Whoosh!
Naruto Uzumaki teleported back to Amegakure using the Flying Thunder God Technique, and then, with Konan, he returned to the eastern seas of the Land of Fire.
Konan gazed at the vast ocean. Despite her composed demeanor, her beautiful eyes betrayed her lingering worry.
"Madara Uchiha... is he truly sealed?"
Naruto reassured her with a calm tone.
"Don't worry, Konan-nee. The Super Weighted Boulder version of Planetary Devastation is a thousand times stronger than the original. Unless he can use something like Super Light-Weighted Boulder Jutsu to counteract it or has space-time techniques like Flying Thunder God or Kamui, there's no way he can escape."
Though Naruto spoke confidently, his mind was filled with caution.
"Madara's Rinnegan ability, Limbo: Border Jail, allows him to swap places with his shadow. If Madara weren't in an Edo Tensei body but fully resurrected and had even one Rinnegan, no matter how strong my Planetary Devastation is, it wouldn't be enough to hold him."
Konan exhaled deeply, finally allowing herself to relax. During her wait in Amegakure, she had been silently praying for Naruto's safety.
Naruto, too, felt a sense of relief.
"Thankfully, I made a trip to Iwagakure and learned this secret technique. Without it, I wouldn't have had any other way to suppress Madara. Honestly, both Madara and Obito possess immense potential. In the past, their circumstances limited them, but moving forward, that may no longer be the case."
This hard-earned victory didn't bring Naruto any sense of complacency. Instead, it heightened his sense of urgency.
This urgency ignited a burning desire within him—to grow stronger.
Naruto gazed at the endless horizon, his eyes resolute.
"This is a race with no finish line. Each of us will move forward in our own way. But I will do everything I can to become the one leading the pack!"
Whoosh!
With a dramatic sweep of his cloak, Naruto set off once more.
"Let's go. We need to keep moving. Our next stop is Kirigakure. We must secure the secret technique scrolls there. Dattebayo!"
As they sprinted forward, Konan's gaze lingered on Naruto's back. Her heart was filled with hope.
"Naruto, if you are the one leading the race, then I will make sure I stand where I can always see your back."
The Akatsuki's Shattered Nest
Several hours earlier, Obito Uchiha had returned to the Akatsuki's hideout. From the White Zetsu left to guard the base, he learned what had transpired.
"Edo Tensei... The technique caster is Kabuto Yakushi, huh?"
Obito and Zetsu had recently embarked on a mission to locate Kabuto.
After discovering Kabuto's manipulation of Danzo, Obito had realized that Kabuto could pose a significant threat in the future and wanted to eliminate him preemptively.
What he hadn't expected was for his prediction to come true so quickly.
Beneath his white mask, Obito's eyes glimmered darkly.
"One Naruto Uzumaki is already troublesome enough. And now Madara is back too?"
White Zetsu broke the silence.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"First, we move the hideout. Send your clones to track Madara's movements as much as possible."
Obito hoisted the severely injured Sasuke Uchiha onto his shoulder and absorbed him into the swirling vortex of Kamui.
He muttered to himself,
"Still, it's surprising that Madara didn't take Sasuke's eyes, even though they were right there for the taking."
After relocating to a new hideout, Obito anxiously awaited news from Zetsu.
Finally, Zetsu delivered a bombshell report.
"On the eastern seas of the Land of Fire, Madara fought Naruto... and lost."
Obito remained silent for a long time before asking,
"Was Madara's Edo Tensei body destroyed?"
Zetsu shook his head.
"Apparently not. He was sealed at the bottom of the ocean using Planetary Devastation."
Obito pondered this revelation.
"Planetary Devastation is powerful, but it shouldn't be enough to trap Madara. What else did Naruto do?"
Zetsu replied,
"I don't know. Their movements are hard to track. The only reason I found out about this was because their battle caused such a massive disturbance."
He added,
"However, before fighting Madara, Naruto reportedly visited Iwagakure and obtained some secret technique scrolls from Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage."
Obito's eyes narrowed in thought.
"First the secret techniques from Kumogakure, and now Iwagakure. It seems Naruto is adept at combining these diverse techniques with Sage Mode and the Rinnegan's abilities, pushing them to new heights."
Zetsu asked,
"So, what's the next move?"
Obito analyzed the situation.
"Naruto fought Madara in the eastern seas of the Land of Fire. That's the direct route to the Land of Water. Kirigakure, huh? I think I know what he's planning."
Obito stood and walked toward the wall.
"Allowing Naruto to continue growing will only make things spiral further out of control. For now, Madara can be set aside."
He slung Madara's iconic war fan onto his back, his gaze deep and ominous.
"Kirigakure... the Bloody Mist Village. How nostalgic. That's where I'll end things with Naruto."
A Wall Away
Unbeknownst to Obito, Sasuke Uchiha had awakened and overheard his conversation with Zetsu.
Sasuke's entire body trembled.
"Naruto... defeated Madara Uchiha? Are you kidding me? That suffocating monster was beaten by him alone!?"
The massive psychological blow left Sasuke on the verge of losing control.
Naturally, he recalled Black Zetsu's earlier suggestion.
"If you want to gain greater power, go to Kabuto Yakushi."
Later That Night
Wrapped in bandages, a figure landed on the surface of the ocean where Madara and Naruto had fought.
It was Mū, the Second Tsuchikage, controlled by Kabuto Yakushi.
After surveying the area, Mū dove into the ocean.
As he descended, the crushing water pressure began to break down his Edo Tensei body.
"Earth Style: Hardening Jutsu!"
"Earth Style: Super Weighted Boulder Jutsu!"
By first hardening his body and then greatly increasing his weight and density, Mū successfully reached the ocean floor. There, he found the massive Planetary Devastation sphere buried in the seabed.
"Thankfully, this sphere is so heavy that even ocean currents can't move it. Its position hasn't shifted, making it easy to locate."
Kabuto, controlling Mū, smirked inwardly.
"Madara, after your recent defeat, it's time to settle down and serve as my pawn."
Landing on the Planetary Devastation, Mū formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Super Light-Weighted Boulder Jutsu!"
Buzz!
The weight of the Planetary Devastation sphere drastically decreased.
Crack! Crack!
Fissures began to appear immediately.
From within the sphere, Madara Uchiha, encased in his Susano'o, broke free.
Before Kabuto could react, Madara's hand shot out and clutched Mū's throat.
Madara's Rinnegan glowed coldly as he sneered.
"I've had enough of that sealing technique. Now, give me your jutsu."
"Preta Path!"
Gurgle!
Mū's chakra flowed into Madara's hand as cracks spread across his Edo Tensei body.
Sensing danger, Kabuto severed his connection to Mū.
"Human Path!"
Madara extracted Mū's memories and soul in an instant. With the Edo Tensei undone, Mū's sacrificial body was crushed by the ocean pressure.
Back on the ocean's surface, Madara formed hand seals.
"A word of advice to the caster: forbidden techniques shouldn't be used recklessly."
"Edo Tensei: Release!"
Crack!
Miles away, Kabuto was dumbfounded.
"He... he can release himself from Edo Tensei!?"
On the ocean, Madara reflected on his battle with Naruto.
"That Naruto Uzumaki... to manipulate Planetary Devastation in such a way, he's no ordinary brat. Though my own arrogance played a part, I can't deny his exceptional combat instincts."
Madara clenched his trembling hand.
"Hmph. My body trembles—not from fear, but from excitement. Hahaha! Yes, this is how a ninja should be!"
Lowering his hand, Madara surveyed the vast ocean.
"When I first awakened the Rinnegan, I barely had time to explore its potential before giving it to Nagato. For now, I'll find a place to fully master its abilities, including the Six Paths."
With that, Madara vanished into the night.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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