A/N:- The infection in my tooth was more severe than expected. So, the normal Root Canal treatment (RCT) turned into a minor surgery. Thankfully, it's over. But it was very, very painful; even with the anesthesia. During the surgery, there was a severe cold pain in my mouth and it felt like my brain was being constantly stabbed by a blade when the dentist used small needles to clean the nerve infection.
I have recovered from the pain after taking some painkillers, but now my jaw is in pain because of the prolonged opening for surgery. Hopefully, it will recover in the next 2-3 days. Though I still have a headache and will have to visit the doctor next week for further minor treatment.
The updates will resume as usual and I will even start the second Naruto novel.
Thank you everyone. Have a good day.
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On the battlefield,
"Interesting! This is going to be a fun battle."
Madara wipes the blood from his mouth and flies towards Gai.
Gai is standing in a massive crater with blood-red flames. A unique aura of green and blood-red shrouds his body.
"The unique vapor of blood from the opening of all eight gates and removing the limiter of the body…"
Madara scrutinizes Gai.
"I didn't expect I would witness such a sight. But to actually see it with eyes, it feels like the color of dead autumn leaves that have fallen off the tree and are on the verge of withering away. However, I have to say that the green aura of vitality from your body is a stark contrast to your current state. I wonder how long can this little vitality help you maintain this state."
"It's true that I am on my last straw. But these autumn leaves aren't falling without any purpose or reason. They will serve as the nutrient for the next seedlings, for the fresh green leaves!"
Fwoosh…
Minato appears on the battlefield alongside a five-gate Rock Lee with a green aura, Itachi, and Kushina.
Tears overflow from Rock Lee's eyes as he overhears the conversation.
"Sensei!"
Lee clenches his fist. Minato pats his shoulder.
"And the period they bridge until the new spring when fresh leaves bud… is the climax of the YOUTH! When it burns the most crimson!"
Gai clenches his fists, popping the nerves.
"Watch this closely, Lee!"
BANG…
Gai stomps the ground.
Whoosh…
The next instant, his figure disappears, and he reappears above Madara in the sky.
"Fast! So fast!"
Itachi observes the battle with his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"It's almost on par with Minato's teleportation!" Kushina states.
"No, it's even faster than that!" Minato shakes his head.
"When I use Hiraishin, there is a delay of a few micro-seconds due to the reaction speed of the body. However, Gai has surpassed the limits of the human body, so such a delay doesn't happen to him. Currently, all of Gai's body is moving on its own based on Gai's battle instincts. There is no delay in action due to the nerve signal from the mind."
"Sekizo: Evening Elephant: FIRST STEP,"
Gai thrusts his clenched fist forward, releasing a burst of blood-red energy compressed in the form of a powerful air blast.
BOOOOMMM…
The air blast lands on Madara before his body can even react. Madara only gets to block the attack with his truth-seeking staff that he held in front of his body, beforehand.
ARGH…
The compressed blood energy bursts past Madara's defense and lands on his body.
GUFFAW…
Madara spits out a mouthful of blood. The blood energy invades his body and its corrosive power evaporates Madara's skin, revealing his flesh and bones.
BANG…
Madara's body lands on the ground, creating a massive fist-shaped crater. Blood-red chakra flames burn the surroundings.
GAH…
Madara stands up pitifully while laughing manically.
"Haha… Ahaha… I really felt that one. Not even Hashirama made me feel this much pain!"
White smoke rises from Madara's body as the healing factor of Hashirama cells, Six Paths Senjutsu, and the Ten-tail Jinchuriki acts all at once.
Madara's skin grows rapidly and it wouldn't take him more than a few seconds to recover immediately.
"However, the self-inflicted pain on your body is even greater than mine. I can't even imagine the pain a mortal body like yours feels from exceeding its limits." Madara slowly stands up.
Although Madara spouts such words to maintain a strong image, he is having second thoughts after receiving that first punch.
'A taijutsu move that bombard with blows of punched air and that strange blood energy, full of vitality! I can't absorb this attack with the Preta Path and neither can I dissipate with the Deva Path, since that takes time to act. Every attack is like a powerful strategic attack, capable of destroying an entire shinobi village in an instant.'
Madara analyzes Gai's technique.
'Taking four of five of these might really kill me. I don't even know the limit of this body, so it is suicidal to receive those attacks with my body. And I should definitely avoid getting hit by those fists directly. Even a single punch might send me to the afterlife.
