Chapter 77: A Clash with a Legend
Akatsurugi's mind raced. How much does he know? The fact that Madara was waiting for him here suggested his intelligence was thorough.
"Since you know who I am, this simplifies matters," Uchiha Madara stated, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Using the Mangekyō will eventually blind you. I possess the method to avoid that fate. The question is, boy, are you willing to become my disciple?"
The offer was startlingly direct, and the terms were tempting. But to follow Uchiha Madara? The thought was absurd. Akatsurugi had a comfortable life in Konoha. More importantly, becoming Madara's disciple offered no real security. A man like him trusted no one. He'd likely implant some control seal or other failsafe without a second thought.
"Thank you for your offer, Senior," Akatsurugi replied, his voice firm. "But I already have a teacher. I must decline."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Madara's weathered face. "Boy, do you understand the consequences of refusing me?"
Akatsurugi's body tensed, every instinct screaming to be ready. "Of course, I do."
"You have courage. A pity." Madara shook his head, almost sadly. In an instant, his eyes morphed into the Mangekyō pattern. A colossal, blue skeleton erupted around him, its fist already driving toward Akatsurugi with the force of a landslide.
Susano'o.
Akatsurugi, already on high alert, vanished from the spot just before the impact, the shockwave tearing the ground where he'd stood.
"Since you've inherited the Mangekyō," Madara mused, his arms still casually crossed within the skeleton's ribcage, "you must possess a Susano'o of your own. Show it to me."
Akatsurugi internally scoffed. Is he insane? His Mangekyō was already strained. He had never once considered using Susano'o; the ocular strain was catastrophic. Unless he someday acquired Hashirama's cells, he would never use that technique. It wasn't his forte, and pitting it against Madara's would be suicide.
"Heh." Seeing no response, Madara didn't press. The skeletal fist hammered down again, and Akatsurugi became a blur of motion, a mouse dodging a titan's blows.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Madara's hands formed a seal. The skeletal Susano'o opened its jaw and unleashed a tsunami of flame.
Akatsurugi didn't move. The fire washed over him and parted around his body, leaving him utterly unscathed. He was completely immune.
"Fire immunity?" Madara's eyebrow twitched in mild interest. "A truly unique physique. Similar to the Hōzuki Clan's Hydrification technique."
But he was Uchiha Madara. His Mangekyō swirled, and the skeleton around him began to morph, sprouting muscles, armor, and a terrifying aura. In moments, a complete, towering Humanoid Susano'o, a hundred meters tall, stood between heaven and earth. The sheer scale of it was breathtaking.
"Since Fire Style is useless, try this." As he spoke, the Susano'o drew a chakra blade longer than a skyscraper and brought it down in a slash faster than sound.
The earth itself screamed. A canyon was carved into the landscape, a deep, ragged scar testifying to Madara's overwhelming power.
"And immune to physical attacks as well," Madara observed, his tone clinical as he watched Akatsurugi reform from the dispersed flames. He was gathering data, understanding the limits of this strange ability through firsthand experience.
"An excellent Kekkei Genkai. One I've not encountered before. But nothing in this world is perfect." His hands flew through another series of seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Blast!"
A torrent of water, vast enough to alter the local geography, erupted from the Susano'o's mouth. With the Rinnegan, Madara commanded all five basic natures with ease.
Seeing the battlefield rapidly transforming into a lake, Akatsurugi knew he couldn't fight here. He instantly shot into the sky, flying straight for Konoha. Why would he fight a death battle on unfavorable terrain when he could simply leave?
Watching him flee, Madara was momentarily taken aback, then let out a short, sharp laugh. Of course. If he can fly, why wouldn't he?
He released the Susano'o, his eyes shifting to the concentric circles of the Rinnegan.
"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)
A tremendous, invisible force grabbed Akatsurugi mid-flight, yanking him backward through the air.
"Damn!" Akatsurugi twisted in the grip of the force, his hands forming a seal. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Sage Art: Blaze Ball!"
The concentrated sphere of black-red fire shot toward Madara.
Madara frowned slightly at the unique chakra signature, simply raising his other hand.
"Preta Path: Ninjutsu Absorption!"
The fireball dissolved into nothing, its energy siphoned away. A black receiver rod materialized in Madara's hand, a tool meant for piercing and controlling.
"Hmph!" Akatsurugi grunted, jets of flame erupting from his feet to counter the pulling force. Before he could stabilize, Madara's next attack was already upon him.
"Shinra Tensei!" (Almighty Push)
A colossal wave of repulsive force slammed into Akatsurugi, hurling him backward like a leaf in a hurricane.
This is bad! Akatsurugi cursed internally. The Rinnegan in Madara's hands was on another level. The seamless flow between its abilities was terrifying.
But his elementalization held. Even amidst the water and the force, he remained intangible, though he could feel the strain increasing. The saturated environment was taking its toll.
"We can't stay here!" he thought, frowning at the expanding lake. Maintaining his form here was draining.
That, of course, was precisely Madara's intention.
"Oh? You can still maintain it? But it's having an effect, I see," Madara chuckled. He extended a hand, and using the Rinnegan's attraction, he whipped a massive waterspout toward Akatsurugi like a liquid lash.
Akatsurugi dodged again, his mind working furiously. How do I escape him? A prolonged fight was a losing proposition. He needed a way out, and he needed it now.