At the center of the battlefield.
The battle had reached a fever pitch.
Itachi controlled Susanoo, each swing of the Totsuka Blade cleaving the earth, while Nine-Tails unleashed Tailed Beast Bombs in a frenzy. Pitch-black spheres of light exploded one after another, leveling the entire central district of Konoha.
Tsunade and Jiraiya struggled to hold on.
Although both were Kage-level fighters, they still fell behind against the combination of Susanoo and Nine-Tails.
"Sage Art: Supermassive Rasengan Barrage!"
Jiraiya formed a gigantic Rasengan in each hand and slammed them into Susanoo's chest.
Its armor shattered, only to regenerate moments later.
"It's no use."
Standing inside the crystal, Itachi said calmly, "Perfect Susanoo regenerates far faster than you can damage it."
Tsunade punched Nine-Tails' claw back and panted, "Jiraiya, this can't go on... we have to separate them!"
How could Jiraiya not know that?
But there was nothing he could do.
"There's not much time. More and more Konoha Ninja are arriving..."
Unlike Tsunade and Jiraiya, Itachi looked toward Tagitsuhime and inwardly frowned.
At that moment, Tagitsuhime was facing off against Hizashi Hyuga. Neither had attacked, but the clash of their auras had already sent cracks spreading inch by inch through the surrounding buildings.
"Senior Tagitsuhime is being held back by Hizashi Hyuga. She can't help..."
Itachi's thoughts raced, and he made his decision in an instant.
He secretly signaled Tagitsuhime to prepare to withdraw. Catching it from the corner of her eye, she gave an almost imperceptible nod.
At the same time, the Mangekyō pattern in Itachi's eyes spun as he secretly transmitted his voice to Nine-Tails. "Nine-Tails, it's time to leave. Return to Naruto's body now, and I'll fly you both out of Konoha."
Nine-Tails was tearing into a building with his teeth. At those words, he paused. "Fly? Konoha