(Edited)
Due to the distance between the battlefield where Hashirama and Madara clashed and Konoha, Masaki couldn't sense any major movements from the village. Only the faint bursts of chakra light in the far distance indicated the immense power at play between the two. If the battle had been closer, Konoha would likely have been reduced to rubble.
The overwhelming force of their battle even altered the landscape, leaving behind a deep canyon. This battleground would later be named the Valley of the End.
If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, Masaki wouldn't have believed that there were individuals in this world capable of changing the terrain itself. Since the ancient battle between Kaguya and the Sage of Six Paths' brothers, only the battles between Asura and Indra could have had such an impact. Coincidentally, Hashirama and Madara represented the "Asura" and "Indra" of this era.
At this point, most of the high-level shinobi had already gone to the battlefield, though they dared not approach too closely, instead patrolling its outskirts. Meanwhile, Fumori Masaki and the younger shinobi remained in the village, ready to evacuate the villagers, especially the children, should they see the signal of defeat. They were to run as far as possible if that happened.
Everyone's faces were filled with anxiety and fear. They had thought peace had finally arrived, but now they were facing an unprecedented crisis. The young shinobi, raised in Konoha, struggled to maintain calm, but thanks to their training, they managed to keep their emotions in check.
Rimi nervously held Masaki's hand, her eyes fixed on the flashes and sounds from the distant battle, praying that Hashirama would emerge victorious.
Masaki took slow, deep breaths, sensing the flow of natural energy. He noticed that no significant amount of energy was being drawn in, which meant that Hashirama hadn't yet activated Sage Mode. It was clear that the battle between him and Madara, aided by the Nine-Tails, was still in full swing. Both combatants possessed enormous reserves of chakra, making it likely that the fight would drag on.
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On the Battlefield
Hashirama had anticipated the power of the Nine-Tails, but its strength was even greater than expected. Every attack required his full attention, while Madara remained poised, waiting for his moment. To avoid being caught off guard, Hashirama quickly summoned a Wood Dragon to restrain the Nine-Tails. The Wood Dragon could absorb chakra, providing a temporary hold on the beast.
Despite losing the Nine-Tails' assistance for the moment, Madara's fighting spirit remained undiminished. His movements were precise, his attacks relentless. As Hashirama focused on Madara, the Wood Dragon's grip on the Nine-Tails weakened. The beast was gradually breaking free.
How long has this battle lasted? Hashirama thought. This was, without a doubt, the most dangerous fight of his life. He had to give it his all, and for the first time, he doubted his own strength. Even during their battles before the village was founded, Madara hadn't pushed him this far.
His attention remained fixed on Madara and the Nine-Tails. He had lost track of time, only realizing how long the battle had gone on when he began to feel his chakra reserves dwindling.
Now, Madara had unleashed his newest move, combining his Susanoo with the Nine-Tails. Its power surpassed anything Hashirama had ever faced. His Wood Golem could no longer withstand the onslaught.
"Madara, are you really going to destroy our dream?" Hashirama asked, his voice hoarse from the prolonged battle. He stared at the blue chakra enveloping Madara.
Madara paused, his eyes meeting Hashirama's. "I told you, Hashirama, to achieve true peace, you are an obstacle."
Hashirama felt a sharp pain in his heart, making it difficult to breathe. He had hesitated to face Madara fully, hoping to save their bond, but it seemed Madara had chosen to sever it completely.
Realizing there was no turning back, Hashirama prepared to use all his strength. He clasped his hands together, blocking Madara's attack temporarily with his Wood Golem, and quickly absorbed natural energy. The markings of Sage Mode appeared on his face, signaling that Hashirama had entered his full power.
"This... what is this?" Madara muttered, shocked. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan could see the overwhelming chakra surging within Hashirama.
"Come, Madara!" Hashirama shouted, ready for the final confrontation.
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Back in Konoha, Masaki Fumori's eyes widened. He could feel the surge of natural energy. Hashirama had finally activated Sage Mode, signaling that the battle was nearing its conclusion.
"What... what's happening, Masaki?" Rimi asked. She realized how hoarse her own voice sounded as she spoke.
The battle between Madara and Hashirama would determine Konoha's survival. The fight had stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Fear of the unknown future gripped everyone, and they waited nervously for the outcome, having forgotten to rest or conserve their strength.
"The battle is about to end," Masaki whispered.
Rimi was surprised. How could Masaki know? From her perspective, the distant flashes and sounds seemed to intensify, not diminish. How could he be so sure?
Masaki remained focused on the distant battle. He could sense natural energy but had no way of perceiving chakra directly. He couldn't tell who would win. Although history suggested that Hashirama would emerge victorious, he couldn't discount the possibility of something going wrong.
However, his fears were unfounded. Soon, the agreed-upon victory signal was sent from afar.
The people in the village erupted in cheers of relief. As the tension dissipated, exhaustion swept over them, and they collapsed to the ground, drained but conscious.
Masaki let out a sigh of relief. Unlike the others, his connection to natural energy kept him feeling refreshed. He was ready to rush to the battlefield. He knew Madara had planted a trap in his own Mangekyō Sharingan, the technique known as Izanagi, which would activate when the time was right, allowing him to cheat death and escape. Masaki's goal was to prevent Madara from using Izanagi, stopping the rebirth of the Rinnegan.
Izanagi was the ultimate Uchiha technique, turning death into an illusion, but it had a crucial weakness: it had to be activated. Madara hadn't activated it immediately, instead setting it to trigger later, giving Masaki a chance to intervene.
Izanagi was tied to the Sharingan. If Masaki could destroy Madara's Sharingan before the technique was activated, it would lose its power entirely.
Masaki didn't know how Hashirama would handle Madara's body, but he suspected it would be hidden in secret. He had to ensure that Madara's body wasn't stolen or tampered with. His best option was to cremate it before Izanagi could take effect.
As he prepared to leave, Kagami, who had been sitting nearby, suddenly stood up and called out, "Masaki, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to check on Hashirama-sama. Even if he won, Madara brought a powerful beast with him, and Hashirama-sama might be injured," Masaki replied without turning around.
"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Uchiha Kagami insisted. He didn't care about Masaki's lack of respect toward Madara. After this battle, he felt disappointed in Madara himself. Even if their ideals were different, there was no need for Madara to attack the village, the very thing they had built together.
Masaki hesitated but then nodded. If Kagami came along, he could help manage Madara's body, increasing the chance of successfully cremating it. "Fine, come on then."
Masaki immediately dashed toward the battlefield, with Kagami following close behind. Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others wanted to join as well, but the village still needed protection, so they remained behind, awaiting the final outcome.