Dressed * Power

Tobirama went back to his work. Hashirama sat on a small stool, held the script up to his eyes again, and his lips began to move.

People watching them watched, and whispers could be heard from the sidelines.

The reason is simple—they looked so beautiful dressed up today.

Hashirama was wearing a Japanese-style overcoat with pine green as the main color.

The dress is embroidered with blooming red, white, and yellow roses and golden butterfly patterns.

His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with some of it braided back. He wore black hakama pants, white tabi socks, and red-strap Geta, exuding an indescribable air of refined elegance, like a noble Samurai.

Tobirama wore a blue kimono with a black Haori over it, the Haori of which was adorned with a fluffy white fur trim, making him appear exceptionally powerful.

The Camellia pattern embroidered on the lining of his Haori subtly emerged as he moved.

She wore a blue and white sash adorned with the Senju Clan Crest, and light gray hakama trousers.

With white hair Red Eyes, even the red scratches on her face looked like deliberately applied makeup.

Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. Although Tobirama was handsome Tobirama ordinary days, this outfit instantly transformed him from a handsome but rigid leader into a delectable one.

The oppressive atmosphere has lessened considerably, which explains why someone would approach you at a time like this.

Hashirama Senju also attracted a lot of attention. If everyone didn't know that he was a married man and that his unreliable image was so deeply ingrained in people's minds, he would probably be surrounded by unwanted romantic advances.

The door was pushed open. Madara walked in.

He was dressed up today as well.

Her hair was pulled back and tied into a large braid, and she wore a dark navy blue Haori with a red and black kimono underneath.

The hexagonal tortoise shell pattern and Clan Crest on the waist and cuffs of the Haori silently proclaimed the Uchiha's identity.

The wide sleeves of the Haori are adorned with red and gold stripes, resembling a battle flag ready to be unfurled at any moment. Paired with black hakama trousers, the entire person resembles a sharp blade concealed in its sheath, ready to be drawn at any time, exuding an aura of unparalleled dominance.

This outfit might be too formal and flamboyant on Ordinary People, but the vibrant colors, which even covered half of Ban's face, couldn't suppress, elevated the entire outfit to a whole new level.

When he entered, the whispers in the room stopped for a moment, then resumed with an even more frequent buzzing.

Several female employees carrying documents walked down the corridor, their pace noticeably slowing.

The spot seemed oblivious to the reactions around it.

He walked straight up to Hashirama, glanced down at the crumpled script in his hand. "Haven't memorized it yet?"

"I've memorized it!" Hashirama slapped the script on his knee. "I'm just reinforcing it!"

Madara ignored him and turned to scan the room. "Where's Tobirama?"

"They went to the Guard Corps." Hashirama folded the script and tucked it into his sleeve, then stood up. "What about over there?"

"Izuna is showing people around the park. The floats have already left," Madara said. "They'll be here soon."

Hashirama blinked. "Shouldn't you be the finale on the float?"

"Yes. But they haven't reached the tunnel yet, I can go later."

Hashirama gave Dead-Fish Eyes. "Tobirama said I was relaxed. You're the most relaxed one here!"

Ban pouted, "After all, I really don't trust you."

"I'm not that unreliable, am I...?"

"Alright." Madara lowered his arm. "I'm here to deliver a message to you, Dai Izuna."

Hashirama placed the script on his lap. "What?"

"No matter what happens later, don't make a fuss. Just finish reciting your declaration."

Hashirama's eyebrows slowly furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know either," Ban said. "Anyway, since he said so, just do as he says."

"... Okay. Shouldn't you go back now?"

"Oh, indeed. I'll be going then." Madara turned around, his dark blue sleeves sweeping across the door frame.

Before leaving, he smiled at the employee who passed by, startling the employee so much that they dropped their documents.

Hashirama watched Madara stagger away and muttered to himself, "Why does Madara seem more... uh, more cheerful lately? Is it just my imagination...?"

When Ban returned to the Amusement Park, the parade floats had already reached their final stage.

