Chapter 75

The makeshift camp was bustling with activity as Kakashi's First Division and Kankuro's Surprise Attack Squad tried to recover from the brutal battles and devastating casualties of the previous day. The sound of clinking metal, hurried footsteps, and hushed conversations filled the air. Medical tents lined the area, their entrances flapping in the cool breeze as shinobi moved in and out, tending to the injured. It was a temporary reprieve in the chaos of war, but everyone knew it wouldn't last.

Naruto and Tsunade entered the camp together, their presence commanding immediate attention. Naruto's characteristic energy was tempered by the gravity of their mission, and by the general doom that pervaded the camp, while Tsunade walked with the solemn confidence of a leader who had seen the horrors of war before.

"Kankuro!" Naruto waved enthusiastically as the puppeteer approached. "How's it going?"

Kankuro nodded in greeting but stopped short when he noticed the Hokage by Naruto's side. "Hokage-sama," he said, bowing slightly. "I didn't expect to see you here. Is something wrong?"

"Relax, Kankuro," Tsunade said, though her voice carried an edge. "All is well—relatively speaking. But there has been a change of plans." Her amber eyes darkened. "The Raikage has ordered the deployment of Naruto, Killer Bee, and Yugito into battle. We can no longer afford to keep them in reserve. Kabuto's Edo Tensei and the Zetsu army are undeterred, and we know he hasn't yet used his most devastating assets: the six captured Tailed Beasts."

Kankuro's frown deepened. "I see. It's a dangerous decision, but I trust the Raikage sees the bigger picture."

Their conversation was interrupted by Sakura's voice, carrying across the camp as she sprinted toward them. "Tsunade-sama! Naruto!" she called, relief and urgency mingling in her tone.

Naruto grinned and caught her in a hug when she reached them. "Sakura-chan! It's good to see you!"

Sakura hugged Tsunade as well, but her demeanor shifted when the Hokage fixed her with a piercing gaze. "Save it, apprentice," Tsunade said, a hint of amusement tugging at her lips. "I'm well aware of your efforts to undermine the Alliance's orders regarding Naruto."

Sakura's face paled. "I—I don't know what you mean," she stammered, laughing nervously.

Tsunade chuckled dryly. "Officially, I'll have to reprimand you for your insubordination. But unofficially…" She placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I admire your aplomb. Misguided as it may have been, your heart was in the right place."

Naruto, oblivious to the tension, beamed. "Sakura-chan, guess what? I did it! I worked with Kurama to harness his chakra!" He extended his hand, demonstrating as his fingers transformed into the partially transformed claw of the Nine-Tails. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Sakura nodded, though her smile was tinged with worry. "That's… incredible, Naruto." She glanced at Tsunade. "But I hope you're ready. I hope we're all ready. This war has been hell already, as we haven't seen anything. I'm just… worried about you. If they captured you—"

Before Naruto could reply, Kakashi joined the group in a body flicker. He greeted Tsunade with a respectful bow and embraced Naruto briefly, his usual aloofness giving way to genuine affection. "Good to see you're still in one piece, Naruto."

Their reunion was cut short by Ino's voice, her psychic link ringing clearly in their minds. "It's go time, people! Barrier Team reports a large group of Zetsu clones approaching the camp, about four miles out. And… there are some powerful chakra signatures mixed in. Sakura, you might want to check it out."

"I'm going to check it out. I've got teleport seals interspersed throughout the camp's perimeter," Sakura said as she nodded sharply and hugged Naruto again. "Be careful, Naruto," she said before disappearing in a pink flash, her Flying Thunder God Technique taking her to the edge of the camp.

High in the trees at the camp's perimeter, Sakura landed silently on a thick branch. Her sharp eyes scanned the forest below, but it was her Anbu-honed instincts that saved her. She dropped to the ground just as an enormous Rasengan tore through the branch where she'd been standing. Her heart sank when she saw who stood above her, balancing effortlessly on the now-splintered tree limb.

"Jiraiya… sensei…" Sakura's voice was barely a whisper as she stared at the man she knew was dead. His black sclerae and blank expression sent chills down her spine.

Beside him appeared two more figures: Sakumo Hatake, the legendary White Fang of Konoha, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. The sight of them—warriors of unmatched skill and wisdom, now reduced to puppets of Kabuto's will—stole Sakura's breath. Jiraiya's eyes flickered with a hint of recognition, but his movements were mechanical. Sakura teleported away just as he lurched to strike again.

When she reappeared back at the camp, her face was pale, her voice urgent.

"They're coming," she said, addressing Tsunade, Naruto, and Kakashi. "Jiraiya, the Third Hokage… even the White Fang. They've been reanimated."

A heavy silence fell over the group, broken only by Tsunade's grim response. "Then let's pray we're ready."

The war tent was dimly lit, a single lantern casting shadows on the ragged map stretched across the table. Sasuke, Darui, Yugito, Choza, and Hisashi stood around it, their faces portraying a mixture of exhaustion and determination. Sasuke had needed several sessions of Karin's healing and lots of rest to recover from his near-depletion after the previous day's series of battles. Now, though his body had mended, the tension in his sharp gaze revealed he was ready for the next fight.

Darui studied Sasuke with guarded skepticism. The young Uchiha, for all his mystery and arrogance, had proven to be an indispensable ally. His mastery—or at least his serviceable handling—of the Cloud's secret techniques, including Lightning Release Armor and Black Lightning, in under a year was nothing short of miraculous. Now, with the addition of his Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan and the mythical Susanoo, a power so rare and dangerous few had even heard of it, Sasuke was a force to be reckoned with. And yet, Darui still wasn't sure if he could be trusted.

"We need to press our advantage," Hisashi Hyuga said, his tone firm. His Byakugan flared briefly as he spoke, emphasizing his point. "The enemy is scattered, but Kabuto still has absolute control of his reanimated forces. We have to keep the pressure on while we have momentum."

