Chapter 612: Burned Out

"Day Tiger!"

Mai Te Kai unleashed a punch, compressing the air cannon to its extreme into a white fierce tiger that roared and tore at Madara.

The strike's power was enormous; ordinary ninjas wouldn't dare to meet it head‑on.

But the opponent was Six Paths Ban!

Madara didn't even move, merely giving a faint sweep with his Rinnegan.

Wheel Tomb·Edge Hell!

Four intangible shadows instantly appeared; two of them easily intercepted and shattered the astonishingly powerful "Day Tiger!", while the other two attacked Mai Te Kai from a bizarre angle.

Kai relied on instinct and the speed limit of the Seventh Gate to dodge, yet a shadow still grazed him, a cracking sound echoing from his scapula and blood splattering.

"Kai!" Kakashi shouted, fully activating his Kaleidoscope Sharingan, attempting to use Kamui to block the shadow's attack and create an opening for Kai.

"Kamui!"

Kakashi's interference had a slight effect, restraining some of the shadows' movements.

But Madara, possessing two Rinnegan, could control all four shadows simultaneously.

Mai Te Kai couldn't get near Madara at all; a Body Technique ninja couldn't make a close‑range attack.

The outcome was self‑evident.

Bofeng Shuimen was channeling the Nine‑Tails into Naruto's body, and could only send Kakashi and Qianshou Feijian to provide support.

Unfortunately, even the three of them combined were no match for Madara.

Especially Qianshou Feijian, who was directly impaled into the ground by Madara Uchiha with a black rod.

Just as Lian Ye had previously impaled him.

Soon, countless wounds covered Mai Te Kai's body, and the blue steam began to fluctuate unstably.

Kakashi, having overused his Kaleidoscope, found his chakra and Pupil Power on the brink of depletion, half‑kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.

"Relying on Body Technique to reach this point is commendable," Madara Uchiha said flatly, looking down at the badly wounded yet unyielding Mai Te Kai, "but it ends here."

If it were a normal time, he wouldn't mind sparring a bit.

But now, deploying Infinite Moon Reading is the priority!

He raised his hand, the four Wheel Tomb shadows simultaneously gathering power, ready to deliver a lethal strike to Mai Te Kai and Kakashi.

Kai watched the indifferent Madara in the sky, then glanced at the exhausted Kakashi, and finally looked toward the anxious Qianshou Feijian, whose face was stuck, unable to move, impaled by the black rod.

His gaze grew ever more resolute.

"It's coming!" Lian Ye knew Kai was about to unleash his ultimate move.

"Ready to open the Eight Gates?" Madara Uchiha said with interest.

He had once fought ninjas who used Hachimon Tonkou, and the red‑steam form of the Eighth Gate was indeed powerful.

But before a version of himself who had become a Ten‑Tails jinchuriki, Hachimon Tonkou seemed somewhat lacking.

"Hachimon Tonkou..." Zhi Cun Tuan Cang's eyes flickered as he muttered to himself.

He didn't know whether Mai Te Kai opening the Eight Gates could defeat the Madara who had become a Ten‑Tails jinchuriki.

If not, then no one in this timeline could ever stop him!

Does that mean there's truly no chance left?

"Kakashi... it seems this is my final... youth."

Mai Te Kai's voice was calm.

Kakashi seemed to realize something; just as he was about to speak to stop it, it was already too late.

"Hachimon Tonkou, the Eighth Gate Death Gate—Open!"

Boom!!!

An indescribable Chakra Storm erupted, blasting outward with Mai Te Kai at its center!

It was no longer blue steam, but red steam radiating scorching gusts!

It was a tremendous power bought with a burning life.

Kai's skin cracked, his blood vaporized into red mist, each hair standing on end like a blazing flame.

The ground beneath his feet instantly fissured, even small chunks of rock levitated briefly before melting into ash.

His torso arched, gathering power, and the surrounding space seemed to warp under this terrifying force.

"Is this truly the power a human can unleash?" Zhi Cun Tuan Cang exclaimed in horror.

It was his first time seeing anyone open the Death Gate; he couldn't believe such power existed.

"That's a bit over the limit," Lian Ye said, tasting the massive destructive force.

Fortunately it was Six Paths Ban; with anyone else, they'd probably be turned into Blood Mist by a single kick.

But Lian Ye wasn't afraid.

The Night Kai who opened the Death Gate was strong, but his duration was extremely limited.

Moreover, the attack had to hit its target.

If you use Flying Thunder God Run, after he lands that kick, you won't need to move in for a finishing strike; you'll be dead.

For the first time, Six Paths Ban's face showed a solemn expression, even with a hint... of anticipation?

He put away his previously casual attitude, and the four Wheel Tomb shadows returned to his body.

Clearly, he intended to meet Mai Te Kai's attack head‑on.

Lian Ye could never understand why Six Paths Ban wouldn't dodge, insisting on taking that kick from Night Kai head‑on.

If he were actually killed by that kick, wouldn't that cause an explosion?

He could only attribute it to Ban's absolute confidence in his own strength.

Anyway, if it were me, I'd have used Flying Thunder God Run long ago, and let Kai charge here alone.

If you linger even a moment, you'll die.

"Ye Kai!"

Mai Te Kai's figure vanished.

No, it's not that he vanished; his speed was taken to the extreme!

A massive dragon‑shaped trail blazing with red chakra was left in the air!

"Let me see your Full Power Strike!"

Six Paths Ban's face showed excitement, with no hint of evasion.

The blood‑red giant dragon and the hovering Six Paths Ban crashed into each other with a thunderous impact!

At the core of the energy explosion, space seemed to be ripped open, a black fissure flashing briefly before disappearing.

A raging circular shockwave spread outward, raising the already shattered earth once more.

Even though Lian Ye and his two companions were far apart, the storm blew their hair about, making it hard to keep their eyes open.

The light and steam gradually faded.

The first thing visible was Mai Te Kai's silhouette.

He fell from the sky like a ruined doll, his entire skin blackened and cracked, billowing blue smoke, his life force faint.

Having opened the eighth Gate, the Death Gate, he was truly burnt out.

And in the air…

Six Paths Ban's silhouette still hovered there!

He was not completely unscathed.

His white robe bore extensive tears and scorch marks, and half of his body had completely vanished.

Clearly, Mai Te Kai's final strike seriously crippled him.

"Remarkable Body Technique…" Six Paths Ban panted, "With a mortal body, you can wound the Six Paths body… I acknowledge you; among everyone I've faced, none can match your Body Technique!"

As his words fell, a despairing scene unfolded.

The body that Ye Kai had previously grievously wounded recovered at a sightly speed, even the torn clothing returned to its original state!

Aside from a slight ripple in his aura, Six Paths Ban was almost as he was before!

This is the terror of the Ten‑Tails Jinchuriki—ordinary fatal wounds mean nothing to him.

"But the brilliance of mortals ultimately lasts only an instant."

Six Paths Ban's eyes scanned the dying Kai and the despair‑filled Kakashi and others, his gaze turning cold and indifferent once more.

"Your struggle ends here."