Dust slowly settled across the sky. Shattered rock, building wreckage, and splintered wood fell one after another into the sea, throwing up sprays dozens of meters high. Ripples spread across the water.
The explosion had torn a vast opening in the dark, fractured sky, exposing the deep black void beyond the clouds.
The Sabaody Archipelago lay in ruins. Enormous crisscrossing chasms split the ground and ran across the entire island, their depths invisible. Cold seawater surged inland through the fissures, swallowing the remaining walls and rubble.
The buildings, orderly streets, and solid ground of yesterday had all collapsed into wreckage.
After just the first clash, the once-bustling island had nearly been destroyed.
Madara Uchiha stood at the brow of his Susanoo, facing the wind. His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on the roiling black mist in the distance, and his blood surged with excitement.
He looked into the darkness high above. His proud, cutting voice pierced the lingering roar of the explosion and rang across heaven and earth, every word striking deep.
"Not bad! No wonder Natsu fought you to the bitter end back then."
He raised his gaze slightly, battle fervor blazing in his eyes. His voice carried the Uchiha Clan's singular arrogance. There was not a trace of fear in him, only absolute confidence.
"But if you think that's enough to crush the divine power flowing through my Uchiha blood, you're still a long way off!"
The black mist churning overhead paused for a moment, then began to flow again.
Imu's impassive voice drifted through the dust. It betrayed neither joy nor anger, yet held a rare note of approval.
It was the acknowledgment of an ancient supreme ruler, finally taking a newly risen powerhouse seriously.
"Just as I expected. You have considerable potential."
That simple assessment was an