Choose one prize? That's way too generous!
SSS Character Card - Uchiha Madara (Earth Clone Transformation)!
This is practically a dream-tier character card!
Senju Hashirama + Uchiha Madara, the ultimate combo!
If the SSS-ranked Earth-transformed Madara fully merges, wouldn't that mean he gets Indra's power too?
Would Indra even need to act alone anymore?
\[SSS Character Fusion – Uchiha Madara (Earth Clone Transformation) has not obtained Indra's power.]
Takayama Haru paused. So the Earth Clone Madara doesn't have Indra's power?
Maybe it's because he's not a living being?
That could be it. Dirt clones and Hashirama substitutes are far weaker than their real selves. This might be more like Asura's power, or maybe some weakened version of Indra's.
So are both choices equal in value?
Even so, the first option is incredibly tempting. Like abandoning the Leaf Village all over again...
Wait, why can't I just hunt Uchiha again and help the Leaf Village fend off the Skyquake?
I want it!
Just as Haru was deep in thought, Uchiha had already leaped out of the Hidden Leaf Village!
At the same time, thousands of pure white clones suddenly appeared!
This was Uchiha's second escape plan!
All around Konoha, masses of white Zetsu emerged, sending a chill through everyone.
They were packed densely, thousands upon thousands, forming a terrifying wall. Each of them had chakra levels above that of a Chunin!
Everyone froze in fear.
Above their heads, a massive meteor was falling, like a sword suspended in the sky.
And with the white swarm around, there was no escape!
Takayama Haru had to act. If he didn't, Konoha would be obliterated.
Uchiha had planned all this ahead of time!
He had already absorbed the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails, and escaped into the cosmic sea with an army of Zetsu and the Skyquake.
Of course, this was Uchiha's backup plan. If he had defeated Haru, he wouldn't have needed it, just like during the original Valley of the End battle.
If you can't win, run.
And Uchiha still had a third contingency...
As he fled, Uchiha turned back to glance at Haru with a provocative smirk.
"Reincarnation of Hashirama... let's see if you still follow your old ninja path."
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, Uchiha split into twenty-five clones, scattering in all directions.
"He's using every iconic scene as an escape tactic now?"
Haru didn't expect that even someone of Uchiha's level would have to run from him.
"Multi Shadow Clone Counter!"
The seal on Haru's forehead burst open!
Art of the Hundred Warriors!
Stored chakra surged out!
Haru split into one hundred shadow clones, all charging after Uchiha's twenty-five.
"Four per clone. That should lock him down, right?"
Uchiha was stunned as hundreds of Harus came rushing after him.
His chakra... even more monstrous than Sage Mode Hashirama?!
After summoning the giant thousand-hand Buddha and armor, he still has energy to spare?
"Impossible!"
Uchiha fled faster.
Haru's overwhelming response gave Uchiha a bad feeling.
Meanwhile, Haru's real body reappeared in front of the Leaf ninjas.
"Haru!"
"Lord Haru!"
The villagers looked at him with newfound reverence.
Takayama Haru was their savior.
And his noble lineage made him even more respected than the Third Hokage.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi had given his all for Konoha, but his power didn't compare. People had more faith in Haru now.
He had the golden reputation of being from the Senju-Hashirama squad. In the minds of Konoha's ninjas, the Senju were practically divine.
Plus, Haru was now using the Art of the Hundred Warriors combined with Sage Mode patterns on his face. He looked divine.
Even Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha were visibly awestruck, and many kunoichi looked at Haru differently.
So handsome!
"Lord Haru, what now?"
Haru nodded to Kushina, then spoke to the crowd. "Everyone, stand back."
His shadow clone was sealed.
\[Wood Style - Birth of the Tree World!]
BOOM! The ground trembled violently and collapsed!
Giant trees burst from the earth, tearing through the ground!
In seconds, flat terrain became dense forest, reshaping the entire landscape!
Countless roots and vines erupted!
Konoha was instantly surrounded by the Tree World!
"Take care of any stragglers!" Haru said calmly.
At the forest's edge, the Zetsu army charged.
Any Zetsu that entered was instantly ensnared and drained dry by the trees!
But there were too many Zetsu. Waves of them surged forward.
The outer trees creaked and fell. Inner layers were shredded by white claws.
"Rise up! We can't just watch!"
Tsunade led the charge, activating her Hundred Healings mark!
As Konoha's greatest support ninja, Tsunade was a healing powerhouse who could fight and tank damage, a true warlord of the shinobi world.
One punch sent a Zetsu flying and exploding, taking down three more behind it.
Sarutobi unleashed his signature technique, \[Fire Release - Great Fireball Barrage], engulfing the enemy in chakra-powered flames.
Even as an old man, Sarutobi was faster than Tsunade in combat.
The Konoha ninjas, led by Tsunade and Sarutobi, fought valiantly using the forest for cover.
Kushina and Mikoto charged in too.
"Forward!"
"Kill them!"
Team 7's Kakashi and Obito were the first to dive in, stunning the onlookers.
Even the kids were fierce now?
Sarutobi watched Obito through his chakra-sensing eye. He recalled how Uchiha had spared him, and Madara had killed him instead. A thought stirred in his heart.
