Outside Hidden Cloud Village.
Cave entrance.
Deidara, with his golden side-swept bangs, was currently staring intently at the screen.
Such a level of focus.
He probably wouldn't even acknowledge an enemy attack!
"This is true art, explosive art! Beautiful, so beautiful..."
Deidara was mesmerized by the explosion on the screen where two suns merged into one!
A smile he couldn't suppress spread across his face!
To be able to witness this scene in his lifetime was truly amazing!
He had originally thought Nagato's Shinra Tensei was the best!
Destroying Konoha with a single blow.
He never expected the Nine-Tails' Power, the Tailed Beast Ball, to be even more powerful!
At this moment, Deidara even felt an urge to self-destruct.
Since it was only a screen image.
Deidara ultimately abandoned this crazy idea.
He continued to look at the screen.
Anticipating what other surprises it might bring...Hidden Sound Village.
In front of the laboratory.
Uchiha Madara's expression was calm.
He wasn't particularly moved by the explosion on the screen.
However, seeing Light Screen Naruto's method of counterattack.
Madara's impression of Light Screen Naruto deepened slightly.
Just as he thought.
Light Screen Naruto was a "righteous" guy.
By analyzing the collision of the two Tailed Beast Balls on the screen.
Madara clearly saw the details within.
Naruto's Tailed Beast Ball collided with the lower part of the "Five Tailed Beast Ball."
Providing an upward thrust.
The purpose was simply to make the explosion occur far from the ground.
After all, if an explosion truly happened so close to the ground.
The entire Ninja World would likely have a giant crater.
Naruto's battles always had some restraint.
Madara thought so.
Madara had a sense of déjà vu regarding people with this kind of personality.
Of course.
Seeing the White Masked Man appear on the screen.
Madara already knew this guy was Obito.
Similarly, Light screen Obito hadn't fully unleashed his true strength.
It seemed this battle still had a long way to go...
[The sky was gloomy, the air thick and heavy]
[The ground, damaged from prolonged battle, was already beyond repair]
[On top of the giant Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's head]
[The White Masked Man looked at the four figures in front of him]
[Among them, that orange-clad kid]
['That face']
A confidently smiling face.
Resolute eyes.
[An unusual feeling gradually arose in his heart]
[Obito slowly raised his right hand, grasping the hilt of the uchiha war fan on his back, preparing for battle]
[Immediately, he felt his hand was damp]
['Hmm?']
[The White Masked Man turned his head to look]
['Sweat?']
[Drizzling rain fell from the gloomy sky]
[Washing away all the dust from the Ninja World]
[The entire battlefield became clean]
[The originally murky sky, as if wiped clean]
["No, it's rain"]
[The rain grew heavier]
[Wetting the entire ground]
[The White Masked Man put down his uchiha war fan, spread his hands, and felt the rain drenching his entire body]
['How could fighting an opponent like this make me sweat?']
[The sound of rushing rain]
[The White Masked Man looked at the orange-clad kid in front of him]
After shattering the black rods.
He reverted from Nine-Tailed Mode to his original form.
He couldn't maintain that state continuously.
['Naruto is just a pawn I use to test Sasuke']
['For me, this kid is just a side show']
['I've long since mastered his power']
['This unusual feeling doesn't come from power']
['So what is it, what exactly happened...']
[The rain grew heavier]
[The downpour slid across the Masked Man's white mask]
[Slid across his purple-black cloak]
[Slid across the uchiha war fan on his back]
[Yet he remained unmoving]
[Coldness emanated from the Masked Man's Mangekyo eyes]
["No, none of that matters"]
["Who Naruto is is completely irrelevant"]
["When this war ends, the past and future will cease to exist"]
["Even existence itself, everything will become meaningless"]
...Watching the rain-soaked scene on the screen.
Listening to the Masked Man's self-revelation on the screen.
An enormous wave of shock surged through the hearts of countless Ninja in the Ninja World!
A torrential downpour was coming!
Had the moment of decisive battle arrived?!
The White Masked Man's unmoving demeanor!
Unaccountably made people feel the aura of a strong individual emanating from him!
Only someone with immense power and overwhelming confidence could remain calm after the previous scenes!
And the White Masked Man appeared very calm!
Even.
'How could I sweat fighting an opponent like this?'
'This kid is just a side show.'
'I've long since mastered his power.'
Spoken with such a calm tone!
Such arrogant words!
Could it be that this guy really hasn't unleashed his true strength yet?!
Thinking of this, everyone was secretly astonished!
Will Nine-Tailed Naruto be defeated...Konoha.
Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage's brows furrowed once again.
Ever since the screen appeared.
