Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya couldn't believe his ears!
When he returned, the ninja world had already been unified, so he had no idea what level Orochimaru's strength had reached.
But now, he was witnessing the sheer power of Uchiha Madara firsthand.
And yet, Orochimaru was deliberately stalling for time against an opponent like this?
Was she serious?
"You really won't understand if I explain it now, but you'll see soon enough," Tsunade said dismissively.
She didn't want to say anything more at the moment.
She knew that Orochimaru's ultimate goal was to resurrect Kaguya. And for that to happen, Uchiha Madara needed to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
This was something Orochimaru had explained to them long ago.
The correct time to defeat Madara was after he had cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Since the critical moment had yet to arrive, it was pointless to reveal anything now.
Whoosh!
Boom! Boom!
Near the God Tree, multiple Truth-Seeking Orbs clashed, creating thunderous explosions.
The two combatants were locked in a fierce aerial battle, their movements relentless!
Madara dived downward, thrusting his black staff forward.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he raised his sword to meet the attack!
Clang!
Once again, their weapons, both formed from Truth-Seeking Orbs—collided!
The force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, kicking up massive clouds of dust.
Their power appeared evenly matched, and since their weapons were made from the same material, there seemed to be little difference in their strength.
"What a fine display of power... Heh, I haven't been this excited since Hashirama!" Madara grinned, exhilarated.
"But Orochimaru, it seems I won't be able to take you down so easily today."
"It does seem that way," Orochimaru replied, twirling his sword slightly as a faint smirk appeared on his lips.
By all logic, Orochimaru's Six Paths Power should have been inferior to Madara's.
After all, Madara had absorbed the true power of the Ten-Tails, while Orochimaru had merely obtained a fragment from a small meteorite.
However—
People seemed to forget what kind of person Orochimaru was.
With the help of his system, he had devoted nearly forty years to scientific research.
It had already been several years since he acquired the Rinnegan.
Over time, he had found a way to replicate the power of the Ten-Tails.
Whether it was the Rinnegan, the Sage Body, or the Tailed Beasts, Orochimaru had managed to reproduce them all.
Yes, Tailed Beasts were chakra entities. Even if they were killed, they would eventually regenerate.
But at the same time, they were still living beings of flesh and blood.
Chakra itself was a fusion of physical energy and spiritual energy.
Just like how the Gold and Silver Brothers had gained the Nine-Tails' chakra by consuming its flesh and blood, Orochimaru's ability to replicate the power of the Ten-Tails was completely feasible.
Other villages had managed to reproduce the power of the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails.
So why couldn't Orochimaru do the same?
The only difference was that normal Jinchūriki borrowed the chakra of their Tailed Beasts through peaceful coexistence.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, had directly fused these replicated powers into his very cells, fully integrating them into his body.
That was how he had strengthened his Six Paths Power to this degree.
This was Orochimaru's true secret.
Other than his modified son, not even Tsunade knew the full extent of it.
In terms of Six Paths Power, Orochimaru was actually stronger than Madara.
Unlike Madara, he possessed a true Sage Body and Senjutsu.
Madara did not.
Madara smirked.
"Even if I can't defeat you… the God Tree is already mine. You won't be able to save the world."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's smirk widened.
"Isn't it a little too early to be saying that?"
Something about Orochimaru's smile unsettled Madara.
His expression suddenly shifted.
"What?! What's going on?!"
A surge of violent chakra flared up behind him!
Madara turned his head slowly—
And saw a young man in a green jumpsuit and a bowl-cut hairstyle standing near a massive boulder.
The young man's arms were crossed. Blue steam was rising from his body.
The Seventh Gate—Gate of Shock, open!
Boom!
The sheer force of his chakra shook the ground, causing massive cracks to spread outward!
"This is…?"
Madara was stunned.
When had this guy managed to get behind him?
And this technique…
The Eighth Gate—Gate of Death, open!
Boom!
The blue steam gradually turned crimson.
The very ground beneath Metkai crumbled under the sheer intensity of his chakra.
Loose rubble was sucked into the air by the violent energy surging around him!
"I don't know exactly what's going on," he declared, his voice booming with determination.
"But to protect the peace of the ninja world, I shall burn my youth to the limit!"
With a mighty roar, his aura reached its peak!
"Take this!"
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Guy vanished from the ground.
And reappeared above Madara's head!
Boom!
A massive shockwave erupted!
The sheer speed of the attack was so extreme that Madara couldn't dodge in time.
His only option was to raise his staff to block!
But—
The Truth-Seeking Staff was only immune to ninjutsu.
It could not completely defend against taijutsu!
Boom!
Madara, one of the most powerful shinobi in history was knocked out of the sky by Guy's strike!
Boom!
Another devastating attack landed!
There was no doubt about it.
The Eight Gates Released Formation!
A technique that transcended the limits of taijutsu.
A forbidden power!
By unlocking all of one's physical restraints, it granted dozens of times the user's normal strength.
Each successive gate granted even greater power, culminating in the eighth and final gate.
Once fully opened, it became the Eight Gates Released Formation, unleashing power that could even surpass the Five Kage.
But in exchange.
The user's life force would be completely burned away.
Guy had no hesitation in using it.
Because Orochimaru had already informed him of a certain truth.
Moreover.
He was a piece that Orochimaru had placed on the board long ago.
Everyone watching was stunned to see Madara being relentlessly pummeled by Guy!
The current Guy wasn't the thirty-year-old man from the original timeline.
He was still in his twenties!
While his overall combat experience might not match his future self, his Eight Gates Released Formation was undoubtedly at its peak!
"So… strong!"
"This is terrifying!"
"Is it really possible to reach this level with taijutsu alone?!"
Overhead, Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"The strongest taijutsu user in the ninja world… enhanced by advanced strengthening serum… combined with the peak physique of his youth…"
"Uchiha Madara, feel it for yourself!"
(To be continued.)
***
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