In the Heavenly Screen...
"After all, it's five against one."
Edo Madara's voice was low and mocking, as if he were merely stating a trivial fact.
Mei Terumi's red lips were pressed tightly together, her eyes sharp. "Even five against one, we must win!"
"Don't call us despicable—at least we acknowledged your power in this way."
"You are... Madara Uchiha!"
Edo Madara's lips curled slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his Rinnegan.
"I won't call you despicable."
He slowly raised his hands, forming a mudra.
"Five against one? Perfect, I can give it a try."
Boom--!
The ground suddenly cracked open, and countless thick vines burst forth from the soil, instantly transforming into twenty-five Wood Release Clones that looked exactly like Madara!
Each clone, wearing a cold smile, dispersed and completely surrounded the Five Kage.
"That's what you call five against one." Edo Madara stood on the rocks behind them, looking down at them. "Don't call me despicable, you are... the Five Kage."
"Okay, I have a question---"
His voice was as icy as ice.
"Among these clones, is it better to use Susanoo or not?"
The pupils of Five Kage contracted simultaneously.
"With your limited abilities, you have no way of answering?"
"Then I'll answer for you."
Whoosh--!
Twenty-five Wood Release Clones simultaneously raised their hands, and deep blue Chakra erupted like flames!
"Could it be...?" Mei Terumi's voice trembled slightly.
"Damn it!" Raikage A's Lightning Release Armor exploded, unleashing blinding flashes of electricity.
The next second--
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Twenty-five four-armed blue Susanoo from the ground, standing like demon gods on the battlefield!
Edo Madara stood high above, his long hair dancing wildly with the surge of Chakra, his voice cold and resolute:
"Yes--use!"
"They..." Tsunade's fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"One person against five?" the Raikage growled through gritted teeth.
"No..." Gaara's voice was deep, "It's five against one."
Ōnoki floated up, his aged face showing an unprecedented solemnity.
"No," he slowly corrected, "It's twenty-five against five."
Mei Terumi's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as she glanced sideways at the Tsuchikage: "Tsuchikage...?"
Ōnoki took a deep breath, and his small body suddenly burst forth with an astonishing aura.
"Mutual cover and cooperation"
His voice resounded across the battlefield like a booming bell.
"We are the Five Kage!"
This roar seemed to ignite the fighting spirit of the other four shadows!
"Yes!" The Hokage, Raikage, Mizukage, Kazekage responded simultaneously, their Chakra erupting like a volcano!
Ōnoki's white beard danced wildly in the wind, and his right hand suddenly swung down—
"Go!"
The last rays of the setting sun had been swallowed by the night, leaving only the flashes of clashing Chakra and swirling dust on the battlefield.
The Five Kage stood together, each covered in wounds and breathing heavily.
"Huff... Huff..." The Raikage's Lightning Release Armor had long since faded, and his bronze skin was covered with burn marks.
"Chakra... almost depleted." Mei Terumi's Lava Release Chakra was nearly exhausted, her red lips turning slightly pale with fatigue.
"It's not over yet." Gaara hovered to the side, and the flow of the sand grains slowed down.
Tsunade gritted her teeth, the patterns of the Strength of a Hundred Technique flickering, clearly nearing its limit. But she still turned around without hesitation, placing her hands on Ōnoki's back, and medical Chakra flowed into his aging body like a trickle.
"Princess Tsunade..." Ōnoki gasped, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Give it your all."
"You don't need to say anything!" Tsunade responded sharply, but her Chakra output became even more stable.
Ōnoki took a deep breath, slowly opening his wrinkled hands, the light of Dust Release gathering in his palms.
"My Chakra is almost depleted... Let's make this our last stand!"
"Dust Release: Limit Detachment Technique!"
Whoosh--!
A tiny point of light flew from his palm, streaking across the battlefield like a shooting star, and landed in the center of the remaining Susanoo.
The next second--
Boom!!
The light spot suddenly expanded, transforming into a giant cubic light prison spanning hundreds of meters, its blinding white light illuminating the night as if it were daytime!
Ahhh--!
The Susanoo clone shattered like glass under the Dust Release, its deep blue Chakra shell disintegrating into countless points of light that dissipated into the air.
The distant Edo Madara's pupils contracted, and he abruptly dodged to the side, but was still grazed by Dust Release—
"Pfft!"
His right hand and right leg instantly turned to ashes!
(Oh no... I didn't have time to absorb Dust Release because I used Susanoo!) Madara's thoughts raced, and his body instinctively retreated rapidly.
However--
"It's not over yet!" Mei Terumi's stern shout rang out.
"Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
A water dragon wreathed in raging lightning burst forth from the light barrier of Dust Release, roaring as it devoured the Edo Madara in mid-air! The high-pressure water jets, combined with the paralyzing effect of Lightning Release, dragged him back to the center of the battlefield!
