Watching Senju Hashirama, Isamu didn't hesitate—he attacked immediately.
The armor covering the Nine-Tails extended two massive arms, each gripping a greatsword. With overwhelming force, Isamu slashed down at Hashirama.
---
Just as the blade was about to land—
Hashirama reacted.
The surrounding trees surged upward, forming two giant wooden hands that clamped onto the descending sword.
"I've already seen through your attack, Isamu."
---
Without pause, he formed hand seals again.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
---
Dozens of enormous wooden palms erupted around the Nine-Tails, reaching in to restrain it.
---
Isamu glanced at them—
and smirked.
"Heh… something this weak?"
---
The Susanoo arms swung horizontally—
one slash.
---
All the wooden palms were obliterated instantly.
---
The blade energy dispersed, and Hashirama quickly retreated out of range.
---
"Let's see how you handle this."
"Nine-Tails!"
---
"Understood, Lord Isamu!"
---
The Nine-Tails condensed a Tailed Beast Ball—
and fired.
---
At the same time—
Susanoo's blade unleashed a massive wave of sword energy.
---
The two attacks collided midair—
---
and fused.
---
Forming—
a Sage Art: Super Massive Rasenshuriken.
---
It roared toward Hashirama.
---
Having just stopped, Hashirama turned—
and saw destruction rushing straight at him.
---
Without hesitation—
he bit his finger.
---
"Summoning Technique: Fivefold Rashomon!"
---
Five massive demonic gates rose from the ground—
stacked in front of him.
---
Isamu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So… you're not blocking it."
"You're redirecting it."
---
Just as he expected—
the Rasenshuriken smashed through each gate—
but its trajectory shifted slightly with each impact.
---
That tiny deviation—
was enough.
---
Hashirama dodged.
---
The attack missed—
and slammed into the mountains behind him.
---
BOOM!!!
---
Five mountains—
were erased.
---
Even Hashirama looked surprised.
"…Incredible."
"Even stronger than Madara in the past."
"It seems… I might really lose this time."
---
Beside him, Tobirama was completely stunned.
"What kind of power is this…?"
"How are we supposed to fight this?!"
---
Isamu smiled.
"Well?"
"Not bad, right?"
"You'd better stop holding back."
"Or you're finished."
---
Seeing no way forward—
Hashirama clasped his hands.
But instead of attacking—
he spoke.
---
"Isamu… stop."
"Let's end this here."
---
"Do you really want to destroy Konoha?"
"The village your father and I built?"
---
"Think carefully."
"Among those ninjas—there are your people."
"Your clan… your companions…"
"…even Tsunade."
---
"Do you want to see them die… by your hand?"
---
"I know you're not like Madara."
"You're a good child."
"You seek peace."
"We're family."
"Stop now."
---
Isamu looked at him—
expression full of contempt.
---
"After all this…"
"you think talk-no-jutsu will work?"
---
"I'm not buying it."
---
"Today—either you die…"
"…or I do."
---
"I will shatter your so-called invincibility."
---
Seeing persuasion fail—
Hashirama spoke again, just as he once had to Madara.
---
"Then stop now."
"I don't want to kill you."
---
Isamu's eyes sharpened.
"You think you can kill me?"
---
Hashirama shook his head.
"No."
"I just don't want Tsunade to suffer."
---
That—
was the wrong thing to say.
---
Isamu's temper exploded.
---
"Don't use Tsunade as an excuse!"
"Family?!"
"You killed my father!"
"You suppressed the Uchiha!"
"And you call that family?!"
---
"Shut up!"
---
The Nine-Tails roared alongside him.
---
Seeing there was no reasoning with him—
Hashirama made his decision.
---
If he couldn't persuade him—
he would fight with everything he had.
---
"Sage Art—!"
---
Chakra erupted from his body.
Sage markings appeared.
His hair whipped wildly in the wind.
---
But—
no True Several Thousand Hands.
---
Isamu frowned.
What was this old man doing?
No Buddha?
Just releasing chakra for nothing?
Ridiculous.
---
What Isamu didn't know—
was that in his current state—
Hashirama simply couldn't use it.
---
Then—
reinforcements arrived.
---
"Tobirama: "Brother, I'm here!"
He placed a hand on Hashirama's back—
transferring chakra.
---
Behind him—
Hiruzen Sarutobi and countless Konoha ninja formed a chain—
passing chakra forward.
---
"Lord First Hokage—we're with you!"
---
Then—
the other Four Kage and their forces joined in.
---
Tens of thousands of ninja—
all channeling chakra into one man.
---
Hashirama smiled.
So this…
is what it means to have allies.
---
But Isamu only watched—
curious.
---
This was pointless.
An Edo Tensei body had a chakra limit.
No matter how much they gave—
it shouldn't matter.
---
Yet—
something was wrong.
---
Hashirama noticed it too.
Why wasn't his chakra increasing?
---
"Everyone—more!"
"Don't stop!"
---
The entire army poured in everything they had.
---
Isamu crossed his arms.
Now he understood.
---
Hashirama couldn't use his trump card.
---
This fight—
was already decided.
---
Then—
everything changed.
---
The power of heaven and earth—
moved.
---
As if responding to a chosen one—
Hashirama's chakra—
broke its limit.
---
In an instant—
he absorbed 90% of the entire army's chakra.
---
Thousands of ninja collapsed.
---
Isamu's eyes widened.
---
"…What the hell?!"
---
"An Edo Tensei body… breaking its chakra limit?!"
---
"That's cheating!"
---
"Senju Hashirama, you're cheating!"
"I'm reporting you!"
---
And then—
a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
---
[Ding! Mission Complete.]
[Reward: 500,000 Points + Sharingan Upgrade Opportunity]
---
For a moment—
Isamu froze.
---
Then—
he laughed.
---
"Hahahaha…!"
---
"You think you're the only one with cheats?"
---
"So what if you broke through?"
---
"This time…"
---
"I'll crush you completely."
---
He didn't upgrade.
He didn't summon the Ten-Tails.
---
Not yet.
---
Instead—
he chose something far crueler.
---
Give them hope—
---
and then—
destroy it.