Chapter 220: Saṃsāra of Heavenly Life, Ame-no-Tokotachi
In the air, Kinoshita Genichi's figure hovered.
Below, Madara Uchiha's Complete Susanoo stood tall. To its left was Nagato, and to its right was Uchiha Tekka, who was still slowly regenerating.
"He didn't even go back to help..." Madara was slightly surprised.
Nagato also realized at this moment that the plan was likely to go awry.
However, he was already prepared for this.
After all, Kinoshita Genichi himself represented the unexpected—just like a moment ago, when Genichi had completely ignored the power of his Chibaku Tensei.
He hadn't been able to do that in their last battle.
"This rate of progress is astonishing," Nagato thought, suddenly feeling that this operation would once again end in failure.
According to the plan, the three of them—Madara, Nagato, and Tekka—were to pin down Genichi. When Madara's Tengai Shinsei appeared, Genichi should have been forced to return to Konoha's aid. The three of them would intercept him, and while Genichi was distracted, they would find an opening and capture him.
Meanwhile, the Six Paths of Pain were responsible for entering Konoha to capture the One-Tail Jinchūriki.
Nagato knew Genichi had six puppet clones, so the second purpose of the Tengai Shinsei was to tie up those clones, as well as Konoha's other powerful shinobi.
Konoha was Genichi's bond. It could be used to disrupt his focus. The Tengai Shinsei was a move with multiple benefits.
But now, it seemed to Nagato that their plan had been far too optimistic.
"You seem to have predicted this?" Madara asked, his curiosity piqued.
Genichi naturally wouldn't admit it. Instead, he said meaningfully, "No. You are just too arrogant."
"You underestimate the power of a shinobi village. Especially Konoha."
Madara glanced towards Konoha, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes for an instant. Then he laughed. "Oh? Then let's see it."
"I hear you also have a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan and have mastered..."
"And those eyes of yours. They originated from the Sharingan. Did they not evolve further?"
"You all have indeed given me many surprises. But that only makes me look forward to this more."
"If you are all just mere gravel, it's hard to get excited about this fight."
"Show me your full power. Let me see if you can be compared to Hashirama!"
Seeing Genichi obliterate Uchiha Tekka earlier had made Madara drop his playful attitude. He was finally serious.
"If you want to see my real power, that depends on your power," Genichi said, his figure descending from the sky.
"However, a three-on-one fight... seems a bit unfair."
"In that case..."
The moment his feet touched the ground, vines and wood began to condense at his right side. In an instant, a Wood Golem rose up, its size rivaling the Complete Susanoo.
Furthermore, the eyes of the Wood Golem and the Wood Dragon coiled around it both glowed like green lanterns, shining with bright chakra.
"Hm?"
Madara frowned. "This Wood Golem Jutsu... seems different?"
He was far too familiar with this technique.
It was, after all, the signature move of his old friend, Hashirama Senju.
He instinctively sensed something was wrong. Using the insight of his Sharingan, he did indeed see something different.
"It... it actually has something like a human's chakra pathway system inside it. Chakra is flowing through..."
Madara understood in an instant. "Is this Yin-Yang Release?"
"To have researched it to this extent... just on this point alone, you have truly surpassed that fool Hashirama!"
Madara was starting to get excited. "More and more interesting..."
Opposite him, Genichi, having used his Wood Release—a combination of Yin, Yang, Water, and Earth natures—then activated his Illusory Mirror Clone.
This was a clone created by combining his two Kekkei Genkai, the Mirror Eye and Kyōka Suigetsu. It could mirror all of the target's abilities, switch between a virtual and-real state, and was immune to a certain degree of damage.
This wasn't the first time Genichi had used this ability, but very few people—especially his enemies—knew about it.
For Nagato and the other two, this was their first time facing it.
Moreover, the Illusory Mirror Clone that Genichi had just created looked exactly like Nagato, right down to the Rinnegan.
Their eyes met. Nagato was stunned, but then he recalled how Genichi had ignored the power of Chibaku Tensei, and his expression changed. "How is this possible?"
"He even copied the Rinnegan!"
Uchiha Tekka, his body now regenerated, was also shocked. "Is it a genjutsu?"
"No... this state is indeed that illusion that can grant immunity to attacks... but that feeling... that is the feeling only a Rinnegan possesses."
"The Rinnegan is real!"
"But how is that possible? Even a Mangekyo can't copy a Kekkei Genkai, and certainly not to this degree of perfection! This is..."
A storm of shock raged in Tekka's heart.
The unexpected, again!
Why was there always something unexpected?
Madara, though surprised, was more curious. "Is this the dōjutsu of those eyes of yours?"