Choza Akimichi nodded in agreement. "We can't give them time to regroup. If we hesitate, we'll be overwhelmed by another wave of Zetsu or worse—our undead friends and family."

Yugito, standing beside Sasuke, frowned deeply, her arms crossed. She had been unusually quiet during the meeting, her gaze fixed on the table as if lost in thought. Sasuke noticed her expression and leaned closer, his voice low. "What's wrong?"

"Do you trust me?" She glanced at him briefly, then took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

"Always," he said without hesitation.

Yugito clasped her fingers around his hand one more time before she stepped forward and turned to face the room, her presence commanding immediate attention. "If you don't know, my name is Yugito Nii. I'm a jōnin of the Cloud. And yes, I'm a Jinchuriki. I know some of you don't agree with me being out here fighting, but let me make this clear: if you can die in a futile effort to protect me, the least you can do is extend me the same idiotic courtesy." Her words were sharp, and the room fell into a tense silence as the weight of her statement settled over the group.

"But that's not why I interrupted this meeting," she continued, her tone softening slightly. "I have an announcement. Something… of a confession." She took a deep breath. "Itachi, if you would."

All heads turned toward the entrance of the tent as the flaps parted to reveal a figure cloaked in cloth and in shadow. Itachi Uchiha stepped into the light, his reanimated form immediately recognizable by his black sclerae and the faint glow of his Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room. A few shouts echoed.

"Hello, everyone," Itachi greeted, his voice calm and steady. His eyes met Sasuke's briefly, a silent exchange passing between the brothers. "I'm sure you all recognize me by reputation, if not by memory. I'm here for one reason, but I assume you'll all want an explanation before we proceed."

Hisashi's Byakugan flared again as he glared at the undead Uchiha. "You would deceive us, demon child. You'll ensnare us in your genjutsu, or worse—lead us into Kabuto's hands."

"That's an understandable thought, Hyuga-san," Itachi said, his tone measured. "I do not fault your skepticism. My reputation is not without basis."

"He's on our side," Yugito interjected firmly. "I've seen it myself. If he wanted to harm us, he's had plenty of opportunities already."

Darui crossed his arms, his expression skeptical but open. "Explain."

"Kabuto." Sasuke's sharingan flared to life, his voice cold.

"Yes," Itachi said, nodding. "Four years ago, I implanted a fail-safe within Naruto: A crow summon containing Shisui Uchiha's remaining eye. The one Danzo didn't recycle. Its purpose was simple: it would impart compulsion to protect Konoha, even if I could not. Kabuto's Edo Tensei was able to override my will, but the crow's command activated, freeing me from his control. I am no longer Kabuto's pawn."

The room was silent, the weight of Itachi's revelation hanging heavy in the air. Hisashi's gaze did not soften, but he did not interrupt again.

"I don't understand—" Hisashi started, but Itachi held his hand up to silence any discussion.

"Please, Hyuga-san, allow me to finish. Presumably you wonder to what end I would store such a thing in Naruto-kun? Well, despite your understandable incredulity, I am and have always been a loyal servant of Konoha. The crow was meant to activate in response to Sasuke's Mangekyōu sharingan, as I feared my brother would lose faith in the village I loved when he learned the truth. Kabuto appears to have swapped our eyes, and thus the crow activated in my battle with Naruto-kun." Murmurs of the very incredulity he predicted erupted. "Everything I did, I did for duty, for my village, and for my family. And to my great shame, I did those things in that same order of importance."

"He's not lying," Sasuke said finally, his tone sharp. "This 'Madara' and Danzo both personally confirmed what I long suspected. Itachi killed the Uchiha clan under the orders of Konoha's elders. He killed and died to fulfill his goal of protecting the village, even if he had to become a monster to do so."

Tension rippled through the room as the implications of Sasuke's words sunk in. Tsunade's voice broke the silence, her tone incredulous. "Danzo is dead, then?"

"Yes," Sasuke said simply, his tone leaving no room for further inquiry.

Itachi inclined his head, taking the momentary silence as permission to continue. "I have a plan to stop Kabuto. If I can isolate him, I can force him to release his Edo Tensei. Every reanimated corpse, myself included, will be removed from the fight."

"And if you fail?" Choza asked gravely.

"Then nothing changes," Itachi replied. "You continue to fight as you have been. But if I succeed, this war will no longer be fought against the immortal dead."

Darui exchanged a glance with Tsunade, who nodded, then looked back at Itachi. "Fine. We'll give you the information you need, but know this—if you even hesitate to deliver on your promise, I'll take you out myself."

Itachi inclined his head. "Understood."

As the meeting concluded, Sasuke lingered behind with his brother.

"We're not done," he said coldly.

Itachi met his brother's gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I did not expect that we were."

The tension in Sasuke's private tent hung like an oppressive fog, unbroken except for the faint rustle of the fabric walls shifting in the night wind. Sasuke and Itachi sat across from one another, their gazes locked. The flickering lantern between them cast dancing shadows over their faces. Sasuke's sharingan spun slowly, as if trying to decipher the truth hidden somewhere in his brother's reanimated form.

For a long while, neither spoke. Finally, Sasuke broke the silence.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Itachi's expression softened, a faint trace of regret crossing his otherwise impassive face. He lowered his gaze, unable to meet Sasuke's eyes. "Truly? I was too weak to tell you the truth," he admitted. His voice was quiet, as though the words pained him more than any physical wound could. "It was hard. Somehow, it was easier to be your villain. To be the reason you grew stronger. To be the obstacle you overcame. I convinced myself that was what you needed. I should have been honest with you, Sasuke, from the start. Even when you were a child… I underestimated you."

