Chapter 119: Madara’s Fall, The Four Violet Flames Formation

"Shinra Tensei!"

Once again, Uchiha Madara activated the repulsive force of the Rinnegan, scattering the incoming figures of Uchiha Gin, Hikari, and Uzumaki Mito as they struck from all directions using instant teleportation.

But this time, the backlash of the technique hit him as well. The force rebounded, hurling Madara backward into the air before crashing him into the icy ground.

"Damn it," Madara thought bitterly, as he righted himself mid-fall with a smaller burst of repulsion to soften the landing. "Why didn't Limbo work on these three? They move like they see the clones…"

He clenched his teeth in frustration."It's supposed to be invisible—untouchable. And yet, they dodge it every time!"

He had planned to use Limbo as his final trump card—to eliminate Gin and his companions swiftly. But the technique, once unbeatable, was now effectively useless. Except for Senju Hashirama—he'd been caught by it more than once.

"But what's the point of catching him?" Madara scoffed inwardly. "He's already dead—resurrected by the Edo Tensei. Even if Limbo strikes him, it won't kill him."

What he truly needed was to eliminate Gin, Hikari, and Mito. Without them, Hashirama could be sealed again or bound with ease. His sealing techniques were formidable, but he lacked their relentless speed and versatility.

The ground trembled as Madara steadied himself. But even before the dust could settle, Gin and the others were upon him once more—teleporting in from the front, the rear, and his flank. Their attacks were perfectly timed, perfectly lethal.

Madara had no choice.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Again, a wave of gravitational force blasted outward, repelling the attackers. But the technique was wearing on him, and every use took more out of him than the last.

Other jutsu? Useless. Against enemies who could teleport without a seal, he couldn't aim or prepare. They gave him no room to breathe—no time to weave signs. He was left with only Shinra Tensei, again and again, just to stay alive.

And it was starting to cost him.

An hour passed.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of attacks were launched and repelled. The battlefield had changed, shifted, been cratered and reformed again. Madara had long since lost count of how many times he had used Shinra Tensei.

His patience had evaporated into rage.

"How… how are they not tired?" he snarled in his mind. "Even after all this, they haven't slowed down—not even a little. Their chakra, their stamina—how is it possible?!"

He, Madara Uchiha—who had once rivaled the Sage of Six Paths—was being driven into a corner. He could barely use even a tenth of his power. The rest was wasted in defense, countermeasures, desperation.

And now—again—the four enemies struck together. Hashirama emerged with a snarl, combining Wood Release with his three comrades. Wooden roots burst from the ground, snapping toward Madara like serpents.

"Shinra Tensei—!" Madara tried to shout, but nothing came.

The power was gone.

His Rinnegan had depleted its strength.

Before he could move, wooden roots wrapped around his legs and waist. Hashirama's Wood Release held fast.

At the same moment, golden chains—Uzumaki Mito's Adamantine Sealing Chains—shot out, binding his arms and neck.

"Chwak!"

Twin blades—Susanoo swords wielded by Gin and Hikari—flashed through the air and struck.

"Chwak!"

Madara's head was severed from his body, falling with a soft thud to the snowy ground.

His eyes, once burning with ambition, froze wide open in shock and disbelief.

"I…" was the only word he managed to whisper.

His soul, still heavy with sorrow, fury, and obsession, slipped away into the Pure Land.

His expression never softened. His eyes never closed.

He did not die peacefully.

"Phew! He's finally dead…" Gin exhaled heavily, his chest rising and falling. His Susanoo shimmered, then vanished. He wiped the sweat from his brow and extended his hand toward a swirling space-time gate.

He turned toward Mito, Hikari, and Hashirama."Let's clean up. I'll take Madara's body."

"Remove all blood traces and any residual chakra here. No surprises."

Though Madara was dead, Gin wasn't naïve. Black Zetsu could still be lurking. And if even a strand of hair or a single drop of blood remained, he feared they might use it to revive Madara.

He could resurrect Madara now via Edo Tensei—but the only sacrifices available were White Zetsu clones. That wouldn't do. Such a vessel would result in a resurrection far too powerful to easily control.

His plan was to revive Madara later—at the power level of a high jonin or a standard Kage.

Then, layer control seals within his body.

More secure. More manageable.

Uzumaki Mito and Hikari immediately stopped attacking and began scrubbing the field clean with chakra-infused methods. The snow melted around their feet as chakra burned away all remaining blood.

Hashirama deactivated his Wood Release and turned, frowning with curiosity.

"Is this the right move?" he asked, looking at Gin. "Why are you taking Madara's body?"

"Nothing too surprising," Gin replied. "Madara's allies likely know Edo Tensei. We can't risk leaving behind anything that could be used for his resurrection."

He turned to the fallen body and waved his hand."In fact… I plan to resurrect him myself—soon. But this time under my control."

Hashirama blinked. "What?"

"Don't worry," Gin continued. "I'm not reviving him at full power. I'll bring him back at the level of a jonin or maybe a mid-level Kage, and place sealing arrays throughout his body. With proper precautions, he'll be no threat."

He smirked."You can help me keep an eye on him. Maybe even… talk him around."

Gin believed Madara had been deceived. That the dream of the Eternal Tsukuyomi wasn't entirely his own. That it had been manipulated into him.

Besides, Gin had upgraded the Edo Tensei. Even with just partial mastery, his version was already far beyond the original.

"If I reach the highest level…" he thought, "maybe I can create true resurrection, without relying on the Rinnegan's Outer Path. A simpler, safer technique—without the life-for-life exchange."

He sighed."Too bad Chiyo's Reanimation Technique hasn't been developed yet. Her son and daughter-in-law are still alive."

Hashirama nodded slowly. "If you already have a plan, I won't interfere."

"But… about Madara. You said he was deceived. That this dream of his wasn't even his own. Who was it? Who manipulated him?"

His voice grew grim.

"When his personality changed and he turned against Konoha—was that that person's doing too?"

His fists clenched. For the usually calm Hashirama, this level of anger was rare—and dangerous.

Gin nodded solemnly. "Yes. But now's not the time."

He paused, sensing through the earth.

"The Gedo Statue… Black Zetsu… They've already escaped. The remaining White Zetsu are fleeing too."

He turned to Hashirama."We need to capture as many as we can. They'll be useful later."

"As for who's behind it all—ask Lady Mito. I've already told her everything."

Turning back to Mito and Hikari, who had finished their task, Gin gave quick orders:

"Black Zetsu has already fled with the Gedo Mazo. The remaining White Zetsu below are still escaping. Let's catch them before it's too late!"

He created four shadow clones, each immediately disappearing into the ground with the Earth Release Underground Movement Technique.

Moments later, they reappeared in the underground cave, moving to the four corners of the chamber.

They clapped their hands in unison.

"Four Violet Flames Formation!"

Pillars of purple chakra erupted upward, connecting into a rectangular barrier that sealed the entire subterranean hall.

White Zetsu—both those attempting escape and those still awakening—were now trapped inside.

Moments later, Hikari, Mito, and Hashirama were teleported into the barrier's interior.

Hashirama's eyes widened.

"Incredible…" he muttered, watching the barrier shimmer around them."You're powerful, Gin. You've already mastered barrier ninjutsu to this extent?"

"Impressive. Creating a Four Violet Flames Formation alone—and still having chakra left. That's no easy feat."

Gin merely smiled, eyes gleaming.

The war was not over yet. But the tide had turned.