Madara Uchiha, gazing at Sasuke Uchiha's face, was momentarily lost in thought. The resemblance to his younger brother, Izuna, stirred emotions long buried within him.
Then, his eyes shifted to Sasuke's left arm, encased in a cast and held up by a sling around his neck. With a calm voice, he asked, "What happened to your left arm?"
"!"
Sasuke's expression darkened. He assumed Madara was mocking him and retorted angrily, "Mind your own business! I'll ask you one more time—who are you, and why do you have the Sharingan!?"
Madara smirked. "First, you attack me with Fire Release, and now you question my Sharingan. It seems you take pride in your Uchiha heritage. Then let me ask you—do you know what the true Fire Release of the Uchiha is?"
Sasuke frowned in confusion. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Madara's smirk deepened. "Words are meaningless. Allow me to show you."
With that, Madara lowered his hands from his chest and formed a single hand seal.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
BOOM!
A massive sea of flames surged forward, engulfing everything in its path.
"What is this!?"
Sasuke's face twisted in shock. Instinctively, he activated his Susano'o and retreated into a nearby cave for shelter.
CRASH!
The flames obliterated the mountainside, swallowing Sasuke's Susano'o whole.
Sizzle!
The intense heat distorted the air around him. To his horror, Sasuke realized that the armor of his Susano'o was melting under the fiery onslaught.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Desperately, Sasuke activated his left eye. "Amaterasu!"
Black flames erupted, consuming the surrounding inferno and creating a protective barrier around his Susano'o.
Madara's expression shifted slightly. "Oh? Amaterasu, is it? Now that is fitting for an Uchiha."
The molten armor of Sasuke's Susano'o began to reform, reconstructing itself alongside the manifestation of the Yasaka Magatama Bow and the Kagutsuchi Arrow.
Sasuke's voice dripped with disdain. "I see now. You're just like Danzo, trying to wield counterfeit Sharingan to steal the power of the Uchiha!"
Whoosh!
The arrow shot forth, piercing through the air toward Madara's position.
Clang!
Madara's eyes transformed into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and a brilliant blue Susano'o materialized around him. With practiced ease, Madara intercepted the arrow using a Yasaka Magatama, shattering it into a field of black flames.
Madara murmured to himself, "A mere grain of sand compared to me."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Your Susano'o! How can someone with a counterfeit Sharingan wield that!?"
Madara's voice turned cold. "Why I can wield it is irrelevant. What matters is this—are your powers truly limited to this extent?"
Sasuke growled, "Don't underestimate me!"
BOOM!
The armor of Sasuke's Susano'o peeled away, revealing its fully-formed humanoid shape, complete with legs and a towering presence.
Madara raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. That form... it brings back memories. Perfect timing—I have a technique I've been meaning to test."
Clap!
Madara brought his hands together in a decisive seal.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
RUMBLE!
The earth trembled as a forest of enormous trees erupted from the ground, their branches spreading chaotically toward Sasuke.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wood Release? This is far stronger than Danzo's!"
Slash!
The Kagutsuchi Blade materialized in Sasuke's hands, and he swung it wildly, slicing through the incoming trees.
Madara chuckled. "Using Kagutsuchi to compensate for your lack of skill? Very well."
He formed another seal, adding to the chaos. "Wood Release: Flowering Tree World Bloom!"
Rustle!
Countless flower buds sprouted along the branches, blooming into vibrant blossoms that released a thick, pollen-filled mist.
Sasuke's expression turned grim. "What now? This mist—"
Before he could finish, his vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground as the Susano'o dissipated.
Madara strolled forward, his voice calm. "I've controlled the concentration of the pollen. It won't kill you—yet."
"Uchiha Style: Lightning Slash!"
Swish!
As Madara approached, Sasuke mustered his remaining strength, unsheathing his Kusanagi Blade and channeling lightning chakra through it for a surprise attack.
Clang!
But Madara's hand shot out like lightning, gripping Sasuke's wrist with precision. With a slight twist, the blade fell from Sasuke's grasp.
Clatter!
The sword skidded across the ground, and Madara followed up with a swift knee strike to Sasuke's abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Sasuke crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach in agony.
Madara observed him with a critical eye. "Your movements are decent, but your swordsmanship is lacking. Let me guess—your right hand isn't your dominant one?"
Kneeling beside Sasuke, Madara scrutinized his eyes. "Your Mangekyō Sharingan is straight-patterned. From your Susano'o, I sensed the presence of other artifacts—Yata Mirror, Totsuka Blade, and Yasaka Magatama. These must come from the original owner of your eyes, yet you can't use them, can you?"
Madara's tone shifted as he proposed, "How about it? As fellow survivors of the Uchiha, why not join forces? I can teach you how to fully utilize those eyes."
Sasuke let out a bitter laugh. "You... you think you can lecture me? These eyes came from my brother—my elder brother, Itachi! I don't need an outsider like you to tell me how to use them! AAAAAHHHH!!!"
BOOM!
Dark purple Susano'o chakra erupted around Sasuke, shaking the earth beneath them.
Madara stepped back, his gaze lifting.
From within the towering Susano'o, Sasuke glared down at him. "How about now? This is the true power of Susano'o! Can you still look down on me?"
Madara chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "My mistake. I shouldn't have treated you like a child. It seems you're already a man. In that case, I suppose I can stop holding back."
BOOM!
Brilliant blue chakra surged skyward as Madara's Susano'o reached its full, colossal form. Its sheer size dwarfed Sasuke's, forcing him to look up in awe.
Madara's voice resonated with authority. "The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't just combine the powers of its original and transplanted owners. It births new abilities, latent and untapped. Mine awakened the power of Kamui Dōjin, allowing me to surpass all limits—whether ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Who... who are you!?"
Madara's voice boomed like thunder. "I am Madara Uchiha!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ensuing battle was a one-sided clash. Sasuke, overwhelmed by the disparity in power, was left battered and broken amidst the rubble.
Madara approached him once more, his voice cold. "Stand up."
Sasuke remained motionless.
Madara's tone grew harsher. "I said, stand up!"
With trembling hands, Sasuke clawed at the dirt, attempting to lift himself.
Madara sneered. "Pathetic. You can't even stand properly. You're a disgrace."
Sasuke muttered weakly, "Enough... I've had enough of fighting."
Madara raised an eyebrow. "Oh? It seems you've already suffered defeat before I found you. You said you're tired of fighting?"
Sasuke's voice was filled with despair. "I've hit my limit."
Madara's expression darkened. "Limit? No. You're simply weak."
CRACK!
With a swift motion, Madara grabbed Sasuke's injured left arm and tore it off without hesitation.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Sasuke's screams echoed across the battlefield.
Madara tossed the severed arm aside. "I intended to take your eyes as a spare, but I've changed my mind. I'll give you a choice. Don't disappoint me again."
With that, Madara turned and walked away, leaving behind the ruins of their battlefield and the shattered figure of Sasuke.
As he departed, Madara glanced toward the horizon, his expression contemplative. Looking in the direction of the Land of Fire, he murmured, "It's not far. I might as well pay a visit."