An area right in the middle of nowhere. And there was actually nothingness, as well. The only thing was that the ground was covered in blades of grass and way into the distance were trees that surrounded the area which he found himself in. Hao felt like he had risen from the dead, stretching out while his pure black eyes gazed directly into the horizon, immediately spotting the one other person standing not too far in front of him. The unknown individual had his eyes closed and his legs crossed, sitting down in a meditative state. Hao almost thought he could even hear the humming coming from the man. There was little information known about his newly found target. He hadn’t met the man before in his life, but he was confident in his abilities as to not back down because of intimidation. Looking back at it and taking his experience into account, he shouldn’t approach the man carelessly, even if it seems that he’s sitting there without taking note of his surroundings. The man really is on his guard, because Hao would do the same. He took a few steps to his left and observed the man from almost every possible angle. There were no obstacles around, but not knowing this individual’s abilities, he can’t count on it that the area would remain the same as it is now.

Hao suddenly stopped in his tracks. A sinister smirk crossed his lips and his eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to use the Sharingan yet and decided to conserve some of his chakra for the moment that he indeed would need it, if this man would actually prove that much of a threat to him. His breathing remained calm and steady, analyzing each option that he had. The man didn’t give off any openings, although it seemed that he had many. He just wanted to see what the man’s reaction would be if Hao would suddenly start with an opening. The killing intent of Hao was something that he indeed couldn’t keep inside, it was in his nature to face every challenge head on, even if the opponent wouldn’t want to fight in the first place. He raised his hands and performed the necessary handseals for the technique that he figured he’d be wanting to use as a kick-off to their battle. The Horse, Monkey and Bird signs were used in that exact same order, followed by Hao overlapping his mouth with both of his hands. By focusing his fuuton chakra and inhaling/exhaling it through his hands, he builds up the necessary amount to make this technique a great success. It’s been a while since he used it, but you never unlearn how to ride a bike. Out of thin air, a beam was shot from Hao’s direction, containing wind and dust that is shown off as a grey field closing in on the target. If the man didn’t dodge a technique of this level, he’d certainly be damaged enough to the point where he could barely move. The sound of the wind was heard gaining distance in on the man, moving at a rapid speed. Hao’s eyes widened, thinking that he had the man at his first technique, but maybe that was just his ego getting the better of him. The size of the beam as nearly the size of the man, waiting in full anticipation of what he would do to get out of a situation like this.

Chakra: 375 / 400

Spoiler:

Tetsunori hummed. It wasn’t everyday that one found someone of such strong life energy that they just seemed to live through their very own deaths. He was intrigued by Hao, the Uchiha who had managed to defy death so many times, only to fall to the same village that had groomed him, so much so that he had felt it a necessity to visit the supposedly legendary Uchiha.

Tetsunori sat in a meditative pose as he waited for Hao to awaken from his slumber; the very same slumber that had held Hao in its clutches ever since he had tasted death the first time. His hands were rested on his thighs and his eyes were closed, yet his senses took in everything around him. Then, he felt Hao stand, and Tetsunori, interested in what Hao had in mind when he began to walk to Tetsunori’s right, merely waited in anticipation.

He was of course surprised when he felt chakra build up inside the man. Was Hao going to attack? This was not how he had planned their meeting, but when one was meeting with the great Uchiha who was rumoured to raze even mountains to the ground, one could only expect a greeting of at least equal fire. He felt the slight shift in wind pressure and knew that a Fuuton attack was being prepared.

Hao was standing ten metres from him, nearly thirty degrees to his right from where he was facing, with nothing but plain grass underneath the two of them for at least thirty metres in every direction. Well, not for long, if Tetsunori truly got to play around.

With that thought and the feeling of air rushing towards him, the man’s eyes shot open, still looking straight and not at the man-sized beam of air rushing towards him. One hand flickered to the half-tiger seal while the other flickered to the half-bird seal, both hands still resting on his thighs, unmoving.

