"How is this possible?!"
Madara Uchiha, whose weapon and body had been split in two by a single slash, was utterly shaken, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at Yagyu, unable to accept this reality.
The difference in their chakra was like heaven and earth, and the quality of their weapons was like trash compared to a divine artifact. How could this have happened?
Shouldn't he have been the one crushing Yagyu?
At that moment, Yagyu swung his sword again.
Boom—
An invisible barrier finally met the indestructible Divine Sword of Heaven, and a massive shockwave erupted out of nowhere, blowing both Yagyu and the bisected Madara away.
It turned out that Limbo: Border Jail's cooldown had ended, and the previously vanished shadow reappeared, blocking the attack of the Sword of Nunoboko for Madara.
The Limbo shadow, which possessed an immortal body even more formidable than that of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, couldn't be split in two or killed by Yagyu's Sword of Nunoboko.
This was because the Limbo shadow existed in another dimension, and its nature was too unique.
To destroy or kill it, Yagyu, who had just mastered the Sword of Nunoboko, didn't yet have the skill.
After all, in the game system's level judgment, Limbo: Border Jail was also a three-color level.
What was transcendent wasn't the Sword of Nunoboko, but Yin-Yang Release.
Of course, Yagyu didn't care about any of this.
As he was blown backward, he didn't continue attacking Madara. Instead, he focused on recalling the sensation of that last slash.
The nature of the Six Paths Staff was the same as the Truth-Seeking Balls—a divine artifact that could annihilate anything it touched, even reducing souls to nothingness.
The physique of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki not only granted immunity to ninjutsu and an immortal body but also provided an absurdly high level of defense.
In the original story, Might Guy's full-powered Seventh Gate: Daytime Tiger only pushed Madara back a dozen meters.
Even the Eighth Gate: Gate of Death's Evening Elephant could only momentarily restrain Madara and blow off one of his legs.
Even if Madara was injured, it wasn't particularly severe.
Only the Eighth Gate: Gate of Death's Night Guy truly broke through Madara's defense, leaving his body in tatters.
Yet, even Night Guy's space-distorting kick, aimed at Madara's heart, couldn't obliterate his body entirely, only tearing off a small portion.
This showed just how much more formidable the defense of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki was compared to the Third Raikage, the pinnacle of the Five Kage.
Yet, in the face of Yagyu's Sword of Nunoboko, these two top-tier weapons and physiques were as fragile as paper.
What was even more terrifying was that the Sword of Nunoboko didn't contain the nature transformations of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. It was merely a creation of Yin Release, like the Susanoo.
Unlike the Susanoo, which was an energy construct, the Sword of Nunoboko was a physical entity created by Yin-Yang Release. It didn't possess the Susanoo's characteristic of absolute defense as long as the user's Yin Release chakra was strong enough.
In terms of both quality and characteristics, Yagyu's sword couldn't even compare to the indestructible and freely extendable Kusanagi Sword.
Yet, it was this very sword that had split the Six Paths Staff and the body of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
Yagyu held the black longsword in one hand and pressed a finger against its blade with the other.
However, the blade that had split the Six Paths Staff and Madara couldn't even dent Yagyu's fingertip, let alone leave a scratch or break through his defense.
If he were to slash at his finger with force, the black longsword would undoubtedly shatter against Yagyu's finger.
Just moments ago, it had been an indestructible divine weapon, but now it was nothing more than a worthless longsword.
Yagyu couldn't help but sigh, "The power of the mind is truly mysterious."
Like space-time, which existed beyond Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, the power of the mind was a force of destruction and divine speed, something only a handful of geniuses could comprehend and master.
But the power of the mind fluctuated wildly, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, entirely dependent on the user's will and mental state.
Yet, this unstable power was even more formidable than space-time.
After materializing the deeper layers of his spirit—his will and mind—Yagyu finally understood why those chosen by fate could unleash power far beyond their normal limits when they "exploded," even turning the tide at critical moments to defeat or kill final bosses who were far stronger than them, even those who stood a realm or dimension above them.
