Uchiha Izuna had clearly witnessed Gamamaru merging with the Rock Host Great Toad.
Though he acknowledged Gamamaru's cunning, this world ultimately valued strength above all else. No matter how many disguises Gamamaru wore, losing meant total defeat.
Though the Rock Host Great Toad's defense was terrifyingly formidable, Uchiha Madara's Susanoo wielded twin blades that were far from dull.
Within a minute of their clash, countless slashes already marred the surface of the Rock Host Great Toad. Though it didn't bleed, its eventual collapse was only a matter of time.
Gamamaru had originally thought that Madara's Susanoo in this form would weaken significantly, but to his surprise, it was only slightly weaker than its armored form.
"I can't keep this up—I need to escape." This thought flashed through Gamamaru's mind. Immediately, relying on his tough head, he leapt up and rammed into Madara.
"Desperate struggles!"
Madara remained unfazed, a sinister grin curling his lips as he increased the speed of his dual blades.
"Sage Art: Earth Covering!"
Gamamaru clasped his hands together, leapt high into the air, and then plummeted toward the ground. What seemed like an ordinary motion triggered astonishing effects.
In an instant, a violent earthquake erupted, causing Madara's Susanoo to stumble momentarily.
Fortunately, Madara's combat experience was vast. He quickly formed wings to make Susanoo take flight.
"I didn't expect this old toad to have such a trick up its sleeve."
But the true purpose of this Sage Art extended beyond that. The intense tremors even affected the distant Vast Ocean Realm army maintaining the barrier.
The next moment, the barrier shattered.
From afar, Uchiha Izuna's eyes reflected disdain.
With such power, Gamamaru had feigned retreat earlier, allowing its kin to escape while staying behind to cover their retreat. If not for his brother's overwhelming strength, Gamamaru might have been killed without revealing its true identity. Only now had it resorted to using its true form to eliminate evidence.
Unfortunately, this old toad's strength was clearly insufficient.
In mid-air, Madara frowned. Though the attack hadn't affected him directly, it had disrupted their operation plans.
"Izuna!"
Madara called out, and Izuna immediately understood, a confident smile forming on his lips as he replied:
"Leave it to me, Brother!"
This operation aimed for the complete annihilation of Mount Myōboku's toads—leaving none alive.
Izuna knew that Gamamaru had discerned their battle strategy and was attempting to disrupt their efforts to create an opportunity for escape.
But—
In the face of absolute power, all schemes and tricks were meaningless.
Izuna crossed his four fingers.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Instantly, one Izuna became five. A moment later, each summoned a colossal Susanoo and flew toward the distant encirclement.
"Four Crimson Yang Formation!"
A super barrier that originally required four Shadow-level fighters to simultaneously release chakra was now effortlessly deployed by Izuna alone.
Izuna's main body also joined the encirclement.
The fully manifested Susanoo, far more terrifying than those of modern Uchiha, filled everyone present with tension.
"Incompetent."
Izuna coldly surveyed the Vast Ocean Realm army and his juniors. His gentleness belonged solely to Uchiha Madara.
"Next."
Izuna's gaze, brimming with indifferent killing intent, swept over the already battered toads.
"I'll be your opponent."
With a raise of Izuna's Susanoo's hands, nine Yasaka Magatama formed and exploded violently toward the toad clan.
Before the overwhelming display of power, the once-dominant toad clan of the ninja world was swiftly annihilated.
Looking at the two barely-alive Great Elder Toads, Izuna's eyes revealed deep disdain.
"Itachi, these two still hold some research value. Seal them and bring them back."
The terror of this ancient ancestor had completely crushed the pride of the three contemporary Eternal Mangekyō wielders.
Uchiha Itachi skillfully manipulated his divine weapon, the Totsuka Sword, pulling the two elder toads into an eternal genjutsu seal.
Meanwhile, Madara's battle was nearing its conclusion.
Gamamaru's earlier earthquake had been intended to create chaos, allowing it to slip away unnoticed.
Though the three great sanctuaries once possessed Sage Arts, their inclinations differed. Shikkotsu Forest leaned toward water attributes, and failure resulted in melting into a pool of corrosive water.
Mount Myōboku favored earth attributes, and failure caused petrification.
As for Ryūchi Cave, though it partially inclined toward earth attributes, its serpent inhabitants focused on physical transformation into dragons. Their price of failure was becoming neither human nor ghost—if they lost their sanity during the process, they would be devoured by the cave's sages.
Gamamaru, a master of earth and stone, had intended to use this opportunity to perform an earth-diving technique and escape.
Unfortunately, Madara had anticipated its move, sending Izuna to address the oversight while personally keeping Gamamaru occupied, preventing it from using such abilities.
"Uchiha Madara, spare me! I can give you everything you desire." Gamamaru pleaded desperately.
Madara sneered dismissively, continuing his relentless assault.
"I'm not lying to you. Over the past millennium, I've been plotting in the ninja world, amassing countless treasures. Do you want eternal life? Precious secret techniques? Or perhaps some hidden knowledge? I can give you all of it."
Seeing Madara remain unmoved, Gamamaru had no choice but to reveal his final card.
But all he received was Madara's cold mockery: "A frog at the bottom of a well."
Madara's attacks had repeatedly struck the same spot, carving deep wounds that exposed the flesh beneath the thick rock.
It was time to end this farce.
A cold glint flashed in Madara's eyes as he channeled both Susanoo and qi into a single longsword. Instantly, roaring flames erupted.
"It's over!
Secret Technique: Uchiha Flame Sword Style—Burning Form!"
Without hesitation, Madara swung the blade, striking the fatal wound. Intense flames surged through the gash, consuming Gamamaru's body.
"AAHHH!!!"
The agonized scream echoed faintly even dozens of miles away.
After a long while, the cacophony finally ceased, leaving behind only a charred husk standing amidst the land.
Staring at the deceased Gamamaru, the Rinnegan in Madara's eye sockets began to focus intently.
"Not bad for a thousand-year-old toad," Madara remarked admiringly.
But the next moment, a chilling resolve filled Madara's eyes. Without hesitation, he swung his blade again.
"Ahh—"
A faint, fleeting scream rang out before quickly fading.
"Did you think hiding your soul would fool me? I possess the Rinnegan too."
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