Fugaku turned to Minato, a serious expression on his face.
"Minato, there's something important I must warn you about."
Minato met his gaze solemnly. "Please go ahead, Fugaku."
With a grim expression, Fugaku explained, "The enemy, who calls himself Uchiha Madara, might be capable of using a forbidden technique called Izanagi—one of our clan's secret arts. This technique can turn a situation to the user's advantage, even avoiding death itself, by rewriting reality to favor them. The duration of the jutsu depends on the user's skill. Minato, you must stay vigilant and watch for the Rat, Boar, and Ram hand signs."
This knowledge had been shared in a brief, silent exchange between Fugaku and Akira Uchiha through genjutsu just moments ago. Akira felt it essential that Minato understood the potential threat of Izanagi. Things couldn't be allowed to follow the original path, not if Minato was at risk of falling to Izanagi's deceptive power.
"There's a jutsu like that?" Minato wasn't the only one unsettled. Hiruzen and Jiraiya also looked deeply concerned.
"Isn't there any technique to counter this?" Hiruzen asked, his face darkening as he looked at Fugaku.
Fugaku shook his head. "No. This is one of the Uchiha clan's forbidden techniques, and the cost of using it is the Sharingan itself."
Hiruzen fell silent.
"Fugaku," Minato continued in a grave tone, "if this so-called Madara uses the technique, how long could he maintain it?"
"I can't say for certain," Fugaku replied, shaking his head. "The effects of forbidden techniques vary widely based on the user. However, given he possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, he might sustain it for anywhere from two to five minutes."
"I understand." Minato took a deep breath, glancing over at Kushina, who was weak and breathing heavily as she cradled their newborn child. Seeing her like that, Minato's expression hardened.
"Everyone, we can't delay any longer. We must deal with the enemy and seal the Nine-Tails once again."
Kushina looked up. "Minato, let Fugaku and the others drive the Nine-Tails here. I can still help restrain it."
"Kushina…" Minato's voice trembled slightly, words catching in his throat.
"While I still have strength left, let me help," Kushina said, her voice strained but resolute.
Minato turned to Fugaku and Akira, his voice steady. "I'll leave the Nine-Tails to you both."
"We understand." Fugaku and Akira nodded in unison.
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails stirred. It opened its massive jaws, chakra swirling as black and blue energies rapidly condensed into a gigantic Tailed Beast Bomb over ten meters wide.
"Not good!" Minato's eyes narrowed, and he vanished from his position, reappearing in the air directly in the Tailed Beast Bomb's path.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!"
(T/N: This barrier technique incorporates the use of the Flying Thunder God formula to erect a barrier space capable of warping away anything that comes into contact with it. The subject of the technique is then directed to another location marked by the user's formula.)
A vast net of teleportation seals spread out, swallowing the dark mass entirely. The next moment, an earth-shattering explosion filled the distance, as bright as a second sun, illuminating the battlefield in stark detail.
The Nine-Tails squinted its eyes, taking in the blinding light, then turned and charged towards the edge of the village, trying to escape the conflict. Seeing this, Akira transformed into a streak of blue lightning and instantly appeared before the beast.
"Damn Uchiha!" the Nine-Tails growled, swiping at Akira with a massive claw.
The claw smashed down, ripping up roots and earth into a whirlwind of debris. The Nine-Tails roared, only to stagger as a fierce blow struck its left paw, sending it reeling back.
"Arrgh!" The Nine-Tails howled in fury, swiping wildly at Akira as he darted around it, narrowly avoiding each attack.
Minato watched from a distance, breathing a small sigh of relief. If Akira could hold off the Nine-Tails, it would buy him enough time.
Meanwhile, Obito Uchiha, his lone Sharingan gleaming with murderous intent, turned to Nagato.
"Nagato, I'll handle the Fourth Hokage. You take care of the Leaf's forces. Be careful."
"I understand," Nagato replied solemnly.
The battle erupted once more as Minato, Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Might Duy surged forward to confront Obito and Nagato. Within seconds, Minato and Obito flickered in and out of sight, taking their clash to a new battlefield.
Jiraiya looked at Nagato, his heart heavy. "Nagato, how did you end up like this? Have you forgotten everything I taught you? It's not too late to turn back!"
Nagato, his Rinnegan cold, glanced at Jiraiya.
"Sensei Jiraiya, I haven't forgotten what you taught me."
"Then why have you allied with someone like Madara? Why do this?" Jiraiya demanded, anger flaring in his voice.
"It's precisely because of what you taught me," Nagato replied coldly. "Your teachings, when put into practice, failed."
"Nagato…" Jiraiya faltered, taken aback by the conviction in Nagato's voice.
"Sensei," Nagato said, his tone indifferent. "When we meet on the battlefield, don't hold back. Our paths have diverged completely, and I've found the true path to peace."
"What exactly is your path to peace, Nagato?" Jiraiya demanded, meeting Nagato's gaze. "Are you targeting the Tailed Beasts?"
Nagato's face remained expressionless. "Sensei, if you survive this day, you'll come to understand."
"Wood Style: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Nagato clasped his hands, and roots on the battlefield began to writhe and pulse, sprouting giant buds that bloomed into enormous flowers within seconds.
"Damn it, even a flower forest!" Hiruzen muttered angrily. "Don't breathe it in! Use Wind Release to blow the pollen away!"
The Leaf shinobi responded immediately, summoning gusts of wind from all directions.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
"Wind Style: Turbulent Dance!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A fierce windstorm tore through the battlefield, carrying the pollen far away.
Nagato's Rinnegan narrowed as he watched. "As expected, even this isn't enough against Konoha's elite…"
With a chilling glint in his eye, Nagato pressed his hands together.
"Then let's end this, once and for all… Planetary Devastation!"
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Pls drop some Power Stones
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