Under a sparse, moonlit sky, the desert was no longer scorching like the day. At night, the temperature plummeted below freezing.
A puff of white mist escaped Kyusei's lips as he stared at the structure ahead, standing amid the endless sands.
Unlike the hurried glance from before when Kaoru had called for help, this time the area around the Dragon Vein had changed completely.
Temporary tents had been erected everywhere.
Even brick buildings had begun to take shape.
Faint silhouettes of people moved within the camp.
Clearly, under Nagato's leadership, Akatsuki had realized the importance of the Dragon Vein and had already begun acting.
The only unknown—
Was how far they had progressed.
As Kyusei observed calmly, a pink-haired figure stepped into his path.
"You still came."
Her long pink hair cascaded like a waterfall, and the violet diamond mark on her forehead added an unusual charm to her already beautiful face.
Kyusei's eyes flicked to that mark.
A sense of danger rose within him.
It was the same feeling as before—
When things had broken down between them.
This time, Haruno Sakura was at full strength.
But no matter how strong she was now—
She couldn't stop him.
Kyusei's gaze shifted toward the encampment surrounding the Dragon Vein.
Within his sensory range, there was another presence.
A chakra signature unlike anything he had encountered before.
"Who's in there?" Kyusei asked casually.
"Our partner," Sakura replied.
Kyusei's heart sank.
So it had reached this point.
Akatsuki had already begun contacting other worlds.
In that case—
His expression sharpened.
Beneath his clothes, Sage markings spread across his body.
The conversation had only been to buy time.
Sakura watched as his aura changed, her own expression remaining calm.
The lower half of the diamond mark on her forehead bloomed into a sakura-like pattern, surrounding the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
At the same time—
Her eyes turned from green to radiant gold.
Sage Mode.
The Slug Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest.
Kyusei didn't even spare her a glance.
He dashed straight toward the Dragon Vein.
Sakura's blade flashed out instantly.
A massive pink slash lit up the night.
In that moment, the silence shattered—
Like a thousand birds screaming.
Blue-white lightning collided with the pink blade.
But in an instant—
The lightning was crushed completely.
Then—
A massive purple skeletal arm rose into the air and blocked the strike head-on.
"Oh my, that was close~"
A playful voice rang out.
As the dust settled—
Five figures appeared.
Kaoru. Nao. Orochimaru. Menma. Sasuke.
Kyusei had summoned them with Flying Thunder God.
And the one who blocked Sakura—
Was Sasuke.
His eyes burned crimson.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Let's be clear," Sasuke said with a grin. "Sakura is mine."
He waved them off.
Kyusei and the others didn't hesitate.
They rushed forward at full speed.
Sakura watched Sasuke, her expression calm.
"Sasuke… are you betraying Konoha?"
But this "Konoha" was not Kyusei's.
It was hers.
"I don't want to fight you," she said.
Sasuke sighed dramatically.
"Sakura… your memories were just tampered with."
"Let's just talk here, yeah? Wait for everything to end."
"I've missed you so much~"
He stepped closer, reaching out—
Only to have his hand slapped away.
"What was that phrase again?"
"One day apart feels like madness?"
Sakura frowned.
"Stay here. I'll deal with you later."
She tried to move—
But Sasuke blocked her.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?"
He sighed again.
"I volunteered to hold you back."
"Don't make it hard for me."
He produced a red rose from nowhere.
"Sakura…"
"I don't want to fight you."
"…Sorry."
His Eternal Mangekyō spun.
Sakura reacted instantly, activating the genjutsu inherited from her father.
The two froze—
Locked in a silent illusion battle.
Thanks to Sage Mode, Sakura could barely match him.
A perfect stalemate.
—
Meanwhile, Kyusei and the others encountered something shocking.
A man stood atop a building.
Arms crossed.
Eyes filled with arrogance.
His dark blue Uchiha attire made him appear imposing.
Behind him—
A massive Uchiha war fan.
And above—
The moon seemed like his ornament.
"So this is what they achieved with the Dragon Vein…" Orochimaru muttered, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Interesting.
Fascinating.
To bring back someone who should've vanished from history—
"What?" the man tilted his head. "You seem to know me."
Then he smirked.
"With something like the Dragon Vein… it makes sense."
"You should feel honored to witness me."
Kyusei sighed inwardly.
Worst-case scenario.
A figure from Konoha's founding era.
But which version…?
"Hmph. Just a failure," Menma sneered.
The man looked down at him.
"An insect."
At that moment—
Another voice appeared.
"Didn't expect to see you here…"
"Madara."
A tall man in red armor appeared in a flash of green light.
Senju Hashirama.
Time froze.
Two legends—
From different worlds—
Met.
Madara stared in shock.
Menma and the others were equally stunned.
Wait.
We had Hashirama all along?!
Why plan anything?!
Just steamroll!
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"…I see."
"So this is this world's Hashirama."
"…Pathetic."
Before Hashirama could respond—
Kyusei interrupted.
"Menma, you and Hashirama-sensei hold him off."
"Everyone else, move!"
He knew the truth.
This Hashirama—
Was just a remnant.
Limited chakra.
Couldn't fight Madara head-on.
Menma, Kyusei, Kaoru, and Nao were the only ones capable of contending with him.
Someone had to stall.
As the others left, Madara didn't even look at them.
His eyes locked onto Hashirama.
Only he mattered.
"YOU!"
Menma appeared instantly.
"DIE!"
"Fool."
Madara grabbed his war fan.
"Uchiha Reflection."
A burst of light split the night.
Menma crashed to the ground.
Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Ah, I forgot to mention."
"That fan reflects ninjutsu."
"You idiot!" Menma snapped.
Hashirama smiled faintly.
"…It's been decades."
Even if this wasn't the same Madara—
It was enough.
"I'm just a fragment."
"Enough chakra for two techniques."
He clasped his hands.
Sage markings appeared.
"I'll create an opening."
"Take it."
"Senjutsu: Wood Release—Wood Golem!"
A massive construct rose from the desert.
Madara laughed.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Even like this—you can still do it!"
"Good!"
His Eternal Mangekyō spun.
"Susanoo!"
A colossal blue tengu appeared.
Menma grinned wildly.
"Now this is fun!"
His pupils became slitted.
"Kurama!"
The Nine-Tails roared into existence.
Susanoo—
Against Wood Golem and Nine-Tails.
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