361-365

Chapter 361: Splitting the Meteor in One Slash

The scene shifts back to the battlefield.

At this moment, chaos reigned on the battleground.

Just like in the original story, Madara began by showcasing his physical prowess, followed by unleashing a massive Fire Release, Great Fire Annihilation.

Finally, he revealed his Susano’o.

This overwhelming display inflicted devastating losses on the Allied Forces, with casualties climbing rapidly.

It wasn’t until Gaara used his sand to pull Madara out of his Susano’o that the slaughter momentarily came to an end.

However, thanks to foreknowledge that Madara possessed the Rinnegan, Naruto did not resort to using his Rasenshuriken as in the original story.

Instead, he covered his shadow clones with explosive tags, used a smoke bomb as a diversion, and transformed them into Rasenshuriken to attack Madara.

This was the strategy he had once used against Pain.

Unfortunately, Madara wasn’t Pain.

With battle instincts as sharp as a nuclear missile, he repelled Naruto’s explosive-tag-laden shadow clones using a Shinra Tensei—a technique not shown in the original series.

The resulting explosion was colossal, but Gaara’s sand shield managed to mitigate the damage, sparing the Allied Forces from even more severe casualties.

“As expected, just as I and Aizen anticipated—the pinnacle of the Sharingan is the Rinnegan.”

After deflecting Naruto’s clones, Madara returned to the stone platform where Aizen and his group stood. Controlled by Kabuto’s Edo Tensei, Madara immediately approached.

“I only awakened the Rinnegan just before my death,” Madara remarked, glancing at Aizen. He noted how, despite witnessing merely a fraction of his strength, Aizen’s expression remained utterly calm.

Did Aizen think his display of power was still unworthy of attention?

Madara snorted lightly, his gaze shifting to Kabuto’s Edo Tensei avatar. His expression darkened.

“This guy aside... You’re Kabuto, correct? A rat incapable of deciphering the Uchiha Clan’s stone tablet, yet you managed to uncover my secrets.”

“Unlike Lord Aizen, I derived my hypothesis from Lord Orochimaru’s years of experimental data,” Kabuto replied. “And now, you’ve confirmed my theory.”

“The Sage of Six Paths... At last, through the power I created in you, I’ve glimpsed the divine strength he once wielded.”

“Hmph,” Madara sneered, forming a hand seal. “Don’t be mistaken. This power isn’t something you created.”

As he spoke, Madara’s chakra surged, causing his red armor and robes to flutter despite the still air.

Susano’o manifested again, its four arms mirroring Madara’s hand seals.

In an instant, the sky darkened.

“Whoa, what a huge meteor!” Chika exclaimed excitedly.

The once-bustling battlefield fell silent in astonishment. Everyone, including Aizen, looked up.

A massive meteor, over a kilometer in diameter, broke through the clouds, casting its shadow over the earth.

“No way... A meteor?”

“Is this also ninjutsu?”

“This power... It’s on a completely different level.”

“Is this the power of a god?”

Despair swept through the Allied Forces.

“It’s not over yet!” Onoki, the Tsuchikage, was the first to snap out of it. He soared into the sky, attempting to reduce the meteor’s weight with Super Light-Weight Rock Technique in hopes of preventing its descent.

“Everyone, run as far as you can!”

Meanwhile, Gaara directed a massive amount of sand upward to assist Onoki while urging the ninja to retreat.

“Are you planning to kill us all?” Kabuto’s Edo Tensei avatar exclaimed, staring at the descending meteor in shock.

Madara deactivated his Susano’o and smirked. “Edo Tensei is a technique meant for mutual destruction. As undead, we’ll recover soon enough.”

He turned to Aizen, his tone playful. “As for you, if you claim to have the strength to challenge me, this meteor shouldn’t pose a problem. Of course, you could also flee using Tobirama’s space-time jutsu—I promise I won’t laugh at you.”

Aizen smiled but remained silent. He stood calmly alongside Chika, watching Onoki fly toward the meteor.

“Flying ninja? Must be that brat from Iwagakure, Mu’s disciple,” Madara muttered indifferently, taking note of Onoki.

To his slight surprise, Onoki and Gaara managed to halt the meteor’s descent temporarily.

“Impressive,” Madara mused, his lips curling into a sinister grin. “But what about the second one?”

As he spoke, Madara summoned a second meteor.

