The Longest Road He Ever Walked Was Hashirama's Trail of Tricks

On the main battlefield, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju have become the two most dazzling rising stars.

Anyone Jonin who gets involved is basically doomed.

Even a Jonin could easily die at the hands of two people if they weren't careful.

Over time, both sides simply stopped paying attention to them and let the two equally talented Clan Heir fight it out themselves.

Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!

Madara Uchiha more and more of the aura of a powerful figure.

A fan-shaped sea of flames made many Uchiha who prided themselves on being masters of Fire Release feel utterly ashamed.

"The Clan Heir is truly a prodigy."

"I've heard that Kyosuke from the Southern Army is pretty good too."

"Who knows? I just think Lord Madara is still more powerful."

The sea of fire rapidly advanced forward, burning everything in its path that tried to stop it.

Seeing this, Hashirama couldn't help but sigh, knowing that his friend was getting stuck on a futile thought again.

"Why take it so seriously? Isn't it enough to just go through the motions..."

With a snap, he clasped his hands together, and instantly a large group of wooden walls appeared on the ground.

No matter how fierce the flames, they could not break through their combined blockade.

Wood Release: Multiple Tree-World Wall!

Hashirama is now proficient in using Wood Release Secret Technique.

However, due to limitations in his strength, he was unable to unleash any powerful moves.

For example, they couldn't control Wood Dragon, Wood Golem, or even the Birth of the Tree World.

Even so, Hashirama's strength still increased dramatically, making it difficult for ordinary Ninjutsu to harm him.

"Damn Wood Release," Madara cursed under his breath. Since he couldn't gain an advantage from ranged attacks, he would take him down in close combat.

With the Sharingan, Hashirama would be no match for him.

With a burst of Chakra beneath his feet, Madara unleashed the simple yet incredibly effective Body Flicker Technique, instantly leaping over the wooden wall and arriving directly above his companion.

"Die, Hashirama!" The scythe swung horizontally, and a fierce slash came straight down.

Hashirama ducked to dodge, but overlooked the Gunbai that was already prepared in his left hand.

Bang! The watermelon head was sent flying by a fan, and before it even hit the ground, Ban was already right there, following closely behind.

"You lost." Ban's tone was cold, filled with imposing confidence.

Upon hearing this, Hashirama disregarded the scythe approaching him, forcefully twisted his body, and aimed one hand at his good buddy beside him.

Wood Release: Silent Binding Technique!

The branches extended wildly outwards from his arms, instantly binding Ban, and no matter how much he struggled, he could not break free from the wooden strips' restraints.

"Hahaha." Hashirama grinned and chuckled a few times.

Before the laughter could even subside, Madara Uchiha shook his head and vanished with a bang.

"Unexpected?" The scythe pierced through Hashirama's spine, passed through his body, and exited from his chest, knocking off the armor hanging on his chest.

"This is the Shadow Clone that Kyosuke researched. Only those with highly skilled Sharingan can distinguish it from anything."

"If you have someone to blame, blame yourself for not being Uchiha."

Madara Uchiha's voice was indifferent, but a closer listen revealed a tremor within it.

He hesitated.

Should I really have killed Hashirama?

He had clearly made up his mind, but when the moment came, he deliberately avoided the crucial point.

Despite the seemingly serious injuries, none of his internal organs were actually affected by the sickle.

For Hashirama, whose physique is astounding, a month or two of rest is enough for a perfect recovery.

"Ban, you're such an indecisive piece of trash." The Dance King tried to provoke himself with words.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to really hurt this guy.

"Madara..." Hashirama raised his hand tremblingly, saying haltingly, "I... I'm dying. Do you still remember that dream? Do you... remember our friendship...?"

What's wrong?

Ban couldn't help but widen his eyes, thinking that he had accidentally hurt his best friend's vitals.

"Don't panic, I'll go find Medical Ninja for you right now. Hang in there!" Madara cried out.

"Don't go." Hashirama grabbed him, his eyes filled with the delirious light of death. "I'm already dying. My Wood Release has absorbed too much life energy. As your best friend, I'm very happy that you can see me off."

"Hashirama..."

"Tell me quickly, Madara, do you still remember our dream..."

Holding his friend's hand, Madara wanted to say that not only did he remember, but he knew that Kyosuke had also always cherished this memory.

Before he could finish speaking, to his bewildered gaze, Hashirama suddenly transformed into a pile of shattered... wood?!

"Damn it." Hashirama, slamming his fist down with obvious regret on his face.

He was so close, so very close, to knowing Madara's feelings.

If things are brought up openly, the two of them will no longer maintain their current relationship.

It must be said that Hashirama went to great lengths to realize his dream.

"Haha." Scratching his head somewhat awkwardly, Hashirama explained softly, "This is my latest invention, Wood Release Clone. Even the Sharingan can't see through it, can they?"

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because once it was brought up, he couldn't help but recall the scene from just now.

His anger was surging wildly.

Madara Uchiha: (╬◣д◢), you bastard, I'm going to kill you today!

The Dance King, filled with shame and indignation, charged forward like a madman and began fighting with Hashirama once again.

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!

Four Fire Dragon Fire Dragon roared as they charged toward their opponent.

Tree-World Wall!

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

A fireball resembling a falling meteorite, its power and size surpass those of Fireball Jutsu.

Hashirama: I 'Tree-World Wall!

"Damn it, Hashirama, don't you have any other Ninjutsu you can use?!"

Madara Uchiha discovered that whenever he faced this guy, his usual composure would easily vanish.

He gets easily agitated with the slightest provocation, and even though he shouldn't use Ninjutsu to fight back, he always forgets about it without realizing it.

Taking a few deep breaths, Madara successfully regained his composure and used the Body Flicker Technique to close in on Hashirama for the second time.

"What follows is a life-or-death battle, Hashirama!"

With the help of the sharpness of his ancestral scythe, Madara can indeed suppress his opponents in close combat; he relied on this move to gain the upper hand in the previous battles.

However, the Uchiha possessed a divine weapon passed down through generations, and it's impossible that the Senju had no reserves at all.

Taking advantage of Madara being forced back by Wood Release, Hashirama flicked out a scroll from his lower back, formed hand Hand Seals, and directly retrieved the weapon sealed inside.

A pair of incredibly sharp swords.

Madara wields a scythe in his right hand and Gunbai in his left, Hashirama naturally has to use both swords to counter him.

That's what fairness looks like!

"Madara!"

"Hashirama!"

Both sides unleashed their full Chakra, colliding like Mars colliding with Earth.

The terrifying energy fluctuations sent chills down the spines of the ninjas hundreds of meters away.

Just then, a figure wielding Short Sword quietly approached.

The target was Madara Uchiha, who was temporarily exhausted after their fierce battle.