"Disgusting?!" Uchiha Madara was furious to the point of exploding.
The pride of the Uchiha was well-known to all. Since becoming a ninja, he had always had it easy, continuously showcasing his talents, gradually becoming the most powerful ninja in the shinobi world.
Now, he had become a mere backdrop, and this was something his inner pride couldn't accept.
"Wood Release: Flowering Tree World Descend."
Massive tree branches rose from the earth, mountains split apart, and rocks crumbled. These branches continually shot up from the ground, forming a vast forest of branches.
Flowers bloomed on the trees, and pollen filled the air.
Several ninja and Shinigami accidentally inhaled the pollen, instantly becoming paralyzed and collapsing to the ground.
"I didn't expect you to even know this jutsu, Madara," Hashirama muttered to himself, wearing a complex and helpless expression.
He understood that his former friend had certainly thoroughly studied his cells and even injected himself with Wood Release cells.
This was another level of being together forever.
This was an upgraded version of the Wood Release: Tree World Descend, capable of spreading poisonous pollen throughout an area.
Even Kage-level strongmen would fall victim to it.
Madara himself had experienced mental confusion after inhaling it in the past.
However, amidst the pollen-filled environment, Naruto remained clear-headed and moved freely.
A calm voice sounded, "It is said that no one can compare to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, even Uchiha Madara can't. Everyone believed he was the closest to the Sage of the Six Paths, but now, you have proven that you are much stronger than Hashirama."
"To express my respect, I will show you the power of the new era," Naruto said as he slowly drew his Zanpakuto.
"The era of ninjas will eventually end, and you will become history."
"End? Young man, I admit you are strong, but I am stronger," Madara laughed wildly. His third form, Susanoo, leaped onto the mountaintop, and the branches from the Flowering Tree World continuously extended towards Naruto.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A blazing fire erupted and ignited the trees flying towards Naruto.
"This ninja world only needs one absolute terror, and that's... Uchiha Madara!! Dance, young man!!"
Arrogant, insane.
Madara perfectly displayed the Uchiha clan's nature.
Under the influence of various jutsu, he temporarily suppressed the spiritual pressure pouring down from Naruto.
Susanoo in its third form swung down heavily.
"This is an attack where Hashirama and I gave it our all!!" Madara seemed to remember something, and a hint of pride crossed his lips.
"Shoot him, Spirit Gun." A dispassionate voice suddenly echoed in the air, followed by a flash of white light from the sky.
It was dazzling, radiant.
"What is that?!" Alarm bells rang in Madara's mind as a streak of white light flashed before his eyes.
He tried to dodge, but...
The white light pierced through everything.
It shone in the midst of the burning sea of trees from the Flowering Tree World, instantly piercing through Madara's third form, Susanoo, which was incredibly resilient.
Madara only felt a momentary blur in front of him, and the next moment, a cold sensation in his chest.
"Too slow," echoed Naruto's voice in his ears.
"Even death is so slow."
The blade retracted, and in an instant, Naruto's Zanpakuto returned to its original form in his hand.
Madara tentatively touched his wound with his left hand, disbelievingly opening his mouth. Clearly, he hadn't reacted in time.
A blade that could extend had pierced through his third form, Susanoo.
What kind of ability was this?
"Madara!!!" Hashirama's voice was full of grief and anger, but Madara found his consciousness drifting away, as if he were entering a state of chaos. The voices he heard were gradually becoming blurry.
Could it be that even the Rinnegan couldn't do anything against this opponent?
Had the old era truly been destined to be replaced?
My plans, my Rinnegan, even Hashirama's Wood Release, were all so powerless against his abilities?
Am I getting old?
Hashirama, maybe I have to leave first.
Madara's eyes gradually lost their light, and a purple mist enveloped him.
"Madara." Hashirama rushed over without hesitation, lifting Madara, desperately trying to wake him up. But Madara's consciousness was in a state of suspension.
"It's useless; the toxin from the Spirit Gun has frozen his soul," Naruto calmly said, extending his hand. The next moment, Madara, who was in Hashirama's arms, uncontrollably flew towards Naruto.
"Madara!!!" Hashirama leaped forward, rushing towards Naruto.
"Flowering Tree World Descend, Wood World Descend." The frenzied Hashirama used several famous jutsu, hoping to take Madara back from Naruto.
"God of the Shinobi, return to your rightful place. The world has changed," Naruto said without even glancing, then swung his sword.
"Hum." A crescent moon-shaped burst of spiritual pressure burst forth from his Zanpakuto, instantly shattering the jutsu of the First Hokage, and the Madara in Hashirama's arms was freed from control.
"Ten-Tails Jinchuriki~~~"
"They actually regard Madara as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki!!" Hiding in the battlefield, a hidden figure's face couldn't hide their shock and fear.
Naruto had searched through Madara's memories, so he knew everything and understood that the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was something he had originally prepared to unseal Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
What was Naruto's current goal? Could it be for... the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
The hidden figure's mind kept pondering, but now they had no more cards to play.
The strength of the ninja world's elites was even more inadequate than they had imagined.
And Naruto's power was much more terrifying than expected.
"Inject it into the Ten-Tails." Orochimaru, with a sinister smile, bound Madara to an operating table and began manipulating the machinery.
The machine slowly infused the energy of the Nine-Tails into Madara's body.