Uchiha? Madara!!!

Uchiha Sakuya stood tall within his Susanoo. Though its power was overwhelming—he had defeated the Kazekage and held his own against the combined might of the Five Kage—the strain was immense. His face beneath the mask had gone pale, and his breathing was heavy. Maintaining the second form of Susanoo, wielding two legendary weapons, and repeatedly using the Eighty Gods Mirror for extreme perception and prediction had taken its toll. His final, all-out slash that broke through the "Absolute Defense" had nearly drained most of his chakra.

Now, three Kage had regrouped, their fear giving way to even greater bloodlust: Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, Mizukage Chojuro, and the acting Tsuchikage. All around them, the Allied Shinobi Forces kept surging forward at their commanders' shouted orders, despite their terror. The situation had turned dire in an instant.

"He's almost at his limit! Don't be afraid! Surround him!" the acting Tsuchikage bellowed, his voice hoarse. He joined several Iwagakure jōnin in launching another attack. "Earth Release: Opening Earth Rising Excavation!" Countless sharp stone spires shot toward Susanoo's legs!

"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!" Chojuro wielded the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei and fired a high-pressure blade of water at Susanoo's joints!

Naruto was worried about Boruto, but he knew there was no time to hesitate. He unleashed Multi Shadow Clone, and countless golden figures charged from all directions, Rasengan in hand, heedless of danger. "Everyone, attack together!"

Sakuya's eyes were cold as he made the slightly dimmed Susanoo swing its straight sword and Gunbai with all its might!

The blade flashed, shattering the stone spires! The Gunbai blocked the water blade and deflected it! Every attack cleared an area, but the Allied Shinobi Forces' assaults came like the tide, one wave following another! Countless Explosive Tags and long-range jutsu harried him like flies, too!

Cracks began to appear in Susanoo's Chakra Armor. It was being damaged far faster than it could recover!

"I've got you!" The acting Tsuchikage spotted a brief opening after Sakuya's swing, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Earth Release: Rock Fist!" A tightly compacted giant fist of stone shot like a cannonball toward the section of Susanoo's chest armor that had been repeatedly cut by Water Severing Wave and was now covered in cracks!

Sakuya couldn't bring his guard back in time!

Boom!!! The stone fist slammed squarely into the cracked armor!

Crack—! A chilling sound of shattering rang out! A huge hole split open in the armor on Susanoo's chest. It hadn't shattered completely, but its defensive power had plummeted!

"Now!" Chojuro immediately followed up. "Hiramekarei Release!" The twin blades erupted with a massive chakra blade that stabbed straight into the opening!

Naruto's countless shadow clones swarmed in too, like sharks catching the scent of blood!

Sakuya grunted. The blow to Susanoo sent his chakra into violent disarray. He forced down the blood surging in his throat, while the Eighty Gods Mirror spun furiously in his eyes as he searched for a way to turn the tide. But his dwindling chakra made even his ocular jutsu sluggish.

Take one of them out first!

His gaze instantly locked onto the acting Tsuchikage, the one who had caused this crisis!

"Die!"

Susanoo ignored Chojuro and the countless shadow clones attacking from behind. Its left hand barely shielded its back with the Gunbai, while its right hand swung the straight sword at a speed surpassing anything before, turning it into a streak of purple lightning aimed directly at the acting Tsuchikage!

The acting Tsuchikage had never expected Sakuya to risk everything while at such a disadvantage, much less target him! He was scared out of his wits and threw up his strongest defense. "Earth Style: Earth Domu Technique!" A stone giant burst from the ground and shielded him!

But how could a hasty defense withstand Sakuya's furious strike?

Splat! The purple blade cut through the stone giant and the acting Tsuchikage behind it as easily as a hot knife through butter, cleaving them both in two! Blood and entrails flew!

The acting Tsuchikage was dead!

