NARUTO: SECOND GOD OF SHINOBI

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Hiruzen stood in silence, his expression unreadable as Madara's offer echoed in his mind. Is he serious? he thought, his mind racing.

Inviting me to join him? Even if he is, I'm not. And why would I be? He's being led by Black Zetsu. Even if he succeeds in his plan like in the original timeline, Kaguya will inevitably appear.

Even if I help him in killing Naruto and Killer Bee, then what? The Sage of Six Paths will appear. He will fully resurrect every single shinobi in the world along with his brother, Hamura Ōtsutsuki.

Hiruzen's thoughts deepened. From the start, whether it's Kaguya's or Madara's plan, they are destined to fail every single time.

After the Sage of Six Paths extracts the Ten-Tails from Kaguya and becomes its jinchūriki, do you think he won't surpass her? This is all destined, and at that time, I will surely die.

He smirked internally. Even among Six Paths-level beings, the Sage of Six Paths is the highest-tier being. Below him is Kaguya, then his own brother Hamura. Following them are Naruto and Sasuke. Only after that comes Madara.

A level-one player wanting to challenge a world forged by level-five beings... Just dreaming. I really want to say it aloud—wake up to reality, Madara Uchiha!

The Sage of Six Paths is too powerful, and once he becomes the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, he becomes even more monstrous. And he is not like Kaguya untrained, in one slap he will let you cross six dimensions to eternal oblivion.

Hiruzen continued his analysis. And let's not forget his brother Hamura. Even he could wipe the floor single-handedly with Momoshiki, Kinshiki, Urashiki, and even Isshiki using his Tenseigan and Sage Arts.

As his mind settled, Hiruzen snapped out of his thoughts. He looked directly at Madara and spoke in a calm, yet firm tone.

"What is this peaceful world you dream of, Uchiha Madara?"

Madara's eyes gleamed with conviction. "A world where no wars happen. A world where every being lives peacefully, with enough to eat and drink, where no one starves."

His voice softened slightly, but his mind harbored a secret thought. A world where no chakra remains—so no conflicts arise.

Hiruzen's sharp senses picked up the hidden malice in Madara's words. Seriously? You want to hide such malice from me? I've mastered Sage Arts. I can detect malice from miles away.

With a dismissive tone, Hiruzen responded, "No, thank you. Such a world is impossible. An ideal world, you say?

It can't exist, and I've accepted that reality since childhood. Everyone has their own version of an ideal world. Can you give them all their ideal world?"

Madara replied without hesitation, "Precisely."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the audacity of the answer.

"Oh, so the world you're casting can give everyone their ideal world? An illusion of their ideal reality?

So your grand plan is to trap everyone in an illusion, allowing them to dream of their ideal world?"

Hiruzen suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha… Hahahaha!"

He laughed so hard that tears escaped from his eyes as he clutched his stomach. His laughter echoed across the battlefield.

Madara's expression twisted in rage. He was about to speak, but Hiruzen's next words cut him off.

"Wake up to reality, Uchiha Madara!"

Hiruzen's voice surged with authority as his aura flared. He slowly lifted his head, locking eyes with Madara, his gaze filled with contempt.

"Do you think you can trap everyone in an illusion? Is it your strength that gives you confidence?

Do you believe that just because Hashirama is no longer here, you can do whatever you want with this world?

Or perhaps you believe that your strength—the same strength that Hashirama thoroughly defeated—makes you invincible?"

Hiruzen's voice sharpened, each word a dagger aimed at Madara's pride.

"You Uchiha's always think you're smart, but in truth, you're the most foolish clan in this world.

Do you even know the mysteries of this world? Do you know your ancestors' history? No, you know nothing.

And yet you dare to dream of changing the world with your meager strength."

Madara's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. Hiruzen continued relentlessly,

"You, who couldn't even save your own brother, think you can change the world?

You, who defected from Konoha, couldn't even lead your own clan properly, believe people will follow you? What are you? Hahaha…"

As Hiruzen laughed, he sensed an overwhelming pressure—an insurmountable aura emanating from Madara. The air grew heavy, thick with tension.

Madara's face twisted further in rage, his chakra erupting without restraint. In an instant, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan shifted, transforming into the Rinnegan.

His mood seemed to shift into a berserk state as he charged towards Hiruzen without a word.

Hiruzen's demeanor changed instantly. "Is it the Rinnegan Madara, that gives you the confidence to change the world?"

