38

Madara's fireball was not just monstrous in size; it tore through the air with incredible speed, a wave of incinerating death that threatened to consume them all. At the critical moment, the Uchiha shinobi ripped their consciousness back from the brink of shock.

"Quickly, use Water Style!"

"No! Lord Madara is testing us! Fire Style is the signature of the Uchiha clan! Can it be that the combined power of our entire clan is no match for one man?"

"Everyone! Counter with the Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" a chorus of fifty voices roared.

Though it was meant to be a sparring match, the scene was no different from a battlefield—in fact, it was even more spectacular.

BOOM!

The moment the fifty fireballs collided with Madara's singular, colossal one, the very ground shook violently.

"Lord Patriarch! Lord Madara is serious! We must be ruthless, otherwise… we will surely die!" shouted Uchiha Yaowei, a loyal officer and one of the clan's few medical ninja.

Before the contest, Fugaku had reminded everyone to be gentle, to not be too harsh on the old, blind Madara. That was before they knew he could wield such terrifying power. Now, it was no longer a matter of holding back; it would be a miracle if all fifty of them could defeat him alone.

"Of course I know that!" Fugaku nodded grimly. "I underestimated our ancestor. His power… it is far beyond our imagination!" If this was his strength in old age, how horrifying must he have been in his youth?

At that moment, a small figure flashed past Fugaku. "Father, our chakra is not on the same level as Lord Madara's. It is disadvantageous for us to engage him with ninjutsu. We should use taijutsu!"

Hearing this, Fugaku's eyes lit up, and he cast an approving look at his son, Itachi. What he said made perfect sense. No matter how powerful Madara was, his aged body and blindness would surely be a great disadvantage in close-quarters combat.

Another of Fugaku's trusted men, Uchiha Inahiro, rebuked the idea coldly. "Itachi, that would be shameful! I will not take advantage of a man in his condition! I wish to see for myself what trouble the legendary Madara can cause in his sickly state!" With that, without waiting for anyone to dissuade him, Inahiro drew two kunai and charged forward alone. He wasn't a fool; he believed that after releasing such a monstrous fireball, Madara would have very little chakra left.

But Uchiha Madara was not a man who operated within the bounds of common sense. Feeling the lone shinobi rush toward him, he sneered. "Hmph. I am truly being looked down upon. A mere child dares to attack me head-on."

Swoosh! Inahiro threw his kunai, aiming straight for Madara's face. Madara simply tilted his head, effortlessly deflecting the attack.

"That was just a feint! Lord Madara, do not blame me for my rudeness!"

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!" After flashing through the hand seals, a straight line of dragon-shaped flame shot from Inahiro's mouth. The fire dragon was incredibly fast, its power not to be underestimated.

It's over! The next moment, the fire dragon engulfed Madara, and thick smoke billowed up from where he stood.

"Inahiro! You…!" Fugaku broke out in a cold sweat. He hadn't expected Madara to not even attempt to dodge. Or perhaps, he was simply unable to. It was inevitable that one's movements would slow with age.

"Put out the fire!" If their ancestor was truly dead, it would be a disaster!

"Hmph. Am I truly so weak in your eyes?" Madara's sharp voice cut through the smoke. When it cleared, he was standing there completely unharmed, not even a wrinkle on his robes.

"My descendants, do not disappoint me further. Do not use such pathetic Fire Style techniques that cannot even singe my clothes to embarrass yourselves!"

Uchiha Inahiro was so shocked he couldn't speak, his mind reeling from the fact that a technique he had used with all his strength was completely useless. He finally understood how foolish he had been. Even in his old age, Madara was completely beyond his reach.

"Hmph. Since you are all my descendants, I will let you witness something new. And since there are so many of you, you are qualified enough for me to test this technique." Uchiha Madara raised his hands, his expression shifting slightly.

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

For a moment, the earth began to tremble. Just as the Uchiha were wondering what was happening, massive trees and thick vines erupted from the ground. The forest burst forth as if from nothing, instantly filling the entire training ground, leaving no corner untouched.

"This is… Wood Style!"

"What in the world?! Isn't Wood Style the signature ninjutsu of the First Hokage? How can Lord Madara also…?"

Though they were baffled, the facts were undeniable. The trees and vines seemed to possess their own consciousness, binding everyone tightly. No matter how hard they struggled, they could not break free from the powerful restraints.

"Is it over…?" Uchiha Madara lowered his hands and sighed softly. "This time, I wished to see the extent of my own strength, and also to select those among you worthy of my training."

"It seems the bloodline and talent of the Uchiha are no longer pure. So many of you, and not a single one catches my eye."

"Damn it! Father! Itachi!" Outside the field of battle, Sasuke and the other clan members watched in horror. Seeing his father and brother buried in the sea of wood, their fates unknown, his anger exploded.

"Ghh!" A current of energy flashed through his mind, irritating his eyes, but Sasuke didn't care. All he cared about was the safety of his loved ones. He tore himself from his mother Mikoto's grasp and ran toward Madara in a blind rage.

"Blind old man! Undo your jutsu! Give me back my father and my brother!"

"If anything happens to them, I will never forgive you!"

"Hmm?" Madara was slightly stunned by Sasuke's childish shouts. He vaguely felt a resonance from the boy, a familiar aura that was the same as his own. "What is your name, boy?"

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke! I am Uchiha Fugaku's son! Itachi's younger brother!"

"So, you have a brother, do you? Hmm, that is interesting." A corner of Madara's mouth lifted into a faint smile. "There seems to be some connection between you and I. I will remember your name."

Sasuke had no idea what Madara was talking about. He just wanted him to release the technique. "Blind old man! Didn't you hear what I said? Let my family go, now!"

Madara was completely unbothered by Sasuke's disrespect. "I am testing their abilities. If they are not capable, they are not qualified to be my subordinates. If they cannot even break free from a simple Wood Release, then their existence is pointless."

"Damn it!" Sasuke could no longer suppress his rage. His eyes filled with a bloody rage, and he rushed toward Madara.

Just then, a series of loud cracks echoed from behind him. It was the sound of wood splintering. Sasuke spun around and saw several figures burst free from the tangled wood, landing instantly beside him.

"Sasuke, what are you doing? Go back now! This is not the place for you!"

"Lord Patriarch, your son cares for you a great deal."

"Don't worry, little brother. We're alright."

The few who had escaped from the Wood Release were Fugaku, Itachi, and Uchiha Yakumi.

"Humph. It seems the Uchiha clan is not entirely corrupt. There are still a few worth training." Madara muttered, his voice cold, his tone somewhere between sarcasm and praise. He turned and, with a wave of his hand, retracted all the trees and vines back into the ground.

"I did not kill them. They can be saved. They have merely fainted. Go and tend to them. After you are done, come to me. I will grant you new power. Oh, and by the way, bring the one who dared to attack me alone. He may be crude, but he has courage." With that, Uchiha Madara slowly walked away.

"Hah…" Fugaku felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Itachi!" Sasuke threw himself into his brother's arms and cried. "I was so scared! I thought I would never see you and father again!"

"Hehe…" Itachi lowered his head, his voice gentle. "What nonsense are you talking about? We wouldn't die so easily. We still have to protect you."

"Huh? Sasuke, your eyes…?"

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