"If this opponent hadn't consumed such enormous amounts of chakra in his previous battle," Madara mused internally as he observed Minato's increasingly labored breathing, "I might not be able to defeat him with my current artificial body."
The thought was both strategically sound and personally galling. Throughout their confrontation, he had set multiple elaborate traps for Minato, initially viewing the Fourth Hokage as nothing more than a particularly troublesome insect that needed to be eliminated. However, Minato had escaped death repeatedly through a combination of skill, determination, and sheer tactical brilliance, ultimately evolving in Madara's assessment from a minor nuisance to a genuine existential threat.
The events that had transpired during the decade following Madara's original death had only confirmed this evaluation. Despite the careful planning and overwhelming resources deployed by both Obito and Nagato, Minato had consistently emerged victorious from every major confrontation. The pattern was undeniable and deeply troubling from a strategic perspective.
While it would be somewhat disgraceful to claim victory over an opponent who was operating at diminished capacity, Madara could no longer afford to allow such a significant threat to continue existing in the world. The Fourth Hokage represented a fundamental obstacle to the Moon's Eye Plan, and his continued survival would inevitably lead to the failure of everything Madara had worked to achieve.
The Complete Susanoo, towering above the battlefield like a mountain made manifest, raised its enormous sword with deliberate menace. The weapon gleamed with concentrated chakra that made the very air shimmer around its edge, prepared to deliver a strike that would end this prolonged confrontation once and for all.
Minato's increasingly dim eyes reflected the weight of his tactical situation as he rapidly considered his remaining options. The harsh reality was undeniable—in his current depleted state, there was simply no way he could achieve victory against an opponent of Madara's caliber.
Only two viable strategies remained available to him. The first option would be to locate whoever was performing the Impure World Reincarnation technique and force them to release the jutsu entirely. However, Minato was not particularly skilled in genjutsu or tracking techniques, making it extremely difficult to identify and reach the caster in time to make a difference.
The second possibility would be to execute a strategic withdrawal, retreating to recover his strength before engaging Madara again under more favorable circumstances. But this approach carried its own devastating consequences—if Minato abandoned the battlefield, Madara would undoubtedly proceed directly to Konoha itself.
The Third Hokage was currently in the village, along with Chiharu and countless other Konoha ninja who would be completely helpless against an opponent of Madara's legendary status. Even if Minato managed to fully restore his strength and return to intercept the attack, a battle of this magnitude fought within or near the village would cause catastrophic damage that Kushina's protective abilities could never prevent.
The tactical situation was a perfect example of an impossible choice—every available option led to unacceptable consequences.
"So, Namikaze Minato," Madara spoke with cold indifference, his voice carrying easily across the devastated battlefield, "what exactly are you planning to do?"
Without waiting for a response, he guided the Complete Susanoo to swing its massive sword with devastating force. The attack generated tremendous air pressure that preceded the actual strike, creating shock waves that could be felt from enormous distances.
Before the massive pressure wave could reach his position, Minato vanished from the spot with the instantaneous movement that had made him legendary throughout the ninja world.
"Boom!"
The power of the Complete Susanoo's downward strike first pulverized all the boulders and debris that lay in the blade's path, reducing solid rock to powder in an instant. The devastating force continued its trajectory, ultimately striking the mountain range that formed the distant backdrop of their battlefield.
The impact was nothing short of apocalyptic. The mountain, which had stood unchanged for millennia, was split cleanly in half down its center, creating a permanent monument to the incredible forces being unleashed during this confrontation.
"I wonder how many times you can continue to dodge," Madara observed with clinical detachment, his expression remaining perfectly calm despite the cosmic scale of destruction he was casually creating.
He understood very well that killing someone who had mastered the Flying Thunder God technique to Minato's level would not be a simple matter of overwhelming force. The space-time ninjutsu provided nearly unlimited evasion options, making direct confrontation extremely difficult even for someone of his capabilities.
However, Madara was not particularly concerned about the extended timeline. Since Minato had chosen not to use his space-time abilities to completely escape the battlefield, it was obvious that he had too many important things behind him that required protection. The Fourth Hokage was constrained by his responsibilities and attachments in ways that would ultimately lead to his downfall.
