"Boom, boom, boom!"
Countless arms, at least two to three hundred of them, shimmered with blue light, dazzling like fireworks. Yet, their descent was merciless.
"Linnan..."
Uchiha Madara seemed to want to say something more, but was quickly engulfed by the surging tide of pounding arms.
Was it true that all fear stemmed from insufficient firepower?
The sight before him was comparable to a barrage of missile strikes.
"Linnan!"
The Five Kage appeared beside Linnan at this moment.
"What are you guys doing here?" Linnan asked, feeling uneasy. This was the legendary Uchiha Madara, who knew if he would attempt a final desperate counterattack.
"Of course, we're here to finish him while he's down!" Raikage Ay roared with unrestrained laughter.
Oonoki said with a touch of arrogance, "How can we let you do all the work? We Five Kage are not just for show!"
"..."
You're definitely not for show. At least a decoration is still standing...
"Such a bombardment, Uchiha Madara can't withstand it, right?" Mei Terumi asked.
Linnan shook his head and looked at Oonoki. "Let's both simultaneously unleash our Dust Release to completely cover Uchiha Madara's Susanoo and see if we can eliminate him!"
Oonoki nodded, but then looked at Linnan with surprise. "You know Dust Release too?"
"Just learned it!"
Linnan smiled slightly and clasped his hands together. "Dust Release, Jōkōdan no Jutsu!"
"Dust Release, Jōkōdan no Jutsu!"
Oonoki, not to be outdone, also clasped his hands. Matrices of light began to flash in their palms.
"You above, me below!" Linnan said softly.
"Alright!"
They both tossed their cubic matrices forward. With a flash of white light, two colossal cubes enveloped the entire area of bombardment.
"Clang!"
With a piercing screech, a vast expanse of the area, along with the dust and smoke, completely vanished, leaving only scattered debris and residual fragments of Susanoo on the sides.
Linnan stopped the assault of the Great Buddha and glanced at Tsunade.
Tsunade understood and began to check for any chakra fluctuations within the destroyed area.
However, the very next moment, countless black projectiles shot out from the surrounding dust and smoke.
"Careful!"
Linnan quickly manipulated the arm of the Great Buddha to shield himself and his companions.
"Clink, clink..."
With a sound like falling raindrops, Linnan focused his gaze and saw that they were black rods.
"Not good!"
Linnan looked up and saw Uchiha Madara's figure ascending rapidly, quickly flying away from the scene.
"Madara, are you running away?"
Linnan shouted loudly, leaping into the air himself.
If he could be killed here, that would be ideal.
Seeing Linnan take flight, Oonoki also ascended. While Gaara's sand could carry four people, their speed couldn't keep up.
Linnan never imagined that Uchiha Madara would still be alive and kicking after such an attack.
Dust Release could eliminate any object, eradicating it from a material level. Therefore, if it struck, the Edo Tensei would certainly die.
But he and Oonoki had clearly missed Uchiha Madara.
How could he still dodge in this situation?
Truly worthy of being Uchiha Madara.
"Lord Madara, where are you going? We haven't finished our conversation, and you're already leaving? This isn't the legendary Uchiha Madara!"
Linnan shouted as he pursued.
Uchiha Madara glanced back at Linnan. "Linnan, I must say, you are exceptionally talented. I didn't misjudge you. However, this is not our main battlefield. If you wish to continue, then follow me!"
"Still running?" Linnan scoffed, his words as sharp as daggers. "Running away now, don't you also know Wood Style? Can't you use True Several Thousand Hands?"
Uchiha Madara merely snorted. "A mere child showing off his verbal prowess. My previous words still stand. Submit to me now, and it's not too late. Once you witness my power as a god, it will be too late to regret!"
Realizing the futility of further arguments, Linnan unleashed several fireballs.
However, Uchiha Madara was in his Rinnegan form, rendering them useless.
Uchiha Madara then said, "Linnan, you must think carefully. Only I can grant you a new life. I, Uchiha Madara, never lie!"
Upon hearing Madara's words, Linnan immediately stopped his attack.
Uchiha Madara was the biggest variable in this ninja world war. If he were to perish here, this war would become much easier to fight.
But Linnan's dilemma lay elsewhere: if Uchiha Madara died now, Linnan would miss out on obtaining a certain skill.
A skill that could resurrect him completely.
Linnan had three objectives for coming to this battlefield: First, Hell Stab, which would significantly enhance his taijutsu. Second, Edo Tensei Release, which would allow him to completely break free from the constraints of Edo Tensei. Although he would still be in an Edo Tensei body, he would gain true freedom. Third, Complete Body Susanoo.
These three objectives had already been achieved.
Now, only one ultimate goal remained.
Of course, it was—resurrection.
To say he didn't want to be resurrected would be foolish. A living body, wouldn't that be better than anything?
Although Linnan, while under Edo Tensei, possessed an immortal body and infinite chakra, instantly elevating him from an average ninja to a level beyond Kage, he craved the feeling of his heart beating, blood flowing. A living person could experience the world's wonders, couldn't they?
If he were to continue living like this, what would be the point?
Linnan now understood why the previous Hokage had chosen not to remain in this world.
Their mission as living beings had been fulfilled; why should they interfere with reality in a state of death?
It could be said that Linnan had formulated his plan for resurrection some time after being brought back by Edo Tensei.
The Rinne Rebirth Jutsu was a crucial element.
And to obtain Rinne Rebirth, he had to help Uchiha Madara.
But if Uchiha Madara escaped successfully, countless more lives would be lost in this war.
How could his own life compare to the lives of thousands?
Of course... what's it to me!
I'm already in a precarious situation, struggling to save myself.
Linnan seemed to have finally made up his mind.
After all, he had already saved enough ninjas under the Sky Devouring Star. So, what did it matter if he sacrificed a portion of them?
Linnan consoled himself, watching Uchiha Madara disappear into the sky, and halted his pursuit.
"Kid, why aren't you chasing anymore?" Oonoki asked as he caught up.
Linnan slowly shook his head. "I can't catch up anymore, but I know where he's going. Let's go together!"
Despite saying this, Linnan was still immersed in the choice he had just made.
It was as if two small figures had separated within him.
The black devil said, "Of course, you should prioritize your own interests. Why care about others? You've already done enough!"
The white angel said, "But your life, in exchange for thousands upon thousands of living souls, won't your conscience be troubled?"
"Damn it, did you see that giant Buddha just now? Make it get up and you sit in it!"
"I'm stating a fact. Anyone with a kind heart would feel uneasy about this, isn't that normal?"
"Normal or not, a choice must still be made. Besides, even if we try to intercept him, are you sure we can stop him? Better to save our strength."
"Being self-centered isn't necessarily bad, but I think if you really do this, even after resurrecting, you'll be haunted by nightmares, won't you?"
"So, will you?" the black devil asked.
Linnan shook his head.
The two figures vanished.
Of course, this wasn't to say Linnan had made his decision.
It was because he had suddenly remembered something.
In the original story, there was actually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recreate the scene of Nagato resurrecting the deceased ninjas of the entire Hidden Leaf Village, but Madara had rudely interrupted it.
To be honest, Linnan had intended to play along, to continue being a double-crossing traitor.
But now, it seemed that Madara's use of Rinne Rebirth had no connection to him?
Linnan felt as if he had missed out on a hundred billion. In the next moment, his figure vanished into the night sky.
"Huh? Didn't you say you weren't going to chase anymore?" Oonoki asked, his large head full of small question marks.