Tobirama VS Madara

"...Leave the rest to me."

A towering man stood before Dai, his silver hair fluttering in the wind.

Dai recognized that figure, that broad back.

"Hokage-sama!!"

Dai shouted the man's name.

It was the current Hokage—Senju Tobirama himself, who had stayed behind in the death zone alone to cover Diejian and the others' retreat.

His sharp gaze, devoid of any emotion, was fixed solely on the man standing before him.

"--It really is you, Tobirama."

The man's voice dripped with contemptuous mockery, yet it was mixed with a complex hue.

His twisted smile was chilling.

His expression was like that of lovers reunited after a long separation, and also like a fierce hunter who had discovered prey, exuding an extremely unsettling aura.

It was Uchiha Madara's voice, the man who scoffed openly, as if toying with Tobirama.

However, Madara couldn't entirely conceal the rage and hatred burning like hellfire deep within his voice.

Tobirama, unafraid of Madara's animosity, sharpened his already keen gaze, scrutinizing Madara's entire body.

The chakra he felt from Madara was immense and terrifying.

It was the very essence of "Uchiha Madara," the presence he had constantly felt on the battlefield in the past.

This chakra was no imitation; it pulsed with a definite sense of "life."

This guy... he's not a fake through Impure World Reincarnation or related jutsu. It's truly the living Uchiha Madara. But why is he alive? After my brother killed him, I recovered his body and sealed it in the deepest part of Konoha...

"Answer me, Madara, why are you alive?"

"It's been a long time, and you're still so sharp-tongued, Tobirama. I don't mind answering your question, but before that... I have something I want to ask."

Madara casually crossed his arms, closing his eyes as if lost in thought.

A moment later, Madara opened his eyelids, casting his crimson eyes toward the distant sky.

This series of actions exuded a certain sacredness—as if he were traversing a precious and ancient memory that no one was allowed to profane.

"Not long ago, in this very place, I sensed a familiar chakra."

Madara turned his gaze to Tobirama, as if testing or confirming.

Tobirama showed no reaction, merely watching Madara quietly.

Madara sighed with disinterest, shaking his head sadly.

"Although that chakra was murky, it made me feel him—a part of the power of the late Hashirama. At first, I thought fighting 'that' would be fine... but then, I sensed another familiar chakra. It surprised even me, making me doubt my own senses."

Madara's crimson eyes sharpened like blades.

His gaze held a fierce will, as if tolerating no falsehood or silence.

"Tobirama, I know you struggled to pass on Hashirama's chakra... Wood Release to the next generation. It was thwarted in the experimental stages due to its high risk. But information always leaks. So, it's not entirely unbelievable that another ninja might have mastered Hashirama's chakra. Of course, whether I permit it is another matter."

A pause.

Madara seemed to chew on his words, or perhaps weary of the world's indifference, and sighed deeply.

"So, what are you trying to say, Madara?"

"Oh? You want me to say it, Tobirama?"

Tobirama knew what Madara wanted to say and had grasped everything, yet he feigned ignorance.

Sensing this, Madara let out a low chuckle from his throat, as if finding it utterly ridiculous.

He pressed a hand to his head as if trying to suppress a burst of laughter, but his body couldn't stop shaking.

"Truly, it was a chakra I remembered. But that chakra shouldn't exist. It's the chakra of my bloodline, something long lost. My brother, Uchiha Izuna... died by your hand. Isn't that right, Tobirama?"

Madara's gentle tone and calm expression foreshadowed the coming storm.

But Madara's subsequent sad expression was still a pretense of false sincerity.

"Izuna is dead. The dead do not return. Even Hashirama. But I know only one jutsu that can bring back the dead..."

"..."

Tobirama, remaining silent, was excluded from Madara's consciousness.

It was a repulsion born of accumulated hatred and resentment.

Based on past experience, Madara knew Tobirama would not reveal any information.

"Impure World Reincarnation—Tobirama, you bastard, you 'used' Izuna, didn't you?"

"So what if I did, Madara?"