The two meteors collided, overwhelming Onoki with their combined weight. He suffered severe injuries almost instantly.

Just as the lower meteor was about to shatter, a dark green slash tore through the sky, splitting the meteors apart.

The meteors, previously locked in freefall, halted momentarily before splitting cleanly in two.

Each half fell to the ground hundreds of meters away, leaving the battlefield beneath Aizen relatively unscathed.

“Just a sword slash...” Madara froze in disbelief, staring at Aizen.

“My apologies, Madara,” Aizen said with a calm smile, not sparing the meteor a glance as he sheathed his blade. “It seems I broke your meteor.”

Boom!  

The divided meteor fragments hit the ground, their smooth, mirror-like cuts gleaming as they settled. The impact caused the earth to tremble, sending dust towering into the sky.

Thanks to Aizen’s intervention, the Allied Forces, who were nearly wiped out in the original events, now had a chance. Many ninja close to Aizen survived, while only a few unlucky ones on the periphery were affected.

“We’re saved...” a survivor muttered, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

“What just happened? Did something split the meteor?”

The Allied Forces were in awe.

What kind of ninjutsu could possibly cut through two massive meteors?

“Naruto, that slash just now…” Gaara, leaning on Temari for support, recognized it immediately.

“Yeah, no doubt about it—it was him,” Gaara said.

Even Madara and Kabuto couldn’t hide their shock.

“This is the power of the Sage of Six Paths? Incredible... And Lord Aizen—he’s as strong as ever, even stronger than last time,” Kabuto marveled.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 362: Wordplay and Being Manipulated

"Was that slash just now… you?!" Madara finally began to regard Aizen with seriousness.

This man, the first to dare challenge him head-on since Hashirama.

He even forgot his usual smug remark, "What a nostalgic scene."

Aizen smirked with amusement. "Apologies, Mr. Madara. I accidentally split your meteor in half. But what can I do? My precious daughter is here. She wants to keep watching the fight and doesn't want to leave."

As he spoke, Aizen gently patted his daughter's head. "Isn't that right, Chika?"

"Yes! Chika wants to see Mr. Madara's ninjutsu," Chika replied with a mischievous smile that mirrored her father's.

Father and daughter stood there, staring at Madara in a way that was impossible to find comfortable.

"So, it seems I've been underestimated," Madara said with a faint smile, showing no anger. Crossing his arms, he looked at Aizen with an air of superiority. "You're Fujihara Aizen, right? So, tell me, Aizen, how much do you know about our plan?"

The strong have privileges; the strong respect only the strong.

That casual strike earlier, splitting the meteor, had already proven Aizen's strength to Madara.

Aizen responded nonchalantly, "Oh, I know about 70-80% of it. Sealing the nine tailed beasts into the Gedo Statue, resurrecting the Ten-Tails, then becoming its jinchūriki to project the Infinite Tsukuyomi onto the moon. Something like that."

"Though, it seems the two of you have slightly different ideas. One of you wants to use the Infinite Tsukuyomi to create a world with only your first love, reuniting with your beloved in an illusion."

"The other wants to unify the world and create peace in that illusion."

"Hmph," Madara chuckled. "It seems you do know quite a bit." He thought to himself that Aizen only grasped the basics—because without both Rinnegan eyes, Obito couldn't succeed.

"But before anything else, I need to confirm something." Madara formed seals with his hands. "Summoning Jutsu."

Nothing happened at his location. Instead, in the Allied Shinobi Forces camp, one of Naruto’s clones clutched his stomach in pain, crying out.

"It seems you haven’t captured the Nine-Tails," Madara said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Naruto's clone and the shattered meteor fragments. "Aizen, with your level of power, why haven’t you taken the Nine-Tails yet?"

"There are many factors," Aizen replied casually. "If I had to pinpoint one, it’d probably be that I’m curious about what the other Madara can accomplish."

"Interesting." A glint of intrigue flashed across Madara's face.

"Will you go after the Nine-Tails now?" Kabuto interjected, glancing at the distant Naruto clone. "Although the current Nine-Tails jinchūriki is troublesome, this is just a clone. The real body is elsewhere."

"No, there’s a jutsu I’d like to test. It works best in places with more people," Madara said, stepping forward as he formed seals. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

From the ground, massive trees sprouted rapidly, their thick branches twisting like living dragons, sweeping toward the Allied Forces.

