The Ten-Tails returned to the world in an explosive fashion, radiating endless, violent power.
Yet once it fully entered its first form, it stopped roaring and no longer rampaged across the battlefield. The chaotic warzone suddenly fell silent.
It was as though its earlier outburst had merely been the tantrum of something awakening after lying dormant for countless years.
Naruto stared at the mountain-sized figure in the distance.
"So that's the Ten-Tails? It's ridiculously huge... though it's kind of ugly."
As the strongest jinchūriki, he was extremely familiar with the tailed beasts. He often chatted with Kurama in the sealing space.
The Nine-Tails was already enormous, but the Ten-Tails was on an entirely different scale.
Fortunately, Kurama was handsome. As long as he wasn't baring his fangs at people, he was actually kind of adorably goofy. In terms of looks, he completely outclassed the Ten-Tails.
Makoto nodded.
"That's the Ten-Tails, all right. But it's still missing the Nine-Tails' chakra, so it isn't complete yet."
Reviving the Ten-Tails wasn't easy. The basic requirements were the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path plus the chakra of all the tailed beasts.
As for exactly how much of each beast's chakra was required, though, no one really knew.
In Adult Sasuke's world, Obito managed to revive the Ten-Tails using the complete chakra of the One-Tails through the Seven-Tails, along with one of the Eight-Tails' tentacles and the portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra sealed inside the Gold and Silver Brothers.
In this world, however, the revived Ten-Tails was much closer to its complete form, having obtained the full chakra of the One-Tails through the Eight-Tails.
The Nine-Tails' contribution still came from the portion of chakra sealed inside the Gold and Silver Brothers.
Naruto scratched his head.
"Then why'd it suddenly stop making a mess? Does the Ten-Tails actually have a pretty good temper?"
A miniature Kurama suddenly ran out of Naruto's body and hopped onto his shoulder.
Looking like a tiny pet fox, it was unbelievably adorable.
The only thing unusual was that it had a few extra tails.
Unfortunately, Kurama's deep, gravelly voice completely ruined the cuteness.
"Don't be naïve, Naruto. The Ten-Tails is different from the nine of us. It has no proper reason—only pure destructive instinct."
"It exists for one purpose alone: reclaiming all chakra. It's the common enemy of both humanity and the tailed beasts."
"The only reason it's sitting still now is because it's incomplete and still building up power."
"I see."
Unable to resist, Makoto reached over and ruffled Kurama's fluffy head.
The feeling was fantastic.
Kurama immediately smacked away the offending hand with one tiny paw.
"You bastard! What the hell are you doing? I'm not anybody's pet."
"Oh, come on, Kurama. It's just a little pat—you won't lose any fur."
Makoto grinned.
"By the way, how far has your chakra transformation progressed? Is the Ten-Tails still a threat to you?"
"Of course it is. I haven't fully transformed into what you call a Lesser Natural Energy Spirit yet. Right now, this is the only way I can appear outside, and my life is still linked to Naruto's."
"But even after the transformation is complete, this version of the Ten-Tails won't be able to do anything to me."
"Its final form, however... that can still suppress me.
"You know why."
"I do."
The final form Kurama referred to was the Ten-Tails completely transforming into the God Tree rooted throughout the entire planet.
That thing was an Ōtsutsuki tool designed to convert primordial natural energy.
Naturally, it could also absorb Kurama after his very nature of existence had changed.
...
While the Ten-Tails quietly accumulated power and underwent its transformation, the human battle raged on.
Fresh developments erupted on both the eastern and western fronts.
The communications unit from the Fifth Combat Division rushed over with a report.
The Akatsuki's core members had appeared.
Naruto looked at Makoto.
"Sensei, which side are we heading to?"
"Do you still have your shadow clones out?"
"They dispelled themselves after completing their missions."
The Naruto of this world didn't possess that overwhelming desire to earn everyone's recognition.
He wasn't the type to shoulder every responsibility or insist on protecting everyone himself.
He clearly understood why his father and his teacher had allowed this war to happen in the first place.
Because of that, his shadow clones never did anything beyond their assigned tasks.
Otherwise, with his current strength, his shadow clones alone could have solved every problem the combat divisions were facing.
Makoto nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Return to the Rapid Reinforcement Unit and lead them to assist the combat divisions on the outer perimeter."
"As for me..."
"I'll head straight to the Ten-Tails."
"Yes, sensei!"
Naruto formed a hand seal and vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He had learned the convenient space-time ninjutsu as well.
Its startup time was still a bit too long for actual combat, but it was perfect for traveling quickly.
After returning to the Rapid Reinforcement Unit, Naruto looked around.
"Where's Jiraiya-jii?"
Sasuke replied, "He already went to the Ten-Tails. Chiyo-baasan is in command here now."
Chiyo shook her head.
"You've all grown into capable shinobi. Decide for yourselves. An old woman like me, with only a few days left to live, has no interest in worrying about these things anymore."
Sasuke looked toward Naruto.
