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The island lay battered and broken. A severed tail of the Eight-Tails was discarded on the ground. Samui and the others lay unconscious nearby.
The intelligent Kabuto Yakushi. The scene told the story plainly enough.
"Defeated the Five Kage, lost narrowly to Lord Jiraiya, and now subdued the perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails… Black Zetsu, you've truly made a terrifying monster," he mused, voice a low hum.
"It seems… a bitter fight is coming."
Kabuto knelt gracefully before Samui. He adjusted his glasses with a slender finger.
"Now then… what to do with you innocent nuisances?"
Hissss…
A white serpent slithered from beneath his robes. Its tongue flickered. It coiled up Samui's neck.
Crreeak—
The massive doors of the temple groaned open. A cold draft swept through the hall!
The snake tail retracted into Kabuto's back. He stood calmly on the empty stone steps.
The figure that walked in with Black Zetsu was bathed in golden light. Yet the aura he exuded was profoundly sinister.
If not for seeing it with his own eyes… he'd never believe it. Just two and a half months. The boy who'd struggled with Rasengan's nature transformation had reached this state.
The spirit was Madara's. But the body… was undoubtedly Naruto Uzumaki's.
Black Zetsu's mind raced. Kabuto knows everything about me. If he spills it all to Madara, I'm finished. Damn it. That day in the Whirlpool Country ruins, I should have obliterated every trace. Who knew he'd survive with Izanagi…? And that blinded right eye is restored. That bastard Orochimaru… did he find Kagami's eyes?
But his fear didn't materialize. Kabuto acted as if Black Zetsu didn't exist. Relief washed over the ancient being, followed by sharp suspicion.
What's his game? He could use his right eye's power anytime to bring Orochimaru and Sasuke here. Why doesn't he?
A thought struck him. In the Land of Iron, my words to Jiraiya… Jiraiya must have told Orochimaru. Orochimaru is scheming again. Fine. This is an open confrontation. Let's see whose power prevails.
Naru-Madara crossed his arms, his gaze icy. "You. Kabuto Yakushi."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses, languid. "That's me."
Naru-Madara cut to the chase. "The other half of the Nine-Tails… you have it."
Kabuto was blunt. "I don't. It was a lure. To bring you here."
Interest flickered in Naru-Madara's eyes. "Oh? You deliberately sent that White Zetsu to die before me?"
Kabuto chuckled. "I'm not that capable. I simply didn't know where you were hiding. Hence this crude plan. Don't underestimate me. I was a rather excellent spy. My intelligence network rivals the Akatsuki's. I simply spread false information far and wide, maximizing the chance you'd hear it. You learning it through a White Zetsu… was unexpected, yet logical. You came as I hoped. Just… earlier than I anticipated."
Naru-Madara's voice was flat. "I came for the Nine-Tails' other half. If you don't have it… that's troublesome. You don't have the air of a lone wolf. Who's behind you?"
Kabuto's smile held layers. "Who's behind me? Why not ask the one behind you?"
"Hn?" Naru-Madara's cold glance sliced toward Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu feigned composure. "Lord Madara, why waste words? Just dispose of him."
Naru-Madara's gaze returned to Kabuto. "Tch. That brat Sasuke, I assume? I wanted to meet him anyway."
"Trying to glean my intel so easily… you underestimate me."
"Oh?"
Naru-Madara's eyebrow rose. Danger thickened the air. "The last person who spoke to me like that… do you know what happened to him?"
Kabuto's grin widened. "I don't. So… please let me witness it firsthand. The legendary power of the Uchiha."
Amusing…
Naru-Madara slowly uncrossed his arms.
"As you wish."
Whoosh!
A giant golden hand shot from his shoulder. It grabbed for Kabuto at light speed!
"!!"
Kabuto jerked back—too late! The massive hand closed around him.
—Fire Style: Fox Fire Palm!
Fwoom!!
Golden flames erupted over the chakra hand. The heat was ten times that of a normal fire style!!!
"GAAAHHHH—!!!"
Kabuto screamed. His body melted rapidly.
Seconds later… a charred, shriveled octopus tentacle lay in the golden grip.
Naru-Madara looked down at the unscathed Kabuto standing in the ruins below the steps. "Used the Eight-Tails' severed tail as a substitute? Interesting."
Swish!
He tossed the burnt tentacle aside like trash. The next instant—he became a golden streak, blasting toward Kabuto!!
Kabuto's pupils constricted. Fast. In that golden mode, his speed matches the Raikage's. Coupled with the Mangekyō's insight… his taijutsu alone is a major threat. In that case…
Zzzzt—!
The "left eye" Kabuto had transplanted after his trip to Ryūchi Cave focused on the incoming golden blur.
"Huh—!?"
Naru-Madara's expression shifted. He threw his head down—!!!
Swish!!!
The moment he moved… the massive stone pillar behind him, supporting the temple, was severed clean through.
The structure lost its support. With a thunderous roar, the temple collapsed into rubble!
Naru-Madara stared, shaken. "That just now… a dōjutsu?"
Kabuto covered his left eye with a hand. "He… dodged it?"
Naru-Madara's heart pounded. No mistake. That was his left eye's power. If I hadn't sensed that sudden surge of 'malice' and dodged on instinct… my head would be gone.
Black Zetsu emerged from the debris. "That's… the power of the Futodama dōjutsu left eye. Like Obito's Kamui, it's a long-range attack. But it doesn't warp. It's like… creating a cut in space itself. Undoubtedly, like the left eye's Kamui, it's unblockable. Damn it… Kabuto has such a trump card…!!!"
Shwip!
Naru-Madara stood straight, reassessing his opponent.
"Kabuto Yakushi. It seems I can't dismiss you as mere vermin. No wonder you dare face me alone, knowing my legend. But you should know this… a single powerful technique can't bridge the gap in sheer power."
The white snakes beneath Kabuto's robes reappeared. Not four like in another lifetime. Nine. One coiled around his waist. The other eight… began to writhe, swelling and growing rapidly.
Naru-Madara frowned. "Hm? This feeling… astonishing natural energy is gathering toward him."
"Of course. I never planned to rely on this left eye alone to gain an advantage against you. That was merely the appetizer."
Kabuto dropped onto all fours.
Zzzt!
The centers of his pupils elongated, becoming the vertical slits of a white serpent. Purple-gold pigment spread around his eyes. Three pairs of horns sprouted from his hair.
Seeing this form, Naru-Madara's smile turned wild, ecstatic.
"Sage… Mode!!! Jiraiya, and now you! The ones appearing before me lately truly don't disappoint! Really… being reborn in this brat's body… it's just too good!!!"
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