Deep within Madara's mental world, the black curse markings around the Stirring Flesh Cocoon loosened, and the golden radiance surging out from within lit up the depths of the dark sea!!
Ever since Madara's battle with Itachi, Naruto's suppressed will had been stirring again. Now it awakened with such force that it caught Madara off guard!
Boom...!!
Susanoo collapsed with a crash. Madara dropped to one knee, his face twisted in agony!!
"Naruto... that brat!! Has he really grown this strong!!!!"
For Iruka and the Konoha ninja around him, this sudden turn of events was nothing short of salvation!!!
The first Ninja to recover their senses roared, "Iruka, kill him!!!!"
Iruka snapped to attention. Trembling, he pulled out a kunai and stood before "Naruto," who was utterly defenseless at that moment, yet he could not bring himself to strike!!
The Ninja outside the circle shouted in outrage, "Iruka, what are you waiting for? He's trying to destroy our village!!!!"
Iruka gritted his teeth and raised his kunai with a shaking hand. By all rights, he should have put the village's safety and the greater good first. But looking at the agony and struggle on that familiar yet unfamiliar face, he simply could not... end it with one decisive stroke!!
Clang!
The kunai fell from his hand, and his shoulders slumped helplessly. "I'm sorry. Naruto is the one person I just can't do this to..."
"If you can't do it, then let us!!!!"
The Ninja rushed forward as one!!!
From inside the mouth of the lizard summoned through the Rinnegan, Izuna watched everything unfold. Something's wrong with my brother. Could that brat named Naruto be resisting his control again? This is bad. My brother's in danger!!!
He was about to emerge and help when he saw Madara's trembling back straighten!!
Madara's