Sasuke leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied his brother. He had never heard Itachi speak with such vulnerability. It was a strange sight, this man who had loomed so large in his life, admitting to weakness. "You thought lying to me—breaking me—was the right choice?"

Itachi's face remained downcast. "Yes. At the time, I did. You were young, and I believed you needed a singular focus, a purpose. And I was selfish, I didn't see the world as clearly as I thought I did. I made decisions for you I should've made with you," He paused, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow. "Killing the clan… It was necessary, Sasuke. Yes, I had orders. But I had agency, too. They were planning a coup against Konoha. If they had succeeded, the village would have descended into civil war. Innocent lives would have been lost. Our people, our parents… they chose the path of rebellion. I chose to save as many lives as I could."

Sasuke's sharingan spun faster, anger flaring briefly in his dark eyes. "And you thought that justified murdering them all? Our parents?"

Itachi's voice grew firmer, his resolve evident. "I believed it was the only way. And I wasn't alone in my actions. Tobi, Madara… he helped me execute the plan. I believed I was sparing the village from destruction. But you…" He hesitated, his eyes glistening with something that would have been tears if he were still alive. "You were the one thing I couldn't bring myself to destroy. You had compassion, Sasuke. You had something I thought was lost to our clan. But I had no time to consider alternatives. Father brought me into his war council, and I learned the coup was imminent. I made my decision, and I'll bear that sin forever."

Sasuke's fists clenched at his sides. He stared hard at his brother, searching for something—anger, understanding, closure. Slowly, his sharingan flickered out, his eyes returning to their natural black. "So that's it, then? You became a monster to protect a village that turned its back on our clan and forced you to make an impossible decision."

Itachi nodded solemnly. "I became what I needed to be, for Konoha. I made poor decisions along the way, but it wasn't an impossible choice. I chose you, Sasuke, always."

Sasuke sucked on his teeth, his jaw tense as he mulled over his brother's words. The hatred that had fueled him for so many years still burned, but now it mingled with a bitter understanding. Finally, he stood, his movements deliberate. "Alright, then," he said, his voice low but filled with purpose. "Let's go."

Itachi tilted his head slightly, confused. "Go? Where?"

Sasuke smirked faintly, a spark of his old arrogance returning. "To find Kabuto. I have access to the intelligence on his last known locations. My teammate—Sakura—can get us there in no time, if need be. We'll hunt him down together and show him what happens when he messes with the last of the Uchiha."

Itachi blinked, a rare moment of surprise crossing his face. Then he smiled—a small, fleeting expression, but one that carried genuine warmth. "You've grown, Sasuke."

"Don't get sentimental," Sasuke muttered, brushing past his brother to grab his sword. "This isn't about you or me. It's about finishing what Tobi started and ending this war. If you're going to be of use to me, then prove it."

Itachi rose to his feet, his movements graceful despite his undead state. "Very well, little brother. Let's finish this."

"I'll meet you at the eastern exit in ten minutes. I'll need to say goodbye to somebody."

Sasuke sat in the dim light of her tent for what he tried desperately to make the longest minutes of his life, Yugito sitting beside him with an air of still detachment that belied the closeness between them. Her fingers absentmindedly toyed with her braid while Sasuke leaned back, his expression softening in the rare privacy they shared.

The moment was interrupted by the abrupt swish of the tent flap and Karin's voice, sharp and urgent. "Sasuke, sorry to barge in, but this can't wait."

Sasuke immediately straightened, his sharingan flickering to life out of reflex. "What's going on?"

Karin took a step closer, catching her breath. "I sense them, Sasuke. A lot of them."

Yugito's brow furrowed, her tone carrying a note of annoyance. "Who?"

"I… I don't know," Karin said, her voice quivering slightly. "But they feel like… you and Itachi. Their chakra… it's overwhelming."

Sasuke's expression darkened. Memories of Kabuto's twisted use of Edo Tensei played in his mind as if captured on film. The whispers of their clan being brought back clawed at him. "It's them," he muttered under his breath. His gaze hardened as he stood. "The Uchiha clan."

Without another word, Sasuke disappeared in a body flicker, leaving Yugito and Karin behind. Yugito sighed but didn't follow, trusting he had to face this himself.

Sasuke moved like a shadow through the dense forest, his Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan illuminating the way. Before long, another figure appeared beside him, moving with the same practiced fluidity.

"It's true, then?" Itachi asked, his tone as calm as it was heavy with understanding. "Quite the timing, wouldn't you say?"

Sasuke didn't respond with words, only a curt hum as they pressed forward, leaping from branch to branch. The two brothers moved in perfect sync until they reached the edge of a clearing. They froze on the branch, their red eyes scanning the scene below.

Dozens of figures moved silently across the forest floor. The sight made Sasuke's blood run cold. He recognized each face, each form—Fugaku Uchiha, Mikoto Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and countless others who had perished in the massacre Itachi had orchestrated years ago. Their bodies were intact, but their eyes—Danzo had seen to it that they were desecrated and empty.

Sasuke's fists clenched. "Kabuto," he muttered venomously.

The brothers descended into the fray without hesitation, their movements synchronized like a deadly dance. Itachi flickered between the reanimated Uchiha like a shadow, his kunai blade striking with precision. Cawing crows exploded from his form, disorienting his enemies' sense of hearing as he effortlessly incapacitated them.

Sasuke, meanwhile, demonstrated his unparalleled control over Flame Release. "Amaterasu!" Black flames erupted from his gaze, devouring the advancing forms. He followed up with his Black Chidori Nagashi, a wave of lightning repelling the corpses trying to overwhelm him. Despite their lack of vision, the reanimated Uchiha were formidable, their muscle memory and latent power making them dangerous opponents.

The brothers fought relentlessly, their combined might pushing through the swarm of undead. Finally, their momentum faltered as they faced two familiar forms: Fugaku and Mikoto.

