Chapter 17: Battle
As soon as the six minutes were up, Hashirama and Madara wasted no time, closing the distance between themselves and Mori with impressive speed. Their movements were synchronized, a testament to their combat experience and understanding of each other's fighting styles. They attacked with relentless precision, their strikes aimed to overwhelm Mori before he could retaliate. However, despite being outnumbered, Mori managed to block, dodge, and counter each of their blows with masterful efficiency.
The three warriors moved like a blur, each clash sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Mori's movements were fluid, his mastery of martial arts evident as he seamlessly transitioned between offense and defense. Each time one of his opponents attempted to block, he would use Recoilless Goryeo and Homi-Geolyi to disable their guard. If they tried to grapple him, he would counter using Halla and Catching Dragon, reversing their attacks and putting them off balance. Though he lacked the raw physical strength of the two Shinobi Gods, his technique and skill more than compensated for it.
High above the battlefield, a lone black figure stood atop a cliff, watching the fight unfold. The figure remained motionless, observing as Mori fought on equal footing with two of the strongest shinobi in history—using nothing but pure martial prowess.
As the battle progressed, Mori found himself slowly being pushed back. Despite his technical skill, the sheer power of Hashirama and Madara was proving to be too much. Their chakra-enhanced physicality allowed them to hit harder, move faster, and endure more punishment than his body could naturally handle. He could feel the strain beginning to build in his muscles, his breathing becoming heavier with each exchanged blow.
Then, without warning, a new presence enveloped his body. Ethereal clothing appeared over him, seamlessly forming around his figure. It was a fusion of traditional attire and a draconic theme, sleek yet heavily fortified. The armor had sharp, angular lines, mixing metallic and organic textures. Scales adorned its surface, and wing-like structures subtly protruded from the back. Yet, despite its grandeur, to an outside observer, the armor simply appeared as a tattered and ripped sweater.
Before, Mori had felt every impact from his opponents' blows, each strike sending jolts of pain through his body. But now, as the armor settled into place, the pain vanished entirely, as if it had never existed.
Madara and Hashirama immediately noticed the change. Their instincts flared with caution, prompting them to jump back and reassess the situation.
Mori slowly lowered his hands and adjusted his stance, leaning forward slightly. A faint whisper left his lips.
"Armorsuits, speed mode."
In an instant, he disappeared.
A loud crack echoed through the battlefield as both Madara and Hashirama were sent flying, their bodies smashing into the ground before tumbling uncontrollably. They struggled to get back on their feet, but before they could fully rise, Mori struck again, hitting them with such speed that they barely had time to react.
Madara's eyes narrowed as he activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, trying to track Mori's movements. Even with his enhanced vision, he could only barely make out Mori's figure darting around at blinding speeds. Hashirama, relying on his Sage Mode, attempted to sense Mori's energy, but the martial artist was moving too fast for him to pinpoint.
Each time Mori landed a hit, Madara or Hashirama would be sent crashing into the trees, shattering them like twigs, or plowing deep trenches into the earth. The battlefield was quickly becoming a ruined wasteland under the sheer force of the fight.
Realizing they needed to change their approach, Hashirama clapped his hands together, summoning a massive wooden golem from the ground. The towering construct loomed over the battlefield, its form casting an enormous shadow. Madara, without hesitation, activated his full-body Susanoo, its blue energy flaring as it took shape around him.
Mori grinned as he retrieved his Yeoui. With a single leap, he launched himself into the air. He maintained perfect balance as he defended against the relentless attacks of the two giants. His staff continuously shifted in size as he maneuvered around, countering every blow with expert precision.
"Shrink, grow, shrink, grow," Mori chanted repeatedly, adjusting the length and width of Yeoui to either block an attack or strike at their weak points. Each time he spoke, his staff responded instantly, smashing through the wooden golem's limbs or breaking the armor of Madara's Susanoo.
Despite their overwhelming power, neither Hashirama nor Madara could land a decisive blow. They quickly realized that at this rate, they would be slowly whittled down until they were completely overpowered.
Then, in a sudden flash of inspiration, Madara made his move.
He leaped onto Hashirama's wooden golem, his Susanoo expanding and merging with it. In an instant, the wooden construct became encased in an armor of pure chakra, turning it into an even more formidable titan. Hashirama, stunned at what he just witnessed, could only stare in disbelief.
Mori paused mid-attack, gazing up at the newly formed warrior. A smirk slowly spread across his face.
"Geundoowun!" he called out.
A massive cloud descended from above, lifting him into the sky as he readied himself for the next stage of the battle.
The fight resumed with even greater intensity. Mori maneuvered swiftly through the air, his staff growing and shrinking at breakneck speed as he continued his assault. Meanwhile, Madara and Hashirama unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu, the battlefield becoming a storm of destruction.
"Deep Forest Emergence!"
"Great Fireball Jutsu
"Wooden Dragon!"
"Great Fire Annihilation!"
"Sage Art: Thousand-Hand Buddha!"
The ground trembled as an enormous wooden Buddha erupted from beneath the earth, now encased in the blue energy of Susanoo. Hundreds of massive arms looming over Mori's position like a divine punishment from the heavens.
Mori landed on the ground, gazing up at the colossal construct before him. He could see the exhausted yet determined figures of Madara and Hashirama standing atop its head.
A wide grin formed on his lips.
"Madara, Hashirama, if you survive this, I'll tell you a little secret."
His stance shifted.
"Armorsuits, power mode."
His sleek armor transformed, expanding into a bulkier, more muscular form. The once lightweight appearance now radiated overwhelming strength.
Slamming Yeoui into the ground, he bent the top of the staff backward toward himself. Gripping it tightly, he twisted with all his might.
"Grow, grow, grow, grow, grow!" he roared.
The staff burrowed deep into the earth, its power building with each command.
A sense of dread washed over Madara and Hashirama. They could feel the immense energy radiating from Mori's attack. Without hesitation, the giant Buddha launched its hundreds of arms downward, attempting to crush Mori before he could release his strike.
But it was too late.
A faint whisper escaped Mori's lips.
"Mori Original: Jin Jichuk."
The Yeoui swung outward from the ground with devastating force.
A deafening, laser-like noise cut through the air as the staff's immense energy was unleashed in a single, devastating arc. The sheer impact split the colossal wooden construct in half, extending far beyond and carving a massive ravine into the earth.
Madara and Hashirama barely dodged in time, but not unscathed. A deep, diagonal wound ran across both of their chests as they tumbled through the air, their bodies hitting the ground with a heavy crash.
Both warriors lay motionless. The wooden Buddha, once a towering force of nature, crumbled away into nothingness.
Mori exhaled slowly, surveying the destruction he had caused.
With a soft sigh, he flew up and caught both unconscious men before they could hit the ground too hard. Gently, he landed and placed them down with care.
A familiar sound rang in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Chain Quest: Path to Divinity has been completed.]