Chapter 37
Final Battle, Ten-Tails Revived Part I
Land of Lightning, Location Unknown
The Gedō Mazō statue clutched its head as it unleashed a loud scream that shook the entire battlefield. Its chakra levels suddenly began to double…then triple…the quadruple. The ground broke apart under its feet…and several boulders weighing several tons began to levitate around it. Then…on its back…the wood-like protrusions began to…be pushed down its back. When they were at the base of its back…ten tails began to develop as it fell onto the ground and it gave another loud tortured roar. Tobi licked his lips as he glanced at his enemies, his dragon gave a loud roar of challenge.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Tobi asked with a smirk. "The Ten-Tails will be reborn…I couldn't have done it without you, Sasuke."
"What the hell…" Sasuke uttered and the older, evil Uchiha laughed.
"Don't you remember…you are the one who set the entire endgame I had planned into motion," Tobi mocked as he glanced at Killer Bee. "If you hadn't gone after the Hachibi, I wouldn't have gotten the eight-tails chakra that I would need. If you hadn't attacked the Kage Summit, I wouldn't have been able to get Kinkaku and Ginkaku and their nine-tails chakra. You really should have stayed on my side longer, I could have used a malleable lackey like you for longer."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as dark blue, nearly purple chakra bursts around him. "If that's the case, I'll just wipe the statue off the map once and for all!"
"Sasuke, calm down! He's baiting you!" Naruto snapped at his friend, and the Uchiha glanced back at him. "We'll take out the statue, but with Tobi right here we won't be able to get to it. We need to neutralize him first!"
Hinata nodded. "We don't have many chances left, Sasuke."
"With all of us here, that shouldn't be too hard though," Kiba said as Akamaru whimpered. "C'mon buddy, we outnumber this bastard."
"That's true…but that man survived for this long," Shikamaru said as he knelt…and pushed his fingertips together. "I'll analyze the tactical situation, don't any of you get killed."
"Heh, we'll cover you Shikamaru," Kiba said as Akamaru barked in affirmative.
"Indeed, since without superior numbers, we have the…unmasked…" Shino started as he looked at the Tobi.
"He calls himself Tobi," Sasuke uttered as his Susano'o aura flickered around him.
"Tobi, in quite a bind. Even with his Sharingan and Rinnegan," Shino said as his swarm bursts out of his arms.
Tobi smirked and then did a seal and his hands were then engulfed in a red aura, specifically at the tip of his fingers. "You're not touching the statue as it completes its metamorphosis! Uchiha Kaenjin (Uchiha Flame Formation)!"
A red barrier made of solid flames, much like Hanzō's Hachiman technique, formed around the Gedō Mazō and Tobi then stood up. He flicked his wrist with the Gunbai at hand and he licked his lips…he tried to find the most…vulnerable target of the enemies that he had assembled in front of him. From his left palm a chakra rod, shaped into a sword, jutted out and broke off and he flipped his hand and caught the 'hilt'. He then zeroed in…and then vanished into a Kamui.
Tenten looked around and Neji's Byakugan snapped on and then pushed her out of the way with a Hakke Kūshō just as Tobi reappeared and attempted to slash her with his chakra disruption katana. Rock Lee then unleashed a Konoha Senpū (Leaf Hurricane) and slammed his heel in a spinning side-kick right at the evil Uchiha. Tobi gave a smirk and then let the blow phase through him just as Tenten recovered and summoned her own katana and clashed with the evil Uchiha.
His dragon then took flight and flew above them, before spitting several gigantic, powerful fireballs right down at the Konoha 12. Sasuke immediately countered the blasts by igniting them with several blasts of Amaterasu which consumed them into nothing, and then he extinguished each Amaterasu ball. Tobi then phased through the ground again and went to attack Team Ino-Shika-Cho!
"Ino! Can't you sense him?!"
"He's…" Ino started before Tobi reappeared behind her with his chakra disruption kunai drawn. "Behind!"
"Too late girl!" Tobi said as he went to stab her only for a yellow blur to intercept him and he dodged Naruto's punch.
"You're NOT going to kill any of my friends!" Naruto yelled as he charged more of Kurama's chakra into his Kurama Mode, the air practically sizzled with all the nine-tails chakra he was pumping out!
"You couldn't stop me from killing thousands in this war, and your father most importantly couldn't stop me from unleashing the Kyūbi on Konoha," Tobi taunted before he blocked Sasuke's follow up attack with his blade, their swords clashed, and he smirked. "And you couldn't stop me from using your big brother…"
"You really want to provoke me more, do you?!" Sasuke demanded as he charged a Chidori through his blade and Tobi jumped back…and shot several fireballs at the Uchiha.
Sasuke jumped and dodged every fireball and then slashed right at the evil Uchiha who then let it phase right through him with Kamui, only for a swarm of insects to mob him. Shino raised his hand as the swarm formed into a giant sphere which descended over Tobi.
"Hijutsu: Mushidama (Secret Technique: Insect Sphere)," Shino uttered as his Kikaichū completely covered the evil Uchiha and began to drain his chakra. "Even with your technique, I'll keep you immobilized just long enough…"
"For ME to knock the hell out of you!" Kiba yelled as he and Akamaru charged in and then he did several seals. "Jinjū Konbi Henge: Sōtōrō (Inuzuka Style Man-Beast Transformation Combo: Two-Headed Wolf)!" In a puff of smoke he and Akamaru transformed into a giant two-headed wolf. Kiba's head smirked and charged chakra through his body. "Garōga (Fang Wolf Fang)!"
He and Akamaru in their giant two-headed wolf then spun and went to smash right into Tobi! But…the evil Uchiha vanished into his Kamui after Shino's swarm dispersed. Tobi reappeared with his chakra disruption blade drawn and went to stab Kiba and Akamaru…only for two blurs to appear at either side of him.
Neji and Hinata then attacked Tobi from both sides after getting behind him when he landed. They both took the stance of the Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms) and their respective Byakugan flared. The Hyūga leader's morphed into the Keihatsu Byakugan and she nodded at her cousin.
"Hakke Hyaku Nijūhasshō (Eight Trigrams One-Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms)!" both cried out as they targeted Tobi's tenketsu.
Not good! Tobi thought as before he could phase, Neji and Hinata both hit his arms and chest with their fingertips.
"Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms! Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms! Sixty-four palms!" Neji and Hinata called out together, their flurry of attacks having an immediate effect as the evil Uchiha skidded back and blood dripped from his lip. "One-hundred twenty-eight palms!"
Their last barrage sent Tobi flying back and he crashed into one of the now floating boulders. Before he could recover Rock Lee, now using Seven of the Eight Gates smashed into him and he grunted and crashed through several more floating boulders. Despite most of his chakra network being shut down he managed to catch Lee's next kick and immediately made eye contact with him. Lee gasped as he was caught in a Sharingan Genjutsu and his gates faded.
"Troublesome…" Tobi started and before he could finish Lee off with his sword…he found himself frozen by his shadow.
"That is my line," Shikamaru said as he pulled his hands apart. "Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Imitation Technique), success. Chōji! Now hit him with everything you got!"
"Don't have to tell me twice Shikamaru!" Chōji yelled as his blue chakra wings burst from his back and he then grew to be nearly 100 meters tall, and finally he was clad in iron! "Tetsu Buddha (Iron Buddha), active!" He then squeezed his hand into a tight fist which was covered in blue chakra. "Tetsu Chōdan Bakugeki (Iron Butterfly Bullet Bombing)!"
This…is gonna hurt! Tobi thought as Chōji's giant fist smashed into his entire body with such force that a shock wave bursts around the entire area. It was like being hit by one of the Biju in comparison!
"That's for my father you evil jackass!" Chōji called out as he smashed the evil Uchiha to the ground with enough force to cause a giant crater.
Sasuke found himself a bit surprise. "His father…and…did Chōji always have that amount of power behind him?"
"You've missed a LOT in the years you've been gone, Sasuke," Naruto said as he sensed where Tobi's evil aura was. "He's taken a lot of damage, but he still isn't out of it…"
Smoke…began to waft from Tobi's broken body as his Hashirama cells activated and began to rapidly repair the damage done. In literally seconds, he was back on his feet and he spat the blood out of his mouth in contempt. Tenten at that moment broke Rock Lee out of Tobi's genjutsu and Lee shook his head.
"Owww…what happened, I was beating that guy up," Rock Lee said and Tenten groaned.
"Neji and I warned you LOTS of times Lee, don't make eye contact with this guy, his Sharingan is as good as Sasuke's or Kakashi-sensei's!"
"That was very amusing," Tobi said as he smirked. "You nearly had me, children. But…I think this farce is over."
Tobi's Rinnegan…then pulsed to life and he raised his right hand up. A massive repulsive force was then unleashed on several members of the Konoha 12 from his hand, and even Naruto and Sasuke had trouble withstanding the sheer force of it-both had to partially manifest Kurama and Susano'o respectfully. Hinata had to manifest her Hoderi-which she used to catch Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten from crashing into the upturned boulders. A huge cloud of dust covered the area from the shockwave that the evil Uchiha had created but Naruto could sense him perfectly, as could Kushina.
