Chapter 58: 69% Fusion

"Old Uchiha Madara!" "Did you ask White Zetsu to lure everyone here?" "The Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure ninja forces are already nearby. The remaining Kumogakure forces should be on their way." "Did you bring them here to collect your corpse?" Zenkichi sensed the surrounding ninja and paused his attack, speaking casually: "So, it's finally happening?" "Kid, compared to me, you're still far too green." "This battle—it's mine to win." Uchiha Madara sneered. "Oh?" "Even if you could beat me, are you really in any state to handle the forces outside?" "And if I'm not mistaken... you're on your last legs." "My guess? You've got three minutes left before your body gives out." Zenkichi replied lazily, eyeing Madara with a smirk. Uchiha Madara said calmly, "Victory and death don't have to contradict each other. Sometimes, they arrive together." As he spoke, strange black markings crawled across his face—the sign of a powerful curse seal. The markings converged into his eyes. "What is that?" Zenkichi asked, genuinely curious. "Necromantic style. These eyes—you're not getting them." Madara stared deeply at Zenkichi, a mocking glint in his gaze. "No matter. You not getting them now changes nothing." What caught Madara off guard, however, was that Zenkichi didn't show the slightest interest in the Rinnegan. Madara raised a brow and scoffed: "Are you holding back? Don't tell me you don't understand the value of the Rinnegan!" Zenkichi replied nonchalantly: "The value of the Rinnegan? Of course I know." "It not only grants terrifying powers but is also the key to becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki." "Only with the Rinnegan can one summon the Gedo Statue. Only the Rinnegan can fully absorb the Ten-Tails." Madara's expression turned grim. "You know far too much. That White Zetsu shouldn't have had access to all this intel." Zenkichi shrugged. "Is that really what you should be worrying about now? You're running out of time." "You're trying to pass on the Rinnegan, but that means nothing to me." "You couldn't beat me even while wielding them. What makes you think giving them away will change that?" Madara's eyes darkened. If Zenkichi truly went rogue, it didn't matter who inherited the Rinnegan—their plans to gather all the tailed beasts would crumble. Zenkichi chuckled. "Don't be so down. If I'm feeling generous, I might let them gather the tailed beasts." "Then I'll personally eliminate them all." "And in the name of absolute justice, I'll take the Demonic Statue, the Rinnegan, and the tailed beasts for myself." "Maybe I'll fulfill your dream... bringing peace to the ninja world through infinite Tsukuyomi." "You'd be happy with that, wouldn't you? Since I'd be realizing your dream." Zenkichi stared at Madara's expression and laughed. "Your face says otherwise. You don't want to see that future, do you?" "Seems like your goal of achieving Infinite Tsukuyomi isn't as noble as you claim. It's less about peace and more about domination." Madara's expression twisted. The aura around him began to fade. "Running out of time?" Zenkichi mused. "You're probably in your seventies or eighties. To appear young again must've cost you dearly... and came with a strict time limit." He raised two fingers, golden light blooming at his fingertips. "You were a legend in the ninja world. Let me send you off properly." "After all, dying of old age wouldn't suit someone like you." Zenkichi's fingers released a concentrated burst of golden energy—a laser in the form of a rotating cross. "Really? Then I'll accept that honor!" Madara laughed wildly, launching himself at Zenkichi. Blue chakra exploded around him as he summoned Susanoo. Its massive blade cleaved toward Zenkichi. "Totsuka Blade!" "Shigan: Radiant Fang!" Zenkichi brought his hands together and slowly parted them—revealing a golden sword of light. He thrust it forward with blinding speed, clashing head-on with Susanoo's blade. Madara's eyes widened. "You... your power..." "Light-Speed Kick!" In a flash, Zenkichi appeared behind Madara. Golden light formed a cross at the bottom of his foot as he delivered a devastating kick to Susanoo's side. The giant avatar was sent flying, cracks spiderwebbing across its armor. Madara laughed maniacally. "Ah... the thrill of battle! This is what I live for!" With the Rinnegan already sent away, Madara unleashed himself. Zenkichi's body dissolved into glowing particles and soared into the sky, where he reformed and hovered. Then came the barrage. "Goodbye, Battlefield Rose!" Yasakani no Magatama! A storm of golden light bullets rained down like divine judgment. Their power was far greater than before. Zenkichi had made up his mind—he wouldn't let Madara die from the side effects of his technique. He would end it properly. "COME ON!" Madara roared, unleashing the final Susanoo to face Zenkichi's onslaught. But it was futile. The golden light bullets tore through Susanoo, and then through Madara himself. Wounded and fading, the giant avatar crumbled under the relentless barrage. Madara's body was left riddled with holes as he fell from the sky. "It's over," Zenkichi whispered as he landed gently. --- [Ding! Achievement unlocked – Kill Uchiha Madara!] [Template character – Kizaru!] [Unlock progress: 69%] [Skill acquired – Greatsword-level Swordsmanship!] "So, Kizaru's swordsmanship really is on par with a greatsword master..." Zenkichi smiled to himself. "Makes sense. After all, he went toe-to-toe with monsters like Rayleigh and Zephyr in close combat." --- Caught up? There's 70 more chapters on Patreon (≧〈≦) [email protected]/Zphyr_ Change @ to a.