Wood Release vs. Wood Release

"What?!"

The ground below began to shake. The smooth rocks near the waterfall were crushed with ease as thick roots burst forth in a cloud of dust like a tsunami. They quickly grew into trees, creating a forest in an instant.

"That's... Wood Release?!"

Roots and branches twisted upward like countless giant serpents, coiling around the Wood Golem's body. Under Madara's control, they tightened furiously, snapping the Wood Golem's legs.

There was no time to wonder why Madara had suddenly learned his Wood Release. The Wood Golem beneath Hashirama's feet had already begun to collapse. Then he formed hand seals and said:

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

The roots tangled and "battled" one another, but Madara's Wood Release wasn't Senjutsu, so it was at a slight disadvantage.

"Hahahaha! You may be nothing but a cheap imitation, but I acknowledge you!"

"Of everyone who's ever fought me, Uchiha Madara, you're the one who's given me the most satisfying battle besides the real Hashirama!"

"I, Uchiha Madara, declare you the strongest!"

In Madara's eyes, capturing Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, and crushing the Twelve Guardian Ninja had been nothing more than child's play. But his battle with Statue Hashirama made him feel the passion and fighting spirit he hadn't felt in years. Now, he decided to go all out.

Even the real Hashirama back in the day wouldn't have stood a chance against him with Wood Release and Susanoo.

That was what Uchiha Madara believed. He formed a series of hand seals and used "Multiple Wood Clone Technique." Then all his clones formed hand seals together—

"Perfect Susanoo!"

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"

The Wood Dragon coiled around Susanoo's waist as the latter sped forward, sword in hand, like countless giants surging toward their enemy. Even Statue Hashirama, with Hashirama's mind, furrowed his brow, sensing a grave threat.

"I have no choice..."

Statue Hashirama leaped back onto the Thousand-Armed Buddha Statue and gathered a massive amount of chakra. A golden cloak, like sunlight, faintly enveloped the entire statue.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformed Buddha!"

If the Buddha Statue's fists canceling out Madara's "Yasakani Magatama" could be described as "dense," then this time they were "so tightly packed that not even air could pass through."

There was almost no space between the enormous fists. Hundreds of them struck the same Perfect Susanoo, smashing it to pieces. But Madara hadn't summoned the Wood Dragon just for show.

As Susanoo's blade struck the fists of the Top Transformed Buddha, the nimble Wood Dragon darted away at once, rushing along the lengthened arm toward Statue Hashirama's body.

"Chakra... It's absorbing my chakra!"

The moment the Wood Dragon wrapped around him, Statue Hashirama's body erupted with purple chakra, and he punched the dragon with tremendous force. But after several exchanges, some of his chakra was still drained.

"Still don't get it?! Even Hashirama can't beat me now!"

Though it wasn't the real Hashirama, defeating Senju Hashirama filled Uchiha Madara with indescribable delight. It was "making me so high!"

"All right, this is the final blow!"

"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"

While Statue Hashirama was panting, exhausted from spending so much chakra, Uchiha Madara formed hand seals once more and unleashed his final attack.

The roots of the forest he'd summoned earlier began to split apart. New, thicker roots of a darker hue surged up from below. Alongside the many trees surrounding Statue Hashirama, several enormous buds bloomed from the roots.

As the buds opened, clouds of poisonous pollen quickly engulfed the entire Valley of the End. Just as Statue Hashirama cried out in alarm, he suddenly sensed something and collapsed.

Madara, controlling his Perfect Susanoo, slowly approached the fallen Statue Hashirama, intending to deliver the final blow.

But just then, Statue Hashirama suddenly opened his eyes, drew the giant stone sword at his waist, and thrust it viciously into Susanoo.

"Damn! I forgot he's made of stone! The poisonous pollen from Advent of a World of Flowering Trees doesn't work on him!"

The attack had used up nearly all of Statue Hashirama's remaining chakra. Combined with his monstrous strength, it was devastating. Madara felt as though every bone in his body had been crushed as he and his Perfect Susanoo crashed to the ground.

"Sorry... Madara..."

Just as he had stabbed Madara in the back during their last battle at the Valley of the End, Statue Hashirama had won by less-than-honorable means. But to protect the village, he had no choice.

"Hahahaha... You really are just like the real Hashirama when it comes to personality...!"

"But unfortunately for you, a fake is still a fake!"

Statue Hashirama got to his feet, clutching his damaged arm. In disbelief, he stared toward Madara. The hole that should have been pierced through his chest had disappeared completely, as if he'd never been hit.

The Dog Talisman's "immunity to death" ability had activated, leaving Uchiha Madara unharmed.

"Even if I'm a fake, I'll still protect the village!"

When Statue Hashirama had come into close contact with Madara's Susanoo, he had realized that he wasn't Senju Hashirama himself, but merely a statue brought to life by some unknown power.

But having inherited Hashirama's memories and personality, Statue Hashirama still resolutely defended Konoha.

As his final words fell, Uchiha Madara's Susanoo cut off Statue Hashirama's head with its long sword. He then lost all signs of life. At the same time, Madara realized what had made Statue Hashirama move.

"The Rat Talisman...?"

Uchiha Madara looked at the Rat Talisman lodged in a crack in the Hashirama statue and roughly guessed what it could do. "It gives inanimate objects life and the ability to think for themselves...?"

That was easier to accept than the dog's power to make someone immortal.

Just as Madara reached out to take the talisman, several sharp samurai swords suddenly pierced his body, their bloody tips jutting out through his chest.

"What...? I didn't even sense them?!"

Madara turned around, forcing himself to endure the pain. A huge amount of chakra erupted from him, and he formed Susanoo once more. Then he saw who had ambushed him.

"They're... the Land of Fire Daimyo's bodyguards?"

The ones who had attacked Madara were none other than the Shadowkhan. They had stayed hidden ever since the Twelve Guardian Ninja emerged from the cave, waiting for a chance to seize the talisman.

The Shadow Ninja had no chakra, so Uchiha Madara couldn't sense them. On top of that, defeating such a formidable opponent as Statue Hashirama had made him let his guard down. That was how he'd been caught off guard.

Fortunately, the Dog Talisman's power kept Uchiha Madara from dying. He pulled out the samurai swords through the pain and slowly got back to his feet.

Madara's gaze turned murderous. The thing he hated most in life was having someone stand behind him—or being attacked by surprise.

Even a close friend like Senju Hashirama couldn't just stand behind him! And he still hadn't gotten over Hashirama stabbing him in the back!

But just as he was about to strike, the Shadow Ninja suddenly sank into the ground and vanished. Madara immediately turned to look at the talisman and realized he'd been tricked.