Name: Kei Yamanaka
Occupation: Ninja
Activated Traits: [World Traveler] (Red), [Instant Activation] (Red), [Sage Transformation] (Red), [Yin Release Master] (Purple), [Water Release Master] (Purple), [Space-Time Insight] (Purple), [The Expert King of the Ninja World] (Blue), [Handsome] (Blue)
Inactive Traits: [Chrysalis User] (White), [Fragile Skin] (White), [Tough Life] (White), [A Single Pregnancy, Nine Treasures] (Blue), [Own Nothing] (Gray), [Expired Milk] (White)
Skill Grants: 3
Skill Removals: 2
Skill Downgrades: 2
...
Eight traits.
Three red, three purple, two blue.
Compared to Madara Uchiha's six reds, three purples, four blues, one green, two grays, and one black.
It might still look like a gap exists, but hey—at least I've got no Black-Tier penalties holding me back!
No [Black-Tier Trait] slowing me down with negative effects. I can unleash my full combat potential—no drawbacks holding me back! That should be enough to face off against Madara!
Kei rolled up his sleeves eagerly.
After slightly stretching out his limbs and getting used to the sudden surge in strength and physical toughness,
he transformed once more into Tobirama Senju's form.
With a thought, he followed the Flying Thunder God mark and instantly returned to the cavern within the mountainous grave site.
The two shadow clones left behind in the cave—left behind to stall Madara Uchiha or Black Zetsu while the real body activated and adapted to its new traits—saw him return.
One of the shadow clones immediately dispersed into chakra mist, transferring the memories it had accumulated during this time.
He raised a hand in signal.
The other shadow clone nodded silently, then activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished from the cave.
"Cough… cough…"
Madara Uchiha bowed his head slightly and let out a soft cough.
The three-comma Sharingan in his eyes had unconsciously shifted into the Eternal Mangekyo pattern.
Even though these eyes technically did not belong to him, as the ultimate member of the Uchiha clan—one who knew both Yin and Yang Releases—
whenever he willed it, whenever he required it,
with just a bit more strain on his body, some consumed life energy, and by awakening the dormant ocular powers inside him,
he could momentarily force those borrowed eyes into the same state as the Eternal Mangekyo he once wielded.
Of course, using them this way would not only ruin the eyes permanently, causing their Mangekyo abilities to vanish afterward,
but also leave his already frail body even weaker, accelerating his aging.
Yet this opponent before him was no ordinary foe that three-comma eyes could handle.
Madara Uchiha knew this clearly.
He was old.
Especially over the last couple of years, he'd even begun finding walking difficult and exhausting.
Perhaps in a few years, he'd need to lean on his kusarigama like a cane just to shuffle forward?
If he had met this fake Tobirama Senju several years ago,
he wouldn't have wasted time with illusions!
He'd have already grabbed his kusarigama and personally chopped this audacious fool into nothing but a head!
Because back then, upon suddenly hearing news of Tobirama Senju's death,
he had Black Zetsu investigate multiple times.
Even he himself had secretly visited the Cloud Hidden Village after the Senju corpse was handed back to Konoha.
Didn't he already know whether Tobirama Senju was truly dead or not?
"All this preparation must be worth something, right?"
After receiving the memories of his shadow clones, Kei Yamanaka looked toward Uchiha Madara, who had just sensed his original body's return and was now calmly dispelling the genjutsu. A faint smirk curved on Kei's lips—an expression brimming with hidden meaning.
He'd made sure to leave a few backup plans in place.
Partly out of fear that Madara might escape, partly worried he'd come chasing right back, concerned that Black Zetsu might ambush him, or that he'd fail to kill the snake and end up bitten back later.
He'd prepared as meticulously as possible.
And yet...
Uchiha Madara simply sat there, calm and composed, as if silently declaring, "No matter what schemes you devise, I remain unshaken."
Even Black Zetsu stood quietly by Madara's side, eyes lowered, never moving.
Proud, aloof, confident—even bordering on arrogance!
Without sensing any real threat to himself,
He hadn't even bothered to break free from the genjutsu.
Or maybe...he actually found Kei's illusion entertaining?
Surely it wasn't because the genjutsu had any real effect on someone like Uchiha Madara?
After all, it was just a gender-swapped fanfic.
There's no way someone like Uchiha Madara would get into something like that!
"It's truly tragic how aging diminishes a being. Any life nearing its end becomes so ugly and pitiful."
Uchiha Madara raised his palm—its skin dry and wrinkled like tree bark.
His thick, weathered fingers bore calluses from countless battles fought in his youth. His palm was rough, deeply lined with time's passage.
A stark contrast to the smooth skin shown in the illusion, still youthful despite age.
In that illusion, everything went smoothly throughout his life.
With the power of both Uchiha and Senju, he created all things beneath the heavens.
Different methods, yes—but wasn't that still another interpretation of the Naka Shrine's stone tablet?
Indeed...
That illusion... No! The Infinite Tsukuyomi!
Is the one and eternal answer in this world.
"And then?"
Kei stared at Uchiha Madara, radiating overwhelming 'king of the hill' aura, and finally muttered two words after a long pause.
"Sorry!"
I'm terrible at quick-witted banter and can't keep up with comebacks—it's my fault!
I'll go find someone to train with afterward!
Don't expect me to spar wits with the king of ego—just let me play a solid straight man and keep the mood intact...
"Hmph... Hmph... Youthful, energetic, foolishly fearless. You're only wielding Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique. How dare you show yourself before me again?" Madara said coldly, filled with mockery as he folded his arms across his chest.
Kei's first appearance he had dismissed as an accident.
Perhaps he found some clues, or followed uneasy instincts here to snoop around.
But having identified him and still daring to return?
Did he think Madara had grown weak with old age, frail and barely clinging to strength?
Did he believe he could land a hit and escape using only the Flying Thunder God Technique?
Maybe...he even planned to kill Madara?
These damn brats these days.
So bold!
Sitting upright on his seat, Uchiha Madara radiated turbulent blue chakra.
Bone-like structures forged from raw chakra and ocular power encircled him. Half his body morphed into a towering skeletal colossus, filling most of the cavern.
Susanoo Second Stage!
The blue skeletal giant wore a taunting smirk identical to that of Madara Uchiha.
A wave of viciousness surged outward.
With a backhand grip, it swung a massive chakra blade directly down at Kei Yamanaka!
Todoroki!
A massive cloud of dust exploded outward as the instant strike cleaved Kei in half.
Another sweeping blow followed. The once narrow tunnel entrance—just wide enough for a single person—was reduced to complete rubble.
Massive chunks of earth and stone crumbled and crashed down.
Sunlight poured into the dim cavern, illuminating the interior—and exposing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path hidden behind Susanoo.
"Maybe... my abilities aren't limited to the [Flying Thunder God]?"
Kei's hydrified body slowly reformed after those two slashes.
Although the [Hydrification Technique] couldn't completely nullify damage from a Chakra Blade, the Hyper Reaction Speed from [Zero-Frames Start] allowed him to split his body apart at the very last moment before each strike landed.
He gazed at the awe-inspiring Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the terrifying might of Susanoo.
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