Chapter 214: Franklin vs. Uchiha Madara
Franklin let out a light breath. Illusory World Genesis activated instantly, and a White Zetsu with a newly born soul, along with Uchiha Madara's body, was formed on the spot.
He sliced off a large chunk of flesh from his own body and casually tossed it to the newly arrived Orochimaru. With a solemn expression, Franklin said:
"I don't have time to explain all the pointless details to you right now. Nagato, summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Orochimaru, use this White Zetsu to perform Reanimation on Uchiha Madara. Now."
Hearing Franklin's words, the pupils of the others shrank instantly. Shock and disbelief were written all over their faces.
"Now? Isn't it a bit too early?"
Franklin frowned slightly. Endless pressure erupted outward in an instant. The three were forced to bend under it, nearly driven to their knees.
The pressure lasted only a moment, vanishing just as they were about to collapse.
"I already told you—I don't have time for nonsense. Just do as I say.
"Let the ninja world experience in advance what battles between the predecessors looked like, so they can get used to the cruelty of war earlier."
Hearing this, Nagato stopped wasting words. He immediately formed hand seals, bit his finger, and slammed his palm onto the ground. In the next instant, the massive Demonic Statue of the Outer Path emerged.
At the same time, Orochimaru stopped hesitating. The Reanimation technique, refined and optimized by him, was activated instantly.
The White Zetsu used as the sacrifice was immediately enveloped by endless soil. As the seconds passed, an elderly Uchiha Madara appeared before everyone.
Without the slightest hesitation, Franklin placed one hand on Madara's forehead. Illusory World Genesis activated again.
In the next instant, the reanimated elderly Madara gradually grew younger, and a set of red lamellar armor formed over his body.
"Wake him up. Remove all restrictions on him."
"But—"
Orochimaru had just begun to speak when Franklin's extremely cold gaze locked onto him.
He said no more. Forming hand seals, he activated the technique. In the next moment, Uchiha Madara opened his eyes.
At first, his gaze was blank, but it quickly sharpened and brightened.
He carefully examined the people before him. When Franklin's face entered his vision, his pupils shrank instantly. Lowering his head to look at his own body, his expression gradually became grave.
"I know you—but not from this world. It seems that wasn't my delusion after all. And now this is the ninja world again… looks like your secrets truly run deep."
As he spoke, Orochimaru, who had been reanimated nearby, seemed to sense something. His eyes widened, and he unconsciously took a step back.
"You don't need to worry about that," Franklin said calmly. "You only need to know that everything I told you before was true."
"And now, your Eye of the Moon plan has been vetoed by me."
"I summoned you this time to give you two choices."
"First: be revived by me and sincerely assist me in unifying the ninja world. If possible in the future, I'll take you to see powerful beings from other worlds and experience other cultivation systems."
"Second: be beaten into submission by me, then obediently assist me in unifying the ninja world. In the future, you might also get the chance to see other worlds."
After Franklin finished presenting the two choices, Uchiha Madara laughed.
He laughed wildly, his voice booming so loudly that it echoed throughout the entire canyon.
"You're very confident. Then come—try beating me into submission."
Franklin grinned.
"Then let us dance together!!!"
They exchanged smiles and instantly charged toward each other, beginning the battle that had gone unfinished last time.
The Reanimation body, reinforced and enhanced by Franklin, was now only one-tenth weaker than Franklin's current physical body.
Their fists collided. Terrifying air pressure exploded outward. Nagato, Uchiha Obito, and Orochimaru were blown away instantly. Only the three girls remained unaffected, flying directly into the air.
"Shouldn't we help Master?" Astraea asked, pulling out her vibrating photon sword.
Nymph lightly flicked her on the forehead.
"Even Ikaros knows this isn't the time to interfere with Master venting his emotions. Don't cause trouble."
At this moment, Uchiha Madara suddenly stopped. He didn't continue attacking, instead staring blankly at his own fist.
Then he used all his strength to swing a slap to the side. A hurricane erupted instantly, uprooting countless trees and sending them flying into the distance.
"You strengthened this Reanimation body?"
Franklin nodded indifferently.
"The physical body is the weakest aspect of you ninja. Even though Reanimation bodies don't die, they're always awkward in actual combat."
Hearing this, Uchiha Madara curled his lips disdainfully.
"A pointless effort…"
As his words fell, Madara charged toward Franklin again. Their fists and shadows moved like the wind, every strike aimed at vital points.
Yet every attack was blocked by the other.
After years of virtual combat training, Franklin's close-quarters combat skills had long reached S-rank, consisting entirely of lethal techniques distilled from Chinese martial arts.
Seizing an opening, Franklin grabbed Madara's wrist and kicked forward.
Madara broke free, crossed his arms to block, and was sent flying by the kick. Franklin pressed the advantage and pursued.
Madara kicked off the air, twisted, and slammed a foot into Franklin's chest. Franklin was sent skidding backward across the ground. Just as he stabilized himself, Madara flew in with a right-side kick aimed straight at his head.
Blocking with both arms, Franklin borrowed the force to flip backward, his left leg snapping like a whip toward Madara's lower back.
The advantage shifted once again.
Franklin surged forward, every move striking for vital points. Soil flew everywhere.
With a roar, Madara erupted in blue light. Franklin was blasted away.
"I'm inferior to you in close combat! It was never my forte!"
Madara instantly activated the first form of Susanoo.
Only the upper body and two arms appeared—blue skeletal structures no more than five meters tall.
Even so, the massive arm swung directly at Franklin.
Franklin retreated rapidly, dodging the follow-up attacks. At that moment, his eyes transformed into Rinnegan.
Golden flames wrapped around his body as golden exoskeletal armor rapidly formed.
When the two locked eyes, Madara froze for a split second, then grew even more exhilarated.
Two upper-body avatars clashed again, grappling violently. Mountains crumbled. Trees collapsed.
Once again falling into a disadvantage, Madara no longer hesitated. He skipped the second form entirely and activated the third form of Susanoo.
After giving Franklin a provocative glance, the Susanoo transformed further.
A towering, sky-covering blue Perfect Susanoo formed instantly.
"This form—only Hashirama could rival it.
"You, who couldn't even handle Wood Dragon, how do you think you compare?"
"So this is Uchiha Madara's true strength? This is far too despair-inducing!"
"This is on a completely different level. No wonder Mr. Franklin said he wanted us to witness the battles of the older generation!"
Seeing Madara's smug smile, Franklin smiled as well.
He directly dismissed the half-finished Law of Heaven and Earth manifestation.
Then, before Madara's eyes, Franklin formed a set of hand seals Madara was extremely familiar with.
As Franklin slammed one hand onto the ground, Madara's expression changed instantly.
"That's impossible! How could you possibly use this kind of jutsu?!"