A wall of earth shot up between the two of them, just a half-metre from Tetsunori in the exact direction of Hao, blocking the gust of wind and causing it to dissipate, though kicking up a few leaves. At the same time, the ground beneath them rumbled as three tree roots raced towards Hao, with them beginning to grow visible above ground when they were five metres from the man. When they were two metres from him, however, they would lash out at the Uchiha, one root ensnaring his left leg while the other two ensnared his waist and right arm respectively.

Chakra: 360/400

Jutsu:

---

If Hao were caught by the roots, Tetsunori would then slam his right palm into the earth wall between him and Hao, sending a swarm of twenty five earth bullets travelling at fifteen metres per second towards the Uchiha, giving him less than a second to react.

Chakra: 340/400

Jutsu:

---

If Hao jumped left, right, or backwards, however, Tetsunori would instead slam his right hand into the ground, causing the roots to redirect their attention to Hao’s new location.

Chakra: 360/400

---

If Hao jumped in front, Tetsunori would slam both his hands into the ground, causing the roots to redirect themselves towards Hao while the Earth wall raced towards Hao, first hitting him before turning to mud and trapping Hao in its embrace before solidifying.

Chakra: 360/400

---

If Hao jumped above, Tetsunori would merely need to stand up, spinning once clockwise as he did so, with his right hand extending and the wall of earth dropping as he rose. A huge burst of wind would be exerted around him, mostly concentrated on Hao’s location, blowing outwards and causing the Uchiha to lose his balance midair, falling on his back on the ground instead with numerous three-inch cuts courtesy of his wind jutsu, particularly three on each limb and four on the chest.

Chakra: 335/400

Jutsu:

Hao actually wasn’t really shocked nor surprised that the blast that he had fired off had been blocked. The Earth Wall shot up from the ground that nullified the damage he wanted to inflict on the meditating individual behind the wall. Rather than being disappointed, a smirk slipped across his lips, being able to feel the heat of the battle, his blood boiling and wanting to experience more of this sensation that the man was offering him. It’s an opponent he hadn’t fought in a long time, being able to stop an attack like that without even flinching, much less looking at the technique he was showing off. Although the technique had devastating power, it didn’t seem to bother the man one bit. He still didn’t know much about the individual’s abilities, however, but that would be clear to Hao soon enough. It was the moment when the ground started to rumble, and five meters from beneath the surface of the Earth arose three tree roots, making their way through the dirt on the ground and heading into Hao’s direction. His eyes widened just slightly, but mainly because of the realization what this man’s origin actually was. The wood-style technique could only mean that the man was from that one clan; the Senju. It was an age-long history between the Uchiha and the Senju, but this was no time to reflect on that. Five meters was too close to Hao’s liking and needed to step up his game as soon as possible. He didn’t want the tree roots to wrap around him and decided to stick close to the ground to keep his flexibility and move into whatever direction he likes and counter whenever he wants to. Considering the five meters in between him and the roots and taking a quick gaze into the distance where the Earth Wall stood strong.

As a reaction of his instinct, he decided it was best to keep his distance a little more from the roots and get them out of the way as soon as possible. Lowering himself a little bit to increase the reach of his jump, he launched himself backwards another five meters while performing the necessary handseals for his follow-up technique. Was the man even able to see him from behind the wall? He didn’t see why he could see him, but decided to put it to the test. Should the man indeed not be able to see him, he could use a decoy to get caught by the roots and sneak his way closer to the man and catch him by surprise. He knew he shouldn’t waste chakra, but this man kept pulling more and more out of Hao, making him go wild and crazy, putting his battle experience to the test. The moment that the last handseal had been made, he took a deep breath in order to focus his fuuton chakra in his lungs, spinning the top of his body to the left and in one swift movement spinning back into the opposite direction, exhaling the chakra he had built up. The released air is compressed into a blade created entirely out of wind, 6 inches in width. This technique was meant to cut right through the tree roots that changed their route as soon as Hao jumped backwards. If successful, the blade of wind cuts right through the tree roots, making its way to the Earth Wall. As the wall is about 15 meters away, the blade of wind gradually expands itself and covers a substantial ground around Hao himself, almost looking like the half of a moon. The blade of wind reaches the end of its radius, 25 meters, as it begins to cut into the Earth Wall, though only left but a deep scratch on its surface, not being able to cut right through.
----
Should that have succeeded
----
He had to keep his guard up. He didn’t know what that man had planned right now, because just as the man might not be able to see Hao, he wasn’t able to see that Senju, either. This was an open area and everything was dirt, there were even trees around. This was a definite disadvantage for Hao as a Senju would be able to turn everything in this area into their weapon. The tree roots appearing from the ground beforehand being the proof of that. First of all, he needed to move closer to the target. The wall was still in its way as he launched himself forward, wanting to make his way towards the individual as soon as possible. Why hasn’t he met a person like this before in his life? This thrill of battle was something that he had almost never experienced before. This wasn’t a fight to laugh at. This wasn’t a fight to be bored about. It was a fight to enjoy and take seriously. At the fast pace he’s going, he’s almost nearing the Earth Wall blocking his sight on the man. As a preparation, he performed another set of handseals, deciding to attack from both sides. It might not do much, but may at least provide him enough information and perhaps create an opening for him to do something with. A cloud of smoke was seen next to him as he succeeded in executing a technique he hadn’t used in a long time, mainly because it was too risky, dividing his chakra like that. A Shadow Clone was now running next to him, having a part of his chakra to perform jutsu of his own. Both of them ran around the wall and confronted the man, but both just stood there, one on each side and watching the man who was apparently still not taking him seriously. It kind of annoyed Hao, but he needed to keep his cool.

