"Madara..."
Senju Hashirama sighed. "In the end, you've still chosen the wrong path."
He then turned toward a specific direction.
---
Inside a cave, Orochimaru felt a chill. He sensed Hashirama's gaze as if it pierced through time and space to lock onto him. "As expected of Senju Hashirama. Discovered so easily."
"Did he sense me through chakra?"
"It seems this little reunion is about to end."
Orochimaru raised a hand, attempting to erase the self-awareness of both the First and Second Hokage.
However, it failed.
"Hashirama is truly in a league of his own," Orochimaru muttered in disbelief. "Even after regaining a fraction of his strength from when he was alive, he can resist my control. My earlier concerns were indeed justified."
Not only could Orochimaru not erase Hashirama's consciousness, but he couldn't control him at all.
On the other hand, Tobirama, the creator of the Edo Tensei technique, retained his self-awareness, but Orochimaru could still exert some degree of manipulation over him.
"What a pity," Orochimaru lamented. "I won't get to witness the true power of the old and new 'Gods of Shinobi.'"
Knowing he couldn't control Hashirama, Orochimaru deemed the other pawns unnecessary. As he prepared to withdraw Tobirama and retreat, White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
---
After Hashirama pointed out a direction, Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fourth Kazekage immediately set off.
Meanwhile, Shūichi simply absorbed the souls of the previous Raikage and other defeated spirits.
Rushing things would only lead to mistakes!
Shifting his gaze from the retreating trio, Shūichi turned to Tobirama. "Second Hokage-sama, my apologies for what comes next."
Tobirama nodded. "Do it. With you protecting the village, I can rest easy."
He then addressed Hashirama. "Brother, you must stop Uchiha Madara."
"I understand!" Hashirama nodded, then frowned. "But this... is that really Madara?"
Tobirama's face darkened. He extended his sensory perception and confirmed, "It's him!"
---
With a flash, Tobirama vanished. Fire-like spectral chains erupted from the ground, but they missed their mark.
Just as Tobirama reappeared elsewhere, a space-time portal opened behind him. A spectral chain shot through the portal, piercing his body and ripping out his soul.
Inside the cave, Orochimaru's eyes widened in astonishment. "Another space-time jutsu?"
He smirked. "The Second Hokage is dealt with. Now, only the First remains."
"However, the First Hokage's strength is formidable and completely beyond my control."
Orochimaru's tone turned playful as he addressed someone in the shadows. "As the Shinobi World's Demon, can you handle two opponents simultaneously?"
"Let me remind you: Shūichi-kun's power has already surpassed the peak of Senju Hashirama!"
Madara glanced at White Zetsu, who stood beside him. "That brat from back then?"
White Zetsu chuckled. "The very same. He has grown to a terrifying level, becoming the new 'God of Shinobi.' Even the Five Kage seem like children before him."
"That's part of why we revived you this way. Not eliminating him back then was a critical mistake."
Madara ignored White Zetsu's chatter and began walking out of the cave. "Stronger than Hashirama at his peak?"
He glanced at Orochimaru. "Have you witnessed Hashirama's peak strength?"
Orochimaru followed closely, smiling slyly. "No, but today, I'd like to witness the powers of both the old and new Gods of Shinobi—and you, the Demon of the Shinobi World."
"Of course, let's not forget the true power of the Rinnegan."
Madara paused briefly. "You seem to know quite a bit."
Orochimaru chuckled. "I've extensively studied Hashirama's cells and the Sharingan."
Madara continued walking. "Then watch closely. You won't want to miss what comes next."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I wouldn't dare."
---
The two figures emerged from the cave just as Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fourth Kazekage arrived with their forces in pursuit.
Seeing Madara, Ōnoki's pupils shrank. "That's... Uchiha Madara!"
The Fourth Kazekage's expression turned grim. "It seems the worst-case scenario has come true."
Madara halted, observing them. "It appears you've made a poor choice."
Ōnoki retorted sternly, "Anyone with a shred of sanity would reject the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Madara frowned slightly. "Your vision is as narrow as ever."
"But it doesn't matter. You'll all eventually become part of the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Madara showed little regard for the Kage. To him, they were irrelevant compared to his real concern—Hashirama.
"Only three of you? Hardly worth my attention. My clones can entertain you."
With a smirk, Madara created three Wood Release clones, each stepping out from his body.
The Fourth Raikage's anger flared. Being underestimated again and again was unbearable.
"Attack!" he roared, activating his strongest Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Ōnoki leaped onto the Raikage's back, while the Kazekage floated on a platform of gold sand, issuing orders: "Everyone else, fall back! We'll handle Madara. Focus on capturing Orochimaru and the other one!"
