The Hokage's Efforts

The Ten-Tails' cocoon was still spinning.

Dark crimson Chakra surged from every crack in the cocoon, scorching the surrounding ground into blackened, glassy slag. It was evolving—from a cumbersome colossal beast that moved on all fours into something leaner, deadlier. With every rotation, its body shrank slightly, while the density of its Chakra doubled.

Madara stood beneath the cocoon with his arms folded across his chest, his back to Hashirama. His Rinnegan reflected the constantly flowing dark crimson patterns on the cocoon's surface, making his expression impossible to read.

Hashirama no longer looked at Madara. His gaze rested on the Ten-Tails' cocoon, its spinning dark crimson bulk reflected in his black eyes. He lowered his hands from before his chest, interlaced his fingers, and formed an ancient hand seal that only he could use.

"Gate of the Great God."

Several red torii gates descended from above the Ten-Tails. Each was mountain-sized and mountain-heavy, carrying Hashirama Senju's unique sage power as they landed precisely at the base of the Ten-Tails' tail, its limb joints, and the back of its neck.

The Ten-Tails' cocoon shuddered violently. Its rotation slowed—not stopping, but being forced down. The sealing power of the Gate of the Great God penetrated the Ten-Tails' evolving shell and acted directly upon its Chakra core.

In the distance, Tobirama's figure flickered rapidly across the battlefield. Though his Flying Thunder God was not as fast as Minato's, no one could match him when it came to large-scale transfers like this. He held a specially made kunai in each hand, leaving behind a spatial coordinate on the ground with every flicker.

"Fourth!" Tobirama's voice rang out from the other end of the battlefield.

Minato appeared at his side. "Second."

"The Ten-Tails is about to break out of its cocoon. Use Flying Thunder God