Hao Chakra: 335
Clone Chakra: 84/84

”Jutsu used”:

Tetsunori tilted his head sideways, curious at how the battle was unfolding.

Here he was, sitting in a meditative pose, with his right hand held in the half-tiger seal while his left hand was held in the half-bird seal, both hands still resting on his thighs. 

The Earth wall still stood five metres away from him thirty degrees clockwise of where he was standing, and his initial attack with the Senju's roots to trap Hao had failed. 

They were now standing to his left and right, both a mere metre away from him. Though he wouldn't show it, his heart was actually racing. One of the most powerful men rumoured to have walked the earth was now standing on either side of him, and while he himself had bore the title once eons past, it served as a substandard comparison between living gods from two different times.

Despite the danger he was in though (even if he couldn't technically really die, being already dead like the ninja he was facing), a smile found its way onto his lips. 

His eyes never moved from their vantage point, still facing forwards. However, his hands zipped faster than the eye could see, slamming into the ground beside him. Enormous sealing patterns would spring out from both hands, with a radius of 15 m, overlapping with each other. 

He felt a slight surge as he felt his two Jutsu take effect, one strengthening the use of Mokuton within the field, while the other weakened all other elements within the field apart from Mokuton. Of course, Tetsunori was confident Hao was not familiar with this kind of sneaky Fuuinjutsu, and instead attempted to conceal the use of his jutsu by a slight twitch of his hands.

To any outside, his hands would have seemed to have just shook, but he knew better, as he sat there still on the ground. The slight twitch had been him using a different jutsu, a summoning jutsu, to be exact, one from each hand. 

Two large Gorillas burst into life in a cloud of smoke, both still standing in the radius of the seal, and both standing one metre behind the two Haos surrounding him.

The one on his right was called Chigori, while the one on his left was called Sokugori, and they specialised in strength and speed respectively. Being B-rank summons, they had C-3 stats, with B-1 strength and speed respectively. 

Tetsunori would then rotate his hands such that they were facing upwards, even if they remained just an inch above the ground. The perimeter covered by the seal would then begin to sprout trees, growing quickly and almost instantly up to as tall as 50 m, with a canopy that closed them all in, keeping them trapped. 

Chigori would smash downwards with both hands, with Tetsunori fully aware that Hao would be able to avoid it. That was why a pair of roots would shoot up to try and ensnare the Hao on his right. Similarly, he would also be able to avoid Sokugori wrapping his arms around the Hao on his left. The two gorillas would also use their respective Playground jutsu after they had successfully caught or failed to catch their respective targets.

Tetsunori just let the smile linger on his lips as he waited for Hao's next move, still having yet to move from his spot. He would show this slayer of Kage what the 9th Hokage of the Leaf could do.