His emotions had been fluctuating frequently.
After all.
The content on it was indeed crucial!
Now many doubts arose in the Third Hokage's heart.
What the Masked Man said.
'The past and future are meaningless'
'Even existence itself is meaningless'
What exactly did this mean?
He couldn't help but look at Shikaku, voicing the doubts in his heart.
Shikaku's eyes were fixed on the White Masked Man on the screen.
His thoughts flew, extremely organized.
Then he replied to Hokage-sama: "I've always noticed that this guy who calls himself Madara always wears a mask. Our deeper impression of him is also that of the Masked Man. This makes it hard not to suspect whether he is truly Madara. Until now, based on the records about 'Madara' in Konoha's ancient texts, I've discovered—"
"This guy on the screen is very likely not Uchiha Madara!"
"If he were Uchiha Madara, he would absolutely not appear to people wearing a mask..."
"Based on the Masked Man's last two ambiguous statements, I infer that his true identity has lost its meaning..."
Such words could be understood on multiple levels.
Shikaku wasn't very clear either, so he only briefly touched upon it.
However, the conclusion that the Masked Man is not Madara had almost an eighty percent probability!
Ninja Academy.
Observation Deck.
The younger generation of the Ninja World had recovered from their previous fervent state.
They had sobered up once again!
This enemy was indeed not as easy to deal with as imagined!
Naruto clenched his fists, frowning, and said, "If Nine-Tailed Naruto wins, and the Ninja World wins, then everything will have meaning. This enemy on the screen wants to destroy the Ninja World, destined to be an enemy of the entire world!"
In Little Naruto's opinion.
How could a person's life be meaningless?
To uphold his Ninja Way, to strengthen his will!
Ultimately, to protect his comrades and gain their recognition!
These were all things he learned from the screen!
These all had meaning!
Jiraiya stared blankly at the screen.
He felt that the Masked Man's ideology.
Had similarities with many people he encountered while wandering the Ninja World.
Eventually forming such obstinate ideas.
The Masked Man's past must not be simple, even full of pain.
Who exactly was he?...[On the other side]
[Naruto stood in the rain]
[His eyes as unwavering as ever]
Not long ago.
Deep within the Tailed Beast's consciousness space.
He had met some new comrades!
This gave him immense confidence!
'My name is Matatabi.'
'Two-Tails Yugito Nii.'
'My name is Isobu, we've met before, haven't we?'
'I am the former Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.'
'My name is Kokuo.'
'Han.'
'My name is Saiken.'
'Let me introduce myself again, Utakata.'
'Lucky Seven, Roshi.'
'I am Fuu.'
Their voices varied, some steady, some melodious, some deep, some concise...
And they had different appearances, different names!
But at this moment.
They all stacked their distinctive palms together!
At this moment, their will was unified!
Which was to give their power to their newly acquainted comrade!
Uzumaki Naruto!
Because Naruto was an existence they acknowledged!
[—]
[Hidden Cloud Village]
[Alliance Headquarters]
["Transmit the battle situation from Naruto's side directly into the minds of all reinforcement troops."]
["Fifteen seconds will be enough; I want to use this to boost morale."]
["Those four are holding their ground with all their might on the battlefield."]
["Then, we must also do our utmost to do what we can."]
["Convey their will to everyone."]
[Shikaku made this decision]
Naruto had already engaged the Masked Man!
Displaying an impressive performance!
Unleashing the Nine-Tails' Power to its maximum!
If this news were to be spread!
It would surely ignite the hope of victory in the hearts of those comrades weary from war...boosting morale!
This was crucial for the victory or defeat of the war!
["Everyone? This would put too much strain on the Chakra circulatory system, and if something goes wrong..."]
["No need to say more, ten seconds."]
["Captain Inoichi!!"]
[Shikaku: "I apologize, but this is extremely important right now. Please summarize it concisely!"]
["Although I'm not good with words, I'll do my best!"]
[And so]
[The following words spread throughout the minds of the Shinobi Alliance]
["Headquarters report: The battle at the reinforcement location is advantageous. That is to say, Uzumaki Naruto is holding on. Naruto and Killer Bee, who should have been protected by our Alliance, are on the front lines, fighting bravely and unyieldingly. Might Guy and Kakashi are doing the same."]
["To all members of the Alliance, please lend your strong will to the reinforcements!"]
["Everyone's strong will!"]
["Is the prophecy that will guide this war to victory!"]
[Inoichi Yamanaka's nose bled incessantly, his lungs heaved like a bellows]
[This was the price for delivering the message]
[Fortunately, he managed to say the final words]
[It took twenty seconds]
[This was Inoichi's strong will]