"Buzz!"
The dark golden light radiating from Minato's transformed form created visible distortions in the surrounding atmosphere, generating powerful air currents that caused his blonde hair and pristine white Hokage robes to billow dramatically around his figure. The energy was so dense and concentrated that it seemed to have acquired physical weight, pressing down on the battlefield with supernatural force.
Madara's expression gradually darkened as he observed this unprecedented display of power, and for the first time since his resurrection, genuine murderous intent began to burn in his legendary eyes. The casual arrogance that had characterized his earlier demeanor was replaced by something far more dangerous—the focused killing intent of someone who had finally recognized a genuine threat to his existence.
Minato's recent words had struck far deeper than mere tactical banter. Throughout his entire natural lifetime and beyond, no one had ever dared to speak to the legendary Uchiha Madara with such declarative authority, treating him as if he were merely another obstacle to be overcome rather than an unassailable force of nature.
"Since you have spoken so boldly," Madara's voice carried a cold finality that seemed to lower the temperature of the surrounding air, "you won't continue running around like a cornered rat, will you?"
The challenge was both personal and tactical. Minato's incredible speed had been the primary factor preventing Madara from achieving decisive victory during their prolonged confrontation. If the Fourth Hokage could be goaded into direct confrontation rather than evasive maneuvering, the battle could finally reach its inevitable conclusion.
"Rumble!"
The Complete Susanoo gripped its massive sword with both hands, raising the mountain-sized weapon high above its head before bringing it down toward Minato's position with devastating force. Even before the blade made contact with the earth, the sheer pressure of its descent created enormous cracks that spread outward from Minato's position like a spider web of destruction.
The fissures continued to expand rapidly, and within moments, the entire area within a hundred-meter diameter appeared on the verge of complete collapse. The ground itself seemed to be groaning under the weight of forces it was never designed to withstand.
As the apocalyptic attack descended toward him, Minato raised his head with calm determination, dark golden light continuing to erupt from his body in waves of increasingly intense energy. The radiance wasn't merely visual—it was substantial chakra given form, creating manifestations of power that transcended normal understanding.
From behind his transformed figure, the substantial chakra extended outward and condensed into several enormous dark golden tails that moved with fluid intelligence. Each tail was easily as large as the great Tailed Beasts themselves, and they danced through the air with predatory grace as they rose to meet Madara's fatal blow.
"Bang!"
High in the air above the battlefield, the two massive attacks collided with earth-shattering force. The impact sent shock waves radiating outward in all directions, and the already compromised ground around Minato's position finally gave way entirely, collapsing into a massive crater that seemed to extend toward the earth's core.
However, despite the overwhelming magnitude of Madara's assault, the giant tails formed from Minato's chakra held firm against the attack. They absorbed and redirected the devastating force with an efficiency that spoke of perfect harmony between human will and Tailed Beast power.
"My chakra has already become completely integrated with your own spiritual energy," the Nine-Tails' voice explained within Minato's consciousness, its tone carrying a note of almost clinical analysis. "Therefore, even though my will has merged with yours, you cannot achieve complete Tailed Beast transformation like other Jinchuriki."
The observation was both enlightening and reassuring. True Tailed Beast transformation required perfect synchronization between the consciousness and chakra of both the human host and the Tailed Beast itself. In Minato's case, the Nine-Tails' will was incomplete due to its division, and its chakra had become so thoroughly integrated with his own energy that the traditional transformation process was impossible.
"This is more than sufficient. Thank you," Minato replied with heartfelt gratitude that resonated through his entire being.
His relationship with the Nine-Tails had evolved far beyond anything he had originally imagined possible. No longer did he view the great beast as merely a threatening creature or a strategic weapon to be controlled and deployed. Tailed Beasts were living entities with their own complex thoughts, emotions, and motivations—beings deserving of the same respect and consideration that would be extended to any sentient creature.
When the earth finished collapsing around the impact zone, Minato had already vanished from his original position through instantaneous movement. He reappeared within one of the giant tails that was successfully blocking the Complete Susanoo's assault, his eyes closed in deep concentration as he drew upon the incredible energies flowing through his transformed state.
