Wood Release VS Wood Release

"What?!"

The ground below began to quake, and the smooth rocks near the waterfall were easily pulverized. Thick tree roots surged forth like a tsunami, accompanied by massive clouds of dust, rapidly sprouting into multiple trees and creating a forest in an instant.

"That is... Wood Release?!"

Roots and branches twisted and wound upward like countless giant pythons, entangling the body of the Wood Golem. Under Uchiha Madara's control, they tightened frantically, snapping the legs of the Wood Golem by sheer force.

With no time to ponder how Madara had suddenly learned his Wood Release, Senju Hashirama felt the Wood Golem he stood upon beginning to collapse. He immediately formed hand seals:

"Sage Art Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

The roots "battled" and entangled with one another, but because Uchiha Madara's technique was not Sage Art, it was slightly at a disadvantage.

"Hahahaha! Although you are merely a counterfeit, I acknowledge you!"

"Among all those I, Uchiha Madara, have fought, you are the one who has given me the most pleasure, aside from the real Senju Hashirama!"

"I, Uchiha Madara, am willing to call you the strongest!"

Capturing the Four-Tails jinchuriki Roshi and crushing the Twelve Guardian Ninja were nothing more than child's play in Uchiha Madara's eyes. However, the battle against Statue Hashirama made him feel a passion and fighting spirit he hadn't felt in years, and he decided to go all out.

Facing himself, who possessed both Wood Release and Susanoo, even the real Senju Hashirama of the past would have had no chance of victory.

That was what Uchiha Madara believed. He performed several hand seals to execute the "Wood Release: Multiple Wood Clone Technique," while each clone simultaneously formed seals—

"Susanoo: Complete Body!"

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"

With the Wood Dragon coiled around its waist, the Susanoo charged forward with sword in hand, as if countless giants were advancing. Even Statue Hashirama, possessing the mind of Senju Hashirama, furrowed his brows, sensing a grave crisis approaching.

"I have no choice but to do this..."

Statue Hashirama leaped back onto the Thousand-Armed Buddha Statue, channeling a massive amount of chakra, causing the entire Thousand-Armed Buddha Statue to be faintly enveloped in a golden, sun-like aura.

"Sage Art Wood Release: Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"

If the previous exchange of the Buddha Statue's fists canceling out Madara's "Yasakani Magatama" could be described as "dense," then this time it could only be described as "impenetrable."

There was almost no gap between the massive fists; hundreds of them could strike the same Susanoo: Complete Body and shatter it completely. However, the Wood Dragon Madara summoned was not just for show.

As the Susanoo swung its blade to strike the giant fists of the True Several Thousand Hands, the agile Wood Dragon immediately darted out, rushing along the extended arm toward the main body of Statue Hashirama.

"Chakra... is being absorbed!"

Even though Statue Hashirama's body erupted with a massive amount of purple chakra the moment the Wood Dragon coiled around him, unleashing a punch with immense strength against the dragon, he could not avoid having a portion of his chakra drained after a few exchanges.

"Do you still not understand?! Even Senju Hashirama cannot defeat me now!"

Although it was not the real person, defeating Senju Hashirama still brought Uchiha Madara immense pleasure; it truly "made me feel so high!"

"Alright, this is the final blow!"

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom!"

Taking advantage of the moment Statue Hashirama was panting and exhausted from consuming so much chakra, Uchiha Madara formed hand seals once more to deliver the final strike.

The roots of the forest summoned earlier began to crack, and new, deeper-colored, thick roots surged from below. Building upon the trees that already surrounded Statue Hashirama, several massive flower buds sprouted.

As the buds bloomed, a large amount of toxic pollen rapidly enveloped the entire Valley of the End. Just as Statue Hashirama cried out in alarm, he suddenly sensed something and collapsed to the ground.

Madara, controlling the Susanoo: Complete Body, slowly approached the fallen Statue Hashirama, intending to deliver the finishing blow.

But at that moment, Statue Hashirama suddenly opened his eyes, drew the giant stone sword from his waist, and thrust it violently toward the Susanoo.

"Damn it! I forgot it was made of stone! The toxic pollen of Deep Forest Bloom has no effect on it!"

This move by Statue Hashirama consumed almost all of his remaining chakra, and combined with his immense strength, the power was astonishing. Madara felt as if every bone in his body had been crushed, and he plummeted to the ground along with the Susanoo: Complete Body.

"Sorry... Madara..."

Just like the backstab during their previous battle at the Valley of the End, Statue Hashirama had achieved victory through less-than-honorable means, but to protect the village, he had to do it.

"Hahahaha... You guy, your personality is exactly the same as the real Senju Hashirama...!"

"It is just a pity that a fake is a fake!"

Statue Hashirama stood up, clutching his shattered arm, and looked toward Madara's position in the distance in disbelief. The hole in his chest that should have been pierced was gone without a trace, as if he had never been hit at all.

The Rat Talisman had triggered the "Immunity to Death" ability, leaving Uchiha Madara completely unharmed.

"Even if I am a fake! I must protect Konoha!"

In truth, when Statue Hashirama came into close contact with Madara's Susanoo, he realized he was not the real Senju Hashirama, but merely a statue brought to life by an unknown power.

Yet, having inherited the memories and personality of Senju Hashirama, Statue Hashirama was still determined to protect Konoha.

As the final words fell, Statue Hashirama's head was severed by the longsword of Uchiha Madara's Susanoo, and he completely lost all signs of life. At the same time, Madara discovered the reason Statue Hashirama had been able to move.

"The Rat Talisman...?"

Uchiha Madara looked at the Rat Talisman lodged in a crevice of the Hashirama statue, roughly guessing its ability: "The ability to grant inanimate objects life and self-awareness...?"

Compared to the Dog Talisman that granted immortality, this was perhaps easier to accept.

Just as Madara reached out to take the talisman, several sharp samurai swords suddenly pierced his body, protruding from his chest along with blood.

"What...? I didn't even notice?!"

Forcing himself to turn despite the agony, Uchiha Madara erupted with a massive surge of chakra, manifesting his Susanoo once more, only to identify the identity of his attackers.

"They are... the personal guards of the Land of Fire Daimyo?"

The ones who ambushed Uchiha Madara were none other than the Shadowkhan, who had been lurking in the shadows since the Twelve Guardian Ninja emerged from the cave, waiting for the perfect moment to seize the talisman.

Because the Shadow Ninja possessed no chakra, Uchiha Madara could not detect them; coupled with the fact that he had just defeated a formidable foe like Statue Hashirama, his guard had been lowered, leading to this humiliating setback.

Fortunately, the Dog Talisman took effect, ensuring Uchiha Madara would not die. Enduring the excruciating pain, he pulled out the katana and slowly climbed to his feet.

At the same time, Uchiha Madara's eyes turned murderous; the things he hated most in this life were people standing behind him and being ambushed.

Even a close friend like Senju Hashirama was not allowed to stand behind him casually! Especially since he still held a grudge over being backstabbed by Senju Hashirama in the past!

Yet, the moment he was about to strike, the Shadow Ninja suddenly dove into the ground and vanished. Uchiha Madara immediately turned to look at the talisman, realizing only then that he had fallen for a trap.