Each punch landed harder than the last, and each blow was more forceful than the one before. Kaguya's attacks rained down on the Raikage like a violent storm, leaving him twisted and battered like a rag doll, utterly defenseless against her onslaught.
With a deafening "bang," the Raikage was sent flying like a cannonball. In a series of thunderous crashes, he smashed through seven or eight huge boulders before crashing into a distant hill, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, the Raikage was a shadow of his former self. He was bruised and swollen, covered in injuries, and his body was limp, with his arm twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly having broken multiple bones. He lay against a rock, gasping heavily for air.
At this moment, a figure appeared before him. Struggling to lift his head, the Raikage was kicked in the stomach by a small, pale foot before he could even see clearly. The intense pain forced him to open his mouth, and he spat out saliva mixed with blood.
With a resounding "boom," the Raikage's body was violently hurled away, slamming into a distant cliff face, shattering it into pieces, sending debris and dust flying everywhere.
Kaguya walked up to the severely injured Raikage, a cold glint flashing in her icy eyes. She raised her flawless, pale foot, seemingly ready to strike again.
"Stop!"
The Tsuchikage, Tsunade, and Gaara came running from afar at lightning speed. Kaguya's speed had been too fast, and when they snapped out of their daze, the Raikage was already unrecognizable.
Kaguya ignored them, showing no reaction, and was about to kick again. The Raikage was already gravely injured, barely clinging to life. Another hit might finish him off for good.
"Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
A white cylindrical beam shot toward Kaguya, who noticed it and frowned. With a wave of her smooth, creamy arm, the beam vanished like a popped soap bubble.
In that crucial moment, Gaara wrapped the Raikage in sand and pulled him to safety.
"What? My Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu…?" the Tsuchikage's eyes were filled with shock. The Atomic Dismantling Jutsu was incredibly powerful, capable of disintegrating anything it touched into molecules, bypassing any defense. Yet, Kaguya had dispelled such a powerful technique with just a wave of her hand.
Kaguya slowly turned around, her cold eyes emanating an icy chill.
At the same time, not far from the battlefield, a blond-haired boy was weaving through the forest. It was Naruto. Having received information about Kabuto Yakushi's location earlier, he had rushed there only to find the place empty with no sign of Kabuto.
He searched the area for a long time without finding any trace of Kabuto. Had he already escaped?
But that was not Naruto's primary concern now. His priority was to reach the battlefield as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling, sensing that something was about to happen.
"Who's there?"
Naruto suddenly sensed someone in the forest and quickly gripped his kunai, looking toward the source of the sound.
A figure emerged from behind a large tree. With flowing hair and a handsome face, he wore a white shirt open at the chest and deep blue pants, with a thick rope tied around his waist. It was Sasuke, whom Naruto hadn't seen in a long time.
"Sasuke!" Naruto put away his kunai, exclaiming in surprise, "Why are you here?"
"What, do you want to fight?" Sasuke replied, glancing sideways at him.
"No, not at all," Naruto quickly replied, waving his hand with an awkward smile. "I mean, how did you end up here?"
"It's a long story," Sasuke said coolly, "but I've decided to protect Konoha, and I plan to become Hokage."
Naruto was momentarily stunned but then smiled, clapping his hands together. "Great, then let's go!"
The two of them turned into streaks of light, speeding toward the battlefield.
When they arrived, they were shocked by the scene before them. The battlefield had become a wasteland, corpses lay everywhere, and rivers of blood flowed, with an overwhelming stench of blood in the air. The ground was devastated, filled with craters and ravines, and many small hills had been leveled.
"Granny Tsunade!"
Naruto suddenly shouted and ran toward a figure lying on the battlefield. When he reached her, his eyes widened in shock.
Tsunade was covered in blood, her hair disheveled, and her body covered in wounds, with her clothes tattered and torn. But that wasn't the worst of it; the worst part was that her body had been severed at the waist, leaving only her upper body, with no sign of her lower half.
"Naruto, cough, cough," Tsunade weakly opened her eyes.
"Don't worry, Granny Tsunade, I'll find the medical team right away," Naruto said through gritted teeth, getting up to leave.
"No, there's no need," Tsunade said, her eyes vacant, struggling to speak. "Bring the others over here. I might still be able to save them."
It was then that Naruto noticed there were others nearby. The Third Tsuchikage, the Fourth Raikage, and Gaara were all severely injured, their clothes torn and covered in blood, their bodies riddled with wounds, and their breathing extremely weak. If they weren't treated soon, they would surely die.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.
A silver-haired girl was gently caressing the cheek of a cute little girl with her smooth, creamy hand. As her crystal-clear fingers moved across, the wounds gradually disappeared, the cuts healed, and her skin regained its fair luster. The little girl, with her eyes closed, had a faint smile on her face, seeming to enjoy it very much.
The little girl felt her body becoming soft and weak, and she involuntarily leaned against Kaguya, rubbing her face gently against Kaguya's chest, her eyes moist and glistening as if about to cry.
Kaguya's expression shifted as she suddenly stood up, her gaze fixed on the distant forest, a purple light flashing briefly across her body.
"Kaguya, why are you doing this?" a blond-haired boy in a jacket shouted as he ran over, his face full of indignation. Behind him was a black-haired boy wielding a katana.
Yes, they were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
Black Zetsu's clear, crystal-like eyes glinted coldly as she bit her lip and clenched her fists. She resented these two uninvited intruders.
Not only that, but they were also—