"Tobirama--!!"

At the peak of his frustration, Madara's mask shattered, revealing his naked hatred.

He was known as the most affectionate man in the Uchiha clan, a symbol of his disappointment and despair.

Might Duy, prostrate on the ground behind Tobirama, trembled and broke out in a cold sweat from the sharp killing intent radiating from Madara.

He was forced to realize once again that the battle he had just fought with Madara was merely an illusion Madara had conjured on a whim.

The fact was, Uchiha Madara could kill Duy at any moment, a brutal reality laid bare before him.

"So, in your rage, did you appear specifically to complain to me?"

Tobirama stepped between Duy, who was trembling from the violent power but enduring it, and Madara, who was trembling with anger.

Freed from the pressure, Duy sighed, only then realizing he had forgotten to breathe out of fear.

"Tobirama, you truly are a despicable fellow. You killed Izuna, and not content with killing my brother, now you intend to 'use' him... I'm even surprised you're that kind of man."

"Say whatever you wish."

Madara, unusually verbose, must have been losing his reason due to anger.

Tobirama calmly and quietly analyzed the current situation.

He had already provided emergency treatment to the near-death Diejian.

He sealed the Eight Gates, halted the soul erosion from the forbidden jutsu, and reapplied the Sharingan seal.

All of this was thanks to the fierce efforts of Might Duy.

It was precisely because Duy had occupied Madara's full attention alone that Tobirama was able to sneak away and treat Diejian.

Therefore, Duy had no reason to blame himself.

It was because Duy had done everything he was supposed to do that Senju Tobirama could stand here now.

Both Senju Diejian and Might Duy were still alive.

Duy had not lost.

By connecting all the pieces and entrusting everything to his "comrades," Duy had defeated the overwhelming "individual."

Tobirama praised Duy in his heart.

Though he didn't say it aloud, Tobirama acknowledged what Duy embodied.

That undeniable Will of Fire had received the personal approval of the Second Hokage.

Then, Tobirama touched Duy's body and externally closed his Eight Gates.

He infused a small amount of Senju clan chakra and performed some processing.

"Heh... I now understand why Diejian, that kid, would still bring out the Eight Inner Gates despite knowing I'd scold him."

Tobirama moved his hand away from Duy, a slight smile appearing on his face as he turned back to Madara.

Understanding Tobirama's implied meaning, Duy shed tears of overwhelming joy.

The fact that his efforts were not in vain and had received the Second Hokage's approval was so impactful that it broke down Duy's tear ducts.

However, to Uchiha Madara, all of this was nothing more than a boring, third-rate play.

Madara frowned irritably and cracked his neck with a click.

"You're quite composed in front of me, Tobirama. Do you think you can kill me anytime? Or are you planning to use that Eight Gates kid as a sacrifice for Impure World Reincarnation? Indeed, if Izuna were summoned, even I might find it a bit troublesome."

Tobirama did not answer Madara's taunts filled with hatred.

Senju Tobirama knew that his inner disciple, Senju Diejian, harbored the soul of Uchiha Izuna.

Therefore, Uchiha Izuna could not be summoned through Impure World Reincarnation.

Senju Tobirama pondered.

Madara's words and actions contained a huge contradiction.

He was indeed drawn by Uchiha Izuna residing within Senju Diejian.

But Madara mistakenly believed that the manifestation of Izuna's chakra was due to the Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation.

Uchiha Madara was an affectionate man.

Through years of research, Tobirama had gained a deep understanding of the Uchiha clan's characteristics, and especially for Madara, an outstanding member, he had conducted thorough investigations even after his death.

Therefore, if he knew that Uchiha Izuna had been reincarnated and existed as Senju Diejian, he would almost certainly take Senju Diejian away.

He would use all sorts of torture and brainwashing methods, attempting to mold him into a second Madara.

Senju Diejian was Tobirama's inner disciple, a seed left by his deceased elder brother Hashirama, a seed for the future.

He absolutely could not hand him over to Uchiha Madara.

