Chapter 352: The News Headline
Boom!
A pair of massive cat feet slammed directly into the Susanoo's face.
Crash!
Bang!
The Susanoo was sent skidding across the earth, carving a massive trench into the ground. Uchiha Madara felt the weight of the blow—it wasn't devastatingly powerful, but it was highly insulting.
"I've underestimated the ninjas of this era. To have more combat experience than an old man from the Warring States period... do you have some sort of special ability?"
During their clash, Madara realized that Tonbo's combat instincts were actually superior to his own. Furthermore, Tonbo seemed intimately familiar with Madara's moves, keeping him constantly on the back foot.
Suddenly, Madara's body began to crack and crumble. His soul seemed to vibrate, threatening to drift away from the vessel. The Perfect Susanoo flickered and vanished completely.
"This is... it seems there are capable people within the Allied Forces after all..." Madara felt the Reanimation Jutsu being released and quickly deduced the situation.
"Reanimation Jutsu: Release!"
Tonbo Tobitake's combat experience was indeed vast; he knew he couldn't waste a single second, or he might lose his chance to seal the deal.
Poof!
The flying debris of the vessel suddenly surged back together. The soul was forcibly tethered back into the body.
Whoosh!
Just as Madara stabilized, another giant palm swung toward him. Madara extended his hand, his eyes rippling with power.
"Preta Path: Blocking Technique Absorption Seal."
Instantly, a large portion of the Nekogami Possession's chakra was siphoned away.
"Sever!"
Tonbo immediately disconnected the Nekogami state. The entire Allied Force began to plummet toward the earth. A localized updraft of wind cushioned their freefall, allowing everyone to land safely.
"The Reanimation was released, but Madara broke the contract to stay. Those Rinnegan abilities are quite a headache!" Tonbo said to the Five Kage.
Tsunade: "Who released it... never mind. Regardless of who it was, with the Jutsu broken, we only have this Madara and the masked one left to deal with." To her, the identity of the savior was secondary; the immediate threat was the man who had just become even more dangerous by breaking his contract.
Onoki: "Indeed. That chakra absorption move can even nullify my Particle Style."
Tonbo: "Mhm. That's the Rinnegan's sealing technique. It can even absorb Natural Energy."
The Blocking Technique Absorption Seal was different from direct physical absorption. Since it was essentially a sealing technique, the chakra wasn't integrated into the user's body immediately, meaning the "petrification" risk of Sage Chakra was neutralized. Otherwise, the massive amount of Natural Energy Tonbo had just channeled would have turned Madara into a stone statue.
"What now? The Alliance seems to be reaching its limit," Gaara said, looking at the exhausted ninjas. They had been fighting Madara for a long time, and their stamina was fading.
"It's okay. We can hold out for a while using just our own chakra. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve," Tonbo said.
In truth, Tonbo had been using the Alliance's chakra almost exclusively; his own reserves were barely touched. His goal wasn't to slaughter Madara—it was simply to experience a high-level fight and get a few good hits in on the legend.
Against Uchiha Madara, he didn't need to go all out. As long as he kept the situation under control, he could play however he liked. His chakra reserves were now greater than a Tailed Beast's, and with his Infinity Mode reducing energy consumption by fifty times, he could fight for months like the Sage of the Six Paths if he wanted to.
"Forget it. I've played enough for today. You're strong; I acknowledge you," Uchiha Madara said. Then, he took off like a shot.
He didn't run. He flew. Using the power of the Rinnegan, he soared toward the horizon.
"Oh? Running away already?" Tonbo shouted at the top of his lungs. Madara didn't look back.
"Quick, after him! He's heading toward the other battlefield!" Tsunade urged.
Shimmer!
Tonbo looked up. "Lady Tsunade, someone is looking for you. Gaara!"
Gaara understood immediately. A platform of sand rose beneath their feet, lifting the group to pursue Madara. While Tsunade was still confused, a familiar presence approached her soul.
"Dan? Why are you here?"
The chase was on: Uchiha Madara in the lead, followed by the Five Kage and Tonbo.
Click!
A shadow clone of Tonbo appeared mid-air with a camera.
"Perfect. Headline: Uchiha Madara defeated by Tonbo Tobitake-led Kage Squad, flees in disgrace." Tonbo was already planning the future magazine layout.
"Eh? The Five Kage are gone. What do we do?"
"Follow them!"
"Order: Everyone stay put and recover! Going there now will only get us in the way!"
In the Alliance ranks, the jonin like Temari and Motoi quickly issued the most sensible orders.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Madara looked back at his pursuers and instantly created over twenty wood clones.
"Without the Alliance supporting you, I wonder how long it will take you to deal with these," he said before turning away. He believed twenty Kage-level clones were more than enough to handle the six of them.
"Can you give me your chakra?" Onoki asked, remembering the previous tactic.
"No problem." Tonbo shifted from extracting their chakra to pumping his own into Onoki. He couldn't let himself be the only one performing, or every eye in the world would be on him, which went against his "low-profile" (relative) plan.
"Particle Style!"
Roar!
Kakashi, Guy, Naruto, and Bee—alongside Tonbo's clone—were dodging a flurry of giant roots. In the distance, the other main divisions of the army were rapidly approaching.
Swoosh!
At that moment, Uchiha Madara arrived, landing beside Obito.
"You didn't follow the plan... whatever. It's normal. Everyone has their own thoughts," Madara noted. A connector tube emerged from behind him, linking him to the Ten-Tails just like Obito. Together, they took control of the beast.
"This world is full of surprises. No one can control everything. But after today, there will be no more surprises," Obito said, glancing at Madara.
Madara was about to speak when he noticed the Tonbo clone dealing with the Ten-Tails. "Heh. That kid from back then has grown up. I want intel on him. Do you know him?"
To think the brat dared to use shadow clones to split his power while fighting him. Madara felt slighted.
"Of course. The strongest Genjutsu ninja in the world today. His name is Tonbo Tobitake. Do not underestimate him; his Genjutsu can even ensnare the ocular power of the Rinnegan..."
Obito began to relay everything he knew about Tonbo, specifically his terrifying illusionary capabilities.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!