As the dust cleared Tobi kept his arrogant smirk and flexed his muscles. "So this is what it takes for someone who either wasn't born with the Rinnegan like Nagato or awoke it later in life like Madara did…" he squeezed his hand into a tight fist. "Mastering it you have to take a beating to do so!"
Before he could finish Naruto appeared with his father's tri kunai drawn. "Then we'll put you down before you can master your stolen eye!"
Tobi gave a smirk and then blocked the Hokage's slash with his chakra disruption blade and the two then became a blur. Kiba blinked as he lost sight of both and suddenly there was a large explosion of energy behind them as Naruto and Tobi reappeared. Then both vanished again, and they heard clashes of their blades and there was a line…a trace of the Hokage's chakra cloak flickering around them.
Flickers and traces of Naruto's chakra cloak were seen all around the battlefield as it seemed like the two combatants were everywhere at once. Shockwaves were felt as small craters began to appear on the ground and any large rock from when the Hokage's feet met the ground, and more sparks appeared from each clash of Naruto and Tobi's weapons.
"H-Holy crap, I can't even follow them!" Kiba remarked as Akamaru barked.
"…indeed, even my insects can't trace the fake Madara's chakra when he's moving at this speed," Shino added, and he glanced at Hinata and Sasuke. "Though Hinata and…Sasuke have no problem keeping up."
"…this is nothing," Hinata said as her Keihatsu Byakugan allowed her to see every attack. "Naruto-kun can get much, much faster."
"To the point a Sharingan is unable to follow…" Sasuke uttered as he squeezed his hand into a tight fist.
"…just like Minato," Kushina said as she bopped her head. "I can't see them, but I can sure as hell sense them!"
Naruto and Tobi tore up the battlefield at full speed with the Hokage being careful enough to avoid directing them into his friends. Sparks flew off his father's tri-kunai as he blocked the evil Uchiha's overhand slash and then dodged the kick that was coming right after. Tobi gave a sadistic grin…the same kind he wore when he fought Minato.
Time then slowed to a crawl for Naruto as he adjusted his strategy and increased his speed even more after he and Tobi broke apart. The evil Uchiha grinned like a madman as he charged again, and it was exactly what the Hokage wanted. He then…threw the tri-kunai right at Tobi who predictably phased through it with Kamui and just as he was about to stab Naruto…
…Naruto vanished in a yellow flash before he could be hit. The Hokage appeared right above Tobi…grabbing his tri-kunai with his left hand and in his right…. he created a Fūton: Rasenshuriken and held it right in the air.
"Fūton: Rasenshuriken!"
SHIT! Tobi thought as Naruto slammed the Fūton: Rasenshuriken down right onto the evil Uchiha's back.
A massive dome explosion engulfed the area as Naruto reappeared outside of it. Tobi was bombarded by millions of wind blades much like Kakuzu was when the young Hokage had managed to complete contact against the Akatsuki many months ago. The crater that was carved out was now 10 kilometers wide and over a dozen meters deep and when the Fūton: Rasenshuriken faded Tobi fell right to the center. Blood leaked from his lip as he growled in pain. His body was nearly completely destroyed from the attack, both of his legs were extremely damaged, one was reduced to just a stump…and his artificial arm fell off like it had been reduced to liquid, leaving a trail of blood-his blood, not Zetsu matter, to start trickling out of the stump.
"Just…like against…Minato...that cursed Yondaime Hokage…" Tobi uttered the old scars on his face were now throbbing from the old pain that Hatake Sakumo had inflicted upon him. "You aren't…going to rob me…"
Sasuke appeared on the edge of the crater with Naruto. "We're going to finish you off, bastard!"
From Tobi's damaged, remaining leg…a white root pierced the ground as he sent a distress call to the one thing that could turn the tide, an old ally of his from the early days of being 'Madara'. He hoped he could buy enough time for his ally to arrive, and he gritted his teeth. He then looked up at Sasuke who's Sharingan were burning with sheer rage.
The Uchiha survivor's eyes morphed to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and his Susano'o roared to life. Hinata and Kushina went to back them up when the Hyūga leader detected something and the Uzumaki sensed a huge chakra appearing out of nowhere.
"Wait Sasuke!" Hinata yelled as Sasuke then fired three Susano'o arrows in quick succession right at Tobi….
And then something crashed down from the sky and a large blue, skeletal hand made of chakra caught the three Susano'o arrows right in midair. There, standing before them…was the real Uchiha Madara who had saved his ally right at the last second.
"Tobimaru, I see you're struggling to keep the last part of the plan," Madara commented as he looked up…and saw Naruto…and smirked. "Though given your opponent, I can see why you're in such a state."
"Shut the hell up," Tobi…now identified as 'Tobimaru', grunted in pain. "Just buy me enough time to recover from that last attack, then we'll get your 'Mugen Tsukuyomi' thing underway…"
Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait…if you're…where's Oba-chan?! Gaara?! The Mizukage, Raikage?!"
"You have no reason to worry, young Hokage," Madara said as he looked at Naruto. "Your Kage band managed to defeat me, though they didn't finish me off. There was one casualty however, the Raikage didn't live through the battle."
Killer Bee had been rushing over…when he heard that. Gyūki's Jinchūriki tripped and fell to the ground as his eyes widened behind his sunglasses. In his mind the Eight-Tails looked at his friend in a bit of sympathy.
"T-That's a joke, right, making me nothing have a fright?" Killer Bee asked slowly. "My brother ain't dead, its all in my head?'
Madara turned to him. "…ah, that's why your chakra is similar. Your brother fought valiantly against me, but in the end passed from this world."
For the first time in Bee's entire life…it was like all his bluster and jokes were gone. He couldn't even think of an appropriate rap for him to describe the raw…emotion that was going through him. Memories of the past flashed in his head…him and A growing up together…going on missions…becoming the legendary 'A-B Combo' which won Kumogakure dozens of battles in the Third Shinobi World War…A becoming Raikage after their father past…
Bee don't lose…
"This…utter fool…" Gyūki's chakra bursts around Bee as he went into his Version 2 state. "Will make you an utter tool!" Bee created a giant ox-skull and charged forward with his arm curved into a hook. "LARIAT!"
Madara hastily formed his Susano'o to its completed state but Killer Bee's Lariat smashed through it like glass. "You have a lot of power behind you…" he uttered as he let the attack hit. "But your rage blinded you."
His Rinnegan then pulsed…and suddenly Killer Bee's chakra was drained as Gakidō (Preta Path) activated. The swirling chakra barrier enveloped Madara's body as all of Bee's power and force from his Lariat was completely consumed and added to the reincarnated Uchiha's own power like it had before with Nagato.
He then used his Gunbai and slapped Bee away like a fly. Naruto jumped and caught him and Madara flexed his arms. He was…testing the chakra he had siphoned off Bee and gave a smirk.
"Impressive, so that's the power of a Biju internalized," Madara commented as he squeezed his hand into a tight fist, and then he saw…Sasuke up at the edge of the crater that Naruto had made. "Ah…one of the Uchiha of this era…" his Rinnegan narrowed slightly. He looks…like Izuna did…
"…so that's the real Uchiha Madara huh?" Sasuke asked Naruto as Bee slowly came to.
"Sorry about that…yo…I just lost my head upon losing my bro," Killer Bee sad as he wiped his eye.
"Its fine Bee," Naruto said as he breathed out. "We'll settle things, on his and old man Tsuchikage's behalf."
Ino breathed in. "The real Madara…he's…a lot more intimidating than the masked one, and his chakra feels a bit stronger…"
"That might just be because he absorbed some of Bee's chakra," Shikamaru said as he breathed out, a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. "Though this situation is getting bad to worse…"
Madara glanced back at Tobimaru. "So you've started the formation of the Ten-Tails before even getting the full power of the Hachibi and Kyūbi?"
"Not much choice…not that it matters," Tobimaru uttered as steam began to waft from his wounds…but the regeneration from Hashirama's cells were stalled. Wait…were the…shit. I need to become the Jinchūriki sooner than later…I can't heal after being hit by that attack for some reason!
"So backed into a corner, you used a backup plan," Madara surmised and he sighed, shaking his head. "Nevertheless, we'll complete my plan…just need to buy some time…"
Kushina looked down as Madara crossed his fingers. "Everyone, he's going to use a Bunshin technique!"
"With quite a sizable force of enemies, its only natural," Madara said and he smirked darkly. "Plus, this'll be a bit of fun while my main body fights Naruto. Tajū Mokuton Bunshin no Jutsu (Multiple Wood Clone Technique)!"
