Madara!

Land of Grass.

An eagle's cry echoed through the sky above.

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

This was a resonance of Dojutsu Power.

This was a pull of bloodline.

Thousands of meters apart, two pairs of Sharingan met each other's gaze.

Vast amounts of Chakra surged.

Well then... as a junior, I should say hello.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A sea of fire blotted out the sun and sky, filling all vision!

The sky roared with a tearing sound, the boundless sea of fire engulfing a thousand meters!

Performing Hand Seals again, the sea of fire surged.

Roaring, one flame dragon head after another leaped from the sea of fire.

On Mount Gyokusan, Uchiha Madara looked up at the boundless sea of fire, watching the dragon heads, imbued with terrifying power, about to descend.

The corner of his lips curved into a slight arc as he moved the Flame Fan behind him to his front.

A very good Fire Release, but unfortunately meaningless to me.

Only, the dragon-shaped flames in the sky did not descend, as if waiting for something.

The Giant Eagle carrying Kagami Uchiha flew closer.

Rumble...

Uchiha Madara noticed that circular earth pits had appeared on the ground around him.

It was as if a giant spoon had scooped out the earth.

"Earth Style: Earth Mausoleum Balls!"

Using Chakra to find rocks within the earth, normally they would be lifted and then launched at the enemy.

But these massive rocks continuously ascended.

BOOM ————

The giant rocks exploded, adhering to the dragon-shaped flames.

"Interesting..."

A brilliance flashed in Uchiha Madara's eyes.

Realizing that a simple Fire Release wouldn't be effective, so he used a composite Ninjutsu...

This brat is quite good!

On the Giant Eagle, Kagami Uchiha performed Hand Seals with one hand and let out a long laugh.

"Lord Madara, please appraise this."

"Ninja Art: Dragon Swarm!!"

BOOM !!!!!!!!

The sky exploded!

Dozens of flame dragon heads, carrying the wrath of heaven, descended upon the mortal world!

"A good concept, possessing considerable talent for Ninjutsu development."

Uchiha Madara stood unmoving, facing this scene, which resembled meteors falling from the sky. Not the slightest panic showed on his aged face.

"As a greeting, it's barely passable."

WHOOSH ————

Endless flames surged, like a flame demon from purgatory breaking free.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Extinction."

The flames roared like ferocious beasts, carrying infinite destructive power.

It instantly illuminated the entire battlefield, the scorching heat enough to distort the very air!

The power of Ninjutsu is never determined by its rank.

It depends on the user.

Fire against fire, the mixed rocks instantly turned to dust!

The surging wave of fire blew back his long hair.

It's been...

A long time since I've truly fought.

This frail body has always been a source of humiliation for Uchiha Madara, a mere vessel to prolong his existence for his grand plan.

This battle might even affect his succession plans.

But...

Facing a challenge.

How could Uchiha Madara, a man of unparalleled pride, possibly refuse!

The Uchiha are a clan born for battle!

Clang!!!

Cutting through the sea of flames, Kagami Uchiha's figure suddenly appeared beside Uchiha Madara, twisting and swinging his blade!

Despite his aged appearance, Uchiha Madara possessed a reaction speed far beyond that of an ordinary ninja.

With a mere tug of the chain, his kusarigama blocked the blade.

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

The sword looked no different from an ordinary katana, yet Madara recognized it instantly.

"Meizun... so you've inherited it now."

How could he not be familiar with it? This was Izuna's sword...

Madara had taken many things with him back then.

His brother's sword had remained within the clan, after all, for Izuna, it represented the clan he deeply loved.

Kagami Uchiha's face contorted into a grin that was difficult to suppress, appearing almost monstrous.

"Don't reminisce for too long, only to have it shattered by my blade."

An invisible slash pierced through the kusarigama, its target Madara's head, chest, and lower abdomen.

Kagami Uchiha had come with the intent to kill Madara, and he would show no mercy!

Or rather, facing Uchiha Madara, no one was in a position to show mercy.

A layer of deep blue, tangible chakra armor materialized, emitting the piercing sound of metal shattering.

"Invisible Slash, your special ninjutsu, I'm still aware of it."

Madara flicked his wrist, and immense force surged from the kusarigama, pressing Kagami Uchiha's body down!

What terrifying strength!

"I may be old, but you are far too young."

"The one I clashed with before was Hashirama, a man who could shatter mountains with his bare fists."

Kagami Uchiha's veins bulged in his hands, unwilling to be the first to yield in their struggle.

"I've always had a question, and I'd appreciate it if you could enlighten me."

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

"It seems you've investigated quite a bit."

Uchiha Madara spoke indifferently, "But such questions are far too naive."

"A man like Hashirama Senju, had I not stopped him then, he truly would have taken his own life."

"Even though many things happened later, I never doubted his resolve at that moment."

Kagami Uchiha felt a sense of release, and then asked again.

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

"Regret?"

They didn't sound like they were in the midst of a battle, but rather like an elder offering guidance to a junior.

"Hashirama was the one who fell; he should be the one regretting, not me."

"I have always walked the righteous path!"

This was precisely why Kagami Uchiha had given up on revealing the truth to Uchiha Madara.

It was pointless.

This man, like himself, would only believe his own judgment.

Will not turn back until he hits a brick wall?

No, these were the kind of people who would shatter the brick wall!

"I see..."

"I believe I am the one on the correct path!"

A colossal surge of Chakra formed an impact, with faint, barely visible black lines coiling around Kagami Uchiha's wrists.

The sudden increase in force shattered the scythe!

Madara Uchiha grabbed the chain and retreated dozens of meters, watching Kagami Uchiha with great interest.

"Even for an Uchiha, your level of Yin Release is excessive..."

"Just to ask, what is the correct path you believe in?"

Kagami Uchiha smiled faintly, holding the Meizun longsword in one hand and Sode no Shirayuki in the other, a strange black aura swirling around his body.

"It's meaningless."

"Combat, as it is, is about imposing the victor's beliefs onto the loser."

"If the loser talks endlessly, it's just a joke."

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

The surrounding forest had already been consumed by a great fire, leaving nothing for kilometers around.

"Well said, Kagami."

"I can feel your desire for battle, just like mine, and the rationality of Izuna."

"I'm truly glad to meet you!"

"You were just born earlier than me. I'm not like you."

"I am myself."

Swish—

Madara Uchiha held the Flame Fan in one hand and the handle of the scythe in the other.

"The self-introduction is over, so..."

"Let's begin the warm-up."

BOOM!!!

Across time.

The pinnacles of two eras of Uchiha clashed violently!!