What happened next defied all logic.

The Nine-Tails, residing within Naruto, lent chakra to his clone out of sheer dislike for Madara—even across a vast distance.

Empowered by the Nine-Tails’ chakra, Naruto's clone used massive Rasengans and countless Shadow Clones to clash with Madara’s Wood Style, resulting in mutual destruction.

Ōnoki, witnessing this, couldn't help but exclaim, "If I had that much chakra, no amount of Wood Style would stand up to a single Dust Release!"

Madara turned to Aizen. "Is this one of the factors you mentioned? It’s true; the current Nine-Tails jinchūriki is formidable. No wonder Obito has struggled for so long and even started the Fourth Shinobi War."

"What’s his name?" Madara asked, folding his arms and shifting his gaze back to Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Kabuto answered in Aizen’s stead.

"Uzumaki? A clansman of Mito?" Madara’s thoughts drifted briefly to Uzumaki Mito, his voice betraying a trace of jealousy he himself hadn't noticed. "Things are becoming more interesting."

With that, Madara leapt toward the Allied Forces. Aizen, Chika, and Kabuto’s reanimated body followed closely behind, stopping thirty meters away from the front line.

The surviving Allied Shinobi stood firm, protecting the heavily injured Ōnoki and Gaara, who had taken the brunt of Madara’s earlier attack.

"It seems you can still dance," Madara said, looking at the group. "I didn’t expect so many to survive. You should thank Aizen; without him, you wouldn’t have had the chance to witness my other jutsu."

Madara began forming seals again as he gazed down at the Allied Forces, his presence radiating overwhelming pressure.

The battlefield froze. The shinobi trembled with fear, the air filled with the sound of nervous swallowing and grinding teeth.

Yet, despite knowing they stood no chance, not one of them retreated.

They drew strength from the earlier sacrifices of their leaders.

"Stand down, everyone. Don’t waste your precious lives. You can’t defeat him," Ōnoki suddenly said, breaking the tense silence.

"Hmph," Madara smirked, his movements halting as he turned his attention to Ōnoki. "So, you’ve finally learned your lesson, old man? Planning to give up?"

"No," Ōnoki, supported by an Iwagakure ninja, struggled to his feet. His glare met Madara's unwavering gaze as the shinobi made way for him to step forward.

"What’s with that expression?" Madara frowned. "You should understand the difference between us by now."

Ōnoki, remembering the time when Madara had humiliated him and the Second Tsuchikage, took a shaky step forward. "We shinobi have always fought. For our villages and nations, we’ve battled and plundered endlessly."

"When something is taken, we take it back. Hatred grows, leading to three great wars."

"This is life, Ōnoki. This ninja world is beyond saving. Rest peacefully in the Infinite Tsukuyomi." Madara’s Sharingan gleamed as his determination solidified.

However, Ōnoki’s words touched something within him, even if the effect was counterproductive.

It only strengthened Madara’s resolve to carry out the Moon's Eye Plan—though he remained unaware that he was being manipulated by Black Zetsu.

Of course, even Black Zetsu was merely a pawn in Aizen’s greater scheme.

"Madara, it was you who made me lose my way back then," Ōnoki said firmly. "But I’ve lived longer than you and learned more. Precisely because I understand pain, I’ve thought about what needs to change to create a better future."

Madara sneered, but his heart wavered momentarily.

And so, the battle continued.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 363: The Five Kage vs. Madara

“So this war started because of that? Is this the ‘best outcome’ you mentioned?” Kabuto sneered.

Ōnoki countered sarcastically, “This war is different. What everyone is striving for now is not like before.”

Madara interrupted Ōnoki, “Of course it’s different—just a desperate attempt to huddle together for warmth. Aizen once said something quite insightful: the most powerful force uniting people is a common enemy.”

“The only reason you’ve all allied is that Akatsuki’s capture of the Tailed Beasts has threatened the Five Great Nations.”

“Even if you win this war, once the enemy is gone, war will return. The world won’t change in the slightest.”

“So, farewell, Ōnoki.” With that, Madara’s sharp, commanding face twisted into a cruel and almost sick smile.

He launched himself at Ōnoki.

As Madara activated the first stage of Susanoo, aiming to kill Ōnoki with a single blow, a sudden burst of intense white light flared between them.

Through the Heavenly Transfer Technique, the Raikage and Tsunade finally arrived.