"It can even copy the Rinnegan? Then the Susanoo you possess... you acquired it this way as well?"
"After all, it's impossible for someone who simply transplanted an Uchiha's Mangekyo to master Susanoo!"
"But... even if it can copy the Rinnegan, there must be a limit, right?"
Genichi ignored Madara's verbal probing. He had no habit of explaining his abilities to his enemies.
Having spent half his Sage Chakra to create the Illusory Mirror Clone, Genichi was very satisfied. He smiled, "Now it's three-on-three. Perfectly fair and just."
Madara shrugged dismissively. "So you won't expose your abilities... how cautious. No matter. I'll just observe them in battle."
Looking at Madara, Genichi immediately entered Nine-Tails Sage Mode. His Mirror Eye pupils gained a golden border, and a golden vertical slit appeared in the very center.
"As I thought, the power of the Nine-Tails!"
Madara was just as familiar with the Nine-Tails' power. It had once been his mount, after all.
As Genichi entered his golden chakra state, the golden Nine-Tails chakra erupted, forming the giant Nine-Tails avatar.
Kurama Mode!
Genichi's body floated up, positioning himself inside the Nine-Tails' mouth.
"I'm not done yet..."
Genichi clasped his hands together.
The next moment, inside the giant Nine-Tails avatar, a second Nine-Tails began to rapidly form, using ice as its bones and flesh.
"And more!"
On the surface of the Kurama avatar's chakra cloak, Electromagnetic and Storm Release chakra formed a suit of armor, covering its entire body.
Sage Mode + Nine-Tails Power + Ice Release (Kekkei Tōta) + Electromagnetic Release (Kekkei Tōta) + Storm Release (Kekkei Genkai)!
Compared to the "Jade Puppet Clone" he had used against Nagato last time, he had simply swapped the Susanoo for the Nine-Tails' power.
The Kurama avatar now stood on its hind legs. Its front paws grasped, and two giant swords were forged. They had cores of ice, were wrapped in Nine-Tails chakra, and were covered in armor of Electromagnetic and Storm Release chakra.
Looking at Genichi's current form, even Madara was somewhat shaken. "He's mastered the Nine-Tails' power to this extent? Has he... tamed it?"
"I must say, on this point alone, you are qualified to stand alongside Hashirama!"
As he spoke, Madara controlled his Susanoo to draw its second sword.
My Uchiha Madara's Susanoo will not be weaker than anyone!
Boom! Boom!
The blue Susanoo took heavy steps, charging towards Genichi.
Uchiha Tekka tore his eyes away from Genichi and focused on the Wood Golem opposite him. He snorted, "Just a remotely-controlled golem? You're underestimating me!"
He formed hand seals, and his dark-red Susanoo rose up, rapidly forming armor and wings. It held a massive Susanoo blade in one hand and a long spear in the other.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dark-red Susanoo charged the Wood Golem. Tekka, inside its forehead, locked onto the Golem's head and launched his dōjutsu first.
Amaterasu!
Black flames suddenly appeared on the Wood Golem's head, burning fiercely.
However, the surface of the Wood Golem's head simply peeled off. Slabs of wood, carrying the black flames, fell harmlessly to the ground.
Tekka's face couldn't help but twitch. "That trick again! Dammit!"
Then how will you block this?
Tekka snorted inwardly and activated his other dōjutsu.
Yachihoko no Kami!
A dense barrage of crimson spears appeared above the Wood Golem, and black flames immediately covered them.
A dual dōjutsu barrage!
However, thick, massive vines erupted from the Wood Golem's body, shooting into the sky and weaving together above its head. They formed a multi-layered, semi-circular shield, protecting the golem below.
The spears rained down. Wood splintered and flew everywhere, but as one layer was destroyed, another was already there, and it was constantly regrowing.
Rumble!
Chaos reigned, and a pillar of dust shot into the sky.
When the Yachihoko no Kami attack ended, Tekka's Susanoo had already charged right in front of the Wood Golem. Its greatsword sliced through the roiling dust, striking at the unharmed Golem.
"Hm?"
Tekka was shocked. It was completely undamaged? Even if it couldn't be destroyed in one go, it should have at least taken some damage.
Clang!
With a deafening sound, the Wood Golem clapped its massive hands together, catching the descending Susanoo blade between its palms.
The Susanoo immediately thrust its spear toward the Golem, but the coiling Wood Dragon lunged and bit down on the spear.
Suddenly, the Wood Dragon yanked. The Susanoo lost its balance and pitched forward. The Golem immediately shoved the captured sword to the side, and in that instant of imbalance, it gathered strength in its legs. With a violent tremor, its entire body, which had been crouched low, lunged forward.
