"All of your power comes from Mother!"
"What's wrong with me trying to revive her?"
"You're the ones who erred."
"Failing to show gratitude!"
"And you, Madara Uchiha!"
"It should be an honor for you to sacrifice yourself for Mother's revival!"
"Hahaha~!"
Realizing escape was no longer an option, Black Zetsu lost his usual composure and began ranting.
"So this is really your true face."
"You really had me fooled."
Madara smirked coldly. He had already thought of eight hundred ways to deal with Black Zetsu.
"That creature is hard to kill."
"My advice—seal him away forever."
Kawaki spoke up at just the right moment, making Black Zetsu furious enough to gnash his teeth.
"I should thank you actually."
"I'll even let you keep your body intact."
Madara tilted his head back, locking eyes with Kawaki, still as arrogant as ever.
"You're welcome."
"Compared to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, I think you're easier to handle."
Kawaki made no effort to hide his intentions. At this point in time, if Kaguya Ōtsutsuki appeared, no one could possibly defeat her.
"Haha~! I'd like to see how you plan to beat me?"
Provoked by Kawaki's remark, Madara burst into laughter. Was he really now someone else's easy target?
He wouldn't deny that Kaguya likely had far more strength than him, but he absolutely refused to accept such blatant mockery from Kawaki.
"Enough chatter."
"Deal with your threat already."
As Madara increased his assault, Kawaki responded with increasing caution.
"Who asked for your opinion?"
Commanding his Armored Outer Path Susano'o, Madara swung its twin blades in a wide arc, successfully forcing Kawaki's Daibutsu backwards.
Then, a massive Tailed Beast Ball began forming in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's mouth.
Madara infused one of Susano'o's chakra katanas into the attack, combining the power of the Tailed Beast Ball with Susanoo itself, creating an ultimate offensive technique.
The Armored Susanoo Tailed Beast Ball radiated brilliant blue light as it headed straight toward Kawaki's Daibutsu.
"What terrifying power."
"Can Kawaki withstand this?"
Seeing the familiar shape of the Tailed Beast Ball, Hashirama recalled blocking an identical attack using his Quintuple Rashōmon.
And now, the Tailed Beast Ball facing Kawaki was even greater than the one Madara had once launched against himself.
He couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if Kawaki failed to resist such an attack.
They'd probably find not even a trace of flesh left?
He struggled to rise but couldn't move—the black rods embedded in his body had already blocked his chakra flow. How could he stand again?
Madara never made the same mistake twice. After defeating them, he immediately inserted the black rods deep into each of their bodies.
Now, Mito, Tobirama, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Fugaku all wore troubled expressions, staring fixedly at the massive silhouette of the Daibutsu.
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"This attack has no effect on me!!!"
A faint trace of disdain flickered across Kawaki's lips.
The instant Kawaki's Daibutsu met the incoming Armored Susanoo Tailed Beast Ball, the ball simply vanished.
BOOM~! A thunderous explosion echoed from far away, fierce winds carrying swirling clouds of sand through the air.
Hashirama and the others rolled for several meters before coming to a stop, their bodies coated in golden sand.
The Flying Thunder God technique had successfully redirected the Tailed Beast Ball.
Kawaki Hatake had anticipated this and was already prepared.
He had chosen a remote desert within the Land of Wind—just within his sensory limits.
"I almost forgot you had tricks like this."
Madara's face darkened—he hadn't expected his carefully planned, devastating attack to end like this.
"What other tactics do you have? Bring them all out."
Still controlling Daibutsu, Kawaki pressed forward again, engaging Madara in close combat once more.
No one could tell how long the battle had raged, but the terrain of the Land of Rain had been utterly transformed.
The sky turned dark and then brightened again. Both Madara and Kawaki were visibly exhausted.
Even the most immense chakra reserves couldn't endure such reckless expenditure.
"Heh… You're stronger than I gave you credit for."
"I recognize your strength now, Kawaki Hatake."
The blue glow on the Armored Outer Path Susano'o had dimmed significantly. Madara spoke between ragged breaths.
"You don't need to recognize me."
"I only need your life."
Daibutsu's attacks also grew weaker—Kawaki was clearly exhausted.
But he never lost sight of his purpose.
"Empty words."
"This ends here. Guard the Tailed Beasts well—don't give me an opening."
"The instant I absorb all Nine Tailed Beasts, your life ends."
Madara knew prolonging this fight would end in mutual collapse. Kawaki clearly had more backup available.
No one dared interfere—not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't keep up. They wouldn't survive even if he collapsed.
He could distinctly sense how many people had arrived nearby over these past few days.
"Trying to run?"
"Not happening."
Kawaki caught Madara's intent immediately, yet there was no way he'd let him escape.
"You can't stop me. And they certainly can't."
Susano'o swung its blade toward the distance, instantly causing a chorus of screams.
This was a battle far beyond the reach of ordinary ninja.
Even Kage-level fighters were little more than slightly stronger ants in their presence.
"Tch! Fine then!"
Kawaki stopped in his tracks, clenching both fists until they cracked.
This was an outright threat from Madara—if Kawaki moved, Madara would kill.
His reinforcements weren't allies—they were obstacles in his path to victory.
"Farewell."
"I'll seal this guy away—thanks for the idea."
Madara grabbed Black Zetsu with one hand, leaping onto Susano'o's head and flying skyward, quickly disappearing from Kawaki's sight.
"Ahh!!!"
Kawaki stared at the direction Madara vanished, roaring in frustration.
As soon as Daibutsu dissolved, it felt like he lost all strength, dropping to his knees.
A surge of anguish welled up inside him. He lowered his head to the ground, silent tears streaming down.
"Kawaki, I'm here."
How much time had passed, he couldn't tell—but a gentle tap on his shoulder pulled him back.
"Tsunade?"
Kawaki raised his head in disbelief. It was none other than Tsunade herself—her face unmistakable.
But the dullness in her eyes and the cracks on her body proved she was a reanimated corpse.
"I'm sorry for not asking your permission."
"I think you need her now."
Orochimaru's voice came from not far away, and it was he who unilaterally reincarnated Tsunade.
Blood still stained the corner of his mouth, and his face looked extremely pale—he was seriously injured.
"Thank you… thank you."
"Let's go home."
"I will definitely revive you, and everyone else too."
Kawaki rose and gently took Tsunade's hand. That icy touch kept reminding him of a painful truth.
"I believe you."
Tsunade gave his large hand a gentle squeeze, flashing him a smile that felt incredibly familiar to Kawaki.
...
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