(As I said, only physical attacks are effective against me...) Madara calmly analyzed the situation amidst the raging torrent, (did he think that using Dust Release as a feint would work?)
But just as he was about to absorb the Ninjutsu—
" Sand Binding Coffin!"
Gaara's sand coiled around him like living things, instantly binding his limbs and torso! Even more terrifying, countless Sealing Tags were mixed in with the sand grains, densely covering his body!
"What?!" A hint of surprise finally flashed across Madara's Rinnegan.
He tried to mobilize his Chakra, but found—
(Unable to absorb Ninjutsu?!)
In the distance, Gaara spread his five fingers, his Sand Eyes coldly watching him:
"It's not just sand."
"These Sealing Tags... were prepared especially for you."
(If you don't like sand, then don't absorb Ninjutsu.)
Mei Terumi's lips curled into a cold smile.
(But if you do that, you'll be paralyzed and unable to move due to the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!)
Raikage A's Lightning Release Armor crackled and popped, (and then, the Tsuchikage's Dust Release would completely disintegrate you!)
Ōnoki hovered in mid-air, a rare fighting spirit appearing on his aged face. He looked up and shouted at Edo Madara:
"Did you see that?! That's the full power of the Five Kage!"
The Sealing Tags the Sand Binding Coffin tightened, and the paralyzing effect of the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet gradually eroded the body of the Edo Madara.
However--
(I see...)
Edo Madara, in his mind, was as if he were merely commenting on an insignificant performance.
(As expected of ninjas who bear the title of Kage.)
(So.)
Boom--!
An unprecedented surge of Chakra erupted suddenly!
Deep blue energy swept across the battlefield like a tsunami, shattering the sand and Lightning Water Dragon Bullets that bound him in an instant!
"I, Madara Uchiha, will fight with all my might!"
"Regardless of who the Five Kage of the Sand Village are or who they are, all their efforts will be in vain."
Whoosh--!
A giant, larger than any Susanoo before it, rose from the ground, blotting out the sky!
"This is..." Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply.
"The real Susanoo!" Gaara's Sand Eye trembled violently.
Edo Madara, his right hand slightly clenched, said indifferently, "It's not over yet."
"Fixed."
The deep blue Susanoo transformed, its heavy armor covering its entire body as if it were alive, its helmet turning into a ferocious Crow Tengu mask, and the Chakra wings on its back slowly unfolding, like a demon god descending!
"The gap... it's so huge..." Tsunade's voice trembled slightly. "My grandfather once faced such an opponent..."
Edo Madara looked down at the Five Kage, his Rinnegan filled with cold pity.
"I've said it before, only Hashirama can stop me."
"But he's gone."
"However, this might be a good thing for you--"
"Because..."
Whoosh--!
The massive Susanoo drew its Chakra sword, its blade slicing through the night sky and sweeping down with an aura of annihilation!
Boom!
The Five Kage figures were sent flying like falling leaves. The distant mountain peaks were cleaved in two by the aftershocks of the sword strike, boulders collapsed, and the earth groaned!
"What?! The mountain... has been split in two?!" Mei Terumi barely managed to steady herself, staring incredulously at the broken peak in the distance.
An unprecedented shock appeared in Ōnoki's eyes as he murmured, "This is... Madara Uchiha..."
He suddenly looked up, his voice hoarse. "Then why didn't you kill us back then?!"
Edo Madara stood within the crystal on Susanoo's forehead, looking down at them with an indifferent tone:
"What adult would get angry with a child?"
Let's not talk about that for now...
The massive Susanoo took a step, and the ground shattered like fragile thin ice.
"Are you done making a scene?"
The Five Kage gritted their teeth, suppressing their shock and resentment, and stared intently at the god-like giant.
Ōnoki landed slowly, his small body appearing tiny in front of the enormous Susanoo, but his gaze was more resolute than ever before.
"Although we've been lost for a long time..." He looked up at the Edo Madara, his voice hoarse but strong, "But now that we finally have a chance to find a way out, how can we stop here!"
Edo Madara looked down at the Five Kage, his Rinnegan revealing a cold indifference.
"Susanoo is the embodiment of destruction." Its voice is like the pronouncement of Shinigami; its attack possesses the power to shatter everything in its path, its strength comparable to that of Tailed Beast.
"Take your so-called way out and be utterly destroyed, Five Kage!"
The massive Susanoo raised its Chakra sword once more, the destructive pressure freezing the air itself.
"Tsuchikage..." A flicker of despair crossed Mei Terumi's eyes. "It's a pity, but this is the end."
"Shut up, Mizukage!" the Raikage roared, his Lightning Release Armor unleashing its final burst of lightning. "I haven't given up yet!"
Just as the Chakra sword was about to strike—
Swish!
The figure of Susanoo suddenly blurred, and then vanished into thin air like a phantom!
