Chapter 185: The Highest Realm of Recognition is Being Recognized by Your Enemy

I do not know when it began, but the sky over the battlefield turned gloomy; the sun, which had been bright just moments ago, was now obscured by layers of dark clouds.

Then, a golden light descended from the heavens, piercing through the darkness and allowing a brilliant, golden sun to reappear in the human world.

As a ray of sunlight spilled onto Uchiha Tajima, a massive phantom slowly coalesced behind him; as the golden sunlight poured into it, it began to swell and grow, gradually taking on a humanoid form.

As the phantom became humanoid, silver-gray skeletal frames grew from its back, and a pair of massive skeletal hands quietly emerged, grasping Uchiha Tajima within them.

The figure continued to tower upward, the blurry halo on its body slowly solidifying, and the skeletal frame was encased in a layer of thick armor, eventually transforming into a silver-gray giant comparable to a Buddhist Arhat wooden statue.

【Susanoo: Fourth Stage】

"Hah~ using this for the first time really takes a toll."

At this moment, Uchiha Tajima stood atop the head of his Susanoo, rubbing his sore and swollen eyes, his tone filled with emotion; he could now look directly at Hashirama Senju and the others atop the wooden statue opposite him.

"Your uncle here is going to let you taste a Uchiha specialty~"

Amidst the shocked expressions of his opponents, Uchiha Tajima controlled the silver-gray Susanoo to raise its hands, and a long string of massive magatama coalesced in its grasp.

The magatama, filled with overwhelming pressure, emitted bursts of sonic booms; following Uchiha Tajima's will, they flew toward the stunned Hashirama Senju like shuriken.

【Yasakani Magatama】

"Big Brother! Don't space out during a fight!"

Seeing a string of silver-gray magatama larger than a person, Tobirama Senju was the first to snap out of it; with no time to ponder what secret technique the opponent had used, he hurriedly gave his older brother an elbow to wake him from his stupor.

"Tobirama, did I fall under a genjutsu?"

Hashirama Senju reached out, pointing at the silver-gray giant throwing magatama in the distance, and asked his younger brother in utter disbelief, hoping he could help him dispel the genjutsu.

"BOOM!!!"

Tobirama had no time to explain; the massive magatama had already struck the still-dazed wooden statue head-on. A series of massive explosions rang out, and the two standing atop the wooden statue stumbled, nearly falling off.

"So it was real!"

Hashirama Senju hurriedly steadied the wooden statue, then looked up with excitement at the silver-gray giant in the distance, which was the same size as his own wooden statue, his tone filled with agitation.

"Tobirama, look at that giant, isn't it super cool? Why didn't that guy Madara bring it out?"

"Heh, maybe that evil Uchiha looks down on you."

Even at such a critical moment, the little white-haired one would not let any opportunity to sow discord pass by.

"Uh, so that's how it is~"

Hashirama Senju instantly became dejected, visible black lines appearing behind him, and he muttered under his breath,

"So that guy Madara was just playing with me after all~"

"Brat, did no one teach you not to lose focus in battle?"

Just as Hashirama Senju was crouching on the head of the wooden statue drawing circles, a cold voice rang in their ears.

"!!!"

The silver-gray giant that had been in the distance just a moment ago had quietly appeared right in front of the wooden statue. Uchiha Tajima, located in the cockpit within the Susanoo's head, was staring at them with a stiff face.

To think Madara actually lost to such a scatterbrained brat; he is too lax. I must train him properly when I return.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"

Tobirama Senju, the first to react, instantly threw several kunai at Uchiha Tajima atop the Susanoo, then reached out and began forming hand seals.

"Which hand did you use to grab Madara earlier?"

Uchiha Tajima ignored the incoming kunai, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Hashirama Senju, his tone filled with anger as he asked.

Uh, your tone sounds like you're interrogating a young punk about why he kidnapped your daughter?

"Pitter-patter~"

The sharp kunai didn't even spark against the Susanoo; only this white-haired brat in front of me would think of stabbing a Susanoo with kunai. I hope he doesn't teach this to his disciples, or they will die a miserable death.

"Huh?"

Hashirama Senju was left completely bewildered by the question, subconsciously extending a hand, and the wooden statue's giant hand raised in sync.

"Snap!"

The wooden statue's newly raised hand was severed instantly. Uchiha Tajima, expressionless, controlled the Susanoo to retract its silver-gray giant blade and said,

"I hope you can be more careful next time and keep your hands off my child."

"Big Brother, get out of the way!"

Tobirama Senju, who had been forming seals for a long time, finally had his ninjutsu ready. His cheeks were puffed out like a balloon, and the dense water-attribute chakra in his mouth was being compressed frantically.

Finally, after the chakra was compressed to its limit, a slender stream of water shot out from Tobirama Senju's mouth, heading straight for the towering silver giant before him.

【Water Style: Water Severing Wave】

"Hmm, this move is actually somewhat interesting."

The pinwheel in Uchiha Tajima's eyes spun slightly, and he instantly identified the power contained in this move Tobirama Senju had prepared for so long. He gave him enough face by controlling the Susanoo to raise its left hand, and a silver-gray light shield extended from it.

The thin but incredibly sharp stream of water sprayed from Tobirama Senju's mouth accidentally grazed the scalp of Hashirama Senju's wooden statue, instantly shaving off a large chunk of wood. Seeing the smooth, flat cut, Hashirama Senju couldn't help but swallow hard.

Why are the ninjutsu Tobirama develops getting increasingly sinister?

Seeing that Uchiha Tajima didn't dodge or evade, but instead took a stance to take it head-on, a flash of joy crossed the eyes of Tobirama Senju, who was still spitting the water stream.

