Konoha: The Thirty-Year-Old Uchiha Can’t Be Bothered

Chapter 329: The Battle at the Valley of the End, The Returning Bijūdama

"…So it's finally happening?"

Just as Gin stepped into his home, his body froze for a moment. He turned his head toward the direction outside the village and muttered softly.

"Curly monkey! Why are you back so late? Did you sneak food again?"

Inside, Senju Itama wrinkled her tiny nose as she sat cross-legged on the sofa, trying to sniff out some suspicious scent from Gin. Unfortunately, all she smelled was grilled meat.

"That's Ayako-neesan's BBQ smell! You dared to feast alone behind our backs!"

Hands on her waist, Itama stood on the soft couch, her pale thighs under the short shorts swaying in front of Gin's eyes.

"How dare you slander me! I was just negotiating with Konoha's top brass, and grabbed a meal along the way. Sigh… the world of adults is full of empty courtesies."

Gin dropped his head in a sigh, deliberately playing up his weary tone.

"Eh… my bad! I'll make you some tea!"

Fooled by his performance, Itama's little face was full of guilt. Barefoot, she pattered away toward the kitchen.

"Three spoons of sugar!"

"Got it!"

With the little fool handled, Gin slouched onto the sofa. As he looked up, he locked eyes with a pair of amused eyes above him.

"Is tricking a child really that fun?"

Uchiha Hikari leaned on the upstairs railing, dressed in casual clothes, lips curling with a slightly awkward smile.

"I wasn't lying though~"

Gin clicked his tongue. Technically, he wasn't wrong—those six brats he just ate with were future top brass of Konoha. His words had no issue.

"I don't believe a word~"

Hikari descended the stairs and plopped onto the sofa beside him. Crossing her legs, she casually set her soft feet on his lap.

"…Something on your mind?"

Knowing him for years, she could read his expression instantly. From the moment he stepped inside, he looked troubled.

"A bit, but nothing serious."

The battle at the Valley of the End had arrived as expected. Even though the timeline had already shifted under his influence, Madara and Hashirama were still bound to clash.

"Want me to step in?"

She nudged his side with her foot.

"No need."

Gin brushed her foot away, the soft sensation still lingering on his palm. "They're adults now. They should know their limits."

—

At the Naka River plains east of Konoha…

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Madara, wielding his gunbai and scythe, pressed Hashirama hard, forcing him back step by step.

"Madara! Your taijutsu's sharper than ever!"

Hashirama laughed, shaking the numbness out of his arm.

"Hmph. I've been training constantly. Unlike you, rotting behind a desk."

Madara smirked, proud of having the upper hand.

Hashirama scratched his head sheepishly, then sealed his hands together.

"Round two, begin! Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan (Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence)!"

Massive trees erupted from the earth, transforming the land into dense forest.

"Katōn: Gōka Mekkyaku (Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame)!"

Madara leapt into the air, blasting torrents of fire that charred the incoming branches. His scarlet eyes glowed, Mangekyō spinning.

Hashirama, grinning, formed another seal.

"Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu (Wood Style: Wood Dragon)!"

A gigantic dragon surged forward, its jaws snapping toward Madara.

Madara calmly drew a glowing card.

"Bijū for bijū. Nibi's not needed—this time it's Kyūbi."

He raised the card dramatically. "Come forth, Kyūbi!"

Scarlet chakra exploded, shaping into the monstrous Nine-Tails.

"ROAR!"

The freed beast howled, but Madara's eyes pinned it instantly. Its resistance died in an instant.

Perched on Kyūbi's head, Madara smirked. "Hashirama, surrender now, before I stop holding back."

"Thank you, Madara, for bringing Kyūbi to the village."

Hashirama waved, oddly relieved. Now Tobirama would stop nagging him every day.

"…Hmph. Who else but the Hokage could manage such things?"

Madara directed Kyūbi forward.

Hashirama responded. "Mokuton: Mokujin no Jutsu (Wood Style: Wood Human Technique)!"

The colossal Buddha-like figure rose, clashing against Kyūbi.

The shockwaves shook the land for miles. Villagers thought an earthquake had struck.

Madara narrowed his eyes. "Prepare a Bijūdama."

Kyūbi, forced, condensed a crimson tailed-beast bomb.

"Tone it down!" Madara stomped its skull, making it weaken the charge. The crimson Bijūdama fired.

Hashirama's wooden giant caught it bare-handed.

"…Nani?"

Before he could react, the giant hurled it back.

"Susanoo!"

Madara's armor wrapped Kyūbi, intercepting the blast. Blue skeletal armor fully encased the beast—his Susanoo had fused with it.

Hashirama blinked. "…You even thought of that? Impressive."

Madara grinned proudly.

"Now, Hashirama—let me crush you!"

Kyūbi swung twin Susanoo-forged blades down.

Hashirama clapped his hands. "Mokuton: Hōbi no Jutsu (Wood Style: Protective Great Buddha)! Mokuton: Kai Bōtai no Jutsu!"

Dozens of massive wooden hands surged from the earth, grabbing at Madara's armored Kyūbi.

"Slash them all!"

The Susanoo blades cut them down in a sweeping arc, reshaping the very land.

Hashirama frowned. If they continued here, Konoha itself might be destroyed.

"Madara! Not here—let's move to the coast!"

"…Fine."

The two titans raced to the sea.

Standing on Kyūbi's head, Madara's old habit flared—he shaped a tailed-beast bomb, then altered it with Susanoo's blades.

"This will be perfect for skipping across water!"

He launched it, proud.

"Hashirama! Victory is mine!"

"I won't let you!"

Hashirama summoned the Fivefold Rashōmon gates to deflect it. They shattered instantly.

The enhanced Bijūdama soared over the sea, vanishing toward the far horizon.

"…Madara! You'll hit the other continent!"

Even Madara grew pale. He hadn't expected it to fly so far. He prayed silently that nothing important was hit.

"Hashirama, I've grown beyond you. You must see it now."

"You have grown stronger, Madara."

But Hashirama suddenly clasped his hands together.

"Madara… let's stop here. If you get hurt, Gin will kill me."

Madara's face darkened. "You mean to say you could crush me whenever you wished?"

"That's not what I—"

"Enough! I've already won!"

Just then—

BOOOOM!

The very same Bijūdama returned from over the horizon like a homing shot, slamming into Kyūbi's face and sending both it and Madara flying hundreds of meters.

Dazed, Madara recalled the heavy slaps of his father in childhood.

"…That felt just the same."

(End of Chapter)

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