ARGH…
Gai grits his teeth in pain and continues his attack.
"This technique…"
Even Kushina and Itachi are affected by Madara's words.
"The evening elephant, Sekizo is a continuous series of attacks whose power amplifies with each step as it shifts in speed and power with every consecutive attack. The stress and pain the body has to endure also increases in proportion." Lee explains the details of Gai's technique to rest.
"So that means the pain Gai is currently enduring…" Itachi glances at Gai with a solemn gaze.
He takes out a small senbon from his holster.
"Since Gai has already resolved himself, then I will assist him and make it less painful for him."
Swish…
Itachi aims the needle towards the acupuncture on Gai's neck, the instant he comes to a standstill for a moment.
Swish…
The senbon pokes one of Gai's acupunctures and cuts off the connections of one of the main pain receptors' nerves from the rest of the body.
"At least this way he won't feel such a strong pain."
Gai pauses for a moment and nods towards Itachi and the rest before continuing his assault.
Bang… Bang… Bang…
He kicks the air and flies high in the sky.
Fwoosh…
The next instant, Gai releases a barrage of fist attacks from both hands.
Bang… bang… bang…
The flurry of attacks lands on Madara, but he gets enough time to shield himself with the Truth-seeking orb shield.
Several dents appear on the truth-seeking orb shield, but it recovers quickly due to its malleable property.
"We have to do something! At this rate, Madara will stall for enough time for Gai to run out of Eighth Gate."
"Let me try!"
Itachi makes a one-hand Ram seal and brings it in front of his right eye. Black lines appear around his eyes as he activates the Senjutsu seal.
"Gai, I will help you create an opening. Use it to your advantage!"
Itachi infuses enough Sage chakra into his right eye.
"Sage Art: Amaterasu,"
Shiing…
The pattern in his right eye flickers and pitch-black flames with a tint of white appear on Madara's Truth seeking orb.
The flames quickly spread across the entire Truth-seeking orb and burn it to cinders. The nature energy within the attack prevents the Truth-seeking orb from nullifying the jutsu.
Hmm…
Suddenly, Minato's expression changes. He swiftly throws a kunai between Gai and Madara.
Fwoosh…
The Truth-seeking orb dissipates to reveal six Truth-seeking spears rapidly flying in Gai's direction.
Swish…
It is at this moment; that Minato appears between the two. He holds a black cloak in his hand.
Swoosh…
Minato scoops the six Truth-seeking spears with the black cloak and teleports away.
BOOM…
A massive explosion occurs in the distant sea, creating six massive clouds of dust and debris.
RUMBLE… RUMBLE…
The ground trembles from the shockwaves and a massive tsunami wave rises in the sea.
Whoosh…
The next instant, Minato teleports beside the group with a haggard expression.
Huff… Huff…
He pants heavily.
Shoom…
At this moment, without any protection, Gai's fists also make contact with Madara's body.
A green and crimson aura envelops Gai's arm as he punches Madara in the ribs.
Bang…
A muffled sound echoes through the battlefield. A blast of high-pressure compressed air blasts through Madara's body.
Bleugh…
Madara coughs a mouthful of blood. A massive explosion occurs in the sky as Madara detonates another Truth-seeking orb.
HAAH…
Kushina, who has been keeping an eye on Madara, makes her move the instant Madara detonates his Truth-seeking orb.
An adamantine chain quickly wraps around Gai's leg and swiftly pulls him away from the range of the explosion.
Despite her efforts, the outer radius of the explosion still hits Gai. The explosion blasts into Gai's front body and his clothes burns to cinders and infuses into his skin.
Gai's veins burst out like lava and several scorch marks spread across his body. Crimson lines spread across his entire body, his blood circulation system on the verge of collapse.
Despite Gai's near-death condition, he still holds himself in the air by sheer will.
Madara also doesn't have it any better. In fact, his situation is even worse than Gai's.
Gai's punch not only destroyed Madara's ribs and spine, but it also punched a hole through Madara's chest. However, such a wound isn't fatal to Madara, the real threat is the blood vapors mixed with the green aura.
The corrosive power of these two not only eats away Madara's skin, it even corrodes his flesh; leaving behind a skeleton with several blood vessels, nerves, and inner organs.
Madara's current appearance is no different from a dried-out corpse with no outer skin in medical laboratories.
Thump… Thump…
Two heartbeats echo in rhythm.