Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Hashirama Reforged
"No!!"
Naruto shouted, surging forward with every ounce of chakra he could muster.
"Too late."
Madara sneered.
With Sasuke's Susanoo gone, he was slowed down—vulnerable.
Madara's hand neared Sasuke's face—
[Whoosh!]
A flash of yellow light appeared, blocking Madara's path.
The sight before them left everyone stunned.
Naruto!
He was completely enveloped in Nine-Tails chakra, standing protectively in front of Madara.
"I told you to stop. Didn't you hear me?"
Naruto's pupils had already turned into vertical slits, and he stared fiercely at Madara. A powerful aura erupted from his body.
Stronger than before—by far.
So strong that even Uchiha Madara was momentarily alarmed.
…
"You damn fox!"
"Brat, what did you just call me?"
"Cut the crap, stinky fox! Lend me your power—all of it!"
"Heh…"
The Nine-Tails sneered coldly.
He didn't think much of Naruto at all.
He had only lent him a portion of power because of a deal he made with Uchiha Funan.
Otherwise, why would Naruto have any right to use his power?
Just because of the leftover traces of Minato and Kushina sealed within him?
At most, Naruto might get the upper hand temporarily—but after that, the fox would definitely punish him.
Besides, the way Naruto had been drawing on his power—the seal had long since been worn down and riddled with cracks.
[Buzz!]
Naruto's consciousness appeared before the Nine-Tails. He stared at him coldly and said, "If you don't lend me your power now, and I die—you'll regret it."
"Regret it? What a joke. Why would I regret anything if you die?"
The Nine-Tails snorted in disdain.
"You have a deal with Funan-aniki," Naruto said calmly, revealing the secret.
The fox was stunned. "How do you know about that?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me—will you lend it, or not?"
How did Naruto know?
It was Kushina who told him.
Minato had sealed a portion of Kushina's chakra within the Nine-Tails to help Naruto seize control of its power at a critical moment.
But ever since Funan showed up, that backup had become unnecessary.
Still, Kushina had told Naruto everything she could.
Including the deal between Funan and the Nine-Tails.
As a mother, of course she worried her child might be used by others.
Naruto stared at the Nine-Tails, speaking slowly and firmly. "If I die, will your deal with Funan-aniki still hold?"
The Nine-Tails stared back at him, silent.
He had only lent Naruto a portion of his power—he was still holding on to a large reserve.
In his eyes, Naruto was useless.
To deal with Uchiha Madara and the hatred he bore, what was needed… was Funan.
So he had saved his strength, waiting for Funan's arrival. Not to hand it over to Naruto for him to waste.
Just look at the earlier fight—what a mess.
Besides shouting and rampaging with the Nine-Tails' power, what else had Naruto even done?
But!
There was one crucial problem.
Just like Naruto said—if he died, would that deal still mean anything?
"Tch… fine!" The Nine-Tails narrowed his eyes, staring sharply at Naruto. "I'll lend you more of my power. Don't let me down!"
…
[Boom!]
Madara flew through the air like a ragdoll, slammed by a massive impact.
Naruto followed up instantly, unleashing a barrage of the fiercest attacks.
The Nine-Tails' chakra now seemed to have a will of its own. Every strike carried devastating power.
In just moments, Naruto had managed to suppress even Uchiha Madara.
Not to mention, Naruto's speed had skyrocketed—it was astonishing.
"This… this is just like…" Jiraiya murmured to himself.
But someone else finished the sentence for him.
"The Yellow Flash!"
"That speed… it's almost on par with Minato."
"Yeah!" Jiraiya nodded vigorously—then suddenly froze. That voice… sounded familiar!
[Whoosh!]
Tobirama appeared beside him, gritting his teeth as he stared at the man who had just spoken. "So you finally showed up—Uchiha Funan!"
Indeed, it was Funan.
He first gave Minato an annoyed glare.
That bastard definitely did it on purpose.
He hadn't even been ready when the guy used Flying Thunder God to teleport him.
It had made him dizzy as hell.
If it had been anyone else, they probably would've thrown up on the spot.
"Yo, Second Hokage! Long time no see—miss me?"
"Cut the crap! Hurry up and get in there!"
Senju Tobirama growled in frustration. "Look at this mess! This battle's gone to hell. Our people are practically wiped out!"
"Dead?"
"Shut it! Can't you think of something a little more optimistic?!" Tobirama almost laughed out of sheer exasperation. How was it that even as a dead man, he still had to worry about everything?
And yet the current Hokage was acting like it was no big deal.
Aren't these your subordinates?
"Their chakra was depleted. I ordered them to withdraw."
"You did the right thing, Tobirama!"
