Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 372

"In the end, failure is failure," Fujimoto Tōma said quietly, breathing a little heavier as he watched Madara’s wounds knit themselves back together in real time. "Almost killing you and missing by a mile make no difference."

It was obvious. Madara’s recovery wouldn’t take long. Against someone at this level, injuries that couldn’t kill were meaningless. They were just scenery.

Madara laughed loudly, blood still staining his lips.

"Fujimoto Tōma. Forcing someone who rivals the Sage of Six Paths into this state is already something to be proud of."

"I don’t see it that way," Tōma replied flatly, giving him a sideways glance.

"Hah! That stubbornness is admirable," Madara said, eyes sweeping over the shattered, burning armor barely clinging to Tōma’s body. "But you’re at the end of your rope, aren’t you?"

Tōma didn’t answer.

Because Madara was right.

This mode was collapsing. The greatest result he’d achieved was destroying one of Madara’s Limbo shadows. Even that wasn’t permanent. It would return, given time.

As for Madara’s current condition? It looked horrific, but for a Ten Tails jinchūriki, it meant nothing.

Tch...

The Truth Seeking Orb explosion hadn’t delivered the outcome Tōma wanted. Not only had Madara survived, the remaining three Limbo shadows were still intact.

If those shadows were gone, his dimensional blade might have finally mattered.

But reality didn’t deal in "if."

By any objective measure, this exchange was a failure. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

In fact, despite Madara’s ruined appearance, it was Tōma who had been cornered.

He only possessed two reliable methods capable of killing a Six Paths level opponent. One was his dimensional slash. The other was detonating a Truth Seeking Orb.

The dimensional slash was useless while Limbo existed.

So he gambled everything on the explosion.

And lost.

Is there... still a way?

Tōma’s thoughts raced.

Flying Thunder God crossed his mind.

But Madara would never allow a direct seal. And Flying Thunder God kunai wouldn’t survive this battlefield anyway. The shockwaves alone would pulverize them instantly.

At this level, only materials like Truth Seeking Orbs could endure. Even Tōma’s black blade would’ve shattered long ago if it weren’t wrapped in Nine Tails chakra and Susanoo armor.

Ordinary tools were irrelevant.

Even if a kunai somehow survived, Madara’s reaction speed meant teleportation without a direct mark would just give him time to counter. At best, it would accomplish nothing. At worst, it would hand Madara an opening.

There was one trick left.

Using Truth Seeking Orbs as Flying Thunder God anchors.

As long as the orb existed, Tōma could teleport.

Madara didn’t know that.

Originally, Tōma had considered using that surprise to teleport in and finish things with a dimensional slash.

But after trading blows, he understood something clearly.

Madara’s reflexes had evolved again after becoming the Ten Tails jinchūriki.

Even if caught off guard, Madara could still swap places with a Limbo shadow in time.

That plan would only expose his secret and accomplish nothing.

So he abandoned it and chose the explosion instead.

And now?

Looking back, the results of both plans were nearly the same. Worse, the explosion had dragged him into the blast and left him severely injured.

Yet even now, if given the choice again, he would still pick the explosion.

Because only that had even a chance of killing Madara.

The other path never did.

Tōma exhaled slowly.

Then his eyes sharpened.

Even if this is a dead end... I’m not stopping here.

Before the last bit of strength left this body, he would gamble everything.

His chakra surged.

Not because it increased, but because he stopped holding anything back.

The space around him twisted as the flames intensified, shifting from deep crimson to a blinding white-red. Fire engulfed him completely.

Tōma stared straight at Madara. Twin flames seemed to burn in his pupils.

He grinned.

"Come on," he said. "One more."

In the next instant, his body became a streak of fire, shooting higher into the sky.

Madara didn’t stop him.

His expression grew solemn. He understood instinctively.

This was Tōma’s final attack.

If he endured it, the battle would be over.

But even knowing that, Madara felt no ease.

Because this strike...

...would be terrifying.

The sky itself ignited.

Clouds transformed into rolling seas of flame, thunder flickering within them as if the heavens were about to rain fire.

Madara watched in awe.

"So this is your answer..."

Tōma had abandoned finesse. No techniques that cut space. No clever tricks.

This was raw power.

Pure, overwhelming force.

Whether by choice or necessity, Tōma had turned this into a collision that would swallow everything, including the Limbo shadows’ range.

Madara had no room to dodge.

Only one option remained.

To meet it head-on.

"Hahaha!" Madara laughed, exhilarated. His blood boiled beneath the burning sky. "How could I not answer that?!"

Blue chakra erupted around him.

In moments, his complete Susanoo formed.

Then more.

From his three Limbo shadows, three more complete Susanoo manifested, towering beneath the burning heavens.

Four colossal warriors stood as one.

Madara’s own Susanoo grasped two massive chakra blades. The other three dissolved into streams of blue light, wrapping around those swords.

The pressure distorted space itself.

"Shame," Madara muttered, eyes blazing with obsession. "One shadow short."

Above him, the flames condensed.

A massive phoenix of fire took shape, wings stretching across the sky, its body burning with heat that seemed capable of reducing the world to ash.

Tōma stood within it, breathing hard.

He’d wanted to fuse lightning as well. Kirin had crossed his mind.

But the power was beyond his control.

This was the limit.

Through the phoenix’s blazing form and the jeweled face of Susanoo, the two locked eyes once more.

They smiled.

No words left to say.

"Senjutsu Art: Flame Release – Undying Phoenix!"

The phoenix screamed and dove.

It was like the sun falling from the sky.

Madara surged upward, Susanoo wings beating once as he swung both blades.

"Limbo – Susanoo – Twin Blades of the God!"

The blades exploded with light.

The collision erased sound itself.

Then the sky shattered.

Explosions rippled endlessly, flames swallowing space, blue and red tearing at each other like warring gods. The earth trembled. Firestorms spiraled across the land.

The Allied Shinobi Forces shielded themselves, unable to even look.

Naruto and Sasuke, barely recovered, could only protect the army from the aftermath. Interfering was impossible.

Everyone knew.

This was the final clash.

Victory or annihilation.

When the flames finally faded, embers fell like rain.

The blinding light dimmed.

The phoenix was gone.

The Susanoo had vanished.

Only two figures remained, standing in the sky.

Madara.

And Tōma.

Tōma’s Nine Tails cloak was gone. His Susanoo armor had shattered completely.

They were close.

Too close.

The answer was clear.

The phoenix had fallen short.

Because Madara’s Six Paths staff had pierced straight through Fujimoto Tōma’s heart.