"Have you struggled enough?"
Uchiha Madara's voice was calm and indifferent, yet it carried a weight that made the Third Mizukage freeze in place. He turned, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and disbelief as he stared at the hunched figure before him.
How?
Madara's body looked withered, barely able to support itself. By all appearances, he was a relic of the past, a man who should no longer be a threat.
And yet, the Mizukage couldn't suppress the dread clawing at his chest. His hands trembled, his instincts screaming at him to flee.
But he quickly pushed the fear down, forcing himself to speak. "Even if it's you, in your current state, what can you possibly do to me?"
The words brought him a brief sense of relief, a glimmer of confidence. For years, their alliance had been one of convenience. With the Hidden Kirigakure now under his control, the Mizukage believed he no longer needed Madara.
Madara chuckled, the sound low and mocking. Slowly, he placed his hands on his knees and stood.
The sight should have been pitiful—an old man struggling to rise. But instead, the Mizukage felt his hair stand on end, his body instinctively recoiling.
He formed hand seals at lightning speed. "Water Style: Shark Bullet Technique!"
A massive water shark took shape, its jaws wide as it lunged toward Madara.
Boom!
A flash of blue light erupted, slicing through the water shark with ease. The attack dissolved into droplets, falling harmlessly to the ground.
The Mizukage's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
Madara was now encased in a blue, skeletal aura, a massive ribcage of chakra forming around him. Sharp blades extended from the construct's frame, their edges glowing with lethal intent.
The Mizukage's voice faltered. "S-Susanoo?"
The chakra surrounding Madara continued to expand, the skeletal form growing until it stood several meters tall. Its massive frame loomed over the Mizukage, casting him in shadow.
"Impossible…" the Mizukage whispered, his voice barely audible.
He knew the requirements for Susanoo—an ability that only those with the Mangekyō Sharingan could achieve. Madara's current state, with just his three-tomoe Sharingan, should have made such a feat impossible.
Yet there it was, a manifestation of pure, overwhelming power.
Madara raised his hand, and the skeletal Susanoo mirrored the movement. A massive bony palm swung toward the Mizukage, aiming to crush him.
Swish!
The Mizukage narrowly dodged, his speed saving him by a hair. But his heart raced as he realized the gap between them.
"I just need to outlast him," the Mizukage thought desperately. "This chakra… his body can't sustain it for long!"
He formed more hand seals, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
"Water Style: Water Bomb!"
"Water Style: Water Whip!"
Jets of water surged forward, slamming into the Susanoo's frame. But the attacks barely left a mark, dispersing harmlessly against the chakra armor.
Madara sneered. "Do you think such feeble attacks can shake Susanoo?"
The massive bony hand swung again, forcing the Mizukage to retreat.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!"
Madara's seals were a blur, and four roaring fire dragons materialized, cutting off the Mizukage's escape routes.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
Desperation fueled the Mizukage's actions as he summoned columns of water to intercept the fire dragons. Steam erupted as water and fire clashed, obscuring the battlefield in a dense mist.
But the Mizukage's relief was short-lived. Out of the haze, the blue glow of Susanoo emerged, larger and more fearsome than before.
The skeletal Susanoo began to take on new form. Flesh and armor materialized over the bones, transforming it into a warrior-like figure wielding massive weapons.
In its hand, several glowing blue magatama spun ominously, their energy crackling in the air.
"Yasaka no Magatama!"
The magatama flew from Susanoo's hand, spinning like shuriken as they raced toward the Mizukage.
The Mizukage's eyes widened in terror. The attack was too fast—he had no time to dodge or defend.
Boom!
The magatama struck with devastating force, sending the Mizukage flying into the cavern wall. Blood trickled from his mouth as he struggled to remain conscious.
Madara's voice was low, almost a murmur. "It's more troublesome than I expected."
Even though the Mizukage was not on his level, he was still a Kage—a formidable opponent. But for Madara, the outcome had never been in doubt.
The Susanoo's massive hand reached out, seizing the Mizukage like a doll.
The Mizukage thrashed and struggled, but his efforts were in vain. The hand brought him before Madara, who remained calm, his crimson Sharingan glowing faintly.
With a simple seal, Madara's eyes flickered, and the Mizukage's own eyes widened in shock.
The Susanoo dissolved, the glowing chakra dissipating as Madara released the technique. He staggered slightly, coughing as his frail body protested the exertion.
White Zetsu emerged from the ground, his expression unreadable. "You're pushing yourself too hard," he said, concern tinging his voice.
Madara waved him off. "Heal him," he ordered, gesturing to the limp form of the Mizukage.
White Zetsu approached, pressing a hand to the Mizukage's chest. His body began to mend, but something more sinister occurred—White Zetsu's form merged with the Mizukage, taking control of his body.
Moments later, White Zetsu stood, his appearance now identical to the Mizukage's. Even his chakra signature was indistinguishable.
"Why not just kill him?" White Zetsu asked, glancing at the unconscious Mizukage.
Madara's lips curled into a smirk. "Your imitation is excellent, but he is still the Mizukage. There will come a time when his true presence will be needed to maintain the illusion. When that moment passes, his life will end naturally."
As he spoke, the Mizukage stirred, his eyes opening slowly. But the light in them had changed—they were vacant, devoid of will.
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