Elsewhere, in an unknown location, Orochimaru suddenly opened his eyes wide.
At the exact moment of the explosion, his connection with the Second Tsuchikage was completely severed. He knew that feeling very well, Edo Tensei had been forcefully undone.
That… was a power Edo Tensei simply couldn't withstand.
"Such power… such incredible power…"
Orochimaru muttered to himself, then suddenly burst into mad laughter.
Because Natsuro hadn't disappointed him in the slightest. This level of power, even the golden Nine-Tails claded in Susanoo probably couldn't match it.
Orochimaru had thought that perhaps Natsuro had already been surpassed by Naruto and Sasuke, but now… it seemed that wasn't the case.
At this moment, Orochimaru was once again fired up with excitement.
He licked his lips, this incident had also revealed a new way of nullifying Edo Tensei.
Besides the known methods, being released by the caster, a soul fulfilling its desire, or a fatal flaw in the reincarnation process—there now existed this irresistible explosion…
"Also just a disintegration… but what made that explosion so special?" Orochimaru pondered.
Other Edo Tensei had also been reduced to ash, but why was it that only the Second Tsuchikage couldn't regenerate?
There must be something unique about that attack. Orochimaru licked the side of his face excitedly.
Too bad he didn't have a sample. No way to analyze it…
Since he couldn't study it further, the only option was to think about what to do next.
Originally, Orochimaru had planned to summon his final trump card right after Natsuro wiped out the White Zetsu army. But while the army was destroyed, the Second Tsuchikage's body was obliterated as well, derailing Orochimaru's plan.
"Well… maybe it's for the best. If I had summoned him directly into that battlefield, Natsuro might've used that black orb again out of instinct. And if Madara had tried to tank it head-on…"
Orochimaru shivered at the thought.
Thankfully, the White Zetsu army had forced Natsuro to reveal his trump card first.Otherwise, things could've been very dangerous.
Now, sealing off that jutsu would be simple, just change the combat environment.
That attack's area of effect was far too vast, and Natsuroi had clearly anticipated this, which was why he ordered the Fourth Division to retreat early.
This also proved Natsuro didn't want his own comrades caught in the blast.
"So for Natsuro, that jutsu comes with major limitations." Orochimaru grinned. All he had to do was summon Madara within Allied Forces territory, and Natsuro wouldn't dare use that technique again.
Licking his lips again, Orochimaru casually took over another Edo Tensei body that hadn't been destroyed yet.
Using this new vessel, he arrived at a familiar scene, the remnants of the Fourth Division, with both Ōnoki and Gaara present.
There were also members from other divisions, but Orochimaru didn't care much about them.
Noticing someone had spotted him, Orochimaru smiled at the ninja and formed hand signs, slamming his hands to the ground.
"He's summoning another Edo Tensei?! Damn it!"The ninja cursed but wasn't particularly worried, they were already used to this by now.
Besides, it was just one coffin. With so many shinobi around, they'd seal it again like usual.
That's what he thought… until the coffin lid fell open.And when he saw the figure inside, he instinctively stepped back several paces.
He didn't recognize the man… but the moment he laid eyes on him, even with his eyes still closed, an overwhelming terror welled up inside him.
And that was without the man intentionally releasing any killing intent.
Soon, Madara Uchiha opened his eyes, revealing his three-tomoe Sharingan. He glanced at the terrified ninja before him, already bored. This kind of "trash" didn't even make him want to lift a finger.
He felt the body he was in and furrowed his brows. He quickly realized, he had been brought back via Edo Tensei?
But according to the original plan, he was supposed to be revived using the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique via the Rinnegan.
So... Did something go wrong?
Madara turned his gaze to the ongoing battlefield, where shinobi and Edo Tensei were still clashing.He raised an eyebrow and asked the one who had summoned him, Orochimaru, who stood nearby.
"The forehead protectors all bear the word 'shinobi,' but their outfits differ by nation. So this is a new Allied Army?"
"This outcome must have been driven by war…" Madara mused, trying to understand the situation.Why had Obito chosen to go to war with the entire shinobi world?
"…That guy must've had his reasons for this setup."
Madara snorted coldly. "Regardless of the reason, he didn't stick to the plan we agreed upon.To think… he brought me back in this form."
He turned to the Edo Tensei body that had summoned him. "So, who exactly are you?"
Orochimaru, listening to Madara's deductions, was secretly impressed. In such a short time, the man had already pieced together most of the situation.
Smiling, Orochimaru replied, "I am Orochimaru, student of Hiruzen Sarutobi, rogue ninja of Konoha, and, at least by your definition, an ally of that guy."
As he spoke, Orochimaru wiped his face, dispelling the transformation technique and revealing his true appearance.
"The monkey's student, huh?" Madara raised an eyebrow. So Sarutobi's student had betrayed the village too. How amusing.
He eyed the Edo Tensei body Orochimaru was using. "To talk to me through Edo Tensei… you really are a devious snake."
Orochimaru wasn't bothered by the insult. Instead, he said to Madara, "This vessel was prepared specifically for you. You'll be able to fight with strength surpassing even your prime."
Madara frowned at that and glanced at Orochimaru with a hint of displeasure. "You… Do you really understand what my prime was like?"
"Hehe, of course not. That's why, I'd love to witness the true power of the legendary Uchiha myself." Orochimaru laughed. "And… I've prepared a rather worthy opponent for you."
"Oh? Who?" Madara was intrigued. If the summoner spoke of him with such weight, the opponent must be among the elite of this generation.
