Chapter 356: Accelerating
Rumble!
As time passed, the world-shaking cataclysm began to subside. However, the Allied Forces had already suffered devastating losses.
"So this is the power of the Ten-Tails..."
Despair gripped the ranks, especially as they looked around at their dwindling numbers. Many were exhausted, their chakra reserves drained simply from surviving the elemental onslaught.
"Naruto, Lord Fourth, I have a plan..."
Shikaku's voice suddenly reached the ears of Naruto and Minato. After hearing the strategy, the father and son nodded and began weaving through the Alliance ranks.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
"This is... such intense chakra... it's about three times stronger than before!"
The Allied ninjas began to glow with the crimson chakra of the Nine-Tails. They felt a sudden surge of immense power.
"Tonbo, using this chakra, can you separate those two from the Ten-Tails?" Shikaku's plan materialized in Tonbo's mind.
"No problem."
Tonbo, naturally, was ready. During the chaos, he had successfully harvested a massive amount of data regarding the Ten-Tails' structure.
"The Ten-Tails' last move likely requires a period of charging. We must ensure it doesn't fire again, or the entire Alliance... might be..." Shikaku began, but he didn't finish the sentence.
Across the field, the Ten-Tails was already condensing another Tailed Beast Bomb. Having used the cataclysm to break Tonbo's hurricane and cripple the army, Obito didn't hesitate for a second.
"Sage Art: Gracious Deity Gates!"
From the sky, massive torii gates descended, slamming into the Ten-Tails to suppress its will to fight. The gathering Tailed Beast Bomb began to dissipate.
"Seize the opening!" Hashirama's voice rang out.
"Got it."
Tonbo didn't waste words and began aggregating the Alliance's newfound power. The Ten-Tails' strength was indeed monstrous; its chakra was something he couldn't yet match. To influence a continental plate beyond one's sensory range—Tonbo admitted he couldn't achieve that even at full power.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Just as the Alliance prepared to strike, several figures appeared: Sasuke, Juugo, Orochimaru, and the rest. The reinforcements from the Fourth Division were also slowly arriving. The grand battle was poised on a knife-edge. Faced with the total assault of the Alliance, the Ten-Tails began budding off smaller clones to intercept the thousands of ninjas.
Boom!
Whoosh—!
The connector tubes were severed from Uchiha Madara and Obito's bodies, forced loose by one of Tonbo's arrows. Sensing the opening, Kakashi showcased his tactical genius by using Kamui to warp Obito away.
Uchiha Madara found himself squared off against Hashirama. The Konoha 11 began their skirmish against the Ten-Tails' splinter clones. Naruto and Sasuke, after a brief, tense exchange, decided to prioritize neutralizing the Ten-Tails itself. The various Kage also took the stage, unleashing their trump cards.
Katsuyu, Gamakichi, Aoda... The legendary summons appeared one after another.
"Not so fast. You have to get through me first if you want to pass."
As the Kage moved to assist the main army, a Swirly White Zetsu appeared. Accompanying him was a colossal Wood Golem. Displaying high-level combat experience, he easily pinned down several Kage-level fighters, looking remarkably relaxed while doing so.
Swoosh!
"Long time no see, Tonbo Tobitake," Orochimaru said, landing beside Tonbo with a smirk.
"Mhm, long time no see. Instead of helping, you ran over here—do you need something?" Tonbo asked, his hands never stopping. He continued using the Alliance's chakra to provide tactical support to the front lines.
"I want to ask for your help in obtaining data on the Ten-Tails. As perfect as possible. I know you have a jutsu that can directly read the internal data of objects and biological entities. I need that."
Orochimaru didn't mince words, making his demand directly.
"Heh~ you certainly aren't polite. But I'll need a favor from you in return later. You won't refuse, will you?" Tonbo raised an eyebrow. This Orochimaru was as sharp and shrewd as ever.
"Of course. We have the potential for cooperation..." Orochimaru spoke solemnly, notably refraining from flicking his long tongue.
Tonbo had been hiding his strength; even now, facing the Ten-Tails, he hadn't gone all out. Combined with the intel Orochimaru had gathered, he deduced that Tonbo was a pragmatic egoist—a trait very similar to his own. However, Tonbo's selfishness was paired with a certain generosity when it was convenient for him. He cared more about his own interests than the opinions of others.
"After the war, we'll have a proper talk."
"You seem very certain that our side will be the winner?"
"I've heard Lord Jiraiya's prophecy. They are destined to lose."
Due to certain "deliberate controls" by a specific individual, the battlefield developed exactly as he envisioned.
Obito became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and the Divine Tree was summoned. Tonbo took the opportunity while Obito was transforming to transfer his neural threads onto Obito's body, harvesting data on the Jinchuriki form and the power of Six Paths Yin-Yang Release.
Faced with Six Paths Obito, Minato and the Third Hokage were easily handled. Naruto, however, took the chance to master a stable Sage-Fox Mode—a perfect fusion of natural energy and chakra. Naruto and Sasuke, aided by the two Flying Raijin users, eventually managed to pull the Tailed Beasts out of Obito.
The success was largely due to Naruto's legendary "Talk-no-Jutsu." As they spoke, Tonbo sensed the power of Ninshu—the spiritual connection between chakras. This was Hagoromo's original intent. That connection was what ultimately dragged Obito back.
Bang!
Tonbo also experimented: attacks that didn't contain Sage Jutsu were indeed useless against Six Paths Obito. It was as if he were immune to pure chakra. However, indirect techniques like Shadow Possession still had an effect. It seemed there was still much about chakra he didn't understand.
Everything proceeded according to Tonbo's predictions. Though the process differed from the "original" history, Uchiha Madara eventually became the Six Paths Madara.
"The world shall reach its end. Hashirama, it seems my ideals will change the world faster than yours."
Empowered by the Six Paths, Uchiha Madara was untouchable. He hovered in the air, looking down at everyone with god-like indifference.
"Only Sage Jutsu and pure physical attacks are effective now. I'm out of options..." Minato, having lost both arms, could only watch helplessly.
"It is time to show the power of youth. The proud Blue Beast of the Leaf is about to step aside for the Red Beast. I will burn to protect what matters!" Might Guy declared, flashing his signature white teeth.
Kakashi: "Guy, don't tell me you're..."
"Exactly."
"Guy-sensei, is it really time for that?" Rock Lee asked, though he already knew the answer.
"You said it. I've always told you that you look better in red, Guy. Let the 'Two Colors of the Leaf' take the stage once more."
Suddenly, Tonbo Tobitake descended from the sky. In his hands, he held a large mass of white, pulsating matter.
"But before you open the Gate of Death, let's plant this thing in you first."
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