The air over the southern wasteland had been thoroughly boiled.
Blood-red steam surged from Might Guy's body, rising into the sky and forcibly tearing open a gap in Six Paths Madara's suffocating pressure. The surrounding rocks could not withstand the extreme heat and blood energy. They silently began melting into dark-red lava.
"Guy-sensei!"
Behind the ruins not far away, Rock Lee's eyes were bloodshot, and tears mixed with blood as they fell. He charged forward without a care, the weighted iron rings on his right leg scraping against the stones with a piercing sound.
"Don't come over!" Guy did not turn around. He simply tore off the green vest that had long since been soaked through with sweat and casually tossed it into the scorching sand.
He gasped for breath, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally steady. "Lee, watch carefully. Youth isn't about dying here in your teacher's place today. You still have a long road ahead. Keep your life and continue running forward!"
Little Lee bit his lip hard. His legs felt as though they had been filled with lead, pinning him to the spot as he sobbed soundlessly.
In midair, Madara Uchiha held the Six Paths Staff and regarded the mass of blood-red steam below with interest. His gray-white hair billowed in the heat waves, and his scarlet Rinnegan narrowed slightly.
"Blood-red steam produced by opening all Eight Gates?" Madara let out a cold laugh, disdain filling the corners of his mouth. "It is indeed rare. But that also means your life has reached its end. You look just like a rotten leaf falling in autumn, utterly worthless."
"Who are you calling a rotten leaf!" Naruto gripped a black chakra rod, golden light surging across his body as he gnashed his teeth and prepared to charge upward.
"Naruto, fall