Reborn in Naruto As Madara's Grandson - C.624: Madara Vs Team Izuna Part-1

"YOSHAA!"

Naruto pumps his fist.

"We are finally getting a chance to fight along Nii-san!" The prospect of a battle alongside Izuna excites even Sasuke.

"You two…" Izuna chuckles and shakes his head.

"Isn't this the reason these two were training so hard? To fight alongside their elder brother and show off their power." Kushina also chuckles.

"Then, let's go!"

Whoosh…

Naruto turns into an orange streak and rushes in Madara's direction.

"Let's see who will reach there faster?"

"I won't lose to a loser like you?"

Sasuke also turns into a blue lightning streak and disappears.

"Haha… this reminds me of their childhood days!" Izuna laughs and turns into a cyan streak.

"You two are still too young to beat me!"

Izuna easily surpasses both streaks.

"It has been a while since I saw them smile like that!" Kushina reminisces some memories.

"Naruto! Sasuke!" Lee watches their interaction and clenches his fists.

"I am so useless!"

Minato notices the doubt and guilt in Rock Lee's eyes.

"Lee!" He pats Lee's shoulder.

"Not every person follows the same path. Naruto and Sasuke reached their current level because of luck. Not everyone has the privilege to learn under the tutelage of the most powerful shinobi of their era. However, Lee…. With enough hard work and resolve, you too can reach their level and even surpass it. I am very sure of it! Because you have what Naruto and Sasuke lack…"

Lee wipes his tears and stares into Minato's eyes.

"Lord Fourth! What do I have that Naruto and Sasuke lack?"

"It's your indomitable will, Lee! You are one of the best shinobis in the younger generation, despite the lack of chakra. Despite such a setback, you didn't give up on your dream. Your immense hard work and resolve are what differentiates you from them. A talented person will go as far as his talent allows. A hard-working, talented person will go even further. But a person with indomitable will overcome his limits and surpass any genius or talent. And you, Lee, are that kind of person!" Minato encourages Lee to help him overcome his doubts, fear, and grief.

Minato reminisces about the duo of Kakashi and Gai.

'These words hold true since I have seen such examples with my own eyes. Not once, but twice!'

The image of Jiraiya and Orochimaru also appear in his mind.

'However, there is an exception to everything! What if a genius, talented shinobi is not only hard-working but also possesses an indomitable will?'

He still recalls one of Izuna's training regimens where the latter was training his chakra control and proficiency with hundreds of shadow clones while bearing the immense stress and distress caused by every single shadow clone. Every night, he would almost exhaust himself to death, only to repeat it the next day. Even Tsunade was concerned by this method, but Izuna managed to pull this method for an entirety of five years; thus training himself to the peak of proficiency in all elements, including the elusive elemental combination.

Minato glances at Izuna's back in the distance.

'I am sure an exception like that won't appear again!'

--------

Whoosh…

Izuna is the first to arrive in front of Madara.

"Dimensional Slash!"

He waves his hand and sends an invisible blade to slice through space.

Shiing…

The eye on Madara's forehead flickers and he barely dodges the attack by side-stepping at the last moment. The powerful slash cleaves through the massive Shinju tree and even leaves a dimensional scar in the space.

The black chakra around Izuna's arm disperses.

"Hmm… I didn't expect someone this strong to be still alive!"

Once again, Madara focuses his attention on Izuna.

"I seem to have seen your face," He mumbles.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Two more shadows flicker beside Izuna and stand with him.

"Huh! You two managed to escape from the void?" Madara is surprised to see Sasuke and Naruto.

"It doesn't matter! I have already severed the karmic cycle of this world and freed humankind from their suffering, pain, and futility. Now, all that's just left of the old world is you people who still stand in my way. Now, I shall fulfill my role as the savior of this world." He shakes his head.

"Do you really think your actions will save the world?" Izuna questions.

"Ah! I remember now," Madara recalls the stark resemblance of Izuna with the strange clone Kabuto summoned.

