Beneath the towering mountain where the First Division fought...
The tide of battle had turned decisively against the legendary First Tsuchikage. Under the relentless coordinated assault from Sakumo's lightning-enhanced blade work and Uchiha Yoruki's Mangekyō Sharingan techniques, the Kage found himself increasingly overwhelmed. What had begun as a fierce contest between equals had devolved into a desperate defensive struggle, with the reanimated leader barely managing to deflect attacks rather than mounting any meaningful counteroffensive.
The systematic dismantling of his combat effectiveness spoke to both the tactical brilliance of his opponents and the fundamental limitations imposed by his current state. Even legendary skill couldn't fully compensate for the restrictions placed upon Edo Tensei resurrections.
"ROAR!"
The bestial sounds that emerged from the Gold and Silver Brothers bore no resemblance to human speech. The deep crimson chakra that had been coating their bodies like liquid flame was showing severe damage, its once-perfect coverage now fractured and unstable. Through the gaps in their Nine-Tails chakra cloaks, their physical forms showed corresponding injuries—wounds that spoke to the intensity of their recent battles.
Before them stood the imposing form of Shisui's green Susanoo, its ethereal warrior frame radiating power that seemed to press against reality itself.
Swish!
Without warning, Shisui vanished from within his chakra construct, his body moving with speed that transcended normal perception. He materialized directly in front of Kinkaku before the pseudo-Jinchūriki could mount any form of counterattack.
The moment their eyes met, something fundamental shifted in Kinkaku's expression. The wild, beast-like fury that had defined his features suddenly wavered, replaced by confusion as a four-pointed windmill pattern became faintly visible in his pupils—the reflection of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan asserting its dominance.
The crimson chakra that had been raging around Kinkaku's form began to withdraw, drawn back into his body as if responding to an irresistible command. As the energy receded, it revealed the man beneath the bestial transformation—still dangerous, but no longer the mindless creature he had become.
With Kinkaku neutralized by Shisui's ocular prowess, Ginkaku found himself isolated and overwhelmed. The bond between the brothers had been their greatest strength, allowing them to coordinate attacks and share the burden of containing the Nine-Tails' chakra. Without that support, his resistance crumbled rapidly.
Under the overwhelming pressure of multiple Mangekyō Sharingan techniques, both brothers found themselves with virtually no room to resist or adapt. Their stolen power, impressive though it was, paled in comparison to the focused assault of multiple elite Uchiha.
The moment their defeat became apparent, specialized sealing teams moved forward with practiced efficiency. Their scrolls unfurled with mechanical precision as they began the complex process of containing two pseudo-Jinchūriki whose power levels approached those of true Tailed Beasts.
Shisui acknowledged the sealing specialists with a brief nod before immediately pivoting toward the ongoing battle between Darui, Aburame Shibi, and the Second Raikage. His tactical instincts demanded maximum efficiency—every second saved in one engagement could prove crucial in another.
With Shisui's intervention, the balance of that confrontation shifted dramatically and irrevocably. The Second Raikage, despite his legendary speed and Lightning Release mastery, found himself facing opponents whose coordination and tactical awareness exceeded anything he had encountered during his lifetime.
Within minutes, he too had succumbed to genjutsu and been secured by the sealing teams.
Finally, all five elite combatants converged on the First Tsuchikage's position, their combined assault creating a tactical situation that even the legendary Kage couldn't hope to overcome.
"BOOM!"
The final collision between their coordinated techniques and the Tsuchikage's desperate defense created seismic effects that rippled across the landscape. The earth itself seemed to recoil from the violence, groaning under forces that challenged the basic laws of physics.
When the dust and debris finally settled, a massive crater stretched before them—several hundred meters in diameter and dozens of meters deep, its walls smooth as glass from the intense heat generated by their techniques.
At the crater's center, the First Tsuchikage lay motionless, surrounded by his five opponents. Blood seeped from his reanimated form while paper-like fragments of the Edo Tensei technique scattered from his wounds like autumn leaves.
The sealing specialists descended into the pit with grim efficiency, their scrolls already prepared for what had become a routine procedure across multiple battlefields.
As the sealing patterns began to manifest around his form, the First Tsuchikage's eyes underwent a dramatic transformation. The pitch-black emptiness that had marked him as one of the controlled dead gave way to the gentle, intelligent gaze that had once earned him the respect and loyalty of an entire village.
"I'm sorry," he said, his aged features showing genuine remorse as consciousness returned to him. "It's been so long since my death, yet I've caused such tremendous trouble for the shinobi of later generations."
His voice carried the weight of someone who understood the burden his unwilling actions had placed on others.