Therefore, Tobirama let Madara continue to mistakenly believe that he had summoned Izuna using Impure World Reincarnation, bearing all of Madara's near-insane killing intent and hatred himself.

"But Tobirama, even if you 'used' Izuna, you're still in this sorry state. You, who were once hailed as the fastest in the ninja world, have become like this. Has time finally overcome you?"

"..."

In response to Madara's words, Tobirama simply blinked slowly.

He showed no wavering, no impatience.

Tobirama simply stared at himself, playing his best hand.

But Dai, protected behind Tobirama, couldn't do the same.

Passionate and young, he showed a surprised expression at Madara's words, and the next moment, he gasped in disbelief.

--Tobirama's originally cyan armor had been dyed crimson, damaged in various places, losing its function as armor.

The lean limbs, honed through countless trials, had much of their muscle stripped away, and the palm with missing fingers was still soaked in blood.

From a certain perspective, he was more heavily injured than Dai and Diejian, but due to the weight of what he carried, he would never yield.

--To protect those who admire the village and trust you.

And to nurture those to whom the next era can be entrusted...

These were Tobirama's dying words to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who would become Hokage, and the path he had illuminated for him.

To protect those who admired the village and trusted Tobirama, the Hokage—that is, Hiruzen and the others—and to nurture them into talents to whom the next era could be entrusted.

Tobirama showed Hiruzen the path he had walked.

Therefore, Tobirama, until his last moment, adhered to his own "ninja way."

"Answer me, Madara, why are you still alive?"

"In the battle with Hashirama, I did indeed die. Knowing that you would not dispose of my body after my death but would use it for research, I simply made a few arrangements beforehand, allowing a clone to swap with my 'death' shortly after I died."

"--It's a jutsu called 'Izanagi' passed down in the Uchiha clan, isn't it? At the cost of one eye, you rewrite fate."

Madara brushed his hair aside with his hand.

The eye that had been hidden beneath his long black hair was now colorless, a cloudy, pure white orb.

After letting his hair fall to cover the eye again, Madara smiled.

"Have you investigated this far? Or did an Uchiha clansman tell you? It's not impossible. The current Uchiha clan is merely a collection of cowards who have lost their former glory. If the Second Hokage himself ordered it, they wouldn't dare refuse."

"Madara, hearing you say that, you seem quite concerned. Abandoned by your clan, ending up 'seceding' alone. Are you wandering out here because you crave a bond with your only blood relative?"

The expression on Madara's face vanished.

Even Tobirama, who had faced him for years, had never seen such a ghastly, ghost-like expression.

Tobirama frowned in confusion, beginning to refine chakra for the impending fierce battle.

The direction of the wind changed.

The atmosphere of the space shifted.

"--Tobirama. To be honest, I'm surprised. This anger is so immense, this hatred so deep. The thought that even my brother's peace after death was taken away makes my chest tighten. Before I knew it, my body moved on its own. I was supposed to continue lurking... it seems I'm also a surprisingly sentimental man."

"Likewise."

"You're still the same, spouting nonsense."

Madara seemed to be indulging himself—no, feigning indulgence to suppress his passion.

Although Madara disliked Tobirama, he did not underestimate him.

His speed surpassing his own in battle, his mind that created countless jutsu, his eyes that accurately pinpointed others' weaknesses, his prowess in leading the strongest ninja clan, the Senju, alongside Hashirama—his pure combat power—Madara evaluated Tobirama after acknowledging all of this.

Even Uchiha Madara would never underestimate him.

But that deep passion could not be entirely suppressed.

The sneer in Madara's tone gradually disappeared, and the aura surrounding him sharpened.

Madara gazed at the blood-stained Tobirama, scrutinizing his entire body.

His eyes, filled with complex emotions, narrowed slightly, revealing a sorrowful expression.

It was not sadness at the reality of one of his former rivals being so grievously injured—

"Tobirama... To be honest... I've always wanted to 'do this' to you. You... are the man who killed Izuna. I wanted to stain you red with my own hands."

