Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 312: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

Sage Mode: Activated!

With a loud shout from Tsunade, intricate markings appeared on her forehead—it was her Sage Mode.

At the same time, Shirou also activated his Sage Mode. Due to absorbing vast amounts of natural energy, red markings appeared on his cheeks.

Senju Hashirama laughed heartily, his blood boiling with excitement. The current strength of the Hokage, along with Tsunade, was truly remarkable. Even in his prime, they could push him to his limits.

Of course, Uchiha Madara was even more thrilled. The stronger Uchiha Shirou was, the more it validated his beliefs—he had surpassed Hashirama!

Not just in terms of power, but in every aspect!

Now, he was even more eager for his eventual resurrection. He was determined to use his forbidden techniques to bring Hashirama and that annoying white-haired man back.

He wanted them to witness firsthand who stood at the summit. It was him—Uchiha Madara—and Uchiha Shirou.

The more he thought about it, the more he grinned at Hashirama's fiery and enthusiastic smile. Uchiha Madara couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Ahahaha, Hashirama! I'm getting fired up!"

Seeing Madara so exhilarated, Hashirama couldn't help but laugh as well, nodding with equal fervor.

"Madara! So am I!"

Hashirama's excitement stemmed from the chance to fight alongside Madara again. He also saw the long-standing feud between the Uchiha and Senju finally being resolved.

Meanwhile, Madara believed he had reached unparalleled heights. Once Hashirama and Tobirama realized that everything was orchestrated by him, it would only make things even more entertaining.

"Madara!"

The two seemed to understand each other with just a glance. Uchiha Madara clapped his hands together, roaring:

"Hashirama!"

Sage Art: Wood Release—True Several Thousand Hands!

The earth rumbled as countless onlookers stared in disbelief. A colossal wooden figure, far surpassing the size of a tailed beast, rose from the ground.

Thousands of arms extended, forming a towering figure. Its sheer presence exuded overwhelming power.

And then—more rumbling. A layer of intricate armor began forming on the giant wooden statue.

Majestic Attire: Susano'o!

Susano'o-clad Buddha!

"Haha! Madara, I've been wanting to try this move for ages!"

Hashirama burst out laughing. Ever since Madara had combined Susano'o with the Nine-Tails, he had always felt his Buddha statue was the better match for such a technique.

And now, his intuition was proven correct!

He and Madara were truly the perfect pair!

On the side, Uchiha Madara, observing Hashirama's overexcited expression, scoffed coldly.

"Idiot. The other side isn't any weaker than us!"

With a deafening roar, both Shirou and Tsunade completed the same technique.

Sage Art: Wood Release—True Several Thousand Hands!

Sage Art: Majestic Attire: Susano'o!

As Tsunade shouted, she stood atop her massive wooden Buddha statue, rapidly ascending in height. With a commanding aura, she stared down the opposing Buddha figure.

A fiery red Susano'o chakra armor swiftly enveloped the entire statue, spreading with practiced ease.

Now, two colossal Susano'o-clad Buddhas loomed over the Forest of Death. Their immense forms cast shadows across all of Konoha. Even Shukaku, the One-Tail, looked like a mere pet in comparison.

Moments ago, the One-Tail had been roaring confidently. But when the two giants appeared, its eyes widened in shock.

Shukaku shrieked in frustration and fear. It had been beaten senseless by such techniques before. Now, not only were there two of these monsters, but they had also teamed up!

Meanwhile, countless Konoha shinobi stared in terror at the colossal figures that had suddenly emerged.

"How... how is this possible?!"

"That's the Hokage's Susano'o! And Wood Release!"

"Is this something humans can achieve?!"

"No way!"

Within the vast village of Konoha, even the shinobi guarding the gates froze in shock. Their wide eyes reflected the towering giants, leaving them speechless.

If the One-Tail had already seemed massive up close, it was nothing compared to these behemoths.

Even from outside the village, the two Susano'o-clad Buddhas were visible. The colossal forms made Konoha itself seem like a mere toy.

"This... this is the power of the legendary heroes who ended the Warring States Era?"

"So terrifying..."

"But the Hokage isn't weak either!"

Standing side by side, Hashirama's blood pumped with long-lost excitement. He shouted with glee, "Madara, we're fighting together again!"

Madara, however, merely scoffed.

"Haha!"

Watching Madara's stubborn attitude, Hashirama couldn't help but laugh.

But at that moment, Shukaku's panicked cries echoed once more. Annoyed, Madara shot the beast a glare. With a single motion, his colossal Susano'o-clad Buddha raised a leg.

BOOM!

The ground quaked violently. In the stunned eyes of countless onlookers, the so-called ultimate weapon—a tailed beast—was sent flying with a single kick. Shukaku's anguished screams reverberated across the land.

"This is bad! The aftermath of their battle is too dangerous—set up a barrier immediately!"

"Barrier Division, get ready!"

Barrier: Four Red Yang Formation!

