BOOM!
The colossal form of the thousand-armed statue was cleaved completely in two with devastating finality, the legendary technique offering no resistance to the overwhelming power of the combined assault. The massive wooden construct, which had stood as a monument to the First Hokage's unparalleled might, crumbled into two distinct sections that toppled away from each other with earth-shaking force.
At the epicenter of this destruction, the First Hokage's reanimated form bore the severe consequences of his technique's annihilation. His chakra signature, which had blazed with legendary intensity throughout the battle, began to decline rapidly as the feedback from his technique's destruction coursed through his spiritual matrix.
"Mother!" Naruto called out, his voice carrying both urgency and renewed confidence as he prepared to capitalize on their hard-won advantage.
Kushina nodded with grim determination and immediately launched herself forward, her form streaking toward the fallen giants like a golden comet seeking its target.
Whoosh!
At that critical moment, Naruto raised both palms with focused intent, and brilliant golden chakra began to condense and take shape around his hands. The energy formed into countless ethereal claws that reached outward with predatory grace, each one targeting the diamond chains that Uzumaki Mito continued to deploy in her desperate defense.
"Be careful!" Kushina called out in urgent warning. "Those chains possess the specific power to suppress tailed beast chakra!"
Her reminder was crucial—Naruto's initial plan to neutralize Mito's defenses directly could have backfired catastrophically if his Nine-Tails chakra had come into direct contact with the legendary sealing chains.
Understanding the tactical problem immediately, Sasuke nodded with sharp focus and extended his arm. The patterns within his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan began to swirl with increased intensity, and light purple chakra began to emanate from his enhanced vision.
In response to his will, each of the golden chakra claws became wrapped in Susanoo energy, the ethereal purple light creating a protective barrier that would allow them to engage Mito's chains without risking chakra suppression.
CLANG!
The enhanced claws collided with Mito's diamond chains in a spectacular display of sparks and energy discharge. The protective Susanoo coating proved effective, allowing Naruto's constructs to grapple with the legendary sealing techniques without suffering the debilitating effects that would have otherwise neutralized his power.
With Mito's attention successfully diverted to this direct confrontation, Kushina found herself free to pursue her primary objective. The chains extending from her back retracted and coiled with serpentine grace before lashing out toward the broken remnants of the wooden giant where the First Hokage's true form lay concealed.
Swish!
Her enhanced sensory capabilities had already locked onto the First Hokage's distinctive chakra signature, making any attempt at concealment through Wood Release techniques completely futile. Even if Hashirama retained sufficient power to manipulate his surroundings, he could not mask the fundamental nature of his spiritual energy.
"It actually worked!" the Second Hokage exclaimed from his distant observation position, his voice carrying profound amazement that bordered on disbelief.
His analytical mind was struggling to process the implications of what he had just witnessed. During the legendary battle at the Valley of the End, Madara—wielding the complete power of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and backed by the full might of the Nine-Tails—had ultimately been defeated by the First Hokage's overwhelming techniques.
Yet today, two young warriors from Konoha, possessing comparable but not identical powers, had not only recreated that historic confrontation but had achieved the opposite outcome. Naruto and Sasuke had demonstrated capabilities that exceeded what Madara had been able to accomplish in his prime, successfully defeating the very legend who had once brought down the Ghost of the Uchiha himself.
"Victory!" Jiraiya's voice rang out across the battlefield, his weathered features transformed by an expression of pure elation.
The sentiment was immediately echoed by Shisui, Itachi, and every other Allied ninja who had witnessed this impossible triumph. After facing what had seemed like insurmountable odds, they had achieved something that defied all reasonable expectation.
"Has the Great Toad Sage's prophecy finally come to pass?" Jiraiya wondered internally, his thoughts drifting to the ancient predictions that had guided so much of his life's work.
Throughout this war, while Minato had undoubtedly served as the primary commander and main combat force, it was Naruto and Sasuke who had created what could only be described as genuine miracles. Their growth, their partnership, and their ultimate triumph represented something beyond mere tactical victory.
"Excellently done, Sasuke," Itachi said, his voice heavy with relief and unmistakable pride as he observed his younger brother's achievement.
He turned his attention to the Second Hokage with renewed hope. "Second Hokage-sama, you should be able to help the First Hokage break free from the Edo Tensei's control, shouldn't you?"
The tactical implications were enormous. If they could somehow convert the First Hokage from an enemy asset to an allied force, their chances of completely eliminating Madara would shift dramatically in their favor.
However, the Second Hokage's response was not what Itachi had hoped to hear.
"I'm afraid that's not possible," Tobirama replied with evident regret. "Even though I am the original developer of the Edo Tensei technique, there is only one method for canceling its effects once the reanimation has been established."
His expression grew more serious as he explained the fundamental limitation. "The technique can only be broken if the deceased individual possesses sufficient personal will to override the caster's control and performs the specific hand seal that releases the binding."
The explanation was sobering in its finality. Even though Naruto and Sasuke had successfully defeated the First Hokage, and even though Kushina was in the process of sealing his reanimated form, the legendary ninja's spiritual matrix remained under Madara's direct control.
"The reason I was able to achieve temporary freedom," Tobirama continued, "was because Itachi's genjutsu temporarily severed the caster's manipulation, creating a brief window during which my own will could reassert dominance."
The unspoken implication was clear—Madara would never voluntarily provide them with such an opportunity again.
"I see," Itachi replied, though disappointment was evident in his voice.
