"Can't wait anymore? Very well..."
Madara Uchiha slowly walked up to the God Tree.
As time passed, the vines' attacks slowly came to a halt.
Beneath the smoke lay deathly silence.
Countless Allied Shinobi had been drained of all their chakra and lay amid the ruins, clinging to their last breath.
"Kakashi, are you all right?!" Might Guy sprang out of nowhere and landed beside Kakashi.
Kakashi sat on the ground, panting as he answered, "I... I'm all right. I'm just running low on chakra and stamina. Don't worry about me for now. How is Lord Hokage?"
Might Guy said, "Don't worry! I'm here! Lord Hokage and the other four Kage are all fine!"
"Then... that's good." Kakashi caught his breath and nodded, raising a hand as he said softly, "Guy, help me up. I need to get to Lord Hokage. She's pregnant. She needs our protection."
Might Guy said urgently, "Idiot! You're in this state, and you're still trying to push yourself?! Stay here and don't move. I'll go!"
"No! How could you possibly do it alone..."
"Heh, don't worry, my old rival. Today should be the day I let my youth burn." Might Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up and flashed his trademark smile.
Kakashi exclaimed in alarm, "Guy, don't tell me you're going to...?"
Before Kakashi could finish, Might Guy had already vanished.
Before the God Tree.
Madara Uchiha stood on a root, his Rinnegan gazing eerily at the God Tree as it towered into the clouds.
Faintly, an ethereal voice drifted slowly into Madara's ears.
"Absorb me..."
"Draw us into thy body. Take in the God Tree, the entire Ten-Tails..."
Madara knew this was the God Tree's call.
He had long awaited this moment.
Madara raised both hands and flew into the sky.
The enormous God Tree