The ancient mountain range stretched endlessly in all directions, its peaks forming a natural circular barrier around what had once been pristine wilderness. Now, the vast expanse of land—easily more than ten kilometers in diameter—lay completely devastated, transformed into a hellscape that defied comprehension.
Craters large enough to swallow entire villages dotted the landscape like meteors had fallen from the heavens. Shattered rock formations jutted from the earth at impossible angles, while deep fissures split the ground in spider-web patterns that seemed to pulse with residual chakra energy.
The steady drizzle that had begun earlier continued to fall, its droplets hissing as they struck superheated stone and slowly washing away the smoke that rose from countless points of destruction. The rain seemed almost apologetic, as if nature itself was attempting to heal wounds that transcended the physical realm.
"BOOM!"
Another earth-shaking collision erupted as the two mountain-sized giants crashed together with force that seemed to challenge the very foundations of reality. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward in concentric circles, each wave strong enough to level forests and redirect rivers.
The entire world trembled in response to their battle.
Sasuke's complete Susanoo was forced backward by the tremendous impact, its ethereal feet carving a series of massive trenches as it struggled to maintain balance. From an aerial perspective, each footstep left craters that resembled the aftermath of meteorite strikes, speaking to the incredible forces at play.
After finally stabilizing his construct's footing, Sasuke stared at the Wood Human before him with grim determination, though red veins had begun to appear in his eyes—evidence of the tremendous strain required to maintain perfect Susanoo for extended periods.
The mathematical reality of their situation was becoming increasingly clear. Even when Madara had possessed complete mastery of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and controlled the Nine-Tails as his personal weapon, he had still ultimately fallen to the First Hokage's overwhelming power.
Despite having truly awakened his eyes' potential and gained access to abilities that surpassed his previous limitations, Sasuke understood that victory in this particular confrontation remained frustratingly unlikely.
"When I truly comprehend the magnitude of power at this level," he thought grimly, his gaze shifting momentarily to survey the other ongoing battle.
The conflict between Minato and Madara was even more intense than his own struggle. The Fourth Hokage moved like liquid lightning, his form blurring between positions as he launched devastating attacks enhanced by natural energy. Each strike carried enough force to push back Madara's perfect Susanoo, creating displays of power that transcended normal human comprehension.
Even with his enhanced ocular abilities, Sasuke couldn't detect the Limbo clones operating in the invisible world—a sobering reminder of just how many layers of complexity existed in battles between truly legendary opponents.
When his attention returned to his immediate situation, he caught sight of Naruto sitting cross-legged at the base of the Gedo Statue. His enhanced vision immediately analyzed the chakra flow patterns within his rival's body, revealing the precise nature of what was occurring.
"Naruto is gathering Sage chakra, but the power he possesses now is far less than what the Nine-Tails provided before," Sasuke realized with growing concern.
"What exactly is that idiot planning?!" he muttered through gritted teeth as the Wood Human's next attack forced him to abandon his analysis and focus entirely on defense.
At the feet of the towering Gedo Statue, Naruto's eyes suddenly snapped open.
Having successfully entered perfect Sage Mode, he examined his hands with genuine surprise, as if seeing them for the first time. The transformation was more profound than he had anticipated—every cell in his body seemed to thrum with natural energy, creating sensations of power and clarity that exceeded his previous experiences.
Slowly clenching his palms into fists, Naruto felt the immense force of senjutsu chakra flowing through his system like molten gold. The sensation was intoxicating, offering capabilities that seemed to transcend his normal limitations.
Previously, maintaining Sage Mode had required tremendous expenditure of his personal chakra to suppress the seal within his body, severely limiting the technique's effectiveness. The constant internal struggle between his power and the Nine-Tails' influence had created inefficiencies that prevented him from achieving true mastery.
But this time, something fundamental had changed. Just as during his previous confrontation with the Nine-Tails when he had broken the seal entirely, his chakra was now flowing completely unrestricted.
