The Valley of the End.
After delivering those impassioned words, Madara quietly waited for Sasuke's answer.
Sasuke felt somewhat conflicted.
In his previous life, strictly speaking, he had only spent a single day truly interacting with Madara.
But for shinobi at the pinnacle, a single clash was enough to understand an opponent's character.
He prided himself on understanding Madara. Precisely because of that, he knew full well how difficult it was to make Madara willingly concede this much.
And the reason he wanted to talk to Madara before their battle was to confirm what lay in Madara's heart in this life, as well as... his own.
Sasuke slowly rose. "Naruto, whose body you've taken, is my dear friend. Konoha, which you destroyed, was once my home. And the shinobi world you intend to seize is what I must protect... so tonight, one of us is destined to fall, and that person will be you!"
The breeze carried those heated words to Madara's ears. As he stood, his smile was filled with wistfulness. "I knew you would say that. But I still have to say, what a shame. I'll have to kill you with my own hands, just as I killed Hashirama all those years ago..."
As his words fell, Madara followed Ninja etiquette and formed the seal symbolizing confrontation!
Sasuke smiled faintly and answered with the Seal of Confrontation!
The air between them instantly grew charged!
On Blue Moon Island, everyone watched through the Crystal Ball as the two faced off atop the statues' heads!!
Their gazes burned with anticipation!!
Was it finally coming... the final battle of the Ten Battles Plan?!!!!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Sasuke and Madara both formed hand seals, opening with the Uchiha's signature Fire Release!
—Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
—Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!
**Boom!