Chapter 429: Hashirama: Madara, Could It Be He's One of Your Clan?
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Jiraiya, staring at the five Susanoo, could only think, You two are having a one-on-one, don't drag me into it!
Even though he had learned most of the Sharingan and Rinnegan's abilities from Haneda and Nagato...
Five Susanoo was just too much!
Orochimaru, on the other hand, watched the five Uchiha Madaras surrounding him with great interest.
To be honest, his fascination with Wood Release and the Sharingan was growing.
According to his previous theories, Susanoo couldn't be detached from the user, but combining it with wood clones seemed to have brought about a special change.
Orochimaru licked his lips and activated his strongest technique—Eight-Headed Serpent Technique!
Eight giant white snakes intertwined to share a single massive body, rivaling Susanoo in size.
Emerging from the central snake's head, Orochimaru grinned at Jiraiya:
"You go assist the old man; I'll handle them."
Having just summoned the elderly toads, Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya looked complicated for a moment before responding:
"Orochimaru, you…"
"No need for chatter, I overheard your agreement with Tsunade. Let's consider this fulfilling our childhood promise," Orochimaru replied.
"You eavesdropped on my conversation with Tsunade?!!"
"Then you deal with those five big guys yourself."
"No, no, no, I, Jiraiya of Mount Myoboku, deeply respect my elders! Old man, I'm coming to assist you!!"
With that, Jiraiya rushed to help the Third Hokage.
He wasn't too worried about Orochimaru dying.
To be honest, Jiraiya believed that even if everyone else died here, Orochimaru would definitely survive.
When it came to staying alive, Orochimaru was a professional, and he never acted without assurance.
At this moment, the Third Hokage, looking at the massive Susanoo giants that rivaled tailed beasts, felt an enormous headache.
Just one Uchiha Madara was already overwhelming, let alone five.
Now, he was counting on the First Hokage and Itachi more than ever.
In the Third Hokage's view, only the First Hokage and Itachi could handle Uchiha Madara at this point.
All he needed to do was buy them time.
Just as the Third Hokage was about to step forward, Gamabunta was summoned once more, shielding him.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta, preparing his Sage Art.
The two had a tacit understanding without the need for words.
The Third Hokage would handle the enemies from behind, while Jiraiya would tackle those in front.
At the Valley of the End, standing atop the two statues, Madara and Hashirama stared at each other across the river.
Sensing the intense battle nearby, Madara glanced down at the struggling crowd and smirked:
"Hashirama, it seems the power of your so-called comrades is only this much."
"True strength is about executing one's will alone."
Hashirama responded earnestly, "Madara, everyone has their day to die. We must believe in the next generation."
Madara replied, "Are you referring to Uchiha Haneda? That boy is indeed exceptional. I've been watching him, but I never expected him to grow to a point where even I can't fully see through him."
Hashirama shook his head, "Konoha's new generation isn't just Uchiha Haneda; there are other young talents too."
Madara chuckled, "You mean them?"
In their peripheral vision, Orochimaru's eight snake heads were being battered by ten Susanoo.
If it weren't for the resilience of Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and his formidable regenerative abilities, he would have died long ago.
Perhaps death was inevitable for Orochimaru.
After all, ten Susanoo, each handling one snake head, could easily annihilate him, let alone ten of them!
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and the Third Hokage were not faring much better, only dealing with five of Madara's wood clones.
But Madara was too strong, forcing Jiraiya and the Third Hokage into defensive positions, buying time.
Defeat was just a matter of time for them, just like Orochimaru.
As for Tobirama, whom Madara looked down upon, he was struggling to cope with just one Susanoo.
Madara still remembered that if not for Tobirama's Flying Thunder God sneak attack on Izuna, Izuna wouldn't have lost to him.
At that time, Izuna hadn't activated Susanoo.
Now, faced with five Susanoo, Tobirama was barely dodging using the Flying Thunder God technique.
His desperate state was quite satisfying to Madara.
That wretched Tobirama, always relying on underhanded tactics!
Unlike his brother Hashirama, so wise and magnanimous!
But...
Madara had subconsciously overlooked a young man who was now taking action.
"Wood Release—Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!!!"
Itachi clapped his hands, causing countless vine-like trees to sprout from the ground, wrapping and binding the legs of the twenty-five Susanoo.
In an instant, the situation shifted dramatically!
"This is… Hashirama's Wood Release?!"
Madara instinctively looked towards Hashirama across the river, whose enigmatic smile alerted Madara to trouble.
When he turned back to Itachi, Hashirama's signature move, True Several Thousand Hands, had descended!
This scene was all too familiar to Madara.
The twenty-five wood clones, with their Susanoo, were toyed with by the Buddha's massive hands, as if they were mere playthings.
Punch after punch rained down on Susanoo, leaving it on the brink of collapse.
It was reminiscent of the battles between the Uchiha and Senju clans, as if the battle at Naka River was destined for tragedy.
Madara was in disbelief:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"
"The Senju clan couldn't possibly produce such a powerful descendant! I've watched the Senju decline to near extinction!!"
"Hashirama! Even your grandson died on the battlefield, and your useless granddaughter spends her days drinking and gambling, accomplishing nothing!"
"The Senju clan can no longer produce a strong warrior like you, Hashirama!!"
Hashirama gave a peculiar smile, "Madara, could it be that he is one of your clansmen?"
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Madara's eyes widened as he looked at Itachi.
On this powerful Wood Release user, he saw the Uchiha's signature bloodline limit—the Sharingan!
"This is… the power of the All-Creation! I see, I see!!"
"Uchiha Haneda really did decipher the full contents of the stone tablet!!"
"Yet… my clansmen still refuse to follow me."
"The strong are indeed destined to be alone."
Hashirama comforted, "Madara, isn't that what you have me for?"
"…" Madara felt that if he kept talking to Hashirama, he'd end up as clueless as a Husky in the North.
The cold, ruthless wolf would turn into a silly, clumsy dog!
"As a friend, let's give this a dignified end, Hashirama."
Madara's expression shifted from complex to proud once again.
He decided to deal with the people before him first and discuss other matters later.
Madara extended his hand, a black rod emerging from his right palm, and used Bansho Ten'in, attempting to pull Hashirama from his wooden golem.
Realizing that Madara was getting serious, Hashirama quickly enveloped his wooden golem in chakra to resist the pull.
Simultaneously, he formed hand signs and used Wood Release.
Trees grew from beneath Madara, trying to drag him out of his Susanoo.