Beating the White Snake into Submission, Growing Stronger

Just as Tetsuhiro was feeling the changes in his body,

Madara grinned savagely and formed the Tiger hand seal!

Susanoo entered its final stage-its perfect form!

In an instant, it became a blue tengu giant two hundred meters tall, towering above the mountains.

It had become fully humanoid, with wings on its back and thick armor covering its entire body. Its sheer bulk alone completely destroyed the original cavern.

Everyone, including the elderly White Snake Sage and Tetsuhiro, stared in dumbstruck shock, rooted to the spot...

Madara casually swung his blade, effortlessly cleaving a mountain range several kilometers away in two!!!

"Come on! Round two begins!" With that, he stepped toward the White Snake Sage.

"How can such a powerful being still exist in this age?!" No sooner had she spoken than the chakra longsword plunged into the ruins before her.

A relatively small white phosphorus snake suddenly burst out of the ground. A black hat set with a huge gemstone rested on her head, with long orange hair trailing behind it.

She opened her enormous maw and spat out a white orb of light, unleashing a headache-inducing, high-frequency shriek and a blinding glare!

"Sage Art-White Rage Technique!"

Tetsuhiro could barely stand its effects and used Wood Release: Gracious Deity Gates again, enclosing himself inside to shut out the noise.

Against Madara, however, its effects were limited. They were out in the open, and he stood high above the ground, protected by his Perfect Susanoo.

"Interesting. Sage Art: Fire Release-Dragon Flame Song Technique!"

Nine enormous fire dragons poured from his mouth and charged at her!

The White Snake Sage's body rapidly faded, soon disappearing without a trace.

Madara sensed her out and located his target. In just a few breaths, she had fled six kilometers away?

Without the slightest hesitation, he spread the blue chakra wings on his back and flew west in pursuit...

"Don't chase her!" Tetsuhiro amplified his shout with chakra. "She's luring you into a trap!"

But a voice came from overhead: "Before these Sharingan, no trap can remain hidden!"

Watching him disappear into the distance, Tetsuhiro could not help exclaiming, "Damn, you really pulled off that badass act. Wait for me..."

Running and leaping with all his might, he grumbled inwardly, Hashirama's strong in every way, but his speed's a little lacking. Once I get back, I'll have to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique and Multiple Shadow Clone Technique from Tobirama.

"I wonder how things are coming along in the village."

When he approached Madara again, a powerful blast of wind swept toward him, accompanied by oppressive chakra.

Helpless, he had to summon a flying mount to watch. Even being a spectator was hard these days.

Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon → Rat!

"Wood Release-Wood Dragon Technique!"

An enormous wooden dragon immediately rose from the ground and hovered beside Tetsuhiro. He leaped with all his strength and barely managed to find his footing.

Another powerful gust swept toward him. The wooden dragon immediately shielded him, then soared into the sky and flew toward the center of the battle...

"Sage Art-Inorganic Reincarnation!"

Countless stone pillars stabbed toward Susanoo from every direction, each wrapped in cold, sinister natural energy.

"Susanoo-Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

An immense torrent of flame immediately poured from its mouth, spreading across the entire battlefield.

Crimson waves of fire collided with the stone pillars, producing enormous clouds of smoke.

Scorching heat surged into the sky. Even Tetsuhiro felt unbearably hot in midair. He channeled chakra to condense some water and drench himself, then called out, "Madara, let's finish her together!"

The White Snake Sage froze briefly. "What will it take for you to stop? Don't push me too far!"

She spat a thick glob of phlegm toward Tetsuhiro.

"Sage Art: Petrifying Liquid!"

The wooden dragon failed to dodge in time. A little splashed onto it, and it rapidly turned to stone...

Seeing this, Tetsuhiro hurriedly jumped off and summoned another wooden dragon in midair.

"Stay out of this." A hint of excitement filled Madara's voice. "Old snake, come dance with me!"

Two enormous slashes descended on her in succession, carving boundless chasms through the earth.

"It's useless." Unexpectedly, she emerged from such a terrifying strike completely unharmed.

Madara paused, and his eternal Mangekyō Sharingan began to rotate slowly...

"Your genjutsu is ineffective against me as well!" The White Snake Sage's pupils suddenly turned bloodred as she attempted to reflect his illusion.

To her surprise, black markings suddenly began spreading all over her body.

"Damn it, a sealing jutsu!" The White Snake Sage let out a piercing shriek. Her white scales immediately flared outward, suppressing the jutsu formula.

Madara had already anticipated this.

"Sage Art-Yin Release: Lightning Dispatch!"

Thick, branchlike bolts of black lightning burst from his palm, moving too fast for her to react. They left vast, charred wounds across her white-scaled body, and agonized screams rang out...

Susanoo raised Yasakani no Magatama, while lightning and flames gathered into a vortex at the sword's tip.

"This ends here!" Madara shouted coldly.

Suddenly, four enormous snakes of different shapes surged out from all around them, restraining Susanoo's four arms. The Three Hime also appeared and unleashed coordinated sage arts!

They blocked Madara's attack.

Seeing this, the White Snake Sage immediately stopped screaming and rushed toward Madara at top speed!

