BOOM!
The horrific explosion that erupted was beyond anything previously witnessed on this battlefield. Because it had detonated at the edge of the ring-shaped mountain barrier that enclosed their combat zone, the nearest peaks bore the full brunt of the devastating force.
When the expanding sphere of superheated destruction reached the first mountain, the portions that came into contact with the flames were instantly vaporized—not merely destroyed, but completely annihilated at the molecular level. The ancient stone and earth that had stood for millennia simply ceased to exist, leaving nothing behind but empty space.
The conflagration continued its relentless expansion, and entire mountains—massive geological formations that had dominated the landscape since time immemorial—were reduced to dust in mere seconds. The scale of destruction was so vast that it challenged the very concept of what ninjutsu could achieve.
As the explosion's sphere of influence expanded rapidly outward, it gradually reached the battlefield where Naruto and his allies continued their desperate struggle against legendary opponents.
Whoosh!
Sweat beaded on Deidara's forehead as he pushed his clay bird to its absolute limits, desperately maneuvering to escape the expanding zone of destruction. His visible eye, however, was filled not with fear but with ecstatic enthusiasm as he observed the magnificent devastation unfolding below.
"What absolutely magnificent art..." he breathed, his voice filled with the reverence of a true artist witnessing a masterpiece.
Fortunately, the assembled combatants on this battlefield were all elite ninja of exceptional capability. When the explosion's aftermath finally reached their position, each individual possessed sufficient skill to mount effective defenses against the overwhelming force.
Various protective techniques activated simultaneously—Susanoo constructs, earth barriers, sand shields, and water walls—creating a patchwork of defensive measures that barely managed to preserve the lives of those within.
As the flames and shockwaves finally subsided, the transformation of the landscape became visible in all its terrible glory. Where once there had been a ring of proud mountains enclosing their battlefield, now there existed only a massive basin. The crater measured nearly five kilometers in diameter and extended hundreds of meters deep into the earth, representing the complete destruction of countless tons of rock and soil.
The ring-shaped mountain belt that had defined this region for geological ages had simply ceased to exist.
The colossal thousand-armed statue stood at the very edge of this newly formed basin, its massive form somehow having survived the apocalyptic explosion that had reshaped the surrounding geography. Not far from it, the golden-wreathed Nine-Tails remained in position, its defiant stance unchanged despite the devastation.
On a battlefield section farther from the explosion's epicenter, several Susanoo constructs maintained protective positions around various personnel, their ethereal forms providing shelter against the lingering effects of the blast.
The golem's massive body bore the scars of the explosion, its surface charred black and presenting an even more ferocious appearance than before. Despite the damage, the creature remained active and dangerous.
The Second Hokage, protected within Uchiha Yoruki's Susanoo, gazed at the smoking basin with profound amazement. His analytical mind struggled to process the implications of what he was witnessing.
He had learned from Itachi that modern ninja revered Minato as a "God of Shinobi"—a title that had previously belonged exclusively to his elder brother. Minato's legendary status had been built primarily on his unparalleled speed, the Yellow Flash technique that had made him famous and feared across all the hidden villages.
For ordinary ninja, physical speed and strength served as the fundamental metrics for measuring combat effectiveness, followed by chakra reserves and mastery of various techniques. These were the standards by which most shinobi were evaluated and ranked.
However, the level of power being displayed by the First Hokage and Madara, as well as by Minato, Naruto, and Sasuke in the current conflict, had transcended the traditional scope of ninja abilities entirely. This was no longer a battle between skilled humans wielding supernatural techniques—this was combat between beings whose power approached the divine.
In conflicts of such magnitude, the conventional advantages that had once defined superior ninja became irrelevant. Speed, tactics, and technical skill—while still important—were overshadowed by raw power output. Unless one combatant possessed an absolute and overwhelming advantage, the sheer scale of destructive force available to each participant became the determining factor.
In such battles, even if Minato retained his speed advantage over Madara, that superiority would prove meaningless if he couldn't match his opponent's destructive capabilities.
What truly surprised the Second Hokage was the revelation that Minato's power had grown to monstrous proportions. An explosion of the magnitude they had just witnessed would have been capable of completely overwhelming even a complete Susanoo if it had been positioned at the blast's epicenter.
Following the explosion, it became impossible to visually track the positions of either Minato or Madara through the swirling debris and lingering energy distortions. However, his enhanced sensory abilities remained functional, allowing him to locate both combatants through their distinctive chakra signatures.
His perception guided his gaze to the upper portion of the massive crater formed by the explosion.
Huff... huff...
Madara's breathing had become labored, a clear indication that even his legendary endurance was being tested. He raised his arm defensively, and the light film capable of absorbing chakra techniques was clearly visible in front of his palm—the distinctive barrier technique that had saved his life countless times.
However, it was evident that even the combined protection of his complete Susanoo and the chakra-absorbing barrier had proven insufficient to completely block the devastating force of Minato's attack.
The distinctive armor he wore—styled similarly to that favored by both the First and Second Hokage during their era—was severely damaged, with large sections missing entirely and the remainder hanging in tatters.
With obvious irritation, Madara tore away the ruined armor completely, his eyes focusing with deadly intensity on Minato's position approximately one hundred meters away.
It was clear that Minato had also expended enormous energy in executing his previous attack. The dark golden aura that had been surrounding his form had become noticeably more translucent and unstable, indicating significant chakra depletion.
But the crucial fact remained—he had finally succeeded in breaking through Madara's legendary defenses.
