The battlefield stretched endlessly before them, a testament to the devastating power that had been unleashed. Where once there had been forests and rolling hills, now only scarred earth remained, carved into unnatural formations by the continuous barrage of Tailed Beast Balls. Smoke rose from countless impact craters, creating a hellish landscape that seemed to mirror the darkness of the conflict itself.
Through this apocalyptic scene, a pillar of deep blue light suddenly erupted skyward, its brilliance so intense that it seemed to challenge the very heavens. The light condensed and solidified, taking the form of a colossal humanoid figure that towered above the destruction—a god of war born from chakra and will, its presence alone enough to make the earth tremble.
"Shatter all of creation!"
Madara's voice echoed from within the perfect form of Susanoo, cold and imperious as he stood with arms crossed atop the crystalline warrior's crown. His expression was one of absolute confidence, the bearing of a man who had commanded armies and toppled nations. The complete Susanoo was the ultimate expression of the Uchiha clan's power, a technique that few in history had ever mastered, and fewer still had survived to witness.
The massive construct was a marvel of chakra manipulation, its armor gleaming with an inner light that seemed to pulse with Madara's heartbeat. Every detail was perfect, from the intricate patterns etched into its breastplate to the flowing cape that billowed behind it despite the absence of wind. This was no mere projection of power—this was the manifestation of a legend given form.
"Shing!"
The sound of the Susanoo's blade being drawn was like a bell tolling across the battlefield, its crystalline edge catching the light and reflecting it in rainbow patterns that danced across the devastated landscape. The weapon was enormous, easily the size of a small building, yet the colossal warrior wielded it with the grace and precision of a master swordsman.
The air itself seemed to vibrate with the resonance of that metallic song, and the very clouds above began to swirl and part as if responding to the weapon's presence. This was the power that had once stood as equal to the First Hokage, the force that had shaped the ninja world through fear and respect in equal measure.
The Susanoo's movements were fluid and purposeful as it raised the massive blade high above its head, chakra coursing along the weapon's edge like liquid lightning. The stance was perfect, the grip flawless—this was the culmination of centuries of Uchiha swordsmanship tradition, channeled through the ultimate expression of their bloodline limit.
When the blade descended, it did so with the weight of a mountain and the speed of lightning. The strike was so powerful that it split the very air, creating a vacuum that pulled in dust and debris from across the battlefield. The force of the attack carved a massive trench through the earth, the ground splitting and cracking for miles in every direction.
Minato sage mode aura flickering like golden flames around his form. His movements were a blur of calculated precision, each dodge and weave taking him just barely out of range of attacks that he couldn't see but could somehow sense. The strain of fighting an opponent who could strike from dimensions beyond normal perception was beginning to show in the tight lines around his eyes, the slight tremor in his hands.
The tactical situation was nightmarish. Against any normal opponent, Minato's speed and reflexes would have been more than sufficient to mount an effective counterattack. But the invisible clones of the Limbo technique could strike from angles that didn't exist in normal space, forcing him to rely entirely on his enhanced spiritual perception to avoid attacks that his eyes couldn't track.
Every movement was a gamble, every position a potential trap. He had to constantly shift and flow, never remaining in one place long enough for the invisible attackers to corner him. It was exhausting work, requiring a level of concentration that would have broken most ninja within minutes.
But what made the situation truly desperate was the realization that Madara's attack wasn't aimed solely at him. The trajectory of that massive blade was calculated to continue beyond Minato's position, carrying its devastating power directly toward the rocky outcropping where Nagato and Konan were engaged in their own desperate struggle.
"He's going to kill them both," Minato realized with growing horror. The complete Susanoo's attack had enough force to shatter mountains, to reduce entire landscapes to rubble. If that blade completed its arc, it would carve through stone and earth alike, obliterating everything in its path.
The Flying Thunder God technique would have allowed him to escape Madara's attack range in an instant, but that would mean abandoning Nagato and Konan to their fate. Despite everything the Akatsuki leader had done, despite the pain and destruction he had caused, Minato couldn't bring himself to simply flee while innocents died.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
His hands formed the familiar cross seal, chakra surging through his network as he called upon one of the most fundamental techniques in his arsenal. The Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu wasn't flashy or exotic, but in the hands of a master, it could turn the tide of any battle.
