Hashirama’s reaction was swift; almost at the moment A Mu grabbed him, his leg kicked forward with full force.

With a whoosh, the mud surged up, and A Mu was dragged out of the mud by Hashirama’s kick.

While A Mu was in mid-air, Hashirama punched him in the chest.

Bam!

A Mu broke through a wave of air, crashing towards Su Xiao at high speed. Su Xiao had already leaped from the Counter Shield and was in mid-air with nowhere to evade.

A Mu’s speed was too fast, and it crashed directly into Su Xiao.

Hashirama’s combat experience was too seasoned; such a situational response was fitting for his title as the God of Ninja.

With a splash, Su Xiao and A Mu fell into the mud marsh together.

In the marsh, Su Xiao pressed his hands against A Mu, biting the Dragon Slash’s hilt in his mouth, while A Mu held onto Su Xiao’s feet, gradually sinking.

Boom!

The mud surged, and A Mu instantly disappeared into the mud, while Su Xiao was tossed out.

In mid-air, Su Xiao gripped the hilt and swiftly swung the knife, sending over ten light blue blade auras towards Senju Hashirama.

"Earth Jutsu: Earth Flow Rampart."

A wall of earth formed in front of Senju Hashirama; as the blade auras slashed, several shattered simultaneously, breaking the earth wall.

Senju Hashirama leapt up; the remaining blade auras sliced into the ground, cutting the only foothold in a hundred meters into pieces, slowly sinking into the mud marsh.

"Earth Jutsu: Rock Locking Prison."

Just as Hashirama landed, the mud marsh beneath his feet began to rapidly petrify. This technique, combined with Huang Quan Marsh, was a combined ninjutsu, first trapping the enemy underground with Huang Quan Marsh, then using the Rock Locking Prison to completely entomb them underground. The pressure of the rock layers and suffocation would quickly kill the enemy.

The marsh rapidly petrified; in mid-air, Su Xiao pulled his arm, and the wire wheel under his left wrist spun rapidly, emitting a harsh creaking sound as if it were bearing a significant load.

With a hiss, A Mu was pulled out from the marsh; bound to its horn was the Boundary Line.

The surrounding marsh fully petrified, with most of A Mu’s body fixed within the rock.

Just as Su Xiao landed, he stomped the ground and charged towards Senju Hashirama, who was only six meters away.

The two engaged in close combat again; blades flashed, and two wounds instantly appeared on Hashirama’s arm. Hashirama was strong, but close combat wasn’t his strongest ability; this was evident from the battle between Madara and Might Guy. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Back then, Madara said, in the art of Taijutsu, among those I’ve fought, no one has been more exceptional than you.

Madara acknowledged Guy’s Taijutsu, admitting Guy as the strongest in Taijutsu. Madara had also fought Hashirama, and though Hashirama’s Taijutsu was powerful, it wasn’t strong enough for Madara’s recognition.

Blade auras crisscrossed; facing Su Xiao in close quarters was far from a pleasant experience.

Swish.

Another shallow wound appeared on Senju Hashirama’s arm; Hashirama’s body defense was astounding.

Blue Steel Shadow energy entered Senju Hashirama’s body; suddenly, he felt a wave of paralysis, the energy surging through his brain, causing dizziness.

The soul electrification ability of Blue Steel Shadow finally triggered; Su Xiao noticed the moment Hashirama’s body stiffened, slashing towards Hashirama’s throat.

Squelch.

The long knife slashed across Senju Hashirama’s throat, breaking through the skin, outer muscles, but just as it was about to sever Hashirama’s artery, the blade could not advance an inch.

The sensation of the cleave transmitted to Su Xiao’s hand, feeling as if cutting through hard rubber; able to slice open, yet unable to cut deeply.

With the long knife’s pass, Su Xiao reversed and slashed once more, still aiming for Senju Hashirama’s throat.

Squelch.

Blood splattered; Senju Hashirama’s gaze was no longer confused, but his body still couldn’t move.

Squelch, squelch, squelch...

Throat, chest, arm – Su Xiao wielded several successive slashes; upon realizing how rigid Hashirama’s body was, he refrained from repeatedly slashing the same spot, as it would slow his swing speed and prevent Blue Steel Shadow energy from maximally invading the enemy’s body.

Hashirama regained sensation; he blocked his throat with one hand while the other attempted to punch and force Su Xiao back.

Swish~

Su Xiao slashed Hashirama’s elbow; disbelief shone in Hashirama’s eyes as his body numbed again, the soul electrification triggered a second time.

If Su Xiao abandons precision in pursuit of swing speed, his slash frequency will reach a terrifying level.

With sufficient luck, Su Xiao could cut Hashirama to death; the slash causing light injuries? It doesn’t matter at all; Blue Steel Shadow energy inflicts true damage, not to mention the Demon’s Mark and Soul Cutting causing true damage and ignoring defense damage.

Theoretically, Su Xiao doesn’t actually have anything resembling a Big Move; Breaking Void is barely adequate. What he pursues is the ability to explode with stunning enemy-damaging power on every slash.

Blood splattered; Su Xiao fiercely slashed at Hashirama, while Senju Hashirama stood like a wooden figure, one arm in front defensively, the other posed to punch.

Su Xiao understood that now was the time to suppress Hashirama without giving him a chance to breathe; a war of attrition wasn’t possible.

Senju Hashirama was rapidly adapting to his current condition; the still active Thousand Hands Blood Limit was gradually awakening. Soon, Senju Hashirama would be able to use Wood Jutsu anew, marking the deadline of Su Xiao’s life.