The cheerful Shamisen and taiko drums echoed along the entire park avenue, were caught by the tree walls on both sides, and bounced back, making the air tremble slightly.

The dancers twirled to the beat of the drums, their dresses spinning into blooming flowers.

The jugglers tossed the colorful balls higher than Ferris Wheel, the gold powder on the balls leaving delicate streaks of light in the sunlight.

Colorful ribbons shot out from the edge of the float, were caught by the wind, twisted into wave shapes in the air, and then fluttered down.

In the distance, a fairy in a colorful dress glides down from a high-altitude cable car, her clothes billowing in the wind, like a cloud drifting down from the mountaintop.

Where she passed, petals fell from the basket, swirling and fluttering above the heads of the crowd.

On the float, Akari had already shed her Jūni-hitoe and was now wearing the same outfit she wore when she played Taira no Tokuko. She and her fiancé Tetsuya, were dancing a duet unlike anything seen before in this era.

It's not the rigid, ceremonial dance of court music, but something lighter and freer.

Tetsuya held her wrist, and she used the force to twist it open, the hem of her Karakinu and the edge of her hakama pants drawing two parallel arcs in the air.

Both of them had smiles they couldn't suppress on their faces.

People and colors intertwine, surging in like a living rainbow.

Ban looked closely and saw that the Daimyo and his Daimyo's Wife had somehow gotten onto one of the floats, and the wife was scattering flower petals around, having a great time.

The Cheshire cat sat on the lower level, yawning with utter boredom.

Envoys from other countries also joined in the revelry.

Several acrobats jumped down, bowed to the Envoys, handed them the wine dishes they were holding, and jokingly led them back into the procession.

The Envoy from the Land of Lightning had already dismounted from the Summoning Beast. He laughed loudly, swaying his hips with the beauties around him, and then downed his wine in one gulp.

Unable to resist the enthusiasm, Ishimi rode his wolf and followed the group forward, somewhat bewildered.

The Envoy from the Land of Water adapted well. When the flower ball suddenly fell into his hands, he instantly understood the thrower's intention and made a beautiful long throw, sending the flower ball into the circular frame set up in front of him.

Everyone cheered.

As for that guy from the Land of Wind... for reasons unknown, he put on a fox ear headdress that he'd snatched from some actor's head, and with a fox plush toy tucked into his arms, he cheered loudly at the float carrying a giant chibi-style Nine-Tails Fox.

In this lively parade of floats, dancers' footsteps shattered the rhythm on the ground, the air was filled with the aroma of fruit wine, and laughter was impossible to suppress.

Ban stood at the tunnel entrance.

Looking at all this, he smiled softly.

When they visited before, there were no floats or Shadow Clone crowd of people; they just went through the process briefly.

At the time, they only thought the floats were beautiful, the music was lovely, and the dances were quite novel, but they never expected that the parade would be so grand once it was actually staged.

No wonder Izuna said that at the time.

"Brother Ban, if you don't try your best, you won't leave an impression on people."

Ban stood at the tunnel entrance, gazing at the river of people and colors, and chuckled softly. "Hmph, daring to underestimate me. But since that's the case, it would be a loss of face not to give it my all."

Susanoo rose up from the ground.

Blue Chakra surged from Madara's feet, enveloping his skeleton, meridians, and armor layer by layer, shaping him into a towering Giant in a few breaths.

It stands at the end of the Amusement Park, its shoulders and back pressed against the eaves of the Tenshukaku. Sunlight filters through the gaps in its ribs, casting huge beams of light onto the ground.

The music in the parade stopped.

The dancers tilted their heads back, the performers on the floats forgot their movements, Wakako almost dropped the basket of flower petals in her hand.

Someone abruptly reined in the Summoning Beast, while someone else instinctively placed their hand on the hilt of their knife.

But before the fear could rise from the depths of their hearts to their throats, the Giant suddenly took flight.

