Just as Hashirama was sensing the changes occurring within his body, Madara let out a savage grin and formed the Tiger hand seal.
His Susanoo entered its final stage—the Complete Body Susanoo.
In an instant, it transformed into a blue tengu-like giant towering over the mountains themselves, standing more than two hundred meters tall.
Its form had become fully humanoid, with wings spread from its back and heavy armor covering its entire body.
Merely manifesting was enough to utterly destroy the cave they had been standing in.
Everyone present—including the elderly White Snake Sage and Hashirama—was left dumbfounded, frozen in place.
Madara casually swung his sword.
The blade of chakra effortlessly cleaved a mountain range several kilometers away in half.
“Come on!
Round two begins now!”
As he spoke, the Complete Body Susanoo stepped toward the White Snake Sage.
“How can such a monster still exist in this era?!”
Before the White Snake Sage had even finished speaking, a massive chakra blade had already plunged into the ruins before her.
A relatively small white-scaled serpent burst out from underground.
Upon her head rested a black cap adorned with a large jewel, while orange fur trailed behind her.
Opening her enormous maw, she unleashed a sphere of white light accompanied by a piercing high-frequency sound and blinding radiance.
Sage Art: White Rage Technique!
The attack affected Hashirama enough that he immediately erected another defense.
Wood Release: Hōbi Technique!
The wooden shield isolated him from the unbearable noise.
However, the technique had limited effect on Madara.
Standing in the open and protected by the Complete Body Susanoo, he was far less vulnerable.
“Interesting.”
Sage Art: Fire Release — Dragon Flame Release Song Technique!
Nine enormous dragons of flame burst forth and surged toward the White Snake Sage.
But her body rapidly faded.
Moments later, she had disappeared entirely.
Madara extended his senses and instantly found her.
In only a few breaths, she had already fled six kilometers away.
Without hesitation, the blue chakra wings on Susanoo’s back unfurled as he sped westward in pursuit.
“Don’t chase her!”
Hashirama shouted using chakra amplification.
“It’s a trap!”
But the only reply he received from above was:
“Before these Sharingan eyes, no trap can remain hidden.”
Watching Madara’s retreating figure, Hashirama couldn’t help muttering:
“Damn…
that was actually pretty cool.
Wait for me!”
As he sprinted and leaped after him, he complained inwardly:
“Hashirama is amazing at everything except speed.
Once we’re back, I need to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from Tobirama.”
“I wonder how the village is progressing.”
When he finally drew close to Madara’s battlefield, terrifying wind pressure and oppressive chakra washed over him.
Left with no choice, Hashirama summoned his own “flying vehicle.”
Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon → Rat.
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!
A gigantic wooden dragon rose from the earth and hovered beside him.
Hashirama jumped onto it and barely managed to stabilize himself.
Another wave of pressure swept over him.
The Wood Dragon immediately moved in front of him protectively before soaring toward the battlefield.
Meanwhile—
Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!
Countless stone pillars burst from every direction toward Susanoo, each infused with sinister natural energy.
Susanoo: Fire Release — Great Fire Annihilation!
The giant warrior opened its mouth and released an overwhelming sea of flames that engulfed the entire battlefield.
Crimson fire and stone collided, producing enormous clouds of smoke.
Even high in the air, Hashirama could feel the suffocating heat.
He formed water with chakra and doused himself before shouting:
“Madara!
Let’s finish this together!”
The White Snake Sage paused.
“What will it take for you two to stop?
Don’t push things too far!”
As she spoke, she spat a stream of viscous liquid toward Hashirama.
Sage Art: Petrification Fluid!
The Wood Dragon failed to dodge in time.
The moment the liquid touched it, the dragon rapidly turned to stone.
Hashirama immediately jumped off and summoned another Wood Dragon while falling.
“Stay out of this.”
Madara’s voice carried unmistakable excitement.
“Old snake—dance with me!”
Two gigantic sword slashes descended in succession.
“Useless.”
To Madara’s surprise, the White Snake Sage had suffered no damage whatsoever.
He paused briefly.
His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan slowly began to rotate.
“Your genjutsu is also ineffective against me.”
The White Snake Sage’s eyes suddenly turned crimson, attempting to reflect Madara’s illusion back at him.
Then black markings abruptly spread across her body.
“Damn it!
A sealing technique!”
She let out a piercing scream as her white scales expanded, forcibly suppressing the seal.
But Madara had anticipated this.
Sage Art: Yin Release Lightning Dispatch!
Thick black lightning erupted from his palm.
The attack was so fast that the White Snake Sage had no time to react.
Large sections of her body were scorched black as agonized screams echoed through the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Susanoo raised a Yasaka Magatama.
Lightning and flames gathered around it, forming a swirling vortex.
“This ends now.”
Just then, four enormous serpents of different forms emerged and bound Susanoo’s four arms.
The three snake princesses appeared as well, joining together in a combined Sage Art to halt Madara’s attack.
Seeing this opportunity, the White Snake Sage immediately charged toward him.
“Sorry, Madara.
I have to step in.”
Hashirama slammed his hands together.
Black markings spread around his eyes.
