"Thud!"
The black-and-white armored figure fell to one knee, Madara once again caught by Indra's counterattack and dragged back into the struggle for control of his body.
"Human, you can't lose now!"
Kurama, who had been gleefully imagining its glorious future, suddenly clenched up tight. The black fox knight rose again within the consciousness sea, and the bijū panicked, pacing and yelping.
It had just spent the last while viciously mocking Indra after his earlier loss, spewing so much venom that even Madara muted it.
"Shut up! I'll deal with you later!"
Indra's cold voice snapped. This ti, he struck first, knocking Kurama flat before it could even bark.
"Uuugh—Grandpa save …"
Kurama whimpered, curling its tails. With its chakra silenced, Madara's strength waned fast, Indra's sea of purple chakra surging like a flood against him.
"No… I can't lose."
Madara gritted his teeth. Hashirama was still out there, already battered half to death. If Indra seized control again, Hashirama would surely perish.
Even if he had to sacrifice himself, he would never let his friend suffer!
"Hah… hah… hah…"
"Madara!"
Thanks to the Senju clan's insane regeneration, Hashirama had dragged himself upright again. His chestbone was shattered, fragnts lodged in his lungs, blood wetting his lips—but his black eyes still burned with resolve.
He staggered toward the fallen fox knight, intent on saving his friend no matter the cost.
But before he could reach him, Madara's arm snapped up, a wave of killing wind bursting forth.
"Whoosh—!"
It grazed Hashirama's scalp, tearing his long black hair loose. Under the moonlight, his pale, bloodied face was starkly beautiful.
By now, the fox knight's armor was entirely engulfed in sinister black-blue markings. Both eyes had turned violet, only a tiny sliver of yellow left flickering.
"H-Hashirama… run!"
Madara forced the words through clenched teeth. His grip on his body was slipping.
"Madara! I'm not leaving you!"
Hashirama shook his head. His fists, slick with blood, lit again with chakra. His chest cavity collapsed inward, yet he still marched forward.
"Again with this so-called bond…"
Inside the sea, Indra sneered. He ground Madara beneath his heel, glancing coldly at Hashirama's stubborn crawl. Rage burned in his heart. He had lost once to Asura because of such bonds. He would not accept it.
"I will never acknowledge it!"
His scarlet eyes twisted with madness. Power surged.
"Rumble!"
Indra's fury drowned Madara deeper in darkness. Kurama shrank further, helpless.
Back in reality—
Hashirama pressed his glowing hand to Madara's shoulder, face tight with concern.
"Madara, don't give in!"
"Who gave you permission to touch ?"
The purple eyes glared. The yellow had vanished.
"Bang!"
Indra's control fully solidified. He flung Hashirama back and drew his dark blade, stepping forward to finish him.
"You can scream all you like. Worry for yourself instead."
Bloodied but unyielding, Hashirama raised his fists again—only for white light to flash before him.
"Clang!" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet
A red-white blade materialized in his grip.
"Madara?!"
He gasped, recognizing his friend's chakra.
"Don't waste ti, Hashirama! I won't last long—get out!"
Madara's weak voice rang in his mind.
Hashirama looked down at the blade, trembling. "Madara… you've beco a sword?!"
"Shut up and move!"
Madara barked.
Though baffled, Hashirama refused to retreat. "I won't abandon your body to him!"
The blade's warmth seeped into him, healing wounds as it poured chakra into his veins.
Indra frowned. "Turning consciousness into a weapon… such a strange technique."
But Hashirama took the chance. "Haaah!"
Sword in hand, he lunged with Madara's help.
Indra blocked with ease, kicking him back. Still, Hashirama landed steady, fire in his eyes.
"Again!"
"Too flashy! Swing properly, you idiot!"
"What? You always twirl your blade like this!"
"That's different—next ti you try it!"
"Clang! Clang!"
Sword and blade rang out. Man and weapon fought as one, carving golden sparks across the field.
From afar, Gin mopped his brow. "Whew… good thing I slipped him an Equipnt Card. Looks like it's working. Hope big cousin doesn't mind…"
Back in the fray, Indra staggered. His chakra reserves were drying up. His limbs felt heavy.
"Thud!"
Hashirama's strike knocked him back—the first ti since his appearance that Indra had retreated.
"Hashirama! He's weakening!"
Madara's voice exulted in his ear.
"Then I'll take your body back!"
Fueled by hope, Hashirama pressed the attack.
Indra gritted his teeth. He had one option left—Kurama.
"You. Give your chakra!"
Kurama's ears flattened. "Eh?"
The great beast blinked, then smirked. Indra's dried up?
Tail over chest, it sat back, smug.
"You want to die?" Indra snarled, eyes burning.
Before he could crush the beast, his body flickered. His form destabilized, chakra collapsing.
In reality, his strikes faltered. His body dimd. He was spent.
"Give up. This is the power of bonds! Whoever you are, get out of Madara's body!"
Hashirama's words carried conviction.
Madara roared from the blade. "Stop yapping and finish him off already!"
Hashirama grimaced. "But it's your body…"
"…"
Madara fell silent, suddenly reconsidering his enthusiasm. Right. If he cuts wrong… I'm screwed.
Indra snarled, forcing one last charge.
Hashirama t him head-on. Their blades clashed—then Indra dropped his weapon, arms spread, welcoming the strike.
"Shkkk!"
The red-white blade plunged into his chest.
"No!!"
Hashirama cried out in horror.
"…Wait, what?!"
Madara's voice was stunned.
Indra smirked. "Now you'll live with the pain of killing your dearest friend."
Blood sprayed—yet… sothing was wrong.
Hashirama blinked. The blade hadn't pierced Madara's heart. It had struck the black-blue buckle at his waist.
Cracks spidered across it.
The black fox armor shattered. Indra's chakra howled, retreating deep into Madara's body.
"…So that's how it is."
Indra's voice was weary. "Fine. Show how far your bonds can take you. Fate is not so easily broken."
With that, he vanished.
"You… we won!"
Hashirama caught Madara's collapsing body, relief flooding him.
The red-white blade dissolved into light, rging back into Madara. His eyes fluttered open.
"Ugh…"
Pain wracked his body, but he was alive.
"Are you okay?" Hashirama asked quickly, trying to heal him—only to collapse with his own injuries.
The two lay side by side on the ground, breathing ragged, smiling faintly.
Just like old tis, lying by the river after sparring, dreaming of peace.
"…Next ti, we'll settle it properly," Madara murmured.
"Haha… I don't think I can beat you anymore," Hashirama chuckled weakly.
Madara snorted proudly.
But Hashirama's eyes grew serious. "That knight… who was he?"
Madara frowned. "I don't know. But he felt… familiar."
They fell silent.
Then Hashirama suddenly rembered. "Wait—what about Kurama?!"
Madara glanced at his belt.
From inside ca a miserable wail. "Human! Just kill already! I can't live like this!"
Madara winced. "What…?"
Kurama sobbed. "You may have won, but I'm dood. Indra's gaze is on now! I'd rather die and reincarnate than stay here!"
"You know who he was, don't you?" Madara pressed.
Kurama froze. "Eh? N-no! I swear!"
Madara narrowed his eyes. "Then why look like you're ready to hang yourself?"
Kurama curled into a ball, tail tucked, muttering pitifully, "It's just too dangerous here… I'd rather be reborn."
Madara smirked faintly. "Don't worry. If you're reborn, I'll just find you again."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaa—!!!"
Kurama wailed louder than ever.
(To be continued)
(End of Chapter)
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