Itachi paused, his breath steady but his eyes heavy with emotion. Sasuke glanced at his brother, and their eyes met in a silent exchange. There was no time for hesitation. Itachi's Susanoo erupted around him, its spectral form wielding the Sword of Totsuka.

"I'm sorry," Itachi whispered as the blade pierced through Fugaku and Mikoto, sealing them in an eternal dream. The look on his face was one of quiet resolve, though the weight of his actions was clear.

Before the brothers could so much as catch their breath, a now familiar distortion rippled through the air. Tobi stepped into the battlefield, his orange mask illuminated by the pale moonlight.

"Well done, Itachi, Sasuke. Truly a family reunion to remember," Tobi mocked, his voice saturated with sinister amusement. His gaze shifted to the Sword of Totsuka. "That sword is truly remarkable, Itachi. Quite the coincidence, you finding it..."

"What do you want, Tobi?" Itachi's sharingan narrowed.

"Oh, I've already gotten what I came for," Tobi said with a laugh. A vortex began to swirl near the blade, and before Itachi could react, the Sword of Totsuka was pulled into the void.

Sasuke's eyes widened. "That technique…" He recognized the spatial distortion from their previous encounters and from somewhere else that he could not quite place.

Tobi waved mockingly. "Goodbye, Sasuke. Oh, and Itachi… thank you for the gift." He disappeared into another vortex, leaving the battlefield in silence.

Moments later, the stillness was shattered as another distortion appeared. Fugaku and Mikoto reemerged next to Hidan and Kakuzu, alongside another, far more menacing, form—Nagato, his Rinnegan gleaming with Kabuto's control.

Itachi's eyes flicked to the side, catching a fleeting blur of white escaping into the forest. His heart sank. Orochimaru.

"We're not done yet," Itachi said grimly as he readied himself for the next wave. Sasuke stood beside him, his sharingan blazing as they prepared to face their family—and a new nightmare.

Amid the chaotic battlefield, Kakashi's Third Division pressed forward against the endless waves of empowered White Zetsu clones. The air was thick with the tang of sweat and blood, the ground churned into mud from the constant movement of shinobi and the relentless onslaught of their foes. Kakashi's Lightning Blade carved through half a dozen Zetsu clones with a resounding crackle of energy, illuminating the shaded forest like a storm's flash.

Nearby, Kimimaro moved with deadly grace, his Shikotsumyaku turning his entire body into a weapon. Long, serrated blades of chakra-enhanced bone jutted from his forearms, slicing through the clones with surgical precision. Each strike left a trail of destruction, his movements almost hypnotic in their lethality.

Suigetsu wasn't far behind, his water-based techniques flowing seamlessly with his swings of the monstrous Kubikiribōchō. The blade cleaved through the Zetsu ranks, its regenerative properties ensuring Suigetsu never faltered, even against the relentless swarm.

Rock Lee stumbled back toward the group, his body battered and bloodied. He was barely upright, his face pale from blood loss. "I… I fought him… Konoha's White Fang," he panted, collapsing into Suigetsu's waiting arms. The mention of Sakumo Hatake sent a ripple through the team, their faces grim with recognition.

Kakashi's expression hardened beneath his mask. Without hesitation, he turned to Sakura. "We're going after him. You're with me."

Sakura nodded and activated her Flying Thunder God seal. In a blink, they vanished in a shimmer of pink light, teleporting to one of her many seals scattered along the war camp's perimeter. They moved quickly, leaping through the trees until they found him: Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi's father, standing among the ruins of battle, fallen shinobi dappled throughout.

Sakumo was still, his black sclerae a grim testament to Kabuto's control. His sword was generic, unlike his famed White Light Chakra Sabre, but in his hands, it was a deadly instrument. His movements were impossibly fast, rivaling even the Fourth Raikage's speed. When his piercing gaze fell on Kakashi, there was no recognition—only the cold, calculating focus of a predator.

Sakura lunged first, her wakizashi a blur of steel. Sakumo met her blade effortlessly, disarming her within seconds. She stumbled back, drawing her White Light Chakra Sabre. The blade gleamed white white luminescence as the seal on it activated, infusing it with chakra. For the first time, a flicker of something passed through Sakumo's expression—recognition.

Kakashi moved in, his sharingan blazing as he joined the fray. Father and son clashed, their kunai flashing in the dim light. Sparks flew as metal met metal, their movements too fast for untrained eyes to follow. Kakashi pressed forward, using his Water Release: Waterfall Blast to drive Sakumo back. The torrent of water sent Sakumo sprawling, but the reanimated body reformed immediately, unfazed by mortal limitations.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura shouted, her sabre slicing through the air. She managed to sever Sakumo's katana with a wind-enhanced strike. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a faint smile on the reanimated corpse's face, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Without warning, a hail of razor-sharp hair needles rained down on them. Instinct once again saved Sakura as she ducked just in time. She turned, her stomach sinking as she saw him—Jiraiya of the Sannin. His elongated hair lashed toward her like a whip.

Sakura's resolve hardened as she met Jiraiya's gaze. His strikes were thunderous, each blow threatening to overwhelm her. She was faster, but his experience far surpassed hers. She wielded both her White Light Chakra Sabre and a three-pronged kunai, her movements precise and calculated. Jiraiya's gaze lingered on the kunai, a flicker of recognition in his otherwise lifeless eyes.

Sakura activated the seals emblazoned on her forearms and unleashed a wave of fire, augmented by wind, toward Jiraiya. He countered with a Toad Oil Bomb, the collision of conflagrations creating a massive explosion that shook the battlefield. Jiraiya's elongated hair sprang his huling frame forward and he raised the largest Rasengan Sakura had ever seen. He approached, his speed terrifying, but Sakura noticed something—his attack was predictable, almost deliberate, leaving him wide open.

