Author's Note: And now that the Moon mission is finally over, we return to Earth to see how the Alliance will respond to the First Division's defeat. Enjoy:


Chapter 114:

Reinforcements Arrive

or

Meeting Daddy Again

Land of Fire, shortly after the Tenseigan Energy Vessel was destroyed

After linking up with the Medical Division, the Second Division rushed through the forests of the Land of Fire in order to reunite with the A's First Division, who suffered a defeat at the hands of the Akatsuki army. The news that among those reanimated were Nagato, a Rinnegan bearer, and Fugaku Uchiha, a Mangekyo Sharingan bearer, sent the message that Akatsuki was done playing around, and that they would show their true power.

The charge was led from Tsunade on the ground, while Kurotsuchi was flying above them. Tsunade had ordered the rest of the medics to mingle with the ninjas of the Second Division, so they would be surrounded by people that could protect them at all times (the fact that tsunade didn't need to be protected was left unsaid, and nobody contested it). And for a certain pink haired medic, choosing her the ninja that would protect her wasn't a hard choice.

"It's good to fight together again, isn't it, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked Sasuke, smiling a little. "And not just the two of us. Karin and Shizune-sensei as well. The whole team fights together again!"

Karin was running behind them, giving the pinkette enough space to she could share a moment with her boyfriend before the impending battle. Shizune was a few rows behind her students. Still, Sasuke didn't appear to enjoy Sakura's company much, given the Uchiha's sour and silent mood, his onyx eyes aimlessly looking into the distance.

"Hn," was Sasuke's only reply. The Uchiha sounded even more sullen than usual. Something that Sakura did not appreciate.

"A grunt? That's all what you have to say at the chance of the two of us finally fighting together since this cursed war began?" Sakura angrily asked.

This seemed to snap Sasuke from his crestfallen trance, blinking a couple times, before looking at Sakura. He averted his gaze, looking somewhat ashamed. "I... sorry, Sakura. I didn't want to offend you. It's just that... I'm not in the best of moods right now."

"I have noticed. Wanna share it with me? If there's something bothering you, it's better if you take it outside your chest before the battle begins," the pinkette adviced him.

After a puase, Sasuke nodded. "I don't know if you heard, but they said that one of the zombies in the army we're about to face is that of my father, Fugaku Uchiha."

Of course, that's all what Sakura needed to hear. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands in horror. "Oh my goodness! No wonder you're behaving like that! I'm so sorry, that was super insensitive of my part!"

"It's okay. Only the higher ups were aware of the details of the First Division's defeat," Sasuke said.

Such contradiction was immediately caught by the medic kunoichi. "Only the higher ups? Then how do you know it?"

"Because Itachi and I have been tasked with taking our father down. Since we both have Mangekyo Sharingan and Susanoo, they think we're the better suited to deal with him," Sasuke explained. "Not that I like it, but I can see their logic."

"Why don't they let Tsunade-sama fight him? With her Rinnegan she could defeat Fugaku easily."

"Because Tsunade-sama has been tasked with an even bigger threat: Nagato, the former Akatsuki leader, has been revived as well," Sasuke replied.

"Nagato too?" Sakura asked in shock. "Well, in hindsight, it was obvious that he would be among those reanimated. Between him and your father, no wonder the First Division lost. Given the number he made on Konoha, I hope Tsunade-sama is able to deal with him switftly."

"Me too. Maybe then she can come by and give us a hand with our father," Sasuke dourly noted. "Even if I hate the idea of depending on a single person to save us all the time."

"I might not be Tsunade-sama, but I'll be there for you-"

"No," Sasuke cut her, much to her surprise. "No offense, but if what I heard is true, you won't be able to help us much against our father. And I can't fight and protect you at the same time. I need all my focus for this fight, and that can only happen if I know you're away from him or Nagato."

Sakura opened her mouth, ready to protest. To claim that she was no damsel in distress that needed to be coddled. However, she was able to pick that Sasuke was having a lot of trouble staying focused given who he was going to fight, and he didn't need having to worry about her on top of that. So Sakura chose to swallow her pride.

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun. I'll make sure not to get in the way of your fight," Sakura replied.

For a brief moment, Sakura thought she saw Sasuke's lips curving into a smile.

"Thanks. I'm gald you understand," Sasuke said, nodding. "I promise we'll fight together once this is dealt with."

"Guys, get ready," Karin, who had been silent all this time, spoke for the first time. "I'm sensing a lot of chakras in turmoil a few hundred meters ahead. We're approaching the First Division and the Akatsuki army."

Her two teammates nodded, and mentally prepared to enter the battlefield.

From her vantage point in the sky, Kurotsuchi had a perfect view of the battleground before er. Patches of mulltiple colors mixed with white patches, as flashes of orange, blue and white crossed the battlefield as jutsu were traded between enemies, the earth cracking, craters being opened in the ground, and unfortunate trees being taken down as collateral damage.

While it was impossible to tell apart one ninja from another, it was easy to identify some people by the sheer destruction they were causing. She easily recognized a white blur blitzing through a mass of White Zetsu as her fellow Kage A. Among the reanimations, the two that HQ had warned them about were easy to spot: a large black skeletal figure cutting a swath of destruction among the allied ninjas revealed Fugaku Uchiha's position. And a large group of allied ninjas being blown into the air as if they were ants carried by the wind told her were Nagato was.

"Well, there they are," Kurotsuchi said, as she tapped her earpiece. "Tsunade, do you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Tsuchikage. Did you find our targets?" Tsunade's voice replied.

"Yep. Fugaku Uchiha is on the top left flank. Though I'm sure you'll be able to see it once you get closer to the battlefield," Kurotsuchi said. "And Nagato is on the center on the battlefield, currently moving towards the bottom left."

"Got it. Any other targets of interest?" Tsunade asked.

Kurutsuchi took another glance at the battlefield, to see if there were other targets that merited a quick termination, when she saw several greenish-yellow projectiles flying towards her from the ground.

"SHIT!" she yelled, as her hands flew through hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire!"

Kurotsuchi exhaled a wide stream of fire that quickly incinerated the corrosive projectiles aimed at her. Looking down, she saw what she believed were Sniper Zetsu, taking aim at her.

"Kurotsuchi? Kurotsuchi!" Tsunade yelled. "Everything's okay? I saw what you did!"

"Some asshole Sniper Zetsu wanting to bring me down. Better take care of them before they become a bigger hassle," Kurotsuchi said, as she flew down.

"Understood. We're going to enter and join the main group," Tsunade said.

Back on the ground, while still on the move, Tsunade addressed the troops.

"Alright everyone, we're about to link with the First Division! I want you to spread, find whoever's having trouble, and help them! Once they're safe, push back, understood?" she yelled, not waiting for a response. "There are two targets, both reanimations, that have been deemed as critical: the first one is Nagato Uzumaki, Akatsuki's former leader. I will face him down myself, and I'll try to push him away from the main group to reduce collateral damage. I don't want to see anybody that's not a Kage getting close to our fight, understood? If I'm overwhelmed and need help, I'll ask for it!

"The second target is Fugaku Uchiha. This one has been tasked to Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha to deal with. Again, don't provide any unsolicited assistance, wait for them to ask for help should they need any, or else you might get in the way."

Sasuke felt a bit uneasy upon hearing that. It's not that she said that they were on their own, but the message that taking Fugaku down depended on them was clear.

"That's all. Stay frosty, and do your best!" Tsunade finished.

Soon, the Second and Medical Divisions reached the first, joining the ensuing battle. There were many group of allies ninjas fighting White Zetsu and reanimations, most of them losing. Sasuke felt the urge to help a nearby group with Itachi appeared besides him.

"Everybody have their mission, and we have ours," Itachi said. "Follow me, I have located Father."

A knot formed on Sasuke's stomach upon hearing those words, but remained silent and followed his brother's lead. Said knot became tighter and tighter as they crossed the battlefield, ignoring the many fights happening around them, until Sasuke's Sharingan caught sight of a man he hadn't seen in almost half his life.

There he was, Fugaku Uchiha., in the middle of breaking an Iwa ninja's neck. A Konoha ninja tried to flank him, but Fugaku turned around and made eye contact. The poor Konoha ninja was paralized as the Sharingan Genjutsu took hold of him, his life ending shortly after Fugaku jammed a kunai onto the poor guy's neck.

The deaths happening in front of him allowed Sasuke to push his feelings for his reanimated father aside, at least for the time being, and answer the call to action. He made several hand seals before taking a few shuriken from his ninja tool pouch, and after imbuing them with lightning chakra, tossed them at his father.

Fugaku noticed the attack, his eyes widening upon seeing where the electrified steels stars came from. Still, despite being stratled, his body reacted on his own, deflecting or dodging most of the shuriken, with one of them scratching his cheek.

"Scattering Crows Jutsu!"

Suddenly, black filled Fugaku's vision as a dozen crows flocked around him, cawing angrily and pecking him. Despite the pain and his obstructed vision, he was still able to grab Itachi by the wrist before he was about to slap an explosive tag on his back, and hurled him at Sasuke before the younger Uchiha could assist his older brother. Fortunately, both Sasuke and Itachi managed to get back on their feet just before Fugaku got rid of the crows.

"Guess I was being too hopeful thinking that would work and we could end this fight quickly," Itachi muttered, mildly frustrated.

"Trust me, nothing would make me happier," Sasuke bitterly agreed.

Once Fugaku finally recovered, he turned at the Uchiha brothers, his expression still surprised.

"Itachi. And... Sasuke, is that you?" Fugaku asked. "My, you have grown so much..."

"I guess I did," was all what Sasuke thought to say in response.

"I'm glad that you see that you two are still alive and well," Fugaku sincerely said. "I saw many of our clansmen reanimated by that lowly snake. I was told that besides you two, only Shisui survived."

"That's correct," Itachi replied. "For a time, between him and the two of us were the whole Uchiha clan."

Fugaku looked disheartened. "Three people... our once mighty clan... reduced to three members."

A scowl developed on Sasuke's face. "Yeah, and there's nobody to blame but you. You led our clan to its self destruction!"

Fugaku's expression wilted under Sasuke's glare. "I guess I did. I'd say I'm sorry, but nothing that I say or do will undo such a costly mistake. Worse, I'm forced to end even more innocent lives for the sake of another man's ambition."

"And just like eight years ago, it will be me who will have to put you down for good," Itachi said.

"It will be us," Sasuke corrected, as he took a step forward.

"Before we begin, a question," Fugaku said. "I have been told this already, but I need to hear it from your mouths. Itachi, given that you killed me, I presume you have the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"Your guess is right," Itachi said. "That's why we were tasked to fight you."

"You too, Sasuke?"

The youngest Uchiha didn't say anything, just looked to the side.

"Good," Fugaku said, as his own Sharingan morphed . "Otherwise, I doubt you'd stand a chance against me then."

"Ningendo!"

With a swift hand move, Nagato pulled the soul out of the unfortunate Kiri ninja's body, and let it go, killing it instantly, before casually tossing the corpse aside. He turned around, and looked at the rest of his foes, keeping their distance and fighting stance, but clearly to scared to attack the redhead after what they just saw.

"If you don't plan to attack me, then I suggest you to go away and fight somebody else," Nagato advised them.

"W-We can't do that man!" a ninja from Ame replied, trying to keep the stutter out of his voice. "We can't just win this war by running away from our enemies!"

"But can you win it by dying pointlessly against an enemy that outmatches you?" Nagato asked, as he raised an arm. Said arm opened multiple compartments up, each holding a missile, before firing them forward.

The Allied ninjas braced for the worst.

"Shinra Tensei!"

A shockwave seemingly out of nowhere pushed the incoming missiles back, and still had enough force to do the same with Nagato, who was able to stay on his feet. A newcomer landed between Nagato and his opponents with a loud crash, raising a small cloud of dust and dirt.

"Stand back, I'll take care of this guy," the newcomer, Tsunade, ordered the other ninjas. "And tell the others to not to get close to us until I request for help!"

"Understood, Tsunade-sama!" a Konoha ninja said, unconsciously making a head bow, before turning at his comrades. "You heard her, guys! Let's find somebody else to fight!"

Nobody made any objections, and leaped away, leaving the Slug Sannin alone with the former Akatsuki leader.

"So, Nagato," Tsunade began. "We meet again. Far too soon after our last enocunter, if you ask me."

"I'm not here out of my own free will, you know," the Uzumaki replied. "Given what you just did... I assume you have one of my eyes under that patch?"

"Did you expect that we weren't going to use your eyes against Akatsuki? Even if I didn't get this eye on a whim, it's an invaluable tool in a fight against Akatsuki," Tsunade explained.

"And the other?"

"Unfortunately, your pal Obito, with some internal help, snatched it," Tsunade said. "We wanted to summon the Demonic Statue and force it to throw the Tailed Beasts up, but the Uchiha bastard bonded with the Statue first."

"Hence this war," Nagato said, nodding. "What about Konan? Is she okay?"

"The girl's fine, kid. She's fighting alongside us. You know, to make up for her past crimes and all that. Time will tell if it's enough or not," Tsunade replied.

Nagato was going to say something, but his body suddenly stiffened for a second, before he started making hand seals. "Tsunade, watch out! Summoning Jutsu!"

Nagato slammed his plam into the ground, producing a latge burst of smoke, and from the smoke, a giant ox with Rinnegan eyes emerged, charging at the blond Sannin while letting out a loud moo. The giant bovine lowered its head, trying to gore the Slug Princess with its horns. The Sannin, however, caught the animal by its horns, and using her mosntrous strength, stopped it on its tracks.

"Summoning Jutsu! Summoning Jutsu! Summoning Jutsu! Summoning Jutsu!"

Nagato was covered by several bursts of smoke, as he summoned the giant multi headed dog, a giant panda, a giant centipede, and a giant chameleon with a snake for a tail.

"SHIT!" Tsunade cursed. "He's going to summon every possible animal linked to the Rinnegan so I can't summon any! I need to summon some myself!"

Gathering her strength, Tsunade pushed the charging ox backwards while she jumped in the opposite direction, biting her thumb and making five hand seals as fast as her hands allowed her to.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

She felt how a giant rhino was summoned to her presence.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A giant bird with a large, jagged beak and deformed limbs took off to the sky.

"Summoning jutsu!"

An gigantic lobster came to her aid.

She stopped, feeling that there were no more animals she could call. From the Rinnegan's summoning ability, at least. She still had the slugs, but she didn't want to summon Katsuyu until she had no other options.

"Good job, Tsunade," Nagato praised, even if his voice was stoic and unemotive. "It would have been a shame if you let me summon all the animals of the Rinnegan."

With a wave of his hand, Nagato commanded his summoned creatures to attack, Tsunade doing the same. The rhino clashed against the ox in a duel of horns, the centipede engaged in a fight with the giant bird, and the panda went to face the lobster. Which left the multi headed dog and the chameleon with no one to fight but Tsunade herself, and launched themselves at her.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Tsunade cast a hand forward, releasing a powerful shockwave at the two incoming animals, pushing them backwards, toppling every tree they hit as they stumbled back. She then launched herself at Nagato, and reared her fist back.

"Shinra Tensei!"

This time, it was Tsunade who found herself at the receiving end of a gravitational blast, and was lunged backwards as if she was a fly being swatted away by a gigantic hand. Still, she managed not to lose her balance and land on her feet, skidding across the grass, leaving two furrows on the ground while raising a cloud of grinded dust and blades of grass.

The Sannin was thinking about her next move when all of sudden, Nagato was besides her, looking at her with a stony expression. He then grew two additional pair of arms and used them to immobilize the Sannin.

"I hope you can break out of this hold, because you can imagine what I'm going to do now," Nagato said, as he moved one of his original hands towards Tsunade's head.

Tsunade, however, wasn't afraid. "An impressive hold, indeed. Too bad I have the perfect counter."

And just like Nagato did, Tsunade also grew two additional pair of arms, which she used to break Nagato's hold. The Uzumaki wisely jumped backwards before the Slug Princess had the chance to hit him in close quarters.

"Hmph. Thanks to both having the Rinnegan, the two of us have the same ability. We seem to be at an impasse," Nagato observed. "Then again, I do have the advantage of experience with the Rinnegan, not to mention a body that doesn't get tired or run out of chakra."

"And I have more experience in general by virtue of being a couple decades older than you are," Tsunade rebutted. "Not to mention all the abilities I have that aren't related to the Rinnegan."

"Let's hope that will be enough to put me down for good, Tsunade. I don't wish to continue fighting for a cause I don't believe for. Enough innocents have died by my hand."

"TAKE THIS!"

Sakura delivered a combo of a straight punch and a roundhouse kick towards a trio of Zetsu clones that leaped at her, resulting in them being sent away flying.

"Sakura-san, be careful to your left! One is going to ambush you from underground!" Neji, fighting other Zetsu near her, warned.

And indeed, Sakura felt light tremors on the ground, before another White Zetsu clone burst from underground, his fingers extended as claws ready to eviscerate her. The pinkette, however, was ready and smashed the brass knuckles she was wielding into his face, blowing his head up into multiple chunks of white flesh.

"Thanks a lot!" Sakura told Neji, flashing a quick smile. "So, how are they doing?"

Neji's aimed his vision to his back, where Shizune and Karin were. The two women were sitting on the floor, with her legs crossed and eyes closed, and a bunch of clones around them, acting as bodyguards, preventing the Zetsu from getting close, just like Sakura and Neji were doing as well. The Hyuga prodigy could see the nature energy being drawn into their bodies, mixing with their chakra.

"I say they're still halfway done," Neji told her, as he stabbed his two fingers into the side of a Zetsu clone, before slamming his palm into his face.

Sakura groaned. "Just lovely."

Unfortunately for the two young Sages, Naruto's method of creating two clones and sending them away wouldn't work here. With so many battles taking place across a vast battlefield, there were no places where they could hide a clone without being attacked by a White Zetsu or a reanimation. So they had no choice but gather nature energy themselves in the middle of the battle, and let some clones and their comrades protetc them until they were done.

This made protecting them an extra hard job, since not only they couldn't be harmed, they couldn't even be disturbed. Plus the defenders didn't have space to fall back to if they were pushed back by the enemy.

While Sakura and Neji protected them from the front and the clones from the flanks, Lee, Tenten and Gai were protecting them from the rear guard.

"Watch out, a big one incoming!" Neji warned again.

Sakura felt the ground rumble before seeing a Zetsu Brute charging at them, tossing friends and foe alike to the sides if they were caught in his way.

"Yeah, hard to not see that one coming," Sakura said, taking a step forward. "I'll meet him headlong."

"YOU'RE DEAD!" the giant Zetsu hollered.

Sakura merely smirked, as she made several hand seals. "Earth Release: Mud Trap!"

The ground in front of the Zetsu Brute turned into a patch of brea, and the moment the large creature brought one of its feet down, it was stuck there, followed by the other. The giant creature struggled trying to get his legs out of the sucking mud. However, while he did that, he didn't notice Sakura rushing at him, her fist rearing backwards.

"Huh?"

"I think what you wanted to say it's 'I'm dead'," Sakura said, before smashing her fist into the chest of the monster, blowing a hole and sending it flying backwards out of the mud trap.

Far from being intimidated, two more Zetsu brutes charged towards Sakura and Neji, letting out roars of anger in an attempt to intimidate their opponents. Sakura weaved the same sequence of hand seals she did before.

"Earth Release: Mud Trap!"

This time, the pinkette poured more chakra into the jutsu, creating a pool of mud much larger than before. Despite this, the giant Zetsu anticipated Sakura's move and leaped above the trap of brea, landing on the ground with a loud thud, before resuming their charge, one of them reaching the pinkette before the other.

"Die, Konoha scum!" one Zetsu brute said, raising his arm above her. "Wood Release: Thorn Hammer!"

Wooden spikes grew on the Zetsu's large forearm before he brought it down. Sakura, who was ready to block the attack, was forced to jump back instead, let she be shredded by the spikes. The hit opened a crater on the ground, sending small rocks and pebbles in every direction.

"Shit, this guys give the impression of being all muscle and no brains, but they can catch you off guard if you aren't focused, and have access to a lot of elemental jutsu," Sakura inwardly cursed, as she landed on her feet. And much to her horror, she saw the second mutant Zetsu charging at her. "Shit!"

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Spear!"

A blue and green blur dashed in front of Sakura, and saw Neji leaping at the Zetsu Brute and slamming his palm into his face with so much force, not only it broke his momentum, but it pushed him backwards.

"Nice save," Sakura thanked Neji. "A new move?"

"Yes. It uses the speed granted by the Celestial Gates to add more power to a palm strike. Simple in concept, yet effective in results," Neji said.

"Not as effective as it may seem," Sakura said, looking at the Zetsu, holding his face in pain, but not looking that worse to wear.

"Guess I still need to polish it," Neji said, as he narrowed his eyes at the two giant Zetsu.

"And done!" Shizune said from behind. The leader of the Medical Squad jumped to her feet, and slipped into a battle stance. Her eyes were golden instead of the usual onyx, and had pink fang-like marks running down her cheeks.

"Oh, thank goodness," Sakura said in relief. "Now we only need to protect Karin until she's done."

"Good job, guys, let me handle this," Shizune said, as she took a step forward. "Focus on making sure Karin's unperturbed."

"Understood, Shizune-sensei!" Sakura said, as she and Neji jumped back.

The Zetsu Brute Neji had struck his face had already recovered, joining his partner as the two of them stomped towards Shizune. The medic-nin's confident stance didn't go unnoticed to either of them.

"So, you think you can beat us on your own?" one of the Brutes said. "Don't make us laugh!"

"You know, it's not wise to underestimate an opponent," Shizune told them.

"You're the one who's underestimating us!" one of the Zetsu said, as both arms started to grow wooden spikes. "Wood Release: Thorn Hammer!"

Unlike Sakura, Shizune didn't move, and raised her hands to block the hit, expertly grabbing one of the spikes on each hand in order to stop the attack. The black haired woman was pushed backwards a little, but otherwise the attack had no effect on her. The giant Zetsu's ugly face grimaced in anger upon realizing that this small woman was his equal in strength.

"What the...?" he asked.

Shizune smirked. "You aren't familiar with Sage Mode, are you? One of its perks is enhanced strength. I may not be as strong as Tsunade-sama, but I'm not that far from her. But guess the hardened skin makes up for it. And another thing...!"

The earth rumbled as the other giant Zetsu, displaying a deceptively high level of speed, flanked the black haired Sage and tried to smash her. But as he got close, Shizune spun the Zetsu in the direction the second one came, slamming him against the other.

"... is that Sage Mode grants me sensing abilities, so you won't be able to catch me by surprise," Shizune said, wiping her hands, before making several hand seals. "Now, let's see how do you like senjutsu-enhanced elemental ninjutsu! Sage Art: Water Release, Water Exploding Gun!"

Shizune aimed her index fingers at each of the Zetsu Brute, and fired a small water bullet from each of them. The bullets embedded itself into the Zetsus' bodies, before they exploded into a massive torrent of water, destroying the artificial creatures from the inside out.

"Wow!" Shizune beamed, looking at the result of her jutsu. "It's even better than I even expected!"

On one of the highest branches of one of the highest trees of the battlefield, a spiraling portal appeared, Obito emerging out of it. That branch was the perfect vantage point to oversee the battlee. So far, it appeared to be pretty even, with no side winning ground over the other. Then again, he could see some battles were the Alliance was clearly winning. It could snowball into a defeat for Akatsuki.

Of course, not if Obito had anything to say about it. He dropped down to ground level, and pulled a scroll from under his robes.

"Alright, Madara, you always loved to talk about this shit back in the day. Let's see if it's as strong as you claimed it was," Obito said, as he unfurled the scroll on the ground, revealing a circle made of seals. He made several hand seals, and slammed his palm inside the circle.

The seals began to glow, and the ground around him began to shake.

Gai, Lee and Tenten continued protecting Karin by keeping the incoming enemies at bay. So far, none of them proved to be much of a mach for the members of the Close Combat Squad.

"Okay, I'm done!" Karin said, jumped on her feet. Her normally red eyes were now golden, with spiral-shaped red marks around them.

"Excellent! That will give us more freedom of movement!" Tenten said. "It's kind of annoying having to stay in the same place all the time."

"Yeah, thank you guys for covering my back! Don't worry, I'm now ready to return the favor, and them some! Let's find an opponent worthy of-" Karin suddenly shut up, as her face grew pale.

"Karin?" Neji asked, walking to her girlfriend. "Is everything okay?"

"A MASSIVE amount of chakra is gathering in that direction!" Karin said, pointing to zone of the forest at the far end of the battlefield.

Neji activated his Byakugan, and directed his sight into the direction Karin pointed. He was also was taken aback by what he saw.

"Hey, Neji, Karin? What did you guys found?" Tenten asked.

Suddenly, the ground started to shake, and the trees in the zone Karin had pointed out went down like dominoes, and from the forest, a gigantic creature emerged, probably fifty meters tall. It was humanoid, with the appearance of an ogre, and looked to be made of green wood. Coiled around it was a serpentine dragon, made of the same material. The wood giant began to advance towards them.

"What... what the hell is that!?" Tenten screamed.

"A Wood Giant," was Gai's response, his eyes fixed on the incoming green colossus.

"You... you saw that thing before, sensei?" Lee asked.

Gai shook his head. "Not seen one, but heard about it. One of the First Hokage's most powerful jutsu. It was able to match Madara's Susanoo."

"Wait... does that mean that the reanimated First Hokage is here!?" Lee asked in shock, looking around.

Karin closed her eyes, and expanded her senses. With Sage Mode, her sensing ability was even greater than before, and in no time she was able to scan the entire battleground, as well as several square kilometers worth of area around it. Her analysis done, she shook her head.

"I tried to locate a source of chakra similar to that monster, but I didn't find any," Karin explained. "That thing appeared on its own."

"Well, that's a relief. But let not drop our guards, it could be a trap," Neji reminded them.

"We need to fetch Tsunade-sama. I'm sure she'll be able to deal with this monster in no time," Tenten suggested.

"I don't think that's going to be an option," Karin replied. "I'm sensing her right now. She doesn't seem to be close to done with Nagato. By the time she's done, Kami knows how much death and destruction that thing can cause."

"Well, it's a good thing we have you, Karin-san," Lee said, smiling.

"Yeah, it's a good- wait, what?" she asked, turning at him in puzzlement, and a little dread. "Why do you say that?"

"You're a Sage, right? You must now possess a power beyond any normal ninja. Thanks to Sage Mode, Naruto was able to defeat the Fourth Mizukage and Pain. I'm sure you'll be able to beat that creature!" Lee said, sounding naively encouraging.

Karin looked at the incoming monster, and grimaced. Even with Sage Mode, she doubted she could beat such a powerful foe. She then felt a hand being placed on her shoulder.

"What my teammate failed to tell you is that, while we hope your new power will be instrumental in bringing that creature down, we will fight alongside you," Neji's voice reassured. "Nobody expects you to go against that thing alone."

Karin looked at her boyfriend, nodded and smiled, her confidence restored a little. "Alright, let's go then!"

"Okuninushi!"

Fugaku Uchiha's body rippled and flickered briefly in a surreal way, before dashing forward, delivering an horizontal wide swipe with his katana at his two sons. The four negative afterimages going after him mimicked his move, but delivered the swing from different angles and positions, resulting in a storm of brutal swipes that the Uchiha brother were barely able to block.

"So that's Okuninushi," Sasuke said, as he thought in a way to counter su a powerful ability. "Shisui wasn't exaggerating, it turns normal attacks into deadly blows."

"Shisui? How does he know about this jutsu?" Fugaku asked, confused. However, the answer soon popped in his mind. "Wait, Asuma told me Danzo had looted my eyes. I presume Shisui fought againt him?"

"Yes, Gai and Shisui fought against him, and used such ability to great effect," Itachi explained.

"Did they defeat the bastard?" Fugaku asked.

"Danzo is indeed dead, if that's what you want to know," Itachi replied. "Too bad they didn't find a way to overcome that jutsu."

Fugaku was about to say something, when his expression went from angry to worried and surprised. "Itachi, Sasuke, watch out!" Fugaku warned, as his hands started to fly through hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Fugaku exhaled a fireball at the Uchiha brothers, which dodged it by quickly sidestepping in opposite directions. However, the afterimages also exhaled more fireballs at them, forcing the two younger Uchiha into the run. Sasuke hid behind a tree, while Itachi used a nearby boulder as cover. Explosions reverberatted around them as fire spread among the forest.

"Itachi!" Sasuke yelled, as he started to make hand seals. "Let's end this fight the same way we defeated the guy with the Plasma Release! Fire Release: Burning Edge! Lightning Release: Thunder Blade!"

Sasuke unsheathed his katana and shoto at the same time, the former being covered in flames, the latter crackling with electricity. He then jumped out of his hiding spot, and dashed towards Fugaku.

"Sasuke, no! Wait!" Itachi cried.

But Sasuke was already charging headfirst towards his undead father. Fugaku merely made more hand seals.

"Fire Release: Greater Firewave!"

Fugaku and his afterimages exhaled conical streams of fire from their mouths, which quickly merged with each other, forming an advancing wall of flames, charring the earth below, quickly engulfed Sasuke between the flames.

"Sasuke!" Itachi yelled, trying to franctially find his brother.

Much to Itachi's relief, when the flames died down there was a burned log where Sasuke had been. And Sasuke was now behind Fugaku, ready to strike his back with two elemental weapons. However, two of Fugaku's afterimages turned around and parried the attacks just in time, before a third one tried to strike the youngest Uchiha. Sasuke, however, was able to dodge it and jump backwards.

"Nice one, son. You managed to slip past my guard and attack me from behind. And using two elements at once isn't something people without the proper Bloodline Limit are able to do," Fugaku praised. "You certainly grew into a very skilled and powerful ninja. I wish I was able to see your potential before."

"Would seeing my potential would have changed your mind regarding your idiotic insurrection?" Sasuke sneered at him, his Sharingan flashing with anger.

Fugaku visibly saddened. "No. I don't think it would have. I was blind back then."

"There was a time in which there was nothing I would have wanted more than finally being acknowledged by you, father. Being worthy of the name Uchiha," Sasuke said, tightly gripping his weapons. "But now, even being the best of the Uchiha means nothing."

Whirring noises alerted Fugaku of the shuriken flying at him. The former Uchiha patriarch easily deflected them with the help of his afterimages. Sasuke saw the perfect opportunity to attack.

"Double Elemental Release: Plasma Beam!"

Crossing his flaming katana with his electric shoto, Sasuke fired a beam of flames coated in electricity at Fugaku. The Uchiha father jumped away, and the beam hit the spot where he was standing, resulting in a large explosion. Even if he managed to avoid said explosion, two of his afterimages were destroyed in it.

"Good job, Sasuke! If what Shisui told me also applies here, it will take him some time to replace the lost afterimages!" Itachi said, as he moved to attack as well. "Meaning that now's the time to strike!"

"I'm afraid you won't have the chance," Fugaku said, as he was surrounded by a large black spectral ribcage, which expanded into the upper half of a large skeleton, followed by said skeleton being covered in muscle, then skin, and lastly an armor of smome kind. Two blades appeared on each the chakra construct's hands.

"Susanoo already? Well, I wasn't expecting this to be easy," Itachi said, as he replied in kind, his red Susanoo forming around him. He did notice, however, that Sasuke hadn't activated his. "Sasuke?"

"I'm... okay, just give me a second!" Sasuke replied, sounding doubtful, flinching as his purple Susanoo started to form.

"He hasn't overcome the visions yet," Itachi realized. "But sadly, we don't have the luxury to fall back on other jutsu. The few things that can beat a Susanoo is another Susanoo! Please Sasuke, stay strong! This will end soon, I promise,"

As the green colossus advanced, Allied ninjas fleed from it, lest them be crused under the wood giant. Unfortunately, some of them weren't fast enough and were trampled by the wooden construct, as well as many White Zetsu clones. Though, while some ninjas fled, other tried to slow down the gigantic monster with their elemental ninjutsu.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire!"

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

"Lightning Release: Thunder Spear!"

Fire bolts, powerful water blasts, lightning bolts, boulders and blades of wind flew towards the wooden giant, chipping away small bits and pieces of its body, but so far it didn't appear to make much damage to its body. The creature seemed to notice the ninjas below it, as it looked down and them. Despite its expressionless face, everybody felt prey to a feeling of overwhelming dread.

Feeling that was amplified a hundredfold when the wood giant raised a hand, and clenched its fingers into a fist, and brought it down at a deceptively fast speed. The fist crashed against the ground, cracking the ground as it was made of cheap plastic, sending large chunks of rock everywhere, flinging both Allied ninjas and Zetsu clones in every direction, and producing a huge tremor that shookthe entire battlefield.

The only ninja close enough to he monster unaffected by such destructive display of strength was flying above it, watching in shock and some horror the display.

"So that's Hashirama's Wood Golem..." Kurotsuchi said, glaring at the monster. "So powerful, Hashirama only summoned it against his greatest foes. Not even the Second Tsuchikage was able to beat it. Still, I can't back up from this fight. I might be one of the few people here who can match that beast's power," she said, as she started making hand seals. "Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"

Kurotsuchi clapped her hands together, and brought them apart, creating a transparent energy cube with a core of white light. She thrust her hands forward, sending the cube towards the green giant. The Wood Golem, however, noticed Kurotsuchi's attack, as the serpentine dragon wrapped around its body moved towards the incoming attack, and opened its jaws, releasing a blaze of strange greenish-yellow flames, prematurely detonating the attack.

It then lunged upwards, trying to catch the Tsuchikage between its jaws, making the young Kage to fly upwards in order to avoid it.

"Shit! That thing has more tricks than mere size and strength!" Kurotsuchi cursed.

Taking advantage of the giant golem focusing on Kurotsuchi, the ninjas from down below launched another barrage of elemental attacks, causing some superficial damage to the beast, which showed no reaction. At first at least, given that he prepared another devastating attack as it raised its fist again. All humans present paled at what was going to happen.

"Oh fuck! I need to stop it before he causes another massacre!" Kurotsuchi said, as her hands blurred through hand seals while diving at the monster. "Earth Release: Weighted Boulder Jutsu!"

Once again, the serpent dragon tried to trap her between its jaws the moment it got close, but Kurotsuchi already expected this and was able to expertly dodge it. The first obstacle overcome, she latched onto the golem's raised fist. The spot Kurotsuchi grabbed turned to stone, and the effect started to spread, petrifying the giant's arm. The golem didn't seem to notice as it prepared to bring its fist down.

"Shit, I have no time to petrify the whole arm!" Kurotsuchi realized, as she slammed her fist onto the petrifyed arm, shattering it into small rocks and pebbles, before flying away, as the dragon head tried to roast her with its breath of green fire.

Down below, there was a single but loud cheer the moment Kurotsuchi managed to avoid the monster from attacking.

"All hail Tsuchikage-sama! We all live thanks to her!" an Iwa ninja fervently shouted.

"Let's attack now that that monster is reduced to just one arm!" a Kiri ninja shouted.

"Do not make any risky moves! That thing might have lost one arm, but it's far from harmless!" a Suna ninja adviced.

That moment, the earth started to shake as the Wood Golen began to move. Though, much to their confusion, not towards them to attack again, but towards a nearby cluster of trees. It bent down, and uprooted a large tree with its remaining arm.

"I think one doesn't need a lot of imagination to know what does he plan to do with that tree," Neji said, as he glared at the one armed monster.

"Don't worry, if he plans to chuck that tree at us, I'll kick it back at him!" Lee loudly declared. "Gate of Opening, Open! Gate of Healing, Open! Gate of Pain, Open!"

"Lee, wait! Don't rush like that before knowing what the enemy is going to do!" Tenten advised him, as he gripped his shoulder. "Look!"

In fact, the Wood Golem didn't appear to get ready to throw the tree, or even use it as a weapon. Instead, it brought it to its face... and after opening its mouth, it swallowed the tree whole, much to everybody's confusion. The confusion was turned into shock as vines started to emerge from the stump where its arm used to be, interlacing with each other until they formed a new forearm, and then a new hand. The burnt marks and holes the previous attacks had made on its body were also filled with new wood, restoring the giant back to normal.

Everybody looked at what happened in the deepest of stupors.

"Just..." Karin said, trying not to fumble her words. "...what the hell was THAT!?"

"As a being made of wood, it seems it can heal itself by consuming trees," Neji pointed out, even if that much was obvious. "And given the amount of trees in the area, he has plenty of food to heal itself."

"And it's not that we are going to destroy every tree in the vicinity, are we?" Tenten asked.

"Then what are we going to do?" Lee asked.

"It isn't obvious? Is an enemy has the ability to heal itself, you have to beat it in one blow, so it doesn't have the chance to do so!" Gai energically said.

"Unfortunately," a new voice began, prompting Karin and Team Gai to turn around, revealing to be Shizune, with Sakura behind her. "That's not something that we can do against an enemy of such power."

"Not even with Karin-san and you being Sages?" Lee asked.

"Sage Mode gives us a lot of power, yes," Shizune agreed.

"But I don't think it will be enough to beat that thing," Karin finished, pointing at the now advancing Wood Golem.

"No, maybe she can," Sakura said, pointing upwards.

The others looked at where she was pointing at, and saw the Tsuchikage, flying around the green wood construct, trying to stop the golem with jutsu of fire and lava, to little effect.

"I learned that the Tsuchikage got Dust Release from her grandfather and predecessor. It's an elemental combination that can reduce a target to dust instantly. If we slow that thing down, maybe she'll be able to finish it in one blow," Sakura suggested.

Everybody seemed to ponder for a moment Sakura's suggestion. While risky and with low chances of success, it was the most sound plan to take that monster down. Neji was the first one to speak up his mind.

"I think she already tried to do that, but the dragon coiled around its body kept intercepting her attack," the Hyuga prodigy said. "I think it's paramount we remove that dragon if we are to succeed."

"Wood is a combination of Water and Earth Release. Meaning that lightning would be the best element to harm that creature," Shizune suggested. "We should gather any Lightning Release user we can find and have them be the bulk of the attack."

"Meanwhile, the rest of us could attack from multiple directions in order to confuse it, or at the very least, prevent it from moving deeper into the battleground," Gai added.

"A sound plan. Alright, let's go!" Shizune said, as she and the rest of her comrades rushed towards the giant made of wood.


Author's Note: Nothing much to say this time. After the change of scenery to the moon, we return when we left it last time, more specifically, just after the defeat of the First Division. They got now reinforcements to turn the tide of the battle in their favor, but, it will be enough?

Thanks to Ookami88 for betareading this chapter.

Don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter! Reviews make me really, really, really happy!