Near the Treasured Tools of the Sage of the Six Paths, a space-time vortex manifested. The Masked Man appeared directly beside the Amber Purifying Pot.
Kinkaku, in his version-two Nine-Tails form, had been sealed within, meaning the Amber Purifying Pot now contained a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra. To ensure the success of his plan, the Masked Man's primary objective was this very pot.
In an instant, the Masked Man assassinated the two shinobi guarding the artifact.
Darui flickered a few paces in front of the Masked Man, his expression grim as he stared him down. "I won't let you take that Ninja Tool!"
"I don't need the tool. I want what's inside. I'll give it back once I'm done... since you want it so badly."
The next moment, however, the Shadow Possession Jutsu quietly snared the Masked Man.
"After using Kinkaku and Ginkaku's Nine-Tails chakra on the front lines, you plan to seal that same chakra into that giant monster," Shikamaru noted with a cold smirk.
"It seems the Alliance has a few... clever individuals," the Masked Man said tonelessly.
"So I was right," Shikamaru muttered.
"No wonder Kanon told me you were someone to watch out for." The Masked Man added, "It's a bit of a waste... having you as an enemy."
Hearing this response, most of Shikamaru's suspicions were confirmed. Is that person... Before he could finish the thought, Kanon appeared in the sky above, piloting the Gedo Mazo as it barreled toward them.
Shikamaru's expression grew heavy as he looked at the Gedo Mazo and Kanon, who was sporting pink Sage Mode markings around her eyes. Noticing Shikamaru's gravity, Kanon gave a chilling smile.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
Kanon let out a soft cry. The surrounding ground instantly warped into a basin, trapping many shinobi inside. As the Gedo Mazo slammed down, scores of men were crushed into a bloody pulp. Choji exhausted his last ounce of strength to rescue Shikamaru; even Darui had lost a leg in the chaos.
As the dust settled, Kanon and the Masked Man vanished into white smoke along with the Amber Purifying Pot, and the Gedo Mazo disappeared with them.
Though the First Division had suffered horrific casualties, and many had survived, the loss to the Allied Forces was devastating. Elsewhere, the other divisions were still locked in combat, with Kakashi and Guy's forces continuing their struggle against the Reanimated army.
…
Meanwhile, at the ambush point where Gaara and Onoki of the Fourth Division were stationed, five silhouettes slowly emerged on the horizon. This was the main army led by Kanon herself.
The Second Tsuchikage Mū, the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki, the Third Raikage A, and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
Perched on the Third Raikage's shoulder, Kanon, wearing a red Uchiha coat, sat with her legs crossed, idly adjusting the fox mask atop her head.
Due to the tragic state of the First Division, the tide of war had turned unfavorable. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a message from Shikaku Nara went out.
"Maintain contact with Headquarters! Reorganize your ranks, Darui!"
"Understood..."
"Darkness is falling. This will likely turn into a standoff in preparation for nighttime raids!"
…
In a forest elsewhere, the Masked Man stood on the shoulder of the Gedo Mazo.
"This war allows for no failure. We must proceed with absolute caution."
"The vision of years, the Eye of the Moon Plan... tomorrow, it will finally be realized," the Masked Man sneered.
"Then I'm truly looking forward to it." Clad in her blue trench coat, the Kanon shadow clone sat on the ground, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she gazed into the distance.
…
At Kabuto's location, he furrowed his brow. "That fellow has already obtained Kinkaku and Ginkaku..."
"He's also sealed a small portion of the Eight-Tails' chakra, the amount in one octopus leg."
"Though I feel he's being a bit impatient, we'll proceed with your plan for tonight. I'll hold my pieces in reserve for now," Kabuto whispered to himself.
Beside him, in addition to the unconscious Anko Mitarashi, stood another shadow clone of Kanon. There was no one else around. Kabuto gathered his pieces and handed them to the Kanon clone assisting him.
On the battlefield, the Reanimated shinobi who had not yet been sealed or were still fighting were suddenly encased in wooden coffins.
…
At the Fourth Division's ambush site, the real Kanon watched the coffins appear behind her and nodded slightly. Indeed, nighttime was not ideal for combat.
"Heave-ho!" Kanon hopped down from the Third Raikage's shoulder and stretched her limbs.
As the four Kage disappeared into their coffins, Kanon immediately began sensing her surroundings. Seeing the Reanimated army vanish, the Allied Forces, especially the Fourth Division, breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, only Kanon remained, standing alone in the clearing, stretching.
"Only Kanon Uchiha remains," Gaara noted.
"Don't act rashly. It could be a trap."
"That girl sensed us long ago; her sensory abilities are top-tier," Onoki warned.
As the temperature began to drop, Kanon frowned.
"It really is a desert. Boiling hot during the day and freezing at night!" Kanon puffed out her cheeks, then plopped down on the ground. To everyone's shock, she started a campfire and began grilling meat right then and there.
"That girl... she's having a barbecue!" someone shouted in a rage.
"I'll go up and see," Gaara said.
"I'm coming with you." Onoki didn't quite trust the situation, so he followed Gaara while the rest of the troops remained on standby.
Sensing Gaara and the others approaching, Kanon simply waved them over.
"Since it's night, we're in a standoff anyway. Want to sit down for some grilled meat?"
"You... this is a war!" Gaara said, bewildered.
"It's a standoff regardless. If you don't want to eat, then get lost," Kanon said with a dismissive wave to the distant Gaara and Onoki.
Kanon continued her grilling, the savory aroma drifting toward the two Kage on the wind. Once they were certain it was safe, Onoki and Gaara finally approached her.
"Don't even think about attacking me. The two of you aren't qualified," Kanon remarked, sprinkling cumin onto the meat.
The scent of roasting meat wafted through the air, causing many Allied shinobi to swallow hard. It had to be said, Kanon's culinary skills had been honed since childhood; everything she made was delicious. Even Onoki and Gaara found themselves salivating.
"If you're going to eat, sit down. If not, beat it," Kanon said flatly. She lifted a skewer and took a bite.
"Mmm!" She wore a look of pure bliss.
Finally, Onoki and Gaara lowered their guard and sat beside her.
"Uchiha brat, what is your true goal in starting this war?" Onoki started fishing for intel the moment he sat down.
"Once we finish this meat, we're enemies again. All I can tell you is two words: 'Give up.'"
Onoki's lips quirked slightly. "Young people these days..."
Gaara sat down as well. It was true that Kanon had no intention of attacking right now; if she did, she would have greeted them with a Susanoo long ago. In truth, Kanon had no grand agenda; she was simply hungry and wanted some barbecue, and since Gaara was an acquaintance, she invited him along.
"Then I won't be polite." Onoki reached for a piece of meat, but Kanon barked at him.
"That one isn't done yet! The color isn't right!"
"Oh, right..."
The three of them sat there eating grilled meat in total silence. They all understood that this was a chance for both armies to catch their breath. But once the meal was over, or once dawn broke, they would be enemies once again, the deadly kind.
When word reached Kabuto and the Masked Man about Kanon's barbecue, their eyes twitched. The leaders of two opposing sides were grilling meat in the middle of a battlefield just to buy their troops time to rest.
But the Masked Man and Kabuto said nothing. They knew Kanon knew what she was doing, and they knew she would show the Allied Forces no mercy when the time came.
Once the barbecue was finished, Kanon vanished into a space-time vortex. Gaara and Onoki returned to the Allied lines and began organizing their troops for rest.