Chapter 193: Replica Uchiha Madara, Powerful as an Asura
What the hell did he mean by Uchiha Madara's replica?
Minato's heart raced wildly.
Was this some kind of terrible joke?
Today's operation was exceptionally unfriendly to his heart. The appearance of the legendary Rinnegan, foremost of the three great ocular techniques, had already made his heart work overtime. Now you're telling me an Uchiha Madara replica has arrived too?
Should he expect the Sage of Six Paths to throw off his coffin lid and return to the mortal world next?
After synthesizing intelligence provided by Sand ninja, the think tank led by Nara Shikaku had concluded that Missing-nin Anonymous couldn't create replicas of different ninja at will—there were limitations.
Using pale threads to invade someone's body should be a necessary prerequisite for creating that person's replica. But the problem was Uchiha Madara had been dead for decades!
Slain personally by the First Hokage, his corpse had been dissected and studied by the Second Hokage. Though the body stored in the Second Hokage's laboratory was stolen shortly after, Uchiha Madara's death was unquestionably certain.
Right?
How could Missing-nin Anonymous create a dead person's replica? Use those pale threads for grave robbing?
Could dead people also be made into replicas?
Wouldn't this ability be far too unreasonable?
But—
Even though he had ten thousand reasons to refuse acknowledging this terrible reality, ten thousand grounds to question it, Hyuga Ritsu wasn't the type of fool who couldn't distinguish occasions for joking around.
Since Hyuga Ritsu had said this, it meant that pair of eyes—currently the Hyuga clan's strongest Byakugan—had definitely seen something. For instance, an Uchiha Madara charging toward them.
Minato inhaled deeply, forcibly calming the raging waves in his heart.
The notion of assisting Hyuga Ritsu in resolving those five Rinnegan avatars had been extinguished. The only thought remaining in his mind now was how to counter the about-to-appear Uchiha Madara replica.
He rotated his eyes, glancing at replica Shimura Danzo being suppressed by Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku's joint efforts. His gaze then turned to the sealed replicas scattered at different positions.
A thought surfaced in his mind.
They had to clean the battlefield first.
"Hiruko-senpai, please use a shadow clone to scout the situation. If it truly is Uchiha Madara's replica, try to delay for time."
After speaking—
Minato's figure disappeared, once again leaping like a flash across this ravaged battlefield, transferring and piling together all the sealed replicas.
Hiruko released two shadow clones plus five wood clones. Seven figures crossed through the rain curtain, disappearing at the plateau's other end.
At this moment—
Shimura Danzo's replica had its four limbs removed by Uchiha Shisui, then was sealed using the hastily speed-learned Self-Cursing Seal.
Speaking of which—
This ancient cursed seal technique inherited from the Warring States period was also one of Shimura Danzo's most skilled cursed seals. Previously, he'd always used this move to punish opponents. And now he himself... well, his own replica was captured by this very technique.
After subduing replica Shimura Danzo, Uchiha Shisui shifted his gaze and immediately discerned Minato's intention—preparing to eliminate these unkillable, only-sealable replicas before new enemies arrived.
Because sealing didn't equal annihilation.
As long as the seal was broken, with these replicas' recovery abilities, they'd instantly restore to original condition, becoming threats again.
So they had to preemptively eliminate these hidden dangers before new enemies arrived, avoiding wasting time repeating what they'd already done.
After understanding Minato's intention, he immediately used his most skilled Body Flicker Technique, carrying replica Shimura Danzo over and delivering it to the neatly arranged pile of replicas.
Minato gave Uchiha Shisui an approving look.
This ball-nosed youth from the Uchiha clan was truly excellent to the point of irrepressible admiration. Outstanding abilities, kind personality, united and friendly, always devoted to village and family... This string of listed virtues made it impossible not to like this youth.
He'd even considered more than once whether to train this youth as his own successor!
If the Uchiha clan produced a Hokage, it would definitely greatly strengthen the Uchiha clan's sense of belonging to the village!
At this moment—
All sealed replicas were piled together.
Minato rapidly suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, calling loudly, "Everyone stand back! I'm going to eliminate these things."