As the Barrier Divisions began their preparations, a red transparent barrier suddenly rose around the Forest of Death, forming a perfect square.

"No way! That's the Four Red Yang Formation!"

Many Konoha shinobi were left dumbfounded. Only a few seasoned veterans recognized the barrier's significance and reacted with shock.

"Kakashi-senpai, what's so special about the Four Red Yang Formation?"

Even some of the higher-ranking jonin were unfamiliar with the terrifying power of this barrier, prompting curious inquiries.

At this moment, the aftershocks of the battles in the Chūnin Exams venue had subsided. However, before Kakashi could explain everything to the crowd, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, with a pale face, revealed a bitter smile.

"The Four Red Yang Formation is an even stronger barrier than the Four Purple Flame Formation. It is said to require the cooperation of four Kage-level shinobi to perform!"

As Ōnoki's hoarse voice echoed, Kurotsuchi, standing beside him, was filled with shock.

At this time, in the four corners of the Forest of Death, those maintaining the barrier were Senju Nawaki, Orochimaru, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Sasuke, who were wearing an ANBU mask.

"Sasuke!"

Originally, it was supposed to be Itachi maintaining this part of the barrier. However, when Itachi saw the figure substituting for him, he couldn't help but show an expression of surprise.

Under the mask, Uchiha Sasuke, upon noticing Itachi behind him, let out a cold snort.

"I'm only doing this to protect Konoha; don't overthink it!"

Though his words were harsh, this world's Uchiha Itachi responded with a gentle smile.

"Sasuke, I understand."

In this peculiar relationship that had developed between the two over the years — one being the Itachi of this world and the other being a Sasuke from another world — a unique bond had formed.

Without hesitation, Itachi chose to stabilize other parts of the village, while Sasuke stood firm, his resolve evident.

This world was the true world for him!

This Konoha was his home!

This world's Will of Fire was the one he truly acknowledged!

Uchiha Itachi, too, finally let go of his last worry. His once-hurt brother from another world, though still a bit awkward, had fully embraced this world in his heart.

Suddenly, as the barrier appeared, Shukaku, the One-Tail, widened its eyes, letting out a sharp cry, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Behind it, two massive, terrifying Susano'o-armored Buddhas clashed in a battle that shook the heavens and the earth.

Shukaku, in all its years, had never regretted coming out as much as it did today.

At this moment, a giant red Buddha and a giant blue Buddha were locked in ferocious combat, shaking the ground and causing it to quake as if gods and demons were waging war.

With Susano'o cloaking the Buddhas, Uchiha Madara, feeling the extraordinary power, let out an exhilarated roar.

"Young one! Today, I, Uchiha Madara, will ride Hashirama and fight you! Although this isn't our full strength, you and that Senju woman have earned my recognition!"

As Madara laughed maniacally, Hashirama finally snapped out of his daze and widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Madara, when did you start riding me? We're fighting side by side!"

"Shut up!" Even the ever-proud Madara couldn't hide his excitement at finally getting the upper hand over Hashirama.

For as long as they had known each other — and for as many years as they had fought — Madara had always been on the losing side. But today, he could finally revel in his triumph.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shirou was riding the Senju clan's princess, Tsunade!

"Madara!"

Hashirama wasn't an idiot. Seeing Madara's fanatical excitement, he couldn't help but smile. At last, it seemed the lingering tension between the two had dissipated.

Though he was being taken advantage of, so be it.

"Hey, Tsuna, that husband of yours is riding you—"

"Shut up!"

Tsunade had never been so humiliated before. Her grandfather, once revered as the "God of Shinobi," a title of unparalleled greatness, was now an endless source of embarrassment — and all in front of so many people.

Frustrated beyond words, Tsunade yelled to stop her grandfather from saying anything else that might further disgrace her.

"Tsunade!"

"Husband! Let's teach these two old men a lesson!"

Tsunade's anger was palpable, and Shirou, standing beside her, responded with an equally eager smile.

The colossal battle between the two giants caused tremors that disrupted other battlefields as well.

...

Outside the barrier, Uzumaki Kushina, who was watching Shirou and Tsunade's Susano'o-armored Buddhas, had her eyes blazing with determination.

"No way! Next time, I want to do that too!"

If Susano'o could cloak a Buddha, it could surely cloak the Nine-Tails. Next time, she wanted to fight alongside Shirou.

"Kushina!"

At that moment, Mikoto's cold shout from within the Forest of Death snapped Kushina out of her thoughts. She immediately yelled back excitedly:

"Sister Mikoto! I'm coming!"

Without hesitation, Kushina entered her full Nine-Tails mode.

"Open a gap in the barrier and let Lady Kushina in!"

...

Meanwhile, deep in the Forest of Death, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was feeling utterly frustrated.

Uchiha Mikoto's strength had reached a level that rivaled his. Her Mangekyō Sharingan had even evolved into the Eternal Mangekyō. If it weren't for his mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique and the fact that his Edo Tensei body provided infinite chakra, he might not have stood a chance in a life-or-death battle.