But at the same time, Chojuro's Hiramekarei blade plunged into the opening in Susanoo's back! The Gunbai had weakened it considerably, but the blow still dealt Susanoo a heavy wound! Rasengan from countless shadow clones rained down on Susanoo's body as well!

Rumble! Susanoo groaned under the strain. Its light dimmed rapidly, cracks spread across its entire body, and it finally reached the verge of collapse! Sakuya could no longer maintain it. The enormous Susanoo shattered like broken glass, then dissolved into a shower of purple chakra motes!

Sakuya's body fell from the air. He landed on one knee and braced himself with his straight sword to keep from collapsing. He gasped for breath, blood dripping from beneath his mask. His chakra was nearly gone, and the backlash from Susanoo had left him with injuries all over.

"It's over, Uchiha Sakuya!" Chojuro rushed forward with Hiramekarei to deliver the finishing blow! Naruto also dispelled his shadow clones and charged with a Rasengan in hand!

The Allied Shinobi Forces erupted into deafening cheers, as if victory were within reach!

But at this critical moment—

An unforeseen change took place!

The ground at the edge of the battlefield, near the walls of Phantom Branch Village, suddenly heaved violently without warning. Then it burst open!

A figure slowly rose from the crater, like an ancient ferocious beast awakening from slumber!

He had long, unruly black hair and wore red armor in the style of the Warring States period. A massive Gunbai rested on his back. His presence radiated terrifying chakra, as tangible as substance, and an aura of dominance that crushed everyone on the battlefield!

Most terrifying of all were his eyes—a Rinnegan, its pupils turning with a bizarre pattern!

Everyone present who had experienced the Fourth Shinobi World War—Naruto, Sasuke, who was recovering some distance away, and even the old soldiers—felt their souls freeze at the sight of that face and those eyes!

A name that should never have appeared again, one that was absolutely impossible to see, rasped from countless throats, choked with fear and trembling:

"U-Uchiha... Madara?!"

How could it be him?! Hadn't he been sealed away for good?! Why was he here?! And he looked... as if he were in his prime?!

Uchiha Madara, resurrected through Pure Land Reincarnation, slowly opened his eyes. His Rinnegan swept indifferently across the chaotic battlefield and the horrified Allied Shinobi Forces before settling on Sakuya, kneeling not far away with his chakra exhausted. The corner of his mouth curved into a proud, satisfied smile.

"Oh? I wake up to a scene like this? Not bad." He rolled his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds. "I don't know who called me back from my slumber in the Pure Land, but I'll accept this 'gift.'"

His gaze fixed on Chojuro and Naruto, who were charging toward Sakuya. His eyes held the disdain one might show insects.

"Get lost, trash."

He didn't even form Hand Seals. He simply raised a hand.

"Limbo: Border Jail!"

An invisible shadow from another dimension instantly slammed into Chojuro and Naruto!

"What?!" "Gah!"

Neither of them could see where the attack had come from. They only felt an irresistible force crash into them! Hiramekarei flew from Chojuro's hands. He spewed blood and flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground, his life uncertain! Naruto was also sent hurtling away. His powerful body and Nine-Tails Chakra kept him from losing consciousness outright, but he still hit the ground badly injured, dazed and reeling!

One strike! Just one casual strike had badly wounded the Mizukage and the Hokage!

The entire battlefield fell silent!

The Allied Shinobi Forces' freshly kindled morale was crushed in an instant by this terrifying being, as if a god or demon had descended. Fear—unprecedented fear—clutched at every heart!

Uchiha Madara... had actually been resurrected! And was he on the same side as Uchiha Sakuya?!

Sakuya was also momentarily stunned by Madara's sudden appearance. But the Eighty Gods Mirror quickly analyzed the truth: this was a powerful shinobi summoned through the "Pure Land Reincarnation" technique he had improved! He didn't know exactly who had carried it out—perhaps Obito or Orochimaru had activated the backup plan at the base on his orders—but there was no doubt that he had been rescued from certain death!