The Wood Golem's massive form moved with incredible agility, like a skilled sumo wrestler. It wrapped its arms around the Susanoo's waist.
RUMBLE!
The giant Susanoo was slammed viciously onto the ground, causing the entire land of Konoha to seemingly tremble three times.
Uchiha Tekka's body shook, his vision blurring. "Bastard!"
The Susanoo drove its elbow back into the Golem, causing the Golem's body to sink.
Boom!
The Susanoo's wings flared, bracing its body to push up from under the Golem's pin. It followed through with a kick, sending the Wood Golem flying backward.
But the next moment, the Susanoo itself staggered and fell backward.
It turned out the Wood Dragon had wrapped around the Susanoo's legs. As the Wood Golem was sent flying, it had pulled, dragging the Susanoo down with it.
The Wood Golem quickly scrambled to its feet, swiped its hand to tear apart the dust cloud, and then charged thud, thud, thud towards the downed Susanoo.
...
Meanwhile.
Genichi's main body and Madara Uchiha were locked in battle.
Although this Edo Tensei was not Madara's strongest form, it was far more powerful than the version that had relied on the spiral-faced Zetsu.
His Susanoo was a true Complete Body, meaning all its chakra was stabilized.
And it was even larger than Uchiha Tekka's.
RUMBLE!
Two swords clashed with two swords. A violent light erupted. The earth cracked, fissures spreading in all directions, followed by a raging storm of wind that kicked up a thirty-foot-high wave of mud.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The moment the light faded, Genichi's Armored Kurama's tails shot out. Five tails wrapped around the Susanoo's arms, legs, and torso, binding it completely.
The other four tails rose high, and at the tip of each one, a Rasenshuriken formed.
Ice Release: Rasenshuriken.
Dust Release: Rasenshuriken.
Scorch Release: Rasenshuriken.
Electromagnetic: Rasenshuriken.
Madara's expression changed. He formed a string of Yasakani Magatama and launched them at Genichi.
However, the Ice and Scorch Release Rasenshurikens alone destroyed the entire barrage.
Immediately after, the Dust Release: Rasenshuriken flew straight at his face.
From within Kurama's mouth, Genichi spoke one word: "Burst."
The Dust Release: Rasenshuriken, before it even made contact, suddenly swelled and exploded. It formed a brilliant white sphere. The moment the sphere expanded and touched the Susanoo, the Susanoo was disintegrated.
This face-on attack made even Madara's eyes widen. His body immediately floated backward.
In an instant, the Susanoo's entire head was disintegrated by the Dust Release: Rasenshuriken.
Madara's body floated in the air. Facing the Electromagnetic: Rasenshuriken shooting towards him, he raised his right arm.
Absorption Seal!
The massive Electromagnetic: Rasenshuriken was rapidly absorbed by Madara.
But this was within Genichi's expectations. The moment Madara began absorbing it, Genichi's real body shot out from Kurama's mouth.
By the time Madara finished absorbing the jutsu, Genichi was already right in front of him.
Shinra Tensei!
Madara used his repulsive force, unleashing an astonishing output, even stronger than Nagato's Super Shinra Tensei.
Genichi's body froze for an instant, but then he punched. A brilliant electric current erupted, shooting out like a pillar of light, shattering the repulsive force.
He immediately threw a second punch. This time, no current surged out. It was just pure power, plowing a vacuum tunnel through the air.
Bang!
Madara tilted his head, but his right arm and half his body were blown away.
"An air cannon... from pure physical strength!"
Madara was shocked. Genichi's first punch had a powerful current, so he had tried to absorb it. He never expected the second punch to be different, and it was so fast he couldn't react in time.
Swish!
The half-bodied Madara suddenly shot high into the sky. He raised his intact left arm, and black matter condensed in his palm, which then split into three small black spheres.
"Only this much, hmm..." Madara was unsatisfied.
The three Chibaku Tensei cores erupted with light. The ground was instantly ripped apart, and giant boulders were pulled up, rapidly forming massive spheres.
This Chibaku Tensei casting speed was far superior to Nagato's, even if the scale and purpose were different.
It was proof that even in an Edo Tensei state, Madara's mastery of the Rinnegan far surpassed Nagato's.
After all, they were his original eyes.
Genichi looked up as three giant meteors howled down at him.
Swish!
His body shot forward, soaring into the sky. He rapidly closed the distance and, while still far away, swung both fists.
Electric Current Push!
But once again, no powerful electric shockwaves erupted. Instead, he converted the "Electric Current Push" into pure mechanical energy, unleashing terrifying physical strength in the form of air cannons.
RUMBLE~~
The three descending meteors exploded in mid-air.
