The blue aura turned red. At this moment, Maito Gai finally transformed from the Blue Beast into a Crimson Beast.
And this was power he had traded his life for.
Madara finally grew serious. In this moment, he sensed a threat of death.
It was a tremor from the depths of his soul, making Uchiha Madara burst into wild laughter.
"Hahaha, in this entire shinobi world, you are the only one who has caught my eye, Maito Gai! I acknowledge you!"
"First Step!"
Before the sound of his voice faded, the attack had already landed.
With a single kick, Gai slammed his foot hard into Madara's face. It was a movement that even the Rinnegan could not clearly perceive. This speed surpassed not only Madara's visual reaction, but even his neural response.
The power of the Seventh Gate and the Eighth Gate truly differed like heaven and earth.
"Second Step!"
Gai attacked again. Originally ordinary-looking punches and kicks, enhanced by incomparable speed, now granted Gai the capital to challenge the Sage of Six Paths.
"Third Step!"
"Fourth Step!"
Maito Gai's assault grew increasingly fierce, while Uchiha Madara was merely battered, his expression grim, his body somewhat distressed.
"Fifth Step!"
The final blow empowered by the Evening Elephant directly sent Madara flying backward. This finally caused Madara to be unable to suppress the turmoil within his body, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
This was the first time he had been injured.
Compared to Madara, Gai wasn't faring much better.
The Eight Gates was inherently a life-risking technique against an enemy. Now, his every move consumed his own life force. As the person experiencing it, Maito Gai could keenly feel the sense of powerlessness deep within his body.
"An impressive technique. However, I have already seen through its flaw!"
Uchiha Madara wiped the corner of his mouth with his hand. Possessing the Rinnegan, he had already discerned Maito Gai's current weakness. In his eyes, the flame of life represented by Gai's heart was slowly fading towards extinction.
He didn't need to fight; he only needed to hold on for a while, and Maito Gai would destroy himself.
This was an irreversible process.
A black sphere appeared before Uchiha Madara. Then, this sphere gradually thinned and expanded into a large orb, shielding Madara within its center.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this scene, Kakashi slammed his thigh in frustration.
Although he didn't know what technique Madara was using, he could guess that if Uchiha Madara employed it now, he must be confident it could defend against Gai's attack.
If his left eye were still the Sharingan, he could have used Kamui to open a gap, allowing Gai to strike.
But all of this was ultimately too late.
"Yagai!" (Night Guy)
Maito Gai wasted no words. At this moment, he would use his life to unleash his final brilliant light. He wanted to illuminate Konoha, to seize a chance for the village to survive.
Red chakra formed the head of a dragon. Then, Gai charged forward with all his might. His speed was extreme, and the shockwaves of his attack were ferocious. Everything standing in his path was shredded by the red chakra.
In the blink of an eye—no, in less time than a blink—Gai struck the black barrier. The intense vibrations even created dark ripples in the air.
These were distortions of space. At this moment, Maito Gai's taijutsu could actually affect space itself.
What terrifying power.
However...
The black barrier distorted, yet it did not suffer catastrophic destruction. Uchiha Madara inside remained completely unscathed.
Panting heavily, Gai stood before the black barrier. His hand seemed to want to touch it, to see what this thing was that could withstand his ultimate taijutsu.
But he no longer had the chance.
The Eight Gates had consumed his life force. Having fought until now, the flame of life in his heart was like a flickering candle in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment.
"Truly powerful taijutsu!"
Madara emerged from the black barrier. "You almost broke through the barrier formed by the Truth-Seeking Balls. Your taijutsu has earned my acknowledgment. I, Uchiha Madara, declare you the strongest!"
Powerless, Maito Gai collapsed heavily to the ground. He looked at Uchiha Madara, his eyes filled with regret.
Was it really just that little bit short?
Things like Truth-Seeking Balls are truly monstrous!
'So, were all my efforts in vain?'
'Lee... I'm sorry. I've let you down!'
Gai did not regret risking his life. He only regretted not setting a better example for Lee, not pushing his taijutsu to the absolute limit to defeat Uchiha Madara.
What a pity.
"I truly felt I might die under your final attack. You are incredibly strong. In my lifetime, I have experienced thousands of battles, large and small. Even in my fights with Hashirama Senju, I never retreated. Yet before you, I stepped back."
"You surpass Hashirama Senju!"
For someone he respected, Madara did not spare his praise.
"How hypocritical!"
"To think the legendary Uchiha Madara is such a hypocritical old man. It's quite disappointing." A pleasant female voice rang out. Then, Madara saw Maito Gai's body, which had seemed scorched by magma, begin to mend slowly. The flickering candle flame of life in his heart blazed strongly once more.
His life force had returned!
"How is this possible?" Madara stared in disbelief at Maito Gai. He had thought Gai would die, which was why he offered those words of praise. He truly never imagined Gai would survive, and this resembled a forbidden technique only the Uchiha clan should be able to use.
Izanagi!
A genjutsu that turns real damage into a dream, a genjutsu that can reverse outcomes.
The problem now was that Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke were currently engrossed in their brotherly discussion, and Uchiha Obito certainly wouldn't use such a technique for Maito Gai's sake.
"How am I alive?"
Gai stared at his fully restored body, feeling as though he were dreaming.
Hadn't he just died moments ago? How could he be alive again?
"Of course—because I saved you!"
Yakumo appeared at the edge of the battlefield. Watching Gai frantically checking his own body and sinking deeper into confusion, she rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"If you weren't a friend Hikari values, I wouldn't have bothered. Get back here, quickly!"
Gai didn't know Yakumo, but that didn't stop him from believing her words.
Body Flicker Technique.
Maito Gai appeared beside Yakumo. Looking at her, he scratched his head. "You are?"
"Enough chatter. Can't you see the enemy hasn't left yet!" Yakumo cut off Gai's words, then took a step forward, her gaze fixed intently on Uchiha Madara.
"Originally, I didn't want to meddle in your affairs. But I promised Hikari I would protect Konoha. So, could you please leave?"