Nagato and Tō looked at the Third Hokage with bittersweet expressions.
Nagato & Tō (softly): "Sorry, Sarutobi…"
Sarutobi, despite his defeat, managed a gentle smile, knowing that having such powerful allies still gave some closure.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, having narrowly avoided spatial shockwaves, eyed Tō warily. He was surprised—sealing the Third Hokage despite such chaotic conditions was no small feat.
Seizing the moment, he then activated a seal. Instantly, the Second and Fourth Hokage appeared in front of Tō and Nagato, emerging via Flying Thunder God with lightning-swift precision.
Their teleportation felt unpredictable, yet Tō had her countermove ready. Itachi's perfect Susanoo fully manifested, guarding the group while the Ten‑Punch Sword struck at the Second and Fourth.
Orochimaru (gritting teeth): "Damn Itachi…"
The First Hokage countered—massive wooden vines surged, sweeping up weapons to assault the Susanoo. The Second and Fourth teleported again in an instant, attacking with their signature moves—Rasengan and Water Cutting Wave—on either side of Susanoo.
Itachi deflected the Water Cutting Wave with the Yata Mirror, but the Rasengan cracked the Susanoo's helmet.
Fourth Hokage (shouting): "Be careful! Orochimaru is beginning to control the Nine-Tails chakra inside me!"
A miniature Tailed Beast Ball formed—but Itachi reacted instantly, repelling it with the Yata Mirror. The blast still shook Turtle Island—if combat continued at this scale, the island itself might tip over.
Inside the Susanoo, Tō calmly flicked fingers, summoning Five-Colored Threads—Super‑Strike Serpents. The lines shot outward; First Hokage's wooden vines seized weaponry and hurled them at the threads, clashing with loud clangs.
At that moment, Orochimaru seemed to lose control of his body. As he was thrown aloft, Tō appeared before him in an instant, with the Wind God Sword, infused with ferocious wind chakra, she swung at his head.
They clashed—then separated. Tō narrowed her eyes: "Uchiha Madara?"
Madara (arms folded, eyes narrowing): "So you are the Tō the Five Kage spoke of. Impressive reflexes—but even at my peak, I was no faster."
He turned toward the First Hokage.
Madara (smiling bitterly): "Old friend… never thought we'd fight side by side again—under such circumstances."
The First Hokage murmured faintly:
Hashirama: "Yes… It's hard to believe we stand together like this again."
Tō, expression enigmatic, formed a quick seal and smirked:
Tō: "Now that everyone from back then is gathered… the real battle begins, don't you think?"
She then roared:
Tō: "Fuinjutsu—Contract Severance!"
In that split second, as Orochimaru was stunned, her threads—having spread chakra via parasitic lines—disrupted the sealing jutsu binding Orochimaru. This freed him from those seals; even the other reanimated Hokage might shake off his control. While some might remain bound by curse seals, their reactions would be slowed enough for Tō to act.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage's soul was already liberated from reanimation, and the other Hokage struggled strongly to free themselves. Orochimaru began re-forming seals desperately.
Madara (coldly amused): "Not bad, little one."
He glanced at Nagato—then his Susanoo fully manifested, larger than Itachi's, radiating immense chakra presence. Both Madara and his Susanoo began sealing hand signs.
Nagato (yelling): "Everyone—evacuate the island!"
Madara caught those words with a slight frown and muttered:
Madara: "So this one would betray me… Obito, what have you been doing all these years?"
A deafening explosion shook Turtle Island. The Akatsuki, including Hidan, retreated first. Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks, then dashed to stand beside Tō. Tō's expression heated—Madara's gambit wasn't something to be taken lightly.
Without the Earth Release that lightens meteors, Ninja Stone techniques weren't available here. Tō turned to Nagato:
Tō: "Can we stop this technique?"
Nagato managed a wry smile:
Nagato: "We'll try—but my Rinnegan belongs to him now. He knows all its secrets and abilities much more fully than I do."
Tō nodded, then smirked. She lunged at Madara, though the First Hokage and others, still under Orochimaru's influence, moved to intercept. Yet their reactions were dulled, allowing Tō to seize the Fourth Hokage and apply a sealing jutsu.
She pulled the Nine-Tails chakra from his body, transferring half into Naruto's. The Fourth Hokage managed a small nod:
Fourth Hokage (softly): "Tō… thank you."
Naruto watched sorrowfully as the Fourth faded.
Then the Second and First Hokage launched assaults, but Sasuke appeared and activated Susanoo, defending against both.
Above, clouds parted—and a massive meteor blocked the sun, plummeting toward Turtle Island. Orochimaru, half-buried in the ground, needed to avoid it—or be obliterated.
Nagato: (roaring): "Stop!"
He completed a seal—instantly halting the meteor mid-descent; it even began rising upward, defying gravity.
Madara (scoffing): "Impressive."
He began his sealing hand signs at greater speed.
Another meteor collided with the first—Nagato spat blood, severely strained. The Akatsuki and elite shinobi from Konoha and Cloud still hadn't evacuated completely; failure to contain this would mean catastrophe.
Tō (grimly): "Nagato's close to breaking… time for me."
She vanished, reappearing beside the first meteor. With a mocking smirk:
Tō: "Your turn, Madara."
She swung her arm and struck the massive meteor—it transformed into a blazing comet and hurtled straight toward Madara.
She acknowledged Nagato with a slight nod, then slapped the second meteor too.
Nagato, raising a hand to Madara, chanted:
Nagato: "Super—Ten-Tails Heavenly Pull!"