With practiced precision, Sakura sidestepped the attack and tagged Jiraiya with her Flying Thunder God seal. In a blur of pink flashes, she bound him with Fuinjutsu-reinforced ropes, rendering him immobile. She felt a pang of sadness as she sealed him away. "Goodbye, Jiraiya-sensei," she whispered. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Kakashi continued his battle against his father. Sakumo's kunai clashed with Kakashi's with deafening speed. Kakashi used Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique to disappear beneath the ground, reappearing behind Sakumo with his Lightning Blade raised. He drove the technique into Sakumo's skull, the attack disrupting the reanimation's movements.

Sakura appeared beside him, her sealing cloth ready. In one swift motion, she bound Sakumo with the suppression wrap, sealing him away.

Kakashi knelt beside his father's still form, his expression unreadable. "Goodbye, Father," he said softly.

The two shinobi stood in silence for a moment, their breaths heavy. Sakura placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "There's still more to do," she said.

Kakashi nodded, his resolve firm. "Let's go. Naruto's still out there, and he's going to need us."

Naruto stood frozen, his heart heavy as he stared across the battlefield at the reanimated form of Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Third Hokage, once the guiding light of his turbulent childhood, now stood before him as a lifeless shell compelled by Kabuto's twisted jutsu. The figure before him was not the frail, kind man he remembered. This was Hiruzen in his prime: tall, gaunt, his sharp features accentuated by the battle-worn kimono. His presence alone exuded authority and power, and the flicker of recognition in his eyes—if it even existed—was barely perceptible.

"Gramps… what have they done to you?" Naruto's voice wavered, but he stood his ground, his golden toad-like eyes narrowing in sadness and determination.

Hiruzen moved without warning, faster than Naruto had ever seen. A lifetime of hearing stories about Hiruzen's strength and versatility hadn't prepared him for this. The ground sundered beneath the man's feet as he leapt toward Naruto, a torrent of flame erupting from his mouth in a seamless jutsu.

Naruto's instincts kicked in. He leapt through the flames, the Senjutsu coursing through his body healing the minor burns he sustained. He swung a powerful fist at Hiruzen, his movements augmented by Frog Kumite. But the Third Hokage sidestepped the blow with an agility that defied his age, twisting around Naruto's Senjutsu follow up to deliver a counterstrike. Naruto tumbled to the ground, only to flip back to his feet just in time to evade Hiruzen's heel kick, which splintered the earth where he once stood.

The fight escalated rapidly. Naruto formed his signature technique. Hundreds of shadow clones appeared with loud, discordant pops, surrounding Hiruzen on all sides. The Third Hokage summoned his adamantite staff, spinning it with masterful precision to repel the onslaught. Each strike of the staff dispersed a clone, the battlefield filling with the sound of impacts and bursts of chakra.

Naruto summoned a staff of his own, fashioned from his Wood Release. The sight made Hiruzen pause for the briefest moment, his eyes betraying a flicker of recognition. Their staves clashed in a series of rapid strikes, the sound of wood and metal reverberating through the clearing. But it was clear that Hiruzen was the superior fighter, his mastery of the weapon unparalleled.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!" Naruto's voice boomed as he formed the snake seal and slammed his hands to the ground. The earth trembled, and a tsunami of tangled tree limbs erupted toward Hiruzen with relentless speed. For a moment, Hiruzen stood frozen, memories of his mentor, Hashirama, flooding his mind.

The Third Hokage regained his composure and leapt into action, dodging between the massive tendrils of wood with the grace of a seasoned warrior. Using his staff to propel himself through the air, he narrowly avoided the branches that sought to ensnare him. "Sage mode, and Wood Release?" Hiruzen muttered, his voice breaking through Kabuto's influence for a fleeting moment. "Naruto… you truly are remarkable."

Hiruzen countered with a massive fire jutsu, exhaling a stream of flames that burned through the advancing trees. He added a wind jutsu, amplifying the flames into a vortex of destruction. The battlefield was bathed in heat and ash, but Naruto pressed forward, his fists imbued with Tsunade's legendary strength.

Their battle continued with unrelenting intensity. Hiruzen used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu to flood the air with spinning projectiles, overwhelming Naruto's remaining clones. He transitioned into Earth Release: Dragon Projectile Technique, launching a barrage of earth bullets that pelted Naruto with frightening precision.

Naruto called out to Kurama, feeling the fox's chakra surge through him. His body was enveloped in the translucent red glow of his Jinchuriki cloak, nine chakra tails swirling behind him. With newfound speed and ferocity, Naruto blitzed toward Hiruzen, his chakra arms extending into claws that slashed through the air. One claw caught Hiruzen around his thorax, and began reeling him in with irresistible force.

"Sorry, Gramps," Naruto muttered as he charged a Rasengan in his other hand. The sphere pulsed with a mixture of Senjutsu, Tailed Beast chakra, and his own powerful energy. The attack connected with devastating force, sending Hiruzen flying across the battlefield like a ragdoll.

Before Hiruzen could recover, a vortex of space-time opened above him. Kakashi's Kamui activated with pinpoint accuracy, swallowing the Hokage's head in an instant. Hiruzen's body fell lifelessly to the ground, already beginning to regenerate.

Sakura appeared in a flash of pink light, her Flying Thunder God Technique bringing her to the battlefield. Without hesitation, she unfurled a suppression wrap and sealed Hiruzen's reanimated form, ending his tragic return.

Naruto stood still, his chest heaving as the fiery glow of his Jinchuriki cloak began to fade. "Goodbye, Gramps," he whispered, his voice heavy with grief.

Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his expression somber. "You did well, Naruto. Let's finish this—for him."

Naruto nodded, his resolve hardening as he turned back toward the battlefield. The war was far from over.

