News that Madara had appeared on the battlefield was carried by the fastest messenger birds and reached headquarters at top speed.
The intel ninja responsible for reading dispatches took one look and turned pale with shock. He staggered to the war room, didn't even bother with formalities, and slammed the door open.
"Emergency intel! Madara has appeared on the Third Division front line!"
Nani! So fast!
Everyone present was stunned. No one had expected Madara to show himself on only the second day of the war.
It seemed the "iron wall" put up by Baraten and Kofuten had finally made Madara lose his patience.
A immediately said, "Natsuki, it's time for you to take the field. And take me with you. Now that the strongest enemy has appeared, keeping me in the rear at headquarters is a waste."
Tsunade agreed. "That's right. We should be at the front. Not just for morale, but because of the responsibility on our shoulders."
Onoki rubbed his lower back. "Haha, I'll make a trip too. As Tsuchikage, I can't let others think I'm afraid. In truth, I've been afraid of Madara for many years. It's time I rid myself of that fear."
All three Kage were brimming with fighting spirit.
In truth, they had all been waiting for this day.
Even though they had said they wanted Natsuki to face Madara, as elders and as Kage, how could they possibly just throw him out there alone?
They had to go as well. They also wanted to fight Madara!
Shikaku and Mabui exchanged a glance, then hurriedly advised, "We still have to guard against Obito. He may appear somewhere else."
A waved his hand. "Have Neji lead the response when that happens. Neji is already a super-strong fighter, stronger even than us Kage."
Everyone turned to look at Neji. He met their eyes and gave a firm nod.
Although he very much wanted to go after Madara, he knew he was the one best suited to dealing with Obito. It was better for him to stay. No matter where Obito showed up, he would be able to rush over immediately.
Shino spoke up. "Natsuki, take Tenten with you."
Tenten chimed in as well. "That's right. Since the enemy is an Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) body, how can you not take me, the Edo-killer, along? Even Madara probably won't be able to withstand the suction of the Crimson Gourd!"
"Hahahaha! He definitely won't. That's a treasure left behind by the Sage of Six Paths!"
A laughed heartily, then remembered something. "Right, bring Kumogakure's Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Pot) as well. It's just gathering dust in the vault. Now's the perfect time to use it. Madara, Obito, the Gedo Statue… one of the three has to get sealed. We'll see if they can withstand it."
Very quickly, the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Pot) was brought out. A, Tsunade, and Onoki all placed a hand on Natsuki's shoulder.
Tenten and Natsuki then locked onto Kakashi's position.
Gaara said solemnly, "Everyone, I will remain in the rear to coordinate everything. Please fight without worry. I wish you victory."
The others nodded, and in a blur of motion, they vanished.
Neji immediately said, "Shino, Yamato, contact the Mizukage and Chojuro right away. We have to be ready to move at any time. The moment Obito appears, we move to support."
Shino calmly pushed up his sunglasses. "Relax. I already sent my bugs out with messages."
On the Third Division's line, Madara had resumed his fight with Guy and Kakashi.
Madara's flying kicks, Madara's grapples, Madara's splits, Madara's dynamic dance steps… his movements whipped around like a swirling storm, his lithe frame rampaging across the battlefield with almost seductive grace.
He grabbed Kakashi by the neck and hoisted him up, asking in a domineering tone, "You too… want to dance?!"
Kakashi: No. I don't. Put me down. Now.
Thankfully, Guy suddenly burst in, smashing an uppercut into Madara's jaw and knocking him into the air. Guy leapt up after him and unleashed a huge technique.
"Asa Kujaku (Morning Peacock)! Ora ora ora ora!"
Guy's frantic barrage of flaming straight punches blossomed in midair like a spray of petals, the fire fanning out like a peacock displaying its tail. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
However, Madara's eyes were the Rinnegan. A repulsive-force barrier continuously formed in front of him, protecting his body perfectly. He watched Guy's super move with an amused smile, taking not the slightest damage.
"Haha, not bad, not bad. For a kappa like you, you've got some strength. But if you think you can win against me like this, that's impossible…"
He hadn't finished speaking when his repulsive barrier suddenly twisted, as if something had disrupted it.
He immediately looked down and saw the tomoe spinning in Kakashi's eye.
That was Obito's Kamui (Authority of the Gods)!
"Ah, I almost forgot this eye used to belong to that idiot, Obito…"
What answered him was an even more ferocious Asa Kujaku (Morning Peacock). With the barrier warped and unraveled by Kamui (Authority of the Gods), Guy's flaming punches slammed directly into Madara's body.
In the next instant, the flames exploded even more brilliantly in the sky.
Guy poured everything he had into his final straight punch and drove Madara into the ground, blasting out a huge crater.
Madara looked once again like Yamcha lying in a crater, and his body was even starting to crack apart.
Kakashi repeated his earlier tactic, quickly setting up the "coffin" and preparing to unleash Mafuuba (Demon Sealing Wave), but suddenly Mokuton (Wood Release) branches wrapped around him, and Susanoo's left arm swept across, smashing the "coffin" and sending Kakashi flying.
As for Guy, he had just landed when he caught a repulsive blast from the Rinnegan head-on and went sailing away right alongside Kakashi.
Madara seemed quite satisfied. "Hmm. The two of you really do have a couple of tricks. If I weren't an Edo Tensei body, there's a real chance you might have killed me. But my warm-up is over. It's time for you to die."
As he spoke, Susanoo surged up around him, forming the towering giant. It gripped its swords in both hands and slashed down toward them.
But Guy and Kakashi didn't dodge. Instead, they smiled.
The next second, fwoosh!
Five people appeared.
A's charging strike and Tsunade's monstrous strength punch smashed into the descending Susanoo blades, blowing the attack apart on the spot.
Onoki followed with a blast of Jinton (Dust Release), shattering Susanoo's head.
Three Kage had entered the field, overwhelming in their presence.
The allied shinobi in the distance, who had been watching in worry, could no longer hold back their cheers. Their Kage had arrived to save them. Natsuki and Tenten were here too. Victory was in reach!
"Oh? Natsuki, you actually came. And you brought three friends."
Madara's eyes lit up slightly. He had clearly been waiting for Natsuki as his opponent. As for the three Kage, he dismissed them outright.
"You three made quite an entrance. Don't tell me you actually think you can be my opponents?"
The Raikage? Just an insect.
Tsunade? Compared to your grandfather Hashirama, you're not even a fraction of his level.
Onoki? At least you haven't forgotten what fear feels like. You've got something worth looking at. But none of you are my enemies. I still prefer Natsuki. The three of you can just stand aside and watch."
His attitude was ridiculously arrogant, not even sparing a glance for the three Kage.
The three, however, didn't find anything strange about that. This guy had the capital to be arrogant. What they needed to do now was figure out how to defeat him. That was the only thing that mattered.
(End of Chapter)
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