"Were Sasuke and I truly brothers in our previous lives?"
"This fool actually shares such a connection with me."
The thoughts that raced through Naruto and Sasuke's minds carried vastly different emotional undertones as they processed the cosmic revelations that had just been shared with them. The complexity of emotions reflected in their eyes as they studied each other spoke to the profound nature of what they had learned about their intertwined destinies.
These two had grown up together, their lives intersecting and diverging in patterns that had seemed like mere coincidence but now revealed themselves as the working of forces far greater than individual choice. Although they shared no blood relationship in their current incarnations, no family ties that bound them by conventional understanding, they possessed something perhaps more profound—an intuitive understanding of each other's deepest thoughts and motivations that transcended normal friendship.
Although they quarreled frequently, their disputes carrying the intensity that only came from caring deeply about someone's choices and actions, the fundamental truth remained unchanged: they were each other's closest friends, the people who understood their dreams and fears better than anyone else in the world.
"Naruto... Sasuke..."
Minato's shadow clone observed both young men with the careful attention of someone trying to read the subtle signs that would indicate how this revelation might affect their future actions. According to the Sage of Six Paths' explanation, the reincarnation chakra of Indra and Asura was literally attached to their current forms, spiritual energy that carried with it the accumulated resentments and conflicts of countless previous incarnations.
This inherited chakra possessed the potential to influence their wills, to gradually push them toward the same patterns of hostility and mutual destruction that had defined every previous generation of reincarnations across the centuries.
But if they had never been told about these forces operating within their lives, if they had been allowed to continue developing their relationship based purely on their experiences in this incarnation, there was every reason to believe that the bond between Naruto and Sasuke would never have deteriorated into the kind of fratricidal conflict that had destroyed Indra and Asura.
However, revealing this information had been the Sage of Six Paths' intention from the beginning. He sought to finally resolve the ancient feud that had persisted for thousands of years, to break the cycle of reincarnation and conflict that had plagued his sons' souls across multiple lifetimes.
He wanted to discover what choices Naruto and Sasuke would make after learning about their cosmic heritage, whether knowledge of their past would drive them toward repetition of ancient mistakes or inspire them to forge a different path entirely.
The two young shinobis looked at each other across the space that separated them, and after a moment of profound silence, identical smiles spread across their faces.
Naruto turned toward Minato's clone, crossing his hands behind his head in the characteristic gesture that had marked his approach to challenges throughout his entire life, and laughed with the kind of wholehearted enthusiasm that had always defined his personality.
"Dad, I'm not some ancient spirit named Asura—I'm the son of Konoha's Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina! My name is Namikaze Naruto, and I'm the man who's going to surpass all previous Hokage and inherit the title myself!"
His voice carried the absolute conviction of someone whose sense of identity was rooted in love, friendship, and personal choice rather than cosmic destiny or inherited obligation.
"Right now, I just want to protect my family and friends, defeat Madara, and win this war!"
The declaration was simple, direct, and completely authentic—exactly the kind of response that had made Naruto such an effective agent of change throughout his young life.
At the same moment, Sasuke's expression shifted into his characteristic smirk, the expression that had always indicated his amusement at the complexity of situations that others found overwhelming.
"What a boring history," he said with casual dismissal, his tone carrying none of the anger or resentment that might have been expected from learning about ancient conflicts. "I have no interest in whatever that Indra person wanted to accomplish with his existence."
His dark eyes gleamed with the same determination that had driven him to excel throughout his entire life, but now that drive was focused on goals that transcended personal ambition or family obligation.
"I am Uchiha Sasuke of the Uchiha clan, and at this moment I have only one objective that matters to me."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle before delivering his conclusion with absolute certainty.
"To end this war and continue living alongside my family and friends!"
At this declaration, Naruto and Sasuke's eyes met once again, and the understanding that passed between them was deeper than words could express. Their smiles carried the recognition of two people who had found themselves on the same side of a cosmic conflict, united not by destiny or inherited obligation but by conscious choice and mutual respect.
"Heh..."
Minato's smile was gentle but tinged with the complex emotions of someone watching his son and his student transcend forces that had shaped history for millennia. The sight filled him with pride that went beyond normal parental satisfaction—this was the recognition of witnessing something truly unprecedented in the cosmic order.
"Then please be patient for just a little while longer."
His expression grew more serious as he considered the tactical requirements that remained unfulfilled. He had not yet succeeded in extracting the missing Tailed Beast chakra from Madara for Naruto's use, which meant that the Sage of Six Paths could not yet transfer the divine power that would be necessary for the final confrontation.
The cosmic forces of Yin and Yang were complementary by their very nature, requiring perfect balance to function at their highest levels. This meant that the power could not be granted to Sasuke alone, even though his spiritual development had already reached the necessary threshold.
Both forces would need to be delivered simultaneously, or the imbalance could prove more dangerous than beneficial.
BOOM!