Dozens of perfect copies erupted into existence around him, each one identical to the original down to the smallest detail. They moved with the same fluid grace, the same sage-enhanced speed, the same desperate determination to protect the innocent. The golden aura of sage mode surrounded each clone, turning them into blazing stars against the darkened battlefield.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
The moment the shadow clones appeared, the entire dynamic of the battle shifted. Where before there had been one target for Madara's invisible attackers to focus on, now there were dozens. The clones moved in perfect coordination, their enhanced speed creating a web of golden light that crisscrossed the battlefield like lightning.
Even Madara, with his legendary experience and enhanced perception, found it difficult to track the real body among so many identical copies. The Rinnegan could see through most illusions, but the shadow clones weren't illusions—they were real, solid constructs with their own chakra signatures and physical presence.
The golden lights converged on a single point, their destination the descending blade that would carve through earth and stone to reach its intended targets. The clones moved with suicidal determination, each one prepared to sacrifice itself if it meant saving innocent lives.
The blade had already begun to tear through the ground, its passage creating a massive fissure that extended outward like a wound in the earth itself. The crack spread rapidly, racing toward the base of the stone mountains where Nagato and Konan fought their desperate battle against the encroaching darkness.
"It must be destroyed in one blow!"
Minato and his shadow clones positioned themselves directly in the path of the descending weapon, their combined presence creating a barrier of will and determination that blazed with inner light. There would be no second chances, no opportunity to adjust their strategy if this failed. Everything depended on the next few seconds.
"Boohoo!"
The sound of chakra compression filled the air as every clone gathered their power, the rich dark golden light of sage mode rising from their combined forms like a miniature sun. The cross-shaped pupils that marked their enhanced state blazed with inner fire, each one reflecting the absolute conviction that drove them forward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The synchronized attack was a thing of beauty and terror, dozens of sage-enhanced fists striking out in perfect unison. Natural energy and nine-tails chakra blended together into something greater than the sum of their parts, creating massive shockwaves that rippled through the air like visible manifestations of power.
More than a dozen concentrated blasts of sage energy met Madara's attack head-on, the collision creating a maelstrom of competing forces that defied description. The very air seemed to catch fire as opposing energies clashed, reality bending and warping under the strain of powers that were never meant to meet.
"Boom!"
The explosion that followed was beyond anything the battlefield had witnessed before. The violent energy fluctuations dispersed every particle of smoke and dust in the area, creating a moment of crystal clarity that revealed the true scope of the devastation. The shockwave continued outward, racing across the scarred earth and causing everything it touched to crumble and collapse.
The impossible happened—Minato's combined sage technique actually shattered the weapon in the Perfect Susanoo's grasp, the crystalline blade exploding into countless fragments that rained down like fallen stars. The force of the attack didn't stop there, continuing upward to strike the massive construct itself.
The deep blue armor that had seemed so impenetrable began to crack and splinter, crystal fragments flying in all directions as the Perfect Susanoo's defense failed. The huge body swayed under the impact, its previously perfect form now marred by spider-web fractures that spread across its surface like a disease.
Madara's expression darkened as he felt his ultimate technique failing, the legendary Uchiha's eyes narrowing to slits as he processed this unexpected turn of events. The Perfect Susanoo was supposed to be the ultimate defense, the technique that had allowed him to stand as equal to the First Hokage himself. Yet here it was, crumbling before the combined might of sage energy and tailed beast chakra.
"In terms of raw power," Madara admitted to himself with grudging respect, "he's not inferior to me. Perhaps not even to Hashirama at his peak."
The comparison was not made lightly. Hashirama Senju had been the strongest ninja of his generation, a man whose power had been sufficient to capture and distribute the tailed beasts like party favors. The sage technique that Minato had just demonstrated possessed the same overwhelming force, the same ability to reshape the battlefield through sheer application of will.
If this battle had been purely about strength, Madara might have found himself on the losing side. But strength was only one factor in combat, and the legendary Uchiha had centuries of experience to draw upon.
The defense had collapsed, but Madara wasn't panicked. The technique that had shattered his Susanoo had also dispersed all of Minato's shadow clones, leaving the original alone and vulnerable. More importantly, the effort required to generate such overwhelming power had left visible strain on the Fourth Hokage's features.
