Chapter 425: Nigerundayo!
On one side stood Senju Hashirama, prepared for battle with surging Senjutsu, and a massive golden dog, poised to strike; they guarded the youth in the center whose red hair fluttered and whose Rinnegan shone brightly as if brewing a world-shaking blow.
On the other side was Uchiha Madara, giving his all.
The two sides were at each other's throats, a conflict ready to ignite at any moment, as if the ultimate clash to decide the winner would erupt in the next second.
Uchiha Madara even slightly adjusted his center of gravity, his Rinnegan intently locked onto Yuji, trying to predict the starting stance or energy convergence point of his 'ultimate move.'
Senju Hashirama's Wood Release had already taken shape, as massive trees rose from the ground like a living city wall, forming a complex barrier.
It was in this tense moment, where the very air seemed ready to ignite.
Uzumaki Yuji moved!
But his actions completely defied everyone's expectations.
He didn't perform any complex hand seals, nor did he release any earth-shattering Chakra fluctuations.
With a speed so fast it was a blur, he simply flipped over and leaped onto Simba's broad back with exceptional agility.
The moment he landed on the dog's back, Yuji's left hand tightly gripped the thick, stiff mane behind Simba's neck to steady himself, while his right hand... shot out like lightning, accurately grabbing Senju Hashirama's back collar.
Immediately after, Yuji patted Simba:
"Nigerundayo!"
Time to bolt, boys!
Hearing this, Simba didn't hesitate for a second, turning around and sprinting away.
Hashirama: Huh?
Madara:?
Hashirama, being carried by Yuji, was left bewildered in the wind. Why were they just running away?
"Good, very good!"
Madara laughed out of anger as he charged forward with large strides.
The four Limbo: Border Jails returned to Madara's body ahead of time; retracting them early allowed the skill to enter a shorter cooldown, so he could use them again once he caught up.
"Yuji, didn't Naruto leave any backup plans on you?"
"Does the Flying Thunder God Mark count?"
Simba bared its teeth; a Flying Thunder God Mark couldn't traverse time, so it was useless for their current situation.
They were out of options; Naruto wouldn't exactly transmigrate through time to get here.
"Keep running."
Madara seemed to be enjoying the 'fun' of the chase.
He conveniently 'picked up' a relatively complete giant skeleton of an unknown beast from a pile of remains by the roadside. With a flash of light from his Rinnegan, he injected Chakra into it, turning it into a mount using the Animal Path of the Six Paths.
A faint purple light lit up in the Skeleton Horse's hollow eye sockets, and its decaying bones were covered by a thin film of Chakra, becoming sturdy and resilient, even growing flesh and tendons similar to a Susanoo.
Neighhh~
The Skeleton Horse let out a neigh, its four hooves igniting with blue flames. Carrying Madara, its speed was actually not much slower than Simba's full-power burst, as it trailed steadily behind them.
Madara even had the leisure to calmly wave the gunbai condensed from Chakra. Watching for the right moment, he would 'gently' slap the rear of the sprinting Simba.
Smack!
"Awoo!"
Caught off guard, Simba felt a force on its rear that was neither too large nor too small—just enough to disrupt its rhythm without actually hurting it. It turned back to glare in anger, only to see a rare, playful, and mocking smile on Madara's cold face.
Madara's voice carried through the whistling wind, clear and filled with the composure of someone in total control.
"When you're tired of running and finished with your fun, we'll continue the 'teaching' we didn't finish. Don't worry, I have plenty of time and patience to 'play' with you."
Hashirama grabbed Simba's fur and climbed onto its back, riding backward to face Uchiha Madara directly.
He stared at the approaching Uchiha Madara, who was riding the Skeleton Horse and holding the gunbai. Gravity replaced his previous shock and helplessness, and his voice rang out loud and firm, piercing through the wind:
"Madara!"
Hashirama said in a deep voice, his eyes burning bright. "If your target is me, then come at me. Let these two children go. They are still young and have their own paths to walk; they shouldn't be dragged into the grudges of us old-timers!"
He opened his arms wide, as if to personally shoulder all the attacks and malice coming from behind:
"You want to fight, don't you? I'll accompany you to the end! Right here, just like before, let's have a fair and square fight! Why make things difficult for the younger generation?"
Hashirama's words were powerful and resonant, filled with a protector's determination and a 'challenge' to his old rival. He hoped to use himself as a bargaining chip to allow Yuji and Simba to escape.
However, upon hearing Hashirama's words, Uchiha Madara's speed on the Skeleton Horse did not slow down; only the playfulness in his Rinnegan retracted slightly.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at Hashirama who was riding Simba backward with a 'I'll fight you to the death' expression, and a half-smile curled on his lips.
"Hmm?"
Madara let out an ambiguous grunt, as if he had heard something amusing.
He steered the Skeleton Horse, maintaining a steady distance from Simba, as his voice drifted over calmly, betraying no emotion:
"Hashirama, do you think... I am angry? And that I'm 'teasing' them in this way to force you to submit?"
Madara shook his head, his gaze like that of one looking at a stubborn old friend who had misunderstood him.
"No, you're wrong. I, Uchiha Madara, wouldn't go so far as to get upset with a child. What adult would truly be moved to wrath because of a child?"
He glanced at Yuji, who was sprawled on the dog's back looking back nervously, and continued:
"I'm serious. I really do want to 'teach' this kid a few moves."
Madara's gaze returned to Hashirama, carrying a complex and inexplicable meaning:
"I know the conditions for awakening the Rinnegan better than you do; it requires the combination of Uchiha and Senju powers. I'm very curious how this brat awakened the Rinnegan without Senju and Uchiha Bloodlines."
"I suppose it's because I have the Rinnegan too."
A blond man, holding a Small Turtle in one hand and a tin staff composed of Truth-Seeking Balls in the other, slowly descended from mid-air, floating alongside the two groups.
Adult Naruto's blue eyes had transformed into the Rinnegan, his golden Chakra had turned into a cloak, and Truth-Seeking Balls orbited around him.
"Dad, perfect timing!"
Yuji's eyes lit up; he couldn't wait to hide behind his father and make faces at Madara, who had been chasing them.
"Don't mess with Simba next time; come find me when you're experimenting with Time-Space Trek."
Naruto swung the tin staff in his right hand, blocking Madara.
It really has been a long time, Madara.
Looking at the blond man before him, Madara asked with interest, "How far from the future of this era are you, Uzumaki Naruto?"
He had seen Uzumaki Naruto through the Six Paths Sage before; though the man in front of him looked young, he seemed much more mature than the Naruto he had seen.
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