From hid body, clones of wood sprouted from his back and formed perfect replicas of the real Madara. First five…then ten…then fifteen…then twenty…and finally twenty-five total Mokuton Bunshins stood on the battlefield to face Naruto's friends and allies. The reincarnated Uchiha then closed his eyes and reached out with his chakra sense…
"…interesting, I'm not detecting any Uchiha besides you, Tobimaru, and the young one up there," Madara frowned. "They must be still in the village…"
"Forget about that," Tobimaru said as he used Tendō's (Deva Path's) powers to levitate. "We need to buy enough time to let the Ten-Tails complete its gestation!"
"…fair enough," Madara said as he couldn't help but think his second in command and hand-picked successor has a few more secrets he must pry out of him. He then looked at his Mokuton Bunshins. "Alright then boys, go have some fun!"
With that the swarm of Mokuton Bunshins leaped and appeared in front of Naruto's friends. Two stood in front of each of the teams, while the last landed in front of Kushina. Hinata's Keihatsu Byakugan flared a bit as her Hoderi bursts around her and she prepared to fight, and Sasuke then launched himself…not to any of the Bunshins but to Madara himself.
"You want to know what happened to all the Uchiha, you heartless bastard?!" Sasuke snarled as his blade was engulfed in a Chidori.
Madara blocked with his Gunbai and his eyes widened slightly. "Such shape transformation with Raiton…it rivals…"
"SHUT UP AND FIGHT!" Sasuke managed to get into Madara's guard and landed a right hook into the reincarnated Uchiha's face and sent him crashing into the crater. "You're not going to get away with any of this crap!"
"…quite the angry young man," Madara commented…and he noticed Sasuke's eyes. A straight tomoe…? He has awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan…?
"Naruto! Finish off the fake Madara," Sasuke said with a snarl. "I'll handle the real one!"
From the ground a new, strange looking White Zetsu burst from the ground. It had strange face…as in, it lacked one entirely. Instead it resembled Tobimaru's old mask-a vortex around a single hole where an eye would be. And it had several spikes on its shoulders and was more muscular.
"Called me, Tobi?! Its been a long time…"
"Right, right…I need you to be my armor here, I've taken a lot of damage," Tobimaru said with a snarl.
"OH, like old times! And I'm even stronger now!" the Spiral Zetsu uttered happily. "I can even…"
"We don't have much time, this is the final battle of the War!"
With that, Spiral Zetsu…its body completely opened from where the 'hole' was…and then it 'swallowed' up Madara's second in command. The strange Zetsu's body was completely hollow within, and when Tobimaru was completely 'donned'…it became his living suit of armor. Tobimaru squeezed his hands into tight fists and smirked.
"Forgot how powerful you can make someone, thanks," Tobimaru said with a smirk just as Naruto appeared.
"Won't help MUCH!" he yelled as he slammed his fist forward…only for Tobimaru to catch hit.
The ground cracked and splintered under Tobimaru's feet from the force of the blow, but he stood firm, smirking. Naruto had a slight look of shock only for Madara's second to smash his fist right into the young Hokage's stomach with surprising force and power. Blood flew from Naruto's mouth only for Tobimaru to follow up with a axe-kick to the Jinchūriki's side!
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata jumped in and caught him as he coughed up more blood.
"I'm…okay…damn it how come he can hit so hard now?"
Hinata's Keihatsu Byakugan focused and she saw that Spiral Zetsu's and Tobimaru's chakra networks were not only merged while the strange Zetsu was Tobimaru's armor, but supercharged. The evil Uchiha's power had been multiplied many fold by the fusion of their abilities, and Tobimaru then created a blade made from wood in one hand, and from his other hand another blade out of the same dark matter chakra disruption blades were created from.
"I've forgotten…this feels amazing!"
"Why'd you keep me in reserve for so long? Between the two of us we'd have been able to beat the Yondaime Hokage!"
"I needed to keep you hidden until the final battle," Tobimaru said as Naruto slowly got back to his feet and wiped the blood of his lip.
Don't try to go head to head against this guy again, Naruto. If he lands a blow with that strength, don't try to block. I'll manifest and take the hit, got it?
Naruto nodded slowly. "Got it…"
He then crossed his fingers and created two Kage Bunshins. One then leaped over to Killer Bee, who had recovered from his failed attack on Madara. He rubbed his head and groaned a little bit. Naruto's clone helped steady him.
"Sorry about losing my head, I would have ended up dead!" Bee said, and he powered up with Gyūki's chakra again. "Mighty number Eight says we shouldn't be late and blast the Ten-Tails to ash before it comes back, or else the world will get a big rash!"
Gyūki had a sweat-drop appear in Bee's mind. …a big rash? Seriously Bee, you don't have to rhyme every time! GAH! Now you got me doing it!
Naruto's clone grinned. "I got just the idea for it! We have to transform, and it'll take a lot of chakra, but we should be able to do it!"
"Sounds like plan, lets get right to it man!" Killer Bee said as both he and Naruto's clone rapidly transformed into their Biju Modes.
As for Naruto himself, he and Hinata were now facing off against Tobimaru together. The evil Uchiha was effortlessly dealing with the combined attacks and taijutsu styles, his Sharingan read every movement while Spiral Zetsu would react on his own to defend or dodge. When Naruto was about to land a Rasengan, Spiral Zetsu sprouted a new arm and grabbed his wrist and tossed him right at Hinata. The Hyūga Leader barely would dodge only for her Keihatsu Byakugan to warn her that several Mokuton spikes were launched directly at her.
"Kaiten!" Hinata called out as her body glowed with blue chakra and she spun around to create her clan's signature dome of chakra, which deflected Tobimaru's attack.
"You're giving me more trouble than I thought!" Tobimaru uttered as he rushed right at Hinata only for Naruto to create a giant chakra arm.
"Leave her ALONE!" he yelled as he slammed the giant chakra arm down RIGHT at the evil Uchiha…who phased through it with Kamui.
"Really now, why did you think THAT…"
"Hakke Kūshō (Eight Trigrams Air Palm)!" Hinata called out and launched a blast of chakra at Tobimaru.
Before he could phase or retaliate the Hyūga Leader's attack hit home, and quite hard! Pieces of Spiral Zetsu's 'mask' were torn away as Tobimaru tumbled backwards and he gave a murderous glare right at Hinata. Naruto however immediately followed up by tossing a Rasenshuriken right at him and he then phased into the ground to dodge.
Hinata's Keihatsu Byakugan darted around as she tried to predict where he'd appear next and her hands were engulfed in her Jūho Sōshiken…and a Rasengan was formed right in the lion fists jaws. Suddenly she and Naruto both detected Tobimaru went to attack Hinata right from behind, both his blades now drawn.
"Jūho Sōshi Rasenrengan (Twin Lion Fists Rasengan)!"
Hinata immediately spun around and she slammed both of her palms forward with the Twi Lion Fist Rasengan formed. Tobimaru grunted at her attack struck home and he wasn't only damaged, but his chakra…and the connection to Spiral Zetsu was strained! He retaliated quickly with a Shinra Tensei which sent the Hyūga Leader sliding backwards…but it was an opening Naruto needed!
Time slowed down as Naruto charged his chakra in his Kurama Mode…and he vanished. Tobimaru's eyes darted as he tried to predict the young Hokage's next attack and he stabbed forward…only for him to hit the after image of Naruto's body. Before he could react the young Hokage created a hammer fist and smashed it right down onto Tobimaru's head hard enough to send him crashing to the ground.
"…man…Tobi-kun…they're really strong, aren't they?" Spiral Zetsu uttered as he used a root to launch them back away from Naruto and Hinata to gain some distance.
"They're…nothing more than blips on my way to godhood…" Tobimaru argued back as he picked himself up to his feet.
"Well then, lets pick it up a notch!" Spiral Zetsu said with an excited 'grin', though it was hard to tell anyone looking at his face. "There is a technique I finally mastered, and I want to try out!"
"…oh, this should be interesting. Alright then, Spiral, I give you full reign, I'll be your support," Tobimaru said with a smirk.
Spiral Zetsu then did several seals and wood burst from his back. Naruto and Hinata jumped back as a massive construct made from wood was formed…it was a gigantic, sitting buddha…with a ring of hundreds of massive hands. Nearly 1000 meters tall, 1800 with the ring of arms attached to its back, it towered over both and the strange Zetsu gave a proud laugh. Around the ring of much smaller hands were six massive arms that dominated the living structure.
"Success! Mokuton: Shin Sūsenju (Wood Release: Several Hundred Hands) is complete!" Spiral Zetsu said as he rubbed his 'nose' proudly. "Not as strong as Hashirama's, but it should do!"
"…alright then, I'm impressed," Tobimaru said with a smirked. "Let's test this out!"
Naruto snarled. "Don't underestimate US!"
"We won't back down until you're defeated, that's our ninja way!" Hinata added.
Both grabbed onto each other's hands as their chakra's merged. Kurama's Avatar bursts as it appeared around them and formed into his massive Biju Mode which was 1700 meters tall, and Hinata's blue chakra bursts around him and formed her Isō: Hoderi around him. Samurai-like armor appeared like scales all over the nine-tailed fox's body, and it formed a helmet that gave a vaguely dragonesque look. Two additional arms appeared from the joints of the armor, one held a giant sword, the other a large net.
