Chapter 274: Hashirama Senju’s Close-Quarters Combat

Ning Feng seemed able to read Madara’s thoughts and let out a cold snort.

Not only did he disagree with Madara’s ideals, he found them utterly foolish.

To be deceived by Black Zetsu to such an extent and unwaveringly pursue the path to peace described on the stone tablet—Madara was, in a way, a pitiful man.

"If you don’t have any other tricks left, then it’s time for you to go."

Ning Feng raised the Kusanagi Sword and slashed toward Madara’s neck like the Grim Reaper claiming a soul!

Clang!

A massive sword suddenly appeared before Madara’s neck.

Its blade was several times wider than the Kusanagi Sword and blocked Ning Feng’s fatal strike.

"Hm? Yakushi Kabuto, don’t be in such a hurry. After Madara, you’re next."

Seeing the expressionless Hashirama mechanically summon a giant sword to stop the attack, Ning Feng looked at him coldly and spoke.

He knew Hashirama was under Kabuto’s control.

And he knew Kabuto could hear every word.

"I’m next, am I?"

Deep within his underground base, Yakushi Kabuto shook his head and adjusted his glasses.

Dangerous light flickered within his snake-like pupils.

He was no longer the powerless subordinate who could only stand beside Orochimaru and watch experiments.

Now, he had transformed into a true dragon.

To him, shinobi such as Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, and Ning Feng...

Were merely pieces on his board.

The Tailed Beasts inside Ning Feng and the Demonic Statue in the hands of Madara and Obito would all become his eventually.

"If their deadlock breaks now, it’ll become difficult to continue my plans..."

Kabuto sighed softly.

He knew that while he had surpassed ordinary humans, when it came to actual combat strength...

Ning Feng could crush ten versions of him.

As the Third Amekage, Ning Feng’s personal strength was simply too terrifying.

He was dominating both Madara and Hashirama.

Although Kabuto could control Hashirama’s actions, he wouldn’t dare claim he could defeat Hashirama himself.

This was the God of Shinobi.

A title earned through sheer ability.

And if Ning Feng broke the stalemate, Kabuto would no longer possess any means of preventing him from becoming the Sage of Six Paths.

"But shinobi reincarnated through Edo Tensei would just be cannon fodder in a battle at this level..."

Kabuto pondered as he set down a game piece.

The map that once occupied his table had been replaced by a crude chessboard.

The battlefield was represented upon it.

At the center were pieces representing Ning Feng, Madara, Hashirama, and the others.

At the edges were countless Edo Tensei shinobi.

Moments earlier, Kabuto had moved two pieces toward the center of the battlefield.

...

For the moment, Madara had been pushed aside by Ning Feng.

He was now engaged in close combat with Hashirama, who had suddenly summoned the giant sword.

Hashirama truly deserved his title as the God of Shinobi.

Even in a weakened Edo Tensei body, his taijutsu remained formidable.

Every punch and kick contained immense chakra and overwhelming force, like mountains and oceans crashing down.

Such blows, even when executed casually, rivaled ordinary B-rank ninjutsu.

This was Hashirama’s monstrous strength!

Back during the Warring States Era, people had been awed by Hashirama’s Wood Release.

After all, his Wood Release could suppress the Nine-Tails.

And what was the Nine-Tails?

The strongest Tailed Beast in existence.

Because of that, Hashirama had naturally stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world through Wood Release alone.

However, people overlooked something else.

To produce Wood Release on such a colossal scale, one’s body itself had to be extraordinarily powerful.

Hashirama’s true terror lay in close combat.

Madara possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

He had also survived the countless wars of the Warring States Era and possessed tremendous combat experience.

Yet despite all that, he was ultimately slain by Hashirama at the Valley of the End.

That alone demonstrated how monstrous Hashirama’s physique truly was.

Such was the power of the Sage Body.

And now, Ning Feng was finally realizing how masterfully Hashirama had utilized his own Sage Body.

After being enhanced by Tailed Beast chakra and implanted with Hashirama’s cells, Ning Feng had received tremendous boosts.

His physical strength had already surpassed Hashirama’s.

However, he hadn’t possessed such a body for very long.

He still didn’t fully understand how to maximize its advantages.

Most of the time, he simply used his enhanced chakra to strengthen his ninjutsu.

The improvements to his strength and speed were largely passive benefits.

Hashirama was different.

He also possessed a Sage Body.

His constitution was abnormal and far beyond ordinary people.

Because of the constant warfare of the Warring States Era, Hashirama had been able to fully exploit every aspect of that body.

Without even realizing it, he had developed a combat style uniquely suited to himself.

A style that maximized the potential of his physique.

Monstrous strength increased destructive power.

Chakra enhancement boosted speed.

Through countless battles and refinements, Hashirama had gradually perfected a combat method specifically designed around his Sage Body.

Ning Feng, despite possessing a stronger body now...

Still relied heavily on swordsmanship.

He had yet to develop a fighting style tailored specifically to his own Sage Body.

As a result, Hashirama’s close-combat prowess was actually matching him blow for blow!

Since Hashirama’s body was an Edo Tensei vessel, Obito’s Kamui was completely ineffective against him.

For a time, Ning Feng found himself locked in a difficult battle.

"As expected of the God of Shinobi..."

Kabuto couldn’t help sighing as he controlled Hashirama’s body.

At first, he had dominated Hashirama’s thoughts, causing him to rely mainly on Wood Release, which had become instinctive to him.

In close combat, the Hashirama under Kabuto’s control had initially been completely overwhelmed by Ning Feng.

But as the fight continued...

Hashirama’s body seemed to develop a will of its own.

Gradually, it began moving independently.

And every movement was executed with incredible precision.

Combined with his monstrous strength, the resulting destruction was terrifying.

The God of Shinobi...

Even when his consciousness was controlled, the combat experience engraved into his body could not be erased.

Those instincts were carved into his flesh.

Etched into the depths of his soul.

This was the God of Shinobi.

At this moment, Ning Feng felt endless pressure crashing down upon him.

He had never expected...

That a fully unleashed Hashirama Senju would possess such overwhelming suppressive power!

🌟 The story is already written... waiting to be unleashed.

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