Ruins of the Land of the Moon, along the coastline.
Smoke hung thick in the air, and the sea breeze carried an acrid stench of scorched earth.
Although the Sky Fleet's indiscriminate bombardment had annihilated the majority of the Allied Forces, several thousand elite shinobi survived. Shielded by the combined defenses of multiple Kage-level fighters and the natural terrain, they had narrowly escaped total destruction.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Heavy footsteps shook the ground.
Konoha's mechanized troops had landed.
Uchiha warriors clad in black chakra exoskeletons advanced in perfect formation, pulse weapons humming as they surrounded the remaining forces like a tide of black-clad reapers.
At the very front—
A lone figure descended slowly from the sky.
"R-Reporting to Lord Raikage! Reporting to the commander!"
A Kumogakure sensory ninja stumbled forward, his face smeared with tears and mucus.
"There's… there's no way out! Konoha's forces are everywhere! Our chakra signatures are completely locked down—we can't escape!"
The words struck like a hammer.
The Fourth Raikage, the Fourth Tsuchikage Kitsuchi, the Mizukage, and the acting coalition commander all felt their hearts sink.
"What's with this panic?!"
A sharp, commanding shout rang out.
Mifune of the Land of Iron stepped forward, drawing his famed blade. Though his grip trembled slightly, his eyes remained unwavering.
"A samurai's creed is to live even in the face of death!"
"If there's no escape, then we draw our swords! Better to die fighting than be slaughtered like rats!"
"Charge! Killing one is enough—killing two is a bonus!"
Mifune's words barely rekindled the final spark of morale.
Thousands of battered shinobi drew their weapons, huddling together back to back as they stared at the figure slowly approaching them.
Tobirama landed.
He did not attack immediately.
Instead, he calmly surveyed the trembling crowd, his gaze devoid of emotion.
"This is your final chance."
His voice was steady, yet it struck every soul like a heavy hammer.
"Lay down your weapons. Kneel and surrender."
"I may consider leaving your bodies intact—or sending you to work in the mines."
Silence fell.
Then murmurs spread.
A few shinobi wavered, their kunai slipping from numb fingers and clattering to the ground.
"Don't listen to his lies!!"
The one-armed Raikage shoved aside the shinobi supporting him, his eyes bloodshot, his expression feral.
"Surrender? Never!"
"Uchiha Tobirama! You destroyed Kumogakure, killed my father, and took my arm! Even if I die today, I'll become a vengeful spirit and curse you forever!"
"Children of Kumogakure! Better to die gloriously than live in shame! Kill them all!!"
To his credit, the Raikage's roar reignited the madness of desperation.
The wavering soldiers tightened their grips, eyes blazing with the frenzy of cornered beasts.
"Die gloriously?"
Tobirama raised an eyebrow, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Since you're so eager, I'll indulge you."
"But…"
His gaze suddenly pierced through the crowd, locking onto several distinctive figures with eerie precision.
Kurotsuchi of Iwagakure—long legs, sharp features, short hair.
From Kumogakure—Mabui, calm and intelligent; Samui, cold and aloof.
And Yugito—once a jinchūriki, now merely an elite jōnin with a striking presence.
"It's a pity some people shouldn't die yet."
Tobirama slowly raised his right hand.
The deep-blue Rinnegan in his right eye contracted.
Space distorted.
Buzz!
The battlefield warped.
Kurotsuchi, just forming hand seals, felt her vision blur.
"Earth Release—"
The technique cut off halfway.
The scenery changed.
No comrades. No battlefield.
Only a broad, unfamiliar back stood before her.
She wasn't alone.
Mabui. Samui. Yugito.
All four vanished from the Allied formation and reappeared instantly behind Tobirama.
"What… what just happened?!"
Kurotsuchi stared at him in disbelief, her mind blank.
One moment she'd been hundreds of meters away—the next, she stood at the enemy's core.
"How did I… get here?" Samui whispered, clutching her chest.
This was the heart of Konoha's encirclement.
Before any of them could react—
Without even turning around, Tobirama flicked his hand.
Chakra chains shot out, binding the four women together in an instant.
"Stay still."
"As for the rest…"
Tobirama turned to face the stunned remnants of the Allied Forces.
The valuables had been secured.
All that remained was trash to be cleaned up.
"Not good!!"
Kitsuchi reacted instantly, his face turning deathly pale.
"He's about to attack! Scatter!!"
"Too late."
Tobirama's voice was cold.
He dropped to one knee and slammed his right hand into the ground.
Ten-Tails–level chakra erupted into the earth like a volcanic explosion.
"This technique is called—"
"Six Paths: Vajra Sealing Barrier."
Rumble!
The earth roared.
Centered on Tobirama, the ground within several kilometers split apart as four colossal, translucent walls of golden light surged upward.
They rose so fast that no one had time to react.
In the blink of an eye, the walls converged high above, forming a massive inverted pyramid.
Thousands of allied shinobi were sealed inside.
"What is this?!"
A Rain ninja screamed, slashing at the barrier with his kunai.
Clang!
The blade shattered.
The recoil crushed his arm.
"We can't get out—there's no way out!!"
Screams echoed throughout the prison.
"I don't believe it! Everyone, attack one point together!!"
The Raikage roared, forcing every last drop of chakra into his remaining arm.
"Lightning Release: Maximum Output!!"
Boom!
Lightning detonated against the barrier.
The golden wall didn't even ripple.
A Six Paths–grade barrier.
Without Six Paths power, not even an internal explosion could scratch it.
"It's useless."
Tobirama stood outside, watching them like beasts in a cage.
He leaned close to the transparent wall, his smile cruel and composed.
"This is a grave I prepared especially for you."
"Not only is it sturdy…"
"It also has excellent soundproofing."
"Didn't you want a glorious death?"
"Now, the stage is set."