Uchiha Shisui used Body Flicker Technique to return to Uchiha Fugaku's side. Hiruko rapidly retreated, steam spraying from every pore, his movement speed suddenly surging.
But what left Minato somewhat speechless was that the three Sand ninja, already standing far enough away, also retreated in unison. A few more steps backward and they'd retreat off the plateau entirely.
Minato shook his head, flinging these chaotic thoughts from his mind. After biting his thumb, he formed hand seals.
Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Bind.
He summoned the stomach wall of the great Rock Lodge Toad living at Mount Myoboku. Dark red, wriggling flesh walls rose, forming an enclosed space. Besides Minato the caster, nearly thirty ninja replicas were also inside. They were pulled and absorbed by the wriggling flesh walls, one by one tightly adhered to the walls.
And bit by bit sinking into them. Only after they were completely absorbed into the flesh walls did Minato release Toad Mouth Bind.
One should know that even Fire Release techniques might not completely burn these replicas—residue might remain. But Minato could guarantee these replicas would be completely digested by the great Rock Lodge Toad's gastric juices, leaving not the slightest residue.
Once Toad Mouth Bind was released—
Fine drizzle again fell on hair and shoulders.
The soft flesh wall beneath his feet became hard stone. Waves of cold wind brought invasive chill to the body. But Minato couldn't afford to lament the Land of Rain's terrible living environment.
A new enemy had appeared!
Black hair, crimson eyes, armor-clad, a man like an asura came running at full speed.
Seeing Minato appear, Uchiha Shisui immediately called loudly, "Hokage-sama, the newcomer might truly be Uchiha Madara's replica! His appearance almost completely matches portraits preserved in the clan. Most critically, his ocular power is unbelievably strong."
In the interval of speaking—
Hiruko's wood clones were crushed with devastating force. The key point was this asura-like man hadn't even used particularly impressive techniques—merely relying on the Sharingan's hard control and battle-hardened killing techniques to easily dismantle all Hiruko's wood clones.
Even though Hiruko was also battle-hardened, his taijutsu fully qualified as jonin-level.
But compared to this man, it seemed like a flower arrangement full of openings.
"Truly a monster!"
Hiruko ground his teeth, feeling an intense crisis he hadn't experienced before.
He would die!
Facing this asura-like man, one careless move and he'd perish!
Replica Uchiha Madara used thunderous methods to crush Hiruko's clones and charged before Hiruko's true body. Crimson Sharingan eyes swept over, forcing Hiruko to shift his gaze to dodge.
But simultaneously, replica Uchiha Madara's fists and feet also greeted him.
The heavy, powerful strikes were so difficult to withstand. Hiruko had to concentrate one hundred percent, mobilizing his entire body's strength to resist.
But after just two or three moves, his chest took a heavy punch that nearly made him stop breathing.
Hastily—
Body staggering, losing some control, he failed to avoid that pursuing gaze.
Hiruko clearly saw those crimson eyes, saw the pitch-black tomoe within—like an unfathomable abyss sucking his soul in at this instant.
His heart filled with unwillingness. Time was too short. If given sufficient time to deeply develop the five Kekkei Genkai he possessed, he absolutely wouldn't fall so easily.
However—
He didn't despair.
Because he wasn't fighting alone. He had extremely reliable, trustworthy companions.
Uchiha Style: Heavenly Wind Chaos.
Uchiha Shisui possessed both skill and boldness.
Even facing ancestor Uchiha Madara's replica, he showed no retreat or fear. Using Body Flicker Technique to approach replica Uchiha Madara, the short sword in his hand instantly slashed out eight strikes.
This was the Uchiha clan's secret sword technique.
Extremely difficult to train.
According to clan records, previous clan jonin skilled in sword techniques using this move could slash out four or five strikes—already quite formidable. More impressive was six strikes. Uchiha Shisui slashing eight strikes in one instant completely fell into the abnormal category.
In nearly two hundred years of clan records, no one had achieved this degree. As for more distant records—incomplete and fragmentary—judgment was impossible.
In summary—
Even replica Uchiha Madara couldn't completely defend against this strike.
