"This is impossible!"
The exclamation burst from Madara's lips with all the shock of someone whose fundamental understanding of reality had just been overturned. He had never anticipated that Sasuke could close the distance between them with such devastating speed, bypassing every defensive calculation he had made.
In front of the enormous form of the Perfect Susanoo, his enhanced physique appeared as insignificant as a speck of dust floating before a mountain. The ethereal shinobi's massive hands gripped twin blades that each measured hundreds of feet in length, their edges gleaming with chakra so concentrated it was visible to normal sight.
Both weapons descended toward Madara's position with enough force to cleave continents in half.
Whoosh!
The Truth-Seeking Orbs surrounding his form responded to his desperate will, flowing together like liquid mercury as they condensed into a defensive barrier that enclosed him within a sphere of absolute protection. The dark material pulsed with cosmic energy that had previously proven capable of negating any technique that came into contact with its surface.
BANG!
Sasuke's coordinated assault struck the barrier with thunderous impact, the collision creating shockwaves that rippled through multiple dimensions simultaneously. But something unprecedented occurred in that moment of contact—instead of being instantly dissolved by the Truth-Seeking Orbs' reality-negating properties, the Perfect Susanoo's blades maintained their structural integrity.
The enhancement that Sasuke had received from the Sage of Six Paths included access to genuine Six Paths chakra, cosmic energy that operated according to the same fundamental principles that governed Madara's own divine techniques. While this portion of inherited power wasn't sufficient to completely overpower the Truth-Seeking Orbs through direct confrontation, it was enough to neutralize their ability to render all ninjutsu meaningless through molecular dissolution.
Crack!
The Perfect Susanoo possessed legendary destructive capacity that had earned it recognition as a force capable of destroying anything in the universe, and even the cosmic defenses surrounding Madara began showing signs of structural failure under such overwhelming assault.
Hairline fractures appeared across the Truth-Seeking Orb barrier's surface, spreading outward like spider webs as the concentrated pressure found weak points in what should have been an impenetrable defense.
However, the tremendous impact generated by the collision had effects beyond simple structural damage. The defensive sphere, much smaller and lighter than the massive Perfect Susanoo that had struck it, was sent tumbling through the air by pure kinetic force before beginning a rapid descent toward the earth below.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke's voice rang out from high above, carrying across the battlefield with perfect clarity despite the enormous distances involved.
"I see him!"
Naruto's response was immediate and filled with the kind of tactical coordination that had defined their partnership since childhood. He launched himself through the air toward the trajectory where Madara was falling, his enhanced form moving with speed that left trails of golden light in his wake.
As he flew, chakra began condensing in his extended palm with the efficiency that came from perfect mastery over cosmic-level techniques.
"Sage Art: Lava Release: Rasenshuriken!"
The technique that took shape incorporated the distinctive properties of the Four-Tails' chakra, creating a weapon that combined the cutting power of wind-enhanced rotation with the devastating heat of molten rock. The massive shuriken roared through the air, leaving a brilliant arc of fire that painted the sky in shades of orange and red.
The projectile struck the Truth-Seeking Orb barrier at precisely the moment when Sasuke's previous assault had weakened its structural integrity, and the results were immediate and devastating.
The defensive sphere became covered with a network of cracks that spread across its entire surface, the cosmic material finally reaching its breaking point under the combined pressure of multiple Six Paths-enhanced attacks.
BANG!
The Lava Release technique detonated upon impact, its explosion generating wind blades that whirled through cascading torrents of red flame. Within that maelstrom of destruction, Madara's previously impenetrable defenses finally collapsed entirely, leaving him exposed to the cosmic forces that had been seeking to reach him.
Swoosh!
His enhanced form plummeted toward the God Tree like a meteor falling from heaven, the impact when he struck the massive trunk creating tremors that could be felt for miles in every direction. The force was so tremendous that his body became embedded directly within the ancient wood, cosmic flesh and supernatural bark fusing together in ways that defied normal understanding of physics.
