The massive ethereal hand bore down on them with inexorable force, its spectral fingers reaching through their defensive formations as if they were mere illusions. Minato's analytical mind immediately grasped the tactical situation with crystalline clarity.
"Her target is the Nine-Tails inside Kushina's body!" he called out, his voice cutting through the superheated air of the lava dimension.
Even as the words left his mouth, Minato found himself puzzling over Kaguya's approach. From a purely tactical standpoint, her direct assault seemed almost... crude. She possessed space-time manipulation abilities that far exceeded anything he had witnessed, including his own Flying Thunder God technique. A more strategic approach would have been to use those dimensional powers to separate them, isolate Kushina, and extract the Nine-Tails' chakra without opposition.
From this perspective, Kaguya's tactical awareness appears limited, he mused, even as his body prepared for combat. But perhaps that's the point. When you possess power on the scale of a natural disaster, why would you need complex strategies? We might be nothing more than insects to her—not worth the effort of elaborate planning.
The thought was both reassuring and deeply troubling. If Kaguya was underestimating them, it provided opportunities for counterattack. But if she truly possessed power so overwhelming that tactical finesse was unnecessary, then their situation was far more desperate than he had hoped.
"Don't even think about it!" Naruto's voice rang out with fierce determination as Kaguya's form materialized directly in front of their group, her approach having covered the distance with impossible speed.
The young jinchuriki raised his arm with practiced precision, his palm facing forward as golden chakra erupted from his body. The energy coalesced into a massive fist that rivaled Kaguya's own ethereal construct, the Six Paths chakra crackling with divine power as it surged to meet her attack.
BANG!
The collision between their attacks sent shockwaves rippling through the lava dimension. The very air seemed to scream as opposing forces met, creating a brief equilibrium that held both combatants in place. Around them, pools of molten rock began to churn more violently, responding to the tremendous energies being unleashed.
Kaguya's expression remained utterly impassive as her initial attack was blocked. There was no frustration, no surprise, no acknowledgment that her opponent had demonstrated significant power. She simply continued her advance, as inevitable as the tide, and immediately began forming another massive chakra fist before her palm.
The casual nature of her response sent chills down Minato's spine. This wasn't someone being forced to adapt their strategy—this was someone with such overwhelming resources that one failed attack meant nothing at all.
"Dad!" Naruto called out, his voice tight with the strain of maintaining his chakra construct against Kaguya's relentless pressure.
Minato understood immediately. His son was preparing to unleash his full power, but couldn't risk collateral damage to their non-combatant companions. Without hesitation, the Fourth Hokage extended his chakra claws once more, the golden energy constructs reaching out to secure Mei Terumi and Sasuke.
"I've got them," he confirmed, pulling both shinobi to safety behind his protective barrier. "Give her everything you have!"
Freed from the need to protect others, Naruto's power exploded outward like a miniature sun. The Six Paths Sage Mode chakra that had been carefully contained now flowed through him without restraint, transforming his already impressive abilities into something that approached the divine. Golden energy streamed from his form as he began manifesting a continuous barrage of massive chakra fists, each one crackling with enough power to level mountains.
But Kaguya matched his escalation with terrifying ease. Her own chakra output increased exponentially, the air around her beginning to shimmer and distort as forces beyond normal comprehension came into play. Where Naruto summoned one giant fist, she created two. Where he poured more power into his attacks, she responded with techniques that seemed to draw from an infinite well of energy.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The rapid-fire exchange of massive chakra constructs created a percussion that echoed throughout the lava dimension. Each collision sent ripples through space itself, causing the fabric of reality to bend and warp around the impact points. The molten landscape below began to respond violently to the forces being unleashed above it, with waves of superheated rock rising hundreds of feet into the air.
Minato found himself in the unfamiliar position of being a spectator to a battle beyond his ability to influence directly. He focused instead on keeping their non-combatant allies safe, his chakra claws weaving complex patterns through the air as he dodged falling debris and redirected streams of lava that threatened their position.
"I didn't expect that we would only be a drag here!" Mei Terumi's voice carried both frustration and self-recrimination as she watched the titanic battle unfolding before them.
The Mizukage's hands clenched into fists, her pride as a Kage warring with the reality of their situation. She had faced S-rank missing-nin, tailed beasts, and the most dangerous shinobi of her generation. Yet here, even her most powerful techniques would be less than whispers in the face of the forces being unleashed.
"This is not an ordinary battle," Minato replied, his voice calm despite the chaos surrounding them. "This is a conflict between beings who have transcended normal shinobi limitations. There's no shame in being unable to participate directly—even I can barely keep up with what they're doing."
But even as he spoke words of reassurance, Minato could feel his own limitations becoming increasingly apparent. His chakra reserves, vast by normal standards, were being depleted at an alarming rate just from maintaining their defensive position and mobility in this hostile dimension.
"Minato, your chakra..." Kushina's voice carried deep concern as she watched her husband's movements become slightly less fluid, his breathing growing more labored.
She could feel the Nine-Tails stirring restlessly within her seal, but its chakra gathering had slowed to a crawl in this alien space. Whatever dimensional properties this lava world possessed, they were interfering with the connection between jinchuriki and tailed beast, limiting her ability to supplement Minato's depleting energy reserves.
If this continues, we'll be exhausted long before Kaguya shows any signs of fatigue, Minato realized grimly. She's not just more powerful than us—she's fighting on her home ground, in a dimension that enhances her abilities while hampering ours.
The tactical situation was becoming untenable. Even if Naruto and Sasuke could match Kaguya's power individually, the need to protect non-combatants while fighting in hostile territory created insurmountable disadvantages. They needed to change the parameters of the engagement, and there was only one person present with the abilities to make that possible.
After a moment of intense internal debate, Minato made his decision. He turned to face Obito, his expression serious but determined.
"Obito, I need you to immediately transfer Kushina, Tsunade-sama, and Mizukage-sama to your Kamui dimension!"
The request hung in the air between them, weighted with years of history and betrayal. Minato was asking his former student—the same person who had orchestrated the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha, who had manipulated events from the shadows for years—to take responsibility for protecting the most important people in his life.
"I know your Kamui space is an independent dimension connected to but separate from the ninja world," Minato continued, his voice growing more urgent as another massive explosion echoed from Naruto's battle with Kaguya. "It should provide protection from her abilities while allowing us to fight without restraint."
"Understood!" Obito's response was immediate and decisive, though Minato could see the weight of responsibility settling on his former student's shoulders.
As Obito turned toward Kushina, Tsunade, and Mei Terumi, the lingering effects of his past actions became immediately apparent. Both the Sannin and the Mizukage regarded him with obvious wariness, their bodies tensing as if preparing to resist his assistance.
The irony wasn't lost on any of them—the man who had once been their enemy, who had brought so much pain and destruction to their world, was now their only hope for survival in this desperate moment.
"Hurry, there's no time!" Minato's urgent call shattered their hesitation.
In the aerial battle above them, Naruto was clearly beginning to lose ground. Despite his incredible power and determination, Kaguya's seemingly infinite chakra reserves were allowing her to maintain an escalating offensive that was slowly overwhelming his defenses. Each exchange of attacks left him slightly more strained, slightly less precise in his movements.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, both Tsunade and Mei Terumi nodded their agreement. Under Minato's careful manipulation, his chakra claws guided all four of them into close proximity, allowing Obito to initiate his dimensional transfer technique.
The Uchiha's hands moved with practiced efficiency, reaching out to grasp Kushina and Tsunade by their shoulders. The familiar sensation of Kamui activation began to build around them, reality starting to spiral and distort as the technique prepared to transport them to safety.
BANG!
At that critical moment, a thunderous crash echoed through the lava dimension. Above them, Naruto's golden chakra construct finally succumbed to Kaguya's relentless assault, the massive fist dissolving into scattered energy particles. The young jinchuriki was sent flying backward, his trajectory carrying him dangerously close to a pool of molten rock.
"This child was able to withstand Mom's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!" Black Zetsu's voice carried a note of grudging respect, though its tone remained fundamentally malicious. "Most impressive for a mere mortal."
The creature's attention immediately shifted to the evacuation taking place below. Its connection to Kaguya's consciousness meant that tactical opportunities were shared between them instantaneously.
"Oh no, Mom, they're trying to escape!" Black Zetsu warned, its voice rising with alarm.
Kaguya's response was immediate and decisive. She halted her pursuit of Naruto mid-flight, her body coming to an impossible stop in defiance of momentum and gravity. With movements that possessed an almost ritualistic precision, she stretched out her hand and began tearing another hole in the fabric of space.
The dimensional rift that opened before her palm was different from her earlier techniques—more focused, more purposeful. This wasn't a general manipulation of space, but a targeted assault designed to intercept their escape attempt.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Minato's tactical instincts, honed by years of combat experience, immediately recognized the threat. His chakra claws, still maintaining their protective formation around the group, suddenly erupted with hundreds of additional energy strands. Each one carried a tiny fragment of his Flying Thunder God technique, spreading them in a defensive perimeter around Kushina's position.
The precautionary measure proved its worth within seconds. A spatial rift materialized directly in front of one of his chakra markers, and Kaguya's hand emerged from the dimensional tear with predatory intent.
Buzz!
The marked chakra strand immediately activated, generating a protective barrier that surrounded Kushina in a golden dome of energy. Kaguya's reaching hand struck the barrier and, for a moment, seemed to be repelled by its power.
But only for a moment.
With casual dismissal of his defensive technique, Kaguya's hand pushed through the barrier as if it were made of tissue paper. The Flying Thunder God's protective properties, formidable against any normal attack, proved inadequate against the fundamental forces she wielded.
Whoosh!
At that critical instant, Obito's Kamui finally completed its activation sequence. The spiraling distortion of space-time that characterized his technique swept over Kushina and Tsunade, their forms becoming translucent as they began the transition to his pocket dimension.
"That guy!" Black Zetsu's voice carried frustration and grudging respect. "Although Minato's Flying Thunder God technique is inferior to Mom's spatial manipulation, his foresight allowed him to neutralize her advantage."
Even Kaguya herself paused, a flicker of what might have been surprise crossing her otherwise impassive features. She had expected her overwhelming power to render such defensive measures meaningless, yet Minato's preparation and timing had successfully protected his primary objective.
The revelation that she could be outmaneuvered, even temporarily, seemed to spark something resembling interest in her ancient consciousness. Her attention focused on Minato with new intensity, as if seeing him clearly for the first time.
Without warning, another spatial rift began forming—this one positioned to emerge directly beside Minato himself. Kaguya's hand reached through the dimensional barrier, moving with lethal intent toward the Fourth Hokage.
The gap in their spatial manipulation abilities became starkly apparent in that moment. While Minato's Flying Thunder God was revolutionary by normal shinobi standards, it paled in comparison to Kaguya's ability to create dimensional rifts at will, without markers or preparation time.
Swish!
But just as Kaguya's fingers were about to close around him, Minato's form flickered and vanished. The Flying Thunder God technique, while limited compared to her abilities, still possessed the advantage of instantaneous activation when properly prepared.
He reappeared beside Naruto, who had just managed to stabilize his flight after being knocked back by Kaguya's overwhelming assault. Both father and son showed signs of the tremendous strain they were under—Minato's chakra reserves visibly depleted, Naruto's breathing labored from the intensity of his battle.
Meanwhile, Obito continued his evacuation efforts, the Kamui technique successfully transporting Mei Terumi to safety alongside the others. But the process was clearly taking its toll on him as well.
"The energy expenditure for connecting to Kamui space from this dimension is several times greater than normal," Obito reported, sweat beading on his forehead beneath his mask. "This lava world is incredibly distant from both the ninja world and my pocket dimension."
The implications were troubling. If Kaguya could create dimensional spaces at such vast distances from their home reality, her mastery of space-time manipulation far exceeded anything they had imagined. They were essentially fighting on an alien battlefield, cut off from their normal sources of support and reinforcement.
"Thank you for your hard work," Minato said, his voice carrying genuine gratitude despite their desperate circumstances. "You should also hide in the alternate space. You've done enough."
But Obito shook his head firmly, his visible eye reflecting a determination that reminded Minato of the young shinobi he had once trained. "Although I don't have the raw power to fight her directly, my eye techniques may be able to provide tactical support in other ways."
It was true that in terms of pure spatial manipulation capabilities, both Kaguya and Obito possessed techniques superior to Minato's Flying Thunder God. While his technique was revolutionary and incredibly useful, it was ultimately limited to teleportation between pre-placed markers within the same dimensional space. Neither Kaguya's reality-warping abilities nor Obito's interdimensional travel shared those restrictions.
Looking into his former student's eyes, Minato saw not the broken, manipulated young man who had attacked Konoha, but echoes of the determined shinobi who had once declared his dream of becoming Hokage. Despite everything that had happened between them, Obito was choosing to stand and fight for something greater than himself.
"Naruto," Sasuke called out, his voice cutting through the momentary respite in battle. "That thing behind you should be able to change its form, right? Fighting like this is too limiting for all of us."
The Uchiha's eyes were fixed on the Truth-Seeking Balls floating behind Naruto—orbs of condensed Six Paths chakra that possessed the ability to nullify most ninjutsu and reshape themselves according to their wielder's will.
Naruto nodded in understanding, his connection to the Six Paths power allowing him to manipulate the Truth-Seeking Balls with increasing sophistication. Two of the dark orbs detached from his back, flowing like liquid shadow as they reshaped themselves into circular platforms approximately one meter in diameter.
The makeshift flying platforms settled beneath Sasuke and Obito's feet, lifting them into stable flight positions. Both shinobi tested their new mobility, finding the Truth-Seeking Ball constructs surprisingly responsive to their movements.
With everyone now capable of aerial maneuvering, Minato retracted his chakra claws, conserving his remaining energy for the battle ahead. The formation shift had improved their tactical flexibility, but the fundamental challenge remained unchanged.
Kaguya's attention returned to them with renewed focus, her white eyes scanning their new configuration with the detached interest of a predator evaluating its prey.
"There is only one way to defeat her," Sasuke said grimly, clenching his left hand as power coursed through the Yin release mark branded into his palm. "We must use the sealing technique taught to us by the Sage of Six Paths."
Naruto glanced at his own right hand, where the Yang release symbol blazed with corresponding energy. The two powers—fundamental forces of creation and imagination—were designed to work in harmony, capable of sealing even beings of Kaguya's immense power when properly applied.
"The Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei," Naruto confirmed, his voice carrying the weight of their desperate gambit. "But we'll need to get close enough to make physical contact with her simultaneously."
Minato moved to position himself between his son and Sasuke, his body language shifting into the focused stance of someone preparing for the most important battle of his life. Despite his depleted chakra reserves and the overwhelming nature of their opponent, his eyes burned with unwavering determination.
"In that case, let me create an opening for you to cast the seal!"