It wasn't that Senju Tobirama was weak; it was that Uchiha Mikoto knew his fighting techniques inside and out.

She understood the Flying Thunder God Technique better than anyone else, along with all his other jutsu.

In contrast, Senju Tobirama was completely in the dark when it came to Uchiha Mikoto's abilities.

"Those accursed Uchiha—"

Before Tobirama could finish his sentence, Uzumaki Kushina burst onto the scene, fully transformed into the golden Nine-Tails.

As her massive form landed, the ground shook violently. Without hesitation, she charged forward, shouting:

"Sister Mikoto!"

Uchiha Mikoto, wielding her fan, leaped onto the head of the Nine-Tails. As her Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly, her purple Susano'o began to cloak the Nine-Tails.

Sage Art: Majestic Armor - Susano'o!

The moment the Susano'o-clad Nine-Tails appeared, Tobirama Senju's eyes widened in disbelief. What the hell?!

This was the scene his elder brother had faced during the legendary battle at the Valley of the End against Uchiha Madara! Even though he was currently in an Edo Tensei state, how was he supposed to face this?!

"Sister Mikoto, I want to use the sword!"

With an excited expression, the fused Kushina Uzumaki—now joined with Mikoto Uchiha—wielded the terrifying Susano'o sword via the Nine-Tails. With a sweeping motion, the blade slashed toward Tobirama with devastating force.

This strike...

Could destroy worlds!

Facing such overwhelming power, Tobirama felt utterly helpless.

As he glanced at his older brother, who was fighting Madara with excitement in the distance, his heart filled with grievance.

"Big Brother! I'm the one who's your sibling!"

With a deafening roar, accompanied by waves of destruction, the earth was split wide open, leaving a massive chasm in its wake.

BOOM!

The entire village of Konoha trembled. The terrifying battle left countless people utterly stunned, their jaws agape, unable to process what they were witnessing.

This scene was far beyond anything they could have imagined. It wasn't just a ninja battle anymore—it was something straight out of a legendary myth!

At that moment, countless minds flashed back to stories of ancient gods clashing. Perhaps those myths weren't mere tales, but echoes of reality.

The Forest of Death had turned into an apocalyptic wasteland. The shockwaves of the battle had destroyed the forest completely. Compared to this, the ongoing showdown of the Four Kage—who had already shocked everyone earlier—now seemed insignificant.

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.

Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

A, the Third Raikage.

These once-mighty Kage-level figures—considered the pinnacle of ninja power—were now nothing more than background characters, reduced to insignificance in this clash of titans. They seemed no more threatening than mere children.

The terrifying shockwaves ripped through the battlefield, uprooting giant trees like a hurricane and sending boulders flying across the sky. The debris and rubble slammed into the barrier protecting the spectators, creating thunderous echoes.

It was only the protective barrier that snapped the ninjas out of their stupor.

They realized with horror:

This was real.

Without the barrier, even the aftershocks of the battle would force them to flee for their lives.

"This—this can't be real! Are they even ninjas anymore?!"

"Wh-what kind of sick joke is this? This is a power only gods should possess!"

"Our ancestors and the Hokage-sama... they're actually this terrifying?!"

"Grandpa! The strongest Third Hokage!" At that moment, Konohamaru stared at his grandfather, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was scrambling to avoid the destruction on the outskirts of the battlefield. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of irony.

"Grandpa!"

Tears welled up in Konohamaru's eyes. In his heart, his grandfather was the strongest—the great Hokage of Konoha. But now, that idealized image shattered into pieces before his eyes.

Inside the barrier, the armor of the Susano'o-clad Buddha statue was repeatedly shattered and then regenerated in an instant. The massive Buddha statue and its armor were blown apart countless times, only to restore themselves again and again.

Chunks of the statue—wooden debris and broken limbs—rained down from the sky, crashing to the ground like entire houses, each impact causing deafening explosions.

"Lady Kushina, Lady Mikoto!"

Within the Susano'o-clad Nine-Tails, Konan, Samui, Mabui, and Yugito had long since taken refuge. This level of battle was completely beyond their ability to participate—they could only watch from within the protective shell.

Meanwhile, inside Kushina's body, the Nine-Tails—who had been forcibly subdued over the years—couldn't help but feel conflicted. Its power had always been taken by brute force, but this time, things were different.

Seeing the chaos outside and Tobirama Senju getting pummeled, the Nine-Tails grinned with twisted satisfaction.

"Hit that white-haired fool harder! I couldn't beat Hashirama, but smacking his little brother is no problem!"

For the Nine-Tails, this was a rare chance for revenge. It roared in bitter excitement. The debts it owed to Hashirama and Madara were beyond reckoning, and it knew it could never beat those two.

But Tobirama Senju?

He didn't have Wood Release.

He didn't have a Mangekyō Sharingan.

He was just the younger brother of Hashirama Senju.

This was the perfect opportunity to vent its frustrations!