Tetsunori 'Tarzan' Senju 205/400:

Chigori 70/90:

Sokugori 70/90:

Jutsu:

Summons:

Summary:

It went faster than the current state of his eyes could see. Apparently, the slight twitch seen in his hands wasn’t some kind of body malfunction, but rather him preparing himself for the execution of one of his techniques. In the exact moment that Hao realized it was something else, the two Gorillas had already appeared as a minor part around him got covered in the smoke where the summoning appeared out of. Both Hao and his clone turned around to face the threat behind them, only to notice the ground rumble slightly and being covered in the forest to trap all of them in. It didn’t take a smart man to realize that the environment had just been changed to suit their specialty, considering they are gorillas. He didn’t really want to use it yet, but both Hao and his clone activated the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan the moment that their eyes met that of the two gorillas. He didn’t really want the clone to activate the Mangekyou, but the man would be able to see the difference between the clone and the actual deal. His Mangekyou allowed him to basically ‘foresee’ part of the future, but only based on his opponent’s movements.

The clone on the left noticed that the gorilla tried wrapping his arms around him and thus, in an attempt to stop him, blocked the arms which he wanted to use to wrap around him with both of his forearms. These animals were strong, indeed, but given on the strength of the summoning techniques itself, this shouldn’t pose a direct threat to both of them. He decided to, since he wanted to let himself go wild anyway, show this man the power that dwells within him. As soon as his forearms absorbed the impact of the gorilla’s arms, the clone’s eyes widened. “Amaterasu!” the clone spoke. Out of thin air, black flames formed right on the face of the gorilla in front of him. Given that the gorilla doesn’t wear any clothes, the flames directly eat way at its hair and skin, slowly roasting him alive. As soon as the techniques had been performed, the clone jumped backwards but kept his vision locked on the target in front of him. He figured that the gorilla has been done in by now and looked at the gorilla facing Hao for just a second, to see if there would be any help needed there.

The original Hao, who activated his Eternal Mangekyou as well, noticed that the arms of the gorilla had both been swung into the air. This seemed like a dangerous attack to block, probably breaking a bones himself in the process. He didn’t deem it safe enough to confront the attack directly, so he needed to create some distance first, before heading back in again. His eyes locked on just the fists of the gorilla before he felt a grip tightening around his legs. The roots, he thought to himself. The man definitely made this area completely about himself. Manipulating nature itself, indeed a formidable opponent. There wasn’t much time, but given the time window and having been ensnared himself, he had no option but to face this problem head on. The fists of the gorillas closed in on Hao on the moment that he formed the last of his handseals. He inhaled as his chest puffed up and exhaled it almost immediately, the arms having just reached his forehead. “Wind Release: Great Vaccuum Sphere!” He yelled out. The breath which he previously saved up got entirely blown out of his mouth, expanding immediately in a 5m diameter sphere that covered the entirety of the gorilla in front of him. The roots had still ensnared him, but the sphere that kept going and going, blowing away everything in its path had obliterated the summoning. His breathing was a little heavy, thinking that he was almost dealt a dangerous blow right there. For now, he was still safe. This man was indeed dangerous and not to mess around with. Just using his arm strength, he pulled apart the roots which he didn’t have the time for before, looking at the man that still didn’t move an inch.

Both being irritated at the man just sitting there and sending stuff at them, they both engaged the man directly, without any jutsu activated, just their Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Hao had some sort of plan in mind, however, he just needed everything to be put in place before he could utilize it. For now, while running at the man, both of their Sharingan locked on their target and not letting a single movement escape their vision. That man performed techniques faster than he'd ever see anyone perform them. His hands just twitched whenever he made a move, with the Sharingan that he has activated right now he's aware that he can follow his movements easier than earlier. Copying his techniques wouldn't do him any good, seeing as Hao doesn't have the ability to use the Mokuton element. He needed to do something else, this time a Katon techniques. He doesn't plan to hold back, neither will he with this technique. Both the clone and Hao performed the Horse, Tiger and Dog handseals in that order. He's planning to close in the man with a technique that he once used against Konohagakure, right before his downfall. Both Hao and the clone inhaled and arched their backs a little, building up fire chakra in their chests and filling their lungs, for the purpose of launching their upperbody forward and exhaling the saved up chakra for an explosive technique. The stream of fire expanded from their mouths, closing in on the Senju from both sides. Hao figured that in a time like this, Mokuton is useless. Both walls of flame, being twenty meters wide, a meter thick and 10 meters high, collided with each other at the exact spot where the man was sitting. At this moment, Hao didn't move his Sharingan from the spot, though knowing the man, Hao didn't know if the attack has succeeded or not. The clone poofed away in smoke, his chakra being drained by both the extreme technique and maintaining the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan at the same time. The chakra from the clone was completely lost, but still Hao had a smirk on his face. Not because he thought that the battle had been settled, but because he was interested to witness what the Senju had in store for him this time.

