Chapter 49: Madara
The Land of Grass.
Above the forested terrain, the piercing cry of a hawk echoed through the skies.
Kagami slowly opened his eyes, the three tomoe in his Sharingan spinning in unison.
This was the resonance of ocular power.
This was the pull of bloodline and destiny.
Even separated by kilometers, two sets of Sharingan connected across the void.
A surge of immense chakra swept across the air.
As the younger Uchiha, it was only polite to announce his presence.
"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Destroyer!"
A sea of fire erupted, consuming the horizon and blotting out the sun.
The deafening roar of the blaze tore through the sky, a tidal wave of flames stretching for kilometers.
Then, the inferno shifted. Kagami's hands moved, his chakra molding the fire.
One by one, massive dragon heads emerged from the sea of flames, their roars echoing through the skies as they prepared to descend.
In the mountains below, Madara Uchiha gazed upward at the fiery spectacle. His lips curled into a faint smile as he brought his iconic Gunbai to the front.
Impressive fire-style jutsu, but it's meaningless against me.
The flaming dragons hovered in place, seemingly waiting.
The hawk carrying Kagami flew closer, its wings slicing through the hot air.
The land below began to shift. Circular craters formed as massive chunks of earth were torn from the ground, as if an invisible force had dug them out.
"Earth Style: Mudstone Mausoleum," Kagami murmured.
But unlike the standard technique, the enormous rocks did not fly toward the enemy.
Instead, they were drawn into the flames above.
With a deafening crack, the stones burst apart, merging into the fiery dragons.
Madara's interest was piqued.
Clever. Combining fire and earth elements to amplify the destructive power of the flames?
From atop his hawk, Kagami let out a booming laugh.
"Madara-sama, I humbly ask for your judgment!"
"Ninja Art: Meteoric Dragon Swarm!"
The sky shattered as fiery meteors rained down, each dragon-like projectile carrying the wrath of the heavens.
"Interesting," Madara muttered, still calm amidst the chaos.
Standing in the heart of the inferno, his aged face displayed no fear.
"For a greeting, this is acceptable."
With a single hand seal, Madara countered.
"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Annihilation."
A torrent of fire roared forth, dwarfing Kagami's technique in sheer scale. The collision of the two flames obliterated the boulders infused in the dragons, reducing them to ash.
The resulting inferno illuminated the battlefield, the heat distorting the air and charring the earth.
From the blaze, Kagami emerged, his figure cutting through the inferno.
In an instant, he was at Madara's side, his blade slashing through the air.
Despite his age and weakened body, Madara's reflexes remained unparalleled. With a flick of his wrist, the chain of his scythe intercepted Kagami's blade.
Madara's gaze fell to the sword in Kagami's hand.
"Meizoku…" he murmured, recognizing the weapon.
"It seems you've inherited it."
The blade had belonged to Izuna, Madara's beloved younger brother.
Kagami's lips twisted into a feral grin.
"Don't grow too sentimental, or this sword might break under my strike."
An invisible slash emanated from Kagami's blade, aimed directly at Madara's head, chest, and abdomen.
Kagami wasn't holding back. Against a legend like Madara, restraint was not an option.
A faint blue glow surrounded Madara as a skeletal layer of Susanoo armor materialized.
"An invisible technique," Madara noted.
"Your unique style. I'm aware of it."
With a slight movement, the chain tightened, and the overwhelming force behind Madara's scythe nearly brought Kagami to his knees.
What monstrous strength… Kagami thought, gritting his teeth.
"I may be old, but you're still too young," Madara said calmly.
"I've fought men who could shatter mountains with their bare hands—like Hashirama."
Kagami pushed back with all his might, his muscles straining against the pressure.
"I have a question," Kagami said, his voice steady despite the struggle.
"Why did you believe that Hashirama would take his own life? What weapon could kill someone like him?"
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've uncovered much, it seems. But that question is naive."
Madara's voice softened, tinged with nostalgia.
"Someone like Hashirama… at that moment, if I hadn't stopped him, he would have done it. His resolve was absolute."
Even after everything that happened, Madara never doubted Hashirama's commitment.
Kagami tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
"And do you regret it? If you had let him die, would things have been better?"
"Regret?"
The battle paused momentarily, the two men locked in conversation as though they weren't fighting to the death.
"The one who faltered was Hashirama. If regret is owed, it is his burden to bear, not mine."
"I have always walked the correct path."
Kagami smiled faintly, realizing there was no point in revealing the truths he had uncovered.
There's no point in telling him. He, like me, will only ever trust his own judgment.
"Very well," Kagami said.
"But I believe I am the one who is correct."
Chakra erupted from Kagami, dark threads of energy wrapping around his wrists as his strength surged.
With a sharp movement, Kagami broke free from Madara's scythe.
Madara leapt back, observing with interest.
"Such dense yin energy… even for an Uchiha, this is remarkable."
"Let me ask, Kagami," Madara said, his tone curious.
"What is the correct path you claim to follow?"
Kagami's smile grew wider, his twin blades humming with energy.
"That doesn't matter."
"Victory will make my path the correct one. The defeated have no voice."
Madara's laughter echoed across the battlefield.
"Well said, Kagami. Well said!"
The forest around them was gone, consumed by fire. The barren land was now their stage.
"I can see it—the hunger for battle in your eyes. You're like me, and yet… you carry Izuna's clarity."
Madara's voice softened.
"It brings me great joy to meet you."
Kagami's gaze sharpened.
"You and Izuna were simply born before me. Don't get the wrong idea."
With a sharp motion, Madara adjusted his stance, holding his Gunbai in one hand and his scythe in the other.
"Introductions are over," Madara said, his smile returning.
"Now… let's begin."
The two warriors collided with a thunderous roar, their clash shaking the very earth beneath them.
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