BOOM!
The Tailed Beast Ball shuriken detonated with cosmic force, its explosion creating shockwaves that first collided violently with the divine winds erupting from Madara's enhanced palm. The meeting of these opposing forces generated turbulence that rippled through multiple dimensions, reality itself bending under the pressure of energies that transcended normal understanding of physics.
The tremendous amount of chakra contained within both techniques was simultaneously detonated, creating a chain reaction that freed Sasuke and Naruto from the paralysis that had held them captive. As the cosmic energies cancelled each other out, both young shinobis immediately regained control of their enhanced bodies.
But even as they recovered their mobility, an even more terrifying explosion swept across the battlefield, painting the sky in colors that hurt to observe directly.
For Naruto, Sasuke, and Minato, who all possessed cosmic-level enhancements and divine protection, such displays of raw force represented manageable obstacles rather than existential threats.
"Thank you, Dad."
Naruto's voice carried genuine gratitude as he observed Minato's back, the Fourth Hokage having once again positioned himself between his son and annihilation. The young shinobi's expression reflected the recognition that both he and Sasuke had become momentarily careless, allowing their opponent to regain the initiative despite their overwhelming power advantage.
"He actually absorbed the God Tree!"
Sasuke's features carried grim seriousness as he processed the implications of what they had witnessed. He hadn't anticipated that Madara would be capable of such a dramatic power increase, transforming what should have been a decisive victory into renewed uncertainty.
The source of the enhanced chakra radiating from their opponent was unmistakably the massive entity that had been growing toward its cosmic destiny behind him. By merging with the God Tree, Madara had gained access to power that transcended even his previous divine capabilities.
Just as the Sage of Six Paths had warned them during their spiritual encounter, Madara's enhanced strength was rapidly approaching levels that rivaled the legendary figure who had been sealed by the combined efforts of Hagoromo and his brother Hamura in the dawn of history.
The mother of the Sage of Six Paths himself—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki!
"Be careful!"
Minato's warning carried urgent intensity as his enhanced perception detected movement within the chaotic atmosphere created by their explosive exchange. Through the swirling energies and distorted air currents, Madara's form was moving with purpose and speed that exceeded even his previous cosmic capabilities.
Of course, both Naruto and Sasuke detected the approaching threat almost immediately, their Six Paths-enhanced awareness providing them with sensory capabilities that operated beyond normal limitations.
"Those shadows again!"
In Minato's enhanced vision, a familiar silhouette emerged from the chaotic disturbances, but something was fundamentally different about this manifestation compared to their previous encounters.
Swish!
Just as he prepared to intercept the dimensional projection, Minato's tactical awareness suddenly registered additional threats that challenged his understanding of Madara's capabilities.
"There are four of them!?"
The realization struck him with the force of divine revelation as his enhanced perception catalogued multiple Rinnegan clones materializing simultaneously from the dimensional space known as Limbo.
"This is the enhanced eye technique of Madara's Rinnegan!"
Not only Minato, but Sasuke could now observe the Limbo projections directly through his own evolved Rinnegan, the six-tomoe enhancement granting him visual access to dimensional spaces that had previously been invisible.
Although Naruto couldn't perceive the clones through normal sight, his Six Paths Sage Mode provided him with spiritual awareness that transcended the limitations of conventional sensory techniques.
"Get behind me!"
Sasuke activated his Perfect Susanoo with explosive force, the ethereal construct materializing directly in front of Naruto and Minato as its massive blade descended toward the approaching threats with enough power to cleave through cosmic defenses.
At this moment, terrifying chakra fluctuations began emanating from all four Limbo clones simultaneously, their energy signatures indicating the preparation of techniques that operated on divine scales.
BANG!
Four brilliant streams of azure chakra erupted skyward from the dimensional projections, each beam condensing and solidifying into humanoid forms that rivaled Sasuke's Perfect Susanoo in both scale and majesty.
All four constructs were complete manifestations of Susanoo, ethereal shinobis that blazed with cosmic power and moved with the precision of master swordsmanship!