The Raikage, using his Lightning Armor, blocked Susanoo’s sword, while Tsunade delivered a devastating kick that sent the Susanoo flying.

With a resounding crack, the humanoid first-stage Susanoo shattered completely.

Madara was flung over Aizen and his group’s heads like a cannonball, crashing into the distance.

“What is that…” Kabuto’s expression shifted as he noticed the black substance covering Tsunade’s skin. Instinctively, he glanced at Aizen.

This was Kabuto’s first time seeing such a technique.

Given his extensive knowledge from following Orochimaru for years, Kabuto knew Tsunade wasn’t likely to have invented a technique powerful enough to destroy Susanoo.

After all, her specialties were medical ninjutsu and brute strength—not advanced techniques in other areas.

The only person capable of creating such a formidable move had to be Aizen, the seemingly omniscient and omnipotent man standing nearby.

With a faint smile, Aizen said, “That’s Armament Haki. I developed it after studying the Eight Gates. It’s a specialized taijutsu that, like the Eight Gates, has its upper limits based on the user’s physical potential.”

“The most important difference? It has no side effects.”

“No side effects? What kind of technique is this…” Kabuto gasped, his admiration and awe for Aizen deepening further. He was well aware of the Eight Gates' power.

Once, a mere genin had used the Eight Gates to single-handedly challenge the formidable Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, killing four of them outright. The remaining three barely escaped with their lives.

But the cost was severe—the user perished after the technique wore off.

Now, witnessing an equally powerful technique without such a price, Kabuto couldn’t help but feel shocked.

“You’ll see for yourself soon,” Aizen replied. “Intelligence is a key factor in determining the tide of war. I suspect our friend Madara won’t rely on anyone else to secure victory.”

Aizen stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing upward as Madara’s voice echoed across the battlefield. “You’re not wrong.”

A colossal blue figure descended from the sky, landing before them with a ground-shaking impact.

It was Madara, who had activated Susanoo’s third stage, complete with legs.

At that moment, Mei Terumi, accompanied by the Shiranui Genma squad using the Flying Thunder Formation, arrived as well.

“Who would have thought the Five Kage would one day fight side by side?”

In the swirling dust, the Five Kage gathered, but their first action wasn’t to strategize or heal Gaara and Ōnoki.

Instead, they struck a pose.

The Raikage tore off his white cloak, his body emanating lightning chakra. Thanks to Aizen’s intervention, his fight with Sasuke had ended without losing his left arm.

From left to right stood Tsunade, Gaara, Ōnoki, and Mei Terumi.

Tsunade and Mei, the two beauties, posed with one hand on their hips. In the center, Gaara and the barefooted Ōnoki crossed their arms.

The scene exuded sheer confidence.

“Aizen is the first opponent since Hashirama I deem worthy of facing,” Madara said, his gaze sweeping over the Five Kage. “I’ve heard you were easily subdued by him before. Well then, this lineup deserves a trial run.”

With a casual swing, Susanoo’s sword shattered the obstacles between them—boulders, Wood Release remnants, and more.

“Aizen, that woman who just attacked me must be yours, right? You wouldn’t mind if I killed her, would you?” Madara asked, not turning back, his tone more a statement than a question.

“Do as you please,” Aizen replied indifferently.

He had no intention of interfering in Madara’s fight with the Five Kage. If Tsunade truly faced a mortal threat, it would mean she no longer qualified for this battlefield.

At that point, Aizen would simply take her back to the Hidden Rain Village to live peacefully as his wife. The same went for Mei Terumi.

“Hah,” Madara chuckled. “Cold, aren’t you? But that’s how a shinobi should be—free from sentimental bonds.”

Unaware of Aizen’s true thoughts, Madara cast a glance at the composed Aizen and the equally calm Chika beside him.

Seeing Chika’s expression of anticipation, Madara smirked. “Perhaps I understand now why you value this girl so much. She’s like us—cut from the same cloth.”

Aizen and Chika merely smiled in response, their gazes toward Madara betraying a subtle hint of disdain.

Tsunade, unlike her portrayal in the original story, was no longer just an offensive powerhouse with weak defenses. With Armament Haki enhancing her speed and strength, combined with her monstrous strength, she had undergone a transformative leap in combat ability.

Additionally, Aizen had once shared some of Madara’s abilities with her in private, giving her an edge in preparation.

