Listening to their sensei's psychological prodding while watching their enemy crumble into dust bit by bit, Kakashi and the others felt an emotion they couldn't quite describe.
After a long silence, Kakashi finally spoke slowly.
"The peak of puppeteers will never appear again. As witnesses—those who experienced it firsthand—we should remember this pinnacle and pass it down."
"I don't know if any future puppeteer will ever reach such a height again… though I doubt it."
Hearing this, Kazuyama Gekkō glanced back at Kakashi. He never expected his disciple to have such literary flair.
Then again, Kakashi was a man who could appreciate Icha Icha Paradise—of course he had culture.
"Kakashi, that insight is impressive. In that case—"
"Seal."
Kazuyama extended a finger again, tapping what remained of Kabuto's body.
Kabuto was already completely dead. What remained was merely a puppet shell. His puppet core and Earth Grudge Fear heart had been the first things to vanish. Even with crystallization, Kazuyama knew exactly what mattered most.
That was why he severed Kabuto's life at the start. What was left un-crystallized was only the husk.
"Kabuto is dead. This is now just a puppet shell. Collect it and return it to the village—it can count as spoils of war."
This battle was fought to protect the entire Ninja World—there was no such thing as spoils.
But Kazuyama forced a "spoils of war" into existence anyway.
After all, he defeated and killed Kabuto. Whatever he wanted to do with the body, no one would object.
Kakashi did not dawdle. He stepped forward and retrieved Kabuto's remains.
With Kabuto dead, the battle here was officially finished.
"Kazuyama!?"
"Is everything resolved on your side?"
Just as Kazuyama was preparing to head toward the main battlefield, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Nara Shikaku?
A mental transmission via Yamanaka Inoichi?
"It's done. What's wrong?"
"Bring your squad to the main battlefield immediately—the situation there is terrible."
Terrible?
Their enemy there was Madara Uchiha. Terrible was normal. How much worse could it possibly be?
"It's not just Madara Uchiha. There's another Uchiha!"
That would be the second Madara. Still within expectations.
Honestly, why was everyone so quick to panic?
Look at him—Kazuyama Gekkō, calm as still water. No matter who appeared, not a ripple.
"I can't believe how unbothered you are!"
"The enemy has already captured the Two-Tails, Four-Tails, and Five-Tails! Right now the Five Kage, Yahiko, the village heads Konan, and Kushina are all fighting!"
Kazuyama Gekkō: ???
What did you just say? Say that again.
Two-Tails? Four-Tails? Five-Tails?
Captured?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Shikaku, your intel must be wrong!"
"They aren't even on this land—how could they be captured?!"
What a brutal slap to the face.
But Kazuyama couldn't help being shocked. He had gone to great lengths to secretly send Yugito and the others to the Land of Snow so the enemy couldn't find the Jinchūriki.
How did they find them anyway?!
"Impossible or not, perception ninjutsu doesn't lie. The Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Four-Tails Jinchūriki, and the Five-Tails itself have appeared on the main battlefield. All of them are controlled."
"They were brought by the one calling himself Madara Uchiha."
"The battlefield is complete chaos now. A massive meteorite is falling."
"They need your help immediately!"
Shikaku's voice was tight with urgency. Before him, the sensory water sphere was distorting violently—a sign of chakra reaching extreme, abnormal levels at a single point.
The violent tremors of the sensory orb left every surrounding sensor-nin, including Inoichi, wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Understood. I'm heading there now."
"And notify all units—Gaara must be protected at all costs. The enemy's target won't change. They'll go after Gaara for sure."
"He is the One-Tail Jinchūriki."
Kazuyama Gekkō entered Sage Mode instantly. With his heightened perception, he could already sense the terrifying chakra fluctuations in the distance.
Madara Uchiha, having fun?
Hmph. It won't be easy.
"Sensei, I'm heading to the main battlefield first. Will you come?"
Orochimaru nodded. Of course he would go. This was Uchiha Madara—the living legend. Their entire generation grew up hearing stories of Madara and Hashirama.
Seeing a legend alive… how could he miss it?
"Good. Then we go together."
"Kakashi, follow the Sensor Division's guidance and protect Gaara. We're heading to the main battlefield."
Before Kakashi or the others could respond, Kazuyama activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He and Orochimaru vanished instantly.
...
On the main battlefield, Minato Namikaze and Ōnoki had already reached the falling meteorite.
Ōnoki surged ahead first, accelerating straight toward it.
The instant his hands touched the meteorite, a thunderous roar echoed across the sky:
"Earth Release: Super Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
A technique passed down through generations in Iwagakure—it drastically reduced the weight of any object. Its counterpart was the Added-Weight Rock Technique.
Ōnoki was now using it to forcibly lighten the meteorite, slowing its descent.
"Hokage!"
"Now!"
Ōnoki roared again, and Minato accelerated upward.
Without hesitation, Minato pressed his hand against the meteorite. Unlike the excited Ōnoki, he spoke calmly:
"Flying Thunder God Technique."
With that understated command, the massive meteorite vanished from the sky.
The once-oppressive sky instantly cleared, the crushing pressure disappearing without a trace.
"We did it!"
"Of course! Minato always pulls it off!"
With the meteorite transferred away, the crisis was completely averted.
The shinobi on the ground erupted in cheers.
"Hmph! That damned Tobirama Senju and his Flying Thunder God Technique again!"
"I really don't understand why so many people learn this jutsu. Still… moving a meteorite that huge makes him a decent ninja."
Madara Uchiha had been calm the entire time—until the Flying Thunder God Technique appeared.
A spike of irritation shot through him.
In that moment, his hatred for Senju Tobirama climbed to a new peak.