Xuanhui looked up at the God Tree, calculation in his eyes.
Madara could sense Xuanhui itching to act, but he had no idea what he intended to do.
"Xuanhui... you're dangerous through and through. Perhaps I should eliminate you first."
"Lord Madara, if you have what it takes, go ahead and try."
"I know what you're waiting for..."
Madara rapidly gathered his chakra, glancing toward the west.
"Several powerful chakra signatures have entered the western side of the battlefield. If you're pinning your hopes on them...
Sage Art: Blazing Underworld!"
Reddish-purple flames poured from Madara's mouth like a waterfall, turning the ground into a spreading sea of fire in an instant!
"Shit... why haven't those guys..."
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Steam hissed as an ocean of water instantly extinguished the flames!
"A Water Release on this scale..."
The people who had been retreating moments earlier were stunned by the sheer scale of the Water Release.
"Look up there!"
Everyone looked toward the upper right of the battlefield, while Madara turned his gaze to his left.
At the battlefield's third corner, eight figures wore Akatsuki Robes patterned with red clouds. Two stood on a Giant White Bird, while four rode a white Flying Dragon. High above, a blue-haired girl fluttered her Angel Wings, carrying an orange-haired boy on her back.
"That's... the Akatsuki!"
"The Akatsuki showed up now... are they reinforcements?"
"No, Kisame Hoshigaki of the Akatsuki, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen, extinguished the flames with that flood. He helped us..."
Madara's gaze settled on them as well.
"An orange-haired boy and a blue-haired girl... if I remember correctly, you two were Nagato's companions...
And there's even a boy from the Uchiha Clan here..."
"Madara, you tried to exploit the Akatsuki and nearly ruined our lives.