"What is that thing?"
On the edge of the canyon, Tsunade, who was in the middle of treating Minato's injuries, stared dumbfounded at the giant that had suddenly risen from the ground.
A strange pattern of purple, white, and red swirled across the giant's body, harmoniously blending together.
Its head was oval, its chin slightly pointed, and on its human-like face were embedded two large, bright eyes.
Its hands were wreathed in fire and frost respectively, and its body was surrounded by golden lightning.
"It looks bizarre. This must be one of Kaito's techniques."
Jiraiya replied, "Fugaku Uchiha's black giant suddenly grew larger. Kaito must have summoned this giant in response to counter it. But as for how he summoned it, I have no idea."
"By the way, what about Nawaki? How is he?" Tsunade asked.
"Lady Tsunade, Nawaki is fine, please don't worry," Minato said weakly from the ground. "They are making their final effort."
"I know, but I still can't help but worry," Tsunade sighed.
"Minato, don't talk for now. Just rest," Jiraiya said. "You've all done very well. Even if Kaito takes the title of 'World's Strongest' in the end, it's no fault of yours. It's just that Kaito is too strong, so strong he doesn't seem human."
"Mm," Minato grunted, saying no more.
But his bright green eyes were filled with a deep sense of regret.
"Sigh." The Third Hokage, standing nearby, took a couple of puffs from his pipe and also sighed. "Jiraiya is right. Letting Kaito become a benchmark figure in the shinobi world is a pretty good outcome. He is, after all, a peace-loving person, fundamentally different from the Raikage."
"But if that happens, the Land of Rain will replace the Land of Fire and become the number one great nation in the shinobi world. And Konoha will have lost its former dazzling brilliance. Are you really willing to accept this, Master?" Orochimaru said with a smile.
"What's not to accept? If it's for the sake of peace, then this brilliance that envelops Konoha is not worth having."
The Third Hokage said in a low voice, "Even if Lord First Hokage were standing here, he would surely agree with me..."
Before his voice had even faded, another behemoth appeared in the canyon before them.
This time, it was a giant Buddha statue with countless massive arms, its size several times larger than the previous two giants.
The arms on its body seemed to reach into the very clouds.
"This, this, could it be...?!!" The Third Hokage was shocked, his face changing drastically. The pipe he held in his mouth fell to the ground.
"That must be Wood Style," Orochimaru said, his gaze fixed. "As far as I know, only one person can perform a Wood Style ninjutsu of this scale."
"You mean, Lord First Hokage?" Jiraiya said in disbelief. "But hasn't he already returned to the Pure Land?"
"This chakra... it feels like Nawaki's..." Tsunade murmured. "But how can Nawaki use Wood Style?"
"Let's not guess blindly. Let's get a closer look," the Third Hokage said, composing himself. He took out a crystal ball and performed the Telescope Technique, displaying the distant scene in the canyon upon its surface.
When they saw Nawaki standing on the head of the Great Buddha, everyone's expression was different.
"It really is Nawaki. What in the world is going on?"
They all looked up at the three colossal figures on the field, falling silent for a moment.
A few moments earlier.
Kaito clapped his hands together, using the three types of energy to form the Giant of Light.
He was hidden within the crystal on the giant's chest. Looking at the Susanoo before him, he said with a smile, "A mere little Gundam? How laughable. Witness my Tiga form and be subdued."
"..." Fugaku frowned. He knew nothing about the abilities of the giant before him, and a vague, inexplicable worry grew in his heart.
"Nawaki, it seems I can't do this alone. I need your help."
"Heh, I've been ready for a while now."
Nawaki let out a soft laugh, instantly entered Sage Mode, and slammed his hands together, shouting, "Sage Art: Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands!"
A rumbling sound echoed as a great Buddha with countless arms rose from the ground, seated on a lotus throne.
Nawaki stood on the Buddha's head, looking down at Kaito. "I have my great-grandfather's power. I'm not the same person I was before. With the return of Wood Style, it's as if the true God of Shinobi has descended. You have no chance of winning, Master Kaito!"
"Hmph, isn't it just a slightly bigger wooden statue? We'll have to fight to see who has a chance of winning!"
With a thought from Kaito, the Tiga form suddenly strode forward.
Despite its massive size, its speed was not slow at all. In an instant, it was in front of the Great Buddha. It leaped into the air and delivered a heavy spinning kick.
Its target was the Buddha's head.
"Hah!" Nawaki put his hands together, controlling two of the Buddha's arms to block in front of its head.
With a dull thud, the Wood Style arms shattered on impact.
But it was enough to momentarily halt the Tiga form's kick.
Taking advantage of that brief moment, another two arms swept in from the sides, successfully grabbing the Tiga form's leg.
Just as he was about to slam it to the ground, the Tiga form spun its body again, twisting the Wood Style arms off.
It retreated abruptly, not only dodging the subsequent attacks from the wooden arms but also using the momentum to shoulder-check the Susanoo, which was gripping its hammer and trying to launch a sneak attack, sending it flying.
"Tch. Having so many hands really gives you an advantage, doesn't it?" Kaito snorted. "Watch me burn you to ashes!"
He clapped his hands together again, and fire-type energy surged out, turning the Tiga form's entire body a scorching red.
With every move, a massive amount of fire erupted.
Without another word, Kaito once again controlled the Tiga form to charge forward.
Faced with the enemy's new form, Nawaki was fearless. He clapped his hands together as well and shouted, "Sage Art: Buddha's Top Knot Barrage!"
All the arms of the Great Buddha trembled, concentrating their entire weight into their fists, and unleashed hundreds of thousands of punches at the charging Tiga form.
"Who's afraid of who?! Mach Punch!"
The Tiga form also threw its own flaming fists, creating countless afterimages that, accompanied by sonic booms, met the Buddha's fists head-on.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
Fist met fist, creating a thunderous, earth-shattering sound.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA! MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!"
Kaito played both parts, shouting loudly from within his crystal timer.
Nawaki was also shouting at the top of his lungs.
The two behemoths were locked in a stalemate.
However, there was another person on the battlefield.
Fugaku Uchiha, ever the opportunist, would naturally not let this good opportunity pass. He channeled all of his dojutsu power into the Susanoo.
The black giant swung its hammer, which was glowing with an ever-increasing light, and smashed it violently into the back of the Tiga form.
POW!
A dull thud echoed as the heavy hammer landed squarely on the Tiga form's back.
The invincible Tiga... had fallen!