While she wasn’t strong enough to defeat Madara outright, making him suffer a few setbacks was inevitable.

Elsewhere, Naruto, Killer Bee, and Jiraiya were racing through a dense forest, leaping swiftly toward an impending confrontation with Obito and his Jinchūriki team.

Just like in the original, Naruto’s shadow clone dispersed after exhausting its chakra when the Five Kage gathered.

However, due to Aizen’s intervention, Obito was forced to substitute Yugito and Fū with the former Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Blue B, and a backup Jinchūriki from the Hidden Cloud.

As Naruto absorbed his shadow clone’s memories, he stopped abruptly on a tree branch.

“What is it, Naruto? Have you sensed the enemy?” Jiraiya asked gravely, landing on the branch behind him.

“Yeah, they’re close,” Naruto nodded. “But compared to us, Grandma Tsunade and the others are in serious trouble.”

Killer Bee, momentarily forgetting his usual antics, asked in a deep voice, “What’s happening over there?”

Naruto took a deep breath, his gaze locked on the approaching enemy. “The masked guy isn’t Madara. The real Madara has been resurrected with Edo Tensei. Grandpa Ōnoki and Gaara have already taken heavy hits. Now Grandma Tsunade, Raikage, and Mizukage are rushing to help them.”

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 364: The Return of the King of Swagger, Sasuke*

Naruto said gravely, "The real Madara has been resurrected. Not only that, but like Nagato, he also possesses the Rinnegan. On top of that, he’s mastered Captain Yamato’s Wood Style, and he’s even stronger."

"Rinnegan and Wood Style? This is bad news," Jiraiya muttered, his expression growing heavier as he looked at Obito approaching.

Others might not fully grasp Madara’s power, but Jiraiya knew it well. Madara was from the same era as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—a legend who was hailed as the "Demon of the Ninja World."

Previously, Jiraiya had considered the masked man to be Madara, which gave him some confidence in winning the war. After all, the masked man hadn’t displayed overwhelming strength and had suffered repeated setbacks at Aizen’s hands.

But now? Things had taken a dire turn.

Killer Bee glanced at Obito and asked in confusion, "So who’s that masked guy over there?"

Naruto didn’t answer immediately but instead turned to Obito, raising his hand to question him. "Who are you really?"

"Who am I?" Obito paused, stopping in his tracks as he and the six reincarnated Jinchūriki stood on a tree branch about 30 meters away from Naruto.

"Naruto, take a good look at his left eye," Jiraiya said, noticing Obito’s left eye. A sense of foreboding struck him; he remembered that Nagato’s body had been taken by Konan.

If the Rinnegan was now in the masked man’s possession, didn’t that mean Konan was likely...

"Rinnegan?" Naruto stared at Obito intently. "I didn’t expect that the left eye you’ve been hiding is the same Rinnegan as Nagato’s and Madara’s. I’ll stop both of you—both Madaras."

"Both Madaras?" Obito finally reacted to Naruto’s words, recalling the moment Kabuto, under Aizen’s orders, had summoned Madara before him. A surge of nameless fury rose in Obito’s chest.

As Aizen had pointed out, Obito had always known that Madara was using him. That was why he never intended to resurrect Madara—because once resurrected, Madara’s plans would spiral beyond Obito’s control.

Madara sought to create a unified illusionary world to achieve absolute peace. But Obito didn’t care about peace. He only wanted a world where Rin existed, where they could be together in an illusionary reality free of interference.

Thinking of this, Obito silently cursed Kabuto and Aizen for their actions. They had really gone through with it.

"Answer me! Who are you?" Naruto demanded harshly.

"And Konan—this Rinnegan of yours, it must have come from Nagato, right?" Jiraiya added.

Obito’s face darkened, but suddenly, he burst into laughter. His chilling laugh echoed in the air, lingering for a long moment before fading.

"Who knows? That girl… perhaps you’d be better off asking Aizen. After all, this left eye was handed to me through him," Obito said, glancing at Jiraiya before turning to Naruto. "As for who I am, you can keep calling me Tobi, just like before. I’m no one, and I don’t want to be anyone. All that matters is the Moon’s Eye Plan. This hopeless world has no value."

"Enough talk. Let me ask you one more time: will you hand over the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails?"

As they spoke, the six reincarnated Jinchūriki behind Obito extended their respective tails, representing the Two-Tails through the Seven-Tails.

