BOOM!
A massive figure came flying from far away, tracing an arc through the air before smashing through an entire rock wall of the palace deep within Mount Myōboku. Broken stone and rubble scattered in every direction, raising a cloud of gray-white dust.
After landing, the figure slid farther forward, leaving a long, deep gouge in the stone before finally coming to a stop on a heap of rubble in the center of the ruined palace.
A horrifying sword wound ran from the top of his head down his back. Flesh curled outward along the clean edges, as though an incredibly swift blade had cleaved down from above.
His breathing was faint, and his limbs could no longer support him. Only the rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive, but each breath was shallower than the last, his life rapidly fading.
"Gamabunta!"
Gamabunta was far too weak to respond.
Sage Shima leaped out of the rubble and landed beside Gamabunta, pressing both hands against the edges of his wound.
Chakra gathered in her palms as she tried to save him, but the wound was too deep and too extensive. Her hands could cover only one section, while the rest continued to bleed.
In the distant sky, a hundred-meter-tall Susanoo stood before the ruined palace.
Armor encased the deep-blue chakra giant, the patterns on its plates clearly visible. It held a chakra sword as long as it was tall.
A layer of blood still clung to the blade, reflecting a dark-red sheen in the sunlight.
Uchiha Madara stood inside Susanoo's head with his arms folded, looking down at the figures gathering amid the ruins. His gaze finally settled on the Great Toad Sage seated on a distant stone throne.
"The Toad Sage? I finally found you. Heh,