"Madara," Hiroki said, "I suppose right now you're only alive thanks to Black Zetsu..."
Body Replacement Technique—Thousand Paper Cranes activated, and Hiroki immediately appeared beside Madara Uchiha.
Madara Uchiha's expression looked somewhat unusual.
"Becoming the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails, then being forced to lose it—most ordinary ninja would have died already."
What Hiroki said was indeed close to reality. Madara abandoning the Ten-Tails had been a last-ditch survival move.
Right now, he had living flesh and blood again, no longer an Impure World Reincarnation body.
He could finally use his full strength again, but there were downsides.
Flesh and blood had unavoidable human limits.
Other Jinchuriki would die from losing their beast, yet he somehow pulled through.
Luckily, Black Zetsu was a product of Yin-Yang Release—it was far more durable than he was.
Madara Uchiha glanced at his surroundings.
The Akatsuki Organization members were being controlled by Tsunade and her ninja forces, lined up to be fed to the Ten-Tails.
Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha were being held by that woman.
As for those White Zetsu, they could only mess around at the edge; not worth even looking at.
Madara couldn't help inwardly sighing at how unreliable his teammates were.
He pitied Naruto and Sasuke's fate, yet he was furious at their lack of fight.
Those two had every advantage—yet achieved practically nothing? Didn't even manage to land a single hit?
If it had been me, I'd have long since fought them head-on!
Guess I've got no choice but to do it myself again!
Madara sighed inwardly and murmured softly—to himself, but meant for Black Zetsu to hear. "Black Zetsu, let's act together..."
"...What?" Black Zetsu spoke slowly, sounding hesitant.
"Use Wood Release!"
"...Fine!"
[Wood Release: Garden of Life Rebirth!]
Hearing that familiar technique name, Tsunade paused in surprise and turned her gaze toward the sound.
"Did he obtain Grandfather's power?"
Immediately, countless branches erupted abruptly from the ground. New shoots gradually grew on the trunks, the branches thickened and stretched upward.
A forest had already emerged.
Everyone's figures were blocked from view.
Only the huge Ten-Tails' silhouette remained visible.
Hiroki activated Byakugan, darting between trees while scanning in all directions.
Seeing the chaos he created, Madara felt slightly satisfied.
At this moment, Black Zetsu suddenly spoke up, sounding weary. "Madara, let's go. Let's leave this painful place..."
Madara gave a displeased frown.
Of all times, why such cheesy drama now...
Still, he thought carefully for a moment.
Leave, or not leave?
Leaving made him seem cowardly...
Not leaving, yet unable to find a way to turn the battle around anytime soon...
"If you won't go, I will!" Black Zetsu spoke again.
"Huh? Did he escape? So using Wood Release was just for running away..." came Hiroki's slightly puzzled voice, reaching his ears.
"..."
Without waiting for Madara's approval, Black Zetsu took control of his body and quietly vanished into the distance.
After glancing in a certain direction, Hiroki smiled slightly, stepped back slowly from the forest, and returned to Kaguya's side.
"Don't worry. As long as he's still with Black Zetsu, I can find him," Kaguya said, shifting her gaze toward Naruto and Sasuke she held in her grasp.
"All of this began with Hayato. He can no longer keep hiding from me. Hayato, come see me yourself..."
"Let us go, and I'll take you to Hayato," Sasuke immediately replied upon hearing her words.
Once freed from this woman's control, he would find a way to act accordingly. He thought to himself.
Kaguya smiled coldly. "He will make the choice. It is not you, but Madara Uchiha."
Sasuke felt confused, unsure of her true intentions.
Hiroki took Naruto from Kaguya's hand and smiled as he spoke:
"Naruto-kun, if you give up the Nine-Tails, I'll bring you to meet your Father. How does that sound?"
"What?" Naruto was taken aback and turned his head toward Hiroki.
"I know where Minato Namikaze has gone. I can take you to him too, as long as you're willing to cooperate."
Hiroki continued smiling.
"You've got way too much on your plate, Naruto-kun. Is what you're doing now really what your heart desires? Did those people ever give you warmth or happiness? Is it really worth sacrificing yourself for them?"
Think carefully, Naruto-kun. Why do you regard us as enemies? Your entire life before this has been one of manipulation."
Naruto drifted into memories.
In his mind arose those joyful times, and the people who had shown him warmth...
Master Jiraiya, the Frogs, Father...
But they were either dead or gone...
"The people I cherished... they're all dead! Killed by you people!"
Fury and sorrow appeared on Naruto's face as he roared at Hiroki.
"But bringing back the dead is impossible. Killing us won't change that fate. That's why, you should cherish those who remain... don't you think?" Hiroki replied calmly.
Still filled with anger, Naruto's body trembled.
Those people… those people… you killed them!
"Enough. My patience has run out," Kaguya glanced at the sky, then turned to Tsunade, giving orders:
"Tsunade, take the Akatsuki Organization and everyone else and leave. This place no longer needs you."
Upon hearing this, the Ten-Tails voluntarily loosened its mouth and stopped extracting chakra from the Akatsuki members.
Tsunade led them away.
Other ninja and injured comrades followed in her footsteps.
Soon, the forest created earlier by [Garden of Life Rebirth] slowly withered without the maintenance of chakra.
On this ravaged land, only Kaguya, Hiroki, Sasuke, and Naruto remained.
The Ten-Tails stood quietly nearby, awaiting commands.
"Let's go."
At the same time, Hiroki and Kaguya approached the Ten-Tails, leaped upward, and stepped upon its enormous head.
With a loose grip, the two tossed Naruto and Sasuke downward.
Kaguya's expression remained indifferent as she murmured softly to herself.
"It seems he chose the other Uchiha!"
"If you must hate someone, blame Hayato! He abandoned your lives. He forced you to bear responsibilities you should never have carried. He spread hatred into your hearts!"
"As for me, there are very few people I truly care about. But since you insist on listening to him, then suffer the consequences accordingly."
"This fate... you both deserve it!"
The Ten-Tails opened its mouth, beginning to siphon the chakra from both of them.
Even though he was floating in midair and hadn't physically touched the Ten-Tails, Sasuke felt his body grow numb—powerless as his strength was slowly drawn away.
From the corner of his eye, he could see the pain etched across Naruto's face. Straining his eyes wide open and gritting his teeth, Sasuke screamed internally.
Come on—move now!
[Amenotejikara]! Move already!
Move for me!
"...I give up!"
Naruto's bitter, hoarse voice rang in their ears. He stammered on, his tone desperate with pleas:
"I give up the Nine-Tails!"
"Please let us go!"
"...If that won't work, at least let Sasuke go."
"You just want the Tailed Beast's chakra, right? His doesn't even matter! Please… let him go…"
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