Mount Myōboku.
Bored out of his mind, Shinju had retired early and was digging in the garden, planting vegetables.
After working for a short while, he wiped his forehead and pretended he'd worked hard: "I'm exhausted… vegetables really do taste better when you grow them yourself."
Gamaji beside him said speechlessly: "Exhausted from what? You didn't even sweat a single drop! ┐(´-｀)┌"
"And why did you stop forging and start planting vegetables?"
Shinju: "Can't I be mentally tired? Besides, the tools are already reforged."
Gamaji switched topics and asked: "You really don't plan to get involved with the war in the ninja world? That Naruto can't handle it alone…"
Shinju said confidently: "It's fine. Naruto is pretty strong now."
As he spoke, Shinju showed a thoughtful expression: "And I keep feeling like he and Sasuke still have some hidden power inside them… If you don't push them, you'll never know how strong they can get…"
Gamaji nodded: "Alright then. ¯_(ツ)_/¯"
...
At the same time, on the battlefield.
Ino, as a medical-nin, was working on healing Naruto.
At this moment, the wound on Naruto's chest from being stabbed by a blade had already healed more than halfway.
Beside Naruto—
Sasuke's condition was much better than Naruto's. Though his body was also covered in injuries, none were fatal, but he still showed no signs of waking…
Sakura asked from the side: "Naruto's chakra is drained, and he's badly injured. It's normal he'd be unconscious for a while."
"But Sasuke's injuries are almost healed. Why is he still not waking up…"
"I don't know. Maybe using the Sharingan drains their mental strength? Maybe he just needs rest?" Ino said uncertainly.
After speaking, her gaze swept across the battlefield…
Most of the Allied Shinobi Forces were now wrapped up by the Divine Tree; the remaining few were still desperately fighting the Edo Tensei shinobi and the White Zetsu army…
As if that weren't bad enough, Uchiha Madara revived at this moment and became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki…
"After Shinju left, he took back all of his chakra. Now the medical-nin are almost completely drained. At this rate, even without Madara lifting a finger, we're…" Sakura's expression was grim.
"Shinju shouldn't have been fighting in the first place. We can't expect him to fix everything for us…" Ino said bitterly.
...
Elsewhere, after Might Guy regrouped with Kakashi, Kakashi explained everything that had just happened…
Guy: "Got it. So now we have to beat that… what was his name again… Dry-Persimmon Oni Madara? (ŐдŐ๑)"
Kakashi, speechless: "Uchiha Madara…"
Guy nodded: "Right, right, that's the one! (눈‸눈)"
"Right now Madara and Rin are both inside the Kamui dimension. We need to find a way to enter it first." Kakashi continued, glancing toward Black Zetsu in the distance.
He had lost his Sharingan, but Obito still had one left!
But how could they get Obito—currently controlled by Black Zetsu—to use Kamui…
He couldn't just take Obito's remaining right eye and jam it directly into his own left socket, right? --003d_--003d
Compared to Kakashi's silent strategizing, Might Guy was far more straightforward. Once he understood the situation, he shouted directly toward Obito:
"Obito!! Rin is trapped inside the Kamui space!!"
Obito's body trembled instantly!
Then he let out an almost beast-like roar: "Uuuaaah!!"
"Rin!!"
Very quickly, the face beneath Black Zetsu's covering began to emerge—Obito temporarily forced his own will to suppress Black Zetsu!!
Kakashi: (๑ʘ̅ д ʘ̅๑)!!!
So this is… the power of love?!
He had to admit, Obito truly cared about Rin more than he did!
❛‿˂̵✧ Beside him, Guy showed his iconic smile, as if telling Kakashi: "See? My brain isn't worse than yours!"
"Ka…kashi, I've temporarily regained control of my body… I'll send you into the Kamui dimension…" Obito's expression was twisted, but he still forced himself to speak.
Guy asked: "Why not just pull Rin out directly? (꒪⌓꒪)"
"You idiot, Madara's eye can also use Kamui. If Rin comes out, he'll definitely follow her."
Obito nodded: "Keeping Madara confined in the Kamui space will minimize casualties."
Just as Obito was about to use his ocular jutsu to send Kakashi and Guy inside, the Hokage arrived!
Tobirama looked at Obito with a hint of appreciation: "Well said. ^_^"
"Even if you strayed, being able to turn back is a good thing."
"Send me into your space as well."
Minato: "And me!"
"Obito, last time, when I tried to save Rin, I didn't make it in time. This time, I definitely won't be late!"
Obito's eyes trembled, his lips tightening: "Sensei… ˃ ˄ ˂"
Kakashi: "Enough. Rin is inside fighting for her life. This is not the time for heart-to-heart talks…"
Obito nodded: "I'll send you in now… but listen—Black Zetsu is still fighting me for control. I'll try to pull you out before he wins, but you must prepare for the possibility that you won't be able to return…"
Everyone nodded: "Begin!! Ծ‸ Ծ"
"Fwoooosh—!!"
A spatial vortex appeared, wrapping everyone inside!!
The scene shifted before their eyes—when they opened them again, they were already inside the dim Kamui dimension!!
Kakashi: "Why is there so much… glub glub glub~… water…"
Guy: "Glub glub… how would I know…"
The moment they teleported in, all of them were underwater, and none had time to control chakra to stand on the surface!
Tobirama: "..."
His entire legendary reputation—only to end up fighting Madara alongside a bunch of scatterbrains!
Then Tobirama formed hand signs: "Earth Style: Earth Moving Core!"
"Whooosh—"
A massive stone platform rose from beneath the water, lifting up above the surface to give everyone a foothold!
And then—
"Whooosh!"
Another platform rose on the opposite side!
Standing on it, Tobirama glanced appreciatively at Hiruzen: "Monkey, you've grown a lot over these years. (•̀⌄•́)"
Third Hokage: …
It was absurd—he was seventy or eighty years old, yet still being praised like a child by Tobirama.
And worst of all, he didn't even hate it. He happily replied: "Second-sama flatters me. （ --0027▿ --0027 ）"
Soon, everyone stood on the platforms, surveying the entire dimension.
Tobirama dipped his fingers into the water, sending out chakra to sense the movements within the whole area.
Very quickly, his expression changed!
"The user of this Water Style is even stronger than me. (´°Δ°`)"
Third Hokage: ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞
Others might not understand the meaning of Tobirama's words, but he did!
If the First Hokage ruled the world with Wood Style, then the Second was unmatched in Water Style!
His mastery of Water Style surpassed even the Mist Village itself!
A Water Style stronger than Second Hokage's…
The Third guessed: "Could this Water Style be from Madara?"