Chapter 80: Team Seven's Final Assault
The battlefield was a storm of energy and power as Team Seven prepared to face their greatest challenge yet. Naruto, clad in his new Six Paths Chakra Mode, radiated golden light. His aura flickered and danced with pure chakra, and the truth-seeking orbs behind him hovered with purpose. Sasuke stood beside him, his newly awakened Rinnegan gleaming with power and precision. Sakura, her Strength of a Hundred Seal glowing brilliantly, exuded confidence as her chakra surged through her entire body. She spun a three-pronged kunai about her finger. Kakashi, now with two Mangekyōu sharingan, stood at their side, his purple Susanoo towering protectively above them.
Across from them, Madara, now the Ten Tails Jinchuriki, floated in the air, his azure Susanoo glowing ominously. His Rinnegan illuminated the core of the monstrous construct, and his power radiated across the battlefield like an unrelenting storm.
Sasuke wasted no time. He conjured an ethereal bow and loosed an arrow, aiming straight at Madara's chest. The arrow blazed through the air, but Madara countered with a truth-seeking orb, the black sphere consuming the arrow in a burst of raw energy.
Naruto appeared in a golden blur, his newfound speed and flight allowing him to maneuver around Madara with ease. Each of Madara's attacks, from spinning truth-seeking orbs to bolts of chakra, missed Naruto by inches. Their truth-seeking orbs clashed mid-air, creating explosions of pure energy that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called out. "Keep him distracted!"
Sasuke nodded, forming a devastating attack. Indra's Arrow, the culmination of his Black Lightning Release chakra, crackled with destructive energy as he unleashed it toward Madara. But Madara's reflexes were beyond human; he dodged the attack with impossible precision, twisting through the air at an angle no one could predict.
Before Madara could retaliate, Kakashi stepped forward. His Mangekyōu sharingan glowed as he activated his Kamui-infused Susanoo. The spectral warrior launched a volley of Susanoo Shuriken, each infused with space-warping Kamui power. The attack forced Madara to retreat, his Susanoo shielding him from the worst of the barrage.
As Madara stabilized mid-air, Sakura appeared above him in a flash of light. Her White Light Chakra Sabre glowed brightly as she brought all her strength down in a single slash, enhanced by the chakra stored in her Strength of a Hundred Seal. The impact sent Madara hurtling downward, the force of the strike cracking the ground below.
Naruto was waiting for him. With his hands raised, he summoned a massive Planetary Rasengan, its swirling energy glowing with Six Paths Chakra. He slammed the attack into Madara, the ground shaking as the immense energy exploded outward. Before Madara could recover, Naruto's Wood Release, enveloped in a golden sheathe, surged to life, creating an intricate prison of roots and vines that ensnared Madara completely.
The Six Paths: Wood Release sapped Madara's chakra, nullifying his Tailed Beast abilities and rendering him immobile. "Got him!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with determination.
Sasuke stepped forward, his Rinnegan glowing as he locked eyes with Madara. "It's time to finish this," he said coldly. He reached out, using his Rinnegan's power to enter Madara's mind. Sakura placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, her chakra linking with his. Together, they entered Madara's consciousness.
Within the depths of Madara's mind, they found the imprisoned Tailed Beasts. The creatures were trapped within a dark void, their forms chained and their power siphoned by the Ten Tails. Soon, they would be absorbed completely and integrated into the primordial beast. Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a glance, their resolve clear.
"We need to free them," Sakura said. "Without the Tailed Beasts, Madara will lose his connection to the Ten Tails' power."
Sasuke nodded. "But who will hold the Beasts after they're freed? If Naruto or I try to become the new Jinchuriki, our Six Paths powers will absorb them as easily as the Ten-Tails. They'll cease to exist. And we can't just free them, the cognitive impression of the Ten-Tails has grown too strong—it will simply assimilate them once again."
Sakura frowned, considering their options. "There has to be people we can wake up, those strong enough to withstand the burden, but who won't be consumed by it or misuse the Tailed Beasts."
Sasuke's gaze hardened. "We'll figure that out later. For now, we focus on releasing them."
Back in the real world, Naruto and Kakashi guarded Madara's immobilized form. Naruto's Six Paths Chakra pulsed as he maintained the Wood Release prison, while Kakashi's Mangekyōu sharingan watched for any sign of resistance.
Sasuke and Sakura returned moments later, their expressions grim but determined. "We're ready," Sasuke said. "We're breaking the Tailed Beasts free."
Naruto grinned, his golden form radiating confidence. "Let's end this, guys. Together."
The battlefield was eerily quiet after the climactic battle. The Tailed Beasts, now free from Madara's grasp, hovered in the space between the physical and spiritual realms. Their immense forms loomed over the gathered shinobi, their presence both awe-inspiring and foreboding.
The Ten Tails, although broken apart, had existed long enough to form a primitive consciousness—a will to survive. It clawed desperately at the nine freed Tailed Beasts, trying to pull them back into itself, to reforge its singularity. The air crackled with tension as the Tailed Beasts collectively resisted, but the Ten Tails' lingering essence was relentless. The only way to save the Beasts from being reabsorbed was to bind them to new hosts, creating seals strong enough to imprison the fragmented will of the Ten Tails within the nine.
