The Song Ends, but the Melody Lives On!

The song ended, and the battle drew to a close!

Flames encircled the land, while meteors endured the fire's tempering at the bottom of the crater, letting out crackling wails.

Across the entire battlefield, only Army-Breaking Songstress and the area around her remained unscathed!

"Madara!"

Clang! Amid the ruins, Hashirama helped Madara up, his body weakened by the impact of the music.

"I'm fine!" Madara gently pushed Hashirama aside. His armor had already fallen away, leaving only a black bodysuit clinging to his skin.

Surrounded by flames, Army-Breaking Songstress casually played Impenetrable Fortress on her zither. (The BGM from when Naruto returned after mastering Sage Art and instantly killed Pain with Rasenshuriken.)

The tune was explosive and lively, but it no longer carried any destructive force. Clearly, the songstress was merely entertaining herself.

This left Madara even more unable to discern the enemy's intentions.

Madara demanded, "What exactly is your purpose?"

As she played, the songstress said, "I'm only here to find someone. I have no intention of destroying this land. You can go back. Once I find them, I'll leave."

Find someone...

Madara's gaze flickered. "The people you're looking for... wouldn't happen to be Momoshiki and Urashiki, would they?"

Clang! The music stopped abruptly. Army-Breaking Songstress raised her eyes and asked, "Momoshiki, Urashiki... they came here?"

Noticing the slight change in Madara's expression, Army-Breaking Songstress said, "The one I'm looking for isn't those two. It's Yushiki..."

Yushiki! Madara narrowed his eyes.

"About Yushiki, he..." Hashirama stepped forward, wanting to say something.

Tap! But Madara pressed a hand to his shoulder, signaling for him not to say more.

Madara pondered inwardly: *She's Yushiki's companion. That's all the information we have at the moment... Let's assume she's telling the truth. Then she's here to take Yushiki away. But if she learns