"You were simply being manipulated," Shisui replied, though his expression darkened visibly as he continued. "The real culprit behind all this suffering is Madara Uchiha."
Observing Shisui's reaction to that name, the First Tsuchikage couldn't help but smile with bitter irony. "Haha, I never imagined that someday, that particular Uchiha would become something like this."
His eyes took on a distant quality as he reflected on the historical implications. "If there were time and opportunity, I would truly like to meet whoever managed to change the seemingly irreconcilable situation between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha clan."
The animosity between Konoha's civilian government and the Uchiha had been a defining feature of village politics since the First Tsuchikage's era. The great battle between Madara and the First Hokage at the Valley of the End had only deepened those divisions, creating wounds that many believed could never heal.
Yet here stood proof that such reconciliation was possible—Uchiha working seamlessly alongside non-clan shinobi, their loyalty to the village transcending ancient grievances.
"I really would like to see what Iwagakure has become in the current era," the Tsuchikage mused as the sealing scroll began to wrap around his face, obscuring his weathered features.
"But no," he concluded with the wisdom of someone who had learned to accept the natural order of things, "it's not my place to worry about future generations anymore."
His voice grew fainter with each word until it finally disappeared entirely, consumed by the sealing technique that would return him to whatever rest awaited beyond the mortal realm.
The successful sealing of the First Tsuchikage marked the decisive end of the First Division's major engagements. Yet even as they celebrated this victory, every participant understood that the war was far from over.
Scattered groups of White Zetsu still required elimination, and more importantly, the truly critical battles were only now reaching their climax.
Uchiha Yoruki turned his attention to Shisui, his expression carrying an unspoken question about the broader tactical situation.
Understanding the inquiry without need for words, Shisui provided a comprehensive briefing: "The information comes from the Special Attack Force. During Itachi's battle with the Second Hokage, he managed to to interfere with the enemy's Edo Tensei control mechanisms."
He paused to ensure his words were being processed before continuing: "The Second Hokage successfully freed himself from the resurrection technique's manipulation and is now providing support to headquarters alongside the Special Attack Force."
"When the Edo Tensei control was initially disrupted," Shisui added, "the Second Hokage attempted reverse-tracking to locate the technique's caster, but the attempt failed."
His expression grew more serious as he delivered the final piece of intelligence: "Based on that failure, he concluded that our search operations have lost their strategic value."
Yoruki nodded thoughtfully, his tactical mind processing the implications. If Tobirama Senju had reached such a conclusion, it carried significant weight—few shinobi in history possessed greater expertise in forbidden techniques and their countermeasures.
Darui, representing Kumogakure's interests in the coalition, remained visibly amazed by the revelation that the Second Hokage had independently cancelled his own Edo Tensei resurrection.
"It seems that not only in the current era, but throughout history, Konoha's Hokage have truly earned their legendary reputations," he reflected silently, his respect for the Hidden Leaf's leadership growing with each demonstration of their capabilities.
"If that assessment is accurate," Yoruki said, shifting his focus back to immediate tactical concerns, "then your ocular techniques should prove equally effective."
His gaze locked onto Shisui's eyes, where the Mangekyō patterns held the power of Kotoamatsukami—widely regarded as the strongest genjutsu in existence.
Shisui nodded grimly, understanding the implication immediately. "I've been conserving my eye power specifically for this possibility. If the technique succeeds, I should be able to free the First Hokage from the Edo Tensei's control just as the Second Hokage freed himself."
He had deliberately avoided using Kotoamatsukami throughout the recent battles, despite numerous opportunities where it could have shortened conflicts. Even with the First Hokage's cells enhancing his recovery, the technique's cooldown period remained substantial.
The strategic calculus was clear—saving his ultimate ability for the most powerful opponent represented their best chance of fundamentally altering the war's trajectory.
If successful, the First Hokage would become their ally rather than their enemy. Combined with Minato's power, such an addition to their forces could tip the scales decisively in the Allied Forces' favor.
"In that case," Yoruki said, turning to address Sakumo directly, "now that the large-scale engagements have reached their conclusion, the war's focus is shifting to individual confrontations of unprecedented scale."
Sakumo nodded his agreement, his experienced mind reaching the same tactical conclusion.
"Shisui and I should depart immediately to reinforce headquarters," Yoruki continued, his tone carrying the urgency that had driven elite reinforcements across every battlefield.
They had joined this front as support elements, and with the First Division's victory secured, their capabilities were needed elsewhere.
"Agreed," Sakumo replied, his endorsement carrying the weight of both personal respect and tactical necessity.
Without further delay, both Uchiha exchanged a meaningful glance before launching themselves skyward.
