Chapter 32: Duel with Madara

Two figures were facing each other on a training ground.

(Hijiri): "You may want to avoid a melee confrontation if you want a chance to win."

(Madara): "Hmpf, useless chatter. Are you ready to dance?"

(Hijiri): "Of course."

Hijiri put himself in the Gentle Fist starting position while Madara put the gunbai and the scythe on his back.

At Izuna's signal, Hijiri flickered forward and Madara jumped back while forming hand seals. 

"Fire Release: Great Fireball."

A 5 m fireball was hurled towards Hijiri, who, as an answer, opened his byakugan. Seeing the chakra flow in the technique Hijiri swung a hand covered with a Chakra Blade and split it in half.

Madara, seeing this understood that he had to step up his game. But he didn't have time to create another technique because Hijiri was already upon him, delivering a powerful blow.

Madara retrieved the gunbai from his back to parry the punch. In response, Hijiri's puch became a palm that landed quietly on the gunbai.

"Eight Trigrams: Penetrating Gale Palm."

A violent wind bypassed the gunbai and hit Madara directly in the face.

Madara was forced to let go of the gunbai and was sent flying. Hijiri didn't pursue, instead, he took hold of the chain connecting the gunbai to Madara and tugged him over.

Madara, who was pulled forward, didn't remain passive but started forming hand seals: "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation".

Unfortunately for him, things weren't just going his way. 

"Eight Trigrams: Revolving Heaven"

The fire was dispersed by the spinning chakra dome and the still airborne Madara had to pull out the scythe to parry.

Madara was again sent flying with two broken chains where the gunbai and the scythe used to be. The scythe was destroyed when it met the Revolving Heaven.

Hijiri gave pursuit and threw a fist. Madara managed to deflect it, only to discover that his own body was rapidly losing strength. In a few moments, he was immobilized.

And like that ended the underwhelming fight against Madara.

Hijiri was surprised he expected a harder fight, especially given how much trouble Hashirama had been. But then he realized that Madara during the whole fight hadn't used his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Izuna ran to his brother: "Brother! You what have you done to him?"

(Hijiri): "Don't worry he is only paralyzed. I will release him now."

Hijiri made the release seal and Madara was rapidly able to move.

(Madara): "What was that, I thought I deflected that blow."

(Hijiri): "That is my signature style: the Gentle Sealing Pulse. With it, I can release from any part of my body a seal that, infused in a tenketsu, can quickly immobilize the opponent."

(Madara): "So, that is how it is. Well, a loss is a loss. Do as you wish."

(Hijiri): "You didn't use your Mangekyo Sharingan, can I ask why."

(Madara): "I won't use it for trivial matters. If I used though you wouldn't have stood a chance."

(Hijiri): "Hahaha. Maybe."

After the duel, Hijiri's unit was able to offer assistance to the wounded in the camp.