"Madara, the Tailed Beasts have to be sealed in order from One-Tail to Nine-Tails. Something will go wrong if you do it like this!" Shin shouted from afar as Madara directly dragged the Nine-Tails toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's mouth.
Madara frowned and turned back. "I know. Stop nagging!"
Still, his movements paused slightly. He turned his gaze toward Shukaku, the One-Tail, and said in a low voice, "We'll start with you, you big raccoon dog."
His Rinnegan narrowed, and a powerful pulling force dragged Shukaku toward the statue's mouth. Shukaku let out a mournful cry. Though he resisted without pause, he still could not withstand the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's power.
"Bastard... I'll never hand Shukaku over to you!" Gaara appeared atop the sand and stone. He glanced toward where the Tsuchikage and Raikage had fallen, a trace of resolve surfacing on his face.
"Desert Rebel Slave!" As his deep voice rang out, a pair of hands suddenly rose from the earth and gripped the chains, instantly halting Shukaku's drag toward the statue.
"Hm?" Uchiha Madara frowned and glanced in Gaara's direction.
Elsewhere, Naruto, stripped of the Nine-Tails, stared blankly ahead. His chakra rapidly dissipated, and his heartbeat gradually weakened.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, quickly catching him as he landed on the ground.
Feeling Naruto's chest and sensing his life force constantly draining away, Sasuke murmured, "At a time like this... should I go find the Fourth Hokage?"
Just as he hesitated, a flash of light appeared before him. The Fourth Hokage, missing one arm, appeared with an anxious expression. "Sasuke, how is Naruto?"
"He lost the Nine-Tails. He needs the other half inside you to save his life. You came at the right time—I'll leave Naruto to you." Sasuke directly tossed Naruto to Minato