Battle Against Madara (3)

Sasuke's battlefield.

The moment Kakashi and Guy were thrown, Sasuke chest pain suddenly subsided.

The tearing sensation at the cellular level receded like a tide, replaced by a strange sense of balance—the immense vitality of Hashirama Cells and the Yin Release properties of the Uchiha Clan Chakra had finally achieved a kind of symbiosis after ten hours of painful adjustment. The pain disappeared, replaced by a surging sense of power.

But Sasuke didn't have time to process this change. His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan Naruto fixed on the battlefield in the distance, watching as the Nine-Tails was slowly dragged out of Naruto's body, watching Naruto's despairing figure collapse to the ground...

Neji's words echoed in his mind:

"Protecting Naruto is protecting yourself."

What does it mean? Sasuke didn't understand, but he knew that Naruto couldn't die here.

"Sakura, hold on tight!" Sasuke growled.

The Susanoo dissipated instantly. The moment the purplish-black Chakra vanished, Sasuke formed hand Hand Seals—

"Summoning Technique!"

A giant white eagle emerged from the smoke, Sasuke, pulling Sakura along, leaped onto its back. "To the top of Madara Uchiha's true form! Top speed!"

A white eagle cries out, its wings flapping as it soars into the sky. Its speed is so great that it leaves a white trail in the night sky.

Seconds later, the giant eagle flew directly above Madara Uchiha's true form. Sasuke, standing on the eagle's back, swooped down, his right hand flashing with lightning—

Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!

Amidst the piercing cries of birds, a spear formed from lightning pierced the night sky, pointing directly at Ban's skull!

Ban didn't even look up. He simply raised his right hand, palm up, and casually lifted it up.

"Sealing Technique: Absorption Seal"

The lightning spear disintegrated and dissipated the moment it touched his palm, the lightning Chakra being completely absorbed. Madara then raised his Rinnegan and looked at Sasuke was descending from the sky.

Sasuke's pupils contracted, but he didn't stop moving. The Kusanagi Sword was drawn, its blade aimed straight for Madara's throat!

Madara shifted his body slightly to the side. The Kusanagi Sword grazed his neck, severing only a few strands of his long hair. Then, Madara's left hand reached out and grabbed Sasuke's right wrist, which was holding the sword.

"The Banshō Ten'in"

Two simple words. Sasuke felt an irresistible suction force coming from Madara's hand, and his body was uncontrollably propelled forward. And Madara's right hand, without anyone noticing, had already grasped the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword —the sword he had taken from Sasuke.

Time seemed to slow down.

Sasuke saw Madara's purple Rinnegan, and saw his own astonished face reflected in it. He saw the blade of the Kusanagi Sword, and saw it change direction, the tip pointing at his chest.

Then, the suction intensifies.

"Pfft."

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was exceptionally clear in the silent night sky.

Sasuke looked down at the sword tip protruding from his chest. The Kusanagi Sword, the Ninja Blade that had been with him for many years, was now protruding from his back, warm blood dripping from its edge.

He raised his head and looked at Ban. In those Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, resentment, anger, and confusion... all eventually turned into a deathly silence of darkness.

The body fell backward.

"Sasuke --!!!!" Sakura, perched on the eagle's back, let out a heart-wrenching scream.

At the very moment Sasuke fell—

"Pulse."

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path closed its massive maw. The last tail of the Nine-Tails- Tails vanished into its mouth, the sound of swallowing like muffled thunder. The statue's body began to swell, the patterns on its surface emitting a dark red light, and all nine eyes opened simultaneously, a terrifying aura sweeping across the entire battlefield!

The Incomplete Ten-Tails is resurrected!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Kakashi and Guy had just repelled the Wood Release Clone when they turned around and saw Sasuke being pierced by their own Kusanagi Sword, slowly collapsing. Naruto lay sprawled not far away, blood gushing from a huge wound in his abdomen, his golden Chakra completely dissipated, his face as pale as paper, and his breathing... had stopped.

"..."

Kakashi stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide beneath his Forehead Protector. His mind was blank; he couldn't comprehend what was happening before him.

Neji's words... "Naruto and Sasuke can defeat Madara Uchiha"... were he joking? Was he lying to Lady Tsunade? Now Naruto, the Nine-Tails has been extracted; Sasuke is dead, his heart pierced; the Incomplete Ten-Tails has been resurrected; Madara Uchiha is about to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki...