"Bring it on!" Tobimaru and Spiral Zetsu uttered as their construct charged forward.
As this was happening, the Konoha 11 and Kushina were all in combat with the Mokuton Bunshins that Madara had created to fight them. Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten were battling six, Shino and Kiba were in desperate combat against the same number, and Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji were facing off against four. Kushina was surrounded by the remaining ones however, but she didn't seem worried.
"Awww…think you can gang up on little ol' me…?" Kushina asked as she twirled two kunai. "You might as well use that Susano'o thing! Otherwise it won't be a fair fight!"
"You actually want us to use Susano'o, you must have a death wish woman," one of the Madara clones uttered and the Uzumaki laughed.
"Far from it…I just need some serious time to stretch my legs," Kushina said as her Version 1 cloak snapped around her. "After all, your little boytoy kept me imprisoned for 16 years, I need to seriously cut loose…" She then pumped her Uzumaki chakra into her cloak and her eyes…glowed as her hair levitated. "It makes me so…MAD…that I missed all those years of my son's life, dattebane?"
The ground levitated around her as she put on a strained smile and the Mokuton Bunshins could feel her bloodlust. One…despite itself…took a step back and Kushina immediately vanished and appeared on her first 'prey'!
"NOW ITS TIME FOR THE AKAI CHISIO NO HABANERO TO CUT LOOSE AND CREATE SOME KINDLING!"
A red Rasengan formed in Kushina's hand as she then slammed it with its full force and power into the first Mokuton Bunshin of Madara. It wasn't even able to raise Susano'o or activate Preta Path in time from the suddenness and ferocity of the Uzumaki's attack. The red Rasengan bore right into the Mokuton Bunshin's chest and then ignited it, and it was sent spiraling backwards in a red fireball!
"Now I'm new to Katon…but that felt GOOD…" Kushina said as her eyes sparked, the burning red Rasengan still in her hand. "Katon: Nenshō Rasengan (Fire Release: Burning Rasengan), that's a good name, no need to make it complicated…"
The other Mokuton Bunshin, now on guard, immediately formed their Susano'o and went to attack Kushina. Her head slowly turned as she then caught the first punch with her own chakra arm and she launched herself forward. From her back she created six chakra chains and then coiled them around each other to form…drills!
"Uzumaki Hiden: Rensei Kihaku no Jutsu (Uzumaki Hidden Technique: Drilling Soul Technique)!" she cried out and the chakra…drills spun at high speeds and slammed right into the Susano'o's chest and…ripped through them like they were butter. The Madara Bunshin retaliated by shooting a point blank Katon right in her face but her chakra cloak protected her from any damage as she headbutted him and smashed him through the other side of his chakra construct.
Kushina landed right on his chest and then rose her fists. With her hair levitating…making it look like it had nine-tails, she then began to punch the Madara clone, each fist shaking the surrounding area and catching the attention of everyone on the battlefield. One…two…three…four…and soon…Kushina finished her barrage with another Nenshō Rasengan.
"TWO…DOWN…" she said with a smirk. "WHO. IS. NEXT?"
Ino jumped over a Fūma Shuriken that one of the Mokuton Bunshins had launched at her as Shikamaru tried to catch one in a Kagemane no Jutsu but he was constantly forced to move to dodge attacks. Chōji was in his full Tetsu Buddha form to weather the barrage of attacks as he fell back with his team. The Yamanaka groaned.
"…why is Naruto's mom the only one of us whose tearing through these things easily?" Ino asked as she took out a kunai and blocked a barrage of shuriken. "I mean these guys are REALLY strong! They could fight the Gokage!"
"Well she is Naruto's mom, maybe she's just really strong!" Chōji said as he then enlarged his fist to smash a Susano'o Mokuton Bunshin away.
"Worry about it, later guys," Shikamaru grunted as he dodged a barrage of kunai from one of the Mokuton Bunshins. "We have our hands quite full, after all!"
"Coming up with a plan yet, Shikamaru?!" Ino asked as she created a small Doryūheki (Earth Wall) to block some black spikes that another Bunshin launched at her. "After all, these guys ARE Bunshins of Madara!"
Shikamaru thought about it as he placed his fingertips together, analyzing everything that they knew of Madara. Thanks to the Uchiha's battle with the Gokage, the knowledge about what he could and couldn't do had been vastly updated. Images of what Tsunade had done in her battle against Madara appeared in his mind courtesy of Inoichi back at Headquarters.
Madara has full command over all Nature Transformations now, and his Susano'o has that giant 'Perfect' form that Sasuke now has access to. To make matters worse, he has the Rinnegan, those eyes are hard to fight during the best conditions… Shikamaru thought as he imagined himself as a chibi form…getting killed dozens upon dozens of times by a full powered chibi Madara. Though...unlike Kage Bunshins, they use medium-this time Wood, to compose themselves. Thus…the chakra that created them isn't as powerful nor as much as what would Madara use with a Kage Bunshin. …we can use that. Either get them to overuse the meager reserves they have-thus fall to wooden statues…or overload them with attacks. Chōji's good on that front…and Ino…
"Any moment Shikamaru?!" Ino called out as she deflected two chakra-rod shuriken with her kunai.
"We can't hold out much longer! WHOA!" Chōji added as he fell backwards when the Mokuton Bunshin Susano'o made him fall backwards.
Shikamaru's eyes snapped open. "Chōji, Ino, close your eyes now!"
"Bout time Shikamaru!"
"RIGHT!"
Just as the Madara Bunshins were about to close in the Nara then tossed a large…ball into the air. It then sizzled…and exploded in a massively bright explosion! Since Madara's clones had their Sharingan activated, they received the FULL force of the blinding blast. Even the one with Susano'o was forced to drop his defenses from how bright the light was and shield himself.
"Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Imitation Technique)!" Shikamaru called out and his shadow extended due to the bright light.
The Mokuton Bunshins predicted that and leaped out of the way, but the Nara smirked as they played right into his hands. Thanks to Ino, team Asuma started their counterattack without the Madara Bunshins knowing due to the Yamanaka Heiress connecting their minds with her clan's Ishindenshin no Jutsu (Telepathy Technique).
Alright Chōji, you're up! Shikamaru thought to his best friend.
On it! Suddenly Chōji's body turned almost into a giant ball and his hair sharpened into spikes. "Nikudan Hari Sensha (Spiked Human Bullet Tank)!"
With that the Akimichi Leader then spun at high speed…away from the Mokuton Bunshin. Instead? He created a deep canyon which Shikamaru and Ino then hopped into. Ino knew they had only a few seconds before the Mokuton Bunshins were on their tail and she prepared within the darkness two specific traps for them. First one had a summoning circle that would activate from movement, and the second was a bouquet of different flowers…which had a dozen explosive tags attached.
Alright Shikamaru, all set up here!
Great, fall back further into the canyon! We don't have much time left!
I'm in position too, Shikamaru, Ino!
The Mokuton Madara Bunshins made their way through the canyon now. Their Sharingan eyes were darting around in the surprising dark corridors but they could mostly see a straight path through. The second was prepared to activate his Susano'o at a moment's notice and the first had a blade of wood ready.
"The rats have been busy…"
"They're still strong, the Yamanaka is probably the most dangerous."
"Agreed, her mental abilities are difficult for even the Rinnegan to counter," the second one said as they walked. "Especially if she had mastered the higher-level abilities."
"The Nara and Akimichi aren't of any consequence," the first one said as they walked. "The former's shadow abilities are easily dealt with the Rinnegan or Susano'o, while the latter is just pure brute strength, nothing that would match against our abilities…"
The two walked forward…and triggered the first trap. A summoning circle appeared and immediately a cute little puppet…with a strange tag on its head appeared from it. The sheer suddenness of it made the second Madara Bunshin look at it…
"Shinten Kugutsu Juin no Jutsu (Mind Puppet Switch Curse Seal Technique)," Ino's voice uttered from it and…the Shintenshin Bunshin within the puppet transferred itself right to the Madara Bunshin!
"What…THE?!" the Madara Bunshin uttered as its mind was thrown right into the puppet…which self-ignited to prevent it from returning to its own body.
That's one down Shikamaru! The real Ino thought from her position. Chōji, you're up!
The second Madara Bunshin, not knowing that his 'ally' was now under mind control, tripped the second trap and the flowers slammed down and exploded. Immediately he rose his Susano'o up to block…just as Chōji's massive fist, clad in iron smashed through it hard enough to launch it out of the canyon. The Madara Bunshin grunted as he recovered from the attack. Just then the first Madara Bunshin…the Ino Shintenshin Bunshin attacked it using one of Madara's own Katon's!
"Blasted, you let yourself get possessed by the Yamanaka!" the Madara Bunshin uttered as it used a Suiton to counter…but the bright light was enough to illuminate him and his Susano'o.
