A Hard-Fought Battle

Watching Hanma's Lightning Release Armor, so similar to Susanoo, Setsuna's eyes widened.

He truly had not expected this Uchiha clansman, who had always been devoted to taijutsu training, to create a "taijutsu version" of Susanoo on his own!

Setsuna was inwardly calling out to the old clan leader with deep emotion. Lord Madara, look at the genius in our clan! While you were gone, the children have turned into some alternative Senju-style Uchiha!

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Setsuna blinked his already aching eyes and remarked, "This seems troublesome. What an incredible aura."

A faint smile also appeared on Tsunade's lips. "That bastard really is quite capable."

Hanma bent his knees slightly, and a rumbling voice like muffled thunder emerged from the armor. "Blood Lightning Armor. Please judge it for yourselves. This is also my first time using this technique in combat, so be careful, you two."

His legs exploded with force. The ground let out a pained groan, and earthquake-like cracks tore through the training ground, throwing dust high into the sky.

Hanma charged at Tsunade again. Clearly, she was already having trouble keeping up with the speed enhanced by his Blood Lightning Armor. The gale raised by his fist had already brushed past her ear, yet Tsunade's gaze had not even had time to focus.

Setsuna could see his movements clearly, but unfortunately, from seeing something to the brain reacting to calling out a warning took at least half a second. That was enough time for Hanma to throw several heavy punches!

Hanma's devastating elbow slammed viciously toward Tsunade. A thick protrusion of Blood Armor covered his elbow, making it look like an executioner's saber.

It was not that Hanma was so heartless that he insisted on treating Tsunade this way.

Rather, Setsuna's other ocular technique had yet to come into play. If he could succeed in one strike and take Tsunade out, victory would basically be assured.

What surprised Hanma was that Tsunade actually managed to react, albeit barely, from her stunned state.

Tsunade did not dodge. Instead, she drove a rising knee fiercely toward Hanma as well.

The two were instantly sent flying in opposite directions, carving two deep trenches into the earth.

Green medical Chakra swirled around Tsunade's left hand as she healed her fractured arm. With an unpleasant expression, she quietly reminded Setsuna:

"Go all out immediately. That guy's strength will not give us any room for mistakes."

Hanma was deeply baffled. How was this possible? With Tsunade's neural reaction speed, she should not have been able to respond.

And that explosive elbow strike had not directly shattered her bones?

That meant she had the strength to contend with him.

Lowering his head to look at his abdomen, Hanma found that even the exceptional defense provided by the Blood Lightning Armor could not withstand Tsunade's strength. A sweetness rose in his throat, and blood filled his mouth.

Hanma narrowed his eyes and looked at Setsuna, understanding part of the trick.

"Clan leader, what an excellent support-type Mangekyo!"

Setsuna smiled at that.

The left eye of this Mangekyo possessed powerful healing abilities, while the right eye greatly enhanced Chakra and perception.

Back then, Setsuna had only two wishes in his heart: to see Uchiha Madara defeat Hashirama Senju, and to save Madara's younger brother.

Setsuna tightened his slightly plump belly, brought on by old age, and murmured, "Are you ready to face the ultimate power of the Uchiha Clan?"

The cold Mangekyo ocular power enveloped Setsuna as though it had substance. Rings of white Mangekyo Chakra took shape in midair, and a warrior god's skeleton wrapped around Setsuna—Susanoo, First Form!

Setsuna's eyes were already bloodshot, while veins and flesh slowly grew over the warrior god's skeleton. A long, snow-white Tachi appeared in its hand—Susanoo, Second Form!

This was already the limit of what Setsuna could endure. The third form of Susanoo would don the Crow Tengu Armor, but an ordinary Mangekyo simply could not bear such consumption.

Hanma watched Setsuna with a grave expression. This old man was already pushing himself to his limit.

"Yasaka Magatama!"

White Magatama rained down upon Hanma, filling the sky. Each was more than half a person tall. Hanma repeatedly flashed aside as a series of violent explosions erupted behind him.

Tsunade also swiftly closed in on Hanma. As he dodged the Magatama, he no longer had much room to evade.

Tsunade leaped high into the air, gathering an enormous amount of Chakra around her body. "Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

This strike contained the vast Chakra supplied by the Katsuyu Sage, Tsunade's own explosive power, and the enhancement of Uchiha Setsuna's Mangekyo. It was incomparably fierce.

Hanma lowered himself into a half-squat stance. The muscles throughout his body bulged, and the Blood Armor on his arms thickened. He could only choose to take the attack head-on.

"Boom—!!!"

Even the Forest of Death containing the training ground trembled, as though a small earthquake had occurred. The collision of immense force whipped up violent winds and dust, forming wave after wave of sandstorms that swept across everything within several kilometers.

Kushina and Minato, who were watching the battle, were shaken about by the tremors. They stared helplessly at the approaching sandstorm, completely at a loss.

The Third patted Danzo, whose expression had grown increasingly grim. "Time to work, old friend."

Danzo silently stepped forward. "Wind Release: Vacuum Barrier Technique!"

The viewing platform was enveloped in gentle yet firm Wind Release Chakra, becoming the only Pure Land within several kilometers.

Inside the enormous crater, the two were still locked in a stalemate. Tsunade smiled faintly as she looked at Hanma, whose forehead was already beaded with sweat, and asked, "How did that feel, you heartless bastard?"

Hanma gave a faintly bitter smile. What heartless bastard? What kind of strange setup was this?

He already understood that after being enhanced by the Mangekyo, Tsunade's strength was enough to rival his own.

The current situation was that whoever launched an attack first held most of the advantage.

With a sideways twist, his shoulders and lumbar vertebrae bent at unnatural angles. He deliberately dispersed the force, spinning away like a top and neutralizing the momentum of that punch.

Tsunade spat in dissatisfaction. She had not expected this bastard's taijutsu skill to truly surpass hers by so much.

Hanma sighed and slapped the ground. "Summoning Technique!"

As the smoke dispersed, a Black Hawk the size of a helicopter circled into the sky. Hanma shouted, "Dahei, do you remember the planned first tactic?"

The Black Hawk replied in a muffled voice, "I know."

It then flew higher and higher, circling in a safe position as it looked down upon the ground.

Tsunade chuckled and did not take the goshawk seriously. In her eyes, it was merely a feint.

Hanma felt the tearing pain in his arm. It was probably fractured. He had not been injured in a long time.

Sure enough, the Shinobi World was vast and filled with heroes. The world's talents could not be underestimated.

Hanma looked at Setsuna in the distance and quietly calculated. This old man was probably forcing himself to hold on. At his age, he could not possibly have awakened his eyes recently.

So, Clan Leader Setsuna, how much ocular power did you have left?