"…"
"Then hurry up and fight already!"
"No rush!"
Instead of rushing into battle, Funan casually walked over to Hashirama.
"First Hokage."
"What is it, Fifth?"
[Thud!]
The limp body of a White Zetsu hit the ground at Hashirama's feet.
"I need to perform Edo Tensei again. Mind dying one more time?"
"Oh!"
Everyone nearby lit up at once.
"You've found a way to restore more of my Brother's power?" Tobirama asked eagerly.
"Yeah."
Funan gave a calm nod, keeping it brief as he got to work.
He used Hashirama's cells to induce another mutation in White Zetsu, and this time added Tobirama's little tricks to extend the host's durability and boost its power.
Then suddenly—Funan channeled senjutsu chakra into it. No one knew how he did it, but somehow, he stabilized White Zetsu's body right before it exploded.
The creature's energy continued to climb.
Tobirama's eyes went wide.
What the hell?
Why didn't the body rupture?
"Well? What do you think, Second?" Funan said smugly. "This move alone is worth thirty years of your research."
"How did you do it?" Tobirama asked urgently. "This makes no sense. That body has already exceeded its limit."
"It's simple."
Funan smiled as he formed hand seals, dispelling Hashirama's current Edo Tensei form, then summoning him anew.
He'd already prepared plenty of backup tissues from Hashirama's body.
Tobirama and Hashirama could only stare blankly—they couldn't stop him.
"Control over power," Funan said with a grin. "In the end, it all comes down to controlling power."
"Controlling power?"
"Exactly. My control has already reached an extraordinary level."
He smiled softly, but his confidence was unmistakable.
[Sizzle…]
A foul energy emerged, wrapping around White Zetsu.
Hashirama returned once again.
"Good. Very good!"
Hashirama shouted excitedly, "I can feel it—my power! Haha, Madara, let's see you act tough now!"
The First Hokage let out a furious roar and charged at Uchiha Madara.
After getting beaten around earlier, it was his turn to vent now.
Funan turned to look at Tobirama and said, "Those two really have a strong bond."
"I wish they didn't."
Tobirama's face was pitch black with irritation.
…
[Boom!]
Naruto landed another punch, sending Uchiha Madara flying.
"Shinra Tensei!"
While still airborne, sensing Naruto coming in for another attack, Madara lost his temper.
He fired off a Shinra Tensei on the spot!
Caught off guard, Naruto was sent tumbling across the ground.
Madara regained his balance, glaring furiously at Naruto.
"You little brat!"
[Wham!]
Madara stormed forward and kicked Naruto hard, making him cough up a mouthful of blood.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke, seeing this, panicked and let out a loud roar as he charged forward.
And then—
Uchiha Madara grabbed him and slapped him around like a ragdoll.
"Just you two? Who gave you the confidence to think you could challenge me? Hm?"
He had let his guard down for just a moment—and ended up getting roughed up by a couple of brats.
Madara was truly pissed now.
"Madara!"
At that moment, a loud shout echoed.
Senju Hashirama came charging in at full speed, his face lit up with excitement.
But Madara simply raised a hand and pointed coldly.
"Get lost. I don't have time to deal with you right now."
Hashirama: "…"
Did… Madara just say that to me?
How could he say something like that to me?
A wave of fury surged up within Hashirama. He clapped his hands together.
"Sage Art!"
He instantly entered Sage Mode.
And then—another clap.
"Wood Release!"
[BOOM!!!]
A massive wooden dragon burst forth, baring its fangs as it lunged at Madara.
"Hm?"
The moment the wooden dragon appeared, Madara immediately sensed something was off.
He summoned a basic Susanoo to intercept it.
[BOOM!!!]
From the impact alone, Madara was able to confirm it—
Hashirama's power had increased again.
No—
To be precise, his strength had recovered.
Madara frowned, puzzled.
What the hell happened?
Just a blink ago, Hashirama was weakened—how did his power come back so fast?
Something's not right…
[CRACK!]
Susanoo seized the wooden dragon's head and tore it clean off.
[Creak! Creak!]
Two more wooden dragons emerged.
One wrapped around Susanoo's leg, while the other slammed into it head-on, knocking the giant armor off balance.
"Hmph."
Madara let out a cold snort, speaking indifferently:
"Hashirama, you and I know each other well—no need for the warm-up. Let's get straight to the final battle."
[BOOOOM!!!]
With a heavy rumble, his Susanoo ascended into its Perfect Form.
Hashirama brought his palms together and shouted, "Wood Golem Technique!"
[Crash!]
The wood golem began to rise, growing taller by the second.
The Shura of the Shinobi World and the God of Shinobi—once again began their epic clash.
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