Chapter 118: The Clash of Legends

Deep beneath the frozen reaches of the Northern Mountains in the Land of Snow, inside a hidden chamber of the Mountain Graveyard, Uchiha Madara abruptly opened his eyes. Streams of fading chakra dispersed around him—his wood clone had been destroyed.

"So... that boy, Uchiha Gin, has nearly perfected the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Madara muttered, eyes narrowing in astonishment. "No marking seals, no delay, just appears behind me and strikes. Can that really be Flying Thunder God?"

His voice darkened with an edge of bitter admiration."And that lightning technique… such explosive force, even with a destruction effect. Have I underestimated you, boy?"

Madara clenched his fist, suppressing the sharp flicker of unease."If I gave you another ten or twenty years… perhaps even I wouldn't be able to defeat you at my peak."

The thought twisted into fury. A murderous aura seeped into his expression."You must be eliminated."

His eyes glinted with darker intentions."Not just you—Uchiha Hikari and Uzumaki Mito too. They've restored their youth and broken through their limits… nearing the level Hashirama and I once stood at. I can't let them live."

More than that—Madara coveted their secret: the method of youth restoration and life extension. With that, he could delay death... perhaps indefinitely. He might no longer need the Eye of the Moon Plan or even his resurrection.

His lips curled into a grin of dangerous greed.

Suddenly, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the stone floor like shadows.

"Madara-sama!" Black Zetsu announced grimly. "Uchiha Gin and the others have used the Edo Tensei to resurrect Senju Hashirama!"

"They also captured one of our White Zetsu," White Zetsu added. "They've likely found this location and are approaching fast!"

Madara's brows lifted slightly."They brought back Hashirama?" he laughed, slow and deep. "Heh… I've missed him. Perhaps it's time we met again."

Though the First Hokage no longer posed the same threat, Madara still knew these weren't ordinary enemies. Gin, Hikari, and Mito were dangerous. A mere clone wouldn't suffice.

"I'll go myself," he said. "This time, I'll destroy them all—personally."

He turned to Zetsu."If I don't survive, the plan falls to you. Prepare to proceed with the resurrection through Edo Tensei if necessary."

Zetsu hesitated theatrically. "Madara-sama, perhaps we should retreat first—preserve your strength."

Madara chuckled at the false concern. "Save your breath."

"I've lived too long to run now. If I can't destroy them before my time runs out, then fine—use Edo Tensei to bring me back. You've mastered it, haven't you?"

Over the decades, Madara had trained Black Zetsu in forbidden jutsu, including the Edo Tensei. It was a backup plan, should all else fail.

"I understand," Black Zetsu replied quickly, inwardly pleased. If Madara died alongside his enemies, it would be perfect. He would regain control of the plan.

Suddenly, White Zetsu surfaced. "They're here! Uchiha Gin, Hikari, Uzumaki Mito, and the revived Senju Hashirama—at the surface!"

Madara's expression turned sharp. He extended his senses—and there they were."Stay here," he ordered. "If the battle turns, evacuate the Gedo Statue and the White Zetsu army immediately."

With that, chakra surged through the tubes connecting him to the Gedo Mazo. His frail, elderly frame grew younger by the second. Wrinkles vanished. Muscles hardened. Within moments, Madara returned to his prime.

He tore free from the Gedo's life-sustaining tubes, donned his iconic red armor, and turned to White Zetsu.

"Take me up."

In an instant, the ground above split, and Madara emerged into the snow-covered battlefield.

Above the cave, Gin and Hikari had activated their Susanoo; Mito radiated the golden cloak of her Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.

Seeing Madara rise himself, all three halted. Their expressions turned grim.

"This time it's really him…" Gin said coldly. "Stay alert—especially for his Rinnegan."

"I see," Hashirama murmured, stepping forward, conflicted. "Madara. So you didn't die back then. You deceived me."

Madara gave a smug chuckle, arms crossed. "I had no choice. And don't flatter yourself—you didn't win that battle."

"Liar!" Hashirama barked. "I clearly won. You faked your death!"

Madara's gaze darkened. "What does it matter? The world will be decided by me now."

