Madara Uchiha remained seated on the stone chair.
The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan's supernatural observational power clearly observed every movement of Kei Yamanaka.
The water clone created earlier through the Hydrification Technique, the advanced [Water Release: Water Severing Slash] performed without hand seals, and the previously demonstrated [Flying Thunder God Technique]—
In just the instant they clashed, Madara already determined that this opponent might be even stronger than Tobirama Senju had been back then!
Powerful genjutsu stemming from overwhelming mental fortitude, extraordinary neural reaction time, excellent chakra control, exceptional talent in Water Release, and a rare time-space secret technique.
For this era to produce such a powerful individual was truly unforeseen.
But...
"This truly is an abhorrent technique—something that inspires disgust the moment you see it!"
Madara's voice was low and hoarse.
He tilted his head upward toward the high-pressure water blade cutting down toward him. It had already sliced off a portion of Madara's Second Stage Susanoo, and was still rapidly descending, nearly touching the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path behind him.
The chakra within his eyes poured out like a dam bursting at the seams.
The azure chakra forming Susanoo's body rapidly solidified. The exposed skeletal structure became completely encased in tangible chakra.
As Susanoo began to rise upright, Madara himself was lifted by the hardened chakra until he reached the head portion.
Like a king gazing down upon mere ants scurrying below.
Still seated calmly upon the stone throne, Madara's expression remained composed.
But only he understood:
Except during battles against Hashirama Senju, few adversaries had ever forced him to assume this specific form of Susanoo when confronting just a handful of enemies.
Partly, this was to protect the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
But more importantly, it was because he'd lost his ability to move quickly now.
Against attacks exceeding the defensive limits of Susanoo's Second Stage, he couldn't retreat to disperse force nor dodge swiftly to evade damage. He could only meet them head-on!
Sssk! Sssk! Sssk!
The high-pressure water blade scraped violently against Susanoo, creating shrill slicing noises that hurt the ears.
The defense power had suddenly increased significantly.
So much so that the previously unstoppable [Water Release: Water Severing Slash] slowed drastically!
Almost the very moment the Third Stage Susanoo fully formed,
Four ghostly azure arms appeared, two wielding swords already swinging downward toward Kei Yamanaka,
While the other two arms began forming hand seals!
The moment Susanoo moved, Kei immediately stopped his [Water Release: Water Severing Slash] attack.
Taking a deep breath, he slammed both hands together again.
[Water Release: Great Waterfall Surge!]
Expelling a torrent of water toward the ground as he leapt into the air,
The force of the water expelled beneath him further accelerated his upward momentum.
His body narrowly evaded the crisscrossing slashes of two massive chakra blades.
Meanwhile, the Great Waterfall Surge generated a wave over ten meters tall, crashing toward Madara and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path behind him!
[Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!]
Flames spewing from Susanoo's mouth collided with the oncoming tidal wave, enveloping the battlefield in a dense cloud of steam!
The waters roiled and scalding currents surged upward!
The vaporizing mist rapidly filled the entire mountainous burial ground.
Even with the piercing vision of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara Uchiha could not immediately pinpoint the enemy concealed within the thick mist.
[Shadow Clone Jutsu]!
Kei Yamanaka performed the Shout-to-Summon hand motion, instantly replacing himself with a shadow clone.
Meanwhile, he used Water Conversion Technique to merge into the flowing water created by the earlier [Water Release: Great Waterfall Surge].
[Hard Turbulent Water Ring]!
The clone dashed forward with explosive speed, its right hand forming a spiraling water spear between open palms.
With a series of rapid bounds, it shot skyward through the dense mist, launching the Hard Turbulent Water Ring directly at Susanoo's face!
"A stale and uninspired tactic—using a shadow clone marked with the Flying Thunder God seal to attack with the Hard Turbulent Water Ring, then following up with a Flying Thunder God Slash after impact."