"Madara, I don't know what you're thinking. However, you are a man who has already exited the stage—for the sake of the ninja world, for the sake of Konoha, as the Second Hokage, I absolutely cannot let you live."

The two moved with the wind.

The sounds of heavy armor overlapped, and the moment their blades clashed—sparks flew.

Everything before Tobirama was swallowed by a sea of explosive flames.

--Ushi-Shin-U-Shi-Hai-You-Shi-In-Inu-In-Mi-Shi-Jin-Shin-You-Tatsu-You-Ushi-Uma-Mi-You-Mi-Shi-Shin-U-Hai-Tatsu-Mi-Shi-Ushi-Shin-You-Jin-Shi-Hai-You. Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

Below Tobirama, who had instantly formed an astonishing number of hand seals, a giant water dragon appeared, engulfing a corner of the sea of explosive flames.

Tobirama approached Madara hidden in the shadow of the water dragon, simultaneously refining chakra in his mouth.

--Water Release: Heavenly Weeping.

This was a nature transformation that required no hand seals and possessed the ability to maintain a needle-like sharp form, one of the pinnacles of ninjutsu.

This jutsu, imbued with overwhelming assassination and surprise capabilities, allowed the user to retain water needles in their mouth while activating other jutsu.

But this was precisely proof of Tobirama's excellence as a ninjutsu user, a simple technique that other ninjas could not easily imitate.

Above Tobirama's head, the fire dragon collided with the water dragon's back.

Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique—a series of dragon-shaped flames, furiously attempting to tear apart Tobirama's water dragon.

Tobirama quickly formed hand seals and pressed his hand to the ground.

The next moment, an Earth Spear shot out from behind Tobirama, piercing Madara's clone that appeared there, causing it to vanish.

Immediately after, while drawing his head in a semicircular arc, he unleashed Heavenly Weeping from his mouth with astonishing momentum.

It precisely shot down the countless fireballs formed by Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique that were approaching Tobirama, and continued its trajectory towards Madara standing behind.

Madara knocked away Heavenly Weeping with his sword, but Tobirama used the Body Flicker Technique to approach Madara from behind and quickly formed hand seals.

That technique, known as Water Release: Water Shark Bomb, was one of Kirigakure's secret arts, capable of smashing a giant shark-shaped water bomb at the opponent.

Madara easily defended against it by activating Susanoo.

"Even in a place without water, this level of Water Release... is indeed sluggish, Tobirama. Hmph..."

Tobirama did not allow Madara's taunts to go unanswered.

Seeing Madara frowning tightly within Susanoo, and confirming the success of his technique, Tobirama formed hand seals again.

"Still the same old Dark Illusory Body, how unoriginal. Tobirama, you truly are a cunning fellow."

Illusion Technique: Dark Illusory Body.

This was a genjutsu that robbed the opponent of their senses, which had also been taught to Diejian.

Tobirama immediately targeted Susanoo's weakness and attacked from below.

A water dragon suddenly flew out from beneath Madara's feet, but several seconds earlier, Madara, having completely seen through Tobirama's movements, dodged by leaping away.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Soaring Bomb"

The water dragon pursuing Madara opened its great maw and fired a concentrated water bullet from it.

It was a high-density destructive sphere, spinning at high speed within the dragon's mouth and compressed into a ball.

They impacted Susanoo with a roar, continuously shaving away at Susanoo.

"Wuhahahaha! Tobirama, remember this is my first time fighting you!"

Even as Susanoo was being gradually peeled away, Madara let out a joyous roar, and Tobirama once again recognized his danger.

This was a man who, if allowed to live, would surely become a calamity for future generations.

Tobirama believed that his own body, which was supposed to have been sacrificed as bait to cover Hiruzen and the others' retreat, was still alive despite being covered in wounds, all for the sake of completing his elder brother Hashirama's unfinished work.

The alliance with Kumogakure had failed, the Second Hokage and the Raikage had both fallen, and the shinobi world would likely usher in an unprecedented Warring States period thereafter.

