At the entrance to the Root base, Shūichi glanced upward before turning to a visibly shaken Tenka. "Head back to the base. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Tenka nodded, though she knew the Shūichi before her was just a clone. She still couldn't help but say, "Even so, be careful!"
At that moment, waves of crimson chakra shot skyward, forming a barrier that enveloped all of Konoha. The top of the barrier quickly closed, creating a rectangular prism that sealed the entire village.
Four Red Yang Formation!
Shūichi recognized this as the Hokages making their move.
The Four Red Yang Formation caught the falling meteors mid-descent.
Then, the barrier's rectangular top began to morph, shifting into a rounded shape under Hashirama's control.
As a result, the meteors, which had been pressing downward, began to roll off the barrier's curved surface, crashing into the ground outside Konoha. The impact created a deafening roar, shaking the earth and mountains alike.
"A barrier…"
Uchiha Madara frowned slightly, but his Susano'o quickly transformed, evolving into its full-body form before diving toward the village at high speed.
---
Beside Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya had summoned the Two Great Sages and fully entered Sage Mode. His gaze darkened. "Here he comes!"
"Don't worry. With Shūichi here, everything will be fine," Minato reassured him calmly.
Sure enough, a figure suddenly appeared before Uchiha Madara. Golden chakra flared, rapidly coalescing into the celestial form of Star God, which collided head-on with Madara's Susano'o in midair, unleashing a fearsome storm.
---
Meanwhile, outside Konoha and beyond the barrier, two other Susano'o forms emerged.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, turned to look and squinted. "That's… Shisui and Obito?"
A green Susano'o clashed fiercely with a sky-blue one, both only slightly weaker than Madara's. Their collision shook the earth and stirred violent winds.
At the same time, Yamanaka Inoichi's voice echoed in the minds of Hiruzen, Minato, and the others.
"Everyone, beware of Madara's clones!"
Upon receiving this, Hiruzen immediately split into five shadow clones. On cue, Madara's figure appeared behind him, facing off against the clones.
"You think shadow clones can stop me?" Madara sneered.
Hiruzen remained silent as all five clones simultaneously formed seals.
Great Five Elements Bullet!
The clones opened their mouths, unleashing a barrage of wind, fire, water, lightning, and earth techniques.
Madara raised an eyebrow in mild surprise before raising his hand.
Shinra Tensei!
The Five Elements Bullet was repelled effortlessly.
But just as Madara prepared to strike at Hiruzen, another figure flashed behind him.
Lightning Blade!
Kakashi Hatake, cloaked in Tailed Beast chakra, thrust a purple, electrified blade directly at Madara.
Sensing the attack, Madara's Susano'o quickly manifested for defense.
At almost the same moment, Hiruzen's five shadow clones completed another set of seals.
Crack!
The muscular Susano'o armor shattered under Kakashi's Lightning Blade.
Madara's expression briefly showed surprise before he unleashed another Shinra Tensei, sending Kakashi flying. The next moment, Kakashi exploded into a puff of smoke.
A shadow clone!
Without missing a beat, Hiruzen's Great Five Elements Bullet struck again, slamming into Susano'o's front and shattering it entirely.
Kakashi descended from above, his body wrapped in violet electricity interwoven with Tailed Beast chakra, resembling a cloak of lightning-style armor.
In his hand was the White Fang short blade, its blade now a brilliant purple lightning bolt.
Lightning Blade – Thunder Fang!
Kakashi moved with blinding speed. Even Madara could only summon a half-body Susano'o for defense, unable to fully manifest its complete form in time.
The half-body Susano'o donned the armor of the demon crow, but even this sturdy defense was sliced apart by Kakashi's blade.
For a brief moment, shock flickered across Madara's face.
In the next instant, Kakashi's blade split Madara's body in two—only for it to transform into a block of wood.
A substitution technique!
"Well done, Kakashi!" Hiruzen praised.
Kakashi's flawless timing and precise teamwork were impeccable.
---
On the other side, near Minato, Jiraiya—still in Sage Mode—faced another of Madara's clones.
"Finally, it's time for the heroic Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya, to shine!" Jiraiya said confidently, his battle spirit ignited as he stared at Madara.
Minato sighed helplessly. "Jiraiya-sensei, even if it's just a clone, don't let your guard down."
"Don't worry!"
Jiraiya raised a hand, gathering chakra into a sphere. The sphere swelled, emitting a sharp, piercing hum.
Sage Art – Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!
With a flick of his wrist, Jiraiya hurled the Rasenshuriken, its deadly whirling edge howling as it shot toward Madara.
Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow slightly.
It was the same technique Shūichi had used earlier.
"Unfortunately, it's useless against me!"
As the Rasenshuriken approached, Shinra Tensei erupted, shattering the jutsu into scattered energy.
Simultaneously, however, Jiraiya had already completed his second ninjutsu.
Sage Art – Wind Release + Fire Release + Oil!
A surge of boiling oil, vast as the sea, roared toward Madara.
This was an incredibly large-scale technique.
Under the cover of the rolling waves of boiling oil, a stone wall erupted beneath Jiraiya, propelling him high into the air.
Madara observed the approaching oil and simply raised his hand to absorb it.
Just as the last of the oil was being absorbed, Jiraiya descended from above, crashing down like a meteor.
Madara looked up, his gaze unflinching.
Shinra—
Frog Song!
Madara's body froze as the impending jutsu was abruptly interrupted.
Boom!
In Sage Mode, Jiraiya slammed down with overwhelming force, creating a massive crater where Madara stood. The latter's body splintered into wooden fragments—a substitution jutsu.
"Well done, Jiraiya-sensei!"
A voice rang out, startling Jiraiya. He leaped from the crater to land beside Minato Namikaze. Emerging from the shadows, Nagato stepped forward.
"Nagato," Jiraiya remarked with a smile, "this is just a clone of yours, isn't it?"
"You're welcome to test that theory, sensei," Nagato replied calmly.
Jiraiya's expression sharpened as he noticed the figures behind Nagato. "That's… the Fourth Mizukage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki?"
"Trouble," Minato muttered, maintaining the barrier. He immediately created a shadow clone to stand beside Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Minato cautioned, "based on our intel, each of these puppets can use one of the Rinnegan's six abilities, but the Jinchūriki may be an exception."
Minato's knowledge of the Rinnegan's abilities was comprehensive, at least with regard to its known powers.
Jiraiya nodded, then turned to Nagato. "Nagato, Konan has already made her choice. Why are you still so persistent?"
Nagato replied coolly, "Because the battle isn't over. Because this is a path that must be walked."
Jiraiya frowned, understanding Nagato's conviction. He sighed. "It seems we won't avoid a fight today. Very well. Let's see just how far your mastery of the Rinnegan has come!"
Nagato retreated slowly. "As you wish, Jiraiya-sensei."
Disappearing into the forest, the Six Paths of Pain spread out, assuming formation.
The first to act was the Asura Path. Its five fingers opened, launching a barrage of rockets straight at Minato.
These rockets could change direction mid-flight!
Jiraiya immediately used Earth Release to shield Minato's true body.
Boom!
Explosions scattered debris, but the Animal Path had already summoned a series of massive creatures.
The Two Great Sages, seeing this, promptly used summoning techniques of their own, calling forth Gamabunta and his brothers.
Fukasaku seized the opportunity to ensnare a monstrous bird with his tongue, while Shima spat out a jet of water, slicing the creature in two.
"Watch out!"
Minato's sudden shout echoed as he vanished, reappearing in midair. In his hand, he pressed a Rasengan downward.
Boom!
An invisible chameleon, camouflaged within the battlefield, was struck with pinpoint accuracy.
At that moment, the Deva Path raised a hand.
Banshō Ten'in!
Whoosh!
Minato was yanked away but reappeared beside Jiraiya with a flicker of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Mizukage and Killer Bee charged from opposite sides.
Boom!
The air exploded as Killer Bee was kicked flying by Jiraiya's powerful strike.
Simultaneously, Minato hurled a kunai. The Mizukage tilted his head to avoid it, only for Minato to teleport behind him, slamming a Rasengan down.
Boom!
The Mizukage was smashed into the ground.
But the next moment, Minato was ensnared by the Asura Path's mechanical cables.
Killer Bee, now cloaked in Tailed Beast chakra, landed with eight chakra tails coiled around him. A Tailed Beast Bomb began to form rapidly.
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
Using Flying Thunder God to escape, Minato reappeared by Jiraiya's side and shouted.
Jiraiya nodded, forming a massive Wind Release: Rasenshuriken and hurling it at the Deva Path.
The Preta Path immediately stepped forward to intercept, prepared to absorb the attack.
"Hm?"
The Preta Path glanced down, realizing the ground beneath it had turned into a swamp. It began sinking rapidly, its attempt to absorb the Rasenshuriken thwarted. The jutsu sailed over its head, speeding toward the Deva Path.
At that moment, Killer Bee's Tailed Beast Bomb launched, hurtling toward Jiraiya and Minato.
