"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Just as Minato's devastating Rasenshuriken techniques were about to make contact with their target, something extraordinary occurred around Madara's position. A layer of transparent film materialized quietly around his body, appearing as if from nowhere with the casual inevitability of breathing.
The multiple Rasenshuriken struck the mysterious barrier with tremendous force, but instead of the explosive devastation they were designed to create, the chakra immediately began to disperse and flow into the protective membrane. The absorption was continuous and complete, as if the barrier was specifically designed to counter chakra-based attacks of any magnitude.
Simultaneously, Madara's peripheral vision caught something that made him react with lightning-fast precision. Deep blue chakra began to sublimate around his body, rising like ethereal flames that seemed to burn without heat or light. The energy was so dense that it became visible to the naked eye, creating an aura of power that distorted the air around him.
In an instant, the chakra light condensed and took shape, forming the skeletal framework of something massive and intimidating. Flesh and sinew materialized over the bones with supernatural speed, creating the distinctive form of an armored warrior that dwarfed normal human proportions.
The enormous Susanoo warrior swung one massive arm toward the left side of Madara's position—the exact location where Minato's true body was attempting to launch a surprise attack while hidden among his afterimages.
Swish!
Minato was forced to retreat temporarily to avoid the devastating counterattack, his tactical advantage neutralized by Madara's supernatural perception and instantaneous defensive response. As he pulled back, the numerous afterimages that had been surrounding Madara gradually faded and disappeared, leaving only the real confrontation between the two legendary fighters.
"The technique was absorbed?" Minato's voice carried a note of grim recognition as he processed what he had just witnessed.
He had observed with his own eyes how the Rasenshuriken—one of his most powerful offensive techniques—had been completely neutralized by that mysterious transparent membrane. Nagato had employed similar absorption abilities multiple times during their previous battle, using techniques that seemed to devour chakra-based attacks regardless of their power or complexity.
Based on these observations, Minato concluded that this absorption capability must be one of the inherent abilities of the Rinnegan. The pattern was too consistent to be coincidental, and the mechanism appeared identical to what he had encountered before.
While these thoughts raced through his mind, Minato repositioned himself to face Madara directly, taking in the full sight of his opponent now protected within the massive Susanoo construct. When his gaze finally focused on Madara's face and registered the changes that had occurred to his eyes, Minato's expression shifted to one of shock and growing alarm.
"The Rinnegan!?" The words escaped his lips like a curse, carrying with them the weight of terrible realization.
At this moment, the color and distinctive ripple pattern of Madara's eyes were identical to those that Nagato possessed. The transformation was complete and undeniable—where moments before there had been the crimson and black patterns of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, now there were the legendary purple pupils marked with concentric circles that spoke of power beyond normal comprehension.
"He also possesses the Rinnegan?" Minato's shock was evident as his mind raced to process the implications of this development.
From his teacher Jiraiya, he had learned that Nagato's Rinnegan had awakened during a moment of extreme danger and emotional trauma. Based on this information, Minato had theorized that the awakening process required some combination of special bloodline heritage and intense psychological stimulus.
But what he had just witnessed challenged that understanding completely. Madara had been using the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan just moments before, and now his eyes had transformed into the Rinnegan through what appeared to be a natural evolution of power rather than a traumatic awakening.
This meant that Madara, who already possessed the pinnacle of Sharingan development, had experienced his eye power evolving to an even higher level. The implications were staggering—the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was not the ultimate limit of Uchiha ocular abilities. The true pinnacle was the Rinnegan itself!
"Then Nagato's eyes..." After deducing this shocking revelation, Minato felt his heart tremble with the weight of a new and even more disturbing question.
Nagato was not a member of the Uchiha clan, so how had he managed to awaken the Rinnegan? If the technique required the evolution of Sharingan abilities, then Nagato's possession of these legendary eyes suggested a connection to the Uchiha bloodline that defied everything they thought they knew about his origins.
"It seems that Hashirama's power alone is insufficient to deal with you," Madara observed from within his towering Susanoo, his arms folded in a gesture of casual assessment.
The body he currently inhabited had been specially modified by Mukade's advanced techniques, enhanced beyond the normal limitations of Impure World Reincarnation. However, even with these improvements, he found himself unable to employ the truly devastating Wood Release techniques that the First Hokage had wielded with such legendary effectiveness.