Madara walked over to Sakuya and looked down at him, his tone tinged with amusement. "Kid, looks like you went a little too far. You nearly got yourself killed."

Sakuya took a deep breath and forced himself to his feet, his voice still cold. "Spare me the chatter. Take care of the trash."

"Hmph. You've got some spirit." Far from getting angry, Madara smiled. "Very well. I'll make this so-called Allied Shinobi Forces experience true despair once more!"

He turned to face the tens of thousands of Allied Shinobi Forces, whose morale had already crumbled, then slowly spread his arms. A light of destruction shone in his Rinnegan!

"Now, for round two."

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Rumble! The earth shook violently! Countless enormous trees burst from the ground and grew at a furious pace, turning a vast swathe of the battlefield into a primeval forest! The Allied Shinobi Forces were instantly split apart, entangled, and swallowed! Screams rang out from every direction!

"Tengai Shinsei!"

He even summoned a meteor! Though it was smaller than those he had called forth in life, the despair it brought as its massive shadow fell over the battlefield was beyond measure!

Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth through his injuries, activating his Rinnegan and Susanoo in an attempt to stop him. But Madara casually struck with a Yasakani Magatama, driving Susanoo back again and again and worsening Sasuke's injuries!

Sakuya didn't stand idle either. He quickly absorbed Natural Energy, an ability granted by Hashirama Cells, to recover a little chakra. Then he formed a somewhat translucent Susanoo arm once more and wielded his straight sword, targeting the Allied Shinobi Forces' commanders and any jōnin trying to organize a counterattack!

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Madara quickly formed Hand Seals and spewed a massive wall of flame from his mouth, turning the area into a sea of fire that left everyone in despair.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!" Sakuya needed only two seconds to form the Hand Seals. A colossal fire dragon rampaged across the battlefield, cutting down swathes of shinobi...

Although Madara and Sakuya had never fought together before, they displayed astonishing teamwork! One cleared the battlefield on a wide scale, spreading chaos and terror; the other struck with precision, dismantling the chain of command!

One was an unstoppable natural disaster! The other was the Grim Reaper, harvesting lives with ruthless efficiency!

"Ha ha ha ha!" Madara laughed heartily. "You truly are an Uchiha! As my dance partner, you're just my type!"

The Allied Shinobi Forces had completely collapsed! Faced with these two Uchiha monsters, they lost all courage to fight. They cried and screamed as they scattered like headless flies, trampling one another in countless places!

Their defeat was like a landslide!

What had been a punitive campaign that seemed certain to succeed had, with Uchiha Madara's unexpected arrival, turned into a one-sided massacre and rout!

By the time Madara grew bored and stopped using large-scale jutsu, the battlefield was already littered with corpses and burned-out trees. The Allied Shinobi Forces had suffered catastrophic losses, and the survivors had fled without a trace.

All that remained on the battlefield were tattered flags, burning trees, and countless bodies, along with...

Naruto, gravely injured and unconscious; Chojuro, whose life was uncertain; Gaara, unable to fight; and Sasuke, so badly wounded he could barely move.

Four of the Five Kage were gravely wounded and on the brink of death! Raikage A had been wounded before reaching the battlefield and had been lucky enough to escape the slaughter.

In front of Phantom Branch Village, Uchiha Sakuya stood shoulder to shoulder with Uchiha Madara.

Sakuya was out of chakra and badly injured, but his gaze remained cold. Madara looked as if he had merely warmed up, gazing at the devastated battlefield with a sense of lingering dissatisfaction.

The "Sasuga" organization had achieved an unbelievable... great victory in a seemingly hopeless situation, thanks to Uchiha Madara, the ultimate trump card no one could have anticipated!

The balance of power in the Shinobi World had been changed forever. The shadow of the Uchiha had once again fallen over the entire world. And the cards in Sakuya's hand seemed far more terrifying than anyone had imagined.