One of the newly manifested Susanoo met Sasuke's attack head-on, the collision between titanic forces creating shockwaves that could be felt across multiple countries. The impact sent ripples through the fabric of space itself as divine techniques contested for supremacy.
The remaining three giants bypassed Sasuke's Perfect Susanoo with coordinated precision, their movements suggesting tactical intelligence that transcended mere combat instincts. One circled around to attack Sasuke from behind while the other two launched simultaneous assaults on Naruto and Minato respectively.
Although the power levels that all three defenders had achieved were sufficient to make them genuine threats rather than helpless victims, the situation remained profoundly dangerous.
But the most troublesome element of this cosmic assault was that Madara's true form remained positioned behind all four Perfect Susanoo, his enhanced presence radiating menace that promised even greater devastation once his initial gambit was complete.
Swish!
Recognizing the impossibility of maintaining their current position against such overwhelming numbers, Minato activated his Flying Thunder God technique just as the four ethereal giants completed their encirclement.
All three defenders and Sasuke's Perfect Susanoo vanished from their aerial positions, reappearing safely on solid ground through spatial manipulation that bypassed the cosmic battlefield entirely.
At this moment, since the God Tree had been completely absorbed into Madara's enhanced form, the animated trunks and branches that had been assaulting Shisui, Itachi, and the other elite shinobis had simply ceased to exist.
They all observed the fierce battle unfolding in the sky above them with expressions of grim determination, but their enhanced capabilities were insufficient to allow meaningful intervention in a conflict being conducted at cosmic levels.
The gap in raw power was simply too vast to bridge through conventional techniques or tactical superiority.
However, every member of the Allied Forces moved toward the same general area with unspoken coordination, understanding that mutual support represented their only hope for survival if the battle above them took an unfavorable turn.
As Kushina, Tsunade, and Mei Terumi advanced quickly across the broken landscape, the red-haired woman's enhanced perception swept across the battlefield until it settled on a pile of massive stones that had fallen during Madara's previous technique.
A black-haired figure knelt among the debris with an expression of complete disconnection from reality, his form flickering between solid and intangible as rocks passed harmlessly through his body.
The identity was unmistakable—Obito Uchiha, the masked figure whose true face had been revealed during Minato's desperate assault on his defenses.
The enormous crater where Minato had shattered his opponent's mask had been obliterated by Madara's Chibaku Tensei technique, and when the gravitational forces were subsequently released, tons of stone and debris had rained down on the area.
Obito hadn't made any attempt to evade the falling rocks, his consciousness apparently so disconnected from immediate reality that only the instinctive activation of his Kamui technique had prevented him from being crushed to death.
Tsunade spotted Obito shortly after Kushina's discovery, and although she hadn't witnessed Minato's revelation of his identity firsthand, the Legendary Sannin immediately recognized the masked figure from their previous encounters based on his distinctive clothing and the visible Sharingan.
Her expression darkened with murderous intent as she prepared to eliminate a threat that had caused immeasurable suffering throughout the ninja world.
But Kushina, who had learned the full truth when she first transferred chakra to Minato during their desperate battle, immediately moved to intercede.
"Lady Tsunade, please don't."
Her voice carried gentle but absolute authority as she positioned herself between the medical ninja and their former enemy.
Kushina approached Obito's position with careful steps, and at that moment, one of Minato's shadow clones materialized beside her with the distinctive displacement of the Flying Thunder God technique.
Although Madara had achieved Jinchuriki status, the Tailed Beast power contained within his enhanced form remained incomplete due to Minato's successful extraction of chakra for Naruto's use. This meant there was still a significant possibility that he would attempt to capture Kushina to complete his collection.
Kushina pointed toward Obito's motionless form, then addressed Minato's clone with an expression that mixed determination with compassion.
"We have to take him with us. In his current condition, he'll definitely encounter serious trouble if we leave him here!"
Even knowing that Obito was the individual responsible for the attack, even understanding the immense suffering his actions had caused their family, there was no hatred visible in Kushina's eyes.