While gaining the First Hokage's active cooperation would have been an tremendous asset in their continuing struggle, it wasn't an absolute requirement for victory. They had already proven capable of overcoming legendary opposition through their own combined efforts.
Meanwhile, Kushina moved with determined speed toward the First Hokage's position. The combined assault from Naruto and Sasuke had inflicted significant damage on his reanimated form, leaving the Edo Tensei body partially destroyed. Fragments of the special paper that composed his artificial flesh drifted through the air, some pieces stained with the crimson traces that served as blood in reanimated bodies.
Just as she was about to reach her target, Kushina found her path blocked by Uzumaki Mito's reanimated form. Despite being engaged with Naruto and Sasuke's coordinated assault, Mito continued to extend diamond chains from her back, maintaining her defensive pattern with remarkable tenacity.
Upon seeing Mito's face, Kushina's expression immediately grew more conflicted and emotionally charged. This wasn't simply another enemy to be defeated—this was the person she had respected above all others, the woman who had served as her role model and inspiration.
Mito had died with the noble intention of protecting Konoha, dedicating her entire existence to the village's welfare and security. To see her being manipulated by Madara, forced to destroy the very things she had once held most sacred, filled Kushina with a rage that transcended personal anger.
Yet despite the corruption of Edo Tensei control, one fundamental aspect of Mito's nature had remained unchanged throughout her reanimation. Even now, in this twisted form, she continued to protect the man she loved above all others with unwavering devotion.
BOOM!
Dark golden chakra erupted from beneath Kushina's feet like liquid fire, the energy rising to envelop her entire form in radiant light. However, the illumination appeared somewhat dimmer and more translucent than her previous displays, indicating that the Nine-Tails within her seal had only managed to recover a limited amount of chakra during the brief respite.
Focusing her will, Kushina caused the golden light surrounding her to gather and condense into the form of an enormous chakra hand. The construct reached out with deliberate purpose, seeking to grasp Mito and bring her under control.
Mito, already pushed to her absolute limits by the coordinated assault from Sasuke and Naruto, possessed no remaining power to mount effective resistance against this new attack. Her defensive capabilities had been completely exhausted by the sustained battle.
Kushina's hands moved through a complex series of sealing techniques, and immediately specialized sealing patterns began to appear across the surface of her chakra construct. The markings glowed with power specifically designed to disrupt Edo Tensei control mechanisms.
As the sealing energy took effect, Mito's darkened eyes—which had shown only the vacant stare of reanimated control—gradually began to regain their natural light and awareness. The diamond chains extending from her back faded and dissipated as her authentic consciousness reasserted dominance over her actions.
After a brief moment of disorientation and shock, Mito raised her head to look directly at Kushina. Recognition dawned in her features, and her expression transformed from confusion to warm understanding.
"Kushina," Mito said with a gentle smile that seemed to illuminate her entire face, "you've grown into such a remarkable woman."
While physical appearances might change over the years, the fundamental nature of an individual's chakra signature remained constant. Mito, with her exceptional sensory abilities, had immediately identified the young woman before her.
"Yes!" Kushina replied, her voice thick with emotion as conflicting feelings played across her features. After several moments of internal struggle, she nodded vigorously, unable to trust her voice for more complex words.
"I apologize for causing you such tremendous trouble," Mito continued, her smile never wavering despite the circumstances. "However, I can see that you have far surpassed those of us from previous generations."
Her words carried deeper meaning than simple encouragement. Mito's enhanced perception allowed her to sense far more than just Kushina's individual chakra signature—she could detect the bonds, the growth, and the fundamental changes that marked this new generation.
"And it appears that you are living a truly happy life," Mito observed, her gaze shifting to where Naruto stood within the armored Nine-Tails construct. "That young man must be your son."
Her ancient eyes studied Naruto's energy patterns with the expertise of someone who had spent decades working with tailed beast chakra.
"This child's chakra feels incredibly bright and warm," she concluded with evident approval.
Kushina nodded, then carefully moved around Mito's position to approach the fallen First Hokage. She unrolled a specialized sealing scroll with practiced efficiency, her hands already moving through the preparatory techniques required for containing an Edo Tensei reanimation.
The scroll's binding patterns wrapped around the First Hokage's damaged form, and the sealing technique activated with decisive finality.
As the spiritual constraints took hold, Hashirama's consciousness gradually returned to him, his awareness slowly filtering back through the layers of external control that had been imposed upon his reanimated form.
BOOM!
The moment the First Hokage regained his authentic consciousness, the remaining fragments of his massive wooden constructs—the damaged humanoid figure and the broken thousand-armed statue—collapsed instantly. The techniques, no longer sustained by active will, reverted to ordinary wood and crumbled into countless blocks and splinters that scattered across the battlefield.
Kushina quickly gathered both the First Hokage and Mito, carrying them away from the zone of falling debris to a safer position where the other Allied forces had gathered.
"That damned Madara," the First Hokage growled, his voice heavy with frustration and righteous anger.
Even though he had regained full consciousness and awareness, the black chakra receiver embedded in his back continued to impose physical restraints on his movement. Madara's control mechanisms remained partially active, preventing him from taking any direct action.
"This phase is now complete," Kushina declared, looking up at where Naruto and Sasuke stood within their merged construct. "Go finish what we started."
Both young warriors exchanged a look of perfect understanding and shared determination, then nodded in unison.
BANG!
The massive armored form suddenly surged into motion, its enormous frame accelerating with surprising speed as it rushed toward the distant battlefield where Minato and Madara continued their epic confrontation.