The seal within his body remained silent and inactive, while the Nine-Tails' energy showed no signs of interfering with his technique. The absence of that constant internal pressure allowed his natural abilities to flourish in ways he had never experienced.
"Thank you," Naruto said softly, his words carrying genuine gratitude despite the fox's inability to hear them directly.
He understood instinctively that this sudden surge in senjutsu effectiveness was the result of Kurama's deliberate cooperation. The Nine-Tails had chosen to withdraw its disruptive influence, allowing Naruto to access his full potential.
"What can you possibly accomplish with such minimal power?" came Kurama's contemptuous voice from within the seal, though Naruto detected an undertone that suggested the fox's disdain wasn't entirely genuine.
The ancient entity knew that Naruto, now enhanced by perfect Sage Mode, would be able to perceive the true magnitude of the gap between his abilities and the Gedo Statue's overwhelming presence.
Naruto's azure eyes slowly lifted to focus on the massive construct looming above him, and strange colors began to swirl within their depths as his enhanced perception analyzed what he faced.
Under the influence of his senjutsu, the most immediate sensation was comparable to standing before a raging ocean during a hurricane. The Gedo Statue didn't merely contain power—it was power, a living embodiment of forces that dwarfed individual human capabilities.
With his current strength, affecting such a creature seemed as impossible as stopping a tsunami with bare hands.
Yet despite this overwhelming disparity, Naruto felt no inclination toward retreat or despair. His determination remained as solid as bedrock, unshaken by the mathematical impossibility of his situation.
His motivation extended beyond simple heroism. While rescuing the Tailed Beasts aligned with his moral convictions—he genuinely understood their suffering and desired their freedom—the tactical benefits were equally compelling.
If he succeeded in extracting the captured Tailed Beasts from the statue's body, he would simultaneously weaken their enemies' ultimate weapon while potentially gaining powerful allies. Even combined with Kushina's considerable abilities, their current strength was insufficient to defeat the Gedo Statue through direct confrontation.
"BANG! BANG!"
Naruto's hands moved through familiar seal formations as he created two shadow clones, their forms materializing with the enhanced stability that perfect Sage Mode provided.
Swish!
Both duplicates launched themselves toward the Gedo Statue's massive form, their movements coordinated with the precision that came from shared consciousness and unified purpose.
Within moments, they had landed on the creature's left and right shoulders, positioning themselves for the next phase of Naruto's desperate plan.
"BANG!"
The original Naruto suddenly pressed his palms together in a gesture that seemed to channel every ounce of his focused intent.
"Mom!" he called out sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos of the ongoing battles.
Kushina understood immediately, her maternal instincts and combat experience allowing her to anticipate his needs without detailed explanation. She pushed her chakra output to its absolute limits, dark golden light beginning to flow along the surfaces of her binding chains like liquid starlight.
"ROAR!"
As the restraints tightened with increased force, the Gedo Statue bellowed in frustration and pain, its massive form struggling against bonds that seemed to burn with righteous fury.
"I'm going to do it!" Naruto announced, his eyes blazing with determination that seemed to illuminate the surrounding darkness.
The two shadow clones positioned on the statue's shoulders moved with synchronized precision, racing toward the creature's head as it threw back its skull to release another earth-shaking roar.
In a display of timing that bordered on the impossible, both clones leaped directly into the statue's gaping maw as its jaws began to close, their hands grasping the creature's upper jaw with desperate strength.
By preventing the Gedo Statue from fully closing its mouth, they created a narrow window of opportunity that their original would need to exploit with perfect precision.
"This insane child," Kurama's voice echoed within Naruto's consciousness, the ancient fox's tone carrying genuine shock at the audacity of the plan he was witnessing.
"HAH!"
Naruto's true form gathered almost every available ounce of his senjutsu chakra, concentrating the natural energy into a construct of pure azure light. The chakra claw that manifested was unlike anything he had created before—refined by perfect Sage Mode and enhanced by the Nine-Tails' cooperation, it possessed both incredible power and supernatural precision.
