The two voices faded as the stone spheres, already several dozen meters in diameter, shattered violently. A massive wooden figure, over two hundred meters tall and clad in blue armor, appeared before them. Wings extended from its back, and a Great Tengu mask covered its face.
Hashirama and Madara were positioned on the diamond-shaped brow of the mask. Hashirama's hands were clasped together, while Madara transferred chakra to his shoulders.
"Madara, I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Hashirama said with an embarrassed smile.
Madara scoffed, turning his head away arrogantly. "Hmph. It's just that this Impure World Reincarnation body is too weak."
Hearing this, Hashirama's smile faltered as Madara continued.
"But you're not wrong. You really did hold me back. If I'd known you had Wood Release: Wood Human Technique and True Several Thousand Hands, I wouldn't have wasted my chakra on you!"
Regarding Hashirama's Wood Release, Madara only knew up to the Wood Dragon Technique. He couldn't learn the Wood Human Technique or True Several Thousand Hands just by watching Hashirama use them, even with the Sharingan. After all, Hashirama's other ninjutsu were simple—just a few hand seals and he could summon whatever he wanted. Those were easy to analyze and copy.
But these two techniques represented Hashirama's peak power. They required several hand seals, and even Madara couldn't memorize them instantly. Not to mention, True Several Thousand Hands required Sage Mode energy to perform.
However, Madara could still use an incomplete Wood Human Technique, though not as powerfully as when he had the Nine-Tails' body. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to use the Nine-Tails' body to form the Armored Susanoo. Wouldn't a complete Susanoo paired with an equally powerful Wood Human form be more appealing?
Hearing Madara mention his Wood Release, Hashirama shook his head with a pained expression. "You guys who use my cells are truly terrifying…"
Just as they spoke, the giant Susanoo leaped and landed in front of the fleeing one-armed Sasuke.
The one-armed Sasuke hurriedly retreated, barely dodging being crushed by the giant Susanoo.
"Susanoo and Wood Release… the combined power of the two strongest beings of this era?" he muttered. "Fortunately, my chakra in this world is exactly the same as mine. It's just a pity… if Naruto Uzumaki were here too…"
Feeling the immense pressure, Sasuke didn't intend to fight the giant Susanoo. Instead, he turned his head and focused his gaze on the rocks in his peripheral vision.
But before he could activate Amenotejikara, the Susanoo stepped forward, blocking his view.
"Boy, do you really think we couldn't see through your eye technique?" Madara's voice echoed. "You actually think you can escape with this? How incredibly arrogant!"
As Madara's voice rang out, a massive fist the size of a small mountain sliced through the air, crashing down with a piercing roar.
BOOM!!!
Bodies flew everywhere, the earth shook violently! With a single blow, the ground seemed to have been struck by a meteorite, instantly creating a huge crater. Dense cracks stretched for hundreds of meters like a spider web.
Watching this attack so easily alter the terrain, Hashirama couldn't help but call out a warning. "Madara, hold back! Menma said he wants to capture him alive!"
Because Madara's strength far surpassed his current level, he was controlling the Susanoo.
Hearing Hashirama's words, Madara looked disdainful. "Hmph, has your standard of living declined along with your strength? This young Uchiha of unknown origin isn't as weak as you imagine!"
As if confirming Madara's words, suddenly, beneath the Susanoo's unretracted, mountain-like fist, a purple aura burst forth and rapidly expanded, rising layer by layer. It directly pushed the Susanoo's fist upward, forcing it above its head.
It was none other than Sasuke's Complete Body — Susanoo, also with wings on its back, reaching a height of two hundred meters—the Lightning God Susanoo!
On the Lightning God Susanoo's forehead, Sasuke was bleeding from the corner of his mouth, panting heavily. The moment that punch landed on him, he activated his Susanoo at top speed to defend. However, even this most ordinary punch was beyond the power of his partially activated Susanoo. Thankfully, he gritted his teeth and persevered, managing to fully activate his Susanoo after taking damage.
"The First Hokage's Wood Release combined with Madara's Susanoo… it's truly an overwhelming force," Sasuke thought, breathing hard. "Hopefully, Boruto will behave this time, escape, and return to our world."
Sasuke knew he couldn't escape. Now, he only hoped Boruto wouldn't act rashly and would quickly escape this bizarre world.
Across from him, staring at the gigantic Lightning God Susanoo that was no weaker than his own, Hashirama's eyes widened in astonishment. "Such height and chakra… another powerful ninja no weaker than you or I at our peak. Madara, it seems our era has truly passed."
"Passed?" Madara burst into laughter. "Hahaha…"
He suddenly controlled Susanoo's hands, reaching for the hilts of the swords at its sides. "Then let me see if this future generation can produce another powerful figure as exciting as Lord Menma!"
With those words, the twin swords at his waist were suddenly drawn. Terrifying energy erupted from the blades, and a whistling ring of air instantly swept out. Accompanied by the crossed blades, it struck directly at the chest of the Lightning God Susanoo.
Sasuke, positioned between Lightning God's eyebrows, reacted swiftly, quickly drawing his twin swords to parry.
Clang! Clang!
As the four crossed blades clashed, a deafening metallic clang resounded. At the same time, the terrifying energy from the collision erupted in all directions. The ground within several kilometers was completely cleaved into pieces, and distant mountains were instantly severed in half, bursting into blinding flames.
Along with this earth-shattering power, the Lightning God Susanoo, which had blocked Susanoo for about two seconds, still couldn't withstand the attack. It was sent flying backward, carving a deep furrow in the ground.
Susanoo didn't pause after its successful strike. It leaped high again, blade tip pointing downwards, aiming for the Lightning God Susanoo. The Lightning God Susanoo, disregarding its dignity, rolled away like a donkey to dodge, but it was still struck in the left wing by the blade tip and torn off.
"Sasuke-san!!!"
Boruto, running and glancing back to check the situation from a distance, clenched his fists as he saw Sasuke steadily losing ground. He desperately wanted to go back and help, but he knew his strength was completely insufficient to intervene. Besides, Nagato and a pale-faced young Sasuke were relentlessly chasing after him.
After only a moment's thought, Boruto made up his mind and turned to run towards the direction of Menma.
"This world's father isn't what Mr. Sasuke said; it's all a misunderstanding!"
Boruto intended to explain the whole story to Menma, whom he considered his father, Naruto Uzumaki. As for Sasuke's warning and his words telling him to run away, he had already forgotten them. If he, Boruto, were obedient, would he still be called a filial son and disliked?
---