Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Allied Shinobi Forces Headquarters.
The news of Ino's revival had just reached the base.
Yamanaka Inoichi, who had been both heartbroken and exhausted to the point of collapse, suddenly sprang up from his bed, eyes wide with joy.
"You're saying it's true? Ino's okay? (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
Nara Shikaku nodded calmly. "Old friend, after all these years, when have I ever lied to you?"
"It's said that Shinju somehow sensed your daughter was in danger and rushed there without hesitation to save her."
At that, Shikaku's expression turned teasing. He poked Inoichi in the chest and smirked.
"You're a lucky man. The most dazzling prodigy in the entire shinobi world might just end up as your son-in-law! (σ≧︎▽︎≦︎)σ"
"Don't talk nonsense. The kids have their own plans. (◔◡◔)" Inoichi waved a hand dismissively, though his heart was already bursting with joy.
As a father, he had never cared about how high his daughter might marry—he only wished for her happiness.
Still, at this point, the one who could make anyone feel safest in the entire shinobi world… was undoubtedly Shinju! (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)
While the two men were talking, one of the communications ninja suddenly turned pale.
A moment later, he said nervously, "Shikaku-sama, we've received word from Iwagakure—the previous Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki, Rōshi and Han, are suspected to have been captured by Akatsuki!"
At once, Shikaku's expression hardened and his mind shifted into tactical mode.
"Former jinchūriki? What would Akatsuki want with them?"
Unable to find an immediate answer, he gave a firm order.
"Akatsuki never acts without purpose. Notify Gaara of Sunagakure and Yugito Nii of Kumogakure, the former Two-Tails jinchūriki. Tell them to stay alert…"
"Oh right—what's the situation with the Four Kage on the Iron Country desert front?"
The communication ninja shook his head.
"Unknown. The Second Division hasn't sent any new reports…"
Finally, it was Ao, the sensor ninja, who answered Shikaku's question.
"Madara's massive chakra presence is still there, but the chakra of the Four Kage is fading rapidly… As for why no new messages have come through, I fear the Second Division might have been completely wiped out…"
As he spoke, a trace of sorrow crossed Ao's face.
"Uchiha Madara—the legendary shinobi… he truly is terrifyingly strong."
Shikaku took a deep breath, steadied himself, and continued.
"The First Division has already arrived at the Land of Iron. Madara may be powerful, but he's not invincible…"
"If even the combined might of our forces can't stop him, then we'll have no choice but to seek help…"
Mabui, the Raikage's secretary, hesitated.
"But this battle was meant to protect him in the first place—and there's the Sage's prophecy surrounding him. Acting rashly could have unpredictable consequences."
Shikaku sighed. "Which is why that would be the very last resort."
"For now, everything depends on the Surprise Attack Division. Let's hope they can put an end to the Edo Tensei technique soon…"
"Oh, and—have we identified all the White Zetsu infiltrators among our ranks yet?"
The communication ninja A shook his head.
"White Zetsu's transformation jutsu is far too advanced. Regular sensors can't detect them… The entire alliance has been losing trust in each other because of this."
As he finished reporting, another communications ninja suddenly shouted in alarm,
"Land of Iron! On the battlefield where the Four Kage are fighting Uchiha Madara—another enormous chakra has appeared!! ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!"
...
Land of Iron — Desert Front.
Uchiha Madara stood atop a massive boulder, gazing down arrogantly at the defeated and broken Four Kage.
"It seems you no longer have the strength to dance."
"How disappointing. The Kage of this era aren't even one ten-thousandth of Hashirama's power!"
"What a joyless dance! ＜(￣3￣)＞"
Beneath the boulder—
The aged Tsuchikage lay with eyes closed, face like withered bark, barely clinging to life.
Not far from him, the Raikage had already lost an arm. Blood poured endlessly from the wound.
"Damn it… even the Kage, who carry the trust of their people, have fallen!" he growled through gritted teeth.
Beside him, Mizukage Terumī Mei's abdomen had been pierced clean through. She coughed up blood endlessly, her mouth opening and closing as though to speak—but her throat was too choked with blood for words to come out.
"Damn… it…"
Tsunade, her body split cleanly in half, used the last of her strength to bite her finger and form a summoning seal!
"Poof!"
A gigantic slug materialized before her.
Upon seeing Tsunade's grievous injuries, Katsuyu cried out in horror, "Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade rasped weakly, "Treat the other Kage first… keep them alive… no matter what…"
The words left her lips, and her eyes closed.
High above, Madara sneered.
"Such tenacious will to live—but what a pitiful lack of strength."
With a casual flick of his hand—
One of his Susanoo clones raised its massive chakra blade and swung it down toward Tsunade's head!
"Whoosh!!"
The chakra-forged blade sliced through the air, the wind pressure alone sharp enough to kill.
If that blade struck, not even Tsunade's famed regenerative ability could save her.
But at that critical moment—
"Flash!!"
The strange mark that Shinju had once left in Tsunade's palm suddenly blazed with light!
Crack!!
A deafening sound echoed!
From the glowing mark, a humanoid wooden figure erupted!
Its shape shifted rapidly—until it took on the appearance of Shinju himself!
The Shinju clone looked up, locking eyes with the descending blue Susanoo blade!
His pupils twisted, instantly blooming into the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan!
In the next second—
A green Susanoo armor materialized around him!
Clang!!
Madara's Susanoo blade was caught firmly by the skeletal frame of Shinju's first-form Susanoo!
Having blocked the attack, the Shinju clone immediately channeled his own chakra into Katsuyu, aiding in the treatment of the critically wounded Kage.
Madara, standing on the boulder, looked genuinely astonished. (´°Δ°`)
"A wooden clone?"
"And it can even use the Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
"So you're the one they've been calling Shinju."
The Shinju clone ignored him, maintaining his hand seals as he focused on healing the Four Kage.
Beside Madara, Kabuto, who was controlling the Second Tsuchikage, warned him,
"You might be powerful, but I'll say this once—that kid is seriously abnormal…"
Madara smirked dismissively. "You're overthinking it."
"You think I'd be afraid of some young punk?"
"Besides, this isn't even his real body—just a crude wooden clone! (′д｀σ)σ"
As he spoke, the blue armor of Madara's Susanoo expanded, solidified, and took on the demonic tengu form of its fourth stage.
"Boy, those borrowed Uchiha eyes of yours can't possibly summon a Susanoo like this! （｀Δ´）!"
On the ground below—
Thanks to Shinju's potent healing chakra, Tsunade's bisected body was already reconnecting.
When she saw Shinju standing before her, she didn't look surprised—only rasped out a hoarse warning:
"Be careful…"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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