Heavenly Anomalies, Earthly Changes!

The Ten-Tails' silence did not last long.

The severed link began reconnecting in less than three seconds. Dark red Chakra surged from the Ten-Tails' body like countless writhing blood vessels, slowly extending toward Obito and Madara. It was not that the Ten-Tails was actively reconnecting—it was that the Ten-Tails itself was a massive vessel that craved power. The Shinobi Allied Forces had merely cut the "pipe," while the "source" had never run dry. One minute, two minutes, perhaps five. By then, the Nine-Tails' and Eight-Tails' Chakra would be drained dry, and the Shinobi Allied Forces would no longer have the strength for a second charge. Everything would be over.

Naruto knelt amid the rubble, gasping for breath. Blood still flowed from his right shoulder. The Nine-Tails' golden Chakra slowly repaired the wound, but it was moving at less than half its previous speed. Kurama was truly nearing his limit.

"...Kurama, how much longer can you hold on?"

"I don't know." The Nine-Tails' voice was low and hoarse. "But no matter how much longer I can last, you have to end this before then."

Naruto took a deep breath and pushed himself to his feet with a hand on his knee. Nine tails unfurled behind him once more. Their light was dimmer than before, but still steady.

Naruto raised his head and looked at the black-and-white figure standing atop the Ten-Tails' head.

Obito was looking at him as well. The red light in that Mangekyō Sharingan flickered amid the Ten-Tails' dark crimson glow, like a flame that could go out at any moment, yet never did.

Atop the Ten-Tails' head, Madara lowered his folded arms. His Rinnegan shifted away from Naruto and swept across the Shinobi Allied Forces struggling back to their feet, across the elite jonin gathering their Chakra anew.