The Wood Dragon technique represented the current limits of what this artificial body could achieve. He was unable to access the ultimate moves that Hashirama had relied upon to defeat him during their final confrontation. The frustration of being constrained by the limitations of resurrection was something that gnawed at his pride with every passing moment.
"In that case, I will use the power of these eyes to destroy you completely!" Madara's declaration carried the weight of absolute certainty.
As the words left his lips, the Susanoo that enveloped him began to tremble violently, as if the very construct was struggling to contain the enormous forces being channeled through it. Massive chakra waves erupted from his body with uncontrolled violence, creating pressure waves that distorted the air and made the ground beneath their feet crack and splinter.
Madara's long black hair whipped wildly in the supernatural winds generated by his own power, creating a dramatic silhouette against the backdrop of pure energy that surrounded him. The visual effect was both magnificent and terrifying, speaking of forces that operated beyond normal human comprehension.
The deep blue chakra light that had formed his initial Susanoo construct suddenly intensified, becoming so dense and powerful that it transformed into a substantial column of energy that shot directly into the sky. The beam was visible from vast distances, creating a pillar of light that seemed to connect earth to heaven.
"That technique again?" Minato's face immediately became grave as he recognized the distinctive energy signature and formation pattern.
"Minato!" Kushina's voice carried across the battlefield as she also observed the developing phenomenon.
From her position at a safer distance, she quickly identified that the technique Madara was currently employing was fundamentally identical to what the masked man had used during their previous confrontations. The chakra patterns, the energy formation, even the visual presentation—all of it matched the devastating power that had once threatened to destroy Konoha itself.
Within the chakra beam that shot toward the heavens, something incredible began to manifest. What appeared to be a pair of enormous red eyes suddenly opened, glowing with malevolent intelligence and barely contained power. The sight was both hypnotic and deeply unsettling, as if some cosmic entity was awakening from ancient slumber.
The massive chakra fluctuations created by this transformation caused air currents across a vast area to accelerate dramatically, creating turbulent wind patterns that could be felt for miles in every direction. Trees bent under the supernatural pressure, and loose debris was swept up into spiraling vortexes of chaotic energy.
"Bang!"
The entire earth trembled under the weight of the technique's completion, as if the planet itself was struggling to support the enormous forces being unleashed upon its surface. The mighty chakra fluctuations finally began to stabilize, settling into a more sustainable but no less threatening configuration.
Minato's hair and white Hokage robes, which had been whipping violently in the energy-generated winds, gradually stopped their chaotic movement as the immediate turbulence subsided. He raised his head slowly, taking in the full magnitude of what Madara had just accomplished.
What he saw above him defied easy description. Madara was now completely protected within a Susanoo that had evolved far beyond its initial form. This was not the partial manifestation he had displayed earlier—this was something approaching the technique's absolute pinnacle.
"Although everyone who has witnessed Susanoo's complete form has died," Madara observed with casual amusement, looking down at Minato from his elevated position, "you seem to represent an exception to that rule."
His voice carried a note of genuine interest, as if he were studying a particularly fascinating specimen rather than engaging in life-or-death combat.
"Someone once used this technique to fight you," Madara continued, his tone becoming more pointed, "but it appears that he failed rather spectacularly."
The reference to the masked man was unmistakable, and there was clear disdain in Madara's voice as he made the comparison.
"However, you would be wise not to compare me with that pathetic waste of potential!"
The Complete Susanoo reached across its massive form with fluid grace, drawing an enormous samurai sword from its waist with movements that seemed almost too smooth for something of such incredible size. The blade itself was longer than most buildings were tall, its edge gleaming with concentrated chakra that made the air shimmer around it.
Without warning, the construct swung the massive weapon with devastating force. The direction of the strike was not aimed at Minato himself, but rather toward the area where Kushina and the others had taken refuge.
"Rumble!"
The sword's passage through the air created a tremendous blade of compressed energy that tore across the landscape with the power of a natural disaster. The attack generated massive wind currents that uprooted trees and sent boulders tumbling through the air like leaves in a hurricane.
"Buzz!"
Just before the devastating sword energy could reach its intended targets, a brilliant burst of violent chakra erupted in its path, instantly forming into an enormous defensive barrier. The barrier materialized with perfect timing and positioning, its surface gleaming with protective energy that seemed to pulse with its own inner light.
"Bang!"