Madara used this chance to land on the ground, his body already regenerated. He immediately summoned the Gedo Statue.
"Hm?"
Madara frowned, noticing the Gedo Statue was missing an arm.
Aloe White Zetsu emerged from the ground. "It was cut off by Kinoshita Genichi before."
"Madara-sama, it seems you can't defeat Kinoshita Genichi in this state."
Madara said flatly, "Although that Orochimaru put both my cells and Hashirama's cells into this body, it's still not enough for me to use the Rinnegan's full power."
His basic Rinnegan abilities were indeed stronger than Nagato's, but only by a limited amount. It wasn't enough to pose a threat to Genichi.
His Susanoo, against Genichi's Armored Kurama, had no power to resist and was shattered in a single exchange.
"I must admit," Madara said, "this man... is stronger than Hashirama in his prime."
Aloe Zetsu threw up his hands. "This is bad. Even the Gedo Statue won't be enough to change the situation, right?"
"What's next? Revive you ahead of schedule?"
Madara leaped onto the Gedo Statue's head and plugged the rods into his back.
"Have Black Zetsu make his move," Madara commanded.
"As you wish."
Aloe Zetsu sank into the ground and vanished.
ROAR!
The Gedo Statue opened its mouth and roared, unleashing a terrifying storm at Genichi, who was diving from the sky.
Genichi swiped his hand, tearing the storm apart. The Gedo Statue's fist howled towards him.
Genichi deployed his Armored Kurama, which met the attack with its own punch.
RUMBLE!
With the deafening roar, a brilliant light erupted, swelling like a sphere of energy.
At this moment, Madara extracted the Hashirama cells from his own body and injected them into the Gedo Statue. Its arm regenerated, and his control over it strengthened.
After the clash, the Gedo Statue opened its mouth. Chakra condensed, and a Chakra Dragon howled out from within.
Genichi snorted. The Kurama avatar's right claw made a grasping motion, and a giant sword was forged. It swung the sword, shattering the Chakra Dragon.
But the Gedo Statue used this opening to leap high into the air, landing with a boom right behind Nagato.
Banshō Ten'in!
Madara launched a surprise attack on Genichi's Illusory Mirror Clone. The Gedo Statue smashed its fist down, and the clone scattered on impact.
The power of the Gedo Statue's punch had exceeded the clone's immunity limit.
The clone, which had been fighting on even terms with Nagato, was gone just like that.
Nagato was startled, instinctively sensing something was wrong.
Atop the Gedo Statue, Madara had already made a one-handed seal.
In an instant, black rods erupted from Nagato's left arm and shoulder.
"What?"
"When did you...?" Nagato was in shock.
"Hehe, those eyes belong to Madara-sama, after all!"
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground and rapidly attached himself to Nagato's body.
"I must say, Nagato, you really are naive," Black Zetsu mocked. "You actually believed the stories Madara-sama fed you."
In Madara's version of the story, Nagato's eyes were not his. Nagato had awakened the Rinnegan due to his Uzumaki Clan bloodline, which descended from the Sage of Six Paths.
At the same time, Hashirama Senju also had the Sage's bloodline, and after obtaining Hashirama's cells, Madara had awakened his own Rinnegan.
It wasn't a very tight-knit lie.
But Nagato believed it.
No... rather, Nagato needed Madara, so he accepted this explanation.
From the very beginning, Nagato had been extremely wary of Madara and had never truly trusted him.
When his legs were being healed, Konan had stood guard the entire time, preventing Madara from trying any tricks.
His body had also been checked; there were no curse marks or seals.
However, Nagato had overlooked one fact: the Rinnegan was Madara's.
Through the Rinnegan, Madara could control Nagato in reverse.
Of course, this alone wasn't enough to force Nagato to perform the Rinne Tensei. That was why Black Zetsu was needed.
At this moment, Black Zetsu quickly possessed him and, coordinating with Madara, took complete control of Nagato.
Outer Path — Saṃsāra of Heavenly Life Technique!
The possessed Nagato raised his hands and slowly began to form the seals.
Genichi noticed. His gaze sharpened. "It's starting early?"
If that's the case...
As Genichi charged towards Madara, his eyes transformed into the Mangekyo Mirror Eye. At the same time, the Yin Seal on his forehead split open down the middle, and a third eye opened: a Mangekyo Sharingan.
Because he was still in Kurama Mode, both his Mangekyo Mirror Eyes and his forehead Mangekyo Sharingan were bordered in gold, and the center of each pupil still held the vertical, fox-like slit.
With both sets of eyes active, Genichi immediately activated the dōjutsu of his forehead Msangekyo.
Ame-no-Tokotachi!
(End of Chapter)
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