"Damn it, can something like this really be done?"
"Shit!"
"So our power levels really aren't even close…"
Even the Five Kage—even Village Leaders—felt the overwhelming gap in strength between the two sides at this moment.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the massive object forming in the sky. It was a meteorite so vast it nearly blotted out the heavens, blocking the sunlight and smothering the fighting spirit in everyone's hearts.
This wasn't just a meteorite—it was like a declaration that everything they had done was meaningless.
Even before the meteorite touched down, the crushing pressure sweeping across the land made their bodies feel heavier despite being powerful shinobi.
"Damn it! How is this happening!"
Even the impulsive Raikage lost his ability to think for a moment. He knew exactly what would happen if that meteorite reached the ground.
Terumi Mei and the others felt a deep sense of helplessness. No matter how strong they were, this had already surpassed ninjutsu.
This was a natural disaster.
"Get it together!"
"Don't forget who you are!"
"Kushina, set up a defensive barrier!"
"Leave the rest to me!"
Minato Namikaze's roar snapped the demoralized group awake.
He held his marked kunai tightly as he stared up at the falling meteorite. There wasn't a shred of fear in his expression—only a rapidly rising fighting spirit.
Kushina didn't waste a second. Pressing her hands together, she unleashed the Nine-Tails' chakra once more. Crimson-gold chains burst forth, spreading across the entire area.
As the Adamantine Sealing Chains completed their formation, waves of crimson-gold chakra rippled outward.
With the combined chakra of the Nine-Tails and the Uzumaki bloodline, the Adamantine Sealing Chains reached their peak defensive power.
"Lord Tsuchikage! Lord Kazekage!"
"Your techniques should be able to help me reach the sky, right?"
"I'll be counting on you!"
Minato looked toward Ōnoki and Rasa.
One could reduce weight with the Light-Weight Rock Technique to enable flight. The other could fly using Magnet Release to control Gold Dust.
Hearing Minato's words, the two immediately moved forward.
"The Flying Thunder God, huh?"
"Are you sure you can pull this off with a meteorite this big?"
Rasa had already composed himself. As a Kage, he knew his attitude represented his village. In a crisis like this, retreat wasn't an option.
The moment Minato stepped forward, he understood exactly what the man intended. Even so, he couldn't help doubting—this meteorite was simply too massive.
"Confidence? There's no way I'm confident. But doing nothing isn't an option."
"No confidence…? Even you?"
Rasa froze for a moment, then his expression hardened. Confidence or not, they had to act. That was certain.
"Lord Tsuchikage, reduce his weight. I'll use Sand Gold to send him up!"
Ōnoki looked up at the meteorite. Instead of answering right away, he glanced toward the distant figure—the fear buried in his heart all these years: Madara Uchiha.
"Madara…"
"I won't let you haunt me ever again…"
"Even you—I, the Tsuchikage Ōnoki, Ōnoki of Both Scales—will not fear!"
"Hokage!"
"I'm coming with you! I'll slow down the meteorite! The rest is up to you!"
"And since it's your first time feeling Light-Weight Rock, I doubt you'd be able to fly!"
"Earth Release! Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
"Ahem! Lord Hokage!"
Ōnoki's eyes burned like fire as he flashed behind Minato. He placed his hands on Minato's back, and once the jutsu activated, Minato felt his body lose all weight. He floated upward.
Seeing this, Ōnoki quickly said, "Relax your body! Follow my movements upward!"
This old man makes it sound so easy…
Experiencing weightlessness for the very first time, Minato felt like he couldn't move his limbs at all.
But he had no choice. He had to adapt. Thankfully, thanks to his natural talent, he quickly got a handle on it.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa? I've got the hang of it!"
"But… why can't I fly? Lord Tsuchikage?"
"Never mind, I'll figure it out. This ability is amazing! Combined with my jutsu… hmm, what should I call it?"
Minato's rambling left everyone around them speechless.
This bastard—now is NOT the time! Naming techniques? Experimenting?
"I can't watch this anymore!"
"Just get up there!"
"Sand Gold!"
Rasa couldn't take it anymore. Sure, Minato was strong, but… something wasn't right in his head.
Sigh. As expected, no one in Konoha is normal.
Yes, I'm talking about you! You perverted Gekkō bastard!
Gekkō Kazuyama: … Who's talking about me? Oh, Rasa. Never mind then.
With Sand Gold boosting him, Minato let out a startled yell as he shot upward.
Ōnoki quickly accelerated as well.
Seeing the two of them rise into the air, everyone could only place all their hopes on them.
"Can they succeed?"
"No idea."
"Shut up! Raikage! Minato will succeed!"
Kushina stood firmly behind her husband, though her eyes were filled with worry.
While one side faced a falling meteorite and certain doom,
the other battle was already reaching its conclusion.
Kazuyama Gekkō and Orochimaru had reached Kabuto.
"Why?"
"What why? If I fed you grass, would you eat it? Too many questions. You just walked the wrong path."
Puppets? Gone—reduced to dust.
His offensive techniques? Hidden weapons? Tools? Gone—reduced to dust.
Every attack Kabuto used was erased the instant it approached this man. Only he himself remained standing in front of his opponents.
He couldn't understand. He had reached the pinnacle of puppeteering—yet he couldn't so much as touch the man before him.
His puppets, his weapons—everything turned to ash upon contact.
"I feel like Sensei's different now. Even scarier. I feel like he could kill me instantly. Do you guys feel that too?"
Obito Uchiha had already retracted his Mangekyō Sharingan, staring seriously at his teacher.
His words made the other three nod repeatedly. They felt it too—an invisible pressure.
"I walked the wrong path?"
"Impossible! I've already reached the pinnacle of puppeteers!"
"You're just an exception! Don't think I'm out of moves!"
"Die!"
Kabuto refused to accept such an ending. He would use every last bit of strength he had to prove he was the strongest puppeteer.