The pattern was frustratingly familiar. Even Hashirama had been subject to similar limitations during their final battle, his concern for collateral damage and civilian casualties preventing him from employing his most devastating techniques without restraint. In Madara's philosophical framework, such constraints represented the fundamental weakness that made traditional approaches to leadership inevitably doomed to failure.
Only by cutting away all emotional attachments and personal connections could one achieve the clarity of purpose necessary to obtain true happiness and lasting peace. Everything else was merely self-imposed weakness disguised as virtue.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Complete Susanoo continued its relentless assault, launching a series of devastating slashing attacks that further transformed the landscape into an unrecognizable wasteland. The ancient stone forest that had once dominated this region was being systematically obliterated, each strike creating new canyons and ravines that would reshape the local geography for generations to come.
Minato refused to move too far from the immediate battlefield, understanding that doing so would simply give Madara a clear path toward Konoha. After evading another wave of mountain-splitting attacks, the cross-shaped light in his pupils finally disappeared completely, and the distinctive form of his enhanced vision dissipated entirely.
The chakra reserves in his body were approaching their absolute limits. Even his legendary endurance and refined energy control techniques could not extend his combat effectiveness much longer under these circumstances.
Suddenly, Minato's enhanced perception detected a familiar chakra signature approaching his position, and his expression shifted to one of concern mixed with frustration. He had been concentrating so intensely on his battle with Madara that he had unconsciously narrowed his sensory range to focus only on immediate threats.
Swish!
Minato disappeared from his current location and materialized instantly beside Kushina, who was approaching the combat zone at maximum speed.
"Didn't I tell you to leave this area?" Minato's voice carried a heavy note of concern and barely controlled frustration.
Kushina's response was delivered with equal intensity and unwavering determination. "Your chakra is almost completely exhausted. I can't possibly abandon you and retreat alone!"
Minato fell silent, recognizing the futility of arguing with her under these circumstances. He knew Kushina's character better than anyone—her fierce loyalty and protective instincts would never allow her to prioritize her own safety when someone she loved was in mortal danger. Moreover, if their positions were reversed, he would make exactly the same choice without hesitation.
However, given their current tactical situation, Minato could not identify any viable strategy that would allow both of them to survive the encounter. The mathematics of the confrontation were brutally simple—Madara possessed effectively unlimited chakra and overwhelming offensive capabilities, while they were operating with depleted resources and no clear path to victory.
"Bang!"
At that moment, the Complete Susanoo prepared to launch another devastating attack, its massive sword rising into position with ominous deliberation.
"Buzz!"
Kushina immediately formed the necessary hand seals and created a defensive barrier around both herself and Minato, the protective energy forming just in time to shield them from the incoming assault. The barrier glowed with the distinctive dark golden chakra that marked her connection to the Nine-Tails, creating a dome of energy that pulsed with defensive power.
When the shock wave from the attack finally passed, the dark golden light emanating from Kushina's barrier had visibly weakened, indicating that even her enhanced defensive capabilities were being strained by the magnitude of forces they were facing.
Minato felt a growing sense of despair as he recognized the tactical trap they had fallen into. Madara wasn't displaying any urgency to deliver a killing blow immediately because he understood perfectly well that Minato possessed the capability to retreat but lacked the moral flexibility to actually do so.
The legendary Uchiha was simply waiting for exhaustion and attrition to do his work for him. If this pattern continued, Minato would eventually be worn down completely by an opponent who possessed the unlimited chakra reserves provided by Impure World Reincarnation.
"Haha, God of Shinobi," a familiar voice suddenly echoed from deep within Minato's consciousness, carrying a note of sardonic amusement, "your current desperate situation truly brings me considerable satisfaction."
The Nine-Tails' laughter resonated through Minato's spiritual space with unmistakable mockery, though there was something else underlying the creature's apparent glee—something that suggested the situation was more complex than it appeared on the surface.
Minato chose not to respond to the Tailed Beast's taunting, understanding that engaging in verbal sparring would serve no useful purpose given their current crisis.
However, the Nine-Tails' voice emerged again, this time carrying a more analytical tone. "With your mastery of space-time techniques, you should certainly be capable of evacuating your wife and children from this battlefield, then waiting until your strength is fully restored before attempting to fight Madara again."
