A golden figure stands tall on the ground, so dazzling that no one dares to look directly at it.
"That's… Minato-sensei?!" Kakashi whispers in shock, as if seeing a familiar figure.
"Sensei, what? That's Naruto! Kakashi, are your eyes failing again?" Guy laughs heartily, puzzled why Kakashi's vision is blurring once more.
"Such incredible power! Naruto's finally become a perfect Jinchuriki?" Gaara marvels, knowing better than anyone how hard it is for a Jinchuriki to connect with their Bijuu. Even now, he wouldn't claim Shukaku fully acknowledges him—especially since Shukaku's temperament isn't much better than Kurama's.
"So, we won?"
"We've already won!"
The battle between Dragon Kabuto and Kyuubi Mode Naruto was lightning-fast.
In less than two seconds, it was over.
Hearing Kabuto's surrender, Naruto's massive chakra fist halts just above Kabuto's head, sparing the strike.
If that punch had landed, Kabuto's body would've been pulverized into a meat paste! No matter how strong Kabuto's healing abilities, he'd have died instantly.
In a different battle environment—like a dark underground cave—Kabuto might've used Mujin Tensei to maneuver and stall, employing various Senjutsu to engage Naruto. Then, the outcome would've been uncertain.
Unfortunately, they fought in open terrain with no obstacles, allowing Naruto to maximize his incredible speed advantage, leaving Kabuto no time to form hand seals or use techniques.
That's why he lost so quickly…
It's not fair to blame Kabuto for being careless; he prepared as best he could.
But who could've predicted his opponent would cheat on the spot?
Losing to the Sage of the Six Paths and the Kyuubi isn't shameful…
"Kabuto, are you really surrendering?" Naruto asks innocently, just to be sure.
"Surrender? Of course, that's impossible…" Seeing Naruto pause, Kabuto suddenly flashes a cruel grin. Having transformed into a dragon, how could he give up so easily?
His plea for mercy was just a temporary tactic to slow Naruto's godlike speed, catching him off guard.
If he could catch his breath, Kabuto could activate the nearby Edo Madara, flipping the battle's tide and seizing victory!
Though Kabuto wasn't entirely confident he could control Madara, he had no time to overthink…
He suddenly forms hand seals, attempting to summon Edo Madara. But he freezes, realizing he can't sense Madara's Edo aura at all!
'Huh?'
'Where's my Edo Madara?'
'Why's it gone?'
Kabuto looks into the distance.
Only then does he realize the coffin holding Edo Madara has vanished.
Kakashi had used Kamui to absorb it into his Kamui dimension, cutting Kabuto's control over Edo Madara…
'That bastard!'
'Damn you, Hatake Kakashi, you %$#@%…'
Kabuto's so furious his heart aches, yearning to skin that 'trash' alive. But clearly, he has no chance now.
Naruto extends a chakra tail, tightly binding Kabuto, and asks with an unhappy, confused expression, "Kabuto, what did you just say?"
"Nothing, nothing; I surrender, I surrender—!" Kabuto yields obediently. Having lost his final trump card, he knows he can't beat Naruto.
He doesn't want to die, so surrendering is best. Given Konoha and Naruto's nature, they likely won't kill a surrendered foe.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Minutes later, the battle truly ends.
The five Edo Kage are resealed in their coffins, and Kabuto is bound with several sealing techniques by Kakashi, successfully captured.
As the scene's highest commander, Kakashi sends people to revive Konoha ninja knocked out by Hakugeki no Jutsu and begins interrogating Kabuto.
"Kakashi, isn't this binding too tight? Can you loosen it a bit?" Kabuto, tightly bound, writhes on the ground, pleading for some slack.
Kakashi ignores Kabuto's request. He knows Orochimaru's ninjutsu style too well.
If Kabuto's chakra weren't sealed, no binding, no matter how tight, would hold him; he'd slip away like Orochimaru, turning into a soft snake.
"Tell me, where are you hiding your other Edo ninja?" Kakashi presses.
Though Kabuto's captured alive, Kakashi hasn't forgotten the threat of Edo Nagato and others.
In his and Konoha's understanding, Kabuto is the mastermind controlling all Edo Akatsuki members.
Edo Nagato and others haven't appeared yet, suggesting a larger plan that must be clarified immediately!
"Other Edo ninja? I haven't summoned them…" Kabuto sighs helplessly.
Had he known Konoha had such strength and Naruto could unleash such power, he wouldn't have attacked with just a few Edo Kage.
He'd have armed an entire Edo army to storm the village.
Sadly, defeat is at hand, and saying this now is pointless.
"Not summoned? Then what about Nagato and the others?" Naruto asks, full of doubt.
"Nagato? You mean Akatsuki's leader? I didn't summon him with Edo Tensei, nor am I controlling him…" Kabuto answers.
"No way! You're lying!"
"Itachi Edo himself said you were behind it!" Naruto can't believe it. Sasuke's brother helped him before—how could he lie?
"What did you say?" Kabuto looks confused, not understanding Naruto's words.
Previously, he tried summoning Nagato and other Akatsuki members with Edo Tensei, but all attempts failed.
After hearing about the Five Kage Summit war, Kabuto realized someone else might've summoned Nagato and others with Edo Tensei first, their souls already housed in new Edo bodies.
So, his own Edo Tensei naturally failed.
Kakashi doesn't waste words. He grabs Kabuto, using his Mangekyou Sharingan to project the scene when he and Naruto met Edo Nagato and Edo Itachi some time ago.
Through illusion, he imprints it into Kabuto's consciousness.
"Still say it wasn't you?"
"It wasn't me! Really, I didn't control them!" Kabuto struggles fiercely, denying loudly.
What a disaster!
He can't bear this massive black burden!
If he'd done it, Kabuto would've proudly admitted it with glee. But since it wasn't him, he refuses to take the blame for anyone! Back when he spied under Danzo, he'd already carried enough black burdens.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
"He's not lying. It really wasn't him…" Though Kakashi's transplanted Mangekyou Sharingan can't wield much illusion power, it can still gauge basic mental emotions.
He's certain Kabuto isn't lying.
"How's that possible? If not Kabuto, then who? Who else could control Nagato?" Naruto's stunned, and Kakashi falls silent.
They'd assumed Kabuto was the mastermind all along, but now the truth flips everything, leaving them all dumbfounded.
But beyond shock, what chills Kakashi and the others most is the sense of a greater crisis and a more terrifying conspiracy looming!