Hashirama: Madara! Madara!

"My Lord, the power of the Tailed Beast is truly terrifying. If it can affect us from this far away, wouldn't it be world-ending at close range?"

"We should stay here and wait for the Clan Head's good news."

Uchiha Sake was somewhat worried about their safety and tried to persuade him to retreat.

After all, even he himself could potentially perish under such destructive power.

"Rest assured, everything is under control."

Uchiha Yang rejected the proposal to fall back. A great show was about to begin; since he had already come this far, how could he not go and watch?

This was the first clash between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama after awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan and Wood Release—this was not something to be missed.

As for how Uchiha Yang knew Senju Hashirama had awakened Wood Release, it was purely intuition.

Since Uchiha Madara had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, there was no reason for Senju Hashirama not to have awakened Wood Release.

Especially given that Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were the reincarnations of Indra and Asura, the probability of them awakening that power simultaneously was as high as ninety-nine percent.

At this moment, having dealt with the damned humans before it, the Nine-Tails struggled out of the mire and began to run toward the distance.

Running away was not terrible; what was terrible was losing one's freedom.

"Lively personality, loves to exercise, and beneath that rebellious exterior lies a childlike heart," Uchiha Yang said, standing beside Uchiha Sei and watching the Nine-Tails gradually disappear from sight, his tone full of appreciation.

Everyone present couldn't help but twitch their lips upon hearing Uchiha Yang's words.

They had no idea where he saw a lively, athletic personality in a terrifying Tailed Beast.

[Brain: If we have the Nine-Tails, it's equivalent to having an endless engine. We won't have to worry about our lifespan decreasing from over-utilizing chakra.]

[Sharingan: An extra engine?]

[Hand: The one above summarized it perfectly.]

[Leg: Retract that, let me say it.]

[Mouth: I wonder what the Nine-Tails' chakra tastes like?]

[Fire Affinity: With the boost from the Nine-Tails' chakra, I will become incomparably powerful. I've never had such a wonderful start.]

[Water Affinity: I strongly support Master capturing the Tailed Beast as a pet.]

The other three affinities also chimed in with "+1." With the Nine-Tails' chakra, they would be able to manifest in any future battle at will.

Instead of having limited or even zero appearances due to chakra constraints.

[So you see, everything Master does is for your own good. Don't be ungrateful. You spend all day calling me lazy—am I lazy?]

[Brain: Lazy.]

[Sharingan: Indeed lazy.]

[This is rebellion, pure rebellion! My own body is turning against its master!]

Seeing that his body parts were all growing rebellious bones, Uchiha Yang was suddenly heartbroken.

"Shall we pursue?"

Seeing that the young lad Yang remained unmoved, Uchiha Sei couldn't help but ask.

"My pet is a bit rebellious, to say the least. A good beating at this time should set things right."

Uchiha Yang came back to his senses and realized the Nine-Tails had already gone far.

However, Uchiha Yang only followed from a distance. Uchiha Madara should be arriving soon, and he hoped it wouldn't be Senju Hashirama who arrived first.

A few minutes later, the very thing he feared came to pass, and Uchiha Yang sighed.

Watching Senju Hashirama in the distance bind the Nine-Tails with a single clap of his hands and a Wood Release technique, he realized that people really couldn't be compared; otherwise, you'd feel like you were on the same level as trash.

Senju Hashirama looked solemn as he restrained the Nine-Tails, but the beast was unwilling to be sealed and launched a Tailed Beast Bomb rapidly toward him.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall."

Wood erupted from the ground, quickly covering Senju Hashirama himself.

The Tailed Beast Bomb collided directly with it. Violent energy swept through the surroundings, gales howled, and the Tailed Beast Bomb was deflected just like that, as if it were nothing.

As luck would have it, the direction the Tailed Beast Bomb was deflected toward was exactly where Uchiha Yang was standing.

"Holy shit!"

Seeing the Tailed Beast Bomb heading his way, Uchiha Yang cursed his bad luck. He couldn't even watch a show without suffering an unprovoked disaster.

"Lord Yang, run!"

"Lad Yang, get out of here! I'll block it!"

"Master, run!"

In an instant, everyone stood before him, and walls of earth rose up one after another.

Even the ordinary little maid, though her legs were trembling with fear, still stood in front of Uchiha Yang, spreading her weak arms and attempting to block the Tailed Beast Bomb with the strength of an ant.

Uchiha Yang was deeply moved, especially by the little maid's actions.

Just as Uchiha Yang prepared to hand control back to his body, a rapidly flashing blue figure appeared.

A blue giant emerged, swatting the incoming Tailed Beast Bomb away with a single palm.

BOOM!

In the distance, a massive explosion erupted.

The light of the blast pierced the clouds, blooming like a giant mushroom cloud.

"Hashirama!"

Inside the smooth-surfaced blue giant, Uchiha Madara held his Uchiwa Fan, shouting excitedly at Senju Hashirama, who had just emerged from the protection of his Wood Release.

"Madara!"

Upon seeing Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama's face also lit up with excitement as he shouted back.

"Let me see just how much you've grown over all these years."

Filled with fighting spirit, Uchiha Madara dispersed his Susanoo and brandished his Uchiwa Fan, his Mangekyou Sharingan eyes burning with the desire for battle.

"Clan Leader, the Tailed Beast is still in Senju Hashirama's hands."

Seeing that the clansmen's attention was entirely focused on Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Sei hurriedly reminded him.

He didn't even have time to marvel at the power the Clan Leader had displayed; he realized he had absolutely no understanding of the Clan Leader's true strength.

"Hashirama, whoever wins gets the Tailed Beast. How about it?"

Prompted by the reminder, Uchiha Madara looked as if waking from a dream toward the Nine-Tails, which was bound by Wood Release. His eyes narrowed, especially when he saw those wooden vines.

It seemed that it wasn't just he who had gained new power; Hashirama had as well.

But that only made things interesting. It would be disappointing if he defeated Hashirama too easily.

"No problem."

Senju Hashirama himself had no interest in the Tailed Beast and agreed on the spot.

"Clan Leader, you cannot agree to this! We have already secured the Tailed Beast; on what grounds are you using it as a wager?"

The main Senju force arrived in a hurry, and the leading Senju Elder, hearing the terms of the bet, immediately objected.

"I have already given my word."

Senju Hashirama looked at him with an unquestionable gaze.

"Madara!"

Not wanting to be pestered by the elder, Senju Hashirama charged forward.

"Hashirama, let me see how much you've grown. I can already reach the other shore!"

Uchiha Madara charged forward in high spirits, weaving hand signs: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!!!

As the powerful C-rank ninjutsu from both men collided, steam instantly filled the entire field.

"What a passionate battle."

Watching the scene of the two constantly unleashing ninjutsu, Uchiha Yang couldn't help but sigh.

Uchiha Sei nodded in deep agreement: "It is indeed a passionate battle; it's truly intense."

Although he didn't fully grasp the Clan Leader's strength, the fact that Senju Hashirama could fight the Clan Leader to a standstill was truly beyond his expectations.

"The warm-up is over, Hashirama. Let me show you my true power."

Uchiha Madara's Mangekyou Sharingan were incredibly striking, and the rising Susanoo began to grow in size.