Urashiki's eyes widened when he caught sight of Madara's Rinnegan.
"Those eyes… the Rinnegan? How can a human possess them?"
Kinshiki's expression tightened. As an Ōtsutsuki, he could clearly see the Limbo shadows moving around Madara. The muscles in his arms flexed as he shook off the invisible force restraining him and returned to Urashiki's side.
Urashiki cast him a glance.
"There's something unusual about this man. He must know much about Kaguya. Keep him alive for now."
Kinshiki nodded slightly.
"Until Lord Momoshiki returns, I will handle him."
The two spoke as though no one else existed, dismissing Madara as little more than a nuisance.
Madara narrowed his eyes and advanced on Kinshiki. Without looking back, he said in a low voice,
"Itachi, withdraw. These two are far beyond what you can handle."
Itachi already understood. He gestured to the Anbu with him and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, retreating from the battlefield.
Now, only Madara stood against the Ōtsutsuki. Though his figure seemed small before Kinshiki, his aura was anything but.
Kinshiki wasted no words. His eyes sharpened as he raised a colossal fist and swung downward.
Madara evaded with a flicker of movement. The ground erupted as Kinshiki's punch split the earth into deep cracks.
Urashiki floated lazily above the battlefield, watching the dust rise.
"The scenery here isn't bad. Shame to ruin it."
From within the haze, a crimson glow flared. Kinshiki stepped forth, pulling a massive axe from the glowing red ring on his back. With a powerful slash, he tore through the space beside him.
Boom!
A Limbo shadow was thrown aside.
Madara appeared above Kinshiki, his Susanoo manifesting around him. A titanic skeletal arm swatted down, but Kinshiki didn't dodge. A vortex spiraled open from his Byakugan, swallowing him into space.
The blow smashed only into the ground.
Madara's brow twitched.
"That ability… Kamui?"
Kinshiki reappeared behind him, axe raised, cleaving into the Susanoo. Unlike ordinary weapons, his strike fractured the first stage of the Susanoo instantly.
Madara poured more chakra into his Rinnegan. Azure flames burst from his Susanoo, its form evolving into armored brilliance that repelled Kinshiki's advance.
Above, Urashiki's grin widened.
"Oh? Now this is interesting!"
Kinshiki himself looked surprised by the sudden transformation. He shifted his weapon into a crimson guandao, swung it with both hands, and released a devastating blade of energy.
The Susanoo countered, drawing an energy blade to block. Its other hand conjured magatama, hurling them like a storm of meteors.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Kinshiki's ring flashed, producing a shield that intercepted the barrage. Explosions thundered across the battlefield, tearing apart the landscape.
Crackling purple lightning coursed across Kinshiki's body as he launched himself forward with terrifying speed, piercing straight through the Susanoo. Madara abandoned the construct just before impact, soaring into the sky.
His gaze swept over the shattered terrain.
"No, this place can't endure much more. I'll lure them elsewhere."
With that, he turned toward the Valley of the End.
Urashiki frowned.
"Eh? He's running?"
Kinshiki appeared beside him, speaking in his usual heavy tone.
"He wishes to protect this land. He's drawing us away."
Urashiki smirked.
"Fine, then let's play along."
The two pursued Madara, vanishing into the distance.
Moments later, Minato arrived with Itachi and Obito. The battlefield was in ruins.
Minato exhaled sharply.
"This level of destruction… all in such a short time. So this is the power of the Ōtsutsuki."
Obito scanned the area, his face grim.
"Where are they now?"
Itachi answered,
"Madara must have led them away. If they kept fighting here, Konoha would be at risk."
Obito frowned. The thought of Madara protecting the village seemed absurd.
Noticing, Itachi shook his head.
"Madara has changed. He's different now… he values the current Konoha."
Obito snorted but said nothing more.
Minato placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at Itachi.
"Itachi, where would Madara take them? Those two are no ordinary opponents. We can't let him face them alone."
After a pause, Itachi replied,
"If it's Madara, then most likely… the Valley of the End."
Minato nodded.
"That would be the best location. Obito, use Kamui to take us there. The others remain here. Chiga's whereabouts are still uncertain, so the village's defense falls to you."
Obito gritted his teeth but complied.
"…Understood, sensei."
Despite his resentment, he knew now was not the time.
At the Valley of the End, Madara clashed fiercely with Kinshiki. Though Kinshiki's raw power surpassed his taijutsu, the presence of Limbo shadows turned the tide. To Kinshiki, it was like fighting five Madaras at once.
Breaking free, Kinshiki surged forward, but Madara's eyes narrowed.
"Shinra Tensei."
The repulsive force sent Kinshiki hurtling into Hashirama's stone effigy, shattering its mouth in a massive explosion of debris.
Moments later, Kinshiki burst out, red weapons orbiting him like stars. Madara summoned his shadows to shield himself, but the weapons scattered, converging from every angle.
Madara spread his arms wide.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The weapons shattered in a single shockwave. But as the force dissipated, glowing red paper cranes appeared at his flank, gliding silently toward him.
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