The construct moved faster than human reflexes could track, appearing at the gap between his two clones almost instantaneously before extending directly into the Gedo Statue's mouth.
"Success!" Naruto exclaimed, a brief smile crossing his features as the first phase of his plan achieved its objective.
He had understood from the beginning that attempting to compete directly with the statue's power through brute force would be suicidal. Instead, he had devised a method for extracting the Tailed Beasts' chakra without making physical contact with the creature's exterior defenses.
This indirect approach offered significantly better chances of success than any frontal assault could provide.
However, the Gedo Statue was far from passive in its response. Recognizing the threat posed by Naruto's technique, it began applying tremendous pressure with its jaws, attempting to crush the shadow clones that were preventing it from sealing its mouth completely.
The clones were never intended to maintain their position indefinitely—their chakra reserves were limited, and the forces acting against them were increasing exponentially.
"SWISH!"
At that critical moment, another of Kushina's chakra chains erupted from her position, this one larger and more complex than those she had used previously. The golden construct wrapped around the statue's massive torso before coiling around its neck from behind, the binding pattern forming a configuration that seemed to pulse with sealing formulas.
With a sharp jerk that demonstrated her incredible physical strength, Kushina forced the Gedo Statue's head upward, making it difficult for the creature to apply its full jaw pressure against the struggling clones.
Taking advantage of this tactical opening, Naruto extended his chakra claw deeper into the statue's interior. The construct's structure was fundamentally different from that of ordinary living beings—he encountered no organs, meridians, or other biological obstacles that might impede his exploration.
His enhanced senjutsu perception guided him through the creature's internal spaces, searching for the distinctive energy signatures that would indicate the locations of the imprisoned Tailed Beasts.
Soon after beginning his search, his chakra detected something that made his consciousness recoil with sympathetic pain. The power signature was unmistakable—tremendous, ancient, and filled with barely contained rage.
Moving his ethereal claw without hesitation, Naruto made contact with the trapped energy source.
The moment their essences touched, he felt heat comparable to flowing magma surge through his spiritual connection. His consciousness seemed to merge temporarily with something vast and furious, creating a communication channel that transcended normal speech.
A deep, rumbling voice filled his mind: "Who are you?"
Naruto responded immediately, his mental voice carrying all the conviction he could muster: "I'm here to rescue you. Grab onto my chakra and I'll pull you free."
"Rescue me?" The rumbling voice carried profound shock, as if the concept was so foreign that it required careful consideration.
Then, with growing recognition: "This chakra signature... are you the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki?"
Before Naruto could respond, a familiar and distinctly impatient voice interrupted their exchange:
"Four-Tails, why are you wasting time with unnecessary questions? Hurry up and grab this kid's chakra!"
It was unmistakably Kurama, his tone carrying the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed by his fellow Tailed Beasts.
"NINE-TAILS!"
The rumbling voice suddenly became high-pitched with fury, ancient grievances clearly still burning despite their current circumstances.
But before any argument could develop, Naruto heard additional voices joining the conversation—each distinct in tone and personality, yet all carrying the same desperate hope:
"Now is not the time for old grudges," came a measured, almost scholarly voice. "Since this human has successfully projected chakra into the statue's body, this may represent our only opportunity for escape."
"Four-Tails," added another voice, this one carrying feminine authority, "you don't want to be absorbed by this creature like some common chakra battery, do you?"
"Enough talking," snapped yet another voice, filled with barely controlled violence. "Either we act now, or we accept eternal imprisonment."
The cascade of different vocal styles and personalities left Naruto momentarily stunned, but understanding quickly followed. These were the voices of all the Tailed Beasts trapped within the Gedo Statue's body—his siblings in suffering, each one a unique individual with their own hopes, fears, and desperate desire for freedom.