Madara Uchiha's eyes, capable of seeing through even Hashirama Senju's Wood Release clones, instantly detected Kei's clone.
Back then, Tobirama Senju had used this exact strategy to kill countless members of the Uchiha clan.
His younger brother, Izuna, had fallen to the Flying Thunder God Slash.
Didn't every member of the Uchiha clan know about the Hard Turbulent Water Ring combo?
Now someone dares to use this move against him?
Todoroki!
Susanoo's chakra blade clashed with the shadow clone's Hard Turbulent Water Ring.
The compressed whirlpool of water lost its restraint and expanded violently.
The razor-edged rotating water blade collided violently against Susanoo's massive blade, releasing shrieking friction!
Just as the two forces locked in stalemate, another arm of Susanoo slashed downward with its chakra-infused blade.
Poof!
The whirlwind of water released by the Hard Turbulent Water Ring shattered into flying droplets.
And at that moment, Susanoo's remaining arms completed a series of hand seals!
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique]!
A colossal fireball, like a falling meteor, hurtled straight toward where the Hard Turbulent Water Ring had spread.
If Kei Yamanaka had followed through as Madara expected—appearing at the shadow clone's location using the Flying Thunder God Technique—
He would have been instantly incinerated by this wide-range fire release!
Todoroki!
The giant fireball struck the ground, bursting into flames that scattered outward, creating a blazing inferno.
It crashed violently against the large lake previously formed by Kei's water techniques, producing an even greater cloud of steam and smoke.
Once more, the crater floor was swallowed by a thick veil of mist.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Madara realized what he saw being consumed by the Great Fireball was just another shadow clone turned into chakra mist?
To accurately lock onto his position through the dense fog and anticipate Susanoo's movements to avoid triggering the Flying Thunder God Technique—
An astonishingly fast nerve reaction time!
A faint smirk curled Madara's lips—an amused, mocking expression. Finally, this battle was starting to become somewhat intriguing.
However... the real Kei still hasn't revealed himself. Is his target the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?
Susanoo sharply leapt backward into the mist churned up by the fiery collision of Fire Release and Water Release techniques.
Nearly a hundred meters had unknowingly opened between them—yet with a single leap, that distance vanished.
The experience from countless battles and brushes with death on the battlefield allowed Madara Uchiha to easily guess that the vanished enemy must be making a beeline for the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!
After all, ever since the fight began, that tube connected to the statue behind him had always been there.
In theory, as long as there was enough chakra, the Demonic Statue's pipes could extend over a thousand meters—an impressive feat—and were far sturdier than an ordinary person could break.
Yet this guy actually managed to slice right through even the Second Stage of Susanoo!
"Tch! Fast reflexes!"
Kei Yamanaka's sensor ability, pushed to its limits, clearly detected every movement of the Susanoo through the dense mist created by the collision of Fire Release and Water Release techniques.
He knew better than anyone how crucial the Demonic Statue was to Madara Uchiha.
In the original story, under Madara's control, chains launched from the statue's mouth could directly span over a thousand meters and shackle the necks of all nine tailed beasts.
Who knows how far that tube channeling life energy to him could truly stretch!
Simply dragging out the battle and expanding the battlefield probably wouldn't achieve much.
So what's the best move? Get rid of the damn thing!
Without the presence of the Rinnegan,
Even someone as powerful as Madara couldn't directly summon the Demonic Statue back.
When facing life-threatening danger, anyone can unleash astonishing combat power.
The lingering surge of strength before death, the frantic fight of a backed animal, last-ditch counterattacks, vengeance-laden final strikes...
Ancient wisdom tells us—enemies at such moments are the most dangerous of all!
Besides, Madara Uchiha was never an ordinary opponent.
If this guy goes all out... Well, time for the system's real test!
As for Kei Yamanaka. Why can't he just kick back and have a snack like liuliumei?
Even the Nine-Tails said he wouldn't dare face it head-on anymore.
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