The conversation was interrupted by another massive explosion that carved yet another enormous crater into the battlefield, this one measuring hundreds of meters in diameter. The detonation sent shockwaves through the earth that could be felt for miles in every direction, announcing to anyone within range that the battle between cosmic forces had entered a new phase of intensity.
Due to the continuous fighting between techniques that operated beyond normal limitations, the area that had originally been surrounded by peaceful mountains had been transformed into something that resembled the aftermath of divine warfare. Ancient stone formations that had stood for millennia had been reduced to rubble, and the very geography of the region was being rewritten by forces that treated solid matter as a minor inconvenience.
After the explosion's initial fury began to subside, thick smoke billowed across the devastated landscape, obscuring visibility and creating an atmosphere that seemed almost supernatural in its density and persistence.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind erupted from the center of the massive crater, dispersing the smoke with supernatural force and revealing what lay beneath.
Swish!
Without hesitation, Minato launched himself directly toward Madara's position at the epicenter of the destruction. His enhanced speed carried him across the broken landscape with the fluid grace that had made him legendary, but his analytical mind was already processing what his enhanced perception was revealing about his opponent's condition.
The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki had indeed taken the full force of the Sage Art Rasenshuriken technique at point-blank range, and the effects were visible despite his enhanced durability. Of course, it would have been unrealistic to expect that even such a powerful attack could leave someone of Madara's cosmic capabilities completely unharmed.
But the technique that had once been capable of completely destroying a human being's chakra pathway system, the attack that could render even legendary shinobi permanently incapacitated with a single direct hit, had managed to inflict only superficial damage on Madara's transformed physiology.
Large scratches covered his exposed skin, testament to the cutting winds that had found their way through his defenses. Some of the wounds appeared deeper than others, actual bleeding visible where the enhanced wind blades had managed to penetrate beyond the surface level.
However, even as Minato observed these injuries, they were healing at a rate that was visible to the naked eye. The combined regenerative capabilities of the Ten-Tails' life force and Hashirama Senju's genetic material were proving capable of repairing damage almost as quickly as it could be inflicted.
More concerning still, Madara's body structure had been fundamentally altered by his transformation into a divine being. The conventional methods of inflicting fatal damage that worked against normal human physiology were simply ineffective against someone whose very existence operated according to cosmic principles.
With Minato's current power level, causing meaningful harm to Madara represented the absolute limit of what was achievable through direct assault.
But the Fourth Hokage had no intention of giving his opponent time to recover completely. He would press his advantage while Madara was still dealing with the aftereffects of the previous attack, using this window of opportunity to accomplish his true objective.
He needed to extract the chakra of the missing Tailed Beasts for Naruto's use!
Madara's emotional state at this moment transcended the normal anger that might be expected from someone who had just been injured by an inferior opponent. Throughout his long life, his characteristic response to encountering worthy adversaries had been excitement rather than hostility—the thrill of facing someone who could provide genuine challenge and push him to greater heights of achievement.
But with Minato, the dynamic was completely different. There was no enjoyment in this confrontation, no satisfaction in testing his abilities against a skilled opponent. There was only the burning desire to eliminate this persistent threat as quickly and efficiently as possible.
BOOM!
His will reached out to the God Tree, and the massive entity responded with immediate obedience. The branches that had momentarily slowed their assault while Madara dealt with his injury suddenly resumed their attack with renewed ferocity, their movements coordinated and purposeful as they sought to overwhelm the remaining members of the Allied Forces.
Where Naruto and Sasuke maintained their positions, the branches of the God Tree descended like a living tsunami, covering the sky and earth with tentacle-like appendages that moved with predatory intelligence.
"This is so annoying!"
Both young shinobis turned to face this new threat with expressions of irritation rather than fear. Their enhanced abilities and legendary teamwork made them more than capable of dealing with animated plant matter, regardless of its supernatural origins.
They directed the Nine-Tails avatar and Perfect Susanoo to launch coordinated attacks against the approaching branches, their combined techniques creating devastation that carved through the God Tree's assault with surgical precision.
At the same time, in a different section of the battlefield, Kushina found herself facing an equally intense assault from the God Tree's expanding network. The red-haired woman whose fierce temperament had once intimidated even the Nine-Tails was struggling against an enemy that seemed to regenerate faster than she could damage it.
Kushina's chakra reserves had been significantly depleted by her previous assistance to both Naruto and Minato, sharing her connection to Kurama's power across multiple spatial transfers that had drained her own energy significantly. Her normally formidable combat capabilities were operating at reduced efficiency, making her vulnerable in ways that her pride found difficult to accept.
Fortunately, Tsunade and Mei Terumi had positioned themselves within range to provide support when needed.
Just as Kushina's strength began to falter under the relentless assault, molten acid erupted across the battlefield, covering the attacking branches with corrosive substances that ate through their supernatural durability with ruthless efficiency. At the same moment, Tsunade's legendary physical strength manifested as she shattered all the remaining branches in front of Kushina with a single devastating blow.
