On the battlefield, the pressure from Li Xing's punches had incapacitated most of the ninjas. Apart from Tsunade and Mei Terumi, the other three Kage were locked in a fierce battle with Obito.
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi was there to help, otherwise, these individuals wouldn't have been able to contend with Obito.
Sasuke, after being stabbed by Madara, lay on the ground, his fate uncertain. Sheng Hua rushed to Sasuke's side, recalling their past battles and their narrow escape from the Eight-Tails.
"Is this what that little girl meant by 'bonds'?"
Sheng Hua then placed his hand on Sasuke and transferred his own life force to him. The feeling of sacrificing oneself to save others was something one couldn't truly understand without experiencing it.
Orochimaru and Suigetsu also arrived, noticing Tobirama's disheveled state but paying him no mind. Instead, they watched Sheng Hua save Sasuke.
"Give Hashirama's cells to Sasuke!" Orochimaru produced a White Zetsu. It was one of the Zetsus previously extracted from Sasuke. Three were used for Edo Tensei, one for his own reanimation, and one was used by Suigetsu to restore his body. There was precisely one left.
As a researcher under Orochimaru, Sheng Hua was well aware of Hashirama's cells. He absorbed the White Zetsu and injected it into Sasuke's body.
After completing his task, Sheng Hua's consciousness began to fade. However, a rare smile appeared on his face. "Mother, I think I understand how you felt then. I'm coming to see you..."
...
Meanwhile, in Kamui's dimension, Obito transferred some of the captured Tailed Beast chakra to Naruto, while Sakura used her Gentle Fist to stabilize Naruto's life force.
At this moment, both Naruto and Sasuke found themselves in their spiritual spaces, meeting the legendary Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki.
The Sage of Six Paths recounted the history of the past to Naruto and Sasuke, explaining how he had sealed his mother, Kaguya, and how the chakra of his two sons, Indra and Asura, continued to reincarnate and engage in conflict.
Now, the Sage of Six Paths' soul had appeared to prevent the two from fighting, to re-seal Kaguya, and he bestowed upon them half of his power each: the Yang and Yin forces.
...
Outside...
Seeing that Twilight Elephant had failed to inflict any damage on Madara, Guy prepared to use his final technique, Evening Elephant.
Guy assumed a stance, and a red steam coiled around him like a dragon, letting out a roar.
Madara, witnessing this immense power, became excited. "I acknowledge this chakra! In terms of taijutsu, among everyone I know, no one is your equal. I, Madara, declare you the strongest!"
"Evening Elephant!"
Guy unleashed his final attack, moving so fast that space itself seemed to warp. Madara had no way to dodge and could only endure the blow head-on.
Guy's kick sent Madara flying hundreds of meters away, crashing into the Divine Tree. Of course, Guy's leg was also shattered, and his life was drawing to a close.
Madara rapidly recovered beneath the Divine Tree. If Guy had sustained the attack for even a moment longer, Madara might have died. As a reciprocal gesture, Madara fired a Truth-Seeking Ball at the fallen Guy.
Suddenly, Naruto emerged from Kamui's dimension and kicked the Truth-Seeking Ball back. Madara ducked to avoid it, his face a mask of shock. "Naruto? He actually kicked away a Truth-Seeking Ball? What happened? Naruto has changed. What did that Tobi fellow do?"
Naruto looked down at Guy, who was about to turn to ash. He placed his right hand over Guy's heart and pressed gently. A sun-like object appeared, and Guy's life was saved by Naruto.
Then, Naruto punched Madara, who could only defend with a Truth-Seeking Ball. Naruto's charge broke the Divine Tree, creating a crack.
"Limbo: Border Jail!"
Madara quickly leaped backward, glaring with one eye as an invisible clone attacked Naruto. However, Naruto was now Sage of Six Paths level and could sense Madara's clone.
"Sage Art: Lava Style Rasenshuriken!"
