[Earth Release: Tenson Seichū] represents overwhelming power, while [Lightning Release: Senken Zesshou] symbolizes ultimate speed, yet both are classified as forbidden techniques.
Sage Mode boosts Haseo's strength and resilience well beyond his usual limits, letting him wield those dangerous techniques with ease. So, technically speaking, they don't even deserve to be called "forbidden techniques" anymore.
Unless, of course, Haseo gets bored and decides to pull another stunt.
This time, it wasn't about innovation—just another massive, straightforward stacking maneuver.
As the second meteor split in two mid-sky and its descent veered sideways, the dull, dark-toned Earth Release statue on Haseo's body instantly radiated glaring white light.
Though the distant blazing Ball of Light flickered from the impact of the falling meteors, the chakra flames surging up from the Earth Release statue remained unwaveringly intense.
The desolate terrain, crimson fields, and turbulent air gave this battlefield an apocalyptic atmosphere.
The impact happened in an instant.
Madara Uchiha was still surprised that the second meteor had been cut down so easily, but before he could fully process what was happening, a beam of light had already "teleported" right in front of him.
When something that massive moves at such incredible speed, the momentum alone is enough to make even Madara flinch.
A reckless brute charging headfirst into battle—he'd never seen anyone like this before.
The Earth Release statue repeated the same motion used to slash through the meteor, angling the energy blade trailing beside it and slicing downward at the Susanoo's waist.
Fifty meters versus thirty meters—the difference in size was huge. They were clearly not even close to being on the same level.
The Susanoo traced a perfect arc through the air as it was cleaved away by this heavy, lightning-fast strike.
Whether this familiar clash reminded Madara of the technique known as "Hokushin Hyotantsugi" (the "Northern Heart Divine Cannon" attack) remains unknown.
Well then, there's really no comparison. Hashirama Senju's strength was solid and grounded—nothing like Haseo's reckless forcing together of two forbidden techniques.
But this version of Madara Uchiha isn't at full strength either.
Unable to use his full power, one wonders if Madara feels any frustration in his heart—like a tiger fallen from the mountains or a phoenix disgraced on the plains—that's exactly what he has become now.
Even after forcibly restoring his youthfulness and suffering from physical corruption, Madara shouldn't only be capable of showing this level of strength.
He doesn't even need to lift a finger—with just his eyes alone, he should be able to reign over the world.
Yet Madara didn't display that kind of ability. The proud Madara Uchiha seemed to have imposed a self-limit upon himself. Below that line was his realm of action; above it, perhaps out of arrogance, he refused to act—or maybe, for some other reason, he simply couldn't.
Unlike the Earth Release statue created from a grafted form, these Rinnegan eyes originally belonged to Madara Uchiha—they should surely be capable of more than this.
Up until now, Haseo's impression of Madara had been… Hmm, it felt like they were fairly well-matched.
After delivering that slash, the Earth Release statue automatically released all its buffs. Standing atop its shoulder, Haseo clasped his hands together and gathered natural energy once again.
Several deafening rumbles echoed from the ground as the meteor split in two and crashed down. At the same time, the Susanoo was sent flying backward, tumbling several times before hitting the ground, sending thick plumes of dust billowing into the sky along with the falling debris.
Then, as if blown apart by a typhoon, the distant smoke and debris violently scattered outward. Soon after, half-intact and half-skeletal Susanoo flew low across the ground—and as it moved, its severely damaged side gradually restored itself.
That just felt unfair—how could something that massive actually fly?
The Susanoo held a long blade in each hand, making its wingspan look absurdly exaggerated.
As it drew closer, the Susanoo swung both blades left and right, slicing sharply toward Haseo's Earth Release statue like a pair of shears snapping shut.
The Earth Release statue didn't even react—before it knew it, it was cleanly sliced into three pieces.
Before Haseo stood yet another question—how could anyone hope to break this kind of defense? Even a downsized version of Madara's Perfect Susanoo would never be pierced by a single kunai.
Haseo's figure fell alongside the collapsing Earth Release statue. The Susanoo swung its blade once more, aiming straight toward Haseo's tiny frame.
Yet just as the immense Chakra Blade descended overhead, Haseo nimbly maneuvered around using broken limbs and fragments of the Earth Release statue… such exaggerated motions and slow, heavy attacks were surely no match for a ninja like Haseo's speed and agility.
But there were also attacks in this world that no matter how evasive you were, you couldn't possibly escape.
Madara Uchiha raised one hand forward, palm open, then suddenly clenched it into a fist.
[Planetary Devastation]!
The shattered Earth Release statue and surrounding terrain immediately began converging inward toward a central focal point, as though the entire space was collapsing under the pull of a black hole.
Included within this gravitational pull was naturally Haseo himself.
Was Madara just showing off the Rinnegan's power? Surely Haseo wasn't so troublesome that he required such an overwhelming sealing technique.
The meteor, originally spherical, was now reshaped into a perfect orb and floated midair.
Haseo appeared to be trapped between crevices in the rocks.
"Monkey-like..."
Just as Madara turned to deliver a smug remark about his work, he suddenly sensed something and swiftly spun around!
Indeed, a kunai was already stabbing toward him from behind.
Madara blocked Haseo's strike with his wrist, but his gaze first fixed upon his own right arm—where the character "Yu" clearly surfaced.
[Flying Thunder God]
"I spent thirty years mastering a jutsu that others could perfect in three months. That's not excessive, right?"
Whether it was Sage Art or the Flying Thunder God, the amount of time it took Haseo to go from first trying to truly mastering them seemed absurdly long. In that sense, he really wasn't what you'd call gifted. Yet, in the end, he was indeed a fortunate person.
Because all his efforts and sacrifices had paid off in real, meaningful ways. Haseo felt he didn't need the instantaneous achievements of a genius. This feeling—that every bit of effort brought its own reward—felt far more real and satisfying instead.
Alright, now that everyone's inside Susanoo, how exactly is Uchiha's "Absolute Defense" going to take effect?
"You always remind me of someone I really hate."
"I've told you before — it's an absolute honor, really."
"But personally, I kinda like that guy. Maybe it's because you've only ever seen him alive, while I've only seen him when he's about to die."
(End of this chapter)
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