Its feet left the ground, its body leaned slightly backward, and it rose into the air in a graceful, upward arc. A stream of Chakra light, like the hem of a robe, left a long trail behind it, as if someone had drawn a thick stroke of ink on the sky.

Ban's voice came down from mid-air, deep and loud, echoing throughout the entire Amusement Park.

"I am Madara Uchiha! To show my respect for you all, I have come to offer my final tribute!"

Blue-flame Tomoe materialized in Susanoo's palms. Three, then three more, then six more.

"This move is a celebratory gesture! Let this move represent my joy to you all!"

They flew out from between the Giant's fingers, trailing blue flames, like a group of shooting stars flying in reverse, skimming over the roof of the Tenshukaku, over the top of the Ferris Wheel, over everyone's upturned foreheads, and soaring straight up to a height of a thousand meters.

Then it exploded with a deafening roar.

One after another, they spread out like a flowing blue sea of light against the pale blue sky.

Tiny specks of Chakra light fell from the sky like a gentle rain that wouldn't wet your clothes, a beautiful and dreamlike sight.

Everyone was stunned.

Susanoo slowly turned around in mid-air, its arms outstretched as if embracing the entire Amusement Park.

The crowd was silent for a few seconds, then a huge cheer erupted from within.

Cheers erupted from the Konoha Ninjas.

The cheers were shouts that burst forth directly from their chests. They looked up at the still-lingering blue rain of light, captivated by its pure power and beauty.

Some people were shouting "Lord Madara," some were shouting "Konoha," and some didn't care about any words at all, they were just yelling at the top of their lungs towards the sky.

Daimyo burst into laughter.

Yuan Yusheng stood on the float, holding onto the railing with one hand, smiling broadly.

He turned his head and said something to Wakako beside him. His voice was drowned out by the cheers, but his lips clearly formed the words: "See that? These are the Ninjas of our Land of Fire!"

Wakako didn't answer. She was still looking up at the slowly dissipating blue mist, the flower basket in her hand tilted in her arm, a few petals slipping off the edge and landing on her sleeve, but she didn't notice.

None of the Envoys from other countries uttered a sound.

They either rode on the backs of Summoning Beasts or stood among the actors, but their smiles were no longer relaxed, cheerful, or at ease.

It was nailed to the face, like a mask that had been forgotten to be taken off.

Only now did the Envoys understand why the Daimyo granted the Ninjas such great power.

That was pure force, pure fear.

No word can describe this sense of oppression; the heavens and earth seemed to collapse before it, and the force of the impact and vibration could be felt even above the clouds, as if mountains were pressing down upon it.

It made them instantly realize that it was something that could kill them.

Having never faced such combat power before, they now realized just how ignorant they had been in the past.

How dare they underestimate Ninja with such power? They must have a death wish.

But what Ōnoki, as Ninja, saw was more real.

He didn't even fully understand what level of Chakra release that had just occurred; he only knew one thing.

If that attack hadn't been aimed at the sky, but rather at the ground...

Then the land where he is standing, along with the surrounding mountains, will disappear.

It wasn't destroyed, it disappeared.

Like a drop of water evaporating, it was wiped cleanly from this world.

He had thought that only the Dust Release Kekkei Tōta limit unique to their Iwagakure, could cause such destruction, but now he understood.

Absolute power can crush everything; Kekkei Tōta of the Three Chakras, a combination of three types, is nothing more than acrobatics in the face of absolute power.

And this was the power that man possessed simply by swinging his arm while standing inside the Giant.

This is the Asura of the Ninja World.

And there is another such entity.

The one who supposedly defeated him, Hashirama Senju.

Just how strong is that person—no, just the God of Shinobi— who can defeat this guy who can summon natural disasters at will?

Ōnoki slowly and with all his might swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The float procession continued moving forward. The music started again, the dancers began to twirl again, and the ribbons sprayed into the sky once more.

It was as if nothing had happened, but everyone's eyes looked different than before.

Izuna stood on his float and turned to look at Madara standing beside him.

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Ban. The results are excellent," he said.

Ban chuckled, "So-so."