Madara considered his own situation. Learning this new power system seemed unlikely; without the fundamental energy source (like chakra for ninjutsu), how could he use their techniques?
But this disadvantage came with a massive upside.
This Edo Tensei body… it felt different, modified. It seemed truly immortal, unable to tire, and fueled by effectively infinite chakra.
He wasn't at his absolute peak power from his living days, certainly weaker now, but still formidable.
'If these people lack effective sealing techniques, or ways to directly attack the soul bound to this body…' Madara thought, a sliver of dark amusement rising within him.
'Then I am essentially an unstoppable force in this world. Unless someone possesses the power to utterly erase me from existence.'
A fleeting sense of boredom touched him. "But where's the thrill in that?" he muttered quietly. "A battle without exhaustion, without your heart pounding and blood rushing… it loses its meaning." He clenched his fist, feeling the dull, lifeless sensation of the reanimated body – a constant reminder. "Still, perhaps there's a slim chance… a way to truly resurrect… huh!! Better not get my hopes up."
He refocused on the fight below. "Their battle is… somewhat entertaining, I suppose," he mused, watching them pause mid-combat for an emotional exchange. "Getting sentimental in the middle of a deathmatch… Still just amateurs."
Madara listened easily to their conversation, hearing the black-haired one, Choso, question the pink-haired boy, Yuji, about his brothers.
After their brief, charged talk, Choso gathered his power again, a visible aura of blood forming around him. Yuji tensed, ready to fight once more.
'His technique seems entirely focused on blood manipulation,' Madara observed. 'Does he only have this one ability, or do people here specialize so narrowly?' He watched with mild interest.
Choso launched another piercing blood attack. 'A bait?' Madara thought, as Yuji dodged narrowly at the last instant. 'Not bad reflexes.'
They clashed again in close combat. Choso formed a sharp blade of blood, managing to stab it through Yuji's foot, pinning him momentarily.
'A decisive move?' But Yuji didn't hesitate, using the pinned foot itself to launch a powerful kick straight at Choso's face. Choso blocked with his arm, but Yuji followed through instantly with a sharp punch that connected solidly.
'Hm, resilient.'
….
Madara saw the fight below nearing its end. Deciding it was time to step in, he moved swiftly, arriving inside the destroyed bathroom just as Choso landed a vicious blow, slamming Yuji into the far wall with enough force to make him cough up blood.
Yuji struggled, trying to push himself up, but his body screamed in protest; he was clearly at his limit.
"Still breathing, huh?" Choso remarked dryly, shaking out his hand as he slowly walked towards the downed teenager.
Choso loomed over Yuji, ready to deliver the final blow. "When you get to the other side—" he began, but a calm, cold voice interrupted him from nearby.
"Perhaps you should save those parting words for yourself." Madara stood near the entrance, his crimson Sharingan fixed not on Choso, but momentarily on the injured Yuji.
"You've done your part quite thoroughly," Madara continued, turning his gaze to Choso. "Saved me some effort, perhaps. But your role in this ends now." He stood casually, a comfortable distance away, projecting an aura of absolute confidence.
Choso's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed in irritation. He hadn't expected the red-armored man to show up here. 'It doesn't matter,' Choso thought, glancing back to ensure Yuji wasn't going anywhere. 'I'll just kill him too.' He turned fully to face Madara.
"Oh? You want to fight now?" Madara sounded almost amused. "I considered letting you walk away. You handled the boy efficiently. Answer a few questions, perhaps… but I doubt you'd cooperate. So, this is simpler."
As Madara finished speaking, Choso thrust his hands forward, unleashing his Blood Piercing technique. The crimson arrow shot towards Madara. He sidestepped it effortlessly, his eyes tracking its trajectory. As Choso tried to redirect it mid-air to strike from behind, aiming for Madara's head, Madara simply tilted his neck, letting it whip past. Faster than Choso could react, Madara snatched the solidified blood spear out of the air with one hand, snapped the shaft over his elbow, and, with a quick flip of his wrist, sent the broken point flying back. It grazed Choso's cheek before he could even attempt to reclaim control of the blood.
Choso's eye twitched. 'He's fast,' he noted grimly, annoyed by the casual defense.
He launched another Blood Piercing arrow, but Madara ignored it, closing the distance in an instant while the arrow flew harmlessly past. He threw a simple punch towards Choso's face. Choso reacted quickly, blocking and countering with his own punch to Madara's stomach. The blow landed solidly, but Madara didn't even flinch, the impact seemingly having no effect on his Edo Tensei body. Choso used the moment to push off, creating space.
It was then Madara noticed something interesting. Unlike the curses he fought earlier – Jogo and Mahito – who healed almost instantly, this one was taking damage. The scratch on his cheek remained. 'He doesn't regenerate,' Madara observed, his Mangekyo Sharingan analyzing Choso intently. 'Or perhaps… he can't. Interesting.' A predatory smile touched Madara's lips.
"So, where are your friends?" Madara asked conversationally, though his tone was mocking. "Did they leave you behind as the sacrificial guard? Or were you just settling a personal score with the boy?"
Choso's perpetually annoyed expression deepened. "Where they are is none of your concern. And neither is why I'm here." Blood seeped from his pores, coalescing behind him into dozens of sharp, droplet-shaped bullets, larger than raindrops. With a silent command, the crimson rain shot towards Madara at high speed.
But in Madara's Mangekyo-enhanced perception, they moved in slow motion. He weaved between them effortlessly, not a single drop touching him.
But the bullet barrage was just a distraction. As Madara finished dodging, Choso was already upon him, unleashing his technique point-blank. "Slicing Exorcism!"
A vortex of rapidly spinning, razor-sharp blood erupted towards Madara. Before it could make contact, Madara's Mangekyo Sharingan flared. Crackling blue energy instantly burst forth, solidifying into the skeletal ribcage of his Susanoo. Choso's blood attack slammed against the spectral blue defense, scattering harmlessly.
Madara glanced sideways at Choso, a hint of acknowledgement in his cold voice. "Not bad. Your control over your blood is precise." He paused, his gaze sharpening. "But if that's the best you have, then prepare yourself." The blue Susanoo aura pulsed as Madara took a step forward.
…..
A/N: How was it? What do you think would happen? Will Choso meets his long dead brothers?