As Uchiha Madara's eyes shimmered with purple ripples, he raised his hand and pressed it against the incoming water column. Instantly, a translucent circular barrier materialized out of thin air.
The barrier enveloped Madara's body. The ultra-high-pressure water column, upon touching the barrier, immediately twisted as if being pulled by magnetic force or divine power, and it surged into Madara's body.
At the same time, while absorbing the Sage Art: Water Release: Water Severing Wave spat out by the Wooden Human Arhat, Madara manipulated the Complete Body Susanoo to raise its hand—not the one holding the katana, but the empty one—releasing an invisible shockwave.
Boom——
The terrifying shockwave instantly shattered the ultra-high-pressure water column, accompanied by the howling of a hurricane.
If it were daytime, one would see a black, distorted aura crashing into the Wooden Human Arhat.
The massive, mountain-like Wooden Human Arhat was pushed back several steps by this invisible force, cracks appearing on its body.
This demonstrated the sheer power of the invisible shockwave.
If it weren't the Wooden Human Arhat in front of the shockwave but a mountain, there's no doubt the entire mountain would be obliterated, reduced to flat ground in an instant.
Fortunately, the shockwave was horizontal. If it had been released in all directions, the ground and the remaining forest below would have turned to dust, leaving behind a massive crater.
This was none other than the Complete Body Susanoo's Shinra Tensei!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The repulsive force came and went quickly, having little effect on the Wooden Human Arhat and failing to harm Yagyu standing atop it.
After stabilizing itself, the Wooden Human Arhat clenched its fist and swung it toward the Complete Body Susanoo.
This punch was not only infused with Sage chakra but also enhanced by the Sage Art: Earth Release: Earth Spear technique.
Though Earth Release: Earth Spear is only a B-rank Earth Release technique, its effectiveness is exceptional. It's one of the few ninjutsu that combines offense and defense.
Not only does it make the body as hard as diamond, capable of deflecting anything, but it also drastically increases the power of taijutsu while minimizing recoil.
Combined with the destructive power of Sage chakra and the hardness of Wood Release, the Wooden Human Arhat's punch carried a twisted airflow, almost generating flames from the friction with the air.
Facing this punch, the Complete Body Susanoo hastily raised its katana to block.
It had no choice. While the Gundam is powerful, it sacrifices other attributes to maximize strength and defense.
Poor speed and reaction time are common flaws of Gundams.
Even if the Complete Body Susanoo could create wings to fly, it would take time—time it didn't have to dodge the Wooden Human Arhat's punch.
If it didn't block, it would get hit.
But even if it blocked, it still got hit.
Boom——
With a deafening roar, the Wooden Human Arhat's black fist, seemingly coated with Armament Haki, collided with the Complete Body Susanoo's katana. The overwhelming force nearly shattered the katana on the spot.
Even so, the force transmitted through the katana and into the Complete Body Susanoo's body.
Just as the terrifying repulsive storm had pushed the Wooden Human Arhat back, the Complete Body Susanoo was forced to retreat more than a dozen steps, each step accompanied by a heavy thud that could be faintly heard even in distant battlefields.
"Sage Art… Wood Release: Advent of the Flowering Tree!"
"Sage Art… Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
After several exchanges, Yagyu had confirmed the power of Madara's Complete Body Susanoo.
One-on-one, the Wooden Human Arhat, bolstered by Sage chakra, was slightly superior to the Complete Body Susanoo. However, it couldn't achieve the absolute dominance that the Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands: Top Buddha had over the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
If Madara were alive, Yagyu would undoubtedly win this prolonged battle.
But unfortunately, Madara was in a reanimated body, with infinite chakra.
If not for the infinite chakra, which only provided unlimited stamina rather than infinite chakra consumption, Madara could have created several Wood Clones to use the Complete Body Susanoo simultaneously.
Even so, facing Madara's infinite stamina, Yagyu knew that unless he used the Sealing Gates like Hashirama to seal or restrict him, continuing this battle would only lead to his own exhaustion.
Thus, Yagyu directly employed the two techniques Hashirama had used to overpower Madara, techniques that had left Madara utterly defeated, no matter how he upgraded his eyes or even teamed up with the Nine-Tails.
Rumble——
The ground shook violently, countless cracks spreading in all directions.
Green serpents surged from the earth, rapidly inflating and sprouting numerous branches, transforming into a green tidal wave that swept outward.
In the blink of an eye, an enormous forest appeared beneath the mountain-sized Wooden Human Arhat and the Complete Body Susanoo.
Every tree in the forest was as towering as those in the Forest of Death. Humans would appear as small as ants in comparison.
Yet, the height of these towering trees only reached just above the knees of the Complete Body Susanoo and the Wooden Human Arhat, not even half their height.
This highlighted the sheer size of the Complete Body Susanoo and the Wooden Human Arhat, making the forest seem like mere decoration for their grandeur.
However, this forest was different from the one previously bombarded by the Five Release: Grand Annihilation Technique.
Once the forest formed, giant red flowers bloomed atop some of the towering trees.
The petals of these flowers released countless powders that were barely visible in daylight but virtually invisible at night, like stealthy assassins.
At the same time, green branches, as if possessing a will of their own, extended from the trees, wrapping around the Complete Body Susanoo's legs like ropes and climbing upward like snakes.
In an instant, the Complete Body Susanoo's lower body was covered in green branches, resembling a mass of leeches.
"Roar…"
As the forest took shape, a roar emanated from the Wooden Human Arhat.
