Without the help of Ibuse, Hanzō could only struggle to survive against Orochimaru.
After just a few more exchanges, half of his body was blown apart by Orochimaru. He crashed to the ground, his body slowly regenerating.
"How is this possible?!"
Hanzō roared in disbelief, his voice hoarse and crazed.
He couldn't accept that the opponent he had once crushed so easily could now overpower him like this.
The Kenjutsu he had once prided himself on was nothing more than a joke in front of Orochimaru.
"Accept your fate!"
"Your era ended a long time ago."
"Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Snake Limbs!"
Orochimaru suddenly thrust out his right hand, and from the wide sleeves of his robe, several pythons shot out, wrapping tightly around Hanzō.
"Summoning Jutsu."
A moment later, a giant snake emerged, swallowing Hanzō whole before sealing him away in its stomach.
"Pathetic."
Chiyo cursed as she saw Orochimaru approaching her.
She, too, was reaching her limit.
"Go join your old rival."
"Wood Release: Smothering Binding Technique!"
Seizing the moment when Chiyo was distracted, Tsunade slammed her foot into the ground. A powerful shockwave sent the incoming puppets flying.
At the same time, she quickly formed a hand seal, and thick branches shot out from the surrounding forest, wrapping around Chiyo and binding her completely.
"All done."
Orochimaru's summoned snake opened its mouth once more, swallowing Chiyo whole before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.
"Nice work."
"Now get over here and help!"
Jiraiya, though pushed back by Kinkaku, was grinning.
Compared to Hanzō and Chiyo, Kinkaku and Ginkaku were on an entirely different level—strong enough to have once taken down Tobirama Senju.
At this moment, the two brothers were completely enveloped in crimson Tailed Beast chakra, their every attack stronger than before.
"A bunch of reckless brats."
"Die!"
Ginkaku roared, clashing blades with Fugaku before retreating a few steps and swinging the Bashōsen fan.
A massive wave of flames erupted from it, surging toward Tsunade and the others, engulfing them in an inferno.
With the power of Tailed Beast chakra, the Bashōsen was operating at full strength.
"Uchiha Return."
Fugaku smirked, unfazed by the incoming flames.
He swung the Gunbai Uchiwa with force, and in an instant, the flames were not only repelled but sent hurtling back even faster than before.
With the added boost from Wind Release, their power became even more overwhelming.
"What?!"
Kinkaku and Ginkaku barely had time to react before the flames consumed them entirely.
A pair of agonized howls rang out, sharp enough to pierce through the roar of the fire.
Then, from within the raging inferno, two massive chakra surges exploded outward.
Within the flames, two towering figures emerged—each with six tails extending behind them.
"They've transformed into Tailed Beasts. Let's join forces and seal them."
"Gate of View, open!"
Tsunade activated the sixth gate of the Eight Inner Gates, her chakra surging exponentially. With a slight movement of her wings, she vanished from sight.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a burst of smoke, Gamabunta appeared beneath Jiraiya. Sage Mode markings crept across his face.
"Susanoo."
With a low growl, Fugaku summoned a black Susanoo that enveloped his body.
Now able to wield his Mangekyō Sharingan freely, Fugaku activated Susanoo to its full power. For the first time, the oppressive might of the fully formed black Susanoo was on full display, its colossal figure slowly rising into the air.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Orochimaru's mastery of Wood Release wasn't yet enough to use True Several Thousand Hands, but given the situation, the Wood Human was sufficient.
The massive wooden construct, coiled with a Wood Dragon, shook the ground with every step it took.
Yet, despite the overwhelming attack from all four, Kinkaku and Ginkaku—now fully transformed into Tailed Beasts—showed no fear.
"I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU ALL!!!"
The brothers roared in unison, charging out of the flames.
Their six tails lashed out at incredible speed, striking toward the four attackers.
"I admire your courage," Tsunade said as she dodged nimbly, weaving past the tails.
Boom!
The moment she spoke, her devastating punch slammed into Kinkaku's abdomen.
With her immense strength, the Tailed Beast cloak, and the power of the Eight Gates combined, the sheer force of the strike was terrifying.
Kinkaku's massive body curled up in pain, his monstrous face contorted in agony.
He was sent flying backward uncontrollably—until he suddenly stopped midair.
"Get back here."
Orochimaru manipulated the Wood Human to grab hold of Kinkaku's tail, yanking him back toward Tsunade.
"Good timing."
Tsunade didn't waste time with words. In an instant, she unleashed a flurry of rapid attacks, each one slamming into Kinkaku with crushing force.
Even Orochimaru winced at the sight.
"Big Brother!!"
Ginkaku rushed to help—but forgot his own predicament.
A single sweep from the fully formed Susanoo cleaved his tails clean off.
A second slash shook the earth itself.
If Ginkaku had been even a fraction slower, recovering from that strike would have taken much longer.
Before he could react, Jiraiya was already in position.
"Sage Art: Fire Release—Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
A combined attack with Gamabunta, enhanced by Senjutsu chakra—its power was extraordinary.
Fueled by oil, the flames spread rapidly, engulfing Ginkaku and the surrounding area.
"AHHH—!!!"
Unlike ordinary fire release, the oil-fed flames clung to Ginkaku, setting his entire body ablaze.
His Tailed Beast chakra was being burned away at an alarming rate, and the searing pain reached unbearable levels.
Thud! Thud!
Two heavy crashes followed.
Kinkaku, now returned to his human form, lay motionless, his body slowly regenerating from the Edo Tensei.
Before he could rise again, Orochimaru's Wood Human clenched him in its massive hand, leaving him powerless to resist.
Ginkaku fared even worse—Susanoo had sliced him cleanly into three pieces. Even after several moments, he had yet to fully regenerate.
Neither of them had expected to be beaten this badly.
Had the shinobi of this era become this powerful?
Had the legendary Kumo brothers really fallen this easily?
Seeing their defeat, Jiraiya canceled the summoning and sent Gamabunta back to Mount Myōboku.
"Seal them up, and we're done here."
Tsunade deactivated her enhancements, dusting off her cloak with a casual elegance.
"Understood."
Jiraiya moved to Ginkaku, unrolling a sealing scroll and securing him inside.
At the same time, Orochimaru dismissed his Wood Human and sealed away Kinkaku.
"What about the Five-Tails?"
Susanoo loomed over Kokuō, who now stood frozen in fear.
As Fugaku peered down at it from Susanoo's head, Kokuō swallowed nervously.
There was no way it could withstand even a few slashes from that massive black warrior.
"If you know what's good for you, get inside."
"If not... well, you know how this ends."
Tsunade tossed a sealing jar at Kokuō's feet, a cold smirk on her face.
"I understand! I understand!"
Having already suffered at Kawakaze's hands before, Kokuō was in no mood to resist.
Without waiting for anyone to force it, the beast obediently shrank down and sealed itself inside the jar.
"Haha! This guy actually knows what's up."
Fugaku withdrew the massive black blade that had been pressed against Kokuō's forehead and dispelled Susanoo.
The mission to protect the Five-Tails was now complete.
While they laughed and talked amongst themselves, in some distant corner, Madara was consumed by rage.
"USELESS! ALL OF THEM ARE USELESS!"
…