"Is this really the end…?" Natsuro coughed up blood, a bitter smile forming on his lips as he looked at the Six Paths staff pierced through his heart.
When he decided to clash head-on in the final confrontation, he had already anticipated this outcome.
After all, while his combat power may have reached the level of the Six Paths, as a Spiritual Clone, he hadn't truly taken that final step.
So to have fought Six Paths Madara to this extent using only his full strength and the Undying Phoenix was already quite impressive.
"I've won," Madara said as he looked at Natsuro in front of him, his tone filled with emotion.
Just an ordinary person, and yet he was able to battle against him, the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki with power equal to the Sage of Six Paths, for so long. He had even come dangerously close to destroying Madara with a hidden Truth-Seeking Orb. There was respect in Madara's gaze as he looked at him.
But there was also a hint of pity in Madara's eyes. After killing Natsuro, he realized that he no longer had any worthy opponents in this world.
Even those two kids, Naruto and Sasuke, might be strong, but they were no match for Natsuro.
"Yes, you've won," Natsuro acknowledged without hesitation. This battle was a complete defeat for his Spiritual Clone. But getting this far was already an accomplishment without regret.
After all, even possessing a Six Paths-level soul meant little when bound to a shadow clone's body. From the beginning of the battle, the only thing that had reached the Six Paths level in this clone was his Yin Release.
The Truth-Seeking Orbs and compressed form of Susanoo are techniques that non-Six Paths beings can't use.
Even this clone couldn't withstand the compressed Susanoo. Without relying on the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak, he might not have even been a match for Six Paths Obito.
The Undying Phoenix that emerged at the end was born from Yin Release, manifesting as a true Six Paths-level power, a pure Six Paths Yin Release.
Unfortunately, his strength was still not enough. Power derived solely from Yin Release was no match for Madara, who had reached the Six Paths level in all respects. That final clash hadn't even been Madara's full strength.
In fact, Madara had already lost one of his shadow avatars to him. Had that shadow still been around, Natsuro likely would've lost even more miserably, he might not have even lived long enough for this final conversation.
Actually, even without being pierced through the heart, Natsuro's body, having exhausted all power, would've soon exploded on its own.
"Sixth Hokage, Natsuro Shindōkawa, I will remember you!" Madara said solemnly.
…
When the light faded and both figures were revealed to everyone, the onlookers all widened their eyes, expressions filled with despair.
The Sixth Hokage… had fallen!
Their only hope was defeated!
In that moment, nearly everyone saw the same future, a world trampled mercilessly by Six Paths Madara.
Everything they had struggled for… what was the point?
A wave of hopelessness immediately washed over everyone.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a powerful, frenzied chakra burst forth, red and malevolent, flooding the sky. It came from Naruto.
He was completely shrouded in red chakra, his eyes burning with fury. Nine tails suddenly burst forth behind him, and his skin began to crack under the intensity of the demonic energy.
Around him formed grotesque flesh and bone, the very image of the Nine-Tails' true form.
"Calm down, Naruto!"
Yang Kurama shouted inside Naruto's mind. Even though he couldn't believe Natsuro had died, he understood Natsuro's importance to Naruto, and that Naruto had now completely lost control.
Sure enough, Kurama could feel Naruto's fury burning through his entire being.
Ironically, Kurama, who had once worried about his chakra corrupting Naruto, was now being overwhelmed by Naruto's rage instead.
Kurama, a being made of hate and malice, lost control under Naruto's fury, feeding even more chakra into him.
At this rate, the Nine-Tails would soon manifest physically through Naruto's breaking body!
Off to the side, Sasuke stood frozen in the air, staring at the Six Paths staff protruding from Natsuro's heart.
He suddenly recalled a childhood memory, when he once challenged Natsuro over being outperformed.
Back then, he had sneak-attacked with a weapon and ended up with a big bump on his head. Natsuro had been the first to understand and support his quest for vengeance, guiding him off the path Itachi had set and onto a road of his own.
Everything had been going so well… so why did it have to end like this?
As memories flashed before his eyes, Sasuke touched his head.
Even though Natsuro hadn't knocked him on the head like that in years, he now felt a sharp pain there, as if something inside him had just shattered.
Suddenly, a dark energy erupted around Sasuke uncontrollably.
His Rinnegan eyes filled with blood, a tomoe slowly appearing within.
"How can this be…" Tsunade should've been stopping Naruto from rampaging, but at this moment, she was frozen too. Clutching her chest, she felt as if she were once again holding the blood-soaked bodies of Nawaki and Dan.
And now… it was Natsuro?
No… she wouldn't believe it. With his strength, he must still be savable!
Orochimaru and Jiraiya had stopped fighting when the Undying Phoenix appeared earlier.
"Natsuro…" Jiraiya's heart clenched with pain.
He had always felt like an unworthy teacher. He hadn't fulfilled his duties, always wandering in search of the prophecy.
Yet even so, he had grown into someone exceptional, even helping him more times than he could count.
Jiraiya refused to believe this was the end.
"No way, how could little Natsuro possibly fall?" shouted Fukasaku and Shima, their eyes wide in disbelief.
If they had focused their senses on the summoning contract, they would've noticed that their contract with Natsuro hadn't disappeared.
But Natsuro's performance had convinced everyone he was the real body. How could a shadow clone possess such power? Not even the strongest Wood Clone could compare.
So the two sages didn't immediately think to check the contract for signs of life.
"Tsk tsk, seems like ordinary people can't reach the end after all…" Orochimaru chuckled, though a closer look would reveal disappointment in his eyes.
He had truly hoped to witness Natsuro create a miracle by defeating Madara. Sadly…
Now, Orochimaru felt a strange hollowness. With a few hand seals, he deactivated the Edo Tensei.
Normally, this would've caused a great stir, but not now. No one cared.
Because Edo Tensei didn't matter anymore. What mattered now was, who could stop Six Paths Madara?
Naruto? Sasuke? But Naruto had lost control, and Sasuke was enveloped in ominous black energy…
"Has this world reached its end?" said the Fourth Raikage, his voice, usually so fierce, now defeated.
"Perhaps it has…" Mei Terumi replied with a bitter smile.
Ōnoki and Gaara clenched their fists. They were shocked by Natsuro's defeat… but they knew they had to act... do something, anything, to pull their people out of despair.
But in the end, they did nothing, because they didn't know what they could do.
Fight Six Paths Madara? That would be suicide. A meaningless death would do nothing to inspire morale.
"Natsuro… this can't be real…" Shikamaru muttered. The battle just now had made it painfully clear to him, even if the entire Allied Shinobi Forces joined hands, they probably still wouldn't be a match for Six Paths Madara.
Their entire plan had been to help restore Naruto and Sasuke's strength quickly so they could assist Natsuro.
But before Naruto and Sasuke could even fully recover… the devastating news had already arrived.
At this moment, even someone as intelligent as Shikamaru felt like his mind had gone completely blank, either empty or filled with molasses. He simply couldn't think straight.
Soon, the ruckus caused by Naruto and Sasuke caught Shikamaru's attention. A flicker of light returned to his eyes. If it were Naruto and Sasuke… was there still a chance?
"No… wait!" Shikamaru's eyes widened. If both Naruto and Sasuke were in such unstable states, then—
He suddenly turned his head to look at Natsuro's fiancée, Ino, only to find that she didn't seem that upset. In fact, she looked rather indifferent…
But how could that be?
Shikamaru took a deep breath. Maybe Ino was so overwhelmed by grief that she had passed the point of visibly showing it?
His thoughts began to spiral. With a sigh, he said, "Ino, you don't have to be that sad…"
"Huh?" Ino blinked, glancing around at the others, then toward the rampaging Naruto and the ominous aura surrounding Sasuke. "Shikamaru, shouldn't you be stopping them right now?"
"Eh?" Shikamaru was stunned. Why would Ino, upon learning Natsuro had supposedly died, immediately focus on something else?
"Also, why would I be sad?" Ino asked, confused. "It was just a shadow clone. Even if a clone gets stabbed in the heart, it won't affect the real body. So why is everyone acting like it's the end of the world?"
Natsuro had already demonstrated tremendous power just through a shadow clone. If it had been his real body, he would've been even stronger. Not even that so-called legendary Madara Uchiha would be able to stand against him. Shouldn't everyone be happy about that?
"Uhhh…" Shikamaru was speechless. But then it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. He stared at Ino and asked anxiously, "But Natsuro was killed by Madara Uchiha!"
Ino paused, looked at Shikamaru, then at everyone else's despairing faces, and suddenly realized:
"Wait… Natsuro didn't tell you guys that it was just a shadow clone?"
Before the final clash, Ino had been worried sick about Natsuro's safety.
But when he unleashed the Undying Phoenix technique, she had guessed what was going on. He had already told her beforehand that it was only a shadow clone, so she wouldn't grieve too deeply.
Ino had assumed he had told everyone the same thing. That's why she'd been so confused by everyone's reaction. Why were Naruto and Sasuke rampaging? Why was everyone in such despair?
Turns out, he had only told her…
"Ino! Are you sure?!" Shikamaru's eyes widened.
Ino nodded and relayed Natsuro's exact words to him.
"Haha… that guy, that guy…" Shikamaru laughed, covering his head.
It was a laugh filled with a mix of frustration and relief. Natsuro had completely blindsided him. If he knew a shadow clone couldn't defeat Madara, why not tell everyone?! Why only Ino?
Shikamaru felt like his mind was breaking a little, but he also knew this wasn't the time to be mad, it was time to spread the news and rally everyone's spirits.
Especially Naruto and Sasuke. Things were getting dangerous on their end…
—
Meanwhile, back with Six Paths Madara and Natsuro.
"I will remember you!"
Upon hearing those words, Natsuro gave Madara a strange little smile.
"No… we'll be seeing each other again very soon."
At the same time, Natsuro could feel the Nine-Tails going berserk below, and sense the violent Yin Release surging from Sasuke. He stopped holding on with his own Yin chakra.
Madara was baffled by Natsuro's words. The man had just been stabbed through the heart, how could they "meet again soon"? What did he mean?
Then—
POOF!
A soft sound rang out in Madara's ears. His eyes widened as Natsuro's body turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished.
He knew this transformation well, it was how a typical shadow clone dispels.
When did he make a clone? Madara wondered. He assumed Natsuro had swapped with a clone during the Undying Phoenix moment without Madara noticing, hiding the real body away...
But in the very next moment, Yin Kurama emerged from where Natsuro had disappeared.
The appearance of Yin Kurama confirmed one thing, the Natsuro who had fought Madara just now had indeed been… a shadow clone.
For a long moment, Madara and Yin Kurama stared silently at each other…
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