Above the massive blade of chakra-enhanced metal, there seemed to be a surge of wind and spiritual energy that caused the chakra signatures of both attacks to flicker and dance like flames in a supernatural breeze.
"The speed at which Nine-Tails chakra can absorb natural energy is absolutely incredible," Minato observed with growing amazement.
Around the corners of his eyes, which were now shrouded in dark golden light, the distinctive orange eye shadow of Sage Mode began to gradually manifest once again. The integration of Tailed Beast power with natural energy was proceeding at a rate that exceeded all his previous experience and theoretical understanding.
"This opponent's chakra reserves are continuing to grow stronger," Madara muttered, no longer able to maintain the casual composure that had characterized his earlier dominance.
His legendary self-control was beginning to show cracks as his enhanced perception revealed the true scope of what was occurring. Natural energy from across the battlefield and the wider world was flowing toward Minato's position with unprecedented intensity, drawn by the incredible spiritual vacuum created by his transformation.
The magnitude of the sage techniques being displayed had already surpassed what Senju Hashirama had achieved during their legendary final battle. The comparison was both humbling and deeply concerning—if Minato's power continued to grow at this rate, he might soon represent a threat that even Madara's legendary abilities could not overcome.
The artificial body created through Impure World Reincarnation was simply incapable of unleashing the true power of the Rinnegan. Madara needed to achieve genuine resurrection as quickly as possible if he hoped to control Minato in this enhanced state.
"Zetsu, move faster!" Madara commanded mentally, his thoughts reaching out toward his subordinate with urgent intensity.
At that moment, Minato within the giant tail suddenly opened his eyes, revealing vertical pupils that blazed with dark golden light before shifting once again into the distinctive cross-shaped configuration that marked his ultimate state of power.
As Minato successfully entered Sage Mode while already maintaining Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, his power increased exponentially, creating synergistic effects that multiplied rather than simply added to his capabilities.
"Boom!"
A tremendous force suddenly erupted from the giant tail, creating a shock wave that swept the massive blade held by the Complete Susanoo aside as if it were a mere toy. The display of raw power was stunning in its casual efficiency.
"Rumble!"
The giant weapon plunged heavily into the distant earth, creating seismic disturbances that could be felt across the entire region. The impact was so severe that it triggered localized earthquakes that would reshape the area's geology for generations to come.
Minato seized the moment of opportunity, shooting directly upward to position himself in front of the Complete Susanoo's massive torso. Without hesitation, he drew back his fist and launched a devastating punch toward the towering construct.
"Senjutsu: Super Frog Kumite!"
The tremendous natural energy that had been accumulating around his position suddenly exploded outward, forming an invisible giant fist of incomprehensible size and power. The attack struck the mountain-sized Susanoo with enough force to challenge the fundamental laws of physics.
"Bang! Bang!"
The power of this single punch was so overwhelming that it forced the Complete Susanoo—a construct as tall as a mountain and possessing proportional mass—to retreat several steps. The dark blue armor protecting its chest shattered like glass under the impact, leaving behind a crater-like mark that spoke of damage that should have been impossible to inflict.
At the apex of the Susanoo construct, Madara's pupils contracted with shock and dawning recognition. Since his legendary battles with the First Hokage, Minato was only the second person in history to successfully breach his Susanoo's defenses through direct assault.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the rocky mountain range, Konan and Nagato had just arrived at what they hoped would be a position of relative safety when their flight was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected figure blocking their path.
"Northwest," Nagato managed to say in a weak voice, his depleted condition making even basic communication an effort.
Flying through the air above him, Konan immediately adjusted their trajectory in the direction he had indicated. She raised her palm with practiced efficiency, and white origami began to gather around her hand before transforming into numerous shurikens that shot downward toward what appeared to be empty air in front of their position.
All of the origami projectiles struck the rock wall below, creating small explosions of paper and dust but apparently hitting nothing but stone.
"He moves with incredible speed. Please be extremely careful," Nagato warned with evident concern in his weakened voice.