The attribute of the mind was the power of "miracles."
When a miracle occurred, the impossible became possible.
And those who mastered the power of miracles could turn the impossible into the possible, even into something that was certain to happen.
Like Yagyu splitting the Six Paths Staff and the body of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
Like the Sage of Six Paths opening the gate between the worlds of the living and the dead, or even accomplishing things that defied logic and reason.
The power of the mind was a rule-based force no weaker than the annihilating rules contained within the Truth-Seeking Balls. In fact, when the user "exploded," it far surpassed annihilation.
No wonder the Sage of Six Paths, who had mastered this power, could become the will of the planet and a top-tier Six Paths existence, relying solely on Yin-Yang Release and his remaining soul.
At this moment, Yagyu seemed to have found a new path.
"Divine… Wood Emergence!"
At that moment, Madara's voice rang out, pulling Yagyu back to reality.
In the darkness ahead, Madara's body had already healed. Unlike Obito Uchiha, who controlled Truth-Seeking Balls to self-destruct, Madara didn't use Five Elements-based Six Paths Sage Arts to attack Yagyu from a distance.
This was because Madara knew full well that Yagyu, who could absorb and replicate anything, was like his Ten-Tails Jinchūriki physique—not only immune to all ninjutsu but also capable of growing stronger.
Using Six Paths Sage Arts and energy-based ninjutsu against Yagyu would only waste his own chakra and empower his enemy.
Only physical attacks would work.
Thus, Madara clapped his hands together and unleashed a divine-level ninjutsu that surpassed SSS-rank, a Kekkei Mōra-level technique that, when combined with the Infinite Tsukuyomi, could envelop the entire world—Divine Wood Emergence.
In an instant, a scene that only a creator god could achieve unfolded within the Land of Rain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
An unprecedented earthquake instantly swept across the entire Land of Rain, then spread to its neighboring countries.
The shinobi alliance watching the battlefield from the border felt the ground beneath them violently shake, more intensely than before.
Many ninja who hadn't reacted in time were once again thrown to the ground.
Only a few agile individuals managed to stabilize themselves by focusing chakra in their feet to cling to the ground.
But this time, not a single person cried out.
Whether they had fallen to the ground or barely managed to stay upright; whether they were at the pinnacle of the Five Kage or weak genin who had survived by sheer luck—everyone's mouths hung open in stunned silence.
Their pupils, shrunk to pinpricks, and their trembling eyes revealed the shock and awe in their hearts.
Even though they had already witnessed the power of a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki and the explosions of Truth-Seeking Balls, they still reacted this way.
This showed just how incredible the scene before them was.
And indeed, it was!
In the Land of Rain, which had been ravaged by war, Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bombs, and Truth-Seeking Ball explosions, flattening mountains and leaving only a handful of tall buildings standing, mountains were now rising from the ground.
Since the dark clouds in the sky had been blown away by the shockwaves from the explosions, under the clear, starry night sky and the light of the full moon, the shinobi alliance could see the mountains continuously moving.
Upon closer inspection, these weren't mountains at all but gigantic tree branches as massive as mountains.
Trees that required several people to encircle were already considered large.
Trees that needed over a dozen people to encircle were ancient giants that had taken countless years to grow.
Such trees could only be found in places like the Forest of Death, a forbidden zone in the Land of Fire, where greenery was abundant.
Trees that required dozens of people to encircle were like small mountains, making humans seem insignificant in comparison.
And now, tree branches as large as mountains—not trees—were rising from the ground. It was an awe-inspiring sight.
The shinobi alliance's reaction was the best description.
The Land of Rain was a small country, and the explosions of nine Truth-Seeking Balls had already destroyed everything within one-third of its territory.
Now, massive tree branches were rising from the ground, instantly filling the entire Land of Rain.
These branches then split apart, forming a net-like web of branches, turning the Land of Rain into a sea of trees with few leaves.