Nagato and Itachi stood silently across from each other, their glowing eyes holding a quiet conversation that no words could convey. The unbridled power of the Rinnegan clashed with the sharp focus of the sharingan as the two reanimated warriors weighed each other's capabilities. The ocean breeze whistled through the jagged cliffs of the coastline, the only sound in the tense standoff.

In the distance, Hidan still burned in agony, the anguish of the Amaterasu endless. Kakuzu eyed the combatants and seemed to remove himself from the battle wordlessly, though his sharp eyes watched in rapt attention.

"I'm sorry, Nagato," Itachi finally broke the silence, his tone soft and remorseful. "For sealing you."

"I'm sorry you couldn't keep me sealed," Nagato replied, his voice strained as he fought against Kabuto's overwhelming control. Despite his efforts, his body moved of its own accord, raising his hands to unleash a jutsu. "Heavenly Pull."

Sasuke suddenly felt an unrelenting force dragging him toward Nagato. His body accelerated, caught in an invisible gravitational tether, and a massive boulder materialized above him, summoned by Nagato's other hand. Sasuke grimaced, his Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan pulsing as his Susanoo flared to life. A massive violet arm burst forth from the spectral construct, encasing the boulder in its grip. With a powerful squeeze, the rock crumbled to dust, and a second arm sprouted to anchor Sasuke's horizontal free fall, digging deep into the earth to halt his acceleration.

Yugito appeared beside Nagato, her chakra cloak shimmering with the fiery intensity of Matatabi. With feline grace, she lashed out, her chakra-formed claws aimed at Nagato. He sidestepped her strike effortlessly and caught the chakra construct in his hand. The cloak at her shoulder evaporated instantly, absorbed into Nagato's Rinnegan. Yugito hissed in frustration, flipping backward and landing behind Sasuke and Itachi.

"You sure left in a hurry," Yugito said, her voice laced with annoyance as she glanced at Sasuke. Despite her tone, concern flickered in her eyes. "Never even said goodbye."

Sasuke smirked in response. He charged forward, his sharingan spinning as a jet of black Amaterasu flames arced toward Nagato. The flames split into a web-like pattern, cutting off any avenue of escape.

Nagato remained motionless, his calm demeanor unshaken. "Almighty Push!" he called out, the very air rippling with his power. A shockwave exploded from his body, obliterating the flames and tearing through the surrounding landscape. Trees splintered, mountains crumbled, and the earth itself groaned in protest.

When the dust settled, Itachi stood resolute, his body regenerating from the injuries inflicted by the blast. Sasuke's hand glowed green with medical chakra as he realigned his dislocated radial head. Nearby, Yugito loomed in her fully transformed Tailed Beast form, her massive figure cloaked in cobalt and obsidian flames. Her two tails lashed behind her, radiating destructive energy. She caught Kakuzu in a cobalt conflagration, and Sasuke smirked and utilized his impressive speed to appear at his side, sealing wrap ready.

Nagato's mechanical arm whirred to life, revealing a hidden rocket launcher. He fired the projectile at Yugito, but one of her tails batted it away effortlessly. Nagato vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing in the midst of Sasuke and Itachi. His taijutsu was relentless, a perfect blend of precision and overwhelming power. Despite their combined efforts and clairvoyance, the Uchiha brothers struggled to keep up with his seemingly divine reflexes.

Nagato caught Sasuke in his grip, his Rinnegan glowing ominously as he began to draw out the young Uchiha's soul. Itachi reacted instantly, igniting his Amaterasu flames and casting them at Nagato. Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan flared in response, taking control of the flames and redirecting them up Nagato's robes. The reanimated Rinnegan user discarded the burning cloth, using the brief reprieve to retreat and reestablish his position.

Yugito roared, twin columns of flame erupting from her massive maw and surging toward Nagato. He absorbed the flames effortlessly, his expression growing irritated. "You cannot win," he said simply, his voice calm and resolute.

"You okay?" Yugito asked Sasuke, her massive Tailed Beast form shielding him as he regained his footing. Her voice was surprisingly soft given her gargantuan frame.

"Yeah," Sasuke muttered, pushing himself upright. "This guy is insane. Naruto beat him?"

Itachi, dodging a roundhouse kick from Nagato, shook his head. "Naruto-kun defeated the Six Paths of Pain, a technique Nagato developed to fight in spite of his weakened body. This version of him is far stronger—his true form, without any limitations."

"Great," Sasuke muttered dryly. His Susanoo materialized fully, the violet chakra construct towering over the battlefield. Itachi's red-orange Susanoo appeared beside it, their combined presence radiating an oppressive power. Yugito's Tailed Beast form completed the image of the trio, the midday sun casting their long shadows over the coastline as they prepared for the next stage of the battle.

Nagato pressed his hands to the ground, summoning a horde of massive beasts in an explosion of smoke. A multi-headed dog, an enormous bird, and countless other nightmarish creatures emerged, their growls and snarls shaking the earth. The battle intensified, the clash of titanic powers reshaping the very landscape as the three warriors faced the overwhelming might of the Rinnegan.

The Five Kage stood amidst the wreckage of their fierce battle with the reanimated Kage of the past. The air was heavy with the mingling scents of scorched earth, burnt wood, and drying blood. Twilight painted the sky in fiery hues, casting long shadows across the battered landscape. Though battered and bruised, the Kage stood tall, sharing a moment of camaraderie forged in the crucible of war.

"Funny," Gaara broke the silence, his usually calm voice tinged with a faint humor. "I seem to recall being the only Kage initially assigned to combat duty."

Tsunade chuckled, her voice rich and warm. "First war, then?"