"So, you are the one who is hailed as the strongest shinobi of this era, the Shinigami!"

"Yep, that's me!" Izuna nods while cracking his neck.

"Strange! I feel like I have met you before?" Slight confusion appears on Madara's face.

"Perhaps you have an uncanny resemblance to someone I used to know a long time ago. Still, it doesn't change the fact that you stand in my way. So, I shall eradicate your existence to fulfill my purpose."

"And what's your purpose? To trap the entire world in a Genjutsu and let them rot till their death!" Izuna stares into Madara's eye.

"Oh, so you are aware of the effect of the Infinite Tsukiyomi. So, you must also know that these people are currently living the life they desire the most. I just fulfilled their wishes. I gave them their ideal life."

"But all of this… everything... it's just a lie!" Naruto retorts.

"No… you are the one who's interfering with everyone's happiness. Just look at this world now. All fighting has ceased. Peace and tranquility have returned to the once chaotic world. I have transformed the hell into heaven, a serene place with no violence."

"Is this your idea of a perfect world? You are just deceiving yourself and others with your skewed worldview." Sasuke argues against him.

"Unfortunately, you don't seem to understand the truth of reality. That's why I must get rid of you all to save this world from misery."

Swish…

Madara makes a Ram hand sign.

SHUA…

Suddenly, the surrounding space changes.

'Amenominaka,'

SHOOM…

Before Naruto and Sasuke could realize it, they are already falling into the mouth of an active volcano.

Swish… swish…

Izuna swiftly grabs their hands and prevents them from touching the molten lava beneath their feet.

"Hot! Hot! So hot!"

Naruto swiftly pulls his legs up as lava scorches his body.

Whoosh…

Izuna flies high in the sky and stands on the same level as Madara.

"Naruto, you are on your own!"

He releases his grasp on Naruto.

"Ah, Nii-san, I will die if you drop me like that!" Naruto panics at the sight.

AH…

Naruto rapidly descends towards the lava.

"I don't want to fall into lava! I don't want to fall into lava!" Naruto desperately chants these magic words.

WHAM...

As if right on cue, he pauses in mid-air.

"So, I can fly too!" Naruto flies back and forth and returns beside Izuna.

"As for you Sasuke…"

Izuna taps the back of Sasuke's palm with his finger.

A strange seal appears for a few seconds before disappearing.

"Now, you can fly too!"

Hmm…

Sasuke also controls his aerial movements and quickly gets used to it since he fought quite a few aerial battles with Susanoo.

While the group was escaping the disaster, Madara also wasn't idle.

He finishes making the hand seals and directs his palm towards the group.

HAAH…

A massive amount of lava gathers from the surroundings and surges in front of Madara.

"There is something wrong with this lava!" Naruto remarks.

"I can't sense any nature energy from it!"

Shiing…

Sasuke also activates the 'Eye of Truth' and glances at the lava.

"Strange! This lava is alive, but not alive at the same time." Sasuke notices a strange source of living energy in the lava.

"This is the natal form of a concept and also the source of this dimension!" Izuna explains.

"Umm… what?!" Naruto tilts his head in confusion.

"In short, this thing is dangerous, and your usual attacks won't work on it. Even Sage chakra is useless against it since it can even absorb that and even strengthen itself."

"So, how do we deal with it?"

Sasuke avoids a massive arm made of lava.

"To stop this creature, you have to kill or overpower the concept behind it."

"Ah, I understand! Just like how we use water to extinguish fire." Naruto bumps his palm.

"Correct! But we can't use any ordinary water but water on the same level as this fire."

"Umm… where do we get that?" Naruto tilts his head.

"Naruto, you idiot!" Sasuke shakes his head.

"Look at those floating things behind you!"

"UH!" Naruto freezes and quickly extends his palm.

A Truth-seeking orb floats in his palm. Naruto infuses a large amount of Six Paths chakra in the orb while visualizing his most powerful water jutsu.