Cough!
The sound that emerged from Madara's throat was something that no one present had ever expected to hear—the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was actually coughing up blood, crimson foam staining his lips as evidence of internal damage that should have been impossible to inflict.
After receiving their divine enhancement from the Sage of Six Paths, Naruto and Sasuke had become so incredibly powerful that they were capable of suppressing even a cosmic-level opponent with apparent ease.
Of course, much of this advantage stemmed from the suddenness of their transformation, catching Madara completely unprepared for the dramatic shift in power dynamics.
Sasuke's sudden manifestation of the Rinnegan and his mastery over space-time techniques had left the ancient Uchiha with no opportunity to adapt his strategies or develop appropriate countermeasures.
"We need to seize this opportunity to achieve victory!"
Both Naruto and Sasuke continued their rapid approach toward the point where Madara had crashed, their enhanced forms moving through three-dimensional space with purpose and determination that left no room for hesitation.
They had both met with the Sage of Six Paths during their spiritual journey, and his warning had been explicit and urgent: Madara represented an unprecedented danger to the continued existence of the ninja world, and he had to be eliminated as quickly as possible using every advantage they could muster.
At this moment, debris from the meteorites that had been shattered by their combined assault continued falling toward the earth like a rain of cosmic fragments, each piece still glowing with residual heat from the explosions that had destroyed them.
"Excellent work!"
From his position below the God Tree, Jiraiya watched the unfolding battle with expressions that mixed profound shock with overwhelming joy. The legendary Sannin had witnessed countless impossible feats throughout his long career, but nothing had prepared him for seeing two young shinobis achieve such dominance over an opponent who had seemed utterly invincible moments before.
"Namikaze Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke... they actually possess such tremendous power."
The Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki's weathered features trembled with disbelief as he processed what his enhanced senses were revealing. He had personally fought against Madara, had experienced firsthand the overwhelming superiority that marked the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki as a god-like existence.
Yet that same opponent was now being suppressed by two young shinobis who had seemed relatively insignificant such a short time ago.
Swish!
At this moment, Minato also transported Guy to join Kushina, Tsunade, and Mei Terumi, gathering the remaining members of their group in a single defensible location.
"Is that really Naruto?"
Both Tsunade and Mei Terumi voiced the question with identical tones of disbelief, their analytical minds struggling to reconcile the cosmic display of power they were witnessing with their memories of the enthusiastic young shinobi they had known.
The three women showed different gradations of surprise on their faces, but Kushina's expression carried something deeper than mere shock. She sensed something through her connection to the Nine-Tails' chakra and turned toward her husband with understanding dawning in her eyes.
A gentle smile spread across her beautiful features as she spoke with quiet satisfaction.
"Minato, it seems that the Great Toad Sage's prophecy was accurate after all."
"Yes."
Minato's response carried the weight of someone whose deepest hopes had finally been realized. There was no doubt that Naruto and Sasuke had surpassed his own capabilities at this moment, achieving levels of power that he had never dreamed possible.
And this was exactly what he had been hoping for throughout their entire struggle, because only these two forces working in coordination possessed the potential to provide meaningful opposition to Madara's cosmic abilities.
"Prophecy?"
Mei Terumi and Tsunade turned toward the sound of their conversation, noting that neither Minato nor Kushina seemed particularly surprised by the dramatic developments they were witnessing.
Based on their reactions to the current situation, it appeared that they had possessed advance knowledge of what was unfolding before them.
"Thank you for enduring so much."
Minato stepped forward and gently grasped Kushina's slender hand, immediately noticing how cold her skin had become during their prolonged battle. The continuous sharing of Nine-Tails chakra across multiple spatial transfers had drained her reserves to dangerous levels.
In this extended conflict, she too was approaching the absolute limits of her endurance.
"I'm perfectly fine."
Kushina's smile carried the warmth that had first captured Minato's heart so many years ago, and the contact with his palm began gradually dispelling the coldness that had settled into her body.