Naruto’s group, of course, wouldn’t stand idle. The battle began in earnest.

---

*Somewhere in the Iron Country, at one of Orochimaru’s bases*

With a loud crash, the wall of a cave was blasted open, revealing a hidden chamber. On a research table inside the chamber lay a scroll adorned with the mask of the Reaper Death Seal.

"Ah! We found it! We finally found it!" Suigetsu shouted excitedly, holding up the scroll.

"What did we find?" Jūgo asked, reverting from his Cursed Seal state. The base’s layout had caused his chakra to become unstable, something Orochimaru had likely anticipated.

"Idiot, it’s the thing Aizen sent us to look for! Who would’ve thought Orochimaru had even researched something like this? And that Aizen somehow knew about it," Suigetsu said smugly.

Jūgo stepped forward and froze when he saw the scroll. "This… this is…"

Unlike during the Chūnin Exams, where the incomplete reanimation of the First Hokage had been unimpressive, the Fourth Great Ninja War had brought the taboo power of Uchiha Madara back into the spotlight. Inevitably, stories of the First Hokage suppressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi had resurfaced.

Now, finding a scroll capable of reviving the First Hokage—it was shocking. Let alone the renowned Second and Fourth Hokages.

As for the Third Hokage? Well, after Aizen’s schemes, his reputation was in tatters, and his strength seemed less impressive in hindsight. He was more like an extra bonus.

"War is raging everywhere. Orochimaru must have foreseen this scenario and left this behind," Suigetsu said with a cunning smile, revealing his sharp teeth.

"Are we going to give this to Aizen?" Jūgo asked hesitantly.

"Of course not!" Suigetsu sneered, as though Jūgo had asked a ridiculous question. "That masked man wants to cast a grand genjutsu, while Aizen’s goal is to create a world where nothing threatens his family—plunging the rest of the world into an illusionary reality, leaving only his family behind.

"We’re not part of Aizen’s family. If they succeed, we’ll have no place in their world. I’m not spending the rest of my life stuck in some fake dream world."

Jūgo frowned, realizing the truth of Suigetsu’s words. "So, what’s your plan?"

"Simple—we’ll give it to Sasuke. Don’t forget, this scroll can change the entire war," Suigetsu said smugly, waving the scroll.

"But what if Aizen comes after us?" Jūgo asked cautiously.

At this, Suigetsu shuddered involuntarily. He was well aware of how terrifying Aizen could be—on par with the legendary Madara, if not more so. Even the masked man didn’t compare.

Still, Suigetsu convinced himself that Aizen would be too preoccupied with the ongoing war to chase after them. Swallowing his fear, he said, "We’re part of Team Taka, not Aizen’s underlings. Besides, you know how much Sasuke hates him.

"If we give this to Sasuke, there’s no way Aizen can touch us."

*(Chapter Ends)*

*Chapter 365: Kabuto and His Foster Mother*

"True enough," Jūgo agreed without protest. Being someone who goes with the flow, he had no strong opinions. Since Suigetsu had already made the suggestion, he went along with it.

What they didn’t realize, though, was that all of this was within Aizen’s calculations.

When they finally understood everything, they probably wouldn’t feel the same way.

Elsewhere

*The Graveyard of Mountains*

While Jūgo and Suigetsu embarked on their journey to find Sasuke, Sasuke himself had completed the fusion of his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Ah, no!"

Amid screams, the newly empowered Sasuke—armed with the Eternal Mangekyō—summoned Susanoo. He used its arrows to pierce the real body of White Zetsu.

Amaterasu, coupled with Kagutsuchi, engulfed the arrow and spread across Zetsu’s entire form.

The unfortunate White Zetsu met his inescapable demise.

"It’s finally complete," Sasuke said, removing the bandages from his eyes. Destroying the base, he donned his familiar attire and weapons, stepping onto the surface. "Time to test my skills in the outside world."

"Madara, Fujiwara Aizen—one of you schemed against me, and the other humiliated me beyond measure. Everything you’ve done to me, I’ll repay in full."

Madara and Aizen’s faces flashed through his mind.

Then came Naruto’s. "You too, Naruto."

Perhaps it was because he had personally killed Sakura, or because the reanimated Itachi had been sealed away by Aizen.

Unknowingly, Sasuke’s descent into darkness deepened.

Naruto’s task of “talking Sasuke down” difficulty: +100.

