Using the flames as cover, Shinji's figure instantly vanished from his original position.
He hid behind a thick tree, concealing himself, and peeked toward Madara Uchiha's direction.
He inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement: Even with one foot already in the grave, Madara Uchiha could still unleash such a terrifying Fire Release.
Madara Uchiha paid no attention to Shinji's disappearance, not even lifting his head. Instead, he praised Shinji's ninjutsu:
"Not bad power!"
"If I were still young, you would be worthy of following me."
Shinji knew that Madara Uchiha said this as if it were only natural.
Madara Uchiha slightly raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Shinji's.
"But still too green. Go, White Zetsu."
"Yes, Lord Madara."
Around Shinji's hiding spot, dozens of identical white figures slowly emerged from beneath the ground.
"So sad~"
They grinned with eerie smiles and charged toward Shinji in bizarre postures.
"Being watched?" Shinji frowned slightly.
It really was White Zetsu!
White Zetsu's Floating Technique allowed for concealed movement and long-range reconnaissance.
He had suspected earlier that the reason Madara Uchiha could intercept him at this moment was thanks to White Zetsu's efforts.
The soil beneath his feet trembled slightly, and the air was filled with the scorched smell of grass and trees burned by the flames.
Shinji raised his short sword, stomped hard on the ground, and using the ground's reaction force, shot like lightning into the midst of the White Zetsu swarm.
His short sword swung continuously, each slash severing a White Zetsu's body.
He darted and weaved among the White Zetsu, his Sharingan locking onto each one's vital points. Before long, the ground beneath him was littered with the shattered bodies of White Zetsu.
Yet, from beneath the ground, new White Zetsu emerged endlessly, surging forward one after another.
Shinji gritted his teeth, sensing his chakra depleting with each swing of his sword.
"Are they trying to wear me down?"
He realized the intention of these White Zetsu.
White Zetsu's combat ability wasn't strong; the trouble was their endless production. As long as there were resources, they could be continuously generated from the Gedo Statue.
Dealing with White Zetsu was pointless.
He could see beneath the ground, humanoid chakra figures constantly swimming upward.
"What a nuisance. Can't go on like this."
He casually cut down a White Zetsu charging at him. With a flick of his left arm, seven or eight shuriken flew out to the left and right, instantly encircling all the White Zetsu in a circle.
Shinji pulled with one hand, instantly binding all the White Zetsu together.
"It's not over yet!"
Shinji leaped into the air, sheathed his sword, and quickly formed hand seals with both hands.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique"
A scorching orange-red fireball completely engulfed all the White Zetsu.
"Aaaah!"
The flames exploded, immediately followed by the White Zetsu's agonized screams.
Shinji landed on a tree trunk, pushed off with his legs, drew his short sword from his back once more, and charged straight toward Madara Uchiha.
To capture the rebels, first capture the leader.
"Good judgment."
Madara Uchiha watched Shinji charging toward him without a trace of panic.
Chakra surged within his body, and a layer of blue skeletal structure instantly manifested around him.
Clang!
The blade struck the blue bone armor, instantly producing a deafening roar as if it had hit steel.
A tremendous recoil force surged through the blade, numbing Shinji's arm and sending his body flying backward from the impact.
Madara Uchiha looked up, his tone carrying an undeniable arrogance:
"This is the difference between us!"
Before his words faded, the blue skeletal arm reached out, fingers spread wide, aiming straight for Shinji, who had been sent flying.
At that moment, Shinji's entire body erupted with boiling chakra. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, eventually transforming into three vortex-like patterns.
Mangekyō!
Orange bones instantly covered his entire body, forcefully holding back the hand of Madara Uchiha's Susanoo.
Shinji extended his right hand, and the orange Susanoo followed suit, thrusting out a massive arm that heavily collided with the blue skeletal arm reaching for him.
Madara Uchiha's pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed in shock:
"You've actually awakened the Mangekyō too!"
This was something he had never anticipated. In his understanding, only the most exceptional of geniuses could awaken the Mangekyō.
Without experiencing extreme suffering, it was impossible to open the eyes.
Madara Uchiha truly couldn't see how Shinji possessed such talent.
The situation had now completely slipped from his control.
He suddenly felt that choosing Obito might have been a mistake.
The person before him seemed far more suited to carry out his Moon Eye Plan.
Shinji, however, paid no mind to what his opponent was thinking.
"Die!"
He growled, his right eye focusing slightly as space twisted into a gate—Heavenly Stone Gate activated.
Along with his Susanoo, his figure vanished instantly, reappearing the next moment directly behind Madara Uchiha.
The orange arm suddenly elongated, fiercely grabbing for the tube connected to the back of Madara's neck.
"I'm going to torment this old man!"
Shinji cursed inwardly. If it weren't for this guy, he wouldn't have been forced to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Madara Uchiha's instincts screamed in alarm as he sensed the threat from behind.
"Damn it!"
Instantly, the skeletal structure around him expanded, rapidly growing blood vessels and muscles, transforming into a complete half-humanoid Susanoo.
He swung a blue light sword backward, slashing fiercely at Shinji's Susanoo arm.
At the critical moment, the light sword precisely severed the orange skeletal hand.
Madara Uchiha steadied himself, breathing heavily. After all, he was too old, and his strength had greatly diminished. He had thought he could easily defeat Shinji but hadn't expected to have underestimated him.
Before he could catch his breath, he saw a trickle of blood seep from the corner of Shinji's left eye.
A viscous, eerie Black Water instantly surged from around Shinji, winding toward the tube. Wherever it passed, it seemed to dissolve everything subtly.
"Bottom Spring Fate!"
Madara Uchiha cried out the name of this Dōjutsu, clearly aware of its power. He couldn't let it touch the tube.
Dragging his aged body forward, he lunged, his massive Susanoo instantly blocking the path, forcefully holding back the surging Black Water.
Immediately, a sizzling, dissolving sound pierced the air.
The Susanoo began to show signs of melting!
"Damn brat!"
"Lord Madara!"
White Zetsus emerged from the ground one after another, sensing the crisis and instantly surrounding them.
Shinji's gaze sharpened, and the Black Water was summoned once again, instantly enveloping all the White Zetsus.
He controlled the Black Water to seep underground, and immediately, another series of agonized screams echoed through the forest.
Shinji felt a surge of exhilaration coursing through his entire body. Madara Uchiha, with his overwhelming combat prowess, was actually being suppressed by him.
He raised his eyes to look at Madara Uchiha and laughed heartily toward the sky. "As expected of a senior from the Uchiha clan. Among all the old men I've fought, I'm willing to call you the strongest."
Madara Uchiha violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his inner rage churning wildly.
Aside from Hashirama, this was the first time he had been forced into such a wretched state by someone.
"You bastard!"
Shinji's Ocular Power surged once again, and the Susanoo surrounding him began to sprout blood vessels and flesh, transforming into a complete half-humanoid form.
A long blade materialized behind the Susanoo. Shinji controlled the giant as it slowly drew the blade and swung it down fiercely toward Madara Uchiha's head!
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