Ay, the Raikage, barked a hearty laugh and clapped Gaara on the shoulder, his immense hand a powerful show of solidarity. Gaara's automatic sand shield allowed the contact, a testament to his growth as both a shinobi and a person. "The Hokage's right. No plan survives contact with the enemy, Gaara—uh, Kazekage-dono."

"Just Gaara," the Kazekage corrected with a faint smile. "We're allies now."

Ay grinned wide. "I like you, Gaara. You're a hell of a fighter. Rasa was always a crafty one, but you took him down clean."

Mei, her vibrant hair catching the fading light, smirked with a touch of mischief. "Boys," she interjected, her tone light but firm, "save the flattery for after the war. We've got bigger problems."

Gaara flushed faintly at her bluntness, though Ay laughed again. "You've got spirit, Mizukage. I'll admit, you're stronger than you seemed."

"Oh?" Mei raised a brow, her lips curving into a teasing pout. "I don't seem strong to you, Raikage-sama?"

Ay cleared his throat, looking away, and Ōnoki, the oldest of them all, harrumphed in his usual cantankerous manner. "Enough banter. You've all proven your mettle. I've always thought the old ways were strongest, but today you've made me reconsider." He turned his gaze to Gaara, nodding with something resembling approval. "Your strength saved me, young man. And your brother, Ay, may have saved us all."

Tsunade stepped forward, her voice carrying the weight of her conviction. "Do you all see it now? The strength of the Shinobi world united—undeterred by divisions of country, village, or history. Together, we've endured the worst they could throw at us. And we'll endure the rest. Our cause is just. Our loyalty to one another is absolute. When the Akatsuki fall—and they will—we'll rebuild this world together."

The Kage exchanged glances, their exhaustion momentarily lifted by a shared sense of hope. Before, such idealistic words would have seemed naive. Now, they rang true.

"Well, well," a familiar voice drawled from above, shattering the moment. The Five Kage turned sharply to see Tobi perched atop a cliff, his orange mask concealing his face but failing to hide his amusement. "This is becoming a habit, isn't it?"

Tobi's spinning sharingan glinted ominously as he spread his arms wide. "We really must stop running into each other like this."

The Kage wasted no time. With a shared understanding, they converged on Tobi, their combined might aimed at ending him. Yet, as their attacks met his form, he turned intangible, their strikes passing through him harmlessly.

Tobi sighed theatrically. "Really? Again? Go on, get it out of your system. I've got all day."

Recognizing the futility, Tsunade stepped forward, her golden eyes sharp. "What do you want, Tobi?"

"Tobi, Tobi," he repeated with mock offense. "I told you to call me Madara. But then…" His tone darkened, dripping with menace. "Perhaps you already knew?"

A vortex of space-time began to form beside him, and a coffin emerged from its depths. The Kage tensed, their earlier camaraderie giving way to grim focus.

Only one coffin?

The heavy lid creaked open, revealing the figure within. Clad in crimson armor, his presence exuded a power that seemed to suffocate the air around him. The rain fell harder, drumming against the earth as if heralding the arrival of something dreadful. The unmistakable form of Madara Uchiha stepped forward, as if emerging from a history scroll, his sharingan glowing like twin blood-red moons beset against a sea of black.

"Well, well," Madara said, his voice smooth yet chilling. "It seems the Shinobi Alliance has assembled its champions. Let's see if you're worth my time."

The Five Kage stared in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them like a storm. They had just survived one impossible battle, and now they faced the legend himself—the man who had shaped the very foundations of their world.

The battle was far from over.

The battlefield was a chaotic expanse of devastation. Trees lay uprooted, the ground was scorched, and the air crackled with the residual energy of overwhelming chakra. Amidst this ruin stood Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha, their towering Susanoo avatars dominating the scene, their spectral forms blazing with otherworldly intensity. Beside them loomed Matatabi, Yugito's full Tailed Beast transformation, her cobalt and obsidian flames licking the ground as she prowled in a pirouette.

Nagato's monstrous summons filled the battlefield, their grotesque forms a testament to the Rinnegan's fearsome power. A multi-headed dog growled ferociously, its massive paws crushing the earth beneath it. Nearby, a giant snake-tailed chameleon shimmered into existence, its scales reflecting the faint light of the waning sun. A colossal panda lumbered forward, its steps shaking the ground, its eyes cold and unfeeling.

Itachi's crimson Susanoo surged forward first, its skeletal arm coiling back before delivering a thunderous right hook to one of the multi-headed dog's snarling faces. The force of the blow sent the creature staggering, its massive body crashing into the ground with a resounding thud. But instead of staying down, the dog whimpered once before its body split into two identical copies, both just as large and ferocious as the original.

"Great," Sasuke muttered, his Eternal Mangekyōu sharingan glowing as he assessed the situation. "This is going to be a pain."

Sasuke's violet Susanoo raised its crossbow-like weapon, spectral energy coalescing into a single, devastating bolt. The black flames of Amaterasu engulfed the bolt, and with a sharp twang, it fired. The projectile streaked through the air and struck the snake-tailed chameleon squarely in its torso. The creature hissed and writhed as the unquenchable black flames consumed it, its body flickering before disappearing into smoke.

Matatabi leapt into action, her massive form a blur of blue and black flames as she lunged at Nagato's giant panda summon. Her claws raked across its massive body, tearing through its thick hide with ease. The panda roared in defiance, but Matatabi was relentless. Her twin tails, burning with demonic chakra, pierced through the panda's torso like spears. The creature let out one final, guttural growl before its body dissolved into nothingness.

The multi-headed dog lunged at Itachi's Susanoo, its massive jaws snapping with terrifying force. Itachi's Yata Mirror shimmered into existence, deflecting the creature's attack with an ethereal glow. The dog recoiled, its heads snapping and snarling in frustration. Before it could regroup, Sasuke's Susanoo appeared beside Itachi's, an ethereal violet sword materializing in its hand. With a single, precise strike, the sword pierced through the dog's body, pinning it to the ground.