"My plan for peace never changed. You opposed me when I wanted to unify the shinobi world—and what came of it?" His voice turned bitter. "War after war. Village after village. Children forced to fight. You were wrong, Hashirama. I was right."

Hashirama looked at him, conflicted."Maybe you were. Maybe my way failed. But your current plan—it's no longer about peace, is it?"

"You could've returned to Konoha. United the world with it. Gin and the others would've supported you."

Madara's eyes flickered toward Gin."Oh? How do you know that? We've told no one."

Hashirama simply nodded. "I can sense it in him. He reminds me of you, Madara—ambitious and brilliant. But far more rational."

Gin blinked. This was the legendary First Hokage? His supposed simplicity masked an incredibly sharp mind.

"Humph." Madara scoffed. "Don't compare me to this brat. At least I wasn't cowardly enough to attack a clone from behind."

Gin snapped, "You sent that clone to kill me and my mother—and you expected an honorable duel?"

"We're enemies. I'll kill you by any means necessary. You think honor matters in war? No wonder Hashirama beat you."

Madara bristled with fury, forced to admit to himself the boy was right. He exhaled slowly.

"I've talked too much."

"You'll all die here."

His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated—his colossal Susanoo towered over them, fully armored, twin chakra blades ready.

"Scatter!" Gin shouted.

In an instant, Gin and Hikari teleported behind Madara. Their Susanoo blades came crashing down on the giant's head.

Chains of golden chakra—Adamantine Sealing Chains—shot out behind Madara, binding his limbs. Uzumaki Mito had appeared in Nine-Tails mode, sealing chakra from behind.

Hashirama entered Sage Mode, red markings blooming on his face. He slammed his palms together.

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Four gigantic wooden dragons erupted from the earth, wrapping around Madara's Susanoo.

"Boom!"

Madara's attack missed—Gin and Hikari were gone. Cracks spidered across his Susanoo's head under the dual strikes. Chains tightened. Dragons constricted.

He was completely immobilized.

"Damn it!" Madara growled. "You can teleport… you all hid your full strength!"

He knew he had no choice.

"Rinnegan—Activate!"

His eyes shifted to glowing purple rings.

"Almighty Push: Super Tensei Shinra!"

A shockwave exploded outward.

Mito's chains shattered. The wooden dragons disintegrated. Gin and Hikari's Susanoo were torn apart. The very earth split—leaving behind a crater more than a kilometer wide.

"Fall back!" Gin shouted, teleporting him and Hashirama to a distant hill. Mito and Hikari reappeared beside them.

Mito's eyes widened. "So that's the Rinnegan…"

"Thankfully, it's not the original," Gin muttered. "He's only accessing part of its power."

"But still devastating," Hikari added, staring at the ruined battlefield.

"But he's weakening," she added. "His chakra is waning. If we hold out long enough, time will kill him."

"Then we strike now!" Hikari vanished.

She reappeared behind Madara and slashed with her massive chakra blade. Simultaneously, Gin, Mito, and Hashirama teleported into position.

"Adamantine Chains!" Mito cried, aiming to bind Madara again.

Hashirama struck from above—Gin from below.

"Damn it!" Madara roared. He began forming hand signs. But before he could act, Gin teleported Hashirama high into the air.

"Damn you, Gin!" Hashirama cursed as he plummeted.

He tried to stabilize himself, launching roots to grab Madara's feet mid-fall.

Madara clenched his fist. "Shinra Tensei!"

A second shockwave blasted everyone away—Gin, Mito, and Hikari thrown backward.

Hashirama's roots were torn to pieces, and he plummeted straight into the earth.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Madara exhaled a flaming spear. Simultaneously, four invisible Limbo Clones leapt out, attacking the four enemies.

But they failed—Gin and the others sensed them and dodged through teleportation.

All except one.

"Boom!" Hashirama, already falling, was smacked by the invisible clone and slammed deep into the ground again.

"Damn it…" he muttered, buried in a crater—but already healing.

The clash was just beginning.Madara—alone, yet formidable.Gin, Hikari, Mito, and the First Hokage—together, yet cautious.

The battle for the future of the shinobi world had begun.