Sage Art, Wood Release, True Several Thousand Hands, the Giant Buddha Descends, Might Guy Opens—Gate of Death

"I already died for Konoha once."

"I have no obligation to keep protecting Konoha."

"Besides, I'm not the one controlling the Nine-Tails."

"Even if I wanted to help, there's nothing I can do."

"Third Hokage Grandpa, figure out how to stop it yourselves!"

"I can't help you. Brother Shadian gave me my life, and I owe him. I can't do something that would betray him."

"And what happened today is the bitter consequence of your own actions. If you hadn't ruthlessly attacked the Uchiha Clan and tried to wipe out their entire clan, this disaster would never have happened."

"Third Hokage Grandpa, take care of yourselves!"

Rin Nohara calmly stated her position. Uchiha Shadian had revived her and given her a second life. How could she do something so ungrateful?

She was not like those ungrateful Konoha ingrates who did such disgusting, thankless things.

"Rin, it's a shame you see things that way." Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He had originally intended to persuade Rin Nohara to turn against Uchiha Shadian, but she was completely unmoved and firmly refused to side with Konoha. Since that was the case, there was nothing else to be done. "Stop the Nine-Tails with all your strength. Anyone who dares interfere, kill without mercy."

"Yes."

Roar! The Nine-Tails let out a furious roar. It had regained its senses and naturally understood what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant. They wanted to deal with it and seal it back into that sunless prison. It had no intention of being sealed in that kind of place again.

This time, without Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, it would slaughter these damn bastards.

Its nine tails whipped through the air, uprooting trees and hurling them at Konoha's ninja army as though they cost nothing.

While the battle around the Nine-Tails raged fiercely, Uchiha Shadian and Might Guy were also locked in an intense fight.

Under Uchiha Shadian's Sage Mode, the speed Might Guy unleashed held no real advantage. Through the acute perception of Sage Mode, Uchiha Shadian easily intercepted Might Guy's taijutsu attacks.

"Shadian, I didn't expect your strength to be even greater than that guy's." Might Guy looked at Uchiha Shadian with some surprise. He had initially assumed Uchiha Shadian was weaker than the revived Izuna Uchiha, but after their exchange, he could clearly feel that Uchiha Shadian was significantly stronger. At the very least, in terms of speed, he could no longer crush Uchiha Shadian as easily as he had crushed Izuna Uchiha.

"You're able to keep up with my speed because of this technique, right?" Might Guy looked at the markings on Uchiha Shadian's face and roughly guessed why someone who was clearly not a taijutsu specialist could keep up with his extreme speed.

"There's no harm in telling you. Hashirama Senju personally taught me this ninjutsu." Uchiha Shadian smiled.

"Hashirama Senju?" Might Guy frowned and fell silent in thought for a moment. Then his body jolted. "Hashirama Senju—the First Hokage? Impossible! The First Hokage died before you were even born! You couldn't possibly have learned ninjutsu from him." Might Guy shook his head.

Uchiha Shadian's expression was indifferent. "Believe it or not. Either way, you won't be jumping around for much longer."

"Today, since you chose to stand with Konoha against me, prepare yourself for death."

"Guy, your countdown to death has begun."

Might Guy said gravely, "My youth will not end. You are the one who should prepare for death."

Daytime Tiger. Might Guy swept Uchiha Shadian into the air, then seized the moment to unleash the ultimate move of the Seventh Gate at him.

With Might Guy's shout, a white tiger formed from compressed air roared as it charged toward Uchiha Shadian.

Watching the white tiger rush at him, Uchiha Shadian's gaze remained calm. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes, only endless composure and indifference. He brought his hands together and shouted majestically, "Sage Art, Wood Release, True Several Thousand Hands."

Rumble!

A colossal Thousand-Handed Buddha rose out of thin air, blocking the path before Uchiha Shadian.

Bang!

Might Guy's Daytime Tiger struck at that very instant, smashing viciously into the giant Buddha.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

As parts of the Buddha shattered, they rapidly grew back, as though it were a living statue.

Once the force of Might Guy's Daytime Tiger faded, the giant Buddha returned to its original form.

Uchiha Shadian landed atop the Buddha's head and looked down at Might Guy.

"How is this possible? This is Wood Release. How can you use it?" Might Guy stared at the sight in disbelief. He was not shocked that Uchiha Shadian had blocked his attack, but that Uchiha Shadian had used the Wood Release ninjutsu unique to Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.

"I told you, Hashirama Senju personally taught me." Uchiha Shadian watched Might Guy with an indifferent expression. "Don't say I'm bullying you by using the First Hokage's ninjutsu. Whatever other moves you have, use them, Guy. I'll wait."

Uchiha Shadian spoke coldly.

On the road not far away.

Tsunade and Shizune were rushing back to Konoha at full speed.

Before Uchiha Shadian's Sage Art, Wood Release, True Several Thousand Hands summoned the giant Buddha, the two abruptly stopped and stared blankly at the colossal being.

"Is this Wood Release, Shisui?" Shizune spoke in shock. "How is this possible? How could the First Hokage's unique ninjutsu appear here?"

"It looks like the crisis is over there. Shizune, change direction immediately and head there at full speed." Tsunade frowned and shouted sternly. "Jump up and observe. Estimate how far away it is."

Shizune nodded, leaped onto the treetops, and estimated the distance. "About fifty meters from here."

"Move out immediately." Tsunade waved her hand and darted forward.

Shizune followed closely behind.

Might Guy clenched his fists. There was still one gate left in the Eight Gates—the Gate of Death.

But if he opened the Gate of Death, the violent surge of chakra would place an enormous burden on his body. One misstep, and he would explode and die.

"There's no other way. Your strength is far beyond what I expected. Even if I die, I have to help the village eliminate you. Otherwise, leaving you alive would pose far too great a threat to the village."

Might Guy quickly made up his mind. He decided to sacrifice himself for Konoha.

Hearing Might Guy say this, Uchiha Shadian's lips curled faintly upward. He had revealed the First Hokage's Wood Release precisely to force Might Guy to use the Gate of Death from the Eight Gates.

As long as Guy used it, he would be able to replicate and master it.

Might Guy's face was resolute as he slowly moved his hand to his heart.

Uchiha Shadian's pupils shifted slightly. His gaze locked onto Might Guy, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Open it! This way, my Eight Gates will finally be complete."