The assembled shinobi obeyed immediately.
As the Fourth Raikage charged forward at blinding speed, Madara's eyes widened slightly. "Fast!"
---
Boom!
A Wood Release clone barely activated its Susanoo before being shattered by a single punch. The armor cracked and scattered into fragments.
The other two clones were quickly ensnared by gold sand erupting from the ground.
With the clones neutralized, the Fourth Raikage charged directly at Madara's true body.
The next moment, a massive Susanoo fist sent the Fourth Raikage flying.
It was the Wood Release clone that had been struck earlier, now activating a humanoid Susanoo.
Simultaneously, the other two Wood Release clones broke free from the Fourth Kazekage's gold sand restraints, activating their own Susanoo as well.
Three towering Susanoo figures loomed over the battlefield, suffocating everyone with their sheer presence.
"Susanoo... even the clones can use it!"
Ōnoki's eye twitched violently in shock.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara's lips curved into an amused smile. "One-on-one seems disrespectful to the Kage. How about three-on-one instead?"
As he spoke, additional Wood Release clones appeared—six in total.
Now, nine clones stood around them, each equipped with their own Susanoo, completely surrounding Ōnoki and the others.
The shinobi from the three great villages were left utterly dumbfounded.
"Let's move on," Madara said as he turned away, completely dismissing Ōnoki and the rest.
Just a few small fry.
"Dammit!"
The Fourth Raikage nearly ground his teeth to dust. "Ōnoki, Rasa, we need to take down these clones as quickly as possible!"
The Fourth Kazekage sighed. "Easier said than done!"
---
Sunagakure.
Chaos reigned.
Three masked creatures darted through the sky, unleashing devastating Lightning, Wind, and Fire Release techniques. The relentless barrage of powerful jutsu left the Sunagakure shinobi devastated, with heavy casualties piling up.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Shūichi's clone-controlled undead White Zetsu—disguised as Kogami Kohai—had found Gaara, the One-Tails' Jinchūriki.
"I won't let you take Gaara!"
Six-year-old Temari stood trembling but resolute, clutching the kunai that Shūichi had gifted her years ago. She positioned herself protectively in front of her mother and siblings.
Karura, however, had already summoned her puppet, barking orders: "Temari, take Kankurō and Gaara and run!"
Kogami Kohai chuckled. "My lady, I'm afraid that's not an option."
"If I fail this mission, I'll lose face. And when I lose face... many people die."
"Hand over the One-Tails' Jinchūriki peacefully, or you risk losing all three of your children."
Karura's eyes blazed with defiance. "You'll never have your way!"
Temari obeyed her mother's command, pulling her two younger brothers away.
But just as they were about to escape, another Kogami Kohai clone appeared, blocking their path.
Karura immediately attacked, trying to carve a path for her children. However, despite being a Jōnin-level shinobi, her abilities were no match for the immortal Kogami Kohai, even with 99% of his true strength suppressed.
Before long, Karura was struck down, collapsing to the ground.
---
Boom!
Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from Gaara's small frame, sending Temari and Kankurō flying.
In an instant, the One-Tails' chakra enveloped Gaara's body, triggering his full transformation.
The One-Tail Shukaku emerged!
"Now this is interesting!" Kogami Kohai said with a dramatic flourish, keeping up his act.
---
On the other side of the village, Kakuzu—tasked with drawing the Sunagakure shinobi's attention—sensed the massive surge of tailed beast chakra and stiffened.
"The One-Tail is rampaging?"
"Hmm?"
Kakuzu quickly noticed the chakra signature rapidly closing in on him.
"That idiot…" Kakuzu grumbled.
Soon, a voice rang out from afar.
"Kakuzu~~!"
"Hurry up and help me deal with this guy!"
Kogami Kohai was sprinting towards Kakuzu, with the gigantic One-Tail Shukaku hot on his heels.
"It really is the One-Tail!"
"Damn it, these two are targeting the tailed beast!"
"We must stop them!"
---
The Sunagakure shinobi gritted their teeth and launched another desperate assault.
However, Kakuzu's Wind and Fire Release techniques cut through them effortlessly, scattering their forces.
The difference in power was insurmountable.
Moreover, the disorganized state of Sunagakure left the shinobi unable to mount an effective resistance.
"You two bastards want to capture me? Go to hell!"
Shukaku roared, unleashing powerful Wind Release attacks and waves of sand.
Even Kakuzu struggled to gain the upper hand.