How can we play like this?

Kakashi wasn't the only one who was confused.

Even Madara Uchiha himself was stunned for a moment. He looked down at the fallen Sasuke, then looked up towards Konoha, and for the first time, genuine doubt appeared in his Rinnegan.

Neji... has not appeared yet.

Isn't he afraid of becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and reaching the Six Paths Tier? Isn't he afraid of possessing power on par with his own? Or... does he simply not care at all?

"Never mind." Ban shook his head, banishing his distracting thoughts. The opportunity was fleeting, and he had waited too long for this moment.

With his hands Hand Seals, all the Wood Release Clone transformed into Chakra and returned to his main body. Madara leaped onto the top of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, placing his hands on the mazo's rough hide.

"Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, recall!"

Dark red Chakra erupted into the sky like a volcanic eruption! The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path let out a painful roar, its massive body twisting and deforming, transforming into a pure torrent of Chakra that surged wildly into Madara's body.

"Ughh..."

Ban roared to the sky, his voice a mixture of pain and ecstasy. His body began to swell, black lines appeared on his skin, and his hair grew wildly...

The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki has been born!

On the other side...

"Sasuke... Naruto..."

Sakura leaped off the eagle's back and stumbled to Sasuke's side. She knelt on the ground, her hands trembling as she pressed them against the wound on Sasuke's chest. Green medical Chakra surged forth frantically, but the wound was too deep; his heart had been pierced, and massive internal bleeding was occurring...

"No... no... Sasuke-kun... please..." Tears blurred her vision as Sakura groped with her other hand to pull out the Kusanagi Sword, and more blood gushed out.

Kakashi only then realized what was happening. He rushed to Naruto's side and checked his breath—no. He felt for a pulse in his carotid artery—no beat. Naruto's blue eyes were still open, but the pupils were dilated and lifeless.

"..." Kakashi picked up Naruto and placed him next to Sakura.

Sakura placed her other hand on Naruto's heart, simultaneously channeling restorative Chakra into both of them. However, her Chakra was rapidly depleting, and the vital signs of the two boys were irreversibly fading away.

Tears streamed down her face like broken beads. Sakura bit her lip until it bled, but she dared not stop. Yesterday... yesterday everyone was together at Shikamaru's wedding. Sasuke gave her a tea set, Naruto gave her a case of instant noodles, Neji gave her sake, and everyone was laughing and joking...

Now, Sasuke and Naruto lay in pools of blood, their bodies growing cold.

"Aaaaaah--!!!" Sakura let out a suppressed scream, her Chakra output pushed to the limit, and the veins on her forehead bulged.

Kakashi and Guy exchanged a glance.

No words are needed. After years of partnership, a single glance is enough.

The two turned to look at Madara Uchiha, who was undergoing a transformation—the figure enveloped in dark red Chakra, whose oppressive aura caused the surrounding air to tremble. The power of the Incomplete Ten-Tails was merging with him; once complete, he would truly step into the Six Paths Tier, becoming an existence equal to Neji.

By then, it will be too late.

"Kai." Kakashi's voice was unusually calm.

"Ah, I know." Kai grinned, though the smile looked more like a grimace. "Kakashi, this might really be the last battle."

"Um."

"Then... let our youth burn until the very last moment!"

The green steam erupted again, more violently and wildly than before! Kai's skin began to redden, his veins bulged, and his Chakra burned like flames—

"Eight Gates, Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder —Open!!!"

Blue steam replaced green, Kai's hair stood on end, and the surrounding air distorted due to the intense heat. He transformed into a Madara Uchiha!

Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan pattern spun again. This time, it wasn't Kamui, but... some deeper change. Blue-green Chakra surged from his body, coalescing into a blurry skeleton behind him.

Although it is not yet complete, and although it is still very faint.

But that was the prototype of Susanoo.

"Obito," Kakashi whispered, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to someone who didn't exist, "Lend me your power."

He strode forward, charging into the dark red storm.

The night wind swept across the battlefield, carrying the scent of blood and scorched earth. In the distance, the transformation of the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was nearing its end; closer, two boys lay in pools of blood, and a girl knelt beside them, weeping uncontrollably.

Further afield, Konoha's barrier remained steadfast, and the 80,000 White Zetsu remained silent.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in a room within the Hyuga Clan Compound, Neji stood by the window, the entire battlefield reflected in his Tenseigan.

His expression was eerily calm.