"We've crossed swords. He's interesting—has some skill, some strength, and he's a qualified Jinchūriki."
"But that's not the point. What matters is that he's just as devious as Tobirama Senju—a complete bastard."
"Enough about him. I'll handle him myself. You two, head to the Land of Snow and the depths of the desert right now."
"Black Zetsu, you go into the desert. Muren, you head to the Land of Snow."
"As for the front lines… Hmph. Looks like it's time to remind them what real ninja are."
Madara Uchiha remained as composed and icy as ever, but the murderous intent flashing in his eyes sent chills down anyone's spine.
Kabuto stood at his side, while Black Zetsu and Muren Uchiha began moving.
"Kabuto, begin."
"Send your puppets forward. Block every single ninja."
"Deploy all soldiers. Let's see if this so-called Allied Shinobi Forces can handle them."
In the earlier battles, only a limited number of soldiers had been deployed.
But now, with one order from Madara Uchiha, every soldier would surge onto the battlefield.
"And you?"
"Are you taking the initiative yourself? Or…?"
Kabuto waved both hands, and his puppets charged out.
He then turned his gaze toward Madara Uchiha, curious what the newly revived, true Madara intended to do.
For some reason, whenever he looked at Madara, he felt the urge to turn him into a puppet.
Of course, he knew he couldn't—and it was impossible anyway.
"Me? I'm going to add a bit of color to things."
"Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day when the ninja of the Five Great Villages actually united."
"Hmph. I just wonder whether they're anything more than a flock of weaklings."
With that, Madara Uchiha leapt outward with full force, not activating Susanoo.
He wanted to give the enemy a proper shock.
…
Land of Waterfalls, Allied Forces Headquarters, Rest Area.
"So you're saying I can now use the Nine-Tails'—no, Kurama's—power?"
"Just because we communicated earlier?"
Kushina stared at her hands, confused. She could indeed feel a power that wasn't hers—immense, overwhelming.
Beside her, Kazuyama smiled slightly.
"Of course. Given the current situation, Kurama has agreed to join us. The enemy of our enemy is our friend."
"And Kushina, try not to treat him so harshly."
"You have to understand—Tailed Beasts are living beings in this world too. We all live here. Don't treat him like some exception."
"What happened in the past was caused by Madara Uchiha, not Kurama."
Hearing this, the Nine-Tails felt a surprising swell of emotion.
Finally able to lie down comfortably, he muttered, "Damn it… why am I actually a little jealous of that Chōmei guy?"
"Ugh… what Tailed Beast wouldn't want this kind of Jinchūriki?"
"Look at Kushina—violent woman through and through. Ugh."
Even the mighty Nine-Tails could only sigh helplessly. His fate was rough.
"So… can I go to the battlefield now?"
"You know… after all these years, I've forgotten what fighting even feels like!"
Kushina clenched her fists, filled with excitement.
Before, she had only ever suppressed the Nine-Tails within her. She'd tried to use its power, but it was too difficult.
Even with Kazuyama and Minato Namikaze helping her, she could only draw a small portion of that strength.
Now, it seemed those were only stray fragments of chakra Kurama had unintentionally released.
"We'll see."
"Hm??"
"Looks like the situation's here."
"You go protect Gaara. I'll check it out."
Maintaining Sage Mode had its perks—his sensory perception was sharpened to the extreme.
Kazuyama could clearly sense the number of people inside the war council room increasing rapidly.
Something had definitely happened.
By the time he arrived, intelligence reports were already flying across the room.
"The entire puppet army is on the move! First and Second Teams are holding them off!"
"Even when destroyed, the giant puppets detonate themselves—this is causing huge trouble!"
"The White Zetsu forces have completely regrouped!"
"So the enemy is launching a full assault? No… they're concentrating their entire strength!"
"Send orders immediately! All units regroup for a counterattack!"
Inoichi Yamanaka looked utterly exhausted.
Nara Shikaku's brows were tightly furrowed. Minato Namikaze and the Fourth Raikage paced endlessly.
Everyone else was scrambling into action.
"Kazuyama, you're here."
"The battle has only lasted one day, yet the enemy has already gathered all their forces."
Hearing this, Kazuyama frowned. After thinking it over, he said, "I think they plan to crush us head-on."
"Madara Uchiha is incredibly proud, after all."
"So? Should we all go?"
"End this in a single battle?"
Kazuyama wasn't exaggerating. If the entire war could be settled in one decisive clash, he would welcome it.
But for some reason, unease lingered in his chest.
"Is that even possible?"
"What about Kushina and Gaara? We can't fight and protect them at the same time."
Minato was stuck—he needed to be in two places at once.
"No need to worry about Kushina. Don't forget she can also use the Nine-Tails' power."
"As for Gaara, he'll stay with me. I'll protect him."
Kazuyama knew that once Madara Uchiha entered the battle, the frontline would collapse under the sheer power of the enemy elites.
Minato and the Fourth Raikage had to go.
"Alright! Then let's charge into battle!"
"I've been waiting for this!"
Minato and the Fourth Raikage were already fired up. Kazuyama simply nodded.
"Kakashi has your kunai and mine at the front lines. Take your men there directly."
"I'll follow shortly."
With that, Kazuyama turned and left. He needed to bring Gaara—after all, as the One-Tails, Gaara's importance was exceptional.
Minato nodded and hurried off to find Kushina.
But the instant Kazuyama touched Gaara, an unfamiliar consciousness space suddenly pulled him in.
A golden-orange world, water beneath his feet—the Mind World.
Sitting before him was an old man in a cross-legged pose.
Seeing him, Kazuyama's eyes widened instantly—and so did Chōmei's within him.
Because this man was none other than the legendary Sage of Six Paths.