Madara, I Declare You the Strongest

In the forest outside Konoha.

Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama stood facing each other.

Uchiha Madara stood beneath a large tree, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan slowly spinning. After replacing his eyes, his vision had recovered to an unprecedented clarity, and his ocular power had increased dramatically. He needed a battle to test the strength of these new eyes.

News of Uchiha Madara sparring with Senju Hashirama quickly spread through Konoha.

Konoha's twin pillars—the ultimate showdown between the Hokage and Lord Hashirama.

The spectators included Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Yan, Nara Shikato, Hyuga Tennin, and Uzumaki Mito.

"Come, Hashirama."

Uchiha Madara launched the first attack. A blue Susanoo rose from the ground, wielding a long blade as it slashed toward Senju Hashirama.

Senju Hashirama clapped his hands together. "Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique."

The ground split apart, and a massive wooden dragon burst from below. Opening its jaws, the dragon bit down on the blade. The sword sank into its head, sending wood chips flying. The two forces locked in midair, and the resulting shockwave flattened swathes of surrounding trees.

Boom—

The two forces collided, kicking up dust that filled the sky. The shockwave knocked down another swathe of surrounding trees.

When the dust settled, Uchiha Madara's Susanoo had already transformed into its second form—the Crow Tengu Armor.

"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique."

A massive wooden humanoid rose from the earth and faced the Susanoo. Its gnarled bark resembled muscles, and every punch was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Uchiha Madara drove his Susanoo forward, and a massive fireball erupted from its mouth. "Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

The enormous fireball surged toward the wooden humanoid. Wherever the flames passed, trees were instantly reduced to ash, and the ground was scorched black.

"Wood Release: Hotei Technique."

Senju Hashirama wrapped himself in Wood Release, forming a wooden shield. The flames slammed into it and charred its surface black, but failed to break through.

"Hashirama."

"Madara."

The two colossal beings charged at each other simultaneously.

The wooden humanoid's fist crashed into the Susanoo's armor with a dull boom. The Susanoo's long blade hacked into the wooden humanoid, sending wood chips showering through the air. The ground continually cracked beneath their trampling feet, while trees were uprooted. Branches burst from underground and wrapped around the Susanoo's ankles, trying to trip it.

The Susanoo exposed an opening, and the wooden humanoid seized it, smashing a fist into its chest and knocking it to the ground.

Boom—

The Susanoo crashed to the ground. The wooden humanoid pressed down on it, its fists pounding the Susanoo again and again. The ground caved in, sending clouds of dust rolling outward.

Uchiha Madara did not panic. He drew upon all of his ocular power.

The Susanoo transformed once more—evolving into its Complete Body Warrior God form. A giant several hundred meters tall, with wings on its back and twin blades in its hands, its entire body shrouded in blue chakra radiance.

Hashirama changed his Wood Release technique as well.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom."

The ground shook violently. Countless thick trees erupted from below, their branches twisting like giant pythons as they lashed toward the Susanoo. The trees grew at an astonishing speed, turning the entire battlefield into a sea of forest in the blink of an eye. Layer upon layer of branches surged in from every direction, binding the Susanoo's feet, waist, abdomen, and arms.

Massive flowers bloomed on the trees. As they opened, yellow pollen drifted through the air, spreading across the entire battlefield.

"Hashirama, that move doesn't work anymore."

The Susanoo swung its twin blades, their edges carving two arcs through the air and forcibly splitting the encroaching forest sea in half. Severed trunks crashed to the ground, spraying wood chips and dust.

"Madara, you've grown stronger."

"But—"

Hashirama took a deep breath and pressed his palms together.

"Sage Art—"

Black markings appeared on his face as Sage Mode activated. Vast natural energy poured into his body, and his chakra surged explosively.

"Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformed Buddha."

The earth trembled violently.

A thousand-handed Buddha nearly a thousand meters tall rose from the ground, blotting out the sky. Thousands of massive arms spread out behind it.

Nara Shikato said, "Lord Hokage and Lord Hashirama really are monsters. One battle, and they've reshaped the mountains and rivers."

Hyuga Tennin said nothing. His pale eyes remained fixed on the thousand-handed Buddha, but inwardly, he felt immensely relieved. Fortunately, the Hyuga had chosen to submit rather than be conquered.

Uchiha Izuna clenched his fists.

Uchiha Madara looked up at the thousand-handed Buddha, his eyes devoid of fear.

The Susanoo spread its wings and soared into the sky, raising its twin blades as it charged toward the thousand-handed Buddha.

The thousand-handed Buddha's thousands of arms struck out at once.

Boom—Boom—Boom—

Every collision was like the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting apart.

The entire battlefield trembled.

The ground cracked, and rocks tumbled down. The forest was utterly destroyed, and a thick layer of earth had been shaved away.

Susanoo's twin blades severed dozens of arms, but even more arms smashed in from every direction. Punch after punch came without a single gap.

Cracks began to appear in Susanoo's armor. Its blue chakra glow flickered erratically.

Uchiha Madara gritted his teeth and drove Susanoo onward, continuing to swing its blades.

But the Thousand-Hand Buddha's assault did not weaken.

At last, Susanoo could no longer hold on.

"Boom—"

The Thousand-Hand Buddha's final punch struck Susanoo squarely in the chest, and the blue giant crashed to the ground. Its warrior god form dispersed, and the chakra glow went completely dark.

The smoke and dust gradually cleared.

Uchiha Madara knelt on one knee amid the ruined earth, his clothes tattered and his body covered in mud and dust. He panted heavily. His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan had automatically deactivated, revealing black pupils.

Senju Hashirama stood some distance away. His Sage Mode had faded, and the markings on his face were gone. His chakra was nearly depleted, and his legs trembled slightly, yet he still maintained an upright stance.

The two had fought evenly in this battle, but Senju Hashirama had ultimately proved the more skilled.

Everyone hurried over from afar.

"Brother, are you all right?" Uchiha Izuna stepped forward to support Uchiha Madara.

"Big Brother." Senju Tobirama walked to Hashirama's side.

Uzumaki Mito looked at Hashirama, her eyes full of pride. "As expected of the man Uzumaki Mito has set her sights on."

After the battle, the ground for dozens of miles around had been shaved several meters deep. Massive craters and ravines were everywhere, while the once-dense forest had vanished without a trace. A huge section of the distant hills was missing, with shattered stones scattered across the ground.

Uchiha Madara rose to his feet.

"Hahaha..." he suddenly laughed.

"Hahahahaha..." Senju Hashirama laughed as well.

Their laughter echoed across the devastated land.

"Hashirama, you truly are the rival of my lifetime. You've grown stronger."

"Madara, so have you."

"I lost," Uchiha Madara admitted readily. "But that's what makes it interesting. If I had defeated you so easily, I would have been truly lonely."

"In terms of combat power, I, Madara, acknowledge you as the strongest."

"Madara, I look forward to you becoming even stronger."

The two looked at each other, then burst into laughter again at the same time.

Uchiha Izuna watched his brother with complicated feelings. He had never expected that even with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, his brother would still lose. Senju Tobirama stood nearby, his gaze passing over Uchiha Madara before turning to his own elder brother. As expected, Big Brother is the strongest. It's a pity I'm so useless that I caused him to fail to become Hokage.

Uchiha Yan was not surprised by this result. In the original story, Senju Hashirama was simply a pure stat monster. When Uchiha Madara grew stronger, Senju Hashirama grew stronger too, always staying just one step ahead of Madara. Unless Madara had the Rinnegan, even if they fought ten more times, Hashirama would still win.