"Bang, bang, bang!"
When the Second Hokage's somewhat cold and emotionless voice finished echoing through the water-filled battlefield, the entire spherical water barrier suddenly erupted into a hell of fire and destruction. Burning flames filled every cubic inch of the aquatic prison as the carefully placed explosive tags began their devastating chain reaction.
The continuous explosions occurred one after another in a precisely orchestrated symphony of destruction, each detonation triggering multiple others in an exponentially expanding cascade of explosive force. The sound was deafening, like the roar of a thousand dragons awakening simultaneously, and the very air itself seemed to catch fire from the overwhelming release of energy.
The sustained explosive barrage shattered the water wall that had imprisoned Itachi, turning the carefully constructed aquatic technique into countless droplets that were immediately vaporized by the intense heat. The destruction completely submerged both Itachi and his Susanoo in a maelstrom of flame, smoke, and concussive force that would have instantly killed any normal ninja.
"Itachi!"
High above in the sky, Sai stood on his ink bird mount, his usually composed features twisted with genuine alarm and concern. The young Root operative had witnessed many battles throughout his training, but the sheer scale of destruction unfolding below was beyond anything he had previously experienced.
However, despite his worry for his team leader, Sai understood with painful clarity that his current strength provided no avenue for intervention in a battle of this legendary caliber. The gap between his abilities and those being displayed by the combatants below was as vast as the distance between earth and sky.
The other members of the surprise attack force shared similar feelings of helplessness mixed with faith. While they were all concerned for Itachi's welfare, none of them truly believed that the prodigy of the Uchiha clan would be defeated so easily, even by an opponent of the Second Hokage's stature.
In the dense forest below, the thunderous sound of explosive tags detonating continued to reverberate through the landscape like an endless storm. Trees that had stood for centuries were reduced to splinters and ash, while the very ground itself was carved into a crater by the concentrated force of the blasts.
The explosions lasted for several agonizing minutes that felt like hours to the watching ninja above. The frequency of detonations gradually decreased as the supply of explosive tags was finally exhausted, and the forest fell into an eerie silence broken only by the crackling of scattered fires and the settling of debris.
When the smoke and dust finally began to clear, the full extent of the damage became visible. In the center of the explosion crater, even Itachi's armored Susanoo had been severely damaged, its ethereal form bearing multiple fractures and breaks without the protective power of the Yata Mirror to shield it from harm.
A single explosive tag, no matter how expertly crafted, would have had no meaningful effect on the supernatural defenses provided by Susanoo. But over such an extended period of time, the number of detonators that had exploded in carefully orchestrated sequence represented an astronomical quantity of concentrated destructive force.
Especially this kind of continuous, precisely targeted bombardment – the cumulative power was truly staggering to behold. It spoke to both the Second Hokage's tactical genius and the terrifying resources at their enemies' disposal that such a sustained assault could be mounted against a single target.
Itachi's expression had grown noticeably more solemn as he stood within his damaged Susanoo, surrounded by the skeletal framework that bore countless fracture lines and stress marks from the prolonged assault. Despite his legendary composure, even he couldn't entirely hide his surprise at the effectiveness of the attack.
He sighed deeply and spoke with a wry smile that carried both respect and concern, "As expected of the Second Hokage. What a devastatingly powerful and sophisticated attack strategy."
Itachi didn't know the identity of the person who was controlling the legendary Second Hokage's reanimated form, but the fighting skills and tactical acumen they had displayed were obviously those of someone extremely skilled in both combat and strategy. The coordination required to execute such a complex multi-stage assault was beyond the capabilities of most ninja.
Just as Minato had suspected during his strategic planning, among Madara's Edo Tensei army, it wasn't only the First Hokage who had retained the full measure of his former legendary strength and abilities. The reanimated fighters were being controlled by someone who understood how to maximize their potential.
"The damage to Susanoo is really quite serious," Itachi observed with clinical detachment as he quickly assessed the structural integrity of his ethereal guardian.
A swift visual inspection revealed that his Susanoo bore numerous broken marks and stress fractures all across its surface. The spiritual construct that had once seemed impregnable now appeared fragile and vulnerable, like a masterwork sculpture that had been subjected to too much force.
Therefore, this devastating bombardment was probably only the opening phase of the enemy's comprehensive battle plan. The strategy was becoming clear – first weaken or destroy his primary defenses, then attack his physical form directly while he was most vulnerable.
Swoosh!
A brilliant white streak of light materialized behind Itachi's position with such sudden speed that it seemed to tear through the very fabric of space itself. The attack rushed toward the exposed sections of his damaged Susanoo at a velocity that even someone of Itachi's exceptional reflexes had difficulty processing and responding to.