Shikamaru's shadow then shot out and expanded to capture the Susano'o with Madara's Mokuton Bunshin inside. The Nara gave a smirk as he flew through the next set of seals and prepared his clan's strongest technique.
"Nara Hijutsu: Kage Reikyū no Jutsu (Nara Secret Technique: Shadow Coffin Technique)!" Shikamaru said as he did a tiger and snake seal and then a unique finger-locked seal.
Suddenly the shadow expanded and formed into giant walls that slammed shut around the Madara Bunshin turtled in his Susano'o before it forcibly slammed them into the ground. The Bunshin tried to retaliate with sheer physical strength but with each hit, the shadow coffin just got stronger and stronger. Chōji then leaped up after using the Chō Baika no Jutsu (Super Multi-Size Technique) to become as big Gamabunta, over 100 meters tall and then his wings burst from his back.
"Chō Chōdan Bakugeki (Super Butterfly Bullet Bombing)!" Chōji called out as he smashed the top of the coffin with all his might to strengthen it.
What…I should be able to break out of this Jutsu…! How is the Nara overpowering me?!
Heh…that's what makes this the strongest Nara Clan technique… Shikamaru thought as a bead of sweat appeared over his head. Every hit, inside and out? Turns into chakra to strengthen the technique and its user. Eventually the target inside is going to be smothered by the very power it uses…only Biju are strong enough to resist, but a Madara Bunshin and that level of Susano'o isn't anywhere near as powerful as one of those chakra beasts!
Chōji kept up his outer assault and the Madara Bunshin was quickly exhausting itself as it tried to break out. The walls of the shadow coffin then began to close in, squeezing the Susano'o hard enough that it cracked and splintered…before finally collapsing entirely. Madara's Bunshin dropped to its knees as the chakra used to create it dwindled…before it began to turn back into wood. Just as the coffin crushed it entirely and sank fully into the ground to complete the coffin motive.
Shikamaru panted, wiping his forehead. Great job Ino, Chōji! If the Bunshins didn't discount me and Chōji, we wouldn't have been able to pull it off!
"Yeah I know! Now we gotta back up the others!" Ino said as she moved with her possessed Mokuton Bunshin. "Now we got the firepower to take down more!"
"I saw Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru! They're closest and they don't look like they're doing too well against the clones," Chōji said as Shikamaru and Ino gave a nod.
With Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino, the three were having difficulties against Madara's Bunshin's. Only Shino was somewhat holding his own as he used his mastery of Kikai to combat Madara's jutsus. The Inuzuka however was constantly on the defensive and couldn't even land a blow, and neither Bunshin had broken out the Susano'o yet.
Kiba skidded back as he held onto the Senpū Rōga tightly as he deflected the next strike from the Mokuton Bunshin's wooden blade, but he was effortlessly overpowered. He pumped chakra into his body as his face became more beastly and he went to attack.
"Don't underestimate me!" Kiba yelled as he charged the blade with more chakra and it turned into a giant fang. "Inuzuka Hiden: Senpū Bakuhatsu (Inuzuka Secret Technique: Whirlwind Explosion)!"
A blast of red and white chakra slammed out of Kiba's blade as he did a huge overhand swing. The power of the attack would have been enough to crush even a Susano'o…but Madara's Bunshin just turned his eyes from the Sharingan to the Rinnegan…and absorbed the attack like it was nothing. Before Kiba could recover the Madara Bunshin appeared on him and kneed him in the stomach and sent him crashing back.
"That's quite a lot of power for an Inuzuka, but it means nothing compared to the powers of these eyes," Madara said simply as Kiba spat out blood and forced himself to his feet.
"Shut…up…" Kiba said as he growled. "You aren't gonna defeat me you, wooden puppet!"
"Really now? Out of all of your allies here…" the Madara Bunshin said as his purple Rinnegan eyes narrowed. "You're clearly the weakest. Even with just my Sharingan I'd be able to defeat you quite easily."
"Kiba don't let him goad you," Shino said as his swarm had forced his Madara Bunshin to use Susano'o. "You're a strong…"
A shadow appeared over Kiba's face as he growled. "The weakest, huh?" his fingers tightened around his blade. "I'm Naruto's first rival. You think I'm that weak?"
Kiba took a stance like his clan's Shikyaku no Jutsu (Four-Legs Technique), though this time with carrying his sword with one hand as he rushed forward at high speed. Madara's Bunshin idly read his movements with his Sharingan and then spun his wooden blade.
"Your efforts are too predictable," he said as he then stabbed forward only for Kiba to block with the Senpū Rōga, sparks flew off their weapons as the Inuzuka struggled against the clone's strength. "Just getting in close, was that your plan?"
Immediately the Madara Bunshin went on the offensive, unleashing a series of slashes right at Kiba who grunted as he tried to block or deflect them. The Inuzuka side stepped and used quick movements to dodge a series of stabs that the Madara Bunshin made, and then he did a spinning slash to make his opponent jump backwards.
"Your footwork is impressive, dodging all my attacks to get into my guard," Madara's Bunshin commented as he then used a series of one-handed seals. "But you are now point blank for my counter attack."
"NOT GOING TO LET YOU FINISH!" Kiba yelled before the Mokuton Bunshin could finish the seal combo. "Senpū Bakuhatsu (Whirlwind Explosion)!"
Kiba slammed the Senpū Rōga down with a two-handed slash and created a massive wave of chakra right at the shocked Madara Bunshin. Before it could switch to the Rinnegan to absorb the energy blast that was careening to it…an acidic type of water it right in its eyes and blinded it. Right there was Akamaru who just finished spinning and had used Dainamikku Mākingu (Dynamic Marking) to distract him at the last moment.
"You may be much stronger than me but I'm STILL gonna kick your ass!" Kiba yelled as the blast of chakra hit home…blowing the Madara Bunshin apart!
Kiba fell to one knee, panting in exhaustion as images of his past came to the surface. Back when he was in the Ninja Academy…when he, Naruto, Shikamaru and Chōji would cause so much trouble for Iruka. The four of them would hang out together…and while he would have liked to be the leader…even then Naruto seemed to be a step ahead of him and was the leader of the 'Dead Lasts' as their teachers called them.
But Kiba was undoubtedly stronger than Naruto back then by a wide margin and had passed the Genin Exams quite well. He remembered laughing at the Uzumaki's attempts to even use ninjutsu-the faulty Bunshin no Jutsu attempts, the gonk-looking Henge no Jutsus he'd make…all living up to that Naruto was the 'king' of the Dead Lasts and would never catch up to Kiba, much less Sasuke.
…that all changed during the Chūnin Exams. Kiba was one of the 'favorites' and he knew it, his ninjutsu and taijutsu had improved a LOT since graduating and he had become Kurenai's 'number two' on the team, leading Hinata and Shino in her absence. And when he faced Naruto during the Prelims…
"If that's the best you can do, how about I'LL become Hokage!" Kiba had arrogantly announced after knocking Naruto over. "If you're this weak, that means I'll do MUCH better than you!"
And their fight…became much more personal. Naruto was more focused on defeating Kiba…and even said.
"If you're planning on competing with me on the path to Hokage then I'll just leave you in the dust!"
…yeah…he really did… Kiba thought as he glanced at Naruto and Hinata's duel with Tobimaru and Spiral Zetsu. After that…he would continually be two steps…no three steps or more ahead of me. I couldn't keep up no matter how much I trained or tried. Kiba gritted his teeth. But STILL…I'm your first rival Naruto! Somehow, I'm going to at least equal you!
As this happened Shino was dealing with his on Madara Bunshin. Though compared to Kiba, he was having a bit of an easier time. The battlefield was surrounded by flames and there were burned out husks of dead Kikai insects littering the area. Shino himself had several insects that had initially survived retreating back to his body as he waited for his right moment…and the minute the Bunshin had broke out Susano'o, the Aburame had engulfed the entire chakra construct with a Mushidama to start literally eating through it.
"Is this your first time fighting an Aburame, Madara?" Shino asked as he pushed his sunglasses up. "That technique is the worst type to use against me."
"I do admit I have inexperience fighting insects…" Madara's Bunshin's eyes narrowed. "But they'll be smashed all the same!"
The Susano'o thrashed around wildly and created several shock waves to blow Shino's insect swarm off. But the Kikai held firm, continually devouring the solid chakra construct and several cracks and even holes began to be created. When these gaps appeared, like ants, Kikai began to flood inside to continue their feast and went to attack the Bunshin directly.
In response Madara's cheeks swelled…and he unleashed a torrent of flame all around him to blow the swarm off his Susano'o. The insects retreated as Shino jumped out of the way of the brittle Susano'o's sword which immediately shattered upon hitting the ground. Madara's Bunshin then rushed forward, having created a chakra disruption blade to skewer the Aburame.
Shino then let himself be stabbed…and then burst into a swarm of insects and from the ground, the real Aburame appeared. "I had prepared a Kikai Bunshin in advance, Madara. While my Mushidama was consuming your Susano'o, I was a step ahead."