"Lady Tsunade, Lady Mizukage, thank you."
Kushina's gratitude was sincere despite her obvious frustration at requiring assistance. Her shinobi's pride made accepting help difficult, but her tactical awareness recognized the necessity of the intervention.
"This is all we can do at the moment."
Mei Terumi's response carried the weight of someone who understood the broader strategic situation with perfect clarity. She was acutely aware of the position that Kushina occupied in Minato's heart, the emotional significance that transcended mere tactical considerations.
If Kushina were to be injured or endangered, Minato's focus would inevitably be divided between his cosmic battle with Madara and concern for his wife's safety. Such distraction could prove fatal when facing an opponent whose capabilities operated on divine levels.
Therefore, protecting Kushina represented the most meaningful contribution they could make to the overall war effort, even if it meant remaining distant from the main battle.
Tsunade nodded in agreement with this assessment and placed her palm against Kushina's back, medical chakra beginning to glow with soft green light as she worked to restore the depleted energy reserves that had been sacrificed for the greater good.
On the primary battlefield, Minato approached Madara's position once again, but before closing to combat range, another brilliant rain of chakra markers erupted from his back. The Flying Thunder God anchors spread across the area surrounding Madara's form, creating a three-dimensional network that would provide tactical options regardless of how the confrontation developed.
"This persistent fool..."
Even as Minato established his spatial network, his analytical mind was working through the larger strategic picture. In their previous exchanges, Madara had definitely not been utilizing the full extent of his capabilities. The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was holding something in reserve, and understanding the reason for this restraint was crucial for predicting his next moves.
The answer lay in Madara's invasion of his memories during their earlier confrontation. The ancient Uchiha had learned the hiding place of the second Rinnegan, the missing eye that was required for the completion of the Infinite Tsukuyomi technique.
Therefore, a significant portion of Madara's enhanced perception was currently dedicated to monitoring the underground areas around the battlefield, watching for any sign that Black Zetsu was approaching with the cosmic implement that would complete his transformation.
This divided attention represented a potential weakness that could be exploited, but only if Minato could prevent the arrival of that missing component until after he had accomplished his own objectives.
Suddenly, Madara raised his left hand once again, and the familiar sight of a Tailed Beast Ball began condensing in his palm with the speed of thought made manifest.
Minato's enhanced awareness detected the technique's formation, and his body disappeared from its current position in the space between heartbeats.
Bang!
The explosion that followed was every bit as devastating as its predecessors, painting the sky with colors that had no names in normal language and sending shockwaves through dimensions that existed beyond conventional perception.
Buzz!
Minato activated his defensive techniques once more, the spatial anchors he had distributed creating dimensional channels that diverted the explosion's impact away from critical areas. His own form was surrounded by the golden chakra of the Nine-Tails, enhanced now by the reality-affecting properties of Yin-Yang Release and senjutsu that allowed him to resist the devastating force of a cosmic-level attack.
His figure flickered in and out of visibility as he moved through the expanding light of the explosion, but his enhanced perception detected something different about Madara's defensive approach this time.
The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was not encasing himself within a protective sphere of Truth-Seeking Orbs as he had in previous exchanges. Instead, a thin film of repulsive force surrounded his form, deflecting the explosive effects with minimal energy expenditure.
"Interesting..."
Minato's eyes flickered with recognition as he processed the implications of this change in tactics. There was no question that this represented an excellent opportunity to close distance with his opponent while Madara's defenses were configured for area protection rather than point defense.
Such an opening was too valuable to waste, regardless of whatever trap might be concealed within the apparent vulnerability.
He immediately vanished from his current location, reappearing at the spatial marker that positioned him closest to Madara's back. From this angle, he would have the best chance of launching a successful attack before his opponent could fully adapt to the new threat vector.
Madara's enhanced awareness detected the spatial displacement immediately, and he began to turn with supernatural speed to face this new angle of assault.
Swish!
But Minato had anticipated this reaction and was already in motion again, abandoning the position he had just occupied to materialize directly in front of Madara's turning form. The timing was perfect—his opponent was caught mid-rotation, unable to complete his defensive maneuver before the new threat manifested.
"Excellent."
Madara's body suddenly straightened with fluid grace, and in a move that surprised even Minato's enhanced tactical awareness, he released his grip on the Truth-Seeking staff entirely. Instead of relying on cosmic weapons for this exchange, he reached out with his bare hand toward Minato's approaching form.
The gesture was so unexpected, so contrary to the tactical patterns that had defined their previous exchanges, that Minato found himself momentarily stunned by the audacity of the approach.
But even as surprise flickered through his consciousness, a different emotion quickly replaced it.
"What an excellent opportunity!"
This was exactly what he had been hoping for—direct physical contact with Madara's enhanced form, the kind of intimate connection that would allow him to attempt extraction of the Tailed Beast chakra that Naruto required.
Without hesitation, he extended his own palm toward Madara's approaching hand, accepting the challenge and the opportunity with equal enthusiasm.