Recognizing the critical nature of the moment, Itachi pressed his right eye with his palm, channeling chakra through the contact point. The intricate pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan began to solidify and take shape between his fingers, preparing to unleash one of his most devastating techniques.
"It was indeed a meticulously planned operation," he acknowledged with grudging professional admiration. "However, if I utilize the full power of this right eye..."
"Boom!"
Just as the Second Hokage was about to reach the critical breaking points in Susanoo's defensive structure, black flames suddenly erupted from the deep red skeletal framework. The cursed fire of Amaterasu rose like a living entity, its midnight darkness providing a stark contrast to the red chakra of the Susanoo.
The black flames burned with supernatural intensity, then began to stretch and flow like a sentient creature responding to its master's will. The fire moved purposefully to cover the exposed flaws and vulnerable points in the Susanoo's structure, creating an additional layer of deadly protection.
The Second Hokage, who had been mere moments away from making contact with his target, suddenly halted his advance with the instantaneous reflexes that had made him legendary. At the same time, Itachi, still protected within his damaged Susanoo, turned around slowly to face his opponent with cold determination.
Hiss!
Part of the black flames that had been providing defensive coverage suddenly transformed, reshaping themselves with fluid grace into arrow-like projectiles that launched toward the Second Hokage with lethal intent. The Amaterasu arrows moved with the speed of thought, their cursed fire promising eternal burning for anything they touched.
At this close distance, there should have been no possibility of dodging the attack, even for someone capable of using advanced space-time ninjutsu techniques. The projectiles covered too much area and moved too quickly for conventional evasion.
"The massive explosion just now must have destroyed all the nearby Flying Thunder God markers," Itachi observed with a slight chuckle, his tactical mind having worked through the implications of the sustained bombardment.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, the Second Hokage opened his mouth and released several rays of concentrated light. Multiple needle-thin streams of water shot out with incredible precision, each one striking one of the arrows formed by Amaterasu. The impact caused the cursed fire projectiles to slow their advance slightly, creating a narrow window of opportunity.
The Second Hokage seized this momentary advantage to retreat rapidly, his body moving with the fluid grace that had made him one of the most feared fighters in ninja history. His legendary speed and tactical awareness allowed him to create distance between himself and the deadly flames.
Despite his quick thinking and faster reflexes, the black flame arrow at the very edge of the formation still managed to make contact with the Second Hokage's shoulder. The cursed fire immediately burst into fierce burning, the eternal flames beginning to consume the reanimated flesh with supernatural hunger.
Seeing the dire threat posed by the spreading Amaterasu, the controlled Second Hokage responded without the slightest hesitation or regard for pain. He drew a kunai with lightning speed and chopped directly at the area where the black flames had not yet managed to spread their cursed burning.
An entire arm and part of the shoulder were severed cleanly, the limbs falling to the ground as the Second Hokage demonstrated the ruthless pragmatism that had made him an effective leader during the most violent period of ninja history. Remarkably, there was no trace of pain or distress visible on his dirt-cracked features.
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied his opponent's reaction, his analytical mind noting details that others might have missed. His attention focused intently on the Second Hokage's eyes, searching for clues about the nature of the control being exerted over the legendary figure.
There seemed to be some kind of distinctive pattern or texture visible in those dark, earth-tainted eyes – something that didn't belong to the natural appearance of the Edo Tensei technique.
"I see. So this is genjutsu-based control," Itachi murmured with the satisfaction of someone solving a complex puzzle.
He immediately identified the source of the abnormality he had observed in the Second Hokage's eyes. The person who had cast this controlling illusion on the legendary ninja must be Madara himself, using his own advanced ocular techniques to ensure perfect obedience from his reanimated army.
"This child actually knows how to use Kagutsuchi?"
Hidden somewhere in the depths of the forest, Black Zetsu observed the battle through his sensory network, his voice carrying genuine surprise and concern. The ancient manipulator had been watching the confrontation with professional interest, but this latest development caught him off guard.
He was quite familiar with the Mangekyō Sharingan abilities possessed by Itachi and other members of his generation. According to all available intelligence, Itachi should not have possessed the flame manipulation techniques associated with Kagutsuchi.
But with his vast knowledge and experience, Black Zetsu understood the truth almost instantly, his ancient mind piecing together the implications with disturbing clarity.
"Those are Sasuke's eyes. They exchanged their ocular abilities somehow. That's why the people of Konoha arranged this," he realized with growing alarm.
"Could it be that they're attempting to analyze the information left on the ancient stone tablet?" The possibility sent chills through his consciousness as he contemplated the strategic implications.
