[Ōnoki: "No. Even if the Five Kage joined forces, they still wouldn't be a match for Madara Uchiha."]
At that, many scoffed.
If the video had shown Six Paths Madara, people might have believed Ōnoki. After all, a Six Paths-class being is on a different plane of existence.
But the footage showed "regular" Madara Uchiha.
The five strongest leaders in the ninja world, together—how could they possibly lose to him?
[Fourth Raikage A: "Ōnoki, why do you hype Uchiha Madara every single day?"]
[Fourth Kazekage Rasa: "Five Kage losing to Madara? You're giving him way too much credit, Ōnoki."]
[Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi: "Exactly! Don't exaggerate."]
[Ōnoki: "Heh. You youngsters are far too naïve."]
[Boruto Uzumaki: "Even all five Kage together can't beat Madara… isn't that a bit much?"]
[Shinki: "I can accept that my foster father might lose to Madara… but the Five Kage losing together?"]
The smoke thinned.
Hell on earth sprawled across the battlefield—corpses everywhere.
A gust cut through the haze. Nearby earthen ramparts spider-webbed and collapsed with sharp cracks. Shinobi who'd used Earth Release coughed blood, eyes rolling back as the shockwave finished them.
"What… what just happened?"
"This is…"
The survivors looked up, faces drained of hope.
Two meteors—each nearly a kilometer wide—had collided in the sky. The blast showered the land in a storm of stone.
Sweat slid down Gaara's brow; his jaw was locked tight. In the instant it all went wrong, he had given everything to shield as many as he could.
Naruto pushed himself upright, trembling as he stared at the sea of bodies.
"Dodai… why did you save a clone of me?"
"I'm sorry for the others," the man from Kumo answered, eyes heavy. "But even a clone of you is power we can't afford to lose. This is for victory."
The new generation watched the video and felt the same suffocating dread.
Madara Uchiha's presence pressed down so hard it stole the air from their lungs.
Still—if the Five Kage arrived, if the strongest five joined hands—surely they could turn the tide?
People cling to that last thread of hope.
Like praying for help when a beast steps out of the dark.
[Fourth Raikage A: "Hmph. Madara can enjoy his grin for now. Once the Five Kage join forces—"]
[Tsunade (Fifth Hokage): "Don't underestimate the power of the Five Kage, Madara!"]
[Gaara: "If we fight together… we might really defeat him."]
Gaara gazed up at the sky-screen, a flicker of expectation in his eyes.
The Five Kage are the five mightiest shinobi alive. Together—if not victory—then at least they would leave Madara battered and reeling, right?
He wasn't the only one who thought so. The new generation held that same belief.
They didn't yet know…
When Madara opened his Complete-Body Susanoo, despair would become real—and they would finally understand the gulf between them.
"Where's Grandpa Ōnoki?!" Naruto searched frantically, sprinting across churned earth until he spotted the old Tsuchikage.
Ōnoki lay unconscious.
"Don't worry—he's alive. Just… severely injured," an Iwagakure shinobi said, eyes conflicted.
Madara's wounds knit closed. From on high, he looked down on the battlefield with cold detachment.
"So this is the power that came from the Sage of Six Paths," Kabuto murmured, pushing up his glasses.
Madara's lip curled. This? He'd only dropped a couple of stones. Hardly worth the fuss. He hadn't even used his Complete-Body Susanoo yet.
"You—Kabuto. How much do you really know about me?" Madara turned.
Kabuto adjusted his frames again and began to recount Madara Uchiha's past.
"No wonder you're good at laying plans. You know our scheme as well?" Madara asked.
"I know the outlines," Kabuto said smoothly. "I'm on your side. I'm simply not sure whether that fake Madara intends to follow your plan to the letter."
He was fanning the flames.
Madara's brow twitched.
[Madara Uchiha: "Tch. Useless Obito, dithering as always. Watch closely—this is how you execute."]
[Obito Uchiha: "..."]
[Tobirama Senju: "Sharp mind on that Kabuto. If circumstances allowed, I'd almost take him as a student."]
[Hashirama Senju: "Ooh? Big praise coming from you, little brother."]
Everyone sucked in a breath.
Praise from Tobirama was rare.
[Sarada Uchiha: "If even the Second Hokage says so, Director Kabuto must've been scary-competent when he was young."]
[Boruto Uzumaki: "That's not the point! Where are the Five Kage? Why aren't they on site yet?"]
[Gaara: "It's too far. They won't make it in time—unless someone uses time-space ninjutsu to warp them here."]
As the last of the smoke faded, Madara flashed through hand signs.
A summoning?
People traded confused looks. What would Madara's summoned beast be? A hound? A cat? A toad?
No one expected this.
Madara slammed a palm to the ground.
Naruto's stomach knotted in sudden pain.
Deep within the seal, the Nine-Tails stirred—fear spiking.
Madara… is back?
Shock rippled through the watchers once more.
[Boruto Uzumaki: "Madara's summoning is the fox in Dad's belly?!"]
[Himawari Uzumaki: "Amazing… does that mean Madara's stronger than Dad?"]
[Naruto Uzumaki (teen): "Ahem… how to put it… call it fifty-fifty."]
In the Hokage's office, the grown Naruto eyed the chat, playing it modest.
With his current power, he didn't exactly fear Madara. If he unleashed Baryon Mode, even Six Paths Madara would be in for a beatdown.
[Boruto Uzumaki: "Dad's bragging again…"]
[Sasuke Uchiha (adult): "He isn't. Your father's right—Madara wouldn't beat him."]
[Madara Uchiha: "Brat… do you wish to dance as well?"]
Madara had no patience for chatter. He wanted the Nine-Tails and he wanted it now.
His hands blurred through signs.
Roots and vines split the ground as a living forest erupted outward, racing over dunes and stone.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
In moments, a desert became rainforest.
Everyone stared as the green tide surged closer.
What do we do now?
Madara is… ridiculous.
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