"Doesn't matter if you were Aburame," Madara's Bunshin uttered darkly as his Rinnegan flashed. "Shinra Tensei!"
The omnidirectional repulsive force sent Shino and his swarm flying backwards and the Aburame managed to land on his feet and grunted. The Madara Bunshin then attacked him before he could properly recover, and he barely dodged each slash and stab!
His hand then turned slightly purple as he retaliated with a punch to Madara's Bunshin's chin, sending the clone stumbling back a bit. In retaliation the Bunshin unleashed a wave of blue flames from his mouth and Shino then ducked back into the ground with a Doton to avoid the attack. His swarm of insects were in place again and began to attack the Madara Bunshin like bees now, keeping him irritated and distracted.
"Is this all you're going to do? Let your bugs do your dirty work?!" Madara's Bunshin demanded as he thrashed, trying shake the insects free.
"They are insects, bugs are a completely different taxon," Shino said calmly as he planned his next move. "Each one is taking a tiny bit of your chakra. Eventually you will succumb."
"Not if I burn them off!"
"These ones can now take the high temperatures of your flames," Shino uttered as a new swarm appeared. "They are the survivors of the first Katons that you used on them at the beginning of our duel. I rapidly bred them to make the next generation able to combat your abilities."
Madara's Bunshin's eyes widened as the swarm began to engulf him more. "Damn it…" he said, flailing as he tried to get the insects off, more of his chakra was being drained.
"If you were a alive, I'd say you're already dead," Shino uttered as the Kikai overwhelmed the Bunshin. "That tap I landed earlier? I transferred some nano-insects, essentially a poisonous disease, into your body. It should be taking effect any moment now."
Madara's Bunshin's eyes widened in shock as his skin began to turn purple and the normal Kikai swarm became more ravenous. The clone cried out as it was consumed from the inside and out, leaving nothing but purple saw dust left on the ground. The wind surged behind Shino and made his hooded jacket flap as Kiba and Akamaru landed. The Inuzuka blinked as he looked around.
"I was having a REAL hard time against mine, yet you defeated yours without any trouble?!"
"I'm lucky it wasn't the real Madara," Shino replied as the smell of ozone wafted over. "Sasuke himself is fighting the real one."
"Let's help the rest of our…" Kiba started as the entire area shook. "What the hell?!"
In the barrier, the transformation process was continuing for the Gedō Mazō was mutated into the Ten-Tails. The very air outside the barrier was starting to get heavy and oppressive, and the ground shook as more and more of the chakra within built up and continually multiplied. The earth around the barrier began to crack and fissure as more and more power was concentrated into that one spot.
"…man…uh…if that thing breaks out…" Kiba started with a gulp.
"It is pretty much the end of the world," Shino surmised as his insects shuddered.
At that moment Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten were fighting their own Madara Bunshin's. The weapon mistress had summoned her special armor and she clashed with her Madara Bunshin's Susano'o fist, but she was sent skidding back. She smirked as she loaded a chakra scroll into the launchers on her wrists and then opened her armors hands.
"Buki Kuchiyoise: Bomu Hisame (Weapon Summoning: Bomb Hail)!" Tenten called out as from her palms there were dozens of puffs of smoke and several spiked spheres with explosive tags were shot right at Madara's clone.
"That is something new," Madara's Bunshin commented as the bombs all exploded at once, but the high velocity spikes didn't pierce his Susano'o. "But ultimately useless against my Susano'o."
"You think so?" Tenten asked as she activated the scrolls on her boots to rocket forward with a channeled Katon. She then smashed her fist forward. "I think they did their job!"
"What?" Madara's Clone's eyes darted to see that the spikes had hit…a few choice places on his Susano'o, leaving deep and thick cracks from where they had penetrated.
"Those I made basically to pierce armor!" Tenten said with a smirk as she smashed her armored fist into the Susano'o hard enough to crack it. "All those spikes were enough just to weaken your defense!"
Madara's Bunshin then jumped out of his Susano'o as it shattered, and he then did several seals. His cheeks swelled, and he shot blue flames right at the weapon's mistress. Immediately, seal with the kanji for 'Fire' was shot into Tenten's hand and she unraveled it.
"Kaen Chōin no Jutsu (Flame Sealing Technique)!" Tenten uttered as her scroll then glowed and the flames were immediately sealed inside it. I based this after one of Jiraiya-sama's seals, it should be able to hold against these flames!
Madara's Bunshin grunted and stopped the flames. "Highly prepared, I see. Though are your toys the best you can do?"
"These weapons are what make me strong," Tenten said proudly and she smirked behind her mask. "I've mastered every weapon in Konoha, I've learned several types of sealing techniques all on my path of a ninja!"
"Admirable, but if that's all…"
Tenten didn't let him finish and another scroll popped out of her pack and when she opened it…a barrage of thousands upon thousands of shuriken were sent flying at the Bunshin. Madara's Bunshin began to block and dodge the barrage but the sheer number was piercing his defenses, several shuriken became embedded into his shoulders and legs as he skidded back. When the barrage ceased, Madara's Bunshin looked up with hate-filled eyes.
"I see quantity is a quality all of its own," he said as he let a pulse of chakra through his body which sent the embedded shuriken out. "But it'll take a lot more than that to put me out!"
"Trust me I'm just getting started!" Tenten said with a smirk and her face plate then slammed down on her face as she summoned a double-bladed katana from her palm, and her Katon boots rocketed her forward.
Madara's Bunshin met her attack with his own blade. Sparks flew off their weapons as they traded attacks. Tenten's armor provided her with quick bursts of speed and power but the Bunshin's Sharingan was able to predict her attacks and dodge and block. The weapon mistress spun her double-bladed katana to make him jump back before rushing to stab forward, and the Uchiha Bunshin then blocked each stab before kicking her in the stomach hard enough to send her crashing to the ground.
"Your skills with weapons are quite high," Madara's Bunshin admitted as the weapon's mistress jumped back to her feet. "But if that's all you have you can't defeat me!"
He then charged forward just as Tenten slammed her hands down and he skidded to a stop as a giant, spiked iron ball was then summoned from the ground. The weapon's mistress smirked, and she used chakra strings to lift it up and shot up into the air.
"That's not all I have! NOW GET SMASHED!" Tenten called out. "Tenten Oūji: Kyokan Tetsutama (Tenten Ultimate Technique: Giant Iron Ball)!"
She then heaved the giant iron ball down with all her strength and Madara's Bunshin's eyes widened and he shifted to the Rinnegan and lifted his hands up to use Gakidō initially, but he went to switch to Tendō to use a Shinra Tensei to reflect it back!
But to reflect such a heavy object…I need more chakra! Madara realized as his Susano'o bursts around him desperately. I can't let myself be…
"YAH!" Tenten called out as she then made the giant iron ball spin, turning its spikes into giant saw blades!
Her iron ball smashed right into Madara's Bunshin with its full force and the ground cracked and shattered as his Susano'o struggled to deflect it. Blue shards of physical chakra kept being chipped off as the Bunshin struggled to defend itself. It tried to summon more and more chakra to deflect the giant ball…but…it reached the limit that the original had given it.
"DAMN IT!" the Bunshin called out as its Susano'o then gave…and it was squashed and shredded by Tenten's attack!
As Tenten finished off her own Madara Bunshin, Rock Lee was in a fierce fight with his own! Madara's Bunshin tried to smash him with his Susano'o but Lee kept jumping and dodging out of the way. When the giant fist or sword came close Rock Lee would then dodge and jump up and kick the 'absolute defense', but he didn't put a dent on it.
"Tsk, this is becoming very difficult!" Rock Lee said as he then caught the giant blade as Madara's Bunshin forced him backward.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he demanded Rock Lee. "Use Ninjutsu, your taijutsu is absolutely
Lee gave a sheepish grin. "Well here's the thing, I'm a ninja who cannot use ninjutsu nor genjutsu!"
"Has Konoha's standards fallen that much to let an invalid like yourself become a shinobi?" Madara's Bunshin asked as he pushed Lee back with his Susano'o's strength.
"HEY! I'm strong! I'm a Chūnin and I'm well on my way to surpass Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee said as he heaved his arms forward and pushed the giant blade back. "Just you SEE!"
With that he vanished and appeared on an upturned rock a short ways away. Madara looked at him as Lee reached into his legs to pull out…weights? They had the symbol, on each of them for 1000 kilogram…all on each little weight on the leg wraps. The Uchiha Bunshin's eyes widened a little bit as he recalled the extremely heavy blows that Lee had used in the beginning of their duel.
So that's why…those weights…he always has several thousand kilograms on his legs … he thought as Lee dropped the weights…and they slammed to the ground hard enough to create a local earthquake. Such training…I might have misjudged!
After the weights slammed to the ground Lee then vanished right in front of Madara's Bunshin's eyes! Even with his Sharingan, he couldn't see his movements. Rock Lee then appeared in front of the Bunshin…then behind…then appeared all around, several after images were all around him. Madara's Bunshin then fully formed his Susano'o for extra defense and attack as his eyes darted back and forth.