Meanwhile, Madara's invisible clone had continued its harassment, forcing Minato to dodge and weave even as he launched his devastating counterattack. The young Hokage's spiritual perception was remarkable, but maintaining that level of awareness while simultaneously coordinating multiple high-level techniques was pushing him to his limits.
"Time seems to be running out," Madara mused, his tactical mind already shifting to the next phase of his plan. At his mental command, the Rinnegan clone that had been entangling Minato suddenly ceased its attacks, withdrawing rapidly to rejoin its master.
Minato paused, momentarily stunned by the sudden cessation of the invisible harassment. For the first time in what felt like hours, he wasn't being forced to dodge attacks from impossible angles. The relief was palpable, but it was also suspicious. Madara wasn't the type to abandon a successful tactic without good reason.
"Whatever he's planning," Minato thought, "I can't let him complete it."
"Swish!"
The golden light of sage mode blazed around him as he launched himself toward Madara's position, determined to press his advantage while the invisible clones were occupied elsewhere. His speed was tremendous, enhanced by both sage mode and the desperation of knowing that every second of delay brought them closer to disaster.
But Madara had already anticipated this response. Even as Minato closed the distance, the legendary Uchiha's hands were moving through a complex series of seals, his chakra weaving patterns that would have been impossible for any normal ninja to complete.
"It seems that I can only use that to delay him temporarily," Madara muttered, his voice carrying the weight of reluctant necessity, "and then retrieve the other eye."
The technique he was preparing was one of the most dangerous in his arsenal, a summoning jutsu that would fundamentally alter the nature of their conflict. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and the window of opportunity was rapidly closing.
Miles away, at the site of Nagato's desperate struggle against the encroaching darkness, the red-haired ninja's body suddenly convulsed. His resistance against Black Zetsu's influence had been fierce, but the sudden drain on his chakra reserves had left him vulnerable in ways he hadn't anticipated.
"The golems and the tailed beasts..." Nagato's voice was weak, filled with the dawning realization of what was happening. The spiritual connection that had bound the captured tailed beasts to his body was being severed, the seals that had contained their power unraveling as someone else exerted control over the techniques.
The Outer Path Demon Statue, that ancient repository of the Ten-Tails' power, was being summoned away from him through the application of superior technique and overwhelming will. Without the tailed beasts' chakra to draw upon, his ability to resist Black Zetsu's influence crumbled like a dam giving way to flood waters.
"Just give me your eyes!" Black Zetsu's voice erupted from Nagato's throat, filled with vicious triumph as the dark entity finally gained the upper hand. The right half of Nagato's body, previously held in check by the Akatsuki leader's will, suddenly surged forward with renewed strength.
"Bang!"
The massive explosion of summoning smoke erupted behind Madara just as Minato reached striking distance, the spiritual mist rising like a wall between them. But even before the smoke cleared, Minato's enhanced senses were already detecting the massive chakra signature that was materializing within the cloud.
The presence was overwhelming, ancient and malevolent in a way that made his soul recoil. This wasn't just another summon—this was something that predated the current ninja world, a relic of powers that should have remained buried in the past.
"Is this the so-called golem?" Minato whispered, his voice barely audible as the smoke began to clear.
The creature that emerged was a monument to alien power, its form both magnificent and terrifying. The Outer Path Demon Statue stood nearly as tall as Madara's Perfect Susanoo, its body composed of what appeared to be living wood twisted into impossibly complex patterns. Nine massive eyes dominated its humanoid face, each one currently closed but somehow still radiating a sense of watchful intelligence.
Ten thick, root-like appendages extended from its back, each one corresponding to one of the legendary tailed beasts. Five of these appendages pulsed with captured chakra, their surfaces glowing with the distinctive colors of the beasts that had been sealed within them. The raw power contained within the statue was enough to make the air itself shimmer with heat distortion.
"To be precise, it's called the Outer Path Demon Statue," came the heavy voice of the Nine-Tails from within Minato's mind. Even the great fox, normally so confident and prideful, sounded subdued in the presence of this ancient horror. "It's the husk of the Ten-Tails, the original tailed beast from which all others were born."
The implications hit Minato like a physical blow. If this creature could imprison the chakra of multiple tailed beasts simultaneously, then it represented a level of power that dwarfed anything he had previously encountered. More disturbing still was the realization of what its presence here meant.
"Is this how Nagato was able to seal five tailed beasts within his body?" Minato asked, his mental voice tight with growing understanding. The tactical picture was becoming clearer, and what he saw filled him with dread.
"The Outer Path Statue and the Tailed Beasts have all been separated from their host," Minato realized, his voice heavy with the weight of terrible knowledge. "If that's the case, then Nagato..."
The conclusion was inescapable. No jinchuriki could survive the extraction of their tailed beast, let alone multiple extractions. If Madara had managed to reclaim all the captured beasts, then Nagato was already dead or dying, his life force draining away with each passing moment.
"It seems that the Rinnegan was never truly Nagato's to begin with," Minato said, his eyes fixed on Madara's position atop the massive statue. "Its real owner was always you."
The difference in their mastery of the Rinnegan's power was stark and undeniable. Nagato, despite his immense talent and years of experience, had struggled to control even a fraction of the legendary eyes' true potential. He had been forced to rely on external tools and elaborate preparations to utilize techniques that Madara employed with casual ease.
Now, with only a single Rinnegan in his possession, Madara was already proving himself to be a more formidable opponent than Nagato had ever been. The thought of what would happen if he regained the second eye was enough to make Minato's blood run cold.
"Although there is some damage," Madara said, his voice carrying across the battlefield with casual confidence, "if it's only to this extent, it should be sufficient."
His hands moved through the final seals of his technique, and the massive statue beneath him began to respond. The creature's enormous mouth opened slowly, revealing rows of teeth that seemed to have been carved from crystallized chakra. Within that gaping maw, points of light began to gather, coalescing into a sphere of concentrated power that made the air itself crackle with energy.
"Roar!"
The sound that emerged from the statue's throat was like nothing Minato had ever heard, a deep, resonant bellow that seemed to come from the very foundations of the earth. But there was something else mixed in with that primal sound—other voices, other roars, layering together in a chorus of contained fury.
Behind the statue, barely visible in the shimmering air, Minato could make out the ghostly forms of five different creatures. They moved in perfect synchronization with the statue, their mouths opening to add their voices to the terrible song. These were the captured tailed beasts, their power now fully under Madara's control.
"This guy wants to..." Minato's voice trailed off as he recognized the technique being prepared. The gathering energy, the coordinated movements of multiple tailed beasts, the way chakra was being compressed and refined—it was all unmistakably familiar.
"Let me see how far your space-time ninjutsu has progressed," Madara said, his grim smile fading as he prepared to unleash devastation on a scale that would reshape the landscape itself.
The first Tailed Beast Ball erupted from the statue's mouth like a miniature sun, its trajectory carrying it high into the sky before it began to arc downward. But this was only the beginning. Even as the first blast carved its path through the air, the statue's mouth was already gathering energy for the next attack.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
A rapid succession of Tailed Beast Balls followed, each one heading in a different direction. But their target wasn't Minato—it was the Land of Fire itself. The attacks spread out in a wide pattern, their destinations including major population centers, strategic military installations, and civilian communities that had no defenses against such overwhelming power.
Minato's eyes widened in horror as he realized the scope of Madara's strategy. This wasn't just about winning their individual battle—this was about forcing him to choose between pursuing his enemy and protecting innocent lives. Each Tailed Beast Ball represented thousands of potential casualties, entire communities that would be wiped from existence if he failed to intercept them.
"Are you planning to distract me with this?" Minato asked, his voice heavy with disgust at the callous disregard for human life. But even as he spoke, he was already moving, his mind calculating trajectories and travel times with desperate precision.
The Flying Thunder God technique would allow him to intercept some of the attacks, but not all of them. There were simply too many, spread across too wide an area. No matter how fast he moved, no matter how efficiently he utilized his space-time ninjutsu, innocent people were going to die because of his choices.
This was the true nature of Madara's evil—not just the willingness to kill, but the calculated use of that threat to manipulate and control his enemies. The legendary Uchiha had turned the entire Land of Fire into a weapon against its own protector, forcing Minato to choose between victory and the lives of those he had sworn to defend.
As the first Tailed Beast Ball reached the apex of its arc and began its deadly descent toward a populated area, Minato knew that his choice had already been made. He was the Fourth Hokage, the protector of the people, and he would not allow innocent lives to be sacrificed for tactical advantage.