Of the eight slashes, he used partial Earth Hardening technique to block six. The remaining two slashes cut open his right wrist and cheek with two... shallow wounds.
The key point was shallow.
Forget killing this hard-to-kill replica Uchiha Madara—even for a true living person, these wounds would at most cause some bleeding, not even inflicting serious injury.
"What abnormal reaction speed!"
Uchiha Shisui was also shocked.
Though clearly not completely defending against his Heavenly Wind Chaos, at the critical moment he'd forcibly adapted, evading and minimizing the damage Heavenly Wind Chaos could inflict to the extreme.
Such battle instinct was strong enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Fortunately, due to his interference, Hiruko-senpai had already been successfully rescued by the Hokage and sent to the rear for Kakashi's care.
Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu.
A blazing, massive fireball crashed toward replica Uchiha Madara.
The one acting was Uchiha Fugaku.
He'd seized this opportunity. Risking potentially harming Hiruko, he'd completed seals ahead of time, delivering his most practiced Fireball Jutsu to ancestor Uchiha Madara's replica.
However—
To his disappointment, Uchiha Madara's reaction speed was truly ridiculously fast. His hands completed seals in an instant.
Water Release: Water Encampment Wall.
This was a Water Release technique he'd copied from the Second Hokage and improved, simplifying complex seals—requiring only a few brief seals to execute this Water Release.
And in the Land of Rain, this country exceptionally abundant in moisture, executing Water Release techniques proved doubly effective. He easily summoned vast surging water forming a rotating water wall, blocking the approaching Fireball Jutsu.
The fireball and water wall collided head-on.
White water vapor rapidly dispersed like dense fog.
Vision was obscured.
Breath became blurred.
Even Sharingan couldn't see far. In perception, Sharingan ultimately fell short of Byakugan. Uchiha Shisui couldn't see replica Uchiha Madara's status. Not daring to move rashly, he gripped his short sword tightly, concentrating in readiness.
Just then—
"He's about to release a large-scale, high-tier offensive ninjutsu!"
Hyuga Ritsu's reminder pierced through the mist-like water vapor, reaching everyone's ears.
Uchiha Shisui's heart suddenly jumped.
Without thinking, he used Body Flicker Technique to move at full speed in a direction away from Uchiha Madara's last seen position. But firelight terrible as a tsunami had already dispersed the water vapor, chasing toward Uchiha Shisui.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.
A high-tier Fire Release technique passed down within their Uchiha clan—the Fire Release with the largest attack range. Its destructive power could also rank in the top five among all Fire Release techniques passed down in the clan.
Can't escape!
Looking at that firelight instantly approaching, feeling that high temperature capable of scorching oil from human bodies, his clothes soaked thoroughly by rain were about to be baked dry.
At this moment of life and death, Uchiha Shisui didn't panic, didn't despair. Only the pitch-black tomoe in his eyes merged together—
But a yellow flash squeezed into this firelight. In less than a blink—
Uchiha Shisui discovered the approaching firelight in his vision had disappeared. That scorching heat had also vanished. Cool rainwater falling on his body felt so refreshing.
"Huff! Huff!"
Uchiha Shisui let out heavy gasping breaths.
The merged tomoe in his eyes separated again.
He looked toward the distant, vast blazing sea of fire, saying from his heart, "Hokage-sama, your speed is faster than mine!"
Minato shook his head, disagreeing with Uchiha Shisui's statement. Instead, he said, "It's not that my speed is faster than yours, but that the Body Flicker Technique you've mastered isn't as formidable as Flying Thunder God Technique!"
This was truth.
Discussing small-range movement speed alone, Minato could only barely surpass Shisui by a margin. This was still taking advantage of being older. Once a few more years passed, who would be faster truly couldn't be said.
But regarding large-scale, long-distance movement, Uchiha Shisui was completely defeated.
His Body Flicker Technique's movement distance was extremely limited. This was also why, despite clearly possessing fast speed, he'd struggled to escape Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation's attack range.
Minato stared at that burning sea of fire, speaking gravely, "Idle talk can wait. What we need to consider now is how to seal this... Uchiha Madara replica!"
***
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