Madara Uchiha, Do You Want to Dance?

"Come on!"

In the southern forest of the Land of Fire.

As Takenaka Kaguya's words fell, the two charged at each other at the same time.

Clang!

A deafening sound suddenly rang out. The Land of Fire ninjas quickly looked over and saw Madara Uchiha's Gunbai colliding with Takenaka Kaguya's Black Bone Blade.

At that moment, it was as if time had frozen.

However, in the next second, the two combatants moved as fast as afterimages. The sounds of fists colliding and weapons clashing rang out without end.

The Land of Fire ninjas were deeply shaken by the sight. After all, this was a battle against Madara Uchiha, one of the strongest people in the Land of Fire.

Takenaka Kaguya looked only twelve or thirteen years old, yet he was already this powerful, able to fight Madara Uchiha to such an extent.

He even seemed to hold the upper hand in taijutsu alone.

"My God, that kid is so young, yet he can already fight Lord Madara like this."

"Yeah. Comparing yourself to others is enough to drive you mad."

"When I was his age, my clan had just sent me to the battlefield."

"..."

The Land of Fire ninjas discussed in low voices, but their gazes remained fixed on the battle.

Bang, bang, bang...

The two moved at incredible speed. Their fists, elbows, legs—every part of their bodies could kill.

Madara Uchiha grew more excited as the battle continued, the smile on his face becoming brighter and brighter. He steadily received Takenaka's attacks while counterattacking with the Gunbai.

"Hahaha, this feeling is absolutely fantastic, Takenaka Kaguya. You've excited me.

Hahaha, faster! Go even faster! You're too slow..."

Madara Uchiha seemed like a madman, laughing as he fought Takenaka and demanding that Takenaka speed up to entertain him.

Takenaka was not angry. He had come precisely to understand the gap between himself and this world's ceiling of top-tier strength.

Now, Madara Uchiha's counterattacks were getting faster and his strength heavier with each strike. Clearly, he was genuinely excited.

Suddenly, Madara spat out a fireball. The instant Takenaka dodged, the trees around him suffered.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen massive trees were swallowed by the fireball.

"Nintaijutsu!"

Takenaka was startled by the sudden move, but he was even more delighted.

Before this, Madara had only used taijutsu against him. Even the divine weapon that was the Gunbai had basically only been used to block his attacks, never to strike at him.

What did that mean? Deep down, Madara Uchiha was an extremely proud person. He did not wish to take advantage of Takenaka.

But now, he had even used Nintaijutsu. That meant he was beginning to get serious.

Bang!

Suddenly, Madara Uchiha used Uchiha Return and directly knocked Takenaka away. Since Madara's strike had landed on his abdomen, Takenaka curled up like a shrimp as he crashed backward again and again.

Crack! Crack!

Only after smashing through two giant trees half a meter thick did Takenaka finally come to a stop.

However, it was not over yet. Looking toward Madara, Takenaka immediately saw that Madara had already finished forming hand seals. With one hand held near his mouth, he shouted, "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame—B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu.

However, though the rank of the ninjutsu was not high, it depended on who was using it.

After gathering the Chakra within his body in his throat, Madara spewed out an enormous sea-like expanse of flames. Its range was exceptionally wide.

In the original story, more than twenty Kirigakure ninjas from the Shinobi Allied Forces had needed to use Water Formation Wall together to block this move.

Facing the endless sea of flames rushing toward him, about to swallow him whole, Takenaka quickly steadied himself and thought, As expected of Madara Uchiha. I can't dodge this, so I'll try this move!

As he thought this, Takenaka's hands rapidly formed seals. In an instant, every bone in his body except his skull began to grow wildly, forming an enormous shield in front of him almost in the blink of an eye.

Not only that, with a thought from Takenaka, Armament Haki instantly covered the shield as well.

Rumble...

In an instant, the sea of flames raged, rapidly scorching everything it touched.

Across from him, Madara frowned slightly when he saw that Takenaka Kaguya had failed to dodge his attack.

However, at that moment, a Land of Fire ninja suddenly shouted, "Long live Lord Madara!"

"Lord Madara is incredible!"

"..."

The Land of Fire ninjas cheered loudly, all calling out Madara's name.

Yet despite everyone's celebration, Madara's brow remained tightly furrowed. He did not believe such flames could burn someone to death.

If others knew what Madara was thinking, they would probably be unable to resist mocking him. He truly did not take ordinary people seriously.

However, that was a common flaw among the strong.

Just like in the original story, the people of Konoha turned pale at the mention of the Nine-Tails. Even the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had died because of the Nine-Tails. Yet when Hashirama heard that explanation, he immediately asked whether something like the Nine-Tails could actually kill people.

All that could be said was that human joys and sorrows were not shared.

Just like that, Madara stopped attacking with a frown. He had no intention of stepping forward to inspect the situation, though the excitement in his eyes suddenly diminished greatly.

"I thought I had encountered a little fellow who could excite me. Turns out he was still too young," Madara sighed.

However, just as his words fell, a large amount of water suddenly appeared out of thin air within the sea of flames.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

Seeing this, the disappointment in Madara's eyes vanished, replaced once again by excitement.

After the flames were extinguished by the massive amount of water, a black shield was revealed. Under the watchful eyes of Madara and the Land of Fire ninjas, the shield turned from black to white before scattering across the ground.

At the same time, Takenaka was revealed, completely unharmed.

Gasp!

The Land of Fire ninjas drew sharp breaths, while Madara laughed. "Hahaha, as expected of you. You actually blocked that move so easily."

Hearing this, Takenaka remained calm and said without joy or sorrow, "If you could deal with me that easily, wouldn't that disappoint you?"

"Hahaha, good, very good. Aside from Hashirama, you are one of the few people who can entertain me.

Come, continue fighting with me. If you make me happy, perhaps I might spare your life.

After all, there are fewer and fewer people who can entertain me." Madara Uchiha laughed loudly, not regarding Takenaka as a threat at all.

However, after hearing Madara's words, Takenaka spoke words Madara would find impossible to forget for the rest of his life.

Holding the Black Bone Blade and pointing it at Madara Uchiha, Takenaka curled his lips into a faint smile. "Madara Uchiha, do you want to dance?"

Those calm words instantly chilled Madara's expression. His eyes narrowed slightly, and an icy, murderous aura radiated from his body.

As the Uchiha Dance King, he had always been the one to say those words to others. Yet Takenaka Kaguya actually dared to show off like that in front of him!

"Dance? Come!"