"Does this mean we've achieved victory?"
Tsunade addressed her question to Minato, her medical expertise allowing her to observe that Naruto and Sasuke appeared to have established complete superiority over their previously invincible opponent.
But the impression that Madara had left on everyone present was so profound, his demonstration of cosmic power so overwhelming, that she didn't dare assume the battle was truly finished.
Minato shook his head with the caution of someone who had learned never to underestimate legendary opponents.
As he held Kushina's hand, the Nine-Tails chakra that had just begun regenerating within her body started flowing into his own depleted reserves, restoring strength that he sensed he would need before this confrontation reached its conclusion.
Although it appeared that victory had been decided, Minato's tactical instincts insisted that the situation wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Therefore, he needed to recover his strength as quickly as possible.
While absorbing Nine-Tails chakra from Kushina's system, he simultaneously employed his mastery over Yin-Yang Release to restore her physical and spiritual energy, ensuring that the transfer wouldn't leave her completely defenseless.
"Absorb the God Tree!"
A heavy voice suddenly echoed in the consciousness of Madara, whose enhanced form remained embedded within the massive trunk of the ancient entity.
Madara paused for a moment, his enhanced awareness processing the implications of this unexpected command, then glanced toward Naruto and Sasuke as they continued their rapid approach.
"Absorb the God Tree into your body!"
The voice repeated its instruction with greater urgency, and this time Madara didn't hesitate to follow its guidance.
The moment he made the conscious decision to proceed, the God Tree that had been growing toward its cosmic destiny began merging with his enhanced physiology at supernatural speed.
During the time that the massive entity had been rooted in the earth, its extensive root system had absorbed enormous quantities of chakra from the planet's natural energy reserves and the life forces of countless living beings caught within its expanding influence.
All of that accumulated power—energy drawn from an entire world's biosphere—was now flowing into Madara's body with the inexorable force of a cosmic tide.
At this moment, Naruto and Sasuke launched their next coordinated assault, their enhanced forms moving with purpose and precision as they sought to eliminate their opponent before he could recover from their previous attacks.
But Madara suddenly raised his palm toward their approaching figures, and power that belonged to the realm of divine authority began erupting from his enhanced form.
The energy that poured forth created winds and pressure waves of such tremendous force that even Sasuke and Naruto found their Six Paths-enhanced bodies temporarily unable to move against the cosmic current.
Within that supernatural storm, there was an amount of chakra so astonishing that it could temporarily suppress two individuals who had received power directly from the Sage of Six Paths himself!
"What!?"
Witnessing this sudden reversal, Minato's expression shifted instantly from cautious optimism to alarm as he realized the true scope of what was occurring.
He immediately released his grip on Kushina's hand, understanding that the brief respite was over and that his intervention would once again be necessary.
After regaining a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra from Kushina and recovering over the short period of rest, the aura of light surrounding Minato's enhanced form had grown noticeably brighter.
He vanished from his current position without warning.
Naruto and Sasuke found themselves temporarily paralyzed within the cosmic storm that Madara was generating, their enhanced reflexes insufficient to escape the divine forces holding them in place.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Madara condensed new Truth-Seeking Orbs behind his position and launched them toward both young shinobis with lethal intent.
Swish!
At the critical moment, Minato materialized directly in front of Naruto's position, his legendary speed allowing him to interpose himself between the cosmic projectiles and their intended targets.
As a precautionary measure, he had already placed Flying Thunder God markers on both Naruto and Sasuke's bodies during their previous interactions, understanding that their inexperience with cosmic-level combat might require emergency intervention.
Facing the approaching Truth-Seeking Orbs head-on, Minato quickly deployed a technique that he had been preparing throughout their brief recovery period.
Ding! Ding!
Instead of a conventional Rasengan, he hurled a shuriken crafted from concentrated Tailed Beast Ball energy and enhanced with the reality-affecting properties of Yin-Yang Release.