Chapter 556
Madara vs. Hashirama
Outside of the Akatsuki organization's base.
A desolate, rocky area.
Two figures stood facing each other, a hundred meters apart.
The resurrected body gleamed a pale white in the moonlight, but the two monstrous chakra surges caused a gust of wind to rise nearby.
Madara Uchiha.
Hashirama Senju.
"spot."
The impure Hashirama Senju opened his mouth.
"Does it really have to be this way?"
Hashirama Senju couldn't understand why Madara Uchiha would seek him out for a sparring match under such circumstances.
"Hashirama."
Madara Uchiha spoke.
"I just want to fight you one more time."
Madara Uchiha stretched out his hand, which was covered with cracks from the Edo Tensei.
The same applies to Hashirama Senju on the opposite side; both of them are currently in Edo Tensei form.
The war has now begun.
Madara Uchiha plans to spar with Hashirama Senju.
"We've never competed like this before, have we?"
Madara Uchiha smiled slightly.
Hashirama Senju was always his greatest rival during his lifetime.
"You're still the same, Madara."
Hashirama Senju said, "What you want to do, you must do."
Madara Uchiha's lips curled slightly as he spoke:
"You too, Hashirama."
The two looked at each other.
At that moment, it felt like I had traveled back decades.
We returned to that Valley of the End.
They returned to the place where they fought their last battle.
"Let's begin."
Madara Uchiha.
His hands formed a mudra.
Blue chakra surged from his body.
The chakra burned like a flame, rapidly condensing and taking shape.
First the ribs.
Then comes the spine and the skull.
Next comes flesh and blood, and meridians.
Finally, there's the armor.
Susanoo... Complete Form!
The chakra giant stood tall on the earth.
It was covered in heavy armor, had huge wings on its back, and two longswords made of chakra hung at its waist.
Madara Uchiha stood on the head of Susanoo, looking down at Hashirama below.
"Hashirama!"
His voice was like thunder.
Hashirama Senju raised his head.
He looked at the enormous Susanoo, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"spot!"
Hashirama Senju also called out Madara Uchiha's name.
Then he put his hands together in prayer position.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
A major earthquake occurred.
Countless thick tree roots burst forth from the ground, rapidly intertwining, merging, and growing.
An equally enormous wooden figure rose from the ground.
Its height is comparable to that of Susanoo, and its entire body is made of the hardest wood, with its surface covered with dense tree patterns.
Hashirama Senju stood atop the wooden doll, facing Madara Uchiha from afar.
"Come on, Madara!"
Hashirama Senju shouted.
A red light flashed in Madara Uchiha's eyes.
The "Complete Susanoo" moved.
The giant sword slashed down.
That sword strike carried the power to split mountains.
The wooden figure raises its right arm.
boom!
The sword clashed with the arm, producing a deafening roar.
The shockwave spread outwards, shattering all the rocks within a hundred meters.
A deep crack was cut into the wooden figure's arm.
But the next moment, those cracks healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
At the same time, the wooden figure's left fist was already thrown out.
"Perfect Susanoo" turns to the side.
The force of the punch grazed its armor and slammed into the rock wall behind it.
Rumble!
The entire rock face collapsed, and rubble rained down.
"It's not over yet!"
Madara Uchiha growled.
Susanoo's other sword also fell.
Two swords strike simultaneously!
Hashirama Senju narrowed his eyes slightly.
The wooden figure raises both hands simultaneously.
He parried a sword with one hand.
boom!
boom!
Two loud explosions rang out almost simultaneously.
The combined shockwaves created a massive crater hundreds of meters in diameter on the ground.
The wooden figure's arms were slashed with deep wounds.
But it still didn't collapse.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
Hashirama Senju formed hand seals again.
Two enormous wooden dragons burst forth from behind the wooden figure and coiled around the body of the "Complete Susanoo".
The wooden dragon opened its mouth wide and bit down on the armor of the "Complete Susanoo".
They are absorbing chakra!
Madara Uchiha frowned slightly.
"Such a petty trick..."
Madara Uchiha snorted coldly.
In that instant, the wooden figure's fist arrived.
boom!
A punch landed squarely on the chest of the "Complete Susanoo".
The "Perfect Susanoo" took three steps back.
Each step shattered the ground.
Madara Uchiha steadied himself, a look of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Hashirama!"
Madara Uchiha shouted again.
The wings of the "Complete Susanoo" unfold.
A colossal chakra giant soared into the sky.
Then, it swooped down.
With two swords in front, it was like a meteor falling to earth.
Hashirama Senju looked up.
He looked at the enormous figure descending from the sky, and a fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
The wooden figure throws out both fists simultaneously.
Bombard upwards.
boom!!!
