After White Ram and the others arrived, they saw Lord Fox sitting atop a pile of rubble… and beside him, a human-shaped patch of ash.
"...Is that Uchiha Madara?"
"It is," Yako replied calmly. "I expended quite a bit of energy… just to cut down an eighty-year-old man."
"White Ram, collect those ashes. I need to find a place to rest and recover."
"While I'm resting, you're not to sit idle."
"First, set up defenses around me. If anyone tries to take advantage of my weakened state, kill them."
"Second, that old man made quite a scene before he died. Someone will definitely come investigate the battlefield."
"Capture anyone who shows up. They're likely spies from other villages."
"Clean them up. Let the other villages bleed a little."
"Understood, Lord Fox!"
White Ram couldn't help but think—Fox kept calling him an "eighty-year-old man," but was that just any old man?
That was Uchiha Madara.
A dying tiger could still kill anyone who got too close.
And Fox… had killed him.
After leaving the battlefield, Yako found a massive tree. He created a hollow within its trunk and slipped inside.
Once inside—
He finally relaxed.
White Ram and the others hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Because the one inside the tree…
Wasn't Yako.
It was a Wood Clone.
The clone carried life force, enough to fool even them.
As for Yako's real body—
He had already vanished using Flying Thunder God.
The rain continued to fall.
Far from the battlefield, a pitcher-plant-like structure slowly opened.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged.
"Is Madara really dead…?"
"Even if he didn't die now, his body wouldn't last more than two months anyway."
"Go inform Nagato, Spiral Zetsu, and the young Obito."
"Madara has been killed… by Konoha's Fox."
The Zetsu duo disappeared.
Southeastern Land of Rain.
Nagato and Yahiko led the Akatsuki members away from the town in haste, rushing back toward their hideout.
While they had been negotiating with nobles—
Someone had attacked their base.
Konan had been abducted.
And a note was left behind—
Demanding that only Yahiko and Nagato come alone.
One Akatsuki member spoke up anxiously:
"Leader Yahiko, we can't just follow their instructions! Let us follow at a distance—we can support you if anything happens!"
Behind them, Obito frowned.
These Akatsuki members…
Were a problem.
How could Nagato experience true despair if he was surrounded by companions?
Companionship…
Warmth…
Those things were fragile illusions.
Yahiko's ideals were a joke.
Peace in this world was impossible.
Under Yahiko's influence, Nagato was growing too slowly.
Madara had said it clearly—
Only despair and hatred could make Nagato grow.
Yahiko shook his head.
"Konan is too important to us. I won't risk her life even a little."
"They told us to come alone. So we go alone."
"Don't worry. Nagato and I are strong. Unless Hanzo himself shows up, we'll bring Konan back."
The others fell silent.
They had no choice.
As Yahiko and Nagato departed, Obito stood at the back of the group, scanning for Spiral Zetsu.
Once those two were gone…
He planned to eliminate the remaining Akatsuki members.
They were just in the way.
At the designated location—
A cliff.
Standing atop it—
Hanzo.
Beside him—
Konan, bound.
And slightly behind—
Konoha advisor, Danzo.
Yahiko quickly assessed the situation.
Hanzo had over thirty elite Rain shinobi.
Danzo had nine Root operatives.
Yahiko and Nagato exchanged a glance.
This was a joint operation between Hanzo and Danzo.
This wasn't going to end well.
From above, Hanzo looked down coldly.
"Yahiko… your organization has become a nuisance to me."
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere in the forest—
Uzumaki Kaichō and Uzumaki Genchō searched frantically.
"Danzo rarely leaves Konoha. This is our chance—but where is he?"
Genchō stood atop a tree, scanning the surroundings with a telescope.
Then suddenly—
"There! A giant summoning beast! A humanoid one!"
Kaichō climbed up and saw it—
A monstrous figure with nine eyes on its head…
And nine protrusions on its back.
Just sensing its chakra—
"This level of power… we can call Fox."
He took out a Flying Thunder God kunai and threw it at a tree.
The two stared—
And in the next instant—
Fox appeared.
No trace. No delay.
Just… there.
The Flying Thunder God truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier forbidden technique.
Yako arrived and immediately looked toward the surging chakra.
He saw it—
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
So that was it.
No wonder Madara hadn't used it before dying.
He had already passed it on—
Entrusting the Ten-Tails' shell to Nagato.
"Kaichō, Genchō—return to your base. I'll handle the rest."
Pulling out the kunai, Yako vanished again.
Genchō muttered, reluctant:
"Can we watch from afar with a telescope? Fox versus Danzo… I really want to see Danzo get beaten to death."
Kaichō shook his head.
"No unnecessary risks."
"If we're exposed, Fox's Flying Thunder God becomes compromised."
"Protecting Fox is protecting ourselves."
At the cliff—
Yahiko stepped forward—
And suddenly drove himself onto Nagato's kunai.
He chose death.
To force Nagato forward.
Nagato snapped.
Completely.
In his madness—
He summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Below the cliff—
Eight Root operatives were crushed to death by a single strike.
Danzo raised his hand, stopping Uchiha Suigiku.
"Don't move yet. Observe."
Suigiku clenched his fists.
Those were Root elites—
Hard-earned strength—
Gone in an instant.
But he forced himself to stay calm.
Root operatives were tools.
Tools didn't hesitate.
Then—
The Demonic Statue released chakra dragons—
Devouring the souls of Rain shinobi.
Danzo frowned.
That technique…
It directly attacked the soul.
No visible wounds.
Just death.
Like puppets with their strings cut.
Even he found it troublesome.
"Why… does Nagato possess such power?"
Was even Hanzo insufficient?
This world…
Produced monsters far too quickly.
Nagato—
From a mere mid-level ninja to Kage-level in just a year or two.
Fox—
From a defensive specialist to a top-tier powerhouse in just two years.
These young monsters…
Their talent was infuriating.
Suddenly—
"Danzo-sama! Spiral Zetsu!"
Suigiku pointed.
Danzo followed his gaze—
And saw him.
A masked figure.
Leaning casually against a distant boulder.
Watching the battle—
Just like Danzo.
A swirling mask.
Wood-style spiral design.
And within its eyeholes—
A pair of three-tomoe Sharingan.
Danzo's eyes sharpened instantly.
Greed flickered within them.
"Fox is holding Madara back."
"Madara won't be able to return anytime soon."
"Hanzo is dealing with Nagato."
"This is our chance."
"Suigiku…"
"Take back what belongs to Konoha."
"That Mangekyō Sharingan."
Suigiku nodded firmly.
"Uchiha Gogo's Mangekyō must not fall into enemy hands."
Danzo's voice turned cold.
"Go."
"Test the power of Spiral Zetsu's Mangekyō."
But in his heart—
Danzo had already decided.
Suigiku…
Was expendable.
A perfect probe.