Heh, evil Uchiha old ghost, die from your own arrogance!

My Water Severing Wave is a ninjutsu capable of cutting through everything!

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~~~"

The high-speed water stream hit the light shield in the Susanoo's hand without suspense, emitting a sizzling sound.

Soon, Tobirama Senju was surprised to find that the scene he imagined—the opponent being sliced in two—did not occur. That unremarkable silver-gray light shield had actually blocked the entire Water Severing Wave.

No! It wasn't blocking it; it was absorbing it!

The sharp-eyed Tobirama Senju realized his Water Severing Wave wasn't just being blocked, but absorbed by the light shield. Always cautious, he immediately stopped the infusion of chakra, and the water stream vanished instantly.

"Hmm? Why did you stop shooting? Looking at your white hair, it must be due to kidney deficiency; no wonder you lack stamina."

Uchiha Tajima shook his head in disappointment. Why did this brat stop shooting? His light shield's energy hadn't even been fully charged yet.

"Hmph! Evil Uchiha old ghost, is that all you can do, just spout nonsense?"

Tobirama Senju, who had never lost a war of words, wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and retorted indignantly,

"If you're any slower, you might not even make it to your son's funeral."

"You insolent brat!"

Uchiha Tajima was furious. As expected of the sharp-tongued Senju diva, take my great Susanoo!

"Tobirama, watch out!"

Hashirama Senju, having regained his senses, hurriedly controlled the wooden statue to block Uchiha Tajima's hate-filled punch. The two giants began to brawl, and the scene instantly spiraled out of control.

"People of the Senju clan, retreat to the rear quickly! This is not a battle you can participate in!"

Tobirama Senju shouted, his eyes splitting with rage, as he directed the Senju clansmen behind him to evacuate.

Just moments ago, Uchiha Tajima had controlled the Susanoo, and with just the sword energy generated by swinging its giant blade, he had split the earth behind Tobirama Senju. Several Senju clansmen standing there were unable to dodge in time and were instantly turned into pulp.

The silver-gray giant charged with its blade, the massive silver-gray long sword hacking into the clumsy wooden statue and slicing off a large chunk of wood as if it were tofu.

Hashirama Senju was not one to just take a beating; he immediately controlled the wooden statue to swing a fist, hammering Uchiha Tajima's chest. A loud explosion rang out, shaking the opponent back dozens of meters.

The wooden statue pressed the attack, waving its hands to lash out with several wooden dragons toward the unsteady silver-gray giant, only to see the opponent summon the light shield with his left hand again, absorbing all the wooden dragons.

At this moment, Tobirama Senju noticed that the light shield held by the silver-gray giant had a symbol resembling an energy bar.

Right now, having just absorbed the wooden dragon's chakra, the energy bar was full, and the entire shield began to emit a dazzling light.

"Heh, finally fully charged."

Uchiha Tajima looked at the light shield in his hand, a hint of a smile appearing on his cold face, and then he raised the glowing shield toward the direction of Hashirama Senju's wooden statue.

"Big Brother, get out of the way!"

Even without knowing what effect the light shield had, Tobirama Senju's sixth sense told him that if Hashirama Senju didn't dodge, he might die.

"BOOM! ~"

Hashirama Senju could also sense the world-destroying energy on the glowing shield in the giant's hand.

But he couldn't dodge; there were many Senju clansmen not far behind him waiting in anticipation. If he dodged, those people would suffer.

After a brief wind-up, the shield in the silver-gray giant's hand shot out a five-colored beam of light, carrying the five energies of wind, fire, earth, lightning, and water, heading toward Hashirama Senju's wooden statue.

"Fivefold Rashomon!"

Hashirama Senju decisively bit his finger, smeared the blood on his palm, looked at the incoming five-colored beam with a resolute gaze, slammed his hands onto the head of the wooden statue, and shouted loudly.

In an instant, the earth shook, and dark fissures appeared on the ground. A massive gate carved with a demon face rose from the ground, followed by another... until five gates appeared, and the violent tremors finally subsided.

Five gates of different colors, carved with ferocious demon faces, stood before the wooden statue. Hashirama Senju stood ready, staring fixedly at the five-colored beam, not daring to relax for a second.

"BOOM~!"

The first gate was easily annihilated. The five-colored beam, its momentum undiminished, proceeded to pierce through the second Rashomon. It paused slightly at the third before piercing through that as well, and then the fourth.

By the time it reached the fifth, the beam no longer had its initial surging momentum. It spent some time on the fifth Rashomon, but eventually pierced through it as well.

Seeing the weakened five-colored beam, Hashirama Senju did not dare to be careless. He controlled the wooden statue to extend its hands, holding the beam firmly in its palms. After gathering his strength, he raised his hands and changed the trajectory of the beam.

The five-colored beam shot straight into the sky, scattering the dark clouds that had shrouded it, and the bright sunlight instantly bathed the earth.

"Heh."

Hashirama Senju sat down on the head of the wooden statue, looked up at the blue sky, and laughed with relief.

"I actually blocked it."

The light shield in Uchiha Tajima's hand slowly dissipated. This thing consumed too much energy; that last strike had drained almost all of his ocular power.

Forcing his sore eyes open, he could feel the backflowing blood gathering in his eyeballs; if he didn't slip away soon, he might suffer a hemorrhage.

"Not bad, Senju brat. Since you've taken this move, I, Uchiha Tajima, acknowledge your status as the Senju clan leader."

Thank you to all the readers for your monthly tickets, recommendations, comments, and tips!

I have nothing to repay you with, so I can only dance for everyone.

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(End of chapter)