Shukaku's Wind Release matched Kakuzu's strength, and its sand body provided immense defense. Neither lightning nor fire techniques could easily penetrate it.
The chaotic battle between the two and the tailed beast made it impossible for the Sunagakure shinobi to intervene.
The battlefield shifted continuously.
Under the relentless barrage of jutsu, Kakuzu's patience began to wear thin. His expression darkened as he shouted, "Idiot! If you don't start pulling your weight, I swear I'll dismantle you and bury you in a mine next time!"
Shūichi's clone chuckled. "Relax, I've been analyzing this guy's weaknesses."
He formed hand seals and unleashed Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
A massive surge of water engulfed Shukaku.
"Hey, Kakuzu! Use Earth Release!" Shūichi called out.
"Got it!"
With a grunt, Kakuzu used Earth Release, erecting towering walls to form a giant pool that trapped Shukaku inside.
"You fools! This can't hold me!"
Shukaku roared, preparing to leap out.
But before it could, swarms of moths descended from the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions, combined with the rising water levels, completely submerged Shukaku.
Moments later, amidst an unwilling roar, Shukaku retreated back into Gaara's body.
As Kakuzu retrieved the unconscious Gaara from the water, Shūichi chuckled. "As expected, you had to rely on me to complete the mission!"
Carrying Gaara, Kakuzu leaped away. "I'll leave the cleanup to you."
---
Kumogakure.
Six Paths of Pain wreaked havoc across the village, quickly uncovering the locations of the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails.
"Feel the pain!"
Tendo Pain, his expression cold and unyielding, rose into the air under the horrified gazes of the Kumogakure shinobi.
The next attack wasn't out of revenge—it was to push for the unification of the ninja world.
Drawing chakra from the other Paths, Tendo Pain hovered high above the village, arms outstretched.
"Feel pain, experience pain, accept pain, understand pain. Those who do not know pain will never understand peace."
"Shinra Tensei!"
Crack!
BOOM!
The ground shattered as a terrifying, invisible force erupted, propelling and destroying everything in its path.
In mere moments, half of Kumogakure was reduced to rubble.
Unlike Konoha, Kumogakure's terrain of exposed rocky mountains allowed it to endure more destructive force.
Even so, the devastation was immense. Countless shinobi were buried beneath the ruins, their lives extinguished in an instant.
The surviving Cloud shinobi crawled out of the wreckage, gazing at the desolation with disbelief, their grief spilling into anguished cries.
"How could this happen?"
Dodai, usually calm and composed, could barely contain his rage. "This level of destruction… is unforgivable!"
His eyes scanned the surroundings for the enemy, but Pain and the others had already vanished.
"Bee and Yugito!"
Dodai turned toward the direction of the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
"Lord Dodai, what do we do now?"
"The village is gone, and everyone is…"
Even the most experienced Jōnin struggled to maintain their composure.
Dodai took a deep breath and barked, "Organize rescue efforts immediately! Save as many as you can from the rubble!"
He knew they had no chance of stopping the Akatsuki operatives from capturing Killer Bee and Yugito.
With that realization, rescuing their comrades buried in the ruins became the priority.
After issuing his orders, Dodai performed a summoning jutsu, calling forth an eagle to deliver a report to the Fourth Raikage.
This disaster had to be reported at once.
---
Meanwhile, between Kumogakure's core and the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, Killer Bee and Yugito encountered Nagato and Six Paths of Pain.
"Yo, what did you bastards do to the village? You idiots, you fools!"
Killer Bee roared in anger.
The effects of Shinra Tensei were impossible to miss. Even in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, they could feel the tremors.
The rising smoke and dust told them everything they needed to know.
"The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails…" Nagato spoke calmly. "We did what needed to be done—to show the great ninja villages the pain of war."
Killer Bee clenched his fists, growing agitated. "That self-righteous tone really pisses me off, you idiot, you fool!"
Yugito was far less patient. With one tail already manifesting, claws sprouted from her hands and feet. "Let's skip the talk and take them down!"
Before her words fully landed, Yugito lunged at high speed.
But in the next instant, she was sent flying back even faster.
Killer Bee rushed to catch her, but he too was struck by an invisible force and hurled away.
Asura Path acted swiftly, launching a barrage of rockets that detonated mid-air, engulfing both Killer Bee and Yugito in a fiery explosion.
When the smoke cleared, the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails had emerged.
"Let's go!"
The Eight-Tails bellowed, charging forward.
The Two-Tails followed close behind, unleashing a barrage of fiery spheres from its maw.
Nagato stood still, unflinching, as Six Paths of Pain stepped forward to engage.
(End of Chapter)
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