The blade energy, which possessed sufficient power to cleave a mountain in half, struck the barrier with tremendous force. The collision released enormous amounts of kinetic energy, creating a sound similar to the detonation of countless explosive tags occurring simultaneously. The shockwave from the impact rippled outward in all directions, cracking the ground and sending debris flying for hundreds of meters.
Eventually, the sword energy dissipated completely, its power spent against the unyielding defense. The barrier, having absorbed the full force of the attack, finally collapsed as well, dissolving into countless points of chakra light that drifted away like falling stars.
"That was well executed," Madara commented with something approaching approval from within his Complete Susanoo.
His tone was casual, almost conversational, as if he were critiquing a student's performance rather than acknowledging a life-saving defensive technique. The casual manner in which he discussed such devastating attacks spoke volumes about his experience with combat at this level.
Below the area where the barrier had collapsed, Minato stood with a grim expression as he stared up at the mountain-sized Susanoo that dominated the battlefield. His breathing was becoming noticeably heavier, and there were subtle signs of strain beginning to show in his posture and chakra signature.
The situation was exactly as Madara had suggested. In terms of pure destructive capability, the Complete Susanoo that the masked man had once displayed was significantly inferior to this current manifestation. However, when the masked man's unique spatial manipulation abilities were factored into the equation, it became unclear which version represented the greater overall threat.
Swish!
On the distant stone mountain where the non-combatants had taken refuge, Kushina suddenly stopped her retreat after noticing that the massive energy collision in the distance had concluded. Her enhanced perception was telling her things about the battle's progression that filled her with growing concern.
At this moment, Nagato remained in a state of psychological shock due to the overwhelming revelation of Madara's appearance and capabilities. The sight of the legendary Uchiha displaying powers that exceeded even his own Rinnegan abilities had shattered many of his fundamental assumptions about power and destiny.
Konan, who had been helping to carry Nagato away from the danger zone, also halted her movement and turned to regard Kushina with understanding in her eyes.
"I can only accompany you this far," Kushina said, her voice heavy with determination and concern. "I have to return to the battle. Minato's chakra reserves are reaching critical levels."
Through her connection to the Nine-Tails and her own enhanced sensory abilities, she could clearly perceive that Minato's chakra was depleting at an alarming rate. The technique he had just used to create that massive defensive barrier had consumed enormous amounts of energy, far more than he could easily afford given his current situation.
In addition to this immediate drain, Minato had already expended tremendous amounts of chakra during his earlier battle with Nagato. While he had managed to recover some energy through natural absorption during the brief respite, it was proving insufficient when facing an opponent of Madara's caliber who possessed effectively unlimited chakra reserves.
Although Konan did not agree with Kushina's decision to return to such a dangerous battlefield, she understood the reasoning completely. If their positions were reversed—if it were Nagato facing such overwhelming opposition—she would make exactly the same choice without hesitation.
"Thank you!" Konan said, her expression cycling through several complex emotions before settling on one of genuine gratitude and apology.
She lowered her head toward Kushina in a gesture of profound respect and acknowledgment. If Minato hadn't intervened to rescue them from the meteorite impact, both she and Nagato would have had no means of escape from certain death.
"You..." Kushina glanced at Nagato, whose expression remained vacant and disconnected from current events, and sighed with a mixture of frustration and sympathy.
"Take care of yourself," she said finally, her voice carrying genuine concern despite everything that had transpired between them.
Swish!
After delivering this parting message, Kushina turned around with explosive speed. Dark golden chakra light erupted around her body with tremendous intensity, transforming her entire form into a streak of aureate energy that shot back toward the main battlefield at maximum velocity.
"Boom! Boom!"
Meanwhile, the Complete Susanoo continued its devastating assault, launching several more powerful attacks that left behind a series of enormous craters and ravines across the already devastated landscape. Each strike was sufficient to permanently alter the local geography, creating scars in the earth that would remain visible for generations.
Minato stood at the edge of one of these newly created ravines, his breathing becoming increasingly labored with each passing moment. The physical strain of maintaining his enhanced state while engaging in combat of this intensity was beginning to tell on even his legendary endurance.
The dark golden light that had been condensed within his cross-shaped pupils was gradually beginning to fade, and the distinctive shape of his enhanced vision seemed as if it might disappear entirely at any moment. The signs were unmistakable—his perfect fusion of Sage Mode and Nine-Tails chakra was approaching its sustainable limits.
"This is bad," Minato whispered to himself, acknowledging the dire nature of his current predicament with characteristic honesty and tactical clarity.