Hao chakra: 181/400
Clone chakra:  0/84 - Gone

Techniques used:

Tetsunori hummed again. He was impressed. Chigori and Sokugori had been dispelled, he felt that much from the loss of strain on his chakra. Even as he felt the temperatures of his surroundings rapidly heat up from the flames that were quickly approaching his still, unmoving body, he could appreciate the ferocity of Hao’s attacks, having been aimed to kill even if they were just summons.

Such cruelty, such brutality, such savagery…

Such Hao. It was perfect.

Tetsunori’s eyes widened at the last second, just before the flames hit as the pace in his heart truly picked up. He hadn’t felt the flames of war for so long, even if he had been killed before his time, that it was just so… extravagant fighting again, especially against an opponent he knew would kill him if he got the chance.

A tint of orange, indicated the use of his Sage Mode, marred his face as he closed his open palms, facing upwards, into fists, before disappearing just as the flames hit him.

Instead, what the flames did hit was a massive gorilla made to take his place. Mugegori, one of the six gorilla kings that ruled the gorilla realms. It had been a chore taking down Mugegori, and that was being a Senju in an area surrounded by nothing but forests. Tetsunori himself had retreated into the trees, smirking knowing that Hao would not be able to sense him using his Wood Style: Empty Forest Jutsu. From his original position, it would be in the direction that he was facing, around nine to ten metres away from his location before, and from the location of Mugegori now.

Relative to his initial position, both Haos were still standing one metre from his original position. Unfortunately, because of Mugegori’s much, much, much larger size, taking up roughly a sizeable three times three metres in area, while towering ten feet into the air, the flames that were supposed to incinerate him were completely extinguished as he landed on the clearing, having been summoned as a last resort.

Mugegori eyed the two Haos to his left and right, having seemingly been substituted with Tetsunori. He was facing the same direction Tetsunori had been facing, and was even seated. The two Haos were just right at his side. Raising his two large hands, with each palm the size of Hao himself, he tried to grab at the two of them. Should he succeed, he would throw them to the far ends of the perimeter, to his right and left respectively, then slam his hands onto the ground. If he should fail, he would proceed right to slamming his hands on the ground, just as Tetsunori had done before him.

His voice growled, though it seemed to boom through the clearing.

“Great Ape Style: Intrusion of the Ape Grounds!”

Immediately, both Haos would feel much weaker, slower, and more dazed, even more so than they had already felt. Similarly, out from the trees, Chigori and Sokugori would jump out, both seemingly cured from whatever damage Hao’s Amaterasu and deadly wind jutsu had done to them. Chigori would appear from the right, while Sokugori would appear from the left clump of trees, in the respective directions that Tetsunori had first summoned them. If Hao had been thrown into those trees, Sokugori and Chigori would attempt what they had before. Otherwise, they would race toward their specific targets, the ones closest to them.

Mugegori would growl once more, using yet another fearsome jutsu from his large arsenal, “Great Ape Style: Intrusion of the Ape Gardens! Great Ape Style: Intrusion of the Ape Palace!”

Upon the first, nothing seemed to happen. At this point, Chigori and Sokugori will attempt to use their Playground jutsu on their targets. When the second jutsu was uttered, four Tetsunori Wood Clones would appear around Mugegori. Each one would be standing between two cardinal directions, either between his front and left, front and right, back and left, or back and right.

Mugegori would then smirk. “Come get me, great Uchiha! Show me what your eyes can do!”