"Don't let it multiply!" Itachi warned, his voice calm but urgent.

Sasuke's eyes flashed, and the terrible black flames of Amaterasu ignited across the dog's body. The creature howled in agony before its form dissipated into smoke. Meanwhile, Matatabi turned her attention to the remaining dog, her massive form moving with feline grace and precision. She pounced on the creature, her claws and teeth tearing through its flesh. The dog let out a final, pitiful whimper before Matatabi's flames consumed it entirely.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment. The sundered surroundings lay in shambles, an apocalyptic wasteland strewn with the bodies of fallen shinobi and broken summons. Sasuke's and Itachi's Susanoo stood side by side, their glowing forms casting long shadows across the ruined landscape. Matatabi loomed beside them, her flames burning steadily as Yugito's piercing eyes locked onto Nagato, his frame diminutive in the distance.

Nagato, ever impassive, stood amidst the chaos he had wrought. His Rinnegan eyes gleamed with an unearthly light, and his lips barely moved as he spoke, his voice carrying over the decimated battlefield. "You will fall, like all the others. My will… the will of pain, will bring peace."

"You've caused enough pain," Sasuke growled, his Susanoo's violet arm unsheathing its second glowing blade. "You're nothing but a puppet for Kabuto!"

Nagato raised his hands. "Heavenly Push!"

An overwhelming force of gravity rippled outward, obliterating the already fragile terrain. Yugito dug her claws into the ground, her massive Matatabi form straining against the onslaught as her tails carved deep trenches into the earth. Sasuke and Itachi's Susanoo figures interlocked their arms, their armor glowing with chakra as they braced against the unimaginable force. The shockwave extended outward, scattering what few surviving ninja remained and decimating the remnants of the First Division.

When the dust cleared, Sasuke's eyes widened at the carnage. Bodies of ninja from every village lay motionless. The grief clawed at him, but he channeled it into rage. "Yasaka Magatama!" Spectral, spinning shuriken detached from his Susanoo and streaked toward Nagato. The Rinnegan user raised his hand, summoning his enormous rhinoceros summon to take the blow. The beast exploded into smoke, its massive form obliterated.

Yugito took her chance. The swirling energy of a Bijudama coalesced between Matatabi's massive jaws, the chakra sphere growing to an enormous size. She unleashed it with a deafening roar, and the black-and-purple orb streaked toward Nagato.

"Chibaku Tensei!" Nagato intoned, thrusting his hands skyward. A black sphere of pure gravitational energy appeared in the sky, and the earth itself tore apart, sucked upward into the growing mass. Trees, rocks, and debris spiraled toward the forming moon. The Tailed Beast Bomb collided with it mid-formation, detonating in a cataclysmic explosion that rocked the battlefield. The sky was filled with blinding light, and the sound reverberated like thunder.

As the dust settled, Sasuke's Susanoo reappeared, battered but standing. Yugito, still in her Matatabi form, panted heavily, her flames flickering as her chakra reserves waned. Itachi's red Susanoo shimmered with an ethereal glow as he stood resolute.

Nagato remained, untouched, his Rinnegan glowing ominously. He raised his hands again, preparing another Almighty Push. But before he could release it, three massive tree limbs, thick as redwoods, erupted from the ground beneath him, entangling his body in an unyielding grip.

"Naruto?! What the—" Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he searched for the source of the Wood Release. His gaze traveled upward, and he froze.

Standing atop one of the massive tree trunks that had been upended during the battle was a figure cloaked in shadow. The light of the setting sun revealed pale skin, snake-like eyes, and an all-too-familiar smirk. Orochimaru.

"Hello, Sasuke," Orochimaru greeted, his voice smooth and mocking. "It's been far too long."

Sasuke's Susanoo shifted, its massive hand resting on the hilt of its sword. "Give me one reason not to kill you right here."

Orochimaru chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Always so dramatic, Sasuke. You should be thanking me."

"For what?" Itachi's calm but deadly voice cut through the tension, his crimson Susanoo glaring down at the Snake Sannin.

Orochimaru gestured toward Nagato, bound tightly by the tree limbs. "For giving you this opportunity. Kabuto thinks he's taken the Edo Tensei to its pinnacle, but he forgets who taught him. I've kept a few secrets for myself."

"What secrets?" Yugito growled, her voice booming from Matatabi's form.

"Why, the First and Second Hokage, of course," Orochimaru said casually, as though discussing the weather. "They were my prized possessions. With their power, I can contain Nagato long enough for you to finish your mission."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What mission?"

Orochimaru's smirk widened. "To stop Kabuto, naturally. He's the puppet master behind all of this. You two"—he gestured to Sasuke and Itachi—"are the only ones capable of tracking him down and putting an end to his Edo Tensei once and for all."

Itachi's Susanoo seemed to shimmer with intensity as he considered Orochimaru's words. "And why should we trust you?"

"Because," Orochimaru said with a hiss, "Well for one, you don't have a choice—Nagato is seconds away from freeing himself. Do you have time to argue?"

As if on cue, Nagato's Almighty Push began to crack the bindings of the Wood Release. Sasuke clenched his fists, torn between his hatred for Orochimaru and the urgency of the situation. He turned to Yugito, his expression softening.

"Stay safe," he said quietly, standing tall to kiss her furry forehead. She nodded, her massive form radiating defiance.

Without another word, Sasuke and Itachi leapt into the air, their Susanoo forms dissolving around them as they disappeared into the horizon, heading toward Kabuto's lair.

Orochimaru turned to Yugito, his smirk never fading. "Shall we?" He gestured toward Nagato, who was moments away from unleashing another wave of destruction.

Yugito growled, her twin tails lashing. "Just don't get in my way, snake."