"Haa…"
Uchiha Sasuke breathed heavily. Blood ran down from his forehead, crossing his eye. Two intersecting blade wounds marred his originally handsome face.
He was in bad shape.
Haruno Sakura was determined to stop Kyusei and the others.
And Sasuke—
Was determined to stop her.
Neither held back.
"Sasuke… don't keep doing this…"
"You're really going to stand against me for outsiders?"
Sakura wasn't in much better condition. Her outer coat was torn beyond repair, no longer able to conceal the black combat suit beneath.
She ripped it off entirely.
The loose outfit still couldn't hide her well-defined figure.
She remained in Sage Mode—
But now, black markings spread from the diamond seal on her forehead, branching across her exposed skin.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Now combined with Sage Mode.
A new state—
Sage Hundred Mode.
Her regeneration far surpassed the original technique.
And with natural energy constantly replenishing her—
She no longer needed to consume her own cellular chakra.
As long as she wasn't instantly killed—
She couldn't die.
Even severe injuries would heal in moments.
Sasuke straightened, exhaling deeply. His bones cracked audibly.
He didn't want to hurt her.
She was his teammate.
His friend.
Like Menma.
But—
Because of Hikaru's ocular technique—
Sakura had become his enemy.
Even knowing she couldn't be easily injured—
He still held back.
"Sakura…"
"When this is over, you'll understand."
She frowned slightly.
"Sasuke… I don't understand why you're so against Hikaru."
"But your plan will fail."
"Soon, Konoha—"
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"…What did you say?"
His voice trembled.
"The village has decided to cooperate with Akatsuki."
"They're preparing to reclaim the Nine-Tails by force."
"The operation should already be ready."
"And Namikaze Minato has been released from prison."
"He's leading the mission."
As she formed hand seals, Sakura spoke calmly.
"So… please, just stay still for a while."
"I don't want you labeled a traitor."
Her jutsu was ready.
But Sasuke—
Could no longer focus on the fight.
His mind raced.
Everything could have been saved.
But Akatsuki had infiltrated Konoha—
Using Sakura.
He wasn't a fool.
From her words alone—
He pieced it together.
Hikaru had used her altered memories—
Entered Konoha—
Gained trust—
Reached Minato.
How many people had been affected?
How many minds rewritten?
"Sakura…"
"…I'm sorry."
"But this time—I have to defeat you."
His gaze turned cold.
If his guess was correct—
Then Hikaru had to die.
"You think you can defeat me anytime you want?"
She tilted her head, confused.
In her memory—
Sasuke was a flirt.
Not a fighter.
His Eternal Mangekyō spun rapidly.
Purple flames surged around him like a blazing inferno.
This time—
He wouldn't hold back.
"Perfect Form…"
"Susanoo!"
A towering giant appeared.
Winged.
Armored.
Demonic.
"…So this is your hidden power…"
"Sasuke…"
Sakura tightened her grip on her blade.
"I don't have the word 'give up' in my life!"
She attacked first.
—
Elsewhere—
Uchiha Madara stood with arms crossed, watching his opponents.
He could feel it.
Hashirama's chakra was running out.
To last this long—
With so little—
"…As expected of you."
"Hey!"
"Old man! You still alive?!"
Menma panted, controlling the Nine-Tails.
The Wood Golem had already been destroyed.
They couldn't hold him.
"…Looks like I'm the weak link."
Hashirama sighed.
"Menma."
"This will be my last jutsu."
"If it fails—go find Kyusei."
"He's the only one who can defeat him."
"Hey!"
"What do you mean only him?!"
Menma snapped.
Hashirama ignored him.
"You're a good kid."
"Just fix that temper."
"And tell Kyusei…"
"He's my greatest student."
His chakra surged.
Nature energy gathered.
The desert roared.
"Sage Art—Wood Release: Wood Dragon!"
A massive wooden dragon erupted from the ground, roaring.
As Hashirama's body began to fade—
He looked toward Konoha.
His home.
His legacy.
His student.
His granddaughter.
His unborn great-grandchild.
For the village—
He gave everything.
And he would do it again.
The Wood Dragon charged.
Madara watched coldly.
"…Interesting."
"The user is gone, yet the will remains."
But—
Just a Wood Dragon?
He was disappointed.
It was merely an opening move.
His Susanoo drew its blade—
And struck.
A massive slash tore through the dragon.
Wood splintered.
But—
The dragon roared—
Climbing the blade—
Wrapping around Susanoo!
"…Tch."
Madara frowned.
It was absorbing chakra.
He summoned a second blade—
And cut it down completely.
But—
Menma was ready.
A massive Tailed Beast Bomb formed.
"You bastard!"
"Die!"
The sphere launched.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then—
Blinding white light engulfed everything.
—
Kyusei glanced toward the explosion.
Menma's attack.
Even the ground trembled.
But—
His focus returned.
Hikaru stood ahead—
Breathing heavily.
Even with Susanoo—
That point-blank Tailed Beast Bomb had shaken her.
The shockwave—
Unavoidable.
"…Let's end this."
"I'm done playing."
Kyusei's voice was cold.
His hands came together.
Golden chakra erupted—
Overflowing like an ocean.
A massive golden Nine-Tails manifested.
Nearly a hundred meters tall.
"Sage Art—Adamantine Sealing Chains—Bohi-Shin—Hundred-Forged Armor!"
Golden-red flames engulfed it.
In an instant—
A majestic, ancient armor formed—
Heavy.
Terrifying.
Even its fangs glowed gold-red.
Fully armed.
The Nine-Tails grasped—
A massive spear appeared.
Hikaru clutched her shoulder—
Watching the monstrous figure.
No fear in her eyes.
Only resolve.
So this…
Was her opponent.
Madara…
This is what you wanted me to face?
She thought of the old man.
Loss.
Regret.
Failure.
A world full of suffering.
So he wanted—
A perfect world.
No pain.
No loss.
She didn't care about the world.
She only wanted—
Her parents.
But his vision—
Would let her be with them forever.
So—
She would give everything.
The armored Nine-Tails stepped forward.
The ground shook.
Hikaru looked up—
Her eyes burning.
Not confidence.
Not pride.
Stubbornness.
She couldn't lose.
Not before seeing them again.
Her lips moved.
Far away—
In the darkness—
White Zetsu began to die.
Thousands—
Drained dry—
Turning into husks.
In moments—
Over ten thousand perished.
And it didn't stop.
Red chakra flames erupted around her.
She had consumed—
Thirty thousand White Zetsu.
An unimaginable amount of chakra.
Kyusei didn't hesitate.
He thrust the spear forward.
But—
A massive crimson hand—
Caught it.
Susanoo.
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