Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 449: Kawakaze vs. Madara (Part 2)

"I'm honored that you take me so seriously."

This time, there was no hint of mockery in Kawakaze's words. His expression turned solemn.

After all, even when facing the massive Allied Shinobi Forces in the original events, Madara had fought them barehanded.

For him to bring out his weapons now—it was a sign of respect in its own way.

At the very least, it was an acknowledgment of Kawakaze's strength.

"I hope you won't disappoint me."

Madara smirked, his once-handsome features now weathered by age.

Yet, despite the years, the overwhelming presence of a ruler—one who stood above all—remained undiminished.

"Then I won't hold back."

Kawakaze focused entirely, knowing that as long as he avoided direct eye contact with the Sharingan, he wouldn't fall into a Genjutsu trap.

The cave was once again illuminated as crimson markings reappeared at the corner of his eyes.

Like a streak of blue lightning, he shot toward Madara in an instant.

His sword crackled with energy, surging with lethal intent.

Madara's three-tomoe Sharingan tracked his movements precisely.

Raising his massive scythe with practiced ease, he intercepted the incoming strike.

A sharp clang echoed as blade met blade, the impact reverberating through the cave.

This was where dual-wielding proved advantageous.

Before Kawakaze could change his approach, Madara's left hand swung his gunbai in a sweeping arc.

"The old veteran's still got some fight left in him."

With calm efficiency, Kawakaze kicked the fan away, using the recoil to create distance.

To be honest, Madara's strength at this moment was unsettling.

Despite relying on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to sustain his life, he was still able to handle Kawakaze's relentless assault with surprising ease.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that, under the enhancement of Lightning Release Armor and Sage Mode, Kawakaze could cut down Jōnin in a single strike.

Madara, however, was different.

Even more impressively, he hadn't taken a single step back.

This was a man who, at his peak, had driven Hashirama to exhaustion in battle.

Though he was now aged, sustained only by external forces, and had even lost his original eyes, his mastery of combat was undeniable.

With Hashirama's cells providing him an endless chakra supply, his strength was still within reason.

Kawakaze rationalized it in his mind but maintained his composed demeanor.

"An impressive young man."

Madara stifled the tremor in his arm, inwardly acknowledging the sheer power behind Kawakaze's strikes.

Without hesitation, he severed the tubes connecting him to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

In an instant, his body visibly grew younger.

Kawakaze sensed Madara's chakra surge dramatically.

Clearly, he had no intention of leaving himself a retreat.

"Come again."

Kawakaze understood Madara's resolve—Madara Uchiha would never allow himself to die quietly.

Metal clashed against metal, ringing throughout the cave as Madara gradually fell into a disadvantage under Kawakaze's relentless barrage.

Using his wealth of battle experience, Madara found an opening and leaped back.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball, far larger than usual, roared toward Kawakaze with searing heat.

"This is a Great Fireball?"

Kawakaze stared at the incoming inferno, momentarily speechless.

He had seen this jutsu before, but never at this size or power.

Still, no matter how impressive, it wasn't enough to stop him—not even if it was cast by Madara himself.

Without dodging, Kawakaze charged straight through.

With a single swing of his blade, the fireball split apart, erupting into a fiery explosion within the cave.

Rocks and debris flew in every direction as two massive craters formed on either side of the cavern.

"Kenjutsu: Fire Thunder God."

The sheer speed of his movement caused his blade to ignite, flames flickering from its edge as it cut through the air.

To Madara, Kawakaze now resembled a dragon of fire and lightning, surging toward him with unstoppable force.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

A series of wooden pillars erupted from the ground, curving into an arching barrier to shield Madara.

"That won't be enough."

Kawakaze smirked dismissively.

He wasn't surprised that Madara had developed new Wood Release techniques.

With his experience and talent, it was expected.

However, Kawakaze had no idea just how proficient Madara had become in wielding this power.

The thought barely crossed his mind before his blade effortlessly sliced through the wooden barricade like it was made of paper.

The force of the strike did not wane.

Madara, having anticipated this, watched as the barrier shattered—his expression unshaken.

He never expected such a simple defense to stop Kawakaze's assault.

Clang!

The next impact nearly sent Madara's weapon flying from his grasp.

Blood seeped from the torn skin of his palms.

He was sent hurtling backward, his wide robes shredded by the force of the wind.

As his chest was exposed, Hashirama's glaring face was revealed.

"Was it difficult for you to merge with Hashirama's cells?"

Kawakaze asked on a whim, knowing that Madara had fused with the most primal version of Hashirama's cells.

If there were levels of rejection when merging, then Madara's was undoubtedly at the highest tier.

"After my battle with Hashirama, I was lucky to survive, but my body was in terrible condition."

"I didn't have time for any advanced procedures—I simply grafted his flesh onto my wound."

"When I woke up, my injuries had nearly healed."

Madara responded while fending off Kawakaze's attacks.

He had omitted the sheer luck involved in his survival, but he hadn't lied.

Despite his grave injuries, his integration with Hashirama's cells had been almost effortless. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"...What the hell."

Kawakaze couldn't help but curse.

His frustration manifested as an increase in strength, his strikes growing even fiercer.

It was infuriating.

His own fusion with Hashirama's cells had been agonizing—he had nearly died from the pain.

But for Madara?

A nap was all it took.

Anyone would feel the unfairness of it.

Kawakaze had to admit—Indra's reincarnation was something he could never hope to match.

Once the irritation passed, he could only acknowledge the harsh reality of the shinobi world: bloodline supremacy.

The burst of strength caught Madara off guard.

His scythe was knocked askew, and before he could recover, Kawakaze landed a powerful kick to his chest.

With a loud crack, the fan was sent flying.

Boom!

Madara was sent crashing into the stone wall like a broken kite.

A metallic taste filled his mouth as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The direct impact to his chest had been far more punishing than he anticipated.

Rocks crumbled and fell, and the entire cave trembled from the impact.

"Goodbye!"

"Kenjutsu: Thunder God's Speed!"

Kawakaze wasn't about to waste the opportunity.

His blade became the focal point of his attack, its tip locked onto Madara's throat.

His movement blurred like a specter, appearing before Madara in a flash.

He was too fast—even Madara's Sharingan couldn't track him.

"Susanoo!"

As the overwhelming aura of death pressed upon him, Madara's mind sharpened in an instant.

Without hesitation, he poured an enormous amount of chakra outward.

The youthful vigor he had gained moments ago instantly drained away.

By the time Kawakaze's blade reached him, he looked even older than when they had first met.