The observation was tactically sound, and the Nine-Tails continued with brutal honesty. "Otherwise, in your current depleted state, there is only one possible outcome for this confrontation—your death."
"Thank you for your tactical assessment," Minato replied without hesitation, his mental voice carrying unwavering resolve, "but I will never abandon my responsibilities and retreat while leaving others in danger."
As the Hokage, he possessed compelling reasons that made strategic withdrawal impossible regardless of the personal consequences. The village, his family, and countless innocent people depended on his protection, and abandoning that duty was simply not an option he could consider.
"Still as stubbornly idealistic as ever," the Nine-Tails responded, but there was something unexpectedly calm in the great beast's tone that made Minato slightly suspicious about the creature's true motivations.
"However, I do have another method available that could restore your strength," the Nine-Tails continued, its voice taking on a more serious quality.
"What method?" Minato's mental response carried a note of shocked hope, though he remained cautious about accepting help that might come with hidden costs.
The Nine-Tails didn't maintain any unnecessary suspense, explaining directly: "The power that exists within your body and the half of my essence that resides within Kushina's spiritual space are fundamentally the same type of energy."
"You can utilize this connection to draw upon that power and restore your depleted chakra reserves," the great beast continued with clinical precision.
"What would I need to do?" Minato asked, finding that he had no doubts about the Nine-Tails' explanation under these desperate circumstances.
The logic was sound—if Minato died at Madara's hands, the remaining fragment of the Nine-Tails' will that existed within his consciousness would cease to exist as well. The Tailed Beast had compelling reasons to ensure their mutual survival.
"Accept my will completely!" the Nine-Tails declared, its voice carrying a mixture of sarcasm and something that might have been resignation.
The great beast seemed to be mocking both Minato and itself as it continued: "You have never been able to fully utilize my power because my independent will continues to exist as a separate entity. Even though all of my chakra resides within your body, the fundamental source of that power still belongs to me rather than you."
"Therefore, only by accepting my will and allowing it to merge completely with your own consciousness can you form a true connection with the Nine-Tails chakra that exists within Kushina's body and draw upon its power for recovery," the Nine-Tails explained with surprising patience.
"I see," Minato said, his understanding growing as he processed the implications of what was being offered.
After a moment of consideration, he smiled despite their desperate circumstances and said, "If that's truly the case, then I accept your proposal."
"Aren't you concerned that I might use this opportunity to disrupt or overwhelm your consciousness?" the Nine-Tails asked, its voice carrying genuine surprise at Minato's immediate acceptance.
The question was not unreasonable—no matter how powerful Minato's soul had become through his integration with natural energy and advanced chakra techniques, allowing another will to merge with his consciousness carried enormous risks. Even a momentary disruption could prove fatal in their current situation.
"I have no other viable choice," Minato replied with characteristic honesty and a slight chuckle that somehow managed to be both rueful and confident.
"Besides," he continued, his mental voice growing warmer with genuine gratitude, "my current power originally belonged to you. It has helped me reach this level of strength and overcome countless difficulties throughout my career as a ninja."
"At this critical moment, it is still your power that offers me the possibility of surviving this impossible situation," Minato said with growing conviction. "I should be grateful for your assistance, not suspicious of your motivations."
After hearing Minato's words, the Nine-Tails' will fell silent for several long moments, as if processing emotions and concepts that it had not fully considered before. When the great beast's voice finally emerged again, it carried a note of something that might have been respect.
"Let's begin," the Nine-Tails said simply.
"Understood," Minato responded, completely dropping all of his mental defenses and spiritual barriers.
Deep within his consciousness, another will began to emerge and manifest, flowing through the spiritual pathways that connected his mind to his physical form. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced—not violent or invasive, but strangely harmonious, as if two separate melodies were combining to create a more complex and beautiful song.
The process of accepting another's will was completed in what felt like both an instant and an eternity. When the Nine-Tails' consciousness finally merged completely with his own mind, Minato's eyes suddenly snapped open with renewed vitality and power.
The azure blue pupils that had been dim with exhaustion just moments before had transformed completely. In their place were vertical pupils that glowed with brilliant scarlet light, burning with the ancient power and indomitable will of the Nine-Tailed Fox.