"Well ninjutsu-less Ninja?!" Madara's Bunshin demanded. "Are you going to attack?!"
"If you insist!" Rock Lee exclaimed all around him before what felt like several hundred attacks all landed at once on Madara's Bunshin's Susano'o and ripped layers of the solid blue chakra right from it.
Then Lee appeared right in front of the Susano'o and launched himself right at it with a flying side kick! The force of Lee's attack was enough to launch the Susano'o with Madara's Bunshin inside right off the ground and shards of blue chakra went flying off. Madara's Bunshin grunted as he flew into the sky and then Rock Lee appeared behind it! Forcing himself to look right at Lee he then saw green chakra burst around him and his skin turned red.
"Keimon…OPEN!" Lee called out as he activated six of the eight inner chakra gates in an INSTANT!
The Eight Inner Gates as well?! This boy…he's no normal shinobi! Madara thought as Rock Lee assumed a stance…
"Asa Kujaku (Morning Peacock)!" Rock Lee called out as he punched with enough speed and force to create thousands of fireballs, in the shape of a peacock's feather display!
The barrage of fireballs slammed into Madara's Bunshin's Susano'o with enough force and power to completely obliterate his ultimate defense. The Bunshin tried to activate Gakidō to absorb the fireballs but it had no effect since they weren't created with ninjutsu nor chakra, just sheer force and power of Lee's punches! He called out in pain and surprise as his entire body was engulfed in flames and was sent crashing into the ground with enough force to crater it…and Lee landed right outside the crater. There was nothing left of the Mokuton Bunshin but ashes after Rock Lee's attack.
"WHEW! Now gotta help Neji and Tenten!"
As for Neji himself, he was battling the last of the Madara Bunshin that had been sent to fight him. The clone had yet to use Susano'o, though had tried to use Genjutsu against the Hyūga Genius. Neji had broken several of them and managed to get into taijutsu range and put the Bunshin on the defensive with several swift Jūken strikes.
"The Hyūga Clan's technique is as sharp as ever," Madara's Bunshin commented as he used his Sharingan to block and dodge as best as he could. "Your skill…speed…and technique…they're perfect. I haven't fought a Hyūga as skilled with Jūken as you are since my own time!"
"You seem like you're enjoying the prospect of that," Neji said as he dodged Madara's counter attack, blocking and deflecting two punches before he skidded out of the way of a fierce kick.
"I do admit I quite enjoy battling strong opponents," Madara's Bunshin admitted as he then tossed several kunai and shuriken at the Hyūga Genius who caught them all mid-air and even redirected them at the clone. "Even the original would have trouble with your technique!"
The two then broke off as Madara's Bunshin then did several seals and then shot a wall of blue flames from his mouth right at Neji who just stood in front of it and his body then…glowed blue. Immediately he began to spin at high speed and a dome made from chakra bursts around the Hyūga Genius' body to deflect the sea of flames that had been fired at him.
"Kaiten!" Neji called out as he kept spinning…before he drew his hands back as he finished. "Hakke Kūhekishō (Eight Trigrams Air Palm Wall)!"
Madara's Bunshin grunted as a 'wall' of chakra slammed right into his body with tremendous force and he crashed through several boulders before he managed to recover. Neji was already on him and the Uchiha clone then activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and his Susano'o bursts around him to deflect the Hyūga Genius' killing blow. Neji reacted quickly and dodged the giant sword that had been created by Madara's Bunshin's Susano'o before he was forced on the defensive.
Susano'o…I remember how Sasuke's was… Neji thought as he remembered when Sasuke first used the Susano'o against the Raikage. To the untrained eye, it appears that all the tenketsu are activated to form the Susano'o…but in truth only a few are, such as on the back and shoulders of the user allow the 'summoning' of this technique. Its almost like a copy of the Hyūga Clan's Kaiten, but ultimately at a higher level since it can be used on the move…
"Well Hyūga? Are you prepared to face this technique?!" Madara's Bunshin demanded as he slammed his giant blade down and Neji jumped out of the way.
All that chakra forming around him isn't evenly distributed. Its true that the Susano'o is one of the fabled 'Absolute Defense' in the world, ranking with Kazekage-sama's sand and the Kaiten…the protection, at least in this clone isn't evenly distributed around the body, Neji thought as he jumped and dodged out of the way of several slashes that Madara's Bunshin tried. There will be a weak point…my eyes can spot it!
From Neji's point of view, he narrowed in on the Bunshin's chakra network as he dodged several more slashes. He skidded back and then jumped out of the way as Madara's Bunshin formed feet and tried to stomp on him. It was at that moment the Hyūga Genius spotted the weakness in, at least the Bunshin's Susano'o.
At the base of the Susano'o's back, the chakra is at its weakest there. Despite the layers, only protection it has is ironically the spine, the ribcage only protects the front! Neji thought as Madara's Bunshin then lifted his Susano'o's right hand up…and a chain of comma-shaped beads appeared.
"Yasaka Magatama!" It called out as it tossed 20 of the Yasaka beads right at the Hyūga Genius.
"Kaiten!" Neji yelled as he then spun at high speed and then added even more chakra. "Chō Kaiten!"
He then expelled even more chakra out of his body to create a giant dome of chakra 30 meters wide to deflect the Yasaka Magatama away. The giant Kaiten carved out a perfect circle in the ground as Neji prepared his counter attack. He could use his father's technique, but it'd be costly now…so instead…
"Tomon (Gate of Limit) …activate!" Neji called out as his skin turned red as he opened five of Eight Gates nearly instantly. Green chakra bursts around him as he assumed his Jūken stance. "Hakke Kūshō!"
With that Neji launched a Gate empowered Hakke Kūshō right at Madara's Bunshin's Susano'o, hitting it with the force of a giant air cannon. Susano'o chakra matter was peeled away from the chest as it skidded back from the sheer force of the attack. Before the Bunshin could recover Neji had vanished and he used another Hakke Kūshō to knock the Susano'o's legs out from under it and sent it to fall back before he assumed the Hakke Rokujūyon Shō stance…and stone then formed over his left hand…wind over his right.
"Fūton and Doton: Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Wind and Earth Release: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)!"
Using the Gates to fuel more extreme power and speed, he made his Fūton blade extremely sharp and his Doton palm extremely solid…and he then unleashed sixty-four precise, powerful strikes right at the weak-point of Madara's Bunshin's Susano'o and he tore completely through it. The Bunshin's eyes widened as Neji then jumped through the gap he had created, and his entire body glowed green…as sparks ignited around him.
"Katon: Kaiten (Fire Release: Rotation)!" Neji called out as he then spun in mid-air at even higher speeds than before.
Flames bursts around the dome of chakra to create a tornado of flame point-blank at the Madara Bunshin's back before it could react. What remained of the Bunshin's Susano'o was completely obliterated from the inside out from the Katon: Kaiten which burned a perfect 20-meter circle into the ground. All that remained of the Mokuton Bunshin were ashes and Neji landed perfectly on his feet and deactivated the Gates, but his Byakugan remained active.
"The Gates don't take as much out of me as they did before, but I need to conserve as much chakra as I can now…" Neji's Byakugan focused on the barrier. "That…thing is nearly done…mutating."
Madara, the original, was still engaged in battle with Sasuke, the two were now surrounded in a field of black flames as both Uchiha sized each other up. In a flash both vanished and whoever was observing them could see sparks fly as their blades clashed as well as hear the chirps of a thousand birds from the younger Uchiha's Chidori. To Sasuke's shock when he went to attack with it…Madara countered with his own Chidori and created a field of electricity all around him.
"Surprised?" Madara said as the Chidori flared around his hand. "Such a fine jutsu, I haven't copied any like this in decades." He then frowned slightly. More to the point…Naruto's allies have managed to defeat all my Mokuton Bunshin's…they are much stronger than I'd anticipated! This generation…it special…not since my time have shinobi of this caliber have been born.
"Makes sense that you'd be able to copy that from me after seeing it once," Sasuke said as his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan looked directly at Madara's Rinnegan, their Chidori's tried to overpower each other.
"The Rinnegan in truth makes it easier to copy ninjutsu," Madara uttered as the ground shook. "Though I believe we will have to cut this dance short."
"WHAT? Don't you dare run!" Sasuke said as the reincarnated Uchiha's cheeks swelled and he then breathed out a cloud of hot ash.
"Katon: Hajingakure no Jutsu (Fire Release: Hidden Ash Technique)!" Madara called out as the younger Uchiha was forced to use Susano'o to negate the damage from the burning ash, but his opponent used that moment to retreat.
Naruto's Kage Bunshin and Killer Bee had finished making their combined Bijudama and the shadow clone then added Fūton to it to turn it into a massive Bijudama Rasenshuriken. The spinning, gigantic Bijudama Rasenshuriken was easily a kilometer in circumference and bolts of static electricity shot from it, and due to its sheer mass, a gigantic crater had been carved just from it being formed.
