The Third Division.
"Great work, Sai. Get some rest," Kakashi said.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Sai panted heavily, struggling to catch his breath.
"Alright, start the patrols. Everyone else, take a short break," Kakashi announced.
After a grueling day of combat, the other divisions finally began to rest. The first day of the war had resulted in heavy casualties for both sides.
Back at the military camp, Onoki gave a slight nod. "It seems there really wasn't an ambush. The decisive battle will be tomorrow," he remarked calmly.
"Yes, there's been no movement from the sand. Kanon and the others have truly withdrawn."
"With the Reanimated Shinobi, their best strategy would have been to use their immortal bodies to maintain a continuous assault."
"Is there a better way?" Gaara asked.
"That barbecue just now was the signal. They likely won't attack again before dawn," Ohnoki replied.
Kanon Uchiha's actions indeed signaled a temporary ceasefire for both armies, allowing the Allied Shinobi Forces to set up camp and begin their recovery.
…
The First Division.
Shikamaru and Darui watched the remaining survivors pitching tents in the distance, their expressions grim. The First Division had suffered devastating losses today, exacerbated by the fact that the enemy's primary powerhouses, Kanon Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, had both appeared on their battlefield.
"I've informed HQ that the Treasured Tools were stolen by Madara," Kitsuchi said as he approached.
"Tell them the Tailed Beast chakra was taken as well."
"I am truly sorry. This was my failure," Darui said, bowing his head.
"If only I had realized sooner..." Shikamaru grit his teeth.
"No, you both did well. There was no stopping it," Kitsuchi consoled them. "At the very least, we managed to repel the enemy for today."
Meanwhile, at the Allied Forces HQ, Inoichi Yamanaka removed the sensory device from his head.
"Of our eighty thousand... roughly forty thousand have fallen."
"Those are the numbers of our comrades lost today," Inoichi said solemnly.
Ao stood up and looked at the group. "And fifty thousand of their hundred thousand... those are the enemy losses for today."
"So, both sides have lost half their strength?" Shikaku Nara's expression was dissatisfied.
"But our side is composed of living people," Inoichi noted grimly. "Theirs... are all White Zetsu."
…
Elsewhere, Naruto and Killer B were rushing toward the battlefield at high speed. Suddenly, a massive pressure washed over them, causing both to recoil in shock.
"What is it?"
"Up ahead!" Naruto shouted.
BOOM!
Two figures landed with a heavy impact, forcing Naruto and B to skid to a halt. It was Tsunade and the Raikage.
"Granny!" Naruto looked on in surprise.
B's gaze, however, was fixed squarely on Tsunade. "She's... she's not wearing a bra!" B muttered, flushing slightly.
A, the Raikage, flew into a rage and roared at B. "Killer B! How dare you stare at the Hokage's chest right in front of me! Have you no shame?!"
"No! I mean... Brother, you came too... but the Hokage's chest really is huge, whee!" B pointed at Tsunade.
"We are here to stop you! Don't think you're going a step further!" A roared at the group.
Naruto