Naruto conjured a massive Rasenshuriken in his hand, infused with the power of the Four-Tails, Son Goku, and threw it at Madara.
Although Madara could now fly, he couldn't evade this attack. The Rasenshuriken expanded, slicing through the Divine Tree.
Li Xing, not idle, was curious about the Eight Gates. He went to Guy's side and dripped a drop of his blood onto him. Guy's body began to recover at a visible rate. If the Eight Gates had no after-effects, Guy might have even been able to open the Death Gate again.
Li Xing brought Guy back to Kakashi and handed him over. "Don't worry, he's fine. He'll wake up once the after-effects of the Eight Gates subside."
"Thank you, Li Xing." Kakashi, not familiar with Li Xing, had nothing more to say than thanks.
Li Xing, ignoring Kakashi, told them to wait, as the battle would be over soon.
Madara was immobilized by Naruto's Rasenshuriken. However, he heard the voice of the Divine Tree, urging him to absorb it. Madara didn't hesitate and absorbed the collapsing Divine Tree into his body.
After absorbing the Divine Tree, Madara was fully revived and felt his strength surge, achieving his perfect form, truly immortal and ageless.
However, in the next second, Sasuke appeared beside Naruto, his left eye now a Rinnegan, bearing six tomoe. Naruto glowed with a golden light, and Truth-Seeking Balls appeared behind him.
"So, one has obtained the power of the Sage of Six Paths, and the other has awakened the Rinnegan. However, I possess both these powers. You two cannot defeat me!"
"Sage Art: Yin Release: Lightning Style!"
Madara unleashed purple lightning from his hands. Naruto blocked the attack with a Truth-Seeking Ball, while Sasuke used his Rinnegan ability, Amenotejikara, to swap positions.
Naruto then hurled a Truth-Seeking Ball at Madara. Madara once again used Limbo: Border Jail, and this time, a clone blocked Naruto's attack. These clones possessed all of Madara's abilities and could only be seen by the Rinnegan; they were undetectable by non-Rinnegan users, though they could not stay out for too long before automatically returning.
"Sage Art: Storm Style: Light Fang!"
Madara spat out a beam of lightning that severed Naruto's Truth-Seeking Ball. Fortunately, Naruto reacted quickly and avoided losing his head.
"Naruto, attack me!" Sasuke shouted. Though annoyed, Naruto launched a Magnet Release Rasengan at Sasuke.
Sasuke reciprocated with a Chidori. In the next instant, Madara appeared between them, utterly bewildered. Why was he here? Was this Sasuke's ability?
Just as Naruto and Sasuke prepared to use the technique taught by the Sage of Six Paths to seal Madara, Madara used Limbo: Border Jail to escape and flew towards Kakashi, his goal to gather both eyes.
Naruto used his Magnet Release Rasengan to suppress Madara's clone, telling Sasuke to pursue Madara. However, Madara had already flown too far. Sasuke's Rinnegan could no longer swap positions, and Madara likely understood the range of Sasuke's ability.
"Li Xing! Get out of the way!" Madara yelled, throwing a Truth-Seeking Ball at Li Xing. Li Xing dodged it by sidestepping. Madara reached Kakashi and gouged out Kakashi's Sharingan.
"Kamui!"
Madara immediately used Kamui to absorb himself. As Sasuke caught up, he slashed Madara in half, but he couldn't prevent Madara from entering Kamui's dimension.
Seeing Madara disappear into Kamui's dimension, Li Xing approached Kakashi and forcefully implanted a Byakugan into Kakashi's eye socket, then used Gentle Fist to heal him.
"I took this from Ao of the Hidden Mist Village. Here, use it."
"Sharingan and now Byakugan? Kakashi, you have good luck!" Kushina teased Kakashi.
"Thank you, Li Xing." Kakashi could only repeat his thanks, unable to do anything else. He was no longer able to participate in the fight against Madara with Naruto and the others.