"Does Makoto-sensei have any orders? Those Cloud shinobi couldn't wait and already rushed off. I don't want to waste time standing around here either."
"Yes. We're moving out immediately!"
Based on the latest report from the communications unit at the front, Naruto promptly issued his orders.
Sai immediately unrolled a prepared scroll. Working together with his teammate Kurama Yakumo, he used ninjutsu to create three enormous, vividly colored birds that looked completely real.
Unlike the original secret technique, the Super Beast Imitating Drawing they had improved produced creatures so lifelike that Sai no longer had to control them manually. They possessed a degree of awareness, could understand commands, and act on their own.
More importantly, until their chakra was exhausted, they would not dissolve into puddles of ink even if they were attacked.
Following Naruto's instructions, everyone split into three groups and flew off to reinforce different battlefields.
Chiyo silently boarded the flight that would reunite her with her grandson.
That was the only reason she had come to the battlefield...
...and the last thing she wished to do before she died.
As for whether the Akatsuki would succeed or fail, she no longer cared.
The affairs of the living no longer had anything to do with her.
...
On the eastern front, within the area assigned to the Allied Shinobi Forces' Sixth Combat Division—
Very few of the Akatsuki's White Zetsu surrogate army remained, yet fierce fighting still raged across the battlefield, with explosions erupting one after another.
A newly arrived force, working alongside the surrogate army, was keeping part of the Allied Forces occupied.
They weren't humans.
They were all puppets.
They filled the skies, covered the ground, and even emerged from beneath the earth.
The simplest way to deal with a puppeteer was to locate and eliminate the puppeteer's real body.
But every time the Allied Forces attempted to advance, they were driven back by clay bombs erupting from the ground.
The art of eternal existence and the art of the momentary explosion had achieved perfect synergy here.
A fresh contingent suddenly descended from the sky, forcefully inserting itself into the center of the battlefield.
The moment he landed, Sasuke was swarmed by enemies.
Dense Lightning Release chakra instantly burst from his body, and the electrical web of Chidori Current precisely neutralized Deidara's clay creations before they could detonate.
Naruto created a large number of shadow clones.
Moving at incredible speed, each clone knocked out one White Zetsu surrogate after another with a single punch.
The surrogate White Zetsu immediately reverted into trees, while the shinobi hidden inside, still dazed, were tossed aside by Naruto and became prisoners of the Allied Forces.
Gaara slammed both hands onto the ground.
Countless sand tendrils surged upward, binding large numbers of puppets.
Then Sakura, Kankurō, Temari, and Naruto's shadow clones joined forces to systematically smash the trapped puppets to pieces.
In an instant, Sasori's Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets suffered massive losses, while Deidara's explosive clay no longer dominated the battlefield.
Sasori recalled the remaining puppets and formed a defensive wall around himself and Deidara.
The two of them looked at the newly arrived reinforcements.
Among them were the people they knew best...
...and the people they least wanted to meet.
Deidara grinned.
"Sasori-danna, these opponents are going to be troublesome. Should we retreat first? Hmm!"
Sasori replied calmly, "Oh? So your art of the fleeting moment isn't all that impressive after all."
"You can leave first."
"I'm staying."
Deidara chuckled.
"It's rare to see you volunteer to cover the rear, Sasori-danna. Is it because you've seen your grandmother and want to stay for a little reunion?"
Sasori didn't answer.
Instead, he looked directly at Chiyo.
"It's been a long time."
Chiyo's face filled with sorrow.
"It certainly has..."
"And we've become strangers."
"Sasori... you won't even call me Grandma anymore."
Sasori answered indifferently, "Something as fragile as family ties..."
"...stopped mattering to me a long time ago."
Chiyo sighed.
"So that's why you've been hiding inside that puppet?"
"You don't want me to see what you've become after growing up?"
Temari and Kankurō glared at Sasori with unconcealed anger.
They had absolutely no goodwill toward him.
After all, he had nearly killed their beloved little brother.
Gaara himself, however, harbored surprisingly little hatred.
Ever since losing the One-Tail and being revived to begin a new life, his personality had become unexpectedly peaceful.
It was as though his entire being had been elevated.
Nearby, Kurotsuchi called out anxiously, "Deidara-niisan! How much longer are you going to keep this up? Stop already! The Allied Forces have surrounded the entire area!"
Deidara shrugged.
"So what?"
"This..."
"...is exactly the stage I've been waiting for. Hmm."
Kurotsuchi grew even more anxious.
"Have you lost your mind? If you keep this up, you'll die! Leave the Akatsuki now. Grandpa and I will both guarantee your safety."
Deidara shook his head.
"Kurotsuchi..."
"Just like that old man, you don't understand my art at all."
Sasuke glanced at the others.
"Looks like your family reunion isn't getting anywhere."
"In that case..."
"...sorry, but I'll just have to kill them."
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
The signature jutsu of the Uchiha Clan erupted first, as an enormous fireball roared toward the Art Duo.