Swish!
Their forms became streaks of motion racing toward the headquarters, where the war's ultimate confrontation was already underway.
On the coastal battlefield where the Third Division fought...
"Choza, command here will be temporarily transferred to your authority," Jiraiya announced, his Sage Mode still active as he addressed Akimichi Choza with the gravity befitting such a significant responsibility transfer.
Choza glanced nervously at Orochimaru, who stood beside Jiraiya with his characteristic serpentine grace. Despite their current alliance, decades of enmity weren't easily forgotten. Still, duty superseded personal comfort.
"Understood," he replied with a firm nod.
The Second Mizukage had been successfully sealed, and Jiraiya's enhanced senses were detecting the tremendous chakra collisions occurring at headquarters. Like the other elite commanders across various fronts, he recognized that the war's decisive phase demanded immediate intervention from all available legendary combatants.
"Let's move!" he commanded, addressing both Tsunade and Orochimaru.
The moment those words left his lips, all three Sannin vanished from the Third Division's position, their combined departure creating a vacuum of leadership that Choza would need to fill with distinction.
At the border between the Land of Earth and Lightning, Second Division's staging area...
High above the battlefield, Kitsuchi and Mei Terumi rode upon a cloud of sand crafted by Gaara's masterful chakra control, while Sasori and Deidara maintained their aerial position aboard the blonde bomber's signature clay bird.
Below them, Chiyo sat patiently as she received medical treatment from a teenage female ninja whose skill belied her apparent youth.
The medic was Namikaze Chiharu, whose gentle hands worked with precision that spoke to extensive training under the most demanding instructors.
Although Chiyo possessed considerable medical ninjutsu expertise herself, the recent battles had pushed even her formidable stamina to its limits. Age, despite all her defiance against it, remained an unforgiving adversary.
"Granny Chiyo, once we've finished treating the walking wounded, I'd like you to assume temporary command here," Kitsuchi said with the deep respect befitting one of Sunagakure's most legendary figures.
Chiyo nodded her acceptance while gazing expectantly at Sasori's aerial position. The complex emotions surrounding her relationship with her grandson—killer, puppet, and now reluctant ally—remained difficult to navigate.
"I'm counting on all of you," she said softly, her words carrying layers of meaning that extended far beyond simple tactical coordination.
While continuing her medical work, Chiharu bowed respectfully to both Mei Terumi and Kitsuchi, her movements careful not to disrupt her healing techniques.
"Please forgive my inability to accompany you to headquarters," she said, her voice carrying obvious worry despite her professional composure. "How could I not be concerned when my parents and brother are fighting such a desperate battle?"
Her internal conflict was evident—the desire to support her family warred against her duty to the wounded who depended on her skills.
"But I am a ninja," she continued with growing resolve, "and I must maintain my assigned position regardless of personal feelings."
"Ah," Gaara responded simply, his single syllable carrying profound understanding.
Chiharu was among his few genuine friends, and he comprehended better than most the weight of duty when it conflicted with personal desires.
Mei Terumi smiled warmly at the young medic, her expression radiating confidence despite the gravity of their situation.
"Haven't you always believed in them?" she asked gently. "Your mother and brother, and most especially your father—the Fourth Hokage—will not be defeated so easily."
Her words carried the conviction of someone who had witnessed Minato's capabilities firsthand and understood the depth of his determination to protect his family.
"Yes!" Chiharu replied, the worried tension in her eyes gradually giving way to renewed confidence.
A genuine smile brightened her delicate features as she drew strength from Mei's unwavering faith in her family's abilities.
"Whoosh!"
With a graceful wave of his hand, Gaara created additional sand clouds to carry the reinforcement team skyward, their forms becoming distant specks as they raced toward the war's epicenter.
Aboard Deidara's clay bird, Sasori's normally impassive features softened into something approaching warmth as he offered Chiyo a comforting smile—an expression so rare that it seemed to transform his entire appearance.
The gesture clearly had its intended effect, as visible peace settled over Chiyo's weathered features.
"I never expected to see Sasori-senpai actually smile," Deidara commented with characteristic irreverence, though his tone carried genuine appreciation. "Besides, it looks good on you and suits you perfectly."
Almost immediately, however, Sasori's expression returned to its usual stern composure, the brief moment of vulnerability carefully concealed once again.
"Just teasing, boss," Deidara muttered with obvious disappointment. "You really don't know how to take a compliment."
Despite his complaints, he guided his clay bird to maintain formation with Gaara's sand clouds, their combined aerial convoy racing toward whatever awaited them at the headquarters.
The focus of the entire war was converging on a single point, where the fate of the ninja world would finally be decided.
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