At Konoha's encampment, the great distance from the Kiri-nin's stronghold meant they felt none of the earth-shattering shockwaves from the Susano'o battle.
Still, the towering figures of the Susano'o were visible, and word spread quickly among the Konoha ninja.
Minato, Nara Shikaku, and others rushed to the highest tree, overlooking the horizon.
"That's Susano'o." Minato said, stunned. Even from afar, the black Susano'o was unmistakable.
"Indeed, and not just one." Shikaku added, noting the multiple figures.
"Only Tengen has the Mangekyō, so who else could wield it?" Uzumaki Kushina said, bewildered.
"Right. The Uchiha clan has no other known Mangekyō users. And that's Kirigakure's fallback point, isn't it? Why would they fight there?" Minato mused. "Could it be a Kiri-nin?"
"No way. Isn't the Mangekyō exclusive to the Uchiha?" Kushina said, incredulous.
"We'll have to wait for Tengen to return to understand what's happening." Shikaku said gravely.
Despite the distance, they could see the devastating power of the Susano'o. But as they watched, their mood grew heavy, more enemy Susano'o appeared, putting Tengen at a disadvantage.
"Someone stronger than Tengen?" Minato said, shocked. In his eyes, Tengen was the greatest genius in history, unmatched by any.
The idea of an Uchiha-like figure overpowering Tengen was unthinkable.
Honed by the battlefield, Minato had reached Kage-level strength, making him keenly aware of Tengen's terrifying prowess, Uchiha's supreme power, the First Hokage's Wood Release, and the Flying Thunder God Technique. Tengen far surpassed him.
"Wait, Tengen's Susano'o is changing." Kushina said, noticing a shift in the black Susano'o's form.
"Is it?" Minato, Shikaku, and the other Konoha ninja steadied their nerves.
To many in Konoha, Tengen was the embodiment of invincibility.
…
With a thunderous crash, Tengen was repelled by Uchiha Madara's Susano'o, cracks forming in his black Susano'o.
Facing three identical Susano'o, Tengen was under immense pressure. His Susano'o was stronger than any single one of Madara's, but three made the fight grueling.
"You're no match for me." The three blue Susano'o said, their dual blades poised as they stared at Tengen.
"Madara, the Rinnegan power in that body is running low, isn't it?" Tengen said calmly.
This ability consumed vast amounts of Rinnegan power, unsustainable for a non-original body like Madara's clone.
"Why don't you find out?" Madara replied coolly, pressing forward. He had no intention of preserving this body, sensing its genes crumbling under the strain.
He would savor this clash with Tengen to the fullest.
"Madara, there's a power you might find familiar." Tengen said slowly.
"Familiar?" Madara paused. Did Tengen mean Wood Release? Certain Wood Release techniques could rival or even defeat Susano'o.
"Limbo: Border Jail." Tengen intoned, his Rinnegan spinning. A surge of Rinnegan power radiated outward, and in the invisible world of shadows, four black Susano'o materialized, matching Madara's ability.
Limbo: Border Jail.
The power of Tengen's perfected Rinnegan.
"This…" Madara stood shocked. He hadn't anticipated Tengen possessing the same ability.
"Are all Rinnegan powers identical?" Madara wondered, shaken. Even Mangekyō Sharingan abilities differed, as seen with his brother Izuna. Yet, Tengen's Rinnegan replicated his unique Limbo: Border Jail, and with greater potency, four shadows to Madara's two, limited by his non-true Rinnegan.
"You have the same ability as me." Madara said.
"Of course." Tengen said, smiling faintly. "Shall we continue?"
Around Madara's blue Susano'o, four black Susano'o emerged.
The battlefield, dominated by these towering titans, exuded a pressure that left onlookers breathless with awe and fear.
"Well done, a genius bearing both Uchiha and Hashirama's powers." Madara said, a slight smirk on his lips.
Unbeknownst to him, this wasn't Tengen's full strength.
"Let the battle resume." Tengen said. Five Susano'o against three.
The surrounding terrain, mountains, forests, earth, crumbled under their might, fragile as paper.
***
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