[Sarada Uchiha: "He even learned the First Hokage's jutsu…"]
[Boruto Uzumaki: "Pretty sure Grandpa Madara fused Hashirama cells."]
[Kurotsuchi: "Not the point—how's Naruto supposed to survive this next hit?"]
[Darui: "Why does it feel like Madara's playing with cheats…"]
[Chōjūrō: "Does Madara not need hand seals anymore?"]
[Madara Uchiha: "Hand seals? What are hand seals? Hashirama, do you ever bother with seals?"]
Hashirama chuckled.
[Hashirama Senju: "Hahaha—I barely use them. Clap my hands and the jutsu shows up."]
Hoshigaki Kisame stared up at the sky-screen and tightened his grip on Samehada, saying nothing.
Kakashi looked equally awkward.
[Kakashi Hatake: "Ahem… Zabuza, thoughts?"]
Zabuza glanced at the DM, expression complicated.
[Momochi Zabuza: "They're broken. I'm just a normal guy."]
Fearing Madara would rip it out, the Nine-Tails struck a truce with Naruto: it would flood him with chakra, and Naruto would use it to deal with Madara.
Naruto split into tens of thousands of shadow clones.
Each clone hefted a Giant Rasengan—and they swarmed.
Boom. Boom. Boom!
Explosions rolled across the newly born forest as Rasengan smashed into the tree-sea. The sight was overwhelming.
At last, the barrage ebbed.
Naruto had brute-forced his way through Madara's strike—barely.
Madara's brow lifted, a spark of interest in his eyes.
[Hashirama Senju: "Madara, why do you keep bullying kids?"]
[Madara Uchiha: "Blame them for being weak."]
[Tsunade: "Try not underestimating people for once, Madara!"]
[Fourth Raikage A: "Hokage's right. When the Five Kage team up, we'll plant you in the ground!"]
[Mei Terumi: "Exactly!"]
[Ōnoki: "You're all still too naïve."]
[Gaara: "Lord Tsuchikage… now isn't the time to rain on hope."]
The smoke thinned.
Naruto was gasping for breath.
That one "simple" attack from Madara had burned through all the chakra the Nine-Tails had just given him.
The gap was crushing.
Everyone watching felt it—the despair sitting heavy in the frame.
Madara was terrifying. The only one who could truly check him was Hashirama.
Ōnoki looked at Naruto, guilt in his eyes. He was the elder, yet the youngster was the one throwing himself into the fire.
"Naruto, you've done enough. Leave the rest to us… It's time I pulled my weight." His face firmed.
Naruto opened his mouth, then swallowed the words.
"Let me handle—"
"No. I will deal with Madara Uchiha," Ōnoki said, unmovable.
Madara's lip curled.
[Madara Uchiha: "Despair. This is the power of Madara Uchiha."]
[Tsunade: "Don't get cocky."]
[Fourth Raikage A: "She's right."]
[Mei Terumi: "The Five Kage together will defeat you."]
Except for Ōnoki, nearly everyone believed a united Five Kage could topple Madara.
Ōnoki, it seemed, was the world's number-one Madara-booster—and now he was proving it again.
Allied Shinobi Forces HQ relayed orders: use time-space ninjutsu to send the Kage to Ōnoki's location and block Madara together.
Faces lit with excitement.
At last—the Five Kage would stand side by side.
On another front, the alliance continued to sweep up White Zetsu.
Following the strategist's command, the transport team prepared to send the Mizukage first.
"Be careful," Mei told Chōjūrō before the light took her.
Madara dropped from the sky toward Naruto, intent on ending it—
—and a white flash ripped across the ground.
Madara's pupils tightened.
The Raikage exploded into view and drove a kick forward without hesitation.
Madara snapped an arm up to block—
—but the combined follow-through from A and Tsunade hammered him out of the air like a kite with its string cut.
He steadied, descending to the ground.
"Yin Seal: Release—Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth!"
Tsunade ran through seals, channeling chakra. "I'll stabilize Ōnoki and Gaara first."
"You good?" the Raikage asked, not taking his eyes off Madara.
"I'm fine," Tsunade said, already working.
"Granny Tsunade?" Naruto blanched at the sight of the technique. "That's… that regen jutsu?"
Madara glanced toward a corner of the field, brow lifting.
More figures warped in with a ripple of light.
"Everyone's alive. Good—I'm not late," the Mizukage said with a small, sharp smile.
"Finally a proper fight. I've been itching for this," the Raikage flexed, lightning purring across his body.
"All right. Everything's in place."
"Longevity does have its perks… who'd have thought the Five Kage would fight shoulder to shoulder?"
The last haze burned off.
Five silhouettes stood in a line, facing Madara in the air. Music seemed to rise with them—the watchers erupted.
They looked glorious. The Five Kage had truly gathered.
"Perfect," Madara said, unimpressed. "A lineup like this is at least worth a little effort."
Rasa scowled up at the sky-screen.
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): "Can't stand it. How can this Uchiha Madara act so smug?"]
[Tsunade: "Careful you don't get smacked by reality."]
[Hashirama Senju: "Madara, I think they still underestimate you…"]
[Madara Uchiha: "Remove 'think,' Hashirama."]
"Tsunade," A said, lightning thickening. "Mizukage and I will buy you time."
"Go," Tsunade answered, still healing.
"Lava Release—Melting Apparition Technique!!"
Mei's hands flashed; a torrent of corrosive slurry spewed forth, racing for Madara.
He slipped aside, watching vines sizzle and slough away where the stream touched them. His eyes stayed bored.
"Petty tricks. Not worth absorbing."
A was already there—fist first. The thunder-charged blow smashed Madara back.
A flicker of surprise crossed Madara's eyes. "…Fast."
Mei surged after him and spat another wave; the corrosive downpour swallowed Madara's Edo body.
When it cleared, the blue ribcage of Susanoo stood revealed.
Arms folded, Madara hadn't lost that lazy disdain.
The Raikage's jaw set. He cut the air with a deafening, horizontal thunder strike that cracked the battlefield and hurled shockwaves across the plain, while Mei's corrosion climbed and hissed, wrapping the Susanoo shell.
They regrouped with a glance, readying the next pass.
Onlookers across the lines buzzed, blood running hot.
So this is a Kage-level fight…
Monstrous.
Mei's mouth curled into a confident smile.
[Mei Terumi: "Hmph. Don't tell me my acid just melted Uchiha Madara."]
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