"The Sixth Hokage, Natsuro Shindōkawa," Orochimaru said.
"Never heard of that clan name. But… Hokage, huh?" Madara's eyes lit up with interest. "...Where is he? I'd like to see how strong the Hokage after Hashirama have become."
"He's not here right now," Orochimaru replied.
"…Hm?" Madara's eyes immediately transformed into his Mangekyō Sharingan, locking onto Orochimaru. If he didn't get a proper explanation, he clearly wouldn't let this slide. Did this snake dare toy with him?
Sweat began to form on Orochimaru's forehead, the pressure Madara exuded was overwhelming.
Looking at him now, it was clear Madara could probably break free from his control with ease.
So this is what a legendary shinobi is truly like… Orochimaru thought to himself as he hurriedly explained.
Natsuro was the commander of the Allied Forces and a user of space-time ninjutsu, specifically Flying Thunder God. If a major crisis occurred, he was sure to appear.
Orochimaru also told Madara about everything Natsuro had done so far, including his ability to nullify Edo Tensei regeneration and the devastating power of his mysterious black orb.
"So that's why you summoned me here?" Madara remained displeased. "You're afraid even I couldn't withstand that jutsu of his?"
Orochimaru only smiled, saying nothing.
At that moment, the other shinobi finally noticed what was going on…
"Th-that's… Uchiha… Madara!" Ōnoki froze on the spot, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
"That guy is…" Beside him, Gaara's pupils contracted sharply.
"He's still… in the exact form he had while alive…" Ōnoki murmured.
"What's going on?! Why is he an Edo Tensei body?" Gaara had also noticed Madara's black eyes, evidence that this was a reanimation.
Which could only mean one thing… Madara Uchiha was dead all along.
"Huh? But the Intelligence Division told us that Madara is currently fighting Naruto Uzumaki, who has fully mastered the Nine-Tails' power!" Temari exclaimed from the side, equally shocked.
"Yet that is indeed Madara Uchiha," Ōnoki replied, his voice grim.
"I fought him once in my youth..." As he spoke, a painful memory resurfaced, a scene he would rather forget. Was that a fight? No, it was a one-sided slaughter.
"So, if this is Madara, then the one fighting Naruto Uzumaki... who exactly is that?" Ōnoki narrowed his eyes. The truth was becoming increasingly convoluted.
Gaara, Temari, and Kurotsuchi all nodded solemnly.
They were beginning to understand, the masked man was a fake Madara!
"But regardless of who the enemy really is, we must stop them!" Ōnoki shouted once more.
"Agreed!" Gaara echoed firmly.
Gaara then clenched both hands. Instantly, a massive surge of sand surged toward Madara like a terrifying whale opening its gaping jaws to devour its prey.
"Hmph." Madara leapt back to evade the incoming sand.
He paused for a moment, then muttered, "Very well. Let me stretch a little… as a warm-up before I meet that so-called Sixth Hokage you mentioned."
Without the slightest hesitation, Madara turned and charged straight into the Allied Shinobi Forces, alone.
Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, eyes gleaming with excitement. He muttered, "Come on, Natsuro… let me see if you can truly surpass legend!"
Facing Madara, the legendary shinobi, along with the overwhelming pressure emanating from him, most of the Allied Shinobi Forces were trembling in fear.
Their first instinct, upon seeing him charge, was to flee.
But…
They knew there was no point in running.
And so, a loud battle cry erupted from the ranks, not to intimidate Madara, but to bolster their own courage, to push strength back into their trembling legs.
After their roars, they too charged forward.
But the moment they clashed, Madara's movements looked more like a dance than a battle.
One after another, Allied shinobi were sent flying through the air, while none of their attacks could even touch him.
From Madara's perspective, none of them posed even the slightest threat.
His Mangekyō Sharingan rapidly analyzed all their movements, simulating their attacks in his mind before they even happened.
Under such conditions, carving a path through a thousand foes was trivial.
"Do you wish to dance as well?" Madara sneered, mocking them as if they were utterly beneath him.
Of course, things didn't go entirely as smoothly as Madara had expected.
Among the shinobi were some who were actually decent.
At one moment, a blast of compressed air slammed into Madara, forcing him to temporarily disengage and step back, looking toward the source of the Wind Release technique.
"Don't underestimate us!" Temari shouted, wielding her giant iron fan.
Madara didn't reply.
The attack had come from a blind spot, one he hadn't observed.
After all, even the Mangekyō Sharingan didn't offer 360-degree vision like the Byakugan, it had its flaws.
Temari had taken advantage of that flaw to land a hit.
Unfortunately, her Wind Release wasn't powerful enough, it hadn't even broken his defense.
"Very well, let me test out some ninjutsu." So far, Madara had only been toying with taijutsu.
Now, it was time to experiment with ninjutsu.
He formed several hand seals, then inhaled sharply.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
As Madara unleashed the jutsu, an enormous wave of fire surged forth, taking the shape of a giant flame bird with wings spread wide.
The blaze engulfed nearly the entire Allied Shinobi Force, its area of effect was enormous.
"His jutsu's range is massive!"
In response, numerous Mist shinobi stepped forward, quickly forming hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Together, the Water Release users summoned a towering wall of surging water. After tremendous effort, they barely managed to hold back Madara's sea of flames.
To face dozens of skilled Water Release users single-handedly… And still hold the upper hand…
That was Madara Uchiha.
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Currently on Chapter 409 - Traveling Through Time and Space