Final Battle

Screech!

A piercing eagle cry rang across the vast East River Plains as a gray eagle swept through the sky, leaving behind a faint trail.

Through the eagle's eyes, the boundless plains stretched below. Rows of weapons gleamed with a chilling white light, flags snapped in the wind, and the land was solemn and thick with killing intent.

Across the endless plain, thousands of ninjas faced one another from afar, their eyes filled with killing intent and the hatred and fury accumulated over centuries.

Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna stood side by side at the very front of their formation. As they looked at the Senju Clan not far away, their expressions carried a trace of gravity but not the slightest fear. If anything, their fighting spirit burned even fiercer.

At the front of the Senju Clan's ranks, Tobirama Senju stood with his arms folded, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the dense mass of ninjas ahead.

Beside him, Hashirama, clad in red armor, stood calmly at the forefront of the Senju formation like an ancient pine that had weathered a thousand years. His long black hair danced wildly in the wind as he suddenly took a step forward beneath countless watching eyes.

"Madara, today's battle will be our final battle. No matter the outcome, this war should not continue any longer!"

Madara looked at Hashirama, both friend and enemy, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes. He said loudly, "Hashirama, save whatever you have to say for after the fight. The winner takes all; only the victor has the final say!"

"Heh, you're still the same." A trace of reminiscence flashed through Hashirama's eyes. Back then, they had still been children. Though they had not known one another's identities, they had played together without barriers, studied ninjutsu together, and dreamed together of a beautiful future. Now, although they had each become the head of their respective clans, an unfathomable gulf lay between them.

"Brother, this isn't the time for nostalgia. Uchiha Madara is only our enemy now."

"Sigh." Hashirama let out a breath, knowing there was indeed no point in saying such things now. He nodded, and his gaze sharpened once more. "Then come on, Madara!"

"Hmph, I've been waiting for you, Hashirama!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The plain where the two armies faced each other fell completely silent, with only the cold wind snapping the flags.

The two looked at each other without a word. As if they had agreed beforehand, they suddenly stepped forward at the same time!

Boom—

Two enormous masses of chakra soared into the sky. Invisible shockwaves erupted beneath their feet, collided in midair, and spread in every direction. The crosswind they stirred up forcibly drove the surrounding onlookers three steps back!

Tap, tap, tap—

The two strode forward at the same time. As he advanced, Madara raised a hand and removed the massive Uchiha Gunbai from his back. A chain connected its end to a huge sickle. He gripped a weapon in each hand, while Hashirama removed the enormous scroll slung across his lower back. With a summoning, a six-foot broadsword appeared across his hands!

"Madara!"

"Hashirama!"

Boom—

In an instant, both of them exploded forward. The ground within dozens of meters caved in at once, and spiderweb-like cracks spread all the way to the feet of their respective armies!

Two afterimages flashed through the air and collided at nearly identical speeds. The sickle and broadsword crashed together in the first instant, their deafening clash ringing out as a circular shockwave exploded in midair and slammed into their chests!

If it had been anyone else, even the aftermath of this battle would have sent them flying. Yet neither of them so much as blinked. Madara changed moves first, using his sickle to push aside Hashirama's broadsword. With his right hand, he yanked the chain, and the five-foot gunbai carved a white arc through the air, slicing toward Hashirama's head with a piercing howl!

"You've got some skill, Madara!" Hashirama laughed heartily. He suddenly lowered his body and avoided the sweeping gunbai, then clenched his left hand into a fist and threw a straightforward punch. It looked utterly ordinary, yet it felt as though a cannonball were hurtling straight at him!

Madara's eyes were filled with the frenzy brought by battle. His scarlet Sharingan caught a fleeting opening, and he kicked Hashirama's fist, using the force to leap backward into the air while rapidly forming hand seals!

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!

The descending flames warped the air. Hashirama's expression tightened as he placed the broadsword behind him, then brought his hands together!

Wood Release: Rampart Technique!

A wooden shield shaped like a fanged demon face rose from the ground, shielding Hashirama within and easily blocking the burning fire dragon!

Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

In an instant, countless thick branches surged forth like rolling dragon-serpents. Interweaving and crisscrossing, they crushed forward with overwhelming force. The earth cracked inch by inch wherever they passed, as though the heavens themselves were collapsing!

Roar!

Blue chakra shot into the sky as the half-bodied Susanoo manifested with four arms and two faces. Four blue scimitars slashed out at once, their blade light tearing through layer after layer of wooden barriers and directly carving out a vacuum zone!

Elsewhere, seeing the two strongest fighters already locked in fierce combat, Tobirama and Izuna waved their hands at the same time!

"Kill!"

"Charge!"

Upon receiving the command, both sides launched their charges at once. The entire earth trembled, and cries of battle instantly filled the wilderness!

Water Release: Water Shockwave!

As the Senju Clan's second-in-command, Tobirama naturally took the lead. Riding a towering wave, he shot into the sky and crashed powerfully toward the Uchiha army!

"Come on, Tobirama Senju!"

Izuna roared, red flames igniting at the tips of his five fingers before he pressed his hand directly against the ground!

Uchiha Flame Formation!

Ashura's Hellfire became a barrier, blocking the surging wave!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

Water and fire collided, mist filling the air as the torrents of ninjas from both sides finally crashed together!

On a distant hillside, Yan Hong sensed the chakra suddenly erupting far away and knew that the war had finally begun. Even though he already knew how this war would end, he did not want to leave in such a sorry state without doing anything.

Taking a deep breath, Yan Hong turned to Oya Enichi beside him. "How are the preparations?"

As Miyakenichi's son, Yan One had also accepted the fact that he had joined the Uchiha Clan. He answered solemnly, "More or less done. The materials are limited, after all. To ensure the quality, we can only make this many finished products for now."

Yan Hong glanced back, then nodded. "It's enough. Then it's time for us to enter the field."

Behind the two of them stood a dense mass of black figures. Yet every one of them differed from ordinary people, swaying crookedly like walking corpses!

Ketsuryūgan: Human Bomb!