The battle on the beaches of the Land of Hot Springs continued fiercely.
The departure of the strongest combatants from both sides, and their prolonged absence, had a significant impact on the battlefield.
The Ōtsutsuki's puppet forces were, after all, merely killing machines created after being augmented with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's power.
Lacking thought and the ability to feel pain, they only knew to fight according to pre-ordained commands until death.
The Allied Shinobi Forces, however, were different.
Previously, due to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's elusive attack patterns, even though the smaller Ten-Tails, separated from the God Tree's main body, were blocked by Hashirama Senju, the Allied Shinobi Forces still fought with their hands tied.
They feared that a single misstep could lead to them being eliminated by the suddenly appearing Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
These ninjas who dared to accompany Orochimaru to the battlefield were elites from their respective villages, skilled among the Jonin. They did not fear death.
However, they feared that their demise might create a loophole in the defense line, allowing those emotionless killing machines to breach the rear of the ninja world, a transgression for which they, with their remaining conscience, would be unforgivable.
Therefore, after Orochimaru disappeared, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the formidable enemy, had also been mysteriously absent for a considerable period, these elite ninjas, who had been suppressing their anger, became like caged beasts set free. Led by the Five Kage, they launched a fierce assault on the puppet army of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Their numbers were not great.
The number of ninjas at the Jonin level throughout the ninja world had never exceeded two hundred.
But every single one of them was an elite among elites, each a master of combat.
Thus, a one-sided situation emerged.
On one side, gales carrying giant rocks and blazing flames that almost covered the battlefield rolled in, engulfing the puppet army.
On the other, monstrous waves surged, accompanied by the roar of lightning, striking down every puppet that dared to tread on the rear land of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
Especially the five Kage-level powerhouses, who displayed exceptional brilliance in this battle to defend the ninja world.
The skillful Five-Element Ninjutsu of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the large-scale Dust Release that served as a battlefield weapon by Mu, the pervasive Sand Iron World Order of the Third Kazekage, and the terrifying cold wave of the Third Mizukage that could freeze one's soul.
And then there was the Third Raikage, who, with his physical body alone, pierced every puppet that approached with bolts of lightning…
The grand united offensive concluded in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
The two hundred Jonin, under the protective watch of the Slug summoned by Tsunade, suffered no injuries. They, invigorated, followed behind the Five Kage and slowly advanced towards the battlefield where Uchiha Madara was relentlessly hacking at the God Tree.
...
"Tch!"
"The battle over there has already ended?"
"These juniors… they aren't entirely without merit!"
"This damned thing, its recovery speed is truly remarkable!"
Uchiha Madara cursed inwardly as he watched the God Tree's wounds heal completely once more. He manipulated his Susano'o and flew to Hashirama Senju's side.
"Hashirama, fighting alone is too slow."
"Quickly finish these guys, and then you and I will go together."
Hashirama Senju nodded heartily and clapped his hands together in front of him.
"Yosh!"
"Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Vast branches, fueled by Hashirama Senju's immense chakra, sprouted wildly, rapidly growing into a colossal forest crowned with flower buds, much to the awe of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"Bloom!"
With a soft cry from Hashirama Senju, the roots of the branch bearing flower buds grew swiftly and cruelly pierced into the struggling smaller Ten-Tails beneath the Containment Black-Protrusion Gates.
In mere moments, the chakra within these smaller Ten-Tails was completely absorbed by the roots, leaving them gaunt and skeletal.
Simultaneously, the flower buds at the tips of the branches slowly unfurled. As the branches swayed gently, a large amount of pale yellow pollen drifted down, settling upon the smaller Ten-Tails below.
"Hmph hmph!"
"Feel the passion that you receive from both me and Hashirama!"
Uchiha Madara sneered. The colossal arm of his Susano'o was raised in front of him, forming the Boar hand seal just like his本体.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
"BOOM!"
An explosive wave, ignited by the fire jutsu interacting with the pollen, instantly set aflame the smaller Ten-Tails within the inferno.
"Roar…"
Painful and chaotic roars echoed from the sea of fire. In a short while, the smaller Ten-Tails, whose chakra had already been drained, turned into grotesque charcoal under the combined assault of these two former strongest shinobi.
"Yosh! Madara, our coordination is as flawless as ever!"
Hashirama Senju exclaimed excitedly after seeing the results, tilting his head in praise.
"Again!"
Uchiha Madara laughed heartily, then abruptly turned his gaze towards the God Tree's location. A black Tailed Beast Bomb was once again condensed.
Hashirama Senju naturally did not refuse, immediately channeling his powerful Sage Mode and Wood Style chakra.
"Sage Art: Wood Release: Revelation of a Thousand Arms!"
A colossal Thousand-Armed Buddha statue erupted from the ground, instantly reaching the same height as the Perfect Susano'o. However, the statue's growth did not stop there, continuing to expand until it was nearly twice the size of the Perfect Susano'o before slowly coming to a halt.
"Oh? It's much larger than when I used it before!"
Hashirama Senju chuckled heartily and, leaning down, waved his hand towards a disgruntled Uchiha Madara below. Unsure if Madara even saw his gesture, Hashirama Senju clapped his hands again.
"Madara, here we go!"
"Sage Art: Buddha's Divine Palm!"
The thousand hands behind the massive Buddha statue moved in unison, instantly unleashing an onslaught of fist strikes, too rapid to be seen, which whistled towards the God Tree ahead.
"Damn it!"
"I absolutely… refuse to lose to you!"
Witnessing Hashirama Senju's display above, Uchiha Madara let out a frenzied roar. The Tailed Beast Bomb, which had already finished condensing in front of him, trembled violently, its size increasing considerably once more.
He threw the giant sword from Susano'o's left hand into the Tailed Beast Bomb, then, with the giant sword in Susano'o's right hand, he swung forcefully, striking the hilt of the giant sword within the Tailed Beast Bomb. Simultaneously, he controlled the Nine-Tails to launch the Tailed Beast Bomb, which had reached its limit, towards the God Tree.
"Whoosh…"
The Tailed Beast Bomb trailed a long fiery plume, traversing the distance between them in an instant, far exceeding its usual speed. It reached the God Tree before Hashirama's giant Buddha's attack.
Uchiha Madara gazed at his strongest strike, unleashed in his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan state, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"If even this is surpassed by you, then I'll have no choice but to awaken the Rinnegan."
"Using Heavenly Transferring Calamity has its risks, but as long as I can defeat Hashirama, I…"
However, before Madara's thoughts could fully form, a colossal black and red spatial gate suddenly appeared in front of the God Tree.
"Whoosh, whoosh…"
The Tailed Beast Bomb, with a whoosh, vanished into the spatial gate. Like the subsequent barrage of mountain-sized fist strikes, all hit empty air, causing no damage to the God Tree.
"Damn it, he's appeared!"
"Could it be… that Orochimaru was also killed by him?"
Uchiha Madara's heart leaped into his throat as he gazed at the familiar spatial gate in front of him.
"Stop the fight!"
"This war is already over!"
Beneath the God Tree, Orochimaru's figure slowly materialized, a calm smile gracing his face.