Chapter 117: The Savior and the Betrayal
A Tailed Beast Bomb, carrying village-destroying energy, spewed from Kurama's mouth, hurtling toward the five orbs fired by the other Tailed Beasts. The two opposing forces crashed into each other like colliding planets.
In an instant, the world changed color. A huge shockwave surged outwards, and Chakra intertwined, entangled, and canceled itself out in a dazzling flash of light.
Amidst this light, Naruto stood firmly in front of Renji, an unshakeable fortress.
"I told you," Naruto's powerful voice echoed, "I would protect you!"
His eyes gleamed with determination. After countless trials, he had finally grown into someone capable of protecting his comrade. "Go! Kurama!"
Kurama's golden chakra enveloped Renji, Kakashi, and Might Guy, shielding them as Naruto's Tailed Beast form charged forward. Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails intercepted the Two-Tails and Three-Tails, leaving the Four, Five, and Six-Tails to Naruto.
"Ah!" Naruto gritted his teeth, his chakra arms plunging deep and ripping the black receivers from the chests of the three Tailed Beasts. At the same time, Killer Bee did the same to his opponents.
But it was too late. The Gedo Mazo opened its massive mouth, and dark purple chains shot out, wrapping around all the Tailed Beasts and yanking them into its body.
This was, after all, Naruto and Kurama's first complete transformation. The five-minute time limit expired, and Kurama's chakra vanished.
Renji landed on the ground as a cool droplet of water hit his cheek. "It's raining..." The downpour was a temporary effect, caused by the Tailed Beast Bombs burning the air.
"Renji, was I cool just now?" Naruto asked, pointing to himself with his thumb.
Renji nodded. Naruto beamed.
Obito stared. This was the variable Renji mentioned? Even with the Tailed Beast's power, Naruto wasn't a noteworthy enemy. He would not be filled with the same fear of the unknown as he was with Renji. The Sharingan was enough to see the predetermined future.
As the rain stopped, forces from the other battlefields began to converge on their position. Renji's lips curved slightly.
...
Meanwhile, a line of footprints appeared on the muddy ground outside a prison.
"Sasuke?" Karin, dressed in prison clothes, stared in disbelief.
"Karin," he nodded.
"Are you here to save me?" she asked, her eyes full of anticipation.
Sasuke nodded again.
"Hmph! Although you did something that hurt me a lot, I still can't refuse you!" Karin hugged his arm, rubbing her cheek against it. "Sasuke, I missed you so much!"
Sasuke coldly pushed her away. She, accustomed to it, leaned right back in.
"I told you," Suigetsu sighed, jumping down from the wall. "No matter what he does to her, she won't leave."
"What are we going to do next?" Jugo asked.
Sasuke's lips curved into a cold sneer. "Undo the Edo Tensei."
"Sasuke," Suigetsu said, "are you going to fight on the side of the Ninja Allied Forces?"
"No," Sasuke shook his head. "I stand against Renji."
Karin's eyes flashed. "Sasuke, are you saying Renji is..."
Sasuke's gaze silenced her. Karin was completely shocked. If Renji had been lurking in the Allied Forces all this time... that was too terrifying. But it didn't matter. She only stood on Sasuke's side.
...
On the Kage battlefield, the fight had resumed.
"It's time to reclaim ourselves!" Ōnoki's passion was reignited. He would defeat the nightmare of his youth right here.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!" Mei Terumi attacked first, sending a surging torrent of acid at Madara's Susanoo. The acid sizzled and began to melt the "indestructible" armor.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!" The Raikage, enveloped in lightning, vanished and reappeared above Madara, striking down with unparalleled momentum.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!" Ōnoki appeared behind Madara, trapping him in a huge white cube of disintegrating light.
Facing the combined assault, Madara merely raised his head, a mocking smile on his lips. A dazzling white light emerged from his body, and all three powerful ninjutsu were absorbed, leaving no trace.
"It's just as the intel said," the Raikage scowled. "He can absorb ninjutsu! Only the Hokage and I can be the main attackers. Tsuchikage, Kazekage, Mizukage, create opportunities for us!"
The Raikage charged again, but as he narrowly avoided the Susanoo's giant blade, he realized something was wrong.
The Kazekage and Hokage, who should have been acting, were motionless.
"What?" Ōnoki taunted Gaara. "Have you lost confidence so quickly, young man?"
"Lady Hokage, have you found something?" the Raikage asked Tsunade anxiously.
She did not answer, merely standing in thought.
"No!" Mei Terumi suddenly exclaimed, an ominous premonition surging through her. "The situation has changed!"
Just then, Gaara and Tsunade simultaneously formed hand signs.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
As they shouted in unison, three massive wooden dragons burst from the ground, lunging at Mei, Ōnoki, and the Raikage. It happened so suddenly they had no time to react. The dragons coiled around them like giant pythons, trapping them tightly and absorbing their chakra. In moments, they were rendered powerless.
