Takenaka Kaguya vs. Madara Uchiha

"Since you're here, come out!"

In the southern forests of the Land of Fire.

The night wind was rather cool, but within the forest, it carried a chilling aura. Undisguised killing intent permeated the air, and the silence was terrifying.

The youth stood in place with a Bone Blade in hand, the nearby campfire illuminating his handsome face.

After a moment of silence, a tall young man dressed in a black bodysuit and layered red armor stepped out of the forest and walked toward the youth one step at a time.

With every step he took, the Chakra around him increased bit by bit. When the firelight finally fell upon him, the calm expression on the youth's face changed at last.

The newcomer carried the Gunbai passed down through generations of the Uchiha Clan on his back. Coupled with that incomparably massive amount of Chakra, how could the youth not recognize him as Madara Uchiha, one of the two greatest experts in the Land of Fire?

Looking at the Gunbai on Madara Uchiha's back, the youth knew that it was made from a branch of the God Tree. It was extraordinarily durable and possessed the special ability known as Uchiha Return, capable of reflecting an opponent's ninjutsu back at them. In the original story, Madara Uchiha had used this ninja tool to reflect Naruto Uzumaki's miniature Tailed Beast Bomb.

That alone showed how formidable the Gunbai was. It was undoubtedly one of the standard divine artifacts.

The two locked eyes. Madara Uchiha glanced at the campfire beside his opponent and frowned, saying coldly, "Lighting a campfire at night in a forest near the battlefield... I don't know whether you lack common sense or simply have too much confidence."

"Heh. If it hadn't been you, but the thirty-six people who intercepted me before, then whether there was a campfire or not would have made little difference." The youth chuckled, delight appearing on his face.

The war was nearing its end, and the main forces of the Land of Water had already begun withdrawing from the Land of Fire. Why had he remained here? Was it not because he wanted to personally witness super experts like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha?

Now that Madara Uchiha had come in person, how could he not be delighted to have the chance to fight a god of the Shinobi World like him?

Across from him, Madara Uchiha saw the delight—or rather, excitement—on the youth's face. It was enough to show that the youth had been waiting here specifically for him.

Thinking of this, Madara Uchiha nodded and asked, "Were you waiting here specifically for me?"

"Not necessarily for you. I could have been waiting for Hashirama Senju as well.

"After all, on the battlefields of the Land of Fire these past few years, the two of you have been called the Twin Pillars of the Land of Fire. You both carry the title of god of the Shinobi World, and I've wanted to see you both for myself.

"So whether it was you, Madara Uchiha, or Hashirama Senju, it would have been fine by me." The youth smiled and shook his head before looking at Madara Uchiha as he spoke.

Hearing this, Madara Uchiha burst into laughter. He sized the youth up, then released all of his Chakra with overwhelming Haki and said loudly, "Frightening youth, tell me your name. For a youth with courage like yours, I do not wish to kill you without even knowing your name."

"Takenaka Kaguya, Takenaka!"

The youth grinned, utterly unconcerned by the disdain in Madara Uchiha's words.

After all, this was Madara Uchiha, one of the two strongest men in the Shinobi World.

A powerful man like him had the right to look down on him.

However, he believed that after this battle, Madara Uchiha would change his mind the next time they met.

"Takenaka Kaguya... what a domineering name. Since I'm the one you were waiting for, then come. Let me see the measure of your spirit. I hope you can entertain me!"

As Madara Uchiha's words fell, he pulled the Gunbai from his back into his hand. His immense Chakra erupted wildly, even stripping the bark from the trees around him.

Seeing this, Takenaka Kaguya became incredibly excited. Ever since the previous patriarch of the Kaguya Clan—his adoptive father—had died on the battlefield of the Land of Fire, his sole pursuit had been ultimate power.

Now, Madara Uchiha, a god of the Shinobi World, stood before him. Even his body trembled with excitement.

Whoosh!

The Black Bone Blade in his hand spun in a flourish as the immense Chakra within his body erupted in an instant.

Boom! Boom!

The instant both surging Chakras erupted completely, the Ninja of the Land of Fire within the forest all turned solemn.

Especially the two Elite Jonin fortunate enough to have escaped. At this moment, they finally understood just how lucky they had been to leave alive.

"What terrifying Chakra! This youth has actually become a Kage-level expert."

"My god, the one we faced earlier was actually such a monster."

"Hiss... Chakra no weaker than Lord Madara's is actually appearing in a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy."

"..."

As the shocked cries of the Land of Fire's Ninja rang out, every word reached Madara Uchiha's ears. He looked at Takenaka Kaguya, surprise and appreciation flashing through his eyes. "I thought Hashirama and I were already extraordinary enough. I never expected a monster like you to exist.

"If you were the same age as us, neither Hashirama nor I would be your match.

"But unfortunately, you are still too young."

The moment Madara Uchiha finished speaking, he formed hand seals with one hand, so quickly that it left people dumbfounded.

Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Jutsu.

Madara Uchiha expelled four fire dragons from his mouth. They attacked simultaneously from above, below, left, and right. This Fire Release had an almost one hundred percent hit rate, with no way to evade it except to withstand it head-on. However, it required an extremely immense amount of Chakra to use.

Faced with Madara Uchiha's initial probe, Takenaka Kaguya's expression returned to calm. As the four fire dragons closed in, the Black Bone Blade in his hand was instantly filled with Chakra, coating its black blade in an incomparably sharp edge.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Black Bone Blade danced, its gleam flashing. The four fire dragons were cleaved in half at once.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War in the original story, Madara Uchiha had used this move against the Five Kage after Kabuto Yakushi revived him with Impure World Reincarnation. Although Tsunade blocked it, it consumed the Chakra of her Strength of a Hundred Technique. Its power was exceptionally formidable.

Yet now, Takenaka Kaguya had resolved the move with perfect precision, and he even appeared to do so with ease.

Across from him, Madara Uchiha witnessed this scene and greatly acknowledged Takenaka Kaguya's Shili.

He did not continue attacking. He merely gave the Gunbai a light swing, then said appreciatively, "Truly remarkable. In the entire Shinobi World, fewer than ten people can deal with that move of mine so easily.

"Takenaka Kaguya, you truly amaze me."

"Heh. To receive praise from Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the Shinobi World, is quite an honor. But this sort of probing can end now.

"After all, what I want to witness isn't ninjutsu of this level."

Facing Madara Uchiha's praise, Takenaka chuckled. Then he stared directly at his opponent and spoke.

"Ha ha ha, very good. In that case, let me weigh you a little more."

Madara Uchiha was not angry. Instead, having such an opponent put him in an excellent mood.

After all, throughout the wars of recent years, every enemy he had encountered had been effortlessly crushed by him.

At times, he felt those opponents were too weak—so weak that he had no interest in even making a move.

"Come!"