In his current severely depleted physical condition, he was completely incapable of launching any attacks of his own. Any attempt to use his remaining chakra would risk the complete failure of the sealing techniques that kept the Tailed Beasts within his body under control. If those seals collapsed, the resulting rampage would be catastrophic for everyone in the immediate area.
"Who is controlling the Impure World Reincarnation technique?" Nagato wondered grimly, his tactical mind still functioning despite his physical limitations.
Someone with considerable skill was manipulating the Second Tsuchikage, a legendary ninja renowned for his mastery of invisibility techniques, to launch coordinated attacks against them. Fortunately, Nagato's enhanced perception abilities through the Rinnegan allowed him to detect the hidden opponent even when Konan's senses failed to register any threat.
Under these circumstances, providing tactical guidance was the only way he could contribute to their defense.
"This time the attack is coming from—" Nagato began to warn Konan about the Second Tsuchikage's current position, but his words were cut short as he suddenly felt his heart tremble with an ominous sensation.
The trembling was followed immediately by a heart-wrenching pain that seemed to tear through his entire body from within, as if something was trying to rip his internal organs apart.
"Ahhhhh!"
Nagato couldn't suppress a scream of agony as the pain overwhelmed his legendary self-control. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced—not the familiar ache of chakra exhaustion or physical injury, but something that seemed to attack his very essence.
"Nagato!" Konan's voice cracked with concern as she heard his anguished cry.
The moment her attention was diverted from scanning for threats, a massive rocky fist suddenly materialized from apparently empty air in front of her position. The attack was perfectly timed to exploit her moment of distraction, striking toward her with devastating force.
Konan reacted as quickly as her training allowed, but the combination of surprise and concern for Nagato made her response a fraction of a second too slow. The Second Tsuchikage Mu's earth-enhanced punch connected with brutal efficiency, sending her tumbling through the air with bone-jarring impact.
"Konan!" Nagato gritted his teeth and forced the words out despite the overwhelming pain that was consuming his consciousness.
Simultaneously, he managed to tear open the front of his clothing with trembling hands, revealing his chest. What he saw there made his blood run cold with horror and dawning understanding—a complex curse mark was slowly becoming visible on the skin directly over his heart, its dark patterns pulsing with malevolent energy.
"What is this!?" Nagato's pupils contracted with shock and growing terror.
How was it possible that such a control talisman had been placed on his body without his knowledge? The implications were staggering—someone had been manipulating him for an unknown period of time, treating him like a puppet whose strings could be pulled at will.
As he struggled to endure the excruciating pain radiating from the curse mark, the ground in front of his position began to ripple and shift like liquid. A massive figure gradually emerged from the earth itself, rising with the casual confidence of someone who held all the advantages in the current situation.
Zetsu stood before them with his hands forming complex seals, his expression carrying the satisfaction of someone whose carefully laid plans were finally coming to fruition. Nagato immediately recognized that the mysterious being was the source of the technique controlling the curse mark on his heart.
"How could this be possible?" Nagato's face, already distorted by the immense pain wracking his body, displayed profound confusion and growing despair.
The revelation challenged everything he thought he understood about his own life and the choices he had made. If he had been under external control, then how much of his actions and decisions had actually been his own?
"Haha, you must be experiencing considerable confusion right now about why such a thing exists within your body," Zetsu laughed with cruel satisfaction.
At this point in the plan's execution, there was no longer any need to maintain pretenses or false identities in front of Nagato. The truth could finally be revealed in all its devastating clarity.
"The explanation is quite simple—you have always been nothing more than a chess piece in Madara-sama's grand strategy," Zetsu continued with sadistic pleasure. "The curse mark controlling your heart was planted by me personally, using my own techniques and power."
"It was implanted on the very day your parents were killed by Konoha ninja!"
The final revelation struck like a physical blow, carrying implications that went far beyond simple manipulation. If the curse mark had been placed during that traumatic childhood event, then Nagato's entire life—his pain, his anger, his quest for peace through power—had all been orchestrated from the very beginning.