"What… what is that?"
The retreating Allied Shinobi Forces noticed a massive disturbance behind them. Turning around, they were met with an astonishing sight.
Several colossal pillars of fire erupted from the ground, radiating immense power, as if signaling the end of the world.
As terror gripped their hearts, they were further shocked to witness Uchiha Madara's Susanoo being completely engulfed by the flames.
"Could it be…?"
Expressions of astonishment spread across their faces.
In the distance, Naruto, who was locked in battle with Obito, also noticed the scene and shouted excitedly, "As expected of Lord Bai Ye! He actually defeated Uchiha Madara!"
Killer Bee, just as thrilled, would have burst into a rap if not for the fight at hand.
"This guy…"
Obito's expression darkened.
He had acknowledged Bai Ye's strength, but never had he imagined that Bai Ye would be capable of overpowering Uchiha Madara himself.
Still, Obito remained somewhat unfazed. After all, Madara was in the state of Impure World Reincarnation, making him virtually immortal unless sealed.
But the situation was becoming increasingly dire.
If Madara were to be sealed and Bai Ye turned his attention toward him, Obito knew he would be finished.
"I need to gather all the Tailed Beasts as soon as possible and revive the Ten Tails!"
Determined, Obito intensified his assault on Naruto and Killer Bee.
Despite their considerable strength, Naruto and Killer Bee were struggling against him. Soon, Obito found an opening and reached out, ready to capture Naruto.
But in that instant—
Swish!
A figure appeared, delivering a powerful kick toward Obito.
Forced to evade, Obito phased into his Kamui dimension, narrowly avoiding the attack. This brief moment allowed Naruto to regain his footing and put some distance between them.
"Guy-sensei! Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto's face lit up in surprise upon seeing Kakashi and Might Guy arriving on the battlefield.
"Things are under control on the other side. Now let's deal with this masked man together," Kakashi declared, his sharp gaze fixed on Obito.
For some reason, this masked opponent felt strangely familiar to him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't place who it was.
"Hmph, do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
Even with Naruto, Killer Bee, Kakashi, and Guy standing together, Obito remained unfazed.
"Come forth."
Raising his arms, Obito summoned the Six Paths of Pain infused with the power of the captured Tailed Beasts.
In an instant, the battlefield plunged into chaos once more.
The Other Side of the Battlefield
As the fiery pillars dissipated, Uchiha Madara emerged once again.
Although Bai Ye's attack had incinerated Madara's form, his Impure World Reincarnation body quickly regenerated, rendering even the Flames of Hell ineffective.
"You are indeed strong. You have earned my recognition."
Even after being defeated, Madara still exuded arrogance.
"Heh, you've already lost, Uchiha Madara," Bai Ye said calmly.
"Lost? Hardly. This is not my full power."
And he was right.
At this moment, Madara still lacked his original Rinnegan, which was in Obito's possession.
Once he regained them and achieved his true resurrection, his power would skyrocket.
"But defeating me in this state is already a great accomplishment," he admitted.
Bai Ye merely shook his head, uninterested in further conversation.
Madara scoffed but didn't press the fight. The previous battle had made it clear—he wasn't Bai Ye's match, not without his Rinnegan.
Still, he had another plan.
"Summoning Jutsu: Gedo Statue!"
Madara formed hand seals and slammed his palms onto the ground.
Boom!
A towering figure materialized—the Gedo Statue, the empty husk of the Ten Tails.
The Revival of the Ten Tails
"What is that?!"
Naruto and Kakashi, engaged in combat with Obito, turned to witness the monstrous entity's arrival.
Before they could react, Obito quickly distanced himself and began forming seals.
The Gedo Statue opened its massive mouth, unleashing a powerful suction force.
In an instant, the seven captured Tailed Beasts were drawn into its gaping maw—along with a fragment of the Eight Tails and the remains of the Gold and Silver Brothers, who carried traces of the Nine Tails' chakra.
"What's happening?"
A wave of unease swept over Naruto and Kakashi as they watched the eerie transformation.
Their worst fears were confirmed when—
ROOOOAARRR!!
A titanic wave of chakra erupted from the Gedo Statue.
The Ten Tails had been revived.
Its terrifying presence sent shivers down the spines of every shinobi on the battlefield.
"What… what is that thing?!"
Sweat dripped down Naruto's face. Even without seeing it in action, he could tell—it was beyond anything they had ever faced.
"Doesn't matter what it is! Let's take it down!"
Without hesitation, Killer Bee, in his full Tailed Beast Mode, leaped into the air and launched a massive Tailed Beast Bomb at the Ten Tails.
But—
With a mere flick of its clawed fingers, the Ten Tails batted away the attack.
BOOM!
Killer Bee was caught in his own explosion and sent flying.
"Hmph, pathetic."
Standing atop the Ten Tails' head, Obito smirked as he took full control of the beast.
Just then—
The Ten Tails opened its enormous maw.
An ominous red energy orb began to condense within it.
The sheer pressure from the forming Tailed Beast Bomb made the very air tremble.
Even without knowing its exact power, every shinobi could feel the overwhelming destruction it contained.
"We can't let it fire!"
Naruto and Kakashi immediately rushed forward, but—
Too late.
The Red Tailed Beast Bomb was launched at high speed.
Its target—
The Allied Shinobi Forces' headquarters.
"NO!"
Their desperate cries were drowned out by an earth-shattering explosion.
BOOOOOM!!
The shockwave rippled for miles, obliterating everything in its path.
A massive crater, several kilometers wide, scarred the battlefield.
Horrified, the Allied Shinobi Forces watched in despair.
"What kind of monster is this…?"
For the first time, true fear took hold.
Could a power like this really be stopped?
And as if to answer their doubts—
The Ten Tails began charging another Red Tailed Beast Bomb.
This time, its target was—
Bai Ye and the remaining Allied Shinobi Forces.
"Hmph, it's over."
A sinister smirk crept onto Uchiha Madara's face as he watched the attack form.
The blast radius was enormous.
Even Bai Ye wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.
And as for Madara himself?
He was immortal. Even if he was destroyed, he would simply regenerate.
But Bai Ye… Bai Ye was not.
The decisive moment had arrived.