Sage Art: Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands!
A colossal Thousand-Armed Buddha rose from the earth.
It towered dozens of times higher than Susanoo itself.
Its immense form blotted out the sky.
Everyone present was overwhelmed by terror.
Not a single thought of resistance remained.
Uchiha Madara, however, burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Ha!
Hahaha!
Hahahaha!”
“Hashirama!
You never cease to surprise me!”
“Dance with me!”
Hashirama replied helplessly:
“Madara, let’s deal with the important matter first.”
The White Snake Sage stared at the Thousand-Armed Buddha that seemed capable of covering the heavens themselves.
Deep despair filled her eyes.
After a long silence, she lowered her proud head.
“We surrender.
Please stop.”
The other snakes likewise curled up on the ground, trembling and silent.
Even the normally violent Manda and the ferocious snakes of Ryūchi Cave didn’t dare utter a single hiss.
“Ryūchi Cave will obey your commands.”
Only then did Madara dispel Susanoo.
“Hand over your cultivation methods.
And remove that disgusting snake transformation.”
The White Snake Sage explained nervously:
“It can be bypassed through direct Senjutsu infusion.”
She opened her mouth, revealing two massive fangs.
Standing atop the Thousand-Armed Buddha, Hashirama snorted.
“Find another method.
Otherwise, if I throw a punch, it might hurt a little.”
The White Snake Sage immediately shuddered.
Recalling the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, she gritted her teeth and spoke unwillingly:
“There is…
another method.”
“I can personally perform the infusion.”
“It’s simply very taxing for me.”
Hashirama nodded.
“That sounds much more reliable.”
“What do you think, Madara?”
Madara stared at the White Snake Sage for a long while before finally speaking.
“Acceptable.”
“I’ll try first.”
The White Snake Sage immediately produced a white spherical jewel.
It radiated astonishingly pure natural energy—at least ten times more refined than that found in the outside world.
A few moments later—
“Ah…”
Madara actually let out a sound of satisfaction.
A smile spread across his face as he tore open his clothes.
A vivid flame-shaped marking had appeared across his chest.
“Not bad.”
“Hashirama, your turn.”
Hashirama jumped down from the Buddha’s hand and accepted the infusion as well.
A pattern resembling emerald-green veins spread across his body.
He was immediately satisfied.
“It looks like you really put in the effort.”
“We won’t mistreat those who genuinely help us.”
“How about this?
First, we’ll rebuild Ryūchi Cave for you.”
“Then we’ll select talented shinobi from the village.
Those who pass your tests can learn Senjutsu.
Those who don’t can still sign summoning contracts.”
“We should deepen our relationship.”
“Don’t worry.
Following us will bring benefits to Ryūchi Cave.”
“Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest have already agreed.”
The surrounding giant snakes wanted to object.
But the words died in their throats.
All of them looked toward the White Snake Sage.
She alone understood.
The man before her was even more terrifying than Uchiha Madara.
In the end, she reluctantly agreed.
[Congratulations.
The host has successfully persuaded the Three Great Sage Regions to align themselves with Konoha.]
[Reward: Natural Energy Affinity +5%]
Three days later.
Madara and Hashirama sat cross-legged atop the newly rebuilt Ryūchi Cave.
Without seeing them with one’s own eyes, it was almost impossible to sense their presence.
They had completely merged with nature.
Both had gained considerably from their training.
Inside the cave, emerald vines now grew along the walls once covered in serpent patterns.
Unlike the destruction left behind by Madara, these vines pulsed faintly, almost as though they possessed heartbeats of their own.
The White Snake Sage rested atop her stone platform, meditating quietly.
Several faded scales lay scattered around her.
They were the price she had paid by exhausting her own essence.
Hashirama opened his eyes first.
“That’s enough.
It’s time to head back.”
Madara looked at him seriously.
“Hashirama.”
“Fight me.”
Hashirama’s heart sank.
As expected.
The True Several Thousand Hands had stimulated Madara’s competitive spirit.
Meeting Madara’s gaze, he knew there was no way to refuse.
Besides, he also wanted Madara to help temper his own combat abilities.
At that moment, the system notification appeared.
[Uchiha Madara’s Bond Value has exceeded 95%.]
[Special Event Triggered — Battle of Fate!]
[The host must earn Uchiha Madara’s acknowledgment through close-quarters combat.]
[Reward: Title — Rose of the Battlefield.]
Rose of the Battlefield
Effect: Grants the user all of Uchiha Madara’s close-combat experience.
Warning: May cause excessive arrogance and an uncontrollable urge to ask others to dance.
Hashirama froze.
After a moment, he finally replied:
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“But given our strength, we’d probably both end up severely injured.”
“So here’s my proposal.”
“Let’s settle this with taijutsu.”
“Taijutsu?”
Madara seemed slightly disappointed, but soon nodded.
“Not ideal, but acceptable.”
“Let’s begin.”
“First, let’s move somewhere else.”
“The White Snake Sage nearly sacrificed her life helping us.”
“Tch.
What a nuisance.”
Though he complained, Madara still followed Hashirama as the two of them rapidly departed.