Black Zetsu had been sealed, so there was no longer any need to worry about him stabbing Madara in the back—or worse, reviving Kaguya.
Now, their only remaining opponent was Madara. And to be honest, he might even be more troublesome than Kaguya.
After all, that "airheaded goddess" barely had any battle sense to speak of—what made her terrifying was simply her absurd ability. Madara, on the other hand, was different.
He possessed both overwhelming power and deadly combat instincts. Even if Hashirama were to be revived, he still wouldn't be Madara's match.
They needed to find a way to bring this guy down, and fast. Naruto and Sasuke alone could handle it, but it'd take time and effort. The best moment to strike was now—before Madara became fully accustomed to his new strength.
"Let's go."
After storing Black Zetsu in Obito's Kamui dimension for safekeeping, they turned to the more urgent task at hand—
Dealing with Madara.
The moment they exited Kamui space, they were greeted by the sight of Madara clashing fiercely with Naruto and Sasuke. Just like Madara, the two were still trying to get used to their new powers.
Kiyosuke quickly called out, "Listen up! The only thing that can hurt him is senjutsu, Six Paths chakra, or pure taijutsu! Everything else is useless!"
"So that's why!" Naruto exclaimed, suddenly realizing it. "No wonder our regular attacks weren't doing a damn thing earlier! Even Tobirama-san's Water Style didn't work—it's because it didn't have senjutsu chakra in it!"
Tobirama clicked his tongue.
"Tch, that's just unfair. No wonder the bastard ignored me completely. Brother, at this point, only you and those kids can actually hurt him."
"I know. Sage Art—Gate of the Great God!"
Scarlet torii gates descended from the heavens—but Madara's Truth-Seeking Orbs sliced through them effortlessly.
"Hashirama," Madara said coldly, "even now, you're still trying to seal me away? What happened to that ruthless resolve you once had to protect the village?"
Seeing his old friend still so indecisive, Madara could only shake his head. His gaze then shifted toward Kiyosuke.
"In that case," he said, "why don't you hand over my other Rinnegan?"
Kiyosuke smirked. "No can do. This thing and I go way back. It's destined to stay in my pocket."
...The hell did he just say? How could anyone be that shameless?!
Madara's eye twitched—he had just redefined his understanding of shamelessness.
"If you won't hand it over," he growled, "then I'll just take it by force."
"Oh please," Kiyosuke replied dryly. "Like you'd ever ask nicely."
Minato placed a hand on Kiyosuke's shoulder, leaving behind a Flying Raijin mark.
"Kiyosuke, we've got your back."
"Yeah. Let's take him down together."
For a brief moment, Kiyosuke felt the urge to release the Yin Seal on his body—but after some thought, decided against it.
It wasn't time yet.
"Sage Mode—activate!!"
With a shout, markings appeared around Kiyosuke's eyes as he entered Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode.
"Everyone, fall back!"
At his command, everyone retreated. Even Madara grew wary.
"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!"
"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!"
At the same time, Kabuto unleashed the exact same jutsu—two blinding flashes of white light shot toward Madara in unison.
Double White Rage. Double the fun.
The searing brilliance forced Madara to squint, followed by an ear-piercing shriek that made him wince in pain. Many of the surrounding shinobi weren't as lucky—their eardrums burst, blood streaming from their ears. Thankfully, those injuries could be healed.
In that storm of light and sound, only Kiyosuke and Kabuto could still move freely.
One had his eyes closed, protected by a natural membrane. The other's body had become fluid, immune to the noise and pressure.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
Kabuto stomped on the ground, causing countless stone spikes to rise and stab toward Madara. But the black orbs around him liquefied, forming a barrier that blocked the attack completely.
"Obito!"
"Kamui!"
Instantly, one of Madara's Truth-Seeking Orbs was sucked into the vortex. Kiyosuke lunged forward, flames blazing around his fist.
"Fire Fist!!"
Boom!
Madara was blasted out of his protective field, crashing hard against a rock wall.
"Madara!"
Hashirama charged in, his fist slamming into Madara's chest with a deep, heavy thud.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kiyosuke leapt high into the air, flames swirling around his leg as he came crashing down.
"Rider Kick!!"
Boom!!
A massive mushroom cloud erupted from the impact.
Hashirama's body quickly reformed as he sighed helplessly.
"Kid, maybe try not to include me in your attacks next time?"
"You'll be fine—you can't die anyway."
Kiyosuke yanked Hashirama back just as a Truth-Seeking Orb flew past them, barely missing.
"That was close! Didn't think you'd be that sneaky too."
"Right back at you," Madara said, his wounds knitting back together. "Almost took me out just now. How much power are you still hiding?"
"Take a guess."
Kiyosuke grinned and flicked a kunai at him. Madara tilted his head to dodge—
But the kunai behind him morphed into Sasuke, whose hand was wreathed in black lightning.
It was Chidori infused with Six Paths chakra!
"What?!"
Madara's eyes widened. He tried to block with a Truth-Seeking Orb, but Obito's eye glowed—Kamui warped the orb away in an instant.
Shhk!
Madara staggered backward, staring at the arm that had just been severed. Too fast. Wait—no, it was that eye technique… he swapped the orb's position?!
"Sage Art: Lava Release—Rasenshuriken!!"
Naruto thrust his hand forward, a molten red sphere spinning violently in his palm. Wind blades screamed around it as he hurled it at Madara.
Boom!!
"Hah… hah… how humiliating," Madara panted, battered and scorched. "To think I'd be driven this far…"
Even with the body of a Sage, he was reaching his limit under their relentless assault.
He rose into the air, palms pressed together.
Then, raising one hand toward the sky, countless black spheres formed and scattered in all directions.
Rumble—
The ground trembled violently as rocks and debris shot upward, gathering into massive meteors that began plummeting from above!
"Naruto!"
"On it!" Sasuke summoned his full-body Susanoo, soaring into the air to shatter the incoming meteors. Naruto hurled Rasenshuriken after Rasenshuriken, blowing apart the falling boulders one after another.
The Uchiha clan members joined in as well—their Susanoo forms slicing through meteors like they were paper.
Kiyosuke ascended into the sky, stopping face-to-face with Madara.
"You didn't seriously think you're the only one who can fly, did you?"
Madara's eyes narrowed.
"Without support, you're no match for me. I won't lose this time."
Kiyosuke shook his head.
"Don't underestimate me. I've got a Rinnegan too, remember?"
He shouted, flames bursting from his body, lighting up the night sky.
Behind him, a colossal Buddha began to take form—
Its radiant fire illuminating everything below.
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