I Have Battled Myself For A Long Time

The moment the wall fell, it didn't just cause Senju Kyogawa's brain to short-circuit for a second; the two people forced to remain outside were also instantly stunned.

The passage was so wide—who said only one person could fit through it?

Madara and Senju Chenghe only felt a force repelling them the moment they tried to step inside, then they were both bounced out, followed immediately by the descent of an earthen wall.

Senju Chenghe was shocked, Senju Chenghe was confused, and Senju Chenghe refused to give up.

Endowed with Senju Super Strength, he slammed a fist into the earthen wall, but the wall didn't budge; instead, the recoil left Senju Chenghe in pain for quite a while.

Senju Chenghe then attempted to use Earth Release to move the wall away.

However...

It was completely useless.

Senju Chenghe still wouldn't give up, and he began shouting Senju Kyogawa's name at the top of his lungs.

Senju Chenghe's voice rang through the tunnel, echoing a dozen times before it finally died down, nearly deafening Madara in the process.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Unable to stand Senju Chenghe's series of frantic antics any longer, Madara finally cut him off.

Senju Chenghe ceased his actions, but he continued to mutter under his breath:

"Kyogawa-kun isn't even five years old yet. If it's because of me that he... how could I ever face the clan, or his family..."

Senju Chenghe thought back to how Senju Kyogawa had once snatched his life back from the jaws of death. He had promised to protect Senju Kyogawa well during their mission.

"The current situation is something none of us could have foreseen. This isn't your fault, so you don't need to blame yourself." Seeing Senju Chenghe's dejected state, Madara offered a few words of comfort. "Besides, I believe he is very strong—at the very least, no worse than I am. Although he lacks some combat experience, I believe he will survive."

"Please, have faith in him," Madara said with a smile.

Senju Chenghe sat on the ground in silence for a moment, then finally managed to convince himself:

"Right, Kyogawa-kun's taijutsu is incredible, and he knows Medical Ninjutsu. He definitely won't get into trouble..."

And that mysterious swordsmanship... Madara added in his heart.

He still couldn't forget the day Senju Kyogawa descended from the sky and sliced that monster in half with a single strike. He had fought that long-tongued monster before and knew how tough its skin was—it was skin that even shuriken and kunai couldn't pierce.

Madara couldn't identify the origin of that swordsmanship, but it was precisely because of that strike that Madara believed Senju Kyogawa would never lose his life so easily.

"Since that's the case, let's split up and take the other two passages." Seeing that Senju Chenghe had come to his senses, Madara proposed, "I'll take the right, and you take the left."

"Be careful on the way," Senju Chenghe said to Madara before entering the passage.

He sincerely hoped that this child, younger than himself, would also be safe and sound, even though they had only known each other for a few hours.

"Mn, you too." A gentle smile curled the corners of Madara's mouth. That gentle expression on his refined face was like spring snow melting, making it impossible not to feel a sense of warmth.

Back to Senju Kyogawa's side.

After discovering he had been forced to separate from his two companions, Senju Kyogawa quickly accepted reality.

Alone, he became even more cautious.

Senju Kyogawa covered his entire body in a layer of "flames," retrieved his Nichirin Sword from the system space, and slowly probed forward.

Just as he was about to round a corner, the Ugly Monster suddenly spoke up.

"Master, be careful. I sense a very unpleasant aura." The Ugly Monster, perched on Senju Kyogawa's right shoulder, warned: "It's a rotten, deathly, decaying smell..."

By now, Senju Kyogawa was prepared for battle, ready to face a powerful Evil Demon.

He gripped his Nichirin Sword tightly with his right hand, took a deep breath, and channeled energy from his lungs throughout his entire body.

At the thought of potentially facing a formidable enemy, Senju Kyogawa suddenly felt his blood boil. The current Senju Kyogawa had already experienced several battles; he was no longer the green kid who would be terrified and nervous upon encountering mountain bandits.

He wanted to test just how powerful a monster his Nichirin Sword and [Sun Breathing: First Form: Waltz] could defeat.

Holding his breath, Senju Kyogawa finally rounded the corner.

The result, however, left him stunned.

"Huh? What is this!" Senju Kyogawa shouted in shock, staring blankly ahead.

Senju Kyogawa had expected to see an ugly-looking but powerful Evil Demon, and he had already prepared himself to be repulsed.

To his surprise, what he saw was a boy who looked exactly like him from head to toe.

The "boy" opposite him also had white, shoulder-length hair, fair skin, and a delicate, cute appearance. His black eyes, clear as black crystals, stared sternly at the Senju Kyogawa across from him, his right hand gripping a Nichirin Sword, with a space-time rift derivative identical to the Ugly Monster lying on his shoulder.

Even after Senju Kyogawa had voiced his shock, the "Senju Kyogawa" opposite him had uttered the exact same words and made the exact same expression.

"Master, he looks just like you, even his expressions and voice are exactly the same..." The Ugly Monster was so surprised that its eyeball even popped out; it peered at the "Senju Kyogawa" opposite them with its long nerve connected to the red eye, then turned back to observe the real Senju Kyogawa.

"However, he is a fake! That disgusting smell is coming from him!" the Ugly Monster added.

At that moment, the "Ugly Monster" on the shoulder of the "Senju Kyogawa" opposite them performed the same action and made the same sound.

Senju Kyogawa stood in a stalemate with the "Senju Kyogawa," as if the one opposite him would only move if Senju Kyogawa moved first.

Senju Kyogawa spoke a few more words and performed a few actions to test him.

The "Senju Kyogawa" indeed spoke the same words and performed the exact same actions in sync.

When Senju Kyogawa tentatively stepped forward, the "Senju Kyogawa" opposite him did not move forward, but instead stepped back.

So, if he's just a copycat, then as long as I don't initiate an attack, he won't attack me either, right? Senju Kyogawa pondered this loophole.

He decided to step forward and continue testing his theory.

Senju Kyogawa kept walking forward, and the "Senju Kyogawa" continued to retreat.

Seeing that this method was viable, Senju Kyogawa immediately strode forward, walking directly to the "door" that appeared to be the exit.

Senju Kyogawa thought he might be the first person in history to solve the puzzle of fighting oneself, and in such a peaceful way, no less.

However, just as Senju Kyogawa's hand was about to touch the "door" of the exit, an unexpected change occurred.

Senju Kyogawa was repelled by the "door."

The "Senju Kyogawa" raised the Nichirin Sword in his hand.

"Sun Breathing: First Form: Waltz!"