Meanwhile, Tetsunori wait. And then, if Hao still proved resilient and standing, he would finally make a move. But first, to observe.

”Tetsunori ‘Tarzan’ Senju Chakra:

Mugegori Chakra:

”Jutsu used by Tetsunori ‘Tarzan’ Senju”:

”Mugegori”:

”Jutsu used by Mugegori”:

Even Hao thought for a second that this situation took a turn for the worse. The person that he was supposed to hit had vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by a much bigger gorilla than the two that were here before. The clone had already poofed, so the original Hao just stood there, only a meter away from the 10 meter tall gorilla. His Sharingan shifted from left to right in an instant to try and pinpoint the man’s location; but this was futile. It was as if the man had disappeared completely from the area, not even his Sharingan was able to pick up on the man’s chakra signature from only looking around for a split second. This indeed turned once again into the man’s favor. Although many questions crossed his mind as to how the man gained that much strength and give himself that much of a run for his money, but there wasn’t enough time to even analyze the current situation.

In the blink of an eye, the gigantic hand of the gorilla standing next to him wrapped around Hao’s being, feeling the strength of the muscles that the gorilla would definitely use to his advantage. Almost immediately being thrown, he fells the pressure on his face as soon as the gorilla made that full-out swing to launch Hao towards the other side of the environment, heading towards the direction of some set of trees, which that man had created as well. Everything here had been prepared for putting the man in an advantage, Hao just had to think of a way to turn it around. Normally, it’d be impossible to stop in mid-air at a speed like this, but all Hao needed was wind. Not having that much time, he quickly took a deep breath, puffing out his chest and almost immediately exhaling the built up wind chakra in his lungs, creating a stream of wind that launched Hao further into the air, rather than towards the trees. Being in mid-air, it left him a little bit vulnerable to the terrifying gorilla not too far away from him. The ground shook as the gorilla slammed his fists into the ground repeatedly. There occurred a ringing sound within Hao’s ears; the growling of the gorilla was definitely not for show. Although loud, it certainly had an effect as Hao felt his body growing weaker almost instantly the moment that growl reached into his ears.

He was even more surprised that, from his current view which he could oversee everything, the two gorilla that he previously obliterated had risen back from the dead, as if nothing had happened to them before. This man was quite an annoying opponent, someone definitely not to be taken lightly. While still in mid-air, he witnessed both of the gorilla that were just spawned once more rushing towards him at high speeds. There had to be some kind of trick behind this. Although the two gorilla were right at home within the forest and could use almost everything as their weapon, those weren’t the gorillas that he wanted to beat down. It was the big one that caught his attention the most, obviously. Getting to the gorilla proved more difficult, however, when four wooden clones of the man appeared around the gorilla. There were too many enemies around. The three gorillas already proved much of a challenge, besides that the man didn’t even really move just yet. And to top it off, clones of him appeared around the gorilla; does this mean that the clones are able to demonstrate what that man is truly capable of?

Still within the air, he performed the necessary handseals for a certain technique that he wants to launch into the direction of the large gorilla. The horse handseal was formed as Hao aimed a little towards the ground, to make sure it forms at around the same level as the gigantic gorilla. Leading from the horse handseal, he slammed the palms of his hands together, remaining calm as he got lowered and lowered towards the ground. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he thrusted both of his hands towards the cloud of flammable ash. Normally, this technique would be used to harm an opponent, but he needed the wind to drag the ash towards the gorilla, considering there’s no wind coming from between those trees any time soon. He needed to create his own. As the cloud of ash moved surely into that direction, both of the gorillas were right in Hao’s sight. He had no time to waste. To be sure that his attack would hit the flammable ash, he decided to go with a technique going with quantity. In order to ignite the gas, there was a certain fire technique that popped up in Hao’s mind. One that he hadn’t used in a long time, but would come in handy in a situation like this. Inhaling, building up the elemental chakra within his throat and exhaling it outwards into tiny, multiple spheres of fire. Should this be successful and hit the gas, a terrible, gigantic explosion occurs, hopefully reducing the gorilla and the clones to ash themselves, but he didn’t want to get his own hopes up.

Chakra: 136 / 400

Techniques used: