Just how much chakra did Uchiha Madara possess?
The Wood Dragon Technique had already absorbed an immense amount, yet the Susanoo showed almost no visible change.
As expected of a shinobi second only to Senju Hashirama—even at his age, his chakra reserves were monstrous.
Yako didn't understand why the Third Hokage had suddenly withdrawn the Adamantine Staff. With no choice, he continued dragging the Complete Body Susanoo outward using his wooden dragons alone.
Madara seemed in no hurry.
Floating within the Susanoo's head, he simply waited.
Yako's thoughts shifted to Kushina.
Could Madara have another method to kill her?
At that moment—
Black Ant appeared in a flash.
"Lord Fox! Spiral Zetsu ambushed the Hokage! Advisor Koharu Utatane has been assassinated!"
Yako's heart tightened.
Guruguru…!
Pretending to be Sarutobi Kanosuke had been harmless—since that person never existed.
But after impersonating Guruguru for so long, he had nearly forgotten—
There was a real one.
In the previous timeline, Madara's strategy had been straightforward—kill the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, allowing the Nine-Tails to resurrect years later for easier capture by Nagato.
To counter that, Yako had reset time once.
And now—
Madara had changed his approach.
Several Wood Clone Susanoo attacked from the perimeter.
Madara himself stalled the Third Hokage.
Which meant—
Guruguru could slaughter freely.
No wonder Madara was so calm.
With Wood Release, Ame no Mihashira, and Island of Miasmic Collapse—
Guruguru inside Konoha was practically another Yako.
Calling him a "little fox" wouldn't even be wrong.
Koharu Utatane was dead.
Of all the elders, she had been the most dedicated.
If anyone deserved to live the longest among Konoha's leadership—
It should have been her.
The wrong person had died.
The ones who should die—
Still lived.
Black Ant urged urgently:
"The Hokage said Madara is his responsibility! He requests that you pursue Spiral Zetsu and prevent further assassinations!"
"I understand!"
Madara was dangerous—
But only head-on.
Guruguru was far more lethal to the village.
Yako couldn't reveal that he also possessed the same ocular abilities.
If he did—
The similarities between him, Sarutobi Kanosuke, and Guruguru would become too obvious.
With one final surge, Yako forced the Susanoo back half a step—
Then vanished with the Body Flicker.
Guruguru's first target—
Would likely still be Kushina.
Taking advantage of that brief shift—
The Adamantine Staff appeared again.
This time, Hiruzen struck with fury—
Driving the Susanoo back with overwhelming force.
Yako left the battlefield.
From midair, he immediately spotted Minato—
Moving at incredible speed, Kushina on his back.
Minato's Body Flicker was extraordinary—
Each step crossing entire streets.
Mid-flight—
Minato suddenly turned his head.
Wind Release chakra condensed on his shoulder—
Exploding outward—
Propelling him sideways.
He pushed himself to the limit—
But still—
A brown chakra pillar formed around him.
Ame no Mihashira.
Guruguru's voice echoed in surprise:
"This blond brat is impressive—he almost dodged an instant-cast Ame no Mihashira?"
Inside the mask, White Zetsu muttered:
"Good thing it's wide enough. Otherwise we'd have missed again."
"Kill the Jinchūriki. Let the Nine-Tails revive in a few years."
Through the translucent pillar—
Minato saw the enemy emerge from a nearby tree.
A spiral mask.
Two Mangekyō Sharingan.
His mind raced.
Every technique.
Every option.
Only one possibility remained.
His chakra surged violently.
Wind Release enveloped his body—
Compressed—
Layer upon layer.
But no matter what—
He couldn't break free.
Fear surged—
His pupils shrank.
Beneath the pillar—
A black point appeared.
Island of Miasmic Collapse.
The same technique that killed Mitokado Homura.
If the black domain touched the pillar—
Both he and Kushina would be crushed.
No!
Faced with death—
Minato unleashed everything.
Every last drop of chakra.
Wind Release pressed tightly against his skin—
Unable to escape.
His body turned blue-white from sheer chakra density.
Still not enough!
His body trembled—
Forcing out the last of his mental and physical energy.
Behind him—
Kushina couldn't speak.
But sensing his depletion—
She sent Nine-Tails chakra into him.
Minato's chakra surged.
More and more Wind Release condensed on his skin.
But—
The black domain expanded rapidly.
About to make contact.
Guruguru relaxed.
Victory.
The Jinchūriki—
And the blond brat—
Would die.
Konoha would weaken.
Nagato's path would be easier.
Yet—
Something felt off.
Too many deaths—
Yet Konoha seemed to grow stronger.
The leadership remained intact.
Sakumo had become an advisor.
And Fox—
That ANBU—
Everywhere.
A powerful Konoha…
Didn't fit Madara's expectations.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
A massive tree erupted beneath the pillar—
Launching it into the air.
The black domain struck the tree first—
Collapsing it instantly.
But above—
A wooden dragon seized the pillar.
Its chakra drained—
The construct collapsed.
The Wood Dragon Technique—
A perfect counter to chakra constructs.
The dragon gently lowered Minato and Kushina.
Minato was drenched in sweat.
His blond hair clung to his face.
His eyes—
Cold.
He had nearly died.
Nearly killed Kushina.
Guruguru looked up.
"Copper Fox. You again."
"You're like a damn nuisance."
"You can call me that," Yako replied calmly. "But if I'm a nuisance… what does that make Konoha?"
The wooden dragon surged downward—
Crashing toward him.
Guruguru stepped back—
And vanished into the tree.
Yako didn't pursue.
Instead, he lowered Minato and Kushina.
Creating a Wood Clone, he said:
"Stay here. Don't move."
Minato nodded immediately.
Standing before them, he finally saw it clearly—
The legendary ANBU operative.
Fox.
Yako rose atop the dragon—
Surveying the battlefield.
To the east—
Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Sakumo were locked in battle with Madara.
Elsewhere—
Orochimaru, Danzo, and the Ino–Shika–Chō were still struggling against the clone Susanoo.
Not everyone had Wood Release.
Guruguru entering any battlefield—
Would collapse it instantly.
Yako formed hand seals—
And struck the dragon's head.
In the next moment—
Every hundred meters across Konoha—
Massive red maple trees erupted from the ground.
Over thirty meters tall.
Civilians saw them—
And felt something.
Safety.
For the older generation—
It reminded them of the First Hokage.
The golden age.
"Take cover under the trees! It's safe there!"
Unable to openly use ocular abilities—
Yako used Wood Release as a substitute.
To track Guruguru.
Soon—
He found him.
Southeast.
The Ino–Shika–Chō battlefield.
Minato looked between the dragon and the Wood Clone.
"Are you… Lord Fox?"
"Yes," the clone replied. "I am Fox."
"Even as a clone, I can protect you until my original arrives."
Minato placed Kushina beside the clone—
Then stepped forward.
Standing alone.
The clone raised an eyebrow.
…What?
A blue-white chakra layer formed around Minato.
Condensed Wind Release.
No—
Beyond condensation.
Refinement.
So this was talent.
Yako had relied on the system to master Earth Release crystallization.
Even now, his Water Release was only at the condensation stage.
Yet Minato—
After just two years under Sakumo—
Had reached Wind Release crystallization.
Faced with death—
He had broken through.
In the next instant—
His chakra collapsed inward—
Forming a thin layer over his skin.
The glow vanished—
Leaving only a faint distortion in the air.
Light bent around him.
His form blurred.
Without moving his feet—
He slid across the ground like a phantom.
Only afterimages remained.
Wind Release crystallization—
A massive boost in explosive speed.
Not just that—
The distortion of light made him even harder to track.
The clone felt an itch.
"Minato… after tonight, I'll find you."
"I have some insights into Body Flicker."
"We can exchange notes."
"Yes, Lord Fox!"
Minato was excited.
Fox's speed—
Even he hadn't been able to track it.
He drew his chakra blade—
And slashed toward the ruins Guruguru left behind.
A distorted, invisible blade cut through trees and walls instantly.
The clone's pupils shrank.
He immediately assessed it.
Sakumo's Lightning Release crystallization—
Enhanced muscles.
Extreme cutting power.
Minato's Wind Release crystallization—
Focused on speed.
Even faster movement.
Faster blade.
But—
Less destructive.
Wind Release crystallization—
Was all about speed.
Stealth.
Precision.
A technique made for overwhelming weaker opponents.
Against most Kage-level shinobi—
Minato would be untouchable.