had been defeated again.
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews
(Leave a review/comment)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100
Power Stones.
◇ Read 80 | 100 chapters ahead on [email protected]/_Zeph