They were being pushed back.
These once-legendary figures of the ninja world—even with immortal bodies and the advantage of endless regeneration—were being completely overwhelmed by Konoha's forces. They were defeated again and again, only to revive and fall once more.
"So Konoha really has become this strong… The ninjas who used to be on my level are now far beyond me. It's like they've gone through countless trials."
"No wonder the Four Great Villages lost. Even Konoha's elite jonin now surpass what we used to be. The gap is even worse for ordinary jonin."
"Konoha… it really has the power to crush the entire ninja world on its own. Unity was inevitable."
"When did all this change? Just a few years ago, Konoha wasn't that much stronger than the others…"
"It all started with the Fifth Hokage. Eliminate every other possibility, and that's your answer. Two years ago, during the Chūnin Exams, he rose to power and crushed all opposition. Back then Konoha was strong—but not like this. Everything changed after he took office."
"Yeah… Naruto Uzumaki changed the entire ninja world. Without him, Konoha would still be stuck at the level it was under the Third Hokage."
"And don't forget—he hasn't even made a move yet. If he did… how terrifying would that be?"
"Exactly. Even the so-called God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, might not stand a chance against him."
The audience buzzed with excitement as they watched the chaotic battlefield.
Even ordinary people could tell—
This conflict was already decided.
Konoha was winning.
The only question left was how much it would cost them.
"Wood Style: Cutting Technique!"
A hoarse voice echoed suddenly.
A figure emerged from a swirling distortion in space. Wooden spikes twisted out of his palm and shot toward a Konoha jonin.
Clang!
The jonin reacted quickly, deflecting most of the attack.
But not all.
One spike pierced his arm.
Before it could expand and tear him apart, he gritted his teeth and sliced it off instantly, stopping the damage from spreading.
Shuriken flew back in response—
But they passed straight through the attacker like a phantom.
"Be careful! He's using space-time ninjutsu!"
The warning spread instantly across Konoha's ranks.
Everyone became alert.
They knew how dangerous that ability was.
Unpredictable. Untouchable. Deadly.
Fortunately, many of them had experience dealing with someone like Urashiki Otsutsuki before—otherwise, that attack would've been fatal.
The masked man in a black cloak with red clouds continued launching sneak attacks.
Even with heightened awareness, some still got injured.
"Obito… he's gotten stronger."
Madara Uchiha watched with narrowed eyes.
The once-clumsy boy had grown into a powerful fighter.
His strength was now close to his peak.
But Madara still looked down on him.
"His power has improved… but his will is weak. In the end, he's still useless."
To Madara, Obito fought like a puppet—
Strong, but hollow.
Sasuke Uchiha also watched calmly.
"So this is the masked man from the Uchiha massacre… Not bad. But still not enough."
He turned back to the battlefield.
"Time to end this."
"Sealing Heaven and Earth!"
Sasuke threw a glowing disc into the air.
Golden chains rained down like a storm.
Every reanimated warrior struck by them froze instantly.
Their movements stopped.
Their power was sealed.
Within seconds—
All those "immortal" fighters became statues.
Even Tobirama Senju tried to dodge.
He used every method he could.
But the chains pursued relentlessly.
In the end—
Even the Second Hokage was bound.
Only Madara and Hashirama resisted successfully.
Madara activated Susanoo.
Hashirama used Sage Art.
The sealed army was dragged together like a pile of vegetables.
And suddenly—
The battlefield turned ridiculous.
"Hey! Let us out! This is humiliating!"
"Why am I stuck next to this guy?!"
"Who smells?!"
"Do reanimated bodies even smell?!"
"Shut up!"
The crowd watching the broadcast was stunned.
These legendary figures…
Were acting like a bunch of loud idiots.
Their "idol image" shattered instantly.
Sasuke stepped forward.
Now only a few enemies remained.
Black Zetsu and the others looked small and powerless.
"Madara Uchiha," Sasuke called out coldly,
"Your plan has failed. Are you still refusing to surrender?"
Madara smirked.
"I'm just a puppet right now. Controlled by that guy."
He pointed at Beilihu.
"Don't joke," Sasuke replied.
"With your strength, you could break free anytime."
He continued calmly—
"Your plan—collecting tailed beasts, becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, casting Infinite Tsukuyomi—we already know everything."
Madara's expression darkened.
"What?"
Hashirama looked confused.
"You had a plan like that?"
"Shut up!"
Madara snapped.
Sasuke continued mercilessly:
"That plan is a lie."
"A thousand-year deception created by Black Zetsu to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki."
"The stone tablet? The Sage's message?"
"All tampered with."
Madara froze.
Slowly—
He turned to Black Zetsu.
Obito's expression twisted.
For him, Infinite Tsukuyomi was everything.
His entire life.
And now—
It was all a lie?
"Zetsu… you lied to me…"
Obito's voice cracked.
Black Zetsu tried to deny it.
But Obito shook his head.
"I don't believe you anymore."
Then—
Black Zetsu stopped pretending.
"So what if I lied?"
His tone turned cold.
"Everything you did… came from your own heart."
"You were already broken."
"I just gave you a path."
Then he revealed the truth:
"I am not your will, Madara."
"I am the will of my mother—Kaguya Otsutsuki."
"Everything I've done… was to bring her back."
Silence fell.
"The plan failed."
"Nagato is gone."
"Obito is finished."
"Madara can't be revived."
"With Naruto here…"
"No one can change the outcome."
Then his voice rose.
"Only the Ōtsutsuki can change this world."
He spread his arms wide.
Face filled with madness.
"From today onward—"
"The ninja world enters a new era."
"The era of the Otsutsuki."
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