"YEEAHHHH! Let's wipe that Ten-Tails wannabe off the Earth!" Bee yelled, not even bothering with a rhyme and Naruto's Bunshin nodded.
"Yeah! Le'ts blast that thing to pieces!"
With that…the gigantic Fūton: Bijudama Rasenshuriken was launched right at the Gedō Mazō behind its barrier. Tobimaru's dragon, sensing the power of the attack flew as high as it could go as more cracks appeared on the shadow Akatsuki leader's barrier. Naruto's Bunshin and Bee's attack then smashed into it with enough force to send it skidding back well out of the crater that had been made from Naruto's Bijudama Rasenshuriken that he had created to fight the mind-controlled Biju. It was pushed several hundred kilometers away and then…detonated.
There was a loud boom that could be heard for hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers. A gigantic dome of chakra could be seen from nearly all parts of the northern part of the continent…nearly 200 kilometers wide. And a viscous wind dome was created simultaneously that made hurricane force winds be felt in the immediate area…and finally a gigantic shock wave hit the battlefield. Naruto's friends and mother had to take shelter directly within his and Hinata's Isō: Hoderi after he had called them back to him.
"D-Did that do it?!" Chōji asked a bit fearfully as the shock wave began to die down.
"The sheer power of that attack…it has to have taken that thing out!" Kiba remarked as Shino paused.
"…my insects are…restless. This isn't over," Shino said as Hinata then focused with her Keihatsu Byakugan at the spot as best as she could.
"Its…obscured by dust clouds…" she started as Naruto glanced at her. "Do you sense anything Naruto-kun?"
"I'm not detecting any of those evil emotions that that Statue was giving off…"
You wouldn't Naruto. That…thing…unless it has achieved its final form lacks malice or evil intent, only acting on instinct…in Sage Mode you might be able to detect it.
"Then I'll enter Sage Mode," Naruto said as he stood still for several seconds…and combined his Biju and Sage Mode together thanks to his prior experience doing it with his Kurama Sage Mode and his eyes widened…seeing a virtual planet and moon being formed out of chakra up ahead.
…but…all you see is something so immeasurable…it can't be measured, Kurama continued as Naruto winced.
"Guys…that…its…"
There was a swirling of energy from the gigantic crater that had been carved out from Naruto's Bunshin and Bee's technique as a gigantic…creature was in the center of it, unharmed. Ten gigantic tails…four to five kilometers long at least then swished around as it lifted its head…a single red eye, with concentric circles and nine tomoe could be seen even from that distance. Its…mouth was filled with hundreds, if not thousands of sharp, gigantic teeth and it was supported by two huge arms with vaguely humanoid hands. And its…face…was vaguely lupine in shape and it even had a set of underdeveloped ears that looked like that of a fox or wolf. Black and white chakra then swirled at its mouth…and it fired right at the battlefield instinctively!
"MOVE!"
Everyone in the battlefield barely managed to dodge the gigantic Bijudama beam that the Ten-Tails shot out and its eye then focused at the now rising moon…and it snarled and sent the beam flying into space! The gigantic, powerful beam of chakra shot into space right at the moon and impacted its surface! Even from the distance…they could see the explosion as a new, gigantic scar was carved into Earth's satellite.
Madara and Tobimaru-who was still in his Spiral Zetsu armor landed after the shot. "…the Ten-Tails' power…its magnificent!" Tobimaru exclaimed as the reincarnated Uchiha's eyes narrowed.
"…it instinctively attacked the moon. If it manages to destroy it in its higher forms, all my carefully laid plans will be rendered moot," Madara said as he glanced at his partner. "Let's take control of it before it begins to rampage."
"Agreed! We have a new powerful toy to play with!"
With that…Madara and Tobimaru vanished as the Ten-Tails rose to its full height of five kilometers. It gave a loud roar that could be heard all over the continent, even as far away as the deserts of the Land of Wind and even the island of the Land of Water. In one single moment, the rest of the world instinctively felt a fear…a fear that their ancestors had several millennia ago and knew exactly how the War was going all in a single moment. To many…it felt like the End of the World had begun…
Moon, Ōtsutsuki Temple
The shaking and moon quakes died down as a tall man with long white hair scowled. He was carrying a long staff and was wearing white robes with the tomoe designs around his collar. At his side was a younger man with spikey white hair that was vaguely like that of Naruto's and he then bowed to the man. Hundreds of other people dressed similarly to that of the men there…and others that were wearing black clothes which masked their faces or long dresses that looked like children or young women were all there.
"Father…its confirmed," the young man said as he bowed low. "Deidarabotachi…the Ten-Tails…it's been revived fully; our worst fears have been realized."
"Those damned humans!" the man's father cursed as he gritted his teeth. "And the Main Family still wants to spare them?! Even after they stole the Statue and brought about this catastrophe?!"
"I know father…luckily our settlements within the moon were undamaged by the blast it sent to us, buried so deep within the moon's bedrock."
"Toneri," the older man uttered. "You are our clan's strongest ninja now, you have surpassed even me. I need you to start preparing for the Tenseigan ritual. I'll allow you to retrieve your eyes from the Energy Vessel."
"F-Father? But…"
"With you having those eyes, we can finally put this civil war to an end," his father uttered as he slammed his staff down. "When you master the Tenseigan, nothing, not even the Ten-Tails itself will be able to stand against the might of the Ōtsutsuki Clan!"
"And…what of the Byakugan Princess, my promised bride?"
"Banish that thought from your mind now, my son," Toneri's father ordered him. "We have more pressing concerns. She will be yours, but you need to have patience."
"Yes, father…"
A few members of the crowd then began to make their way out of the Temple, one jumped onto a summoned bird and passed a giant statue. He looked worried and he frowned.
"Send a message to Kirishima-sama," he said to his fellows as they passed through the barrier that was created by the artificial sun of their habitat. "He needs to head to Earth immediately to aid the Byakugan Princess before Hiroshi manages to complete his son's Tenseigan ritual."
"Yes, sir!" they said as the group split off in different directions just in case they were being followed.
Land of Sound
Orochimaru scowled to himself as he waited for his men to return. Absolutely everyone had felt what had just happened and the Snake Sannin was forced to accelerate his plans. With that…thing revived, the only recourse was to aid the Shinobi Alliance. And he had the best way of doing it, but his men were running a little late.
"Orochimaru-sama, we've returned!" a group of five men all dressed in shinobi gear-sans their headbands to hide their identity appeared in a shunshin.
"Excellent, give it to me," Orochimaru said as he lifted his hand up…and a strange…mask was given to him. "The Uzumaki outdid themselves with these…now…time to summon the best allies to aid this Alliance!"
With that the ritual was prepared…and the Snake Sannin then put his mask onto his face and gave a smirk. He planned on hiding his own involvement within this…and thanks to the extensive notes his former protégé Kabuto had left, the Edo Tensei that Orochimaru would now revive…would be as strong, if not stronger than they were in life!
"Get everything prepared, we will not be getting a second chance at this!" Orochimaru ordered and his men nodded and got to work. Now Naruto-kun and your fellow Kages, even if you did discover I did this…I can use this as leverage to wager my freedom to continue these experiments…
A sadistic, enthusiastic smirk appeared on Orochimaru's face as his men went about their work to make sure the sacrifices-captured White Zetsu were in place…as well as getting the Edo Tensei scroll all set. Orochimaru knew he would have only one chance…and he was going to take it!
To be continued…
Author's Notes:
I wanted to make sure all of Naruto's friends as well as Kushina were able to get some awesome moments, and Madara's Mokuton Bunshin provided the perfect means. Only Sakura (who will get her chance to shine next chapter) was left out but this was to establish how powerful and utterly badass the Konoha 11 are. Honestly too, if the Kages fought as a unit against the twenty-five Mokuton Bunshins that had been created to fight them, they wouldn't have needed Ōnoki to wipe them all out with that giant Jinton. Plus, like all elemental Bunshins, Mokuton Bunshins have a set limit of chakra (around 30-40%) meaning they couldn't use their powers to their fullest, which we saw Shikamaru and Shino exploiting. Madara honestly should have went with Kage Bunshins since they use the maximum amount of chakra available, but he seemed to want to have fun with his opponents.
And now…we have the Ten-Tails revived. I'm going to be changing a few things with its appearance and motivations. I'm actually going to borrow elements of Hakumen no Mono from Ushio and Tora to create the Ten-Tails' final form, making it more like a giant evil form of Kurama. Bottom line…it is not the Shinju here. However, it did destroy and consume the Shinju when it had been awoken in ancient times/ And…here? The Earth-based Ōtsutsuki Clan are still around instead of being reduced to a single individual (Toneri) like in Canon, the civil war is still raging there.
And finally Orochimaru is going to make his move…and we all know what that is. But he wants to keep his involvement a secret, making it seem like he is still dead to the world.
And don't worry, I'll be returning to the Kabuto vs Itachi battle next chapter!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I think I roughly have three chapters if not four left before the story wraps up!