Black Zetsu's strange eyes trembled with agitation as he spoke to himself, "If Sasuke is truly the reincarnation of that person, has he successfully awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"The people of Konoha have actually achieved this level of development?"
He couldn't help but exclaim in genuine amazement, his voice carrying both respect and fear for what such advancement might mean for his carefully laid plans. His ancient mind immediately began calculating countermeasures and adjustments to his strategy.
"It seems that I need to guide Obito to collect the remaining Tailed Beasts as quickly as possible, ensuring that Madara can become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki at the earliest opportunity," he concluded with cold determination.
"Otherwise, I'm afraid our entire plan will be subject to unexpected variables and potential failure."
After making these crucial calculations in his mind, Black Zetsu slowly began forming the hand seals necessary to influence the battle taking place in the forest clearing.
Meanwhile, the Second Hokage's severed arm was already beginning to regenerate as paper-like fragments quickly gathered at the break point, reassembling the lost limb through the power of Edo Tensei. The sight was both fascinating and disturbing, a reminder of the unnatural advantages possessed by the reanimated dead.
Of course, Itachi would not miss such an obvious opportunity to press his advantage, but given the legendary speed that the Second Hokage possessed, capturing him during this vulnerable moment would prove extremely difficult. The window of opportunity was narrow and closing rapidly.
While Itachi and the Second Hokage continued their high-level confrontation, Sai and his aerial reconnaissance friends made a disturbing discovery in the dense forest behind the primary battlefield where the two legendary figures clashed.
"White Zetsu?"
Sai's expression darkened considerably as he looked down at the dozens of pale, humanoid figures whose appearance and chakra fluctuations were unnaturally identical. His artistic training had given him an eye for detail, and the unnatural uniformity of the creatures below was immediately apparent.
The White Zetsu army represented a completely different type of threat from the reanimated legendary ninja. While individually they might not possess the overwhelming power of someone like the Second Hokage, their numbers and coordinated movements suggested a different kind of strategic nightmare.
At the same time, the intelligence about encountering this substantial group of White Zetsu was immediately transmitted back to the coalition headquarters through their communication network, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging tactical situation.
"There are so many White Zetsu present?"
Minato's expression grew more serious as he lowered his eyelids slightly, processing the implications of this new intelligence. At that same moment, a large number of dense light spots suddenly appeared across the surface of the huge sensory water sphere at the headquarters.
The display lit up like a constellation, each point representing a significant chakra signature that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The pattern suggested a coordinated emergence rather than a gradual buildup, indicating sophisticated planning and timing.
"Hokage-sama," Hatake Suzuka began to report, but when he turned his eyes back toward the leadership group, he found that Minato had already noticed the dramatic change in their sensor readings.
Minato's perception abilities were stronger and more refined than even Hatake Suzuka's considerable skills. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on Yamanaka Inoichi's shoulder to form a direct perception link, combining their sensory capabilities to get a clearer picture of what they were facing.
Not long after establishing the mental connection, Minato suddenly opened his eyes wide, his voice carrying genuine surprise and concern as he spoke.
"No wonder Madara felt confident enough to announce this war to the entire ninja world in advance. In addition to his army of Edo Tensei fighters, they actually possess such a devastating trump card."
"Hokage-sama, what exactly are we dealing with?" The Fourth Raikage asked immediately, his scarred features reflecting growing alarm as he glanced at the dense pattern of chakra fluctuations displayed on the water sphere.
Minato turned his piercing blue eyes toward the assembled leadership and delivered the intelligence that would reshape their understanding of the enemy's true capabilities.
"The enemy is commanding a massive army of White Zetsu and launching coordinated attacks from all directions simultaneously."
"A White Zetsu Army?"
Tsunade frowned deeply, her medical knowledge and research background allowing her to grasp the implications immediately. According to her previous analysis, the so-called White Zetsu were artificial life forms created and nurtured through the manipulation of the First Hokage's cellular material and chakra.
She had never been able to achieve such results in her own experiments with Hashirama's cells, despite decades of research. The fact that their enemies had not only mastered this process but had actually formed a large-scale army of these creatures was deeply troubling from both a strategic and scientific perspective.
"What are the numbers we're looking at?" the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki asked with growing concern. Although many dense spots of light were clearly visible on the chakra detection sphere, the specific count could not be accurately determined from the display alone.
The coalition forces of the five ninja nations combined with the samurai of the Iron Kingdom numbered in the tens of thousands – a substantial military force by any historical standard. So even if the enemy possessed an army composed entirely of White Zetsu, surely it couldn't realistically compete with the combined might of the allied forces?
However, Minato's next words caused everyone present in the command center to draw in a sharp breath of cold air, their faces paling as the true scale of the threat became clear.
"Approximately one hundred thousand."