"Universal Pull..."
From the distance, Sako's pupils shrank. Her Mangekyō Sharingan transformed into Rinnegan as she stretched out her hand and shouted.
Despite the distance, her power was enough to pull one of the fire dragons off course, creating an opening for Kakashi to escape Uchiha Madara's Fire Style attack.
Seizing the opportunity, Kakashi pushed himself to his limit, narrowly avoiding the deadly assault.
"The black rods... They're the same weapons Tendo Pain used to disrupt Jinchūriki chakra!"
Recalling the battle between Pain and Naruto, Kakashi immediately recognized the nature of the black rods and muttered gravely.
"Weapons that disrupt Jinchūriki chakra?"
Sako landed beside Kakashi, her eyes fixed on Uchiha Madara. Her voice was cold yet sharp.
"That's indeed troublesome. His left eye's Mangekyō Sharingan ability can divert attacks, as we just saw. He even switches between Mangekyō and the Byakugan effortlessly, making sneak attacks nearly impossible.
Kakashi-sensei, did your trial just now yield any results?"
Kakashi exhaled heavily, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning as he prepared to extract Tsunade from the Kamui dimension.
"Yes. I now understand why my Kamui attack's position shifted earlier.
Fifth Hokage, let me release Master Tsunade first, then we can strategize."
Before Kakashi could act, the space near Sako began to distort. In the blink of an eye, Tsunade materialized beside her.
"No need, Kakashi. I'm already out."
Tsunade's voice was steady, her gaze shifting between the group. Her pupils, now bearing the Kamui Mangekyō Sharingan pattern, caught everyone's attention.
"Tsunade-sama! You... You have the Mangekyō Sharingan too?!" Sako exclaimed, her thoughts racing.
Even Kakashi, usually composed, was momentarily stunned by this revelation.
"Naruto gave it to me," Tsunade explained briefly, her voice firm. "There's no time for a detailed explanation. Kakashi, share your findings."
Kakashi nodded and began his analysis.
"No jutsu or technique is flawless. I suspect Uchiha Madara's abilities have limitations, likely involving a cooldown or time restriction.
During our earlier exchange, he didn't immediately activate his counterattack but waited to retaliate after blocking ours.
This delay suggests his technique requires a specific interval before being used again.
However, there's troubling news: his attack speed is extraordinary, and physical attacks seem ineffective, as though his body is unreal.
Given his speed and resilience, our best option is to exploit the gap in his technique to counterattack after enduring his assault."
Kakashi's voice was serious, his expression tense as he considered the situation.
"A time limit, huh? That makes sense," Sako agreed, her Rinnegan glowing faintly as she processed the information.
Tsunade straightened her posture, determination evident on her face. "If that's the case, we'll strike during that gap. Summoning Technique!"
With a quick motion, she bit her thumb, performed the seals, and summoned a calf-sized Katsuyu. The slug immediately split into smaller versions, one moving to Kakashi and the other toward Sako.
"I don't need it!"
Sako's voice was firm as golden chakra ignited around her, transforming into the radiant Kurama Mode. Her aura intensified, and her appearance changed as the full power of the Nine Tails surged through her.
"This... This is..."
Shikamaru, arriving on the battlefield, froze in shock. Unlike the others, he could sense the true depth of Sako's transformation—she had fully synchronized with the Nine Tails' chakra.
"Nine Tails Mode?! Naruto, what did you do this time..." Tsunade muttered under her breath, her eyes widening before narrowing in thought.
Kakashi, on the other hand, could only watch enviously. "Sako's Kurama Mode... It's leagues beyond my chakra capacity. In a battle like this, I'm at my limit."
Hovering above the battlefield, Uchiha Madara observed Sako with a mixture of intrigue and shock.
"Another fragment of the Nine Tails? No, this feels identical to the original.
Has Naruto Uzumaki perished, or is this... a second, complete Nine Tails?"
His expression darkened before he dismissed his doubts with a wave of his hand.
"It doesn't matter.
The Rinnegan and the Nine Tails—both will be mine!"
After being stunned for a moment, Uchiha Madara's eyes locked onto Sako with even greater greed, and he shouted excitedly.
"The Second Generation Nine-Tails Jinchūriki... Sako, your value far surpasses that of the First Hokage's Second Generation Nine-Tails!"
"Universal Pull..."
Sako stretched out her hand, and the Chakra-infused black rods piercing Ino and Chōji were instantly pulled out.
Freed from the restraints, the two, now empowered by the Nine-Tails' Chakra, quickly regained their combat strength and flashed to Sako's side.
"Ino, Chōji, you heard Kakashi-sensei's analysis earlier. The three of us will force him to use that special technique. Fifth Hokage and Kakashi-sensei, you'll wait for the opportunity to strike! Tsunade-sama, get ready with medical support."
Shikamaru, standing nearby, had also heard Kakashi's information. Extending his hand, he connected his shadow to Ino and Chōji, speaking in a composed yet firm voice.
Shikamaru knew well the positioning of the Ino–Shika–Chō formation. Even with the power of the Nine-Tails backing them, their offensive abilities were limited against a foe like Madara. However, as support, their skills were invaluable.
"Ino, Chōji, prepare yourselves."
"Understood!" both responded, unleashing the Nine-Tails' Chakra and forming hand seals swiftly.
Sako and Kakashi exchanged a glance, silently coordinating their respective techniques. Tsunade stood behind them, ready to back up their efforts with her healing prowess.
Despite their enhanced powers, Tsunade couldn't shake her worry. She summoned small Katsuyu slugs for Ino, Chōji, and Shikamaru as an added layer of protection.
'Shikamaru… you truly have the potential to become Hokage one day,' Sako thought to herself, silently impressed by his ability to analyze and adapt to the battlefield.
"Six against one, huh? Resorting to numbers now, are we?" Uchiha Madara sneered. "If that's the case… Wood Clone Technique!"
Realizing their plan, Madara stretched out his hands. With a loud command, the earth around him erupted as 18 wooden clones emerged, each infused with his Chakra.
Unlike standard Shadow Clones, these Wood Clones were far more durable and powerful.
Each clone activated Susanoo, surrounding themselves with its protective armor while enhancing their offensive capabilities.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The Wood Clones moved swiftly, dividing their targets. Three clones each engaged Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji. Kakashi and Tsunade faced a similar onslaught.
The remaining three clones, along with Madara himself, focused their attacks on Sako.
"Troublesome..." Shikamaru muttered, his face dark as he observed the three towering Susanoo-covered clones advancing toward him. "If this keeps up, the battle's aftermath will completely destroy Konoha..."
Although Shikamaru was concerned for the village, he wasn't worried about his own safety. Empowered by the Nine-Tails' Chakra, he was confident in his defensive capabilities.
"Damn it... It's Grandpa's Wood Style!" Tsunade exclaimed, her eyes narrowing at the 18 clones. "Madara's even mastered that..."
Sako clenched her fists, assessing the dire situation. 'We have no choice... I'll have to blast them away in one move.'
Taking a deep breath, she began to charge her Shinra Tensei, aiming to expel the clones from the battlefield and prevent further destruction to Konoha.
"Uchiha Sako… I've already seen through the flow of your Chakra!" Madara taunted, his Mangekyō Sharingan shifting to a Byakugan-like state.
With a flick of his wrist, several black Chakra rods materialized and hurtled toward Sako with incredible speed.
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