Sasuke’s redemption difficulty: +99999.

---

On the Other Side

Kabuto, having summoned Uchiha Madara and cemented his reputation across the ninja world, severed his connection with the reanimation jutsu for a disposable substitute.

He allowed the expendable ninja to be sealed away without care.

"That’s how it is, Director."

At this moment, Kabuto was conversing with the recently resurrected Nonō Yakushi, recounting the truth of the past and explaining why she had been revived.

"Kabuto! My poor child, you’ve suffered so much all these years."

Nonō Yakushi, after hearing everything, showed no disdain for Kabuto’s half-human, half-serpentine form. She didn’t recoil from the large snake coiled around his stomach.

Instead, she embraced him, giving him the long-missed warmth of a mother’s love.

"Director, I…"

Kabuto trembled, memories of the orphanage flooding back to him. Forgotten tears began to flow, and the void in his heart gradually filled.

In that moment, Kabuto experienced a rebirth.

After all, he was still from Konoha.

The two shared a warm moment. Nonō Yakushi then asked about the state of Konoha and the orphanage.

Kabuto explained everything: the allied ninja forces formed to fight the Akatsuki, the downfall of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans when Aizen obliterated them after the Uchiha massacre, and the deaths of the Third Hokage and Danzo.

He spoke with enthusiasm, especially when mentioning Aizen. His words were filled with awe.

Nonō Yakushi listened quietly, smiling as if indulging a child talking about their idol. She radiated motherly kindness, not interrupting him even once.

However, when the orphanage came up, Kabuto fell silent.

After she died—or rather, after Danzo took him from the orphanage—Kabuto had never returned.

Nonō Yakushi didn’t blame him. She knew how much Kabuto had suffered.

She smiled gently, naturally shifting the topic. "Kabuto, does this mean you’re one of the initiators of this war?"

Kabuto nodded slowly, not denying it.

"Was it to resurrect me that you agreed to work with the Fujiwara child?" Nonō’s tone carried no reproach.

Being alive again and seeing her cherished child was more than enough for her.

"Not entirely," Kabuto murmured, wiping away his tears. For once, his expression was bashful. "In the past, I was just a subordinate of Orochimaru-sama."

"No one, except Aizen-sama and Orochimaru-sama, ever looked at me with respect."

"I wanted to prove myself to the world."

In front of his foster mother, Kabuto didn’t hold back, his tone and demeanor resembling a stubborn child.

Anyone else witnessing this scene might have been shocked.

"You really haven’t changed at all, Kabuto. Always so determined." Nonō smiled warmly but then became serious. "Kabuto, I want to ask something of you."

As a former member of Konoha, she couldn’t let go of her ties to the village or the children in the orphanage.

"You want me to withdraw from this war, don’t you?" Kabuto trembled, his expression bitter.

He even predicted this…

As expected of Aizen-sama.

And yet, withdrawing from the war not only fit Aizen’s plan but would also spare his foster mother from disappointment.

From there, Kabuto could “redeem” himself and intervene when it mattered most.

Kabuto’s admiration for Aizen deepened.

As for the battle between the Five Kage and Madara, it raged on.

Because Tsunade knew Madara’s abilities, and with chakra replenishment via senzu beans and her superior combat and healing skills, Madara was being pushed back.

Madara’s Susanoo? Tsunade and the Raikage, empowered by Onoki, smashed it.

His Wood Release? Onoki, with his chakra sustained by Tsunade, obliterated it with Dust Release.

His Fire Release? Mei Terumi’s Water Formation Pillar extinguished it with ease.

The fight was deadlocked until Madara summoned multiple Susanoo clones.

However, even they were destroyed by Onoki’s giant Dust Release.

As the battle paused briefly, Madara hovered above, looking down at the Five Kage.

"Impressive, especially you, Hokage. You’re Hashirama’s granddaughter, aren’t you? I underestimated you. Though you can’t heal without hand seals like Hashirama, you’ve managed to create a medicine that restores chakra and stamina instantly. You’re worthy of the title Kage."

His body, partially destroyed by Dust Release and paralyzed by a combination of the Raikage’s and Mei’s techniques, was slowly enveloped by Gaara’s sealing sand.

Yet Madara’s expression remained unshaken, even eager.

After all, these five were the first since Hashirama to force him to consider using his perfect Susanoo.

(End of Chapter)