"Sorry, Madara, but I have to intervene!" Tetsuhiro clapped his hands together! Black markings spread around his eyes as well...

"Sage Art: Wood Release-True Several Thousand Hands!!!"

A thousand-armed Buddha dozens of times larger than Susanoo rose from the earth, looming before them as though it could blot out the sky and sun!

It struck terror into everyone, leaving them unable to muster even the slightest will to resist.

Madara Uchiha burst into peals of wild laughter. "Ha, haha! Hahahaha!"

"Hashirama! You just keep surprising me! Come dance with me!"

Tetsuhiro replied helplessly, "Madara, business first!"

"We are willing to submit. Please stop fighting." Gazing at the thousand-armed Buddha that all but blotted out the sky, the White Snake Sage's eyes filled with deep despair. She sighed helplessly, abandoned resistance, and finally lowered her proud head.

The other snakes also coiled up on the ground, trembling and not daring to make a sound...

That went doubly for the ferocious Garaga and Manda. Those two little snakes did not even dare fart now.

"All of Ryūchi Cave is at your command."

Only then did Madara dispel Susanoo. "Hand over your cultivation method," he said coldly. "And get rid of that disgusting snake transformation form."

She explained in a trembling voice, "The changes in appearance can be bypassed through an infusion of senjutsu chakra." She opened her great maw, revealing two sharp fangs.

Standing atop the thousand-armed Buddha, Tetsuhiro snorted. "Find another way. Otherwise, a punch from me might hurt a little..."

The White Snake Sage immediately shuddered. Then, recalling Gamamaru's ability to perceive prophecies, she gritted her teeth and said reluctantly, "There is actually another method! I can personally... it will just take a considerable toll on me."

Tetsuhiro said, "That sounds more reliable. What do you think?"

Madara scrutinized the White Snake Sage. After a long moment, he slowly said, "Very well!"

"I'll try it first."

She immediately spat out a round white pearl, which emitted exceptionally dense and pure natural energy.

It was ten times purer than the energy outside.

Under her guidance, and using the absorption method she taught him, it slowly flowed into Madara's body.

A moment later,

"Ah..." He actually let out a sigh of pleasure. Smiling in satisfaction, he pulled open his collar, revealing vivid flame markings on his chest.

"Not bad! Hashirama, you try it too."

Tetsuhiro jumped onto the Buddha's palm and was lowered to the ground, where he received the infusion as well...

Emerald-green markings resembling leaf veins appeared on him, and he was immediately pleased.

"I can see you really put your heart into this. We won't mistreat anyone who genuinely helps us. How about this? First, we'll go back and help rebuild your cavern.

"Then we'll select outstanding ninja from the village for you to test. Those who pass can learn to harness nature's power, and those who fail can sign summoning contracts. Let's really strengthen our relationship.

"Don't worry. Stick with us, and you're guaranteed to benefit. The other two Sage Lands have already agreed, you know."

The other great snakes wanted to object, but when the words reached their mouths, they could not get them out. They could only turn to the White Snake Sage.

But she knew that the man before her was even more terrifying than Madara Uchiha, and in the end, she reluctantly agreed.

[Congratulations on persuading the Three Great Sage Lands to align with Konoha. Reward: natural energy affinity +5%]

Three days later, Madara and Hashirama sat cross-legged atop the New Ryūchi Cave.

Without looking directly at them, it was impossible to sense either man. They had completely merged with nature.

Both seemed to have gained quite a lot.

The cavern walls, once covered in snake patterns, now bore jade-green wooden vines. Unlike the violent scars Madara had left behind, they pulsed faintly, as though they had heartbeats.

The White Snake Sage lay coiled on a stone platform, cultivating with her eyes closed. Several faded snake scales lay scattered around her.

That was the price she had paid for consuming her vital essence.

At that moment, Tetsuhiro opened his eyes first. "That should do it. Time to head back."

But Madara said with utter seriousness, "Hashirama, fight me!"

Tetsuhiro's heart skipped a beat. The inevitable had finally arrived. The True Several Thousand Hands he had used that day really had fired Madara up.

Facing that unyielding gaze, Tetsuhiro knew he could not refuse. Besides, he wanted Madara to help hone his skills.

Just then, the system suddenly issued a notification.

[Bond with Madara Uchiha has exceeded 95%. Special storyline triggered-Battle of Destiny!]

[The host must earn Madara Uchiha's recognition in close combat. Reward: Rose of the Battlefield title]

[Rose of the Battlefield]

Effect: Gain all of Madara Uchiha's close-combat experience while equipped.

Warning: Equipping this title may lead to arrogance and an urge to dance with others.

Tetsuhiro froze on the spot.

Only after a moment did he answer, "I was thinking the same thing! But with our strength, we'd both end up badly hurt."

"How about this? I propose we settle it through close combat."

"Close combat? It won't be quite as satisfying, but that works too. Let's begin!" Madara could hardly wait.

"Let's find somewhere else first. The White Snake Sage did risk her life to help us quite a bit, after all."

"Tch... what a hassle."

Though he complained, he still followed Tetsuhiro, and the two sped away.