The speed at which the tree sea advanced was astonishing. From a god's-eye view, a black shadow rapidly expanded outward, like darkness consuming the last remnants of light, soon engulfing the entire Land of Rain.
The shinobi alliance on the borders of neighboring countries saw a dark, overwhelming shadow rushing toward them.
"Retreat! Fall back further!"
The remaining Kage, reacting quickly, immediately gave the order.
The shinobi alliance hastily retreated, putting distance between themselves and the Land of Rain.
Now, they weren't even qualified to watch the battle between beings from another dimension.
Even from a country away, their lives were in constant danger.
This was the gap between mortals and gods.
The power of another dimension, even its aftershocks, was like a world-ending tsunami to them.
As they fled, the shinobi alliance's spirits were strangely excited.
Though they couldn't see the battlefield, they could vaguely make out that the dark shadow was a forest, the legendary Wood Release Kekkei Genkai that had brought peace to the warring era.
In this world, apart from the deceased God of Shinobi, only Yagyu had mastered Wood Release, and only Yagyu's Wood Release could possess such incredible power.
So, they instinctively believed that this forest covering the Land of Rain was Yagyu's doing.
This was Yagyu's true power!
With such strength, the Akatsuki and Madara Uchiha were no match for Yagyu.
They were certain of victory!
Little did they know, this forest was Madara's creation.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As they fled, the shinobi alliance could hear faint, heavy thuds coming from behind them.
These deep, resonant sounds were the shockwaves of distant impacts, not the sound of the forest advancing.
But the vibrations that shook the entire country and could be felt beneath their feet were undoubtedly the result of world-shattering attacks.
Unfortunately, none of them dared to stop and look back.
And indeed, their fears were justified.
High above the forested Land of Rain, Madara floated at an altitude of over a thousand meters, looking down at the sea of trees with branches hundreds of meters tall. He pointed a finger and declared, "Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star!"
In an instant, the clear, cloudless sky turned dark once more.
And this darkness was descending rapidly, as if the heavens were collapsing.
From a distance, several mountain-sized meteors, trailing flames from friction with the atmosphere, were hurtling toward the ground at incredible speed.
When the meteors crashed into the forest, they unleashed a deafening roar that shook the entire Land of Rain and could be heard and felt in neighboring countries.
But there was no fire to ignite the forest.
Wood Release at the Super Kage level was already incredibly tough, impervious to blades and flames.
Divine-level Wood Release, cast by a Six Paths-level being, couldn't possibly be ignited by mere friction-induced flames.
To set this forest ablaze, only the sun's fire would suffice.
Otherwise, even the inextinguishable black flames of Amaterasu would be absorbed before they could even burn through the bark.
However, the impact of several meteors crashing from outer space into the earth was terrifying enough to destroy large swathes of the forest, kicking up clouds of dust.
Madara's body continued to rise, and as he looked down at the dust-covered forest, he raised a finger and closed his eyes to sense his surroundings.
Just as a Wood Release user could gain a god's-eye view within the forest, Madara, who had cast Divine Wood Emergence, could also sense everything within it.
In just a few seconds, Madara opened his eyes, his expression grave. "He's gone!"
Without hesitation, Madara immediately released a sensation far more intense than Sage Mode.
In the next moment, he felt a deadly threat.
High above him, a small black hole appeared almost instantaneously, and a black longsword shot out from it.
It was aimed directly at Madara's head.
"Limbo: Border Jail!"
Madara quickly summoned four black shadows to form a barrier, while his body plummeted downward.
Turning to face the ground, Madara looked at the black longsword blocked by the Limbo shadows, his pupils contracting.
Unlike the shockwave that erupted when the sword struck the shadows earlier, the sword suddenly shattered, transforming into a twisted black hole that instantly swallowed the Limbo shadows hidden in another dimension.
Fortunately, these weren't Madara's true shadows, so losing them wasn't dangerous.
If his life were tied to his shadows, Madara would have been in serious trouble.
Seeing this, Madara's expression turned grim.
The worst-case scenario had come to pass!