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If the Tailed Beast Bomb had bestowed fear upon the people of Konoha, then the Perfect Susano'o standing before them now bestowed pure despair.
That majesty and grandeur, so vast it defied mortal comprehension. To even entertain the thought that 'perhaps if we all combine our strength, we can match it' was, in itself, a form of blasphemy.
"Hah… hahahaha… Damn it. Seems Konoha's luck has finally run out," a Chunin slumped on the ground laughed bitterly, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"That chakra… it's impossible…" Ino shuddered, her entire body trembling from the sheer, palpable terror of the energy she felt.
Shikamaru rushed outside the command center. Through the jagged skyline of shattered buildings… he saw it. The upper half of that sky-piercing, earth-rooted monstrosity.
Then, the boy who hated trouble but was always confident he could solve it… broke into a cold sweat of utter powerlessness.
"Old man… I really have no play for this one. A promoted knight can fly high, but this isn't a problem solvable on a chessboard… Is this the end?"
As the Hokage Faces monument crumbled, Madara's Susano'o had already drawn Izuna inside. Now, standing side-by-side with his brother within the forehead crystal of the titan, they looked down upon the panicking masses of Konoha.
Izuna… this man who died young, who had been dragged along by the tides since his Impure World Reincarnation, with few positive experiences… felt a satisfaction unlike any he'd ever known.
"Yes… THIS is how it should be!!! Witnessing the legendary power of the Uchiha, unleashed by my elder brother!!! The fear-stricken, helpless expressions of these Senju remnants… THIS is the true counterattack of the Uchiha clan I longed for!!!"
Madara glanced at his brother's flushed, exhilarated profile and allowed a faint smile. Yet, a thread of melancholy wove through his heart: Be happy, Izuna… Before the world ends, this is all your brother can give you. I hope you'll still listen to me afterward.
Lost in his near-euphoric high, Izuna had no inkling of his brother's thoughts. He raised a fist, shouting with fanatical zeal, "Brother!! On behalf of our clansmen who died in vain all these years… deliver the final judgment!!!"
"Very well."
Madara nodded. The Susano'o drew its massive sword from its waist and swung it across the horizon.
BOOM…!!!
A blade of light that seemed to split the heavens flashed over their heads, sweeping through the village. In an instant, hundreds, thousands of structures were torn from their foundations, shredded, and hurled against the village's outer walls… !!!
A single strike… had nearly turned Konoha into a wasteland.
Clack! The great sword was sheathed. The Susano'o took a ground-shaking step forward.
The Konoha shinobi gathered before it felt all hope drain away. They didn't even have the will to flee.
THUD…!!
The Susano'o raised one colossal foot.
Beneath it… was Hiashi, leading the Hyuga clan.
Madara looked down at the broken man. "You said earlier… who was the strongest? Say it again."
Hiashi clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He wanted to make a stand worthy of the Hyuga name, then die. But the giant foot hovering in the air, impervious even to his Byakugan's sight, made him feel like a pathetic joke.
Finally, Hiashi Hyuga looked up, ready to meet his end. "Don't think… that power alone can conquer hearts! Even if you slaughter every last one of us… you will never make us bow!!! Come! The Hyuga do not fear death!!!"
Madara's voice was ice. "In the end, just empty bravado."
Whoosh…!!!
The giant foot descended.
Hiashi closed his eyes. Every Konoha shinobi present shut theirs.
CRUNCH…!!
But then—a pair of massive, fleshy palms shot up and caught the descending foot!!!
"FATHER…!!!"
Choji's agonized roar echoed.
Chōza Akimichi, blood streaming from his arms, strained with impossible effort. His body, right before everyone's eyes, began to expand… and expand… and EXPAND!!!
Chōza gritted his teeth, his deafening shout tearing through the air. "I'LL HOLD IT!!! EVERYONE, RUN…!!!"
"Mr. Chōza…!!!"
"LIVE ON!!! The village can be rebuilt… but the shinobi of Konoha must not perish!!!"
"Father…!!! I'll stay and fight with you!!!"
Tears streaked Choji's youthful face as he pulled out a red pill, ready to swallow it.
But then—Neji grabbed his wrist.
"And what will staying accomplish? Nothing but the extinction of the Akimichi line! Don't let Mr. Chōza's sacrifice be in vain…!!!"
Choji wept tears of blood… but in the end, he chose to live. To witness his father's resolve.
"Thank you, Neji…"
Freed from all concerns, Chōza converted every last stored calorie into chakra and physical energy, pushing his Multi-Size Technique beyond its limits.
Shikamaru's heavy voice reached his mind. "Uncle Chōza… if you fall, only my father will remain of the old Ino-Shika-Cho…"
Chōza's spirit wavered. "I see… So, Inoichi is truly gone."
Shikamaru: "I'm sorry… your nephew is too incompetent. I can't think of a way to save everyone…!!"
Chōza: "Shikamaru, you're still young. To have done this much under such pressure is remarkable. Take everyone… seek temporary refuge in Sunagakure. It's the only path this not-so-bright head of mine can think of…"
Shikamaru: "I… I swear I will!!!"
"Good. Now, you run too!!! Konoha… is headed for destruction!!!"
"ROOOOOAAAARRR…!!!"
With earth-shattering strength, Chōza pushed. The Susano'o staggered back a step before regaining its footing.
Madara regarded the giant now nearly eye-level with his construct. "A warrior of your mettle deserves a name. State it."
CLANG!! Chōza planted his blood-drenched steel staff beside him, his voice ringing firm. "Fifteenth Head of the Akimichi Clan… Chōza Akimichi!!!"
Madara: "Your courage is commendable. But you will protect no one."
The Susano'o threw a devastating punch. Chōza met it head-on with one of his own.
BOOM…!!!
Chōza was blasted back ten steps. His staff whirled through the air…
CLANG…!!
The Susano'o's great sword flicked the staff away, then descended in a slash that severed Chōza's arm…!!!
"Ghuh…!!!"
Chōza fell to one knee, clutching the stump. A river of blood instantly pooled around him.
At the tail end of the retreating column, Choji glanced back just once… then gritted his teeth and turned away.
Izuna: "Brother… don't let them escape!!!"
Madara: "Relax… No one is getting away."
…
At the fortified trench, Kakashi was finally delivered safely to Shizune.
The Genin Sakura and Rock Lee had been tasked with protecting the medic-nin.
Sakura: "Mr. Guy… are you absolutely sure the attacker is Naruto???"
Might Guy: "Yes. I didn't recognize him at first. But after Inoichi's reminder, I remembered. Though his hair and aura are different… it was Naruto, no mistake…!!"
"How… how could this happen?!"
Sakura hugged her knees, utterly lost.
BOOM!! BOOM!!
In the distance… the crowds fleeing in grief and terror.
And Chōza's figure, fighting a lonely, doomed battle.
"Have we… truly reached the end of the road…"
That man—Might Guy—stood up. He undid the buttons on his flak jacket.
Rock Lee's eyes trembled beneath his thick brows. "Guy-sensei, you…"
"Lee… Once Shizune has stabilized Kakashi's bleeding, you are to escort them away."
Rock Lee's eyes trembled beneath his thick brows. "Guy-sensei, you…"
"Chōza bought everyone a chance to run. But… he cannot hold that thing off. There is only one way… to save Konoha from total annihilation today…"
Click. Might Guy raised his thumb, pointing it decisively at his own heart—!
—"Wait…!"
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