His thoughts settled as he prepared himself. In a flash, he moved.

Shave!

In less than a fourth of a second, he appeared directly in front of Madara.

Madara didn't dodge. Instead, he threw a punch, aiming straight for Hiruzen.

Reacting swiftly, Hiruzen hardened his muscles with Iron Body and caught Madara's punch with his left palm, without taking a single step back.

Madara's eyes widened in disbelief. It's like punching an iron block!

Hiruzen smirked before clenching his right fist.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Four consecutive punches landed on Madara in half a second, each blow forcing him backward, but Hiruzen holded him firm with his left grip.

On the fifth punch, Hiruzen activated Rokugan!

A powerful shockwave burst from his fist, striking Madara square in the abdomen.

Madara was launched twenty meters backward, crashing into the ground and creating a crater.

Blood trickled from his mouth, but he stood up quickly, his wounds already healing.

Despite the pain, he laughed. "Haha… You are good, Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Without hesitation, Madara formed a hand seal. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" A massive wave of fire surged towards Hiruzen.

In response, Hiruzen countered with a single breath. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

But his flames were a brilliant blue, hotter and more intense. In a single wave, his fire overwhelmed Madara's, consuming it entirely.

Madara's eyes widened in shock. He matched me in fire style? No, he surpassed me! And what kind of flame is that?

Gritting his teeth, he activated Shinra Tensei, blasting the blue flames apart.

"Come, Madara. Let's duel in fire style. Let's see if you can match me," Hiruzen taunted.

Madara wove another hand seal. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Without weaving a single seal, Hiruzen exhaled another massive blue fireball. The two attacks collided, but once again, Madara's flames were devoured by Hiruzen's.

Madara didn't stop. "Fire Style: Flame Dragon Caterwaul Jutsu!"

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu"

Hiruzen, proficient in fire style, copied the technique instantly and unleashed the same attack.

Once again, the result was the same—Madara's attack was overwhelmed.

Madara gritted his teeth in frustration.

"You're good, Hiruzen. You have surpassed me in fire style, but if you think fire style alone makes me Madara, you're mistaken."

Hiruzen chuckled. "Seems like you're no good, Madara. Well then, I give you permission to use whatever techniques you think will grant you victory, including the Rinnegan."

Madara clasped his palms together. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!" In an instant, the ground erupted as trees bloomed rapidly, filling the area within a kilometer.

Hiruzen formed a single-hand seal. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!" His trees clashed with Madara's, matching them blow for blow.

Madara's eyes narrowed in surprise. "You've also awakened the Wood Style of Hashirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Hiruzen smiled confidently. "I said, whatever technique you use, I will match it—even your Susanoo."

Madara's lips curled into a smirk. "Very well. Susanoo!"

In an instant, his blue, fully-armored Susanoo manifested, towering over the battlefield.

Hiruzen's chakra surged pure and unyielding. "Chakra Art: Susanoo"

A pure chakra blue coloured Susanoo formed around him, matching Madara's Susanoo in size.

It was wrapped in armour with wings folded behind its back along with two hands elongated from the shoulder.

Inside the head of his Susanoo, Hiruzen folded his hands calmly, standing tall as he faced Madara.

Madara studied the construct and spoke.

"Impressive, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Is this the limit of your chakra manipulation—shaping chakra outside your body? Incredible. Let's see if its power is as formidable as its form."

Madara's Susanoo drew twin swords and charged.

Hiruzen's Susanoo responded in kind, manifesting twin chakra swords.

Clang! Clang! Boom!

The two colossal entities clashed, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

"Impressive, Hiruzen. Let's take it up a notch!" Madara's Susanoo formed two additional arms, wielding four swords in total.

Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with determination. "Very well." His Susanoo manifested two more arms, matching Madara's four swords with four of his own.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing blades filled the air as the two titans exchanged blow after blow.

Hiruzen's voice cut through the chaos. "It seems this is your limit, Madara."

Hiruzen's Susanoo took three steps back.

With a surge of chakra, two additional heads and two more pairs of arms formed, totaling three heads and six arms.

Hiruzen smirked. "Now, I will show you true power."

Two clones appeared, settling into the additional heads of Hiruzen's Susanoo.

Hiruzen glanced at the sky, the sky darkened as the heat from their previous fire techniques condensed into a thick layer of clouds above. His thoughts wandering, It seems ready, almost about time....

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