As Su Xiao slashed at full speed, a ’marble’ slid out of his sleeve, shattering to envelop Hashirama in a cloud of black smoke.

This marble is a golden item, which Su Xiao acquired long ago but was reluctant to use. With time running out now, he could only use it with pain.

[Fate Interruption]

Quality: Gold

Type: Disposable Item

Effect: After use, conduct five forced checks on the designated target, namely Power Attribute Verification, Agility Attribute Verification, Physical Attribute Verification, Charm Attribute Verification, Luck Attributes Verification. If any check fails, the target’s fate will be interrupted, effect lasts for 5 minutes.

Note: If fate is interrupted, Luck Attributes -8, any action can lead to severe consequences.

...

A wisp of golden flame burned in Su Xiao’s hand; this was the European King ’s State of Fate Redemption. Originally, activating the European King ’s State required lighting a cigarette, but at that time, Fate Redemption was called ’Flame of Luck,’ which later upgraded to Fate Redemption.

Flame of Luck (Active): After lighting a cigarette with Flame of Luck, temporarily increase Luck Attributes by 2 points; effect lasts for 15 seconds.

Qi Luck (Active): Releases stored luck from ’Fate Redemption,’ holder’s Luck Attributes +4, effect lasts 3 minutes. If there’s no stored luck in ’Fate Redemption,’ 500 Paradise Coins will be paid instead, achieving the same effect.

...

Lighting cigarettes every time using Fate Redemption became Su Xiao’s personal habit; moreover, the released luck would carry flames, resulting in burnt palms.

Su Xiao used a golden item and Fate Redemption amid slashing for a reason. He would let Senju Hashirama be paralyzed to death by Soul Electrification.

First, after using the golden item [Fate Interruption], Senju Hashirama would undergo five attributes checks, including Luck Attributes. Thus, Su Xiao used Fate Redemption to increase the success rate.

Black mist enveloped Senju Hashirama; first check, second check, third check, after the fourth check, verification passed, and Senju Hashirama suffered from ’Fate Interruption’ effect, Luck -8.

At this moment, Hashirama regained consciousness and immediately jumped back.

Slash.

The tip of the Dragon Slash knife grazed Senju Hashirama’s cheek, and his body stiffened once again.

Su Xiao slashed Hashirama several more times. He had battled in the Reincarnation Paradise for so long and hadn’t seen someone with as tough a physique as Senju Hashirama’s, and that was after being weakened. If not weakened, how strong would the contractors who deal with these plot characters be?

Hashirama had taken dozens of Su Xiao’s slashes. Even with his almost abnormal recovery ability, he was on the verge of death. The true damage from Su Xiao’s slashes was no joke.

Just as Su Xiao was madly slashing Senju Hashirama, A Mu charged forward as well.

After a few more slashes from Su Xiao, Hashirama regained consciousness for the third time.

With a loud rumble, thick trees emerged from the ground; Senju Hashirama’s Wood Jutsu ability was restored due to the massive blood loss during the slashing, significantly reducing the concentration of the alchemy potion in his system.

A thick tree branch pierced Su Xiao’s abdomen, and he was flung away by the sky-reaching trees erupting from the ground.

A Mu threw himself at Hashirama desperately. The battle reached its critical moment; if Hashirama fully recovered, Su Xiao and the others would be doomed.

Su Xiao swung his knife to sever the tree branch piercing him; the branch was as thick as an arm. Just after landing, he grabbed the branch in his abdomen and pulled with all his strength. This thing was quickly draining his life energy, with his Life Value declining at a rate of 20% per second.

Slash.

A gush of blood spurted from Su Xiao’s abdomen. Just as he tried to stand, his legs buckled beneath him.

Realizing the situation, Su Xiao’s sharp eyes quickly scanned the battlefield and found Shinfuru.

There was no time to call out to Shinfuru and have her run over step by step.

The Boundary Line shot out, entangling the terrified Shinfuru. Two seconds later, she was yanked in front of Su Xiao. Though unharmed, Shinfuru was almost scared out of her wits.

With a tearing sound, Shinfuru’s upper garments were ripped away, and Su Xiao bit onto Shinfuru.

"N-not there... ah~"

Five seconds later, Su Xiao stood up and charged toward Senju Hashirama at full speed.

Boom!

A Mu flew toward Su Xiao, one arm broken, and his lower body gone. During the time Su Xiao was flung away by the trees, A Mu successfully held Hashirama back to prevent him from recovering.

Su Xiao sidestepped to avoid A Mu and continued charging at Senju Hashirama.

"Cough cough cough..."

Senju Hashirama knelt on one knee, coughing up blood. Just as he lifted his head, a knife came slashing down.

From the beginning of the battle, both Su Xiao and Senju Hashirama kept silent, each trying to kill the other.

Senju Hashirama had led his clan in long-standing battles against the Uchiha Clan. Was he really a kindhearted man? Of course not. He was a gentle elder, a kind leader, but not soft-hearted. The kind Senju Hashirama was long dead, ever since he stabbed a knife in Madara’s back for Konoha Village.

Slash.

Senju Hashirama blocked Su Xiao’s knife with his arm, and the two engaged in a stand-off.

"Today, you die, I live."

Su Xiao grinned, blood dripping from his chin.

"For Konoha Village, for the Ninja World, a relic like me shouldn’t continue to live, and you... shouldn’t exist in this world either."

As Senju Hashirama finished speaking, Su Xiao’s left hand had already pressed on the spine of the Dragon Slash, the blade gradually cutting into Hashirama’s arm, with Blue Steel Shadow energy surging along the long knife.