The skeleton behind Madara gradually grew flesh and blood, and its strength steadily increased.
As the skeleton's massive hand exerted force, cracks slowly appeared across the golden Holy Sword.
Crack-crack-crack-bang!
In an instant, the golden Holy Sword shattered with a crash.
Naruto flipped backward in midair, watching Madara warily.
"Where did you come from?"
Naruto was puzzled. Obito had been the only one beneath the Holy Sword just now. How had Madara Uchiha suddenly appeared?
"Naruto, he came out of the ground."
Hinata descended from the sky and hovered beside Naruto, explaining what had happened.
Naruto had just risen into the sky with the giant sword, greatly weakening his perception underground, so he had failed to sense Madara's presence.
"He's gotten much stronger."
Hinata spoke gravely as she watched Madara, whose chakra fluctuations were far greater than when they had encountered him before.
"Yo, Naruto Uzumaki. And Hinata Hyuga."
Perhaps because they were Hashirama's disciples, and because their strength was indeed impressive, Madara offered the two a rare greeting.
"Madara Uchiha."
Naruto's lips moved slightly. As he watched Madara before him, a sense of pressure crept over him.
He and Hinata had been able to hold Madara off earlier partly because Kurama had been beside them, and partly because Madara had not been as strong as he was now.
But now, Kurama was tied up with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Naruto had three-quarters of his senjutsu chakra left. If they fought...
It was hard to say who would win.
"Hmm, good spirit."
Madara watched Naruto. Despite clearly sensing his formidable strength, Naruto's eyes had not lost their fighting spirit.
Not bad. Just what I'd expect from Hashirama's disciple.
Madara's old habit had resurfaced. Whenever something involved Hashirama, it stirred his feelings and set him rambling.
"Madara,