It would be a war of immense scale, incomparable to the battles between clans of the past, or the First Shinobi World War when the forces had not yet fully gathered at the end of the Warring States period.

Tobirama had foreseen that future when exchanging his final words with the Raikage.

Therefore, in the blood-soaked, hellish world that was about to arrive, Tobirama chose a flame that would never be extinguished.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, gentler than anyone, with his weaknesses.

Shimura Danzo, with his dangerous aspects, but strongly inheriting Tobirama's ideals.

If these two could cooperate, Konoha would surely become stronger.

Tobirama believed they could create a new era after the war.

And then, there was Diejian Senju, who possessed the potential to connect the two great clans that had once dominated the Warring States period, the Senju and the Uchiha.

If the Senju and the Uchiha could cultivate a true bond, then they could surely cultivate new bonds with all other villages—Tobirama believed in the dream that lay ahead.

Therefore, Tobirama would do his utmost to defeat Uchiha Madara.

Tobirama was out of time.

Diejian, having been treated, would likely not die even if left alone.

He had also given some chakra to Dai.

So, even if Tobirama died here, the two would not be in immediate danger.

It was enough as long as he could kill Madara.

Fire Release: Explosive Wind Dance.

This was a technique that originally required both a Wind Release user and a Fire Release user, but Madara displayed it alone.

The storm of flames, amplified by Wind Release, effortlessly erased Tobirama's water dragon, and even Tobirama himself was blown away by the aftermath of the explosion.

Tobirama, rolling on the ground, adjusted his posture despite the searing pain eroding his body, and once again refined Heavenly Weeping in his mouth.

"Die, Tobirama!"

From the inferno, Madara unleashed a fire dragon, its size comparable to a Tailed Beast.

Tobirama did not despair even upon seeing it, confronting it with everything he had.

Tobirama fired countless Heavenly Weepings while throwing Kunai as if to follow them, and formed hand seals.

It was the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.

He taught Shadow Clone to Hiruzen, and now, as the teacher, Tobirama used a technique conceived by Hiruzen.

Kunai multiplied into countless numbers, but were swallowed by the Fire Dragon—

"As expected, attacking Tobirama with 'face' is meaningless. What a troublesome man."

Madara was able to dodge the attack that suddenly appeared, breaking through the sea of fire, because he knew Tobirama always delivered a killing blow the moment the enemy was certain of victory.

Piercing Madara's Susanoo, and grazing his cheek as it flew past, was Water Style: Water Severing Wave.

This was Tobirama's strongest attack, capable of cutting and piercing all things.

Immediately following were countless water needles that suddenly appeared—Heavenly Weeping, and countless kunai.

It turned out the kunai were speeding along the path opened by Heavenly Weeping and Water Severing Wave.

Madara dodged or knocked down the kunai and Heavenly Weeping.

Heavenly Weeping, shot through the holes pierced by Heavenly Weeping, forced Madara to twist and dodge inside the Susanoo.

After confirming he had knocked down all attacks, Madara "released" Susanoo to repair the holes Tobirama had made.

"—Flying Thunder God Slash!"

"I was waiting for you, Tobirama—!!"

At that moment, Tobirama used the Flying Thunder God Technique with the markings on the kunai, slicing Madara's body, his abdomen.

The ninja sword, entwined with water-style chakra nature transformation and shape transformation—that is, the cutting ability of Water Severing Wave—easily sliced through Madara's armor, letting his internal organs spill out.

However—Tobirama, to save Diejian, after escaping Kinkaku's unit, had already used that heavily injured body to perform the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Then he gave his own chakra to Dai, and now, fighting Uchiha Madara in a state of utter ruin, his chakra was depleted.

He could no longer use techniques.

The technique once used to kill Uchiha Izuna was now about to kill his elder brother, Madara.

Madara was enraged by this fact, forgetting his pain in his anger.

These two points transformed crisis into opportunity, and opportunity into crisis.

Susanoo's sword pierced Tobirama's body.