Minato gripped a kunai tightly, black seals spreading from his hand as the technique activated mid-air.
The incoming Tailed Beast Bomb was immediately caught in the seal, gradually vanishing as if consumed.
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light exploded beside the Deva Path.
The Tailed Beast Bomb reappeared, detonating directly on the freshly resurrected Fourth Mizukage. The terrifying power of the blast not only obliterated him but also engulfed the Deva Path, which had just deflected the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken moments earlier.
This was Minato's handiwork—during his earlier confrontation with the Fourth Mizukage puppet, he had left behind a Flying Thunder God mark. Even though the Mizukage had been revived by the King of Hell, the mark persisted.
With this maneuver, all the puppets except for Killer Bee were eliminated.
From his hiding place, Nagato, controlling the battlefield, was visibly shocked.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique… it's truly impossible to guard against."
---
Elsewhere, as Konoha was under attack…
On the way to Island Turtle, Ōnoki and his group were intercepted.
Nagato and Madara!
Before the situation could escalate, Shūichi appeared.
"Protect the Jinchūriki and retreat! Leave this to me!"
Ōnoki nodded without hesitation, leading the group downward toward the ground.
Madara reacted swiftly, activating his Perfect Susano'o. Nagato raised a hand, casting Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull).
Susano'o's blade slashed through the air with a deafening roar—but it struck nothing. The pull had no effect on Shūichi Hoshita.
Shūichi suddenly appeared behind the Susano'o. In his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, he launched a devastating punch at the head of the massive construct.
Shinra Tensei!
The collision of invisible repulsive force and raw physical power created a thunderous explosion, clearing the skies of clouds.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Nagato pursued Ōnoki and his group at high speed.
Shūichi cooperated with the diversion, engaging Madara in a fierce mock battle.
---
Meanwhile, Nagato quickly caught up with Ōnoki's team. A single Shinra Tensei blasted them apart, scattering them like leaves in a storm.
Before Ōnoki could recover, Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Chakra chains shot forth, piercing into Utakata, whose body had been transformed by an immortal White Zetsu. The Six-Tails was forcibly extracted.
Nagato's efficiency was staggering—far faster than using the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals.
Or rather, Nagato's control over the Demonic Statue was far superior to what had been depicted in the original timeline.
After extracting the Six-Tails, Nagato paid no further attention to Ōnoki's group and quickly departed.
Ōnoki flew to Utakata's side. "How are you holding up?"
Utakata, now disguised as Shūichi, feigned a grave expression. "That Demonic Statue is different from before."
"It locked onto the Six-Tails in an instant, leaving it no chance to resist."
Ōnoki's expression darkened. "In that case, if your real body were to face it, you'd also be restrained instantly?"
Shūichi shook his head. "My real body wouldn't give it the chance."
"This form is far weaker than my actual self. I'm only controlling it with a portion of my spirit—it's not even as strong as a shadow clone."
"But we've achieved our objective."
Ōnoki paused, surprised.
Shūichi smiled. "Using a secret Water Release technique, I've left a marker inside their bodies. It'll remain effective for seven days."
"As long as they return to their base, we'll be able to locate them!"
This wasn't a bluff.
S-Rank Water Release – Heavenly Marked Water.
By infusing ultra-heavy water into the air, it entered the body through breathing.
The water molecules carried strong radiation—harmless in small doses, but capable of lingering within the body for an extended period.
Shūichi had once unexpectedly acquired the Tracking Master Tag thanks to this technique.
Even with the brief contact, Nagato had already inhaled the ultra-heavy mist.
Ōnoki's expression lightened significantly. "It seems this round ended in a draw with the Akatsuki."
"However, that leaves only the Nine-Tails for them to capture."
"And from what we've seen so far, even with just eight Tailed Beasts, the Ten-Tails' power is becoming terrifyingly strong—even though it hasn't fully revived."
Shūichi nodded. "Then it's all down to the final battle."
"We must completely eliminate the Ten-Tails to prevent future disasters!"
---
Nagato ignored the battle in the sky between Shūichi and Madara, flying away without hesitation.
Madara, however, seemed unconcerned. Seeing Nagato succeed in his objective, he contacted Orochimaru.
The next moment, with a poof, Madara's Edo Tensei body disappeared.
Being a reanimation, his departure was far simpler than Nagato's.
Shūichi glanced down to ensure Hayate and the others were unharmed. Seeing that an immortal White Zetsu clone was still on the ground maintaining control, he left directly for Konoha.
The performance was over—it was time to resume his training.
The final battle was approaching, and he needed to be fully prepared.
(End of Chapter)
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