The golden giant, formed by the Kongō Fūsa, raised the Sakegari no Tachi in its spiritual form and drove it fiercely toward the chest of the Gedo Mazo.
Even though the Gedo Mazo was the vessel of the Ten-Tails and was currently wrapped in Uchiha Madara's Susanoo, once pierced by the Totsuka Blade, its sealing power would bypass all defenses and imprison the monstrous golem inside the sake gourd. This blade was Uzumaki Raiden's trump card against Madara!
"Boy! Do you think you can defeat me with just this?!"
The long sword, wrapped in a powerful gust of wind, hurtled toward the Gedo Mazo. Just as it was about to strike its chest, Susanoo suddenly shifted—its purple chakra blade clashing with the Sakegari no Tachi, intercepting it just in time.
"Boom!!!"
Thick smoke billowed as the impact shook the earth, and the Totsuka Blade embedded itself into the ground beside the Gedo Mazo. The sudden interference from Susanoo had forcibly altered the sword's trajectory.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, the Gedo Mazo kicked the golden giant away and quickly rose to its feet. Raising its arms high, it gathered terrifying amounts of chakra into its palms. Meanwhile, the purple chakra sword, now enveloped in eerie blue flames, swung down fiercely at the golden giant.
"Boom!!!!"
Raiden, with his heightened perception, quickly analyzed the Gedo Mazo's attack path. The golden giant swiftly raised the Sakegari no Tachi overhead to block the strike. Upon impact, a shockwave of immense chakra radiated outward, pushing back the surrounding inferno and even scattering the clouds in the sky. Moonlight poured down, casting two colossal shadows across the battlefield.
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't expect this brat to be such a hassle."
"His chakra reserves... they're monstrous, almost on par with Hashirama's."
"The two Tailed Beasts didn't drain him much... he's still going strong."
Madara realized the precarious situation he was in. The chakra he could access in his current state was limited, meaning he needed to end the fight quickly.
His original plan had been to use the Tailed Beasts to drain Raiden's chakra, but it seemed the red-haired Uzumaki had handled them with surprising ease.
Meanwhile, the battle between the colossal figures continued to reshape the landscape. The once-lush forest was now nothing but scorched earth. The ongoing devastation had left the terrain barren.
As Madara calculated his next move, Raiden himself was growing concerned.
Despite his composed exterior, the truth was that maintaining the golden giant consumed an enormous amount of chakra. Controlling the Tailed Beasts had already drained him significantly, and now, with the Totsuka Blade unsealed, his chakra reserves were being supplemented entirely by his Yin Seal.
"I need to finish this fast... I can't hold out much longer."
Though fatigue weighed on him, Raiden made sure not to show it. He continued his relentless assault, countering the Gedo Mazo's attacks and landing blows, but none were delivering substantial damage. The battle was reaching a stalemate, with Raiden holding a slight advantage.
Then, amidst the chaos, a dark figure silently emerged from the ground, slithering unnoticed onto the Gedo Mazo's massive body and making its way to Madara.
A sinister smile crept onto Madara's face.
"You're late, Zetsu."
It was none other than Zetsu, who had escaped Konoha earlier. Now fully merged with his black and white halves, he resembled a pitcher plant. In his arms, he carried an unconscious child.
"Madara-sama, Konoha was well-prepared. We couldn't capture Uzumaki Mariko, but..."
"We found something interesting."
White Zetsu, wearing a sycophantic smile, threw the child at Madara's feet. Meanwhile, Black Zetsu slithered up Madara's back, merging with him and infusing him with chakra.
Madara frowned slightly.
"Is this all the power you have for me?"
Ignoring the complaint, Black Zetsu spoke in a hushed tone, his eyes gleaming.
"Madara-sama, this child will help us defeat Uzumaki Raiden!"
"Oh?"
Madara turned his gaze toward the unconscious child. A glint of recognition flickered in his eyes as he sensed a familiar chakra.
"This brat... he carries the power of Hashirama?"
The child was none other than Yamato—the lone survivor of Orochimaru and Danzo's Hashirama cell experiments and a contemporary wielder of Wood Release.
"Interesting."
Madara's smile widened. He understood Zetsu's intentions immediately.
Just then, a loud crash resounded across the battlefield.
Raiden's golden giant had severed one of the Gedo Mazo's arms. The colossal appendage fell to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.
"Sage Art: Lightning Beam!"
Raiden, still inside the golden giant, brought his hands together. A streak of lightning burst from the ground, coiling around the Gedo Mazo's legs and binding it tightly, preventing further movement.
Raiden raised his red chakra blade high, preparing to strike the finishing blow.
But suddenly—
"Whoosh!"
A massive wooden column shot out from the Gedo Mazo's head, slamming into the golden giant's chest and pushing it back a hundred meters. The force was enough to disrupt Raiden's attack, costing him a crucial opportunity.
Raiden's eyes widened.
"Wood Release?!"
His heart sank—he hadn't expected to encounter the legendary Kekkei Genkai here, and the implications were dire.
Standing atop the Gedo Mazo, Madara observed Yamato, who was now completely enveloped by White Zetsu's body.
"White Zetsu, go all out!"
Madara's voice brimmed with satisfaction. Watching White Zetsu utilize Yamato's chakra to unleash powerful Wood Release techniques filled him with anticipation.
With Yamato's chakra, the battlefield shifted once more.
Suddenly, a towering wooden statue, rivaling the size of the Gedo Mazo and the golden giant, emerged from the earth. The enormous figure, with five heads and a thousand arms, loomed ominously over the battlefield.
"The second round begins now."
As Madara gazed at the wooden colossus beside him, a rare sense of nostalgia stirred within him. He shook his head, dispelling the sentiment, and focused on the golden giant in the distance.
"Raiden... let's see how you handle this!"
(End of this chapter)