Tobirama thought, this must be the end.

But he acted, unwilling to end it here.

Even pierced by Susanoo, Tobirama still swung his arm and beheaded Madara—.

Looking down at Madara's body, which fell with a thud, Tobirama pondered.

He knew this was by no means the end.

For Uchiha Madara, this was "too weak."

Was it a clone, or a split?

Even for Uchiha Madara, this was not the original body.

This undoubtedly proved that the original body was alive elsewhere.

(—But, the level of sophistication is undeniable. It was undoubtedly a partial split of power. Then, the part beheaded and killed for certain at this moment should not be restorable... My body can no longer move. I can't even speak... But... Konoha has Monkey—the Third Hokage is here.)

Tobirama continued to speculate, looking at Madara's corpse, which had not disappeared even after being beheaded.

Since the original body had not come in person, it could be assumed that Madara was in a state where he could not act for a considerable period.

In a few more years, after this series of events, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Third Hokage, should have "matured."

Then there would be no need to worry.

"If it's Monkey," Tobirama placed deep trust in Hiruzen.

(Diejian... that fool who admired the village and trusted me, did I... protect him well... It seems this is all I can do... From now on, it's up to the younger generation... Brother...)

Tobirama quietly closed his eyes, a serene smile of belief in the future appearing on his cheeks—.

Dai dragged his body forward.

The sea of fire and the vast puddles of water were scattered everywhere, as if devouring each other.

"Second Lord... where are you..."

The sounds of fierce battle had long since stopped, and there was no human presence to be felt.

But the flickering flames, and the water mirrors reflecting the flames, were arranged unnaturally.

It was as if they were guiding Dai towards a path of light.

After a moment of hesitation, Dai moved straight in that direction.

Then—

"Second Lord! Are you alright!"

Discovering Tobirama's back, standing unfallen even though surrounded by flames and soaked in blood, Dai ran towards him, enduring the pain in his body.

At his feet lay a headless man, stained red.

Something with long black hair was nearby.

"That's great, Second Hokage-sama! Se-Second... Hokage..."

Dai, who had run to Tobirama's side, was struck speechless the moment he saw his face up close.

A gaping hole was torn in Tobirama's body, which stood unmoving amidst the flames, his ninja sword gripped tightly.

The crimson-stained wound had stopped bleeding.

This meant all the blood in his body had already drained.

In other words, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—

"He's, he's standing... dead... Second, Second Hokage-sama... sob, sob, sob..."

Dai knelt as if in worship, tears of deep sorrow streaming down his face.

The current Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

He, who was known as the fastest and had blazed through the Warring States period, had gone to protect the children and perished in the process.

Amidst his grief, Dai felt a burning passion ignite within his heart.

He glimpsed the true Will of Fire in Tobirama.

The sight of him fighting to the very end despite mortal wounds planted the definitive Will of Fire in Dai's heart.

Dai's face contorted horribly, tears flowing incessantly.

Then—

"Mangekyo Sharingan—Izanagi."

Dai collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness—.

"This Tobirama guy..."

The head moved slightly, muttering.

The head, its eyes vacant, closed its eyes and sighed.

"I tried imitating the Earth Shadow's 'Split Body'... I didn't expect the power to drop so much, and it had quite an impact on the main body... In that case, Shadow Clone is more useful... You really are something, Tobirama... Although revealing my existence carries risks, there's no other way..."

What Madara did was alter memories through the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He erased the existence of Uchiha Madara from Dai's memory.

If he had used the original power to rewrite fate, even Madara himself, as the main body, would have risked losing his sight.

Therefore, despite the risks, he made the extreme choice of altering Dai's memories.

"But never mind, Tobirama... Being able to kill you with my own hands is also a regret fulfilled..."

With that, Madara's body dissolved into chakra particles, gradually disappearing like powder dissolving in water.

All that remained were Dai, who had collapsed beside Tobirama's corpse, and Diejian, who lay sleeping a short distance away.

The uncelebrated deathmatch had now come to an end—.