"Natsuki? How—"
Whoosh.
Sasuke's answer was the disappearance of the massive Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball).
The very next second, the spot where Natsuki had been fighting Hashirama erupted in a world-ending explosion. Clearly, Natsuki had warped the massive Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball) over to Hashirama's side.
Using the enemy's power to beat Hashirama was simply the easier option.
Natsuki grinned. "I've been keeping an eye on everyone's situation. I saw you trying to take a Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball) that big head-on like you had a death wish, so I came to save you. All right, I've got to go seal Hashirama again. You're up next—handle your side."
With that, he vanished again in a flash.
Naruto suddenly shouted, "Sasuke, you seriously went too far! If you actually caught something that huge, you would've died!"
Gaara added, "Sasuke, do not act so recklessly again."
Up in the air, Fuu said, "But '280'... there were a lot of Allied shinobi behind him. Sasuke was trying to take all the damage himself, wasn't he? Good thing Natsuki got there in time. Otherwise, I can't even imagine what would've happened."
Naruto and Gaara both turned to look behind Sasuke. Sure enough, an Allied unit was in the middle of retreating.
If Sasuke had dodged just now, those people would have been wiped out or left with massive casualties.
So that was why Sasuke didn't move. Not because he was showing off—but because he was protecting his comrades. Naruto and Gaara both felt a jolt in their chests.
If it were them, they probably would've done the same.
"Sasuke…"
"Yakamashi!"
Sasuke snapped, his voice annoyed but laced with a hint of embarrassment. "Who cares about that. Quit wasting time and fight. Let's clean these idiots up already!"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Naruto and Fuu answered with instant energy. Gaara wasn't as expressive, but he still raised Shukaku's massive hand in support.
On the other side, Natsuki flashed back. Before the aftershock of the Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball) had even fully dispersed, he wrapped himself in chakra to protect his body and rushed toward the blast center. It didn't take long before he spotted Hashirama again—half-destroyed and barely holding shape.
Hashirama looked even more shattered than before, almost reduced to grains of sand, slowly gathering himself back together.
When his mouth finally formed, he spoke right away. "I thought you vanished to do something else. Turns out you were delivering me a 'big gift.' I had zero guard up—my body got ground to pieces by that Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball). All right. You can seal me now with peace of mind. Just don't let me out again."
"Understood. First Hokage-dono, after the fighting's over, there should be time for you to say goodbye to Tsunade." Natsuki produced the coffin.
"Hahaha! That'd be perfect. I'm counting on all of you from here!" Hashirama said.
"Don't worry. Fūinjutsu: Mafūba (Demon Sealing Wave)!"
Natsuki activated Mafūba (Demon Sealing Wave), stuffing Hashirama back into the coffin and sealing him away again. This time, there were no surprises.
He stored the coffin inside a scroll, creating a double-layer seal, and kept the scroll on his person. At this point, even if a dozen immortals came to try to rob him, no one was taking it.
Natsuki was just deciding who to support next when he noticed chaos breaking out at the rear headquarters.
He focused—and his face changed instantly. He vanished at once.
Earlier, when Natsuki warped the massive Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball), Tenten's squad had already pulled back to a safe distance, nearly all the way to the rear headquarters, finally in position to rest.
Tenten had been thinking she could use her "600 billion" Kanedon Ōgi (Money Release Secret Art) on the Gedō Mazō (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path), but instead the Gedō Mazō (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path) transformed.
And it transformed into something extremely dangerous.
Even the Allied shinobi were being ripped apart by successive energy shockwaves, leaving heavy casualties. The grim outcome put everyone on edge.
They all knew the Jūbi (Ten-Tails) would be hard to deal with. They hadn't expected it to be this monstrous.
This was no longer a battle ordinary people could participate in. So the command staff immediately ordered the Allied shinobi to withdraw and leave it to the four Jinchūriki (Tailed Beast Hosts) and the Gokage (Five Kage). Anyone else charging in would just be throwing their life away.
Tenten didn't rush into the fight either. Even though she had Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) and could wield the Rikudō Ninja Tools (Six Paths Ninja Tools), facing a monster like that was still far too dangerous.
And there was no need to hurry. She planned to think carefully—how to maximize her strengths.
This was also a good chance to recover. She'd been using Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) repeatedly while simultaneously controlling the Rikudō Ninja Tools (Six Paths Ninja Tools). Her chakra and mental focus had taken a real hit. She needed a proper breather.
Just then, a shinobi approached with some drinks in hand—someone who looked vaguely familiar and yet somehow not.
In a worshipful tone, he said, "Tenten-sama, your performance just now was incredible. You've worked so hard. Please—have some drinks and rest."
"Oh, tha—hm?"
Tenten reached out to take one, but instinctively stopped, her guard shooting up. "Who are you? Why don't I recognize you?"
There was no way she was accepting something from a stranger who walked up out of nowhere at a time like this. Even with that admiring expression, she had to be cautious—one mistake was all it took to get exploited.
And she remembered that White Zetsu could disguise themselves as shinobi. They were notoriously hard to identify.
The shinobi immediately looked wounded. "Tenten-sama, why are you so suspicious of a comrade? I just admire you and wanted to bring you something to drink!"
Tenten shook her head, certain. "No. Something's off. Tell me who you are—your number, your name, and your unit!"
Konan stepped in front of Tenten at once, blocking her and staring the shinobi down warily.
The commotion drew attention. Darui, sensing something wrong, immediately drew a kunai and rushed over.
The moment the shinobi realized he'd been exposed, he lunged at Tenten. Smoke was already curling off him—explosive tags were strapped to his body. He was planning to take her with him.
Konan instantly wrapped him completely with Kami no Jutsu (Paper Technique) and flung him far away.
Boom.
He detonated into a spray of gore.
Then a severed white arm tumbled down onto the ground—unmistakably a White Zetsu arm.
Darui shouted, "There are White Zetsu infiltrators in the headquarters! Their target is the Red Gourd! Everyone protect Tenten—flush out the White Zetsu spies!"
Shikamaru also hurried over, but the moment he arrived, he spotted it.
Behind Tenten's gourd, a black hand emerged from the ground in complete silence, reaching for the Red Gourd from about a meter and a half below.
"Black Zetsu! Don't you dare!"
Shikamaru fired off Kage Mane no Jutsu (Shadow Imitation Technique), locking Black Zetsu in place.
Tenten's blood ran cold. She hadn't realized Black Zetsu had gotten behind her so quietly—she'd been a heartbeat away from losing the Red Gourd.
But before she could even rise, Black Zetsu moved faster.
Through White Zetsu Wi-Fi underground, he instantly contacted Orochimaru:
Orochimaru—send the Second Hokage and the Fourth Hokage to me. Take the Red Gourd!
Orochimaru didn't hesitate for even a moment before issuing the order.
The next second—whoosh!
Tobirama and Minato flashed in beside Black Zetsu with Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique). One grabbed the Red Gourd. The other cut the bindings. Then—whoosh!—they disappeared again.
The Red Gourd vanished with them.
So did Black Zetsu.
It turned out both of them had left Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) markings on Black Zetsu's body.
(End of Chapter)
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