Facing Kazuyama's provocation, Madara Uchiha was indeed enraged—especially at the sight of the staff in his hand.
"Hmph! Don't think something like that will make me submit. I am Madara Uchiha!"
"Limbo: Border Jail!"
The Rinnegan activated once more, sending four shadows surging forward to attack.
At the same time, the real Madara didn't idle. His hands swiftly formed seals, his gaze locked onto Kazuyama.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Wood Release techniques possessed overwhelming power. Even Madara had to acknowledge their strength—that was precisely why he had faked his death in the past to obtain Hashirama's cells.
As the Wood Release emerged, countless trees erupted from the ground, rapidly engulfing the entire area.
Kazuyama watched without the slightest concern, allowing the technique to unfold freely.
"Pollen, huh?"
"Tsk tsk… What should I even say about you?"
"Chōmei, what do you think?"
Powder. Such a familiar tool—one of Kazuyama's favorites.
As the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, he had used Scale Powder countless times. Both were powders—one flower-produced, one Chōmei-produced.
He wondered which would win in a clash.
"Hmph! Mere pollen! Mere Wood Release!"
"As long as it's not a giant log, I fear nothing! Kazuyama, let me do it!"
"I'll show him the might of Lord Chōmei!"
Hearing Chōmei's arrogant tone, Kazuyama almost burst out laughing.
So bold? His opponent was Madara Uchiha—since when did Chōmei get this confident?
Seeing Kazuyama suddenly laugh, Madara felt deeply humiliated. Furious, he immediately poured even more chakra into the technique.
The Flowering Tree Realm began growing even faster, visibly accelerating.
"Hmph! This is Hashirama's Flowering Tree Realm, you brat! Die choking on pollen!"
"Die!"
With Madara's roar, massive amounts of golden pollen spewed from the blossoms, engulfing Kazuyama in an instant.
The pollen was highly toxic—just one breath would paralyze the whole body.
Madara had great faith in the Flowering Tree Realm. He'd personally suffered under Hashirama's version before.
Now, seeing Kazuyama drowned in pollen, he even revealed a cruel smile, certain of victory.
"Hmm?"
"What is that?"
But the very next moment, something was clearly wrong.
In his sight, the once golden pollen began to fade—slowly purifying, as if being neutralized by some unseen force.
Inside the technique, Chōmei's chakra was rising sharply. Along with it came a massive surge of Scale Powder.
Unlike the pollen's yellow hue, Chōmei's chakra-induced Scale Powder was colorless. The moment the two powders touched, sparks flew—figuratively.
Despite the Flowering Tree Realm's strength and the toxicity of its pollen, Chōmei's Scale Powder had been refined for years.
Poison? Paralysis? Those were relics of the past.
Now, his powder focused on versatility—capable of producing any effect needed.
As they collided midair, the pollen was clearly losing ground.
"Ahahaha! The mighty Scale Powder of Lord Chōmei is the real thing!"
"When it comes to powders, who's the strongest? Of course it's me, Seven-Tails Chōmei!"
"Kazuyama, see that? This little pollen is nothing!"
Chōmei's chakra form materialized, smashing through trees around him before unleashing a thunderous roar.
The force of the roar finished what the Scale Powder started, scattering the last of the pollen.
Seeing the Seven-Tails appear, Madara's pupils narrowed. How could a mere Seven-Tails shatter Wood Release?
Wood Release's greatest strength was suppressing chakra.
A tailed beast formed purely of chakra should be at a disadvantage.
Impossible. Hashirama had subdued all the tailed beasts using Wood Release. There was no way a tailed beast wouldn't fear it.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
Refusing to believe this outcome, Madara unleashed Hashirama's signature move again.
Not only could the Wood Dragon suppress, it could drain chakra—he refused to believe a chakra-only Chōmei could withstand it.
A massive Wood Dragon manifested out of thin air and lunged toward Chōmei.
"Whoa! A Wood Dragon!"
"That bastard! He really knows what we tailed beasts fear!"
"Kazuyama! Help me! That thing's terrifying—it's gonna drain my chakra!"
Chōmei instantly panicked. How could he not?
Memories of being casually manhandled by Hashirama flooded back—traumatizing him all over again.
His earlier bravado vanished.
"Look at you, such a coward. What's there to be scared of?"
"Go on, Lord Chōmei!"
Kazuyama watched the Wood Dragon approach, unbothered, even teasing his partner.
Of course, he wouldn't just watch Chōmei get crushed. He rushed to him, placed a hand on his body—
And in the next second—
Chōmei was instantly revitalized.
"Ahahaha! Crystal Armor, huh?"
"With this on, what Wood Dragon? Even if he were a full wooden giant, I wouldn't fear him!"
"Come! You little mud eel! Watch Lord Chōmei tear you apart!"
Tailed Beast armor was standard procedure. Even Madara said nothing—merely met Chōmei's newfound swagger head-on.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
"A mere Seven-Tails dares to be arrogant? I'll crush you—then crush Kazuyama Gekkō!"
"Go! My Wood Dragon, my Wood Human!"
The Wood Dragon and Wood Human combined were enough to contend with a tailed beast.
Unfortunately for Madara, Chōmei was in prime form.
His chakra body was coated in Crystal Armor—gleaming brilliantly—and he radiated pure swagger.
Both sides accelerated and slammed into each other.
Boom!
The Wooden Man's fist collided with Chōmei's wings, while the Wood Dragon was entangled by Chōmei's tail.
Armored Chōmei took on both at once—and wasn't losing ground at all.
"Madara Uchiha, got anything left?"
"If not, I might just finish you off now."
"Truth-Seeking Ball!"
Kazuyama loved the feeling of dominating Madara, but with all his attributes maxed out, no matter how much he provoked or performed, the system rarely rewarded him anymore.
So he lost interest in dragging this out.
Better to finish off Madara early, head home, eat well, drink well, and get a good night's sleep.