Outside the River of the Undying.
Hashirama and Madara's battle had reached a fever pitch!
The increase in Hashirama's Impure World Reincarnation chakra showed directly in the maximum scale of his techniques!
His already colossal Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands grew by a full third, and the difference became immediately apparent!
After a fierce exchange, Madara's Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands lay shattered!
Hashirama's Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands still stood tall!
Yet Madara laughed with utter exhilaration. "Hahahahaha... Just as I thought, fighting you in a body of flesh and blood is the greatest pleasure in the world!!"
Hashirama stressed, "Naruto is stronger than I am!"
Madara's face suddenly went blank. "Strong, sure, but he has too many fancy tricks. I don't want to play with him anymore. You're still the best. No one lets me enjoy a battle like you do..."
Madara seemed to have forgotten the praise he had once lavished on Naruto. As Naruto's strength soared, Madara's enjoyment gradually faded, and his feelings toward Naruto grew increasingly numb.
Madara looked up. "It really has to be you, Hashirama!!!"
Hashirama earnestly tried to reason with him. "I'm happy to hear you say that, but continuing this fight really would be unfair to you. I can use True Several Thousand Hands and Gate of the Great God indefinitely, while your sage power is practically exhausted after using True Several Thousand Hands just once..."
"Is that so?" Madara's gaze turned sinister. "But there are many factors to consider in battle. Even if your strength has increased, some weaknesses never change..."
Hashirama looked puzzled. "What weakness do you mean?"
Madara lowered his face, and Susanoo's skeletal frame rose around him!
[For those still asking at this point how Susanoo can be