Madara!

Land of Grass.

High above, an eagle's cry rang through the heavens.

Kagami Uchiha slowly opened his eyes, three pure-black tomoe spinning within them.

This was the resonance of ocular power.

This was the pull of bloodline.

Separated by several kilometers, two pairs of Sharingan gazed at each other from afar.

Immense chakra surged forth.

Then... as a junior, he would offer a greeting.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A sea of fire blotted out the sky, filling his entire field of vision!

The sky let out a tearing roar as the boundless flames engulfed a thousand meters!

He formed seals again, and the sea of fire churned.

Flaming dragon heads roared as they leaped from the inferno.

Atop Qunyu Mountain, Uchiha Madara looked up at the endless sea of fire and the dragon heads gathering terrifying momentum as they prepared to descend.

The corner of his lips curved upward as he moved the War Fan from behind him to the front.

A very fine Fire Release, but unfortunately, it means nothing to me.

Yet the dragon-shaped flames in the sky did not fall, as though they were waiting for something.

The giant eagle carrying Kagami Uchiha flew closer.

Rumble...

Uchiha Madara noticed circular earthen pits appearing across the surrounding ground.

It was as if an incomparably massive spoon had scooped the earth hollow.

"Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling."

Using chakra to locate the rocks beneath the earth, one would normally lift them and hurl them at the enemy.

But those enormous boulders continued to rise.

Boom—

The massive rocks exploded one after another, adhering to the dragon-shaped flames.

"Interesting..."

A gleam bloomed in Uchiha Madara's eyes.

Having realized that Fire Release alone would not work, he had used Compound Ninjutsu...

This brat was quite impressive!

Atop the giant eagle, Kagami Uchiha formed a seal with one hand and let out a long laugh.

"Lord Madara, please judge it."

"Ninja Art - Dragon Star Swarm!!"

BOOM!!!!!!

The sky exploded!

Dozens of flaming dragon heads descended upon the mortal world, bearing heaven's wrath!

"A fine concept. You possess considerable talent for developing ninjutsu."

Uchiha Madara remained motionless. Faced with a sight resembling meteors falling from the heavens, not a trace of panic showed on his aged face.

"As a greeting, it barely passes."

Whoosh—

Endless flames surged upward, like a demon of fire from hell breaking free of its seal.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction."

The flames roared forth like savage beasts, carrying boundless destructive force.

In an instant, they illuminated the entire battlefield. The scorching heat was enough to warp even the air!

The power of a ninjutsu had never been determined by its difficulty rank.

It depended on its user.

As fire collided with fire, the rocks mixed within were instantly reduced to dust!

The surging heat waves blew through his long hair.

It had been a long time...

Truly, a very long time since he had fought.

This frail body made Uchiha Madara feel humiliation at every moment. He had only lingered on for the plan in his heart.

This battle might affect his plans to choose a successor.

But...

Faced with a challenge,

How could Uchiha Madara, a man so utterly proud, possibly retreat!

The Uchiha were a clan born for battle!

Clang!!!

Passing through the sea of fire, Kagami's figure suddenly appeared at Uchiha Madara's side. He twisted and slashed with his blade!

Though he was aged beyond recognition, Uchiha Madara still possessed reaction speed beyond that of ordinary shinobi.

With only a tug of the iron chain, the Kusarigama blocked the blade.

His gaze fell upon the long sword in Kagami Uchiha's hand.

This sword looked no different from an ordinary katana, yet Madara recognized it at a glance.

"Narukami... so you have inherited it now."

How could he not recognize it? This was Izuna's sword...

Back then, Madara had taken many things with him.

His younger brother's sword had remained within the clan. After all, to Izuna, that had been the clan he loved deeply.

An almost uncontrollable smile appeared on Kagami Uchiha's face, making him look ferocious.

"Don't get too lost in nostalgia, or I'll cut you to pieces."

Invisible slashes passed through the sickle, aimed at Madara's head, chest, and lower abdomen.

Kagami Uchiha had come with the conviction to kill Madara. He would never show mercy!

Or rather, before Uchiha Madara, no one had the right to show mercy.

A layer of solid dark-blue chakra armor appeared, releasing the piercing sound of blades shattering.

"Invisible slashes. I do know of your peculiar release."

With a flick of Madara's wrist, tremendous force came through the sickle, forcing Kagami Uchiha's body downward!

What terrifying strength!

"I am already old, but you are far too young."

"The Hashirama I fought could shatter mountains with his bare body alone."

Veins bulged in Kagami Uchiha's hands as he refused to be the first to yield in their contest of strength.

"I have always had a question. I hope you will clear it up for me."

"Why did you believe Hashirama Senju would commit suicide? What weapon could kill him?"

"So you have investigated quite a few things."

Uchiha Madara spoke indifferently. "But that question is far too childish."

"A man like Hashirama Senju would indeed have killed himself then, if I had not stopped him."

"Though many things happened afterward, I have never doubted his determination at the time."

Kagami Uchiha felt somewhat relieved, then asked again.

"Do you regret it? Would it have been better if you had let him die then?"

"Regret?"

The two did not seem to be fighting, but rather an elder was answering a junior's doubts.

"Hashirama was the one who fell into corruption. He should be the one to regret it, not me."

"I have always walked the correct path!"

That was why Kagami Uchiha had given up on telling Uchiha Madara the truth.

There was no meaning in it.

Like himself, this man would only believe his own judgment.

Would they refuse to turn back until they hit a wall?

No. They were the kind who would smash the wall to pieces!

"I see..."

"I think I'm the one on the correct side!"

Enormous chakra formed an impact. Faint black lines, barely visible, wound around Kagami Uchiha's wrist.

The suddenly increased force blasted the sickle away!

Uchiha Madara grabbed the iron chain and retreated dozens of meters, looking at Kagami Uchiha with interest.

"Even for an Uchiha, your Yin Release has gone too far..."

"Let me ask: what is this correct path you believe in?"

Kagami Uchiha smiled faintly. Narukami was in one hand, Sode no Shirayuki in the other, while strange black mist coiled around his body.

"It has no meaning."

"Battle is simply forcing the victor's beliefs upon the defeated."

"If the defeated speaks grandly of their beliefs, it is nothing but a joke."

Uchiha Madara's eyes lit up, and he laughed.

The forest around them had already been burned away by the blaze. For several kilometers in every direction, not a blade of grass remained.

"Well said, Kagami."

"I can feel your thirst for battle. Like me, you also possess Izuna's rationality."

"I am truly glad to meet you!"

"You were merely born before me. I am not like you."

"I am myself."

Swish—

Uchiha Madara held the War Fan in one hand and gripped the handle of the sickle in the other.

"The introductions are over, so..."

"Let us begin warming up."

Boom!!!

Across time,

The peaks of the Uchiha from two different eras crashed together!!