"It is good."
Obito's voice was cold as his hands formed seals. The red chakra of the Eight-Tails began surging out of Killer Bee's body, drawn mercilessly into the Gedo Statue.
One hour passed, then two, then three. Finally, the last of Gyūki's chakra was devoured. With his tailed beast ripped away, Killer Bee's body collapsed lifelessly, no different from what had once happened to Gaara.
Obito tossed the corpse aside without hesitation and turned to White Zetsu.
"Has Sasuke's Rinnegan awakened?"
"I don't know. Black Zetsu is handling that," White Zetsu replied, shaking his head.
"Then go stall the Genin coalition. I'll confirm Sasuke's status myself. If his Rinnegan has truly awakened, then he'll serve no further purpose."
"Understood." White Zetsu sank into the earth, vanishing from sight.
Obito turned and headed straight toward Sasuke's location, leaving the chamber in silence.
On the battlefield…
A colossal meteorite tore through the heavens, casting its shadow over the land as it plummeted. Its descent was like the wrath of a god.
The Five Kage froze, stunned—until Onoki broke the silence.
"It's not time to surrender! We can't just stand here waiting for death!"
His shout snapped the others from their daze. Terumi Mei immediately called for nearby shinobi to retreat to safety, then leapt into the fray herself.
The Five Kage regrouped, standing shoulder to shoulder. Their confusion cleared, replaced by grim determination.
"Water Style: Vortex Water Blade!" Mei cried, launching streams of spiraling water upward. The pressurized threads struck the falling rock, leaving fine cracks across its surface.
Gaara summoned massive hands of sand, grasping at the meteorite to slow its descent. Onoki soared into the air, applying his Ultra-Light and Heavy Rock Technique to counter its momentum.
Tsunade and the Fourth Raikage leapt skyward, fists brimming with monstrous strength and lightning chakra. Their blows struck the rock with thunderous force.
Together, the five unleashed their full might. Though the meteorite was titanic, it was still stone. Under relentless assault, fractures spread rapidly across its surface.
Crack. Crack.
Moments later, the rock split apart. With a deafening explosion, the meteorite shattered into countless fragments that rained down like a meteor shower.
Dust filled the battlefield. Shinobi coughed, but relief flooded their faces.
"We did it!"
"As expected of the Five Kage!"
Even Onoki and the others allowed themselves a brief smile, daring to believe that Madara was not invincible after all.
But Madara only stood motionless, arms folded, watching like a man observing children play. His expression was calm, almost bored, as though their desperate struggle was entertainment.
"How impressive," he said at last. "You managed to destroy one. What about two… or three?"
The Kage froze. Slowly, their eyes lifted skyward.
A second meteorite loomed above, descending directly after the first. Worse still, above that was yet another colossal rock, the two aligned in a crushing line of destruction.
The allied shinobi in the distance stared in horror, sweat soaking their uniforms. The sheer scale of it numbed their minds.
For the Kage, terror settled in their eyes. This was not a fight between equals. The gap was too great—ants striking against an elephant. No matter how many gathered, it meant nothing.
Madara's chakra pulsed faintly, though his power should have been limitless in this state of Impure World Reincarnation. But to him, the spectacle was more entertaining than any battle. He delighted in watching hope bloom in his enemies' eyes, only to watch it crushed.
Once, in life, he could not completely overwhelm the Five Kage. Senju Hashirama had always stood in the way. But now Hashirama was gone. The so-called Kage and their coalition were worthless in his eyes—mere obstacles to brush aside.
The only one who had ever forced him to acknowledge defeat was Ayanami Kaito, a battle burned into his memory like fire.
A faint glow began to shine from Madara's body. White light flickered across his form.
His brows furrowed.
"So… the caster of Impure World Reincarnation has been undone? Pathetic."
The Kage and allied shinobi widened their eyes. They recognized the glow instantly. It was the light of release—the signal of souls returning to the Pure Land.
"Madara is fading!"
"He's going back to the Pure Land! We're saved!"
Cheers erupted among the coalition. Even the Kage themselves felt a rush of relief.
Madara's body began to disintegrate, his form scattering into light. But then, with a sneer twisting his lips, his hands flew into a seal.
"Release," he muttered.