"Just as I suspected," Minato murmured, his analytical mind processing the tactical implications.
In this moment of weakened defense, his enhanced senses detected no trace of the Limbo clone that had been harassing him throughout their battle. The technique's absence suggested that Madara couldn't maintain such power continuously, confirming a crucial limitation that could be exploited.
Swish!
Without hesitation, Minato launched himself toward his opponent. This represented the optimal opportunity to press his attack while Madara remained in a vulnerable state.
BANG!
But just as Minato began his assault, Madara's form suddenly vanished from its position, utilizing space-time manipulation to instantly relocate himself next to the thousand-armed statue where the First Hokage maintained his position.
Madara's eyes, now filled with cold calculation and growing frustration, locked onto Naruto with obvious predatory intent.
Minato's own spatial awareness proved equally agile. Almost the instant Madara's gaze fell upon his son, the Yellow Flash materialized beside Naruto in a defensive posture.
"Truly troublesome..." Madara's expression grew thunderously dark.
The variables in this battle had multiplied far beyond his original calculations. Even while successfully containing Minato's direct interference, the combined might of the golem and the First Hokage had proven insufficient to quickly subdue the Nine-Tails. The prolonged conflict was consuming resources and providing opportunities for unexpected developments.
His patience, legendary though it was, had finally reached its limit.
As Madara's strategic priorities shifted, the thousand-armed statue responded with renewed aggression, its massive form beginning to move with ominous purpose.
"This is catastrophic!" the Second Hokage exclaimed, his voice tight with alarm as he recognized the technique being prepared.
More than a thousand wooden appendages began extending outward from the statue's back, each one growing rapidly and reaching toward the sky with grasping intent. The sight was both magnificent and terrifying—a forest of giant arms preparing to deliver judgment upon everything within their reach.
Simultaneously, dramatic changes began manifesting in both the Nine-Tails' chakra and in Naruto himself. Orange eye shadow appeared around the corners of his eyes, overlapping with the golden light that surrounded him. His pupils, previously round, began to shift into the distinctive cross-shaped pattern associated with advanced sage techniques.
"You've mastered the fusion of senjutsu and Nine-Tails chakra so quickly?" Minato's voice carried profound shock.
The massive Tailed Beast Ball he had deployed against Madara had consumed enormous amounts of his chakra reserves, leaving him temporarily unable to mount effective resistance against the First Hokage's sage-enhanced attacks.
Whoosh!
Wave after wave of wooden palms descended from above like divine punishment, their size and number creating an almost impenetrable barrage of destruction.
The golden Nine-Tails responded with equal intensity, chakra rapidly condensing along each of its nine massive tails. The energy took the form of enormous palms that mirrored the incoming attacks, preparing to meet force with force.
Buzz!
Within each of the Nine-Tails' chakra constructs, brilliant blue energy began to condense and swirl with the distinctive patterns of advanced Rasengan techniques.
"Super Tailed Beast Ball Rasengan!" Naruto declared, his voice carrying the weight of absolute determination.
His enhanced eyes focused with laser precision as he launched a continuous barrage of super-massive Tailed Beast Ball variants to intercept the descending wooden assault.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The two techniques collided repeatedly in midair, creating a spectacular display of destruction as wood and chakra annihilated each other in brilliant flashes of light and sound.
However, the tactical reality quickly became apparent. Despite Naruto's heroic efforts and the incredible power he was wielding, the sheer number of wooden palms continued to increase with each passing moment. Even the combined might of the Nine-Tails and advanced senjutsu proved insufficient to completely counter the overwhelming assault.
Just as Minato prepared to abandon his own defensive position to assist his son, he suddenly detected the emergence of another powerful chakra signature on the battlefield.
A massive beam of lavender energy erupted skyward, rapidly condensing into the familiar form of a complete Susanoo. The ethereal warrior materialized with the majesty of a god of war descending to join the battle.
Sasuke, wielding his ultimate technique with renewed vigor, rushed toward the conflict zone with impressive speed. As his Susanoo moved, the construct's weapons traced brilliant arcs through the air, each slash generating waves of cutting energy that sought out their targets with deadly precision.
With this additional firepower, the wooden palms that had been threatening to overwhelm Naruto's defenses were systematically eliminated. The coordinated assault created gaps in the seemingly impenetrable attack pattern.
Within moments, the complete Susanoo had positioned itself directly alongside the Nine-Tails, the two titans standing as equals against their legendary opponent.
The attacks from both warriors intersected and combined, creating a defensive barrier that could challenge even the thousand-armed statue's overwhelming power.
BANG! BANG!
Despite their combined efforts, several wooden palms managed to penetrate their defenses, striking both the Nine-Tails and Susanoo with tremendous force. The impacts sent shockwaves through both constructs, causing visible damage to their forms.
Yet neither Naruto nor Sasuke showed any inclination to retreat. Faced with the relentless pressure of the continuing assault, both warriors actually moved closer together, their massive constructs gradually converging despite the punishment they were absorbing.
Gradually, the two enormous figures began to overlap, their forms pressed together by necessity and mutual support.
Sasuke and Naruto's eyes met across the chaos of battle, and in that moment something extraordinary occurred. Their breathing patterns began to synchronize, their consciousness achieving a level of coordination that transcended their individual capabilities.
Buzz!
As the two massive constructs leaned against each other for support, the different energies radiating from their forms began to interact in ways that defied conventional understanding. The golden light of the Nine-Tails and the purple radiance of the complete Susanoo started to gradually merge and interweave.