It turns out that Hashirama and Tobirama's attacks were just a diversion!
The real key players in the beheading operation were the Third Hokage and Namikaze Minato—they were the ones designated to execute the final strike.
The moment Minato and Hiruzen appeared, the Third Hokage immediately launched a barrage of shuriken!
Whoosh!
The hail of shuriken collided directly with the sweeping attacks of Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees—part of Madara's strategy to stall and deceive the battlefield.
Seeing the timing, Minato enhanced his kunai with chakra, forming wind-chakra blades around them. With precise control, he launched three kunai at high velocity.
Obito narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Sensei… you really think the same trick will work again?"
Buzz.
Minato vanished in a flash of light.
Chirp—!
A Rasengan formed in his palm, and he reappeared behind Obito using Flying Thunder God Technique: Second Step.
Obito didn't even bother turning his head.
"Sensei… I'm not the same boy you used to know."
"Shinra Tensei!"
The Deva Path ability activated instantly. A repulsive force erupted from Obito, forming a dense spherical barrier that expanded, encasing both himself and Madara in a protective repulsion field.
Minato's Rasengan collided with the barrier, dispersing in vain. Obito turned, glancing at his former sensei with a cold, disdainful smirk.
"You haven't improved at all, Sensei."
With that, Obito lifted his hand—
BOOM!
The repulsion sphere expanded violently, sending Minato and the Third Hokage flying backward like ragdolls.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Madara focused on controlling the Ten Tails. Hashirama rushed forward to engage him.
"Madara! I'm coming for you!"
"Hahaha! Come, Hashirama!"
Tobirama continued launching water-based attacks from a distance, but Madara was unfazed. The Ten Tails didn't even blink—its massive body remained still as Madara channeled his chakra through it.
Hashirama summoned Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands and charged at full force. The colossal Buddha statue unleashed a flurry of chakra-infused strikes meant to suppress the Ten Tails.
"You're still too naïve, Hashirama!"
Madara sneered and focused the Ten Tails' power. In an instant, the beast surged forward with unstoppable momentum, piercing straight through the wooden giant's chest.
Hashirama's expression turned grim.
"No… The Ten Tails' power is too overwhelming. My Wood Release can't suppress it anymore."
Madara, grinning like a madman, shouted and unleashed a destructive blast through the Ten Tails, cleaving the wooden construct in two. Hashirama leapt back, but the Ten Tails went berserk, lashing out with its tails, crushing the giant Buddha to splinters.
"I told you, Hashirama… I've evolved beyond who I used to be!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
As the dust settled, Madara paused.
Another annoyance approached.
Madara had the Rinnegan, and his body was connected via chakra receivers to the Ten Tails' core. With a simple gesture, he activated the Preta Path, absorbing Tobirama's jutsu-marked kunai and erasing his teleportation points.
Realizing the attack had failed, Tobirama withdrew using Flying Thunder God and retreated.
Minato, in the meantime, had recovered the Third Hokage and teleported him back to safety.
On the other side of the battlefield, Tsunade had managed to heal the Fourth Raikage, and the two of them rejoined the battle.
Soon, Ohnoki, Gaara, and Mei Terumi also appeared alongside them.
Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru and asked, "Got any tactics? We're all in this now. With the Shinobi Alliance formed, we can't hold back anymore."
Orochimaru remained silent, glancing toward Naruto in the distance. Kabuto stepped forward in his place.
"Use my Edo Tensei reinforcements. Some undead soldiers remain at my disposal. Even those previously sealed can be summoned again. They're a military asset I can still control—for your side."
Raikage clenched his fists, glaring.
"You're Kabuto, huh? Let me make this clear: after this war is over, I'm coming for you personally!"
Gaara interjected, "Right now, we're united. Kabuto is following Naruto. That makes him one of us for now. There's no need to threaten him."
The Raikage scoffed and shot Gaara a glare.
"I'm not as tolerant as you, Kazekage. Digging up my father's grave is not something I can forgive easily. Before I calm down, I'll have to beat this guy to a pulp!"
He turned away sharply.
"You might be fine with ancestral graves being desecrated, but I'm not."
Gaara: ". . . . . ."
Ohnoki, meanwhile, looked out across the battlefield at the still-advancing Ten Tails.
"Enough chatter. They're making their move again!"
Sure enough, Madara and Obito had resumed control. The Ten Tails was preparing another rampage.
Killer Bee stepped forward to block.
"Yo! Tailed beast battles should be fought by us, the Jinchūriki. Naruto, this is where we step in!"
Naruto narrowed his eyes in focus.
Back at the command center, after hearing the strategy from Naruto's shadow clone, Shikaku Nara was stunned.
"I never thought… Naruto, your tactical intuition is on par with a seasoned strategist. This is nearly identical to what I was planning."
The clone smirked.
Of course. This was your idea in my previous life. I just repeated it… with a few adjustments.
Shikaku immediately relayed instructions to Ao and Yamanaka Inoichi, who linked the allied forces through the Yamanaka Clan's Telepathy Jutsu.
"Everyone, listen up! I'll explain the tactics in one go. Unit commanders, prepare your troops. Follow my lead—this is it!"
Back on the field, Naruto received the go-ahead.
"Let's move!"
He surged forward, a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken spinning into form in his hand.
"Gaara! Keep the sand pressure going!"
Gaara grinned. Fighting beside Naruto felt like fighting alongside a brother.
"On it!"
Whoosh!
The Rasenshuriken flew. Then another. Then another.
With his immense chakra reserves, Naruto launched over a dozen Rasenshuriken without breaking a sweat.
Madara scoffed.
"You really think this level of jutsu can harm the Ten Tails? Don't even bother dodging—just charge straight through!"
Gaara raised both hands. Sand surged like a tsunami, barreling forward to cloak the Rasenshuriken barrage.
Before the Rasenshuriken could reach the Ten Tails, they detonated midair.
Madara squinted.
"…What?"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The wind bombs exploded in sequence, stirring a massive sandstorm that blocked all vision. Obito and Madara instinctively shielded their eyes.
"So it's a smokescreen!" Obito realized aloud. "They're hiding their next move!"
Even the Ten Tails squinted in reaction.
"Too easy," Obito muttered. "Watch this!"
He commanded the Ten Tails to swipe its tails.
Fwoooosh!
A violent gust blew through the battlefield, clearing the sand and dust.
Just then—
"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"
Temari led the Wind Release Division in an offensive wave, clashing head-on with the Ten Tails' winds. The two forces collided violently.
As the sand dispersed, all shinobi had already received Shikaku's plan via telepathy and were coordinating perfectly. Naruto stood at the front, determined.
Obito noticed him and shouted:
"Naruto! Stop wasting time with meaningless resistance!"
Naruto glared back.
"The only thing meaningless is your Eye of the Moon Plan. What's the point of a fake world where everyone's dreaming?"
Obito snorted.
"Look behind you. They're united now, but after the war, they'll revert to what they were—killing each other. So why not let them sleep peacefully? In the Infinite Tsukuyomi, everyone can live their ideal life."
Naruto retorted, "I told you—I'm going to form a Shinobi Union. A true council to maintain peace."
Madara interrupted with irritation.
"Enough talk. You won't convince him, and he won't convince you. End it already. The Ten Tails is almost fully charged."
Hearing this, Naruto was reminded of his past life—how he, Kurama, Killer Bee, and even the Ten Tails once fought in sync.
No… A single Ten Tails Tailed Beast Bomb could destroy everyone here.
"Uncle Shikaku! Now! Tell them to move!"
The Five Kage stood united.
"For the final battle—let's go!!"
"OOOOOOHHHH!!!"
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