Maybe the Uchiha clan isn't as dangerous as believed.
Look at the current generation—none seemed truly hostile to Konoha.
Meanwhile, the Shimura, Mito, and Koharu clans had changed completely after gaining power.
Was it Tobirama who was wrong? Or were we?
Sarutobi fell into doubt.
Meanwhile, Rin helped heal the wounded.
Even captives like Hiromi and two of the Yuki clan joined the fight.
The forest fortress split the Zetsu swarm into isolated pockets to be wiped out.
Kushina watched Haru's back with awe.
But in the next second, Haru vanished again.
BOOM!
A deafening rumble echoed overhead. Everyone looked up at the massive meteor falling from the sky.
Their faces turned pale.
It was enormous!
The sky darkened, swallowed by the meteor's shadow.
If it fell, Konoha would be erased.
Could Haru stop it?
"I must block it!"
Haru narrowed his eyes and placed both hands on the wooden golem's head.
"True Thousand-Hands Technique! Deliver the baby, let's go!"
CLICK!
The towering Thousand-Hand Buddha moved.
Its slight motion shook the ground.
From the shadows, Black and White Zetsu watched in awe as the giant Buddha raised its hands skyward.
This was their second time seeing the real Thousand-Hand technique, and it still stunned them.
"Too strong... even Uchiha can't compare..."
Suddenly, a fierce gust struck from behind them. Black and White Zetsu flinched.
Their bodies were instantly shredded!
\[Water Style - Water Blade Slash]!
A shadow clone of Haru appeared behind them and slashed!
Their remains melted into the earth, vanishing.
Haru knew—killing Black Zetsu completely was almost impossible. Even if he killed one, more could exist elsewhere.
Still, he wouldn't let them spy on him.
Thousands of wooden hands reached for the meteor.
But the meteor's force was terrifying. The hands shattered on contact!
Haru gritted his teeth and fully released his seal. Chakra erupted!
A broken hand began regrowing rapidly under the chakra surge.
But even the regenerated hand shattered on contact. It couldn't stop the meteor.
Still, the meteor's speed slowed slightly.
"Haru, you have to resist!"
"Haru!"
Kushina, Mikoto, and the villagers clutched their chests and prayed.
"Lord Haru! You must protect Konoha!"
Everyone's chakra turned into shimmering light, drifting toward Haru.
"This is..."
Haru felt his depleted chakra surge back.
Looking down, he saw starlight merging into him!
Sage Mode absorbed the natural energy and fused it.
\[Wood Style - Multi Wood Clone Jutsu!]
Haru suddenly split into hundreds of wooden clones, stepping onto wooden hands and launching toward the meteor.
The clones slowed its fall but were quickly crushed.
"Haah!"
Haru roared. The villagers kept praying, transferring more chakra to him.
\[Wood Style - Multi Wood Clone Jutsu!]
Thousands of clones formed, charging the meteor.
Everyone was stunned.
Thousands of wood clones?
What kind of power is that?
"Haah!"
Haru, with his army of wood clones, gathered massive Wood Style chakra and pushed against the meteor.
The clones kept getting crushed, but they slowed the meteor even more.
Finally, just as the meteor reached Haru, he caught it with both hands.
The forest below withered. Haru's chakra was nearly gone.
His shadow clones were still chasing Uchiha. One clone punched and split again. Uchiha laughed.
"Konoha can't hold on much longer!"
But Haru, backed by thousands of clones, held up the meteor.
Time seemed to freeze.
Everyone stared at the suspended meteor, and the tiny black dot beneath it holding it back.
"Haru..."
After a brutal fight, the Zetsu retreated.
The ninjas were wounded but full of hope.
And Haru had stopped the Heavenly Barrier Meteor, calming everyone.
"Haaah!"
With a mighty heave, Haru hurled the meteor into an uninhabited area.
RUMBLE!
Terrifying!
The ground trembled.
Dust and smoke blanketed the land.
When the air cleared, the meteor had smashed half of Konoha into a small hill.
The terrain had permanently changed.
What was once a mountain was now two—the Hokage Rock and the newly formed Meteor Hill.
Everyone finally relaxed.
"Haru is amazing!"
"Long live Lord Haru!"
"Master Haru is unbeatable!"
"Haru!"
Everyone rushed toward him.
First were Kushina and Team 7!
Tsunade stood quietly beside Mito Uzumaki, watching.
Sarutobi sat on the ground, panting, and whispered to himself, "I'm getting old..."
He remembered what the Second Hokage, Tobirama, had told him after the Fire-Lightning Summit:
"Sarutobi, love this village. Protect those who believe in you. And raise those who will lead the next era. Starting tomorrow, you will be... the Hokage."
BOOM!
The wooden constructs around Haru collapsed. Jutsu released!
\[Ding! Option 2 completed: Help Konoha resist the Meteor threat. Reward: Indra's Power!]
\[Ding! Use Indra's Power now?]
"Hold on, system. I'm still working on Option 1!"
\[Ding! Option 1 activated. Complete the condition to receive the reward!]
Haru sighed in relief at the system prompt.
Uchiha, wait for me!
Each group of four shadow clones had pursued one Uchiha and his clone, eliminating more clones and gathering information from them all...