"Hmm?" Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow, watching. Wood Release? Only that blue-haired one should be able to use that.
"Lady Hokage, what are you doing?!" Mei rebuked.
"Have you fallen into a genjutsu?" the Raikage roared, struggling.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: 5,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: 5,000]
[Chakra (312,000,000 / 400,000,000)]
"Lady Hokage? Lord Kazekage?"
Tsunade and Gaara smiled simultaneously. "We are not."
Their bodies rapidly transformed, their features shifting until two identical copies of Renji stood before the trapped Kage.
"Renji! What exactly is going on?!" the Raikage roared.
Ōnoki's lips turned pale. He had thought of a conclusion, but it was too terrifying. The entire Ninja World... the Allied Forces... had become a joke.
"I never misjudged you, Renji!" Mei's eyes were bloodshot with hatred.
Uchiha Madara watched this grand spectacle, vaguely guessing the truth.
Black Zetsu rose from the ground beside him. "He is the second mission completer I found. Renji."
Madara raised his eyebrows. He wouldn't doubt Zetsu, an extension of his own will. "Not bad. More efficient than Obito."
Their conversation reached the ears of the three Kage.
"RENJI!"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: 5,000,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: 5,000,000]
[Chakra (316,000,000 / 400,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: 5,000,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: 5,000,000]
[Chakra (321,000,000 / 400,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: 5,000,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: 5,000,000]
[Chakra (326,000,000 / 400,000,000)]
Endless hatred surged from them. The two clones quickly subdued the Kage, transforming them into small, exquisite figures and placing them in a ninja tool pouch as spoils of war for the main body.
The clones then approached Madara.
"Since you've dealt with the problem," Madara sneered, "go see what that Obito is plotting."
Suddenly, a dazzling white light erupted from Madara's body. His Edo Tensei form began to slowly disintegrate.
"Edo Tensei: Release!"
The clones exchanged a glance. There was only one person who could be doing this: Sasuke.
Unfortunately for him, the release had no effect on Uchiha Madara.
...
In the Mountain Graveyard, Sasuke's team had found Kabuto.
"Is that Kabuto?" Suigetsu asked, disgusted, observing the sage-mode-transformed man now trapped in Sasuke's genjutsu. "This thing that crawled out of his stomach is just like a huge..."
"Never mind him," Sasuke interrupted.
He placed a piece of Kabuto's flesh on the Cursed Seal on Anko Mitarashi's neck. "Evil Sealing Method!"
A white snake emerged from the seal, and from its maw, Orochimaru reappeared.
"I didn't expect it would be you who revived me," Orochimaru smirked.
"Orochimaru, I need you to do something."
"No need to explain. I saw everything from inside Anko," Orochimaru said. "I'm not interested in this war. If anything interests me, it's your youthful body, Sasuke. Or perhaps... Renji's. Maybe you can help me seize his body?"
Sasuke stared at him. "His Bloodline Limit will only turn your body into his. No one can contend with him in terms of soul."
"You know him very well, Sasuke," Orochimaru hissed.
Sasuke said nothing, handing Orochimaru a scroll.
"What do you plan to do when you see them?" Orochimaru asked.
"I know too little," Sasuke said. "I need them to tell me the whole truth. I want to know everything, and with my own will and eyes, find what needs to be done."
"Alright, I'll help you. Follow me."
"Where to?"
"A place you are also very familiar with."
...
Back on the battlefield, the Gedo Mazo roared, having absorbed the Tailed Beasts.
"Look closely," Obito declared, "The Ten-Tails' revival! And the beginning of the end of the world! Even with fragments, its power will not be affected!"
"Kakashi," Obito's voice echoed, "a life full of regret truly suits you."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: 1,000,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: 1,000,000]
[Chakra (327,000,000 / 400,000,000)]
"Who exactly are you?" Might Guy frowned, the familiar tone nagging at him.
"You can't even remember faces, what's the point in telling you?" Obito retorted.
"We must resolve this before the Ten-Tails is fully revived!" Kurama's voice spoke through Naruto. "The Sage of Six Paths said that day would be the end of the world!"
"You are all wrong!" Obito shouted. "My goal is nothing but the genjutsu—Infinite Tsukuyomi! To create a perfect world without grudges or wars!"
"Hmph, less talk! Let's break your mask first!" Naruto roared, forming a Rasengan and hurtling it at Obito.
Obito lightly waved his Gunbai fan, deflecting the attack and sending Naruto flying back like a cannonball.
Just as he was about to hit the ground, Renji's figure streaked like lightning, steadily catching him.
"Are you alright?" Renji asked softly.
"I'm fine," Naruto said.
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