A massive branch extended from its body, rapidly transforming into a dragon that coiled around its upper half, becoming a true Dragon Subduing Arhat.
"Fantastic, this is the feeling I've been waiting for!"
Madara, his body already repaired, shouted excitedly as he witnessed the familiar scene. "Come, let's fight to our heart's content!"
Whoosh——
As Madara's words fell, the two-faced, four-armed Complete Body Susanoo's other three hands condensed dazzling blue light.
Once the blue light formed into orbs, it transformed into three identical katanas, each grasped by the Susanoo.
The Complete Body Susanoo had become a four-sword-wielding warrior.
Simultaneously, a radiant blue light gathered behind the Susanoo, morphing into two pairs of massive wings as it entered its final form.
Ssshh——
The Complete Body Susanoo swung its four katanas, two of which instantly severed the Sage chakra-enhanced, incredibly tough branches entanglement on its lower body. It also unleashed earth-splitting flying slashes, carving two massive trenches through the forest.
The violent wind gusts instantly dispersed the powder attempting to float upward toward Madara.
The other two katanas released blue flying slashes, crossing each other to form a massive blue "X" that shot toward the Wooden Human Arhat.
"Roar…"
The Wood Dragon coiled around the Wooden Human Arhat let out another deafening roar.
Its gaping maw condensed a dazzling blue-white light.
In the next moment, the blue-white light transformed into a massive beam that collided with the incoming blue "X."
There was no struggle for dominance—the blue "X" was instantly obliterated by the blue-white beam, as this was the Sage Art: Lightning Release: Kirin.
The blue-white beam, still carrying immense power, continued toward the Complete Body Susanoo.
At that moment, the Susanoo flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
As it ascended, its form changed from two-faced and four-armed back to one-faced and two-armed.
The four-sword style reverted to a dual-sword style.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Complete Body Susanoo continuously swung its dual katanas, each slash releasing a massive flying slash that shot toward the Wooden Human Arhat like handleless scythes.
"Roar…"
The Wood Dragon roared again, then detached from the Wooden Human Arhat, defying gravity to soar upward. It extended its claws, attempting to intercept the flying slashes.
However, after smashing two slashes, the Wood Dragon was struck by the rest, first showing cracks before being completely severed by one slash.
Buzz——
At that moment, a piercing sound echoed.
Taking advantage of the Wood Dragon's distraction, the Wooden Human Arhat raised its hand, condensing a massive blue energy sphere.
Around the sphere, white whirlwinds formed shuriken shapes, spinning at high speed.
"Sage Art: Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken!"
As Yagyu's voice rang out, the Wooden Human Arhat hurled the energy sphere toward the Complete Body Susanoo in the sky.
The enormous energy sphere, containing more chakra than a pond's water, agilely curved through the air, dodging the incoming flying slashes as if equipped with a tracking system, and shot toward the Susanoo.
Seeing the energy sphere, Madara's expression turned grave once more.
Through his Rinnegan's vision, the Sage chakra within the sphere was astonishingly dense.
If this energy sphere exploded on the Complete Body Susanoo, even its absolute defense would be instantly shattered, and Madara himself would not escape unscathed.
Moreover, the energy sphere was curving through the air. Despite Madara's exceptional dynamic vision, he couldn't immediately determine whether it was targeting the upper or lower body.
The Complete Body Susanoo's massive size made it impossible for the Preta Path's barrier to fully cover it.
Thus, Madara focused intently on the incoming energy sphere, manipulating the Susanoo to reverse-grip one katana and hurl it like a spear.
Whoosh——
Just like Uchiha Sasuke's Susanoo, the katana, condensed from Yin Release chakra, shot out like an arrow, creating a sharp whistling sound as it accurately struck the evasive energy sphere.
Whoosh—— Boom!!!
The blinding white light resembled the explosion of the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb at an extreme distance, illuminating the final battlefield. The ninja alliance, already engaged with the Akatsuki, the reanimated army, and the White Zetsu clones sent by Black Zetsu to assist Obito, instinctively turned their gaze toward the source of the light.
Even Obito, who coldly watched the scene and understood why the White Zetsu clones had come to help, furrowed his brow, feeling even more pressure.
Whoosh——
As the white light dissipated, a hurricane swept across the battlefield, toppling numerous unprepared ninjas, White Zetsu clones, and reanimated soldiers.
"Hey, hey… this is way too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Deidara, standing on his white bird, nearly fell off. After barely stabilizing himself, he gazed at the Complete Body Susanoo and the Wooden Human Arhat, which reappeared in the distance yet seemed close, one in the sky and the other on the ground. He muttered in disbelief before his face lit up with fervor. "Now that's what I call true art!"
At that moment, Deidara wished he could self-destruct to add to the spectacle.
"This is nothing short of a mythical clash of power!"
Many strong individuals withstood the hurricane, expressing their awe.
Even at such a distance, they had to exert great effort to resist the shockwaves. They couldn't imagine what it would be like to be near the explosion—lucky survivors would be few, while most would perish instantly.
It's no wonder they reacted this way.
Just like the final clash between Naruto and Sasuke in the Valley of the End, which could be seen from the final battlefield, this was a world-destroying spectacle.
However, that was a Six Paths-level clash, while Yagyu and Madara's battle was at the Kage level, several tiers below.
Even so, such a collision of ninjutsu could affect half of the Land of Rain, and the entire country could witness it, which was entirely normal.