Sasuke, standing off to the side, stared at the chaotic scene with narrowed eyes. His Rinnegan flickered with temptation. If he took all the power for himself, he could reshape the world in his image—no more wars, no more hatred. A perfect world, forged by his strength. The thought lingered for a long moment, his hand twitching toward his sword.
"Sasuke," Naruto said, his voice cutting through the silence. He stood beside Sasuke, his golden Six Paths Chakra Mode radiating warmth and resolve. "Don't even think about it."
Sasuke's gaze flicked to Naruto, and for a moment, the two stood in silent understanding. Sasuke's hand relaxed. "I don't need this power," he said finally. "My own strength is superior."
Sakura stepped forward, taking charge of the situation. Her Strength of a Hundred Seal glowed faintly as she concentrated on creating new seals, her chakra weaving intricate patterns in the air. "We don't have much time," she said. "The Ten Tails' will is too strong. If we don't act now, it'll take them all back."
The Tailed Beasts rumbled in agreement, their voices echoing in the minds of everyone present. "We will not be enslaved again," said Shukaku, the One-Tail. "But if we must be bound to survive, then so be it."
Sakura worked quickly, her hands steady as she prepared the seals for each Tailed Beast. One by one, the new hosts stepped forward to assume their solemn duty.
Gaara stepped forward first, his expression calm and resolute. "Shukaku," he said, meeting the One-Tail's gaze. "Let's start anew. I'll protect you this time, just as you protected me."
"Don't screw it up this time, kid." Shukaku grumbled, but there was a hint of respect in his voice. The seal glowed as Shukaku reentered Gaara, the bond reforged. Gaara's sand swirled protectively around him as he stood tall.
Yugito, barely recovered from her ordeal, approached Matatabi, the Two-Tails. Her body trembled, but her spirit was unwavering. "Matatabi," she said softly, "I'll be better this time. We'll be better."
Matatabi purred, her flames flickering warmly. "You've always been strong, Yugito. Let's fight together again."
The Three-Tails, Isobu, turned to Chōjūrō, the swordsman of the Mist. The young Mizukage stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "I'll carry this responsibility for Kirigakure," he said. Isobu nodded silently, his massive form shrinking as he entered Chōjūrō through the seal.
The Four-Tails, Son Gokū, roared his approval as Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, approached. "You're the only one here with the guts to handle me," Son Gokū said.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Kurotsuchi smirked.
The Five-Tails, Kokuō, chose Akatsuchi, the loyal shinobi from Iwagakure.
"You have the strength of heart," Kokuō said. "Do not falter." Akatsuchi nodded, the weight of the moment clear on his face.
The Six-Tails, Saiken, hesitated before choosing Kimimaro, the last of the Kaguya clan. "You've walked a dark path," Saiken said, his voice soft and melancholic. "But I see hope in you."
Kimimaro knelt, his voice steady. "I will honor your trust and reform my clan in Kirigakure."
The Seven-Tails, Chōmei, turned to Shibuki of Takigakure, who had stepped forward nervously. "You drank the Hero's Water to protect your people," Chōmei said, his wings fluttering. "You've earned this."
Shibuki swallowed hard but nodded. "I'll protect you. And everyone else."
Killer Bee, who had barely survived the extraction, stepped forward to reclaim Gyūki, the Eight-Tails.
"Yo, partner," Bee said weakly, managing a grin. "You ready to get back to spitting rhymes?"
"Always." Gyūki chuckled and bumped Bee's fist. The seal activated, and the Eight Tails returned to his host.
Finally, the Nine Tails, Kurama, looked at Naruto with a forlorn expression. For a moment, Kurama's gaze lingered on his former host. "Naruto…" he began. "I'll miss you. You're the only human I've ever trusted."
"You know my Six Paths Chakra would assimilate your power. This isn't a 'goodbye', Kurama. It's a 'see you later'." Naruto smiled, shaking his head. "It's time for you to find someone else. Someone who can handle you. I promise I'll visit you."
Kurama growled but relented, his gaze shifting to Karin, the Uzumaki descendant. "You're the only one here with chakra strong enough to handle me," Kurama said.
Karin stepped forward hesitantly but met his gaze with determination. "I won't let you down," she said. The seal glowed, and Kurama entered Karin. She staggered for a moment but quickly steadied herself, her Uzumaki chakra adapting to Kurama's immense power.
As the seals were completed, the battlefield fell silent once more. The Ten Tails' will was finally defeated, its fragments bound to the new Jinchuriki. The Tailed Beasts, though imprisoned, would forge new bonds with their hosts. Madara's withered body, depleted of its Ten-Tails chakra, grew still.
Naruto looked at his friends, his grin unwavering. "You've all got this. I believe in every one of you."
"Let's hope this works. We've got a lot to rebuild." Sasuke crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
"It's not just about rebuilding. It's about creating something better." Sakura stepped forward, her voice firm.
As the sun began to rise over the battlefield, the nine hosts stood together, their resolve shining as brightly as the dawn. The world had been changed forever, but with the strength of these new bonds, there was hope for a better future.