Chapter 35 A New Strategy: Regrouping

The battlefield was left in ruin, but the air still hummed with the lingering energy of the clash. The smoke began to settle, and the figures of Isshiki and Momoshiki loomed, watching with a mixture of amusement and impatience as Team 7 and the Kage gathered themselves.

Naruto, breathing heavily, stood with his back straight, staring at the powerful Ōtsutsuki. His body ached, his chakra reserves were dangerously low, but there was a fire in his eyes. He wasn't about to back down, not now, not ever.

"We won't just roll over and die," Naruto said, his voice full of determination, despite the physical exhaustion.

Sasuke, his Sharingan still blazing, stepped forward, positioning himself beside Naruto. "We've faced worse, but we need more time. We aren't ready yet. But we will be."

The Kage, though battered, nodded in agreement. Tsunade's forehead glistened with sweat as she steadied herself, a fierce expression on her face. "We'll rebuild, we'll train. This isn't the end."

But Isshiki and Momoshiki weren't interested in words. They were tired of waiting.

"You're right," Isshiki said, his voice dripping with disdain. "This is not over. You've made us waste our time. But we'll allow you to survive a little longer. Your planet may be useful to us after all." He turned his gaze to Momoshiki, who nodded silently.

"Leave them," Momoshiki commanded. "We'll finish this later. There's no need to waste our time any further."

The two Ōtsutsuki disappeared in an instant, leaving the air crackling with their vanished presence.

A New Strategy: Regrouping

Back in Konoha, the mood was grim, but there was also a sense of determination that had never been seen before. The Kage were all gathered in the Hokage's office, sitting at the large table. Naruto and Sasuke, along with Sakura and Kakashi, stood at the front, eyes focused on the task ahead.

"The Ōtsutsuki are not going to stop," Tsunade said, breaking the silence. "They're planning something, and whatever it is, it won't be good for any of us. But we can't keep running. We need to fight back."

Naruto clenched his fists. "We've got new allies now, and we need to get stronger. Our summons, the Nine-Tails... They're a part of Kaguya, but that doesn't matter now. They're our friends, and they'll be by our side."

Kakashi adjusted his headband, his normally calm expression now filled with urgency. "We need more training. We've seen the power of the Ōtsutsuki. It's like nothing we've ever faced before."

Gaara, the Sand Kazekage, spoke up. "I agree. The Ōtsutsuki are on a different level. If we don't act soon, they will destroy everything. We need to think bigger than we ever have before."

The Plan: Preparing for the Future

After the meeting with the Kage, Team 7 was granted access to the training facilities in Konoha, as well as a special area set up for the summoning beasts. Black Zetsu, still loyal to Kaguya, helped them establish a training regimen for the beasts.

The idea was simple, but daunting: Train the summoning beasts to reach new levels of strength. If the Ōtsutsuki were going to keep coming, they needed every advantage they could get. Konoha's forces would need to work together like never before, combining the talents of the ninja with the strength of their summonings.

The summoning beasts weren't just tools; they were partners. Team 7's bond with their summons had grown stronger over time, and now, with the added help of their families, they would focus on taking that connection to the next level.

Training Begins: The New Bond

Naruto and Kurama had already discussed the bond they shared with the Nine-Tails. The baby Nine-Tails, though connected to Kaguya, was growing in strength. It had already shown remarkable intelligence, even starting to learn basic jutsu under Naruto's tutelage.

Kurama's excitement was palpable. "It's like a younger version of me!" he exclaimed with a grin, his tail swishing with joy. "I can't wait to see it grow strong."

Sasuke's cheetah, a fierce creature of immense speed, was being trained in high-speed combat. It moved with unparalleled agility, and Sasuke had been working with it, pushing both himself and the beast to the limits. He had seen what true speed could do, and now he wanted to become a master of it.

Sakura and her lion pride spent their days focusing on teamwork and coordination. The lioness and her pack had a natural bond, but Sakura was determined to teach them more about working as a unified force in battle. They practiced tactical maneuvers and enhanced their abilities to create synchronized attacks that could overwhelm their opponents.

Kakashi, his gray wolf by his side, focused on strategy and cunning. The wolf was naturally gifted with stealth and the ability to sense chakra, and together they trained in silent takedowns and surprise attacks. Kakashi's experience as a tactician shone through as he honed the wolf's abilities, making them an even deadlier pair.

A Small Victory

After days of training, there was a brief but important victory. Team 7, alongside the Kage and their summons, had successfully repelled an attack from a smaller faction of Ōtsutsuki operatives who had slipped through the cracks. Though they were far from ready for the main forces, it was a small but crucial win in the battle against an enemy that seemed unstoppable.

The Future Looms

With the Kage's forces now mobilized and Team 7 at the forefront of this new era of training, the Ōtsutsuki threat loomed larger than ever. They had no illusions: The battles ahead would be brutal. But now they had something new—something they hadn't had before.

Hope.

For the first time in a long time, there was the possibility of victory, even against an enemy like the Ōtsutsuki.