In a forest somewhere in the Land of Fire.
A gigantic statue suddenly appeared in the woods, crushing a swath of trees in an instant. As it emerged, a fierce wind rose from its position and swept out in every direction.
On the ground, moonlight cast the enormous statue's shadow across hundreds of meters.
In the shadow of the statue, Uzumaki Kuming held a long blade and looked up at the top of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. There stood the strongest enemy he had faced since beginning his career.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Madara Uchiha struck first from atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. With just a few hand seals, he gathered his Chakra, and flames instantly blotted out the sky. A vast sea of fire engulfed the sky above Kuming and came crashing down on him.
Though it was only a B-rank jutsu, in Madara Uchiha's hands it covered an astonishing area. And for Madara, an attack of such magnitude was merely an opening probe.
"Fire Release Ninjutsu!"
"What's an attack on this scale supposed to accomplish?"
Kuming looked up at the sea of flames filling the sky, his expression calm. Ordinary shinobi might have no way to deal with a jutsu of this magnitude, but such a basic Fire Style technique couldn't possibly cause him any real harm.
Kuming knew this, and Madara, who had fought him once before, should have known it too. That was precisely why Kuming suspected Madara had something more in mind. He responded with extra caution.
"Lightning Arrow!"
Kuming didn't choose to withstand Madara's Fire Style with his Lightning Armor. He planned to turn the tables and seize the initiative.
A deep-purple Lightning Arrow quickly formed in front of Kuming. With his mastery of Lightning Release Chakra,