Edo Madara's body glowed with an eerie light. He looked down at his hands, which were gradually becoming transparent, and frowned slightly. "What's going on?"
The Five Kage stared blankly at the scene. Ōnoki was the first to react. "That light... what is it?"
"Susanoo, and..." His gaze fell on the dust swirling around Madara's body; "The dust from the Impure World Reincarnation was dancing in the air."
"Without a doubt -- "
Edo Madara picked up where he left off, his tone surprisingly calm. "The Impure World Reincarnation has been dispelled."
"What?!" The Raikage stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Tsunade quickly analyzed the situation. "Isn't Kabuto's whereabouts still unknown? This is too fast! If they had just found him, that would be fine, but they even stopped this technique..."
"Who did it?"
Ōnoki took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter who it is. Whoever it is, he's a hero who protected the Shinobi World." A hint of relief appeared on his aged face, "It seems that heaven hasn't abandoned us after all."
Edo Madara's body grew increasingly transparent, but he suddenly laughed, "It seems you have some capable ninjas among your ranks."
"There's nothing we can do."
Mei Terumi stared at him warily. "You've come to your senses?"
Ōnoki suddenly realized something and shouted urgently, "It's not over yet! He's planning a last-ditch effort before disappearing, be careful!"
Before he finished speaking, Edo Madara unleashed his last Chakra and charged toward the Five Kage like a meteor!
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
Several ferocious fire dragon heads roared as they attacked, the intense heat distorting the air itself!
"No, it's too late!" Mei Terumi, trying to form hand seals to unleash her Water Release, but Madara's Fire Style was simply too fast!
At the critical moment--
"Drink up!"
Tsunade leaped in front of the crowd, Chakra fists brimming with the last of the Strength of a Hundred Technique, and slammed them fiercely into the flames!
Boom!
The flames were forcefully dispersed, sparks flying everywhere!
"Hokage!" Mei Terumi exclaimed.
"It's alright." Tsunade in mid-air, but her heart was heavy: (I've used up all of my Strength of a Hundred Technique...)
Just then, Edo Madara's body suddenly froze, and his soul began to leave his Reanimated Body.
(But... we won.) Tsunade had just breathed a sigh of relief when she was horrified to discover--
At the very last moment before his soul left his body, Madara forcibly condensed a small Susanoo, Chakra sword thrust straight at him!
"What?!" The four shadows tried to come to the rescue, but it was too late!
In that split second between life and death—
Tsunade, whose body was already unable to move, miraculously dodged the fatal blow by sidestepping!
"What was that just now?" Raikage's eyes widened.
"He had clearly lost consciousness completely..." Ōnoki was also shocked.
Tsunade had narrowly escaped death, was equally confused: (Why... I was clearly unable to move just now...)
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in her mind:
"Long time no see, it's me, Tsunade."
• Broken?
Deep within his consciousness, Dan Katō's figure appeared clearly, smiling gently, "The Impure World Reincarnation has been dispelled, so I used the Spirit Transformation Technique to fly here."
"To be honest, that was really close."
Tsunade's eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Dan... I... have always loved you..."
Duan gently shook her head, her smile warm yet firm, "There's no time, no time for sadness. I have to leave soon."
Then the two talked about their past experiences and dreams.
"In the end, I was able to protect you..." Duan's figure gradually blurred. "Being awakened by the Impure World Reincarnation, I suppose it had some value."
As he finished speaking, his soul vanished like starlight.
In the real world, the Raikage's anxious voice came through. "Hokage, are you alright?"
Edo Madara stared at Tsunade, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "She's recovered? Did she absorb Chakra?"
Tsunade snapped out of her reverie and said softly, "Just now... I saw an old friend."
Ban sneered, "You'll meet again soon."
Suddenly, Mei Terumi exclaimed, "What?! What's going on?"
The Chakra that had begun to dissipate was seen to reattach itself to Madara's body, and his body was restored at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Why... why hasn't it disappeared yet?" the Raikage roared. "The Impure World Reincarnation was clearly dispelled!"
Edo Madara slowly raised his hand, forming an unfamiliar hand seal:
"The so-called Impure World Reincarnation is a technique for summoning the dead. But it carries a risk--"
"As long as the seal is known, the summoned dead can voluntarily break the summoning contract of the Impure World Reincarnation."
Tsunade's pupils constricted sharply. "Rescind the contract?"
A dangerous smile played on Ban's lips, "Then you'll be in big trouble."
"Immortality, unlimited Chakra, not controlled by the caster, and able to move freely."
Ōnoki's expression changed drastically. "Could it be...?"
"Go tell the caster—" Edo Madara's Rinnegan emitted an eerie light, "Forbidden techniques cannot be misused.'"
"Impure World Reincarnation - Release!"
As the last seal was completed, the light emanating from him stabilized completely, showing no signs of dissipating!