Unlike Minato, whose emotions remained conflicted by the complexity of their shared history, Kushina's expression showed only pity and heartache for someone whose life had been so thoroughly destroyed by manipulation and loss.
The shadow clone paused for a moment, processing the implications of her request, then nodded with the same compassion that had always characterized Minato's approach to former enemies.
"Excellent decision!"
Kushina's smile carried warmth that could melt ice as she walked toward Obito's position, her voice dropping to a gentle murmur that was intended more for spiritual forces than living ears.
"Rin, please don't worry. We won't simply stand by and watch Obito come to harm."
Her words carried the weight of a promise made to someone whose memory continued to influence events despite her absence from the physical world.
"If you were still alive today, you would extend a helping hand to him without hesitation, wouldn't you?"
The position where Minato, Naruto, and Sasuke had relocated was directly beneath the aerial battlefield where Madara floated in front of his four Perfect Susanoo constructs, the cosmic display of power casting shadows across the landscape like premature nightfall.
After their spatial displacement was complete, all three defenders raised their heads to observe their opponent with expressions of heavy concentration, their enhanced awareness cataloguing every detail of the divine forces arrayed against them.
Somehow, Madara didn't seem to be in any hurry to launch his next assault, his ancient features carrying an expression that suggested he was savoring the moment rather than pressing his apparent advantage.
Minato and his allies didn't dare to relax their guard, but the temporary respite provided an opportunity for the Fourth Hokage to address the intelligence he had requested during their brief encounter with the Sage of Six Paths.
"How did the investigation I asked you to conduct turn out?"
His question was directed toward both young shinobis, but his analytical mind was already preparing to process whatever revelations they might share.
"I did ask the Sage about that matter."
Naruto nodded with the earnest expression that had always characterized his approach to serious responsibilities, though his response carried obvious uncertainty.
"He said that he created the stone tablet specifically to convince his eldest son Indra, who was pursuing increasingly extreme ideologies. As for the specific content that was written..."
He spoke with obvious difficulty, apparently having forgotten crucial details during the stress of their cosmic battle.
"Allow me to continue."
Sasuke seamlessly picked up the explanation where Naruto's memory had failed, his analytical mind having retained the complete intelligence briefing they had received from the Sage of Six Paths.
He proceeded to share all the relevant information with Minato, his voice carrying the precision that had always marked his approach to tactical reporting.
"The Sage of Six Paths never included any information about the Infinite Tsukuyomi technique on his stone tablet."
Sasuke concluded his summary and met the Fourth Hokage's gaze with an expression that confirmed their previous suspicions.
"Just as you theorized, the contents inscribed on the tablet have been systematically altered by an unknown party."
He paused to allow the implications to settle before adding the most disturbing element of their discovery.
"But the Sage of Six Paths himself doesn't know who was responsible for the modifications. He only confirmed that the alterations definitely weren't made by his brother Hamura."
"Even the Sage of Six Paths doesn't possess that knowledge?"
Minato's shock was profound and deeply unsettling. By logical reasoning, the cosmic entity who had been aware of Minato's rebirth across time and space should have detected any tampering with artifacts he had personally created.
This meant that whoever had modified the stone tablet's contents possessed capabilities sufficient to avoid detection by someone who operated at divine levels of awareness.
Such power suggested threats that transcended even their current cosmic confrontation.
"There's also one additional piece of information."
Sasuke's voice took on heavier tones as he prepared to share intelligence that challenged their fundamental understanding of historical events.
"In ancient times, someone successfully activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi technique, causing the entire world to fall under the influence of a global genjutsu that trapped every living being in eternal dreams."
The revelation struck all three defenders like physical blows, recontextualizing everything they thought they understood about the technique Madara was attempting to implement.
"And the individual who cast that ultimate illusion was the mother of both Sage of Six Paths brothers."
Sasuke's final words carried the weight of cosmic significance as he delivered the most shocking revelation of all.
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki!"