Two extremely powerful forces collided in mid-air.
At that moment, the world lost its color.
The shockwave swept everything away.
The rocks within a radius of one kilometer were all shattered, the ground cracked, and a huge circular crater was formed.
Even the Akatsuki base in the distance was trembling slightly.
At the entrance to the base.
Several figures stood there, watching the battle from a distance.
Kisame Hoshigaki carried Samehada, his shark-like face unusually serious.
"This is... the legendary God of Shinobi?"
Orochimaru stood beside him.
His eyes also showed shock.
"Susanoo... Wooden figure..."
Orochimaru licked his tongue.
"If such power were used against us..."
Orochimaru didn't finish speaking.
But everyone understood what she meant.
If such power were used against the Akatsuki, they probably wouldn't even have a chance to resist.
Kakuzu's four masks rotated simultaneously, staring intently at the two enormous figures in the distance.
A glint of greed flashed in his eyes.
"If only we could get their hearts..."
But he quickly shook his head.
Such an opponent is not someone he can covet.
Hidan licked his lips.
"Evil God..."
Hidan muttered to himself.
"Such offerings should satisfy you, right..."
But he was just saying it.
If he actually went up there, he would be crushed instantly.
Scorpion sat inside the Hiruko puppet, watching silently.
Something was flashing in his eyes.
Obito stood at the forefront, his single eye beneath the mask surveying the battlefield.
His fists clenched.
This is the power of Madara Uchiha.
Even if it's just Edo Tensei, it's enough to crush them all.
And Qing Si...
That man is stronger than Ban.
A complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
"Someday..."
In the distance, the battle continues.
Susanoo and the wooden golem collided wildly under the moon.
Every encounter caused an earthquake.
Every collision changes the color of the sky and earth.
That was a legendary battle.
It is a realm inaccessible to mortals.
The giant sword of the "Perfect Susanoo" slashed down again.
The wooden figure met the attack with its fists.
boom!
Another collision.
The shockwave spread again.
But this time, neither of them backed down.
They remained locked in a stalemate, swords clashing with fists.
Chakra was burning wildly.
"Hashirama!"
Madara Uchiha shouted.
"You're still as strong as ever!"
Hashirama Senju looked at him.
"spot!"
Hashirama Senju also shouted loudly.
"the same as you!"
The two looked at each other.
At that moment, they all remembered many years ago.
It reminded me of fighting side by side when we were young.
They remembered their shared dream of building Konoha together.
"pity……"
"Uchiha Madara said softly."
"What's a pity?"
Hashirama Senju asked.
Madara Uchiha paused for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"nothing."
He said.
The power of Susanoo erupted once again.
The wooden figure was pushed back a step.
But Hashirama Senju also exerted his power at the same time.
The wooden figure unleashed another punch.
boom!
boom!
boom!
They collided countless times.
Until their impure bodies began to collapse.
The enormous chakra giant slowly dissipated.
The wooden golem also began to disintegrate. The creation of Wood Release shattered into countless fragments, scattered all over the ground.
Two figures fell from mid-air.
It fell on the ravaged land.
The body, resurrected through the impure world, was covered with cracks.
But they remained standing.
Standing opposite each other.
"happy."
Madara Uchiha said.
A smile played on his lips.
That was Hashirama Senju's familiar smile.
That was the smile Madara Uchiha would show after each sparring session when they were young.
Hashirama Senju smiled too.
"Yes, that felt great."
Hashirama Senju.
The two of them stood there.
The moonlight shone on them.
"spot."
Hashirama Senju opened his mouth.
"Ok?"
"Are you really going to help that Otsutsuki Isshiki fight Kiyoshi?"
Madara Uchiha was silent.
Then he nodded.
"Yes."
Madara Uchiha.
"why?"
Hashirama Senju asked.
"Just because that man threatens your ideals?"
Ban looked at him.
"Hashirama."
Madara Uchiha.
"You still don't understand."
Hashirama Senju frowned.
"What don't you understand?"
Ban turned around, his back to him.
"That man is different from us."
Madara Uchiha.
"His power has transcended the realm of ninjas. What he seeks is not the kind of peace we understand."
He paused.
He will change everything.
"Including Konoha?"
Hashirama Senju asked.
Ban remained silent.
"Including Konoha."
He finally spoke.
Hashirama Senju's brow furrowed even deeper.
"Konoha is our dream, and yours too. Are you willing to watch it be changed?"
Ban did not turn back.
"Hashirama."
Madara Uchiha spoke.
"Konoha is no longer the Konoha we used to know."
His voice was very soft.
“It changed after you died.”
Hashirama Senju remained silent.
He watched Ban's retreating figure.
That figure looked somewhat lonely.
"spot……"
He wanted to say something.
But Ban had already walked away.
"Next time we meet, we'll be enemies."
Ban's voice came from afar.
"Hashirama, take care."
His figure disappeared into the night.
Hashirama Senju stood still.
After a long while, he sighed softly.
"You..."
he murmured.
"Still so stubborn."
He looked up at the moon in the sky.
The moon was the same as it had been decades ago.
But the people are different now.
…………
Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village)
evening.
When Kiyoshi and Hikaru Uchiha returned to the village, the sun was setting.
The clouds on the horizon were dyed orange-red, and the Fire Shadow Rock gleamed warmly in the setting sun.
"I'm back."
Qing Si said.
Uchiha Hikaru stood beside him and nodded slightly.
"Ah."
A faint blush graced her face, whether from the journey or something else, it was hard to tell.
The two walked on the streets of Konoha.
The streets were bustling in the evening.
Children were playing and laughing, adults were buying ingredients for dinner, and ninjas were walking by in twos and threes.
When someone saw Qing Si, they bowed slightly in greeting.
Kiyoshi nodded in response.
Uchiha Hikaru followed closely beside him.
As he walked past a shop, Kiyoshi stopped.
"Wait a moment."
Kiyoshi said.
Uchiha Hikaru looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Kiyoshi entered the shop.
A moment later, he came out, holding a paper bag in his hand.
"for you."
He handed the paper bag to Uchiha Hikaru.
Uchiha Hikaru took it, opened it, and found a new pair of shoes inside.
They were exactly the same as the ones she was wearing, but newer and more exquisite.
"Lord Kiyoshi..."
She looked up, her eyes slightly moist.
Your shoes are worn out.
Qing Si said.
"Go back and change."
Hikaru Uchiha looked down at his feet.
The shoes were indeed worn out, from traveling along the border.
She didn't even notice it herself.
"Th-thank you..."
Her voice was choked with emotion.
Kiyoshi reached out and ruffled her hair.
"Let's go."
He continued walking forward.
Uchiha Hikaru, carrying the paper bag, quickly followed.
By the time they returned to Kiyoshi's house, it was already dark.
Uchiha Hikaru changed into new shoes and walked into the living room.
Kiyoshi was sitting on the veranda, looking at the moon in the courtyard.
Uchiha Hikaru walked to his side and knelt down.
"Lord Seiji."
She spoke softly.
"Ok?"
"I……"
She hesitated for a moment.
Then she took something out of her bosom.
It's a rice ball.
Wrapped in a clean cloth, still warm from body heat.
"I made this this morning."
she says.
"I was planning to give you something to eat on the way to the mission... but I haven't been able to find the opportunity..."
She handed the rice ball to Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi looked down at the rice ball.
The rice balls were shaped very tightly and neatly, and were wrapped in a layer of seaweed.
It looks like they put a lot of effort into it.
He took the rice ball.
took a bite.
Uchiha Hikaru looked at him nervously.
His eyes didn't blink.
Kiyoshi chewed a few times.
Then he nodded.
"good."
He said.
Uchiha Hikaru's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really?
"Ah."
Kiyoshi took another bite.
"The rice was cooked just right, not too soft or too hard, and the salt was just right, not too salty. The plums inside were also very fresh."
Kiyoshi paused for a moment, then continued:
"First time doing this?"
Uchiha Hikaru's face flushed slightly.
"Um……"
She lowered her head.
"I...I practiced for several days..."
Kiyoshi looked at her.
Under the moonlight, the girl's face was flushed.
Those dark eyes were lowered, and their eyelashes trembled slightly.
Her hands were on her knees, her fingers slightly curled.
tension.
I'm looking forward to it.
Kiyoshi smiled.
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"She will be a good wife in the future."
He said.
Uchiha Hikaru's face instantly turned bright red.
From her cheeks to her ears, from her neck to her collarbone, everything was tinged with a light pink.
"King, Lord Kiyoshi..."
Uchiha Hikaru's voice trembled.
"W-what are you saying..."
Kiyoshi looked at her.
“I’m telling the truth.”
Kiyoshi said.
"She's good-looking, gentle, good at housework, and can cook. What else could she be but a virtuous wife and loving mother?"
Hikaru Uchiha lowered his head even further.
It almost buried itself in my chest.
"I...I didn't..."
Uchiha Hikaru's voice was barely audible.
But the curve of his lips just wouldn't go down.
Kiyoshi smiled and continued eating the rice ball.
Uchiha Hikaru secretly looked up at him.
The moonlight shone on him.
He ate the entire rice ball, bite by bite.
Finally, he lowered his hand.
"It's delicious." (End of Chapter)