Kushina, empowered by the Nine-Tails' chakra, instantly transformed into a chain-forging machine. Countless golden chains erupted from every direction as if they cost nothing, their sheer scale completely enveloping Uchiha Madara and all his clones.
"The Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu."
"Combined with the Nine-Tails' support… a rare sight."
Madara held the Uzumaki clan in high regard. Back in the day, the Senju clan had relied heavily on their support. Sealing arts and sensory abilities were their specialties—abilities even Madara acknowledged.
"Everyone, I've sealed off this entire area. Fight as you like!"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains! Go!"
In that moment, the battlefield became Kushina's one-woman show. Golden chains filled the field—first trapping the area, then reappearing to rush straight toward Madara's clones. Even Susanoo couldn't stop them; the chains wrapped around the clones and locked them firmly in place.
"Perfect chance!"
"Everyone—what are you waiting for!?"
"Water Release: Wave Giant Technique!"
Yahiko seized the opening, leaping into the air with rapid hand seals. The ground beneath him burst open as water surged upward, forming two massive water giants at his sides.
"Lord Mizukage!"
With so many people present, Yahiko addressed him properly as the Mizukage—privately, he'd call Tsurumi "little sister."
"Got it!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Tsurumi had lived in Takigakure for years; her teamwork with Yahiko needed no explanation. Seeing the water giants appear, she immediately backed him up. A colossal water dragon materialized in an instant, and the two giants plus the dragon surged forward, crashing toward the clones and their Susanoo armor.
"So passionate… but if your enemy is Madara Uchiha, be careful."
"So much nonsense! Ōnoki, if you don't want to fight, then get back!"
The Fourth Raikage answered the simplest way possible—charging straight ahead in full Lightning Armor. Ōnoki's mouth twitched, but he quickly composed himself.
"Hmph, typical for that Cloud brat. Still the same rotten temper after all these years!"
"As if I'd stay out of this!"
"You brats! Let you witness how the old generation fights!"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Blinding white light gathered in Ōnoki's palms and shot forward faster than the eye could follow. The blast struck a Susanoo dead-on. Light flared—half the Susanoo vanished outright, its clone inside dissolving with it.
"Hmph. Ōnoki, brat of the Two Scales… you've learned something after all these years."
"But how many times can that decrepit body of yours handle Dust Release?"
Madara watched his clone vanish with no reaction whatsoever. Arrogant and dismissive as always—if they couldn't defeat even a clone, they weren't worthy of being called Kage.
"Kushina, stay back."
"We'll carry out the main assault."
Minato glanced at her. He still didn't want her taking point; better for her to stay covered. But Kushina disagreed completely.
"Minato, once we're on the battlefield, there's no stepping back!"
"I won't fight directly—you know my specialty is sealing jutsu. I'll support you from behind!"
"Stop talking!"
"Just go!"
Minato Namikaze: …A fierce wife leaves no room for negotiation.
"Alright, I'm going!"
...
While Madara Uchiha clashed violently with the Five Kage, the Land of Snow was facing its own catastrophe.
"Damn it! This bastard's dōjutsu is infuriating!"
"My attacks can't even touch him!"
Yugito's blue-flame-covered body trembled with frustration. Beside her stood the enormous Five-Tails. Both human and beast wore grim expressions—all because of their enemy: Muren Uchiha.
"BOOM!"
Before they could react, a massive figure crashed beside them.
"ROAR! Damn Uchiha!"
"Damn Susanoo!"
The furious bellow belonged to the Four-Tails, clearly knocked away by an earlier strike. And the one who had repelled him—Muren Uchiha.
"Just as expected. No wonder Black Zetsu couldn't find you."
"So you were hiding here."
"Hmph."
"But today, you won't escape. Submit quietly."
The Eternal Mangekyō's twisted pattern pulsed with power—enhanced far beyond normal limits, tinged with something foreign.
"Hah! Just an Uchiha. So what if it's a Mangekyō Sharingan!?"
"You think we're afraid!?"
Yugito's temper was explosive. The Five-Tails and Four-Tails certainly weren't intimidated either; their fighting spirit only grew fiercer.
"Heh… time is short. Otherwise, I'd enjoy using you to test my blade."
His Mangekyō spun again. The next moment, he and his massive Susanoo appeared directly in front of Yugito.
"Die!"
Yugito had predicted the close-range assault. The instant he appeared, she hurled a barrage of Mouse Hairballs, and the Five-Tails and Four-Tails charged in as well. One woman and two Tailed Beasts clashed head-on with Susanoo.
...
At the same time, in the Mind World, the chase between Kazuyama and the Rikudō Sennin finally came to a halt.
"You brat! Put down my Truth-Seeking Balls!"
"You keep grabbing more and more!"
There were nine Truth-Seeking Balls total. One had formed the scepter in the Sage's hand, while the remaining eight originally floated beneath him.
Originally.
Now all eight were in Kazuyama's hands.
Using Sage chakra as insulation, the Truth-Seeking Balls couldn't harm him. And since the Rikudō Sennin wasn't truly trying to fight, Kazuyama showed no fear at all.
"Hmph! Old geezer, you're just letting these sit around. Might as well give them to me!"
"Why not hand over that staff too?"
"These Truth-Seeking Balls formed from Six Paths chakra… tch, quite the treasure."
Kazuyama didn't care who the old man was. He couldn't leave anyway, and the Sage's attitude was infuriating. If Kazuyama wasn't going to rob him, then who else?