Leon looked at the two young men standing before him on the vast plain prepared for the final battle and asked in a loud, enthusiastic voice,
"Are you two children ready for our final battle, the one that will write the legend of your struggle?"
His voice carried the same challenging tone he had used with them in previous battles to provoke and motivate them. However, Hiroshi Uchiha and Ishin Senju did not respond this time as they had in the past. They simply stared at him calmly before turning toward one another as though communicating without words.
Then, completely unexpectedly, Ishin burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
Likewise, Hiroshi Uchiha broke into a wide smile, although he did not laugh out loud like his companion who shared the same fate. Leon looked at them with confusion, unable to understand what they found so amusing in a moment like this, as he had not expected such a response from them.
After a short period of laughter, Ishin spoke while trying to regain his composure.
"There is no need to use your old method of provoking us to motivate us anymore, Beast King."
He paused briefly and took a deep breath before continuing in a cheerful and relaxed tone.
"Although it truly was effective and very successful during our previous battles, especially on this impulsive and emotional Uchiha! Hahaha!"
As he said this, he jokingly pointed toward Hiroshi standing beside him, causing the latter to lower his head slightly in embarrassment while smiling.
Then Leon himself suddenly burst into loud laughter, clearly enjoying the situation.
"Hahahahahaha! You two children—no, you two brave warriors! You have truly matured and grown tremendously since our first battles."
Leon spoke with genuine admiration for their mental and emotional growth, not merely their physical development. The three of them looked at one another for several moments in complete silence, yet it was a comfortable silence filled with mutual respect.
Then Leon broke the silence with a more serious and formal tone.
"Very well. Since this is your final battle before leaving life and departing from this world, I must grant you the full respect that you have rightfully earned."
Then he continued in an official tone.
"Ryukoga Leon. It has been an honor to know both of you."
Leon introduced himself by his full name for the first time before them. The two young men smiled calmly, appreciating the respect he was showing them.
Hiroshi Uchiha bowed politely and said proudly,
"Hiroshi Uchiha, Patriarch of the great Uchiha Clan."
At exactly the same moment, Ishin did the same, bowing with equal respect and saying,
"Ishin Senju, Patriarch of the Senju Clan. It is an honor to know you, Beast King."
Then they raised their heads together in perfect synchronization and looked at the smiling Leon standing before them as he shouted loudly,
"Very well then, you proud and courageous young patriarchs! Let us make today a day that will never be forgotten in the history of this world, a day worthy of you, your clans, and your memory!"
At the same time, and in a location some distance away from the battlefield, large groups from both the Uchiha and Senju Clans stood at a safe distance so they would not be harmed by the massive destruction that the upcoming battle between their strongest warriors would inevitably cause. They watched with anxiety and fear for the fate of their brave patriarchs, fully aware of what awaited them.
Meanwhile, in another location hidden completely from view, Sam, Norman, Kai, Sato, and Amy had all gathered together to witness the great battle that would soon erupt between their brother and the two young men from the proud clans. Although they already knew the inevitable outcome, Leon had personally invited them and strongly insisted that they attend in order to witness the brilliance of the two young warriors and see the highest level they had achieved, as he claimed.
Sam looked toward them intently and said in a calm voice,
"They have improved tremendously since the last time I saw them."
Norman nodded in agreement and added,
"Yes. Their current level is genuinely impressive for their age."
Meanwhile, Amy stood silently, carefully observing and analyzing the two young men with her eyes. Sato simply smiled as he thought about how much growth they had achieved in only a few years under the pressure of their continuous battles against Leon.
At that exact same time, in an entirely different realm, the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, also focused his attention on the battle that was about to unfold between his descendants from the Uchiha and Senju Clans and the descendant of the mysterious blue-haired young man, Dan, about whom he still knew very little. He sighed softly because he knew he could not interfere in the affairs of the living no matter how much he wished to.
As for the final people affected by this battle, they were the wives of the two young patriarchs, Ishin and Hiroshi. Although neither of them attended the battle, both knew exactly what the inevitable outcome for their husbands would be. Thus, in a strange coincidence, each sat alone in her own home, crying bitterly and raising her hands before her as though praying fervently for the husbands who were walking toward certain death.
Even though Inoue knew that her prayers would not come true, she could not help but hope and pray. Elsewhere, Hinomi, Ishin's wife, was in exactly the same situation, sitting alone, weeping and praying while begging with all her heart for a miracle to occur.
Both women felt the same pain and the same terrifying fear of losing their husbands forever. The waiting was more cruel and painful than anything else, sitting helplessly while the person you loved faced certain death far away from you. Every minute that passed felt like a long hour filled with suffering, anxiety, and fear.
They both knew that this day was the final day before their lives would be turned completely upside down and they would become widows. In truth, widowhood was far from uncommon during this era, yet that did not make it any easier.
The three warriors stood in complete silence for a few final moments before the beginning of the ultimate battle. Each one prepared himself mentally and physically, while the air around them grew heavy and charged with pressure until even the earth beneath their feet began to tremble.
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