Obito was right.
Although Naruto remained deeply concerned about the future after his reincarnation, at his core, he was still the same Naruto—the one who longed to unite everyone and ensure no one else had to suffer.
Even though his actions after being reborn were more calculated and strategic, the essence of his heart—the desire to protect his comrades—remained unchanged.
Naruto scoffed coldly. "So what if you've seen through it?"
Obito returned the sneer. "Naruto, do you honestly believe that with just Hashirama, you can suppress the wrath of the Ten-Tails? Even Madara and I had to pay a heavy price to control its power!"
Naruto frowned. "What are you getting at?"
Obito shifted his gaze to the Ten-Tails. "Do you really think the Sage Art: Gate of the Great God can permanently suppress that monster? It's just buying time while it gathers strength."
As if on cue, the Ten-Tails began to roar violently. Hashirama's face darkened as he struggled to suppress it, both hands pushing down as wood chakra surged around him.
Tobirama, sensing something was off, narrowed his eyes. "What's wrong, brother?"
Hashirama gritted his teeth. "Its power… it's overwhelming. This thing is dozens of times more powerful than Kurama. This is bad!"
With a deafening roar, the Ten-Tails tore through all the red torii of the Gate of the Great God. It rose, towering and monstrous, unleashing a powerful gust of wind across the battlefield.
Hashirama fought against the gale, trying to mold his chakra again. Tobirama barked a warning. "Brother, it's no use! It's gone completely berserk. This chakra… we can't hold it!"
Obito glanced at Naruto and said coldly, "You see now? Soon, the weakness you cling to—your precious bonds—will be obliterated. Then, maybe you'll finally understand reality."
With that, Obito activated Kamui and vanished.
Madara, watching from a distance, smirked as he broke away from the Kage who had been attacking him. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan glowed, and his Susanoo switched to a defensive state.
Inside Naruto's mind, Kurama roared: "Naruto! The Ten-Tails is about to unleash Cataclysm! That move reshapes the entire battlefield!"
"I know!" Naruto shouted, already moving.
In his previous life, it was this ultimate attack that had nearly annihilated him.
He flew over to his father. "Dad! I need your help—now!"
Minato didn't hesitate. He bumped fists with Naruto, and the Yin and Yang halves of Kurama's chakra merged. Naruto exhaled sharply as the chakra surge connected.
"Gaara, Old Man Ōnoki—come here!"
The Kazekage and the Tsuchikage instantly flashed to his side.
"Form a semi-circular defense barrier in front of me," Naruto ordered. "I'll handle the rest."
They both nodded.
"Haah!" Tsunade roared, smashing the earth in front of Naruto. Massive slabs of rock erupted upward, forming a makeshift wall. Ōnoki scoffed.
"Save your strength, Princess. My Earth Style is far better."
He formed a seal. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
Gaara extended his hand. Wind and sand enveloped the stone wall, layering it with a swirling, defensive barrier of sand and grit.
Behind them, Naruto created a shadow clone, which immediately sat cross-legged and began to gather natural energy. Sage Mode was activating.
As lightning crackled across the sky, the Ten-Tails unleashed its rage. The heavens rumbled. The earth cracked. Thunder and pure chakra burst in all directions.
Naruto yelled, rallying all the tailed beast chakra inside him. Kurama's chakra resonated across the battlefield, surging into every shinobi marked by his earlier transfer.
With a thunderous roar, a colossal mushroom cloud erupted, blasting the ground apart and unearthing underground streams.
Madara stood calmly in the chaos. "The battlefield should be much cleaner now."
With a ripple, Obito emerged from Kamui, scanning the scene. As the dust settled, he saw flickering embers of red chakra—one after another, still standing.
His brows twitched. "Naruto… damn it."
Naruto unclenched his fists, panting. He swallowed hard and muttered, "Much better than last time. Having the other half of Kurama really makes a difference."
Inside Naruto, Kurama warned, "Don't get cocky. You're still feeding chakra to half the army. If another big fight breaks out, you'll be running on empty."
Kurama in Minato's body chimed in, "I can still give him more!"
With that, more of the Yin Kurama's chakra flowed into Naruto.
Naruto nodded. "Good. For now, focus on maintaining the chakra shield for everyone else. I'll take over with Sage Mode."
He released his clone's seal. With a poof, Sage Mode Naruto stood ready, his eyes glowing with orange pigmentation.
He pointed at the platform above. "Yo, Obito! Got something to say, or are you just wasting my time again?"
Obito clenched his jaw. "This guy… so damn annoying."
Hashirama and Tobirama teleported over, looking weary. Hashirama bowed slightly.
"Naruto, I'm sorry. I failed to suppress the Ten-Tails."
Naruto smiled. "It's alright, Uncle Hashirama. Oh, and… be careful. Madara might target you next. He wants to absorb your Sage Chakra."
Tobirama's face twisted in rage. "That damned Uchiha! I knew it!"
Madara narrowed his eyes. Naruto's precision and insight were starting to unsettle him.
'No... This Naruto is different. Too different.'
"Obito," Madara growled telepathically. "Revive me now. I need to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki before it's too late. Our window is closing."
Obito responded curtly. "You don't need to remind me."
The two exchanged glances. Meanwhile, the Ten-Tails' massive eyes locked onto Naruto. Something about him… reminded it of that man. That unbearable, ancient presence—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
"ROOAAARRR!"
The Ten-Tails howled and began forming hand seals. Its body started to change, as if preparing for the final evolution.
Naruto's eyes sharpened. "Not this time!"
He threw a Rasenshuriken, enhanced by wind release and Sage chakra. The projectile screamed through the air.
"You're not nuking the battlefield like last time!"
Madara leapt in front of the Ten-Tails, his Perfect Susanoo emerging instantly. With one massive swing, he deflected the Rasenshuriken, sending shockwaves across the plain.
He growled. "I won't let anyone harm the Ten-Tails before I become its host."
Then, grimacing, Madara activated a deeply hidden technique—a seal he'd planted within Obito long ago. Obito froze for a brief second but quickly resisted.
Madara cursed inwardly. Even if I activate the seal, they'll definitely try to interrupt the resurrection. And the Rinne Rebirth requires uninterrupted time… this won't work!
"Damn it!"
For the first time, Madara felt the situation slipping out of his control.
He returned to Obito's side, visibly annoyed. "Obito! If you keep stalling, our entire plan is going to fall apart!"
Obito gave him a cold look. "I'm aware. I also know about the same seal you placed in me—just like you did with Sasuke."
Madara stopped pretending. "Yes. I told you from the beginning—I saved your life so you could repay me. I gave you power, knowledge… You owe me."
Obito turned his eyes toward Naruto. "I never said I wouldn't revive you. But maybe you shouldn't be so selfish. We both want the Infinite Tsukuyomi. So how about a compromise?"
Madara's brow twitched. "What the hell are you suggesting?"
"Let me become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki," Obito said calmly. "You protect me while I perform the Rinne Rebirth. Once I become the Jinchūriki, no one can stop the seal. Not even Naruto."
Madara was stunned. He was being threatened… by Obito?
This bastard!
After a long pause, Madara finally growled, "Fine. I'll agree to your plan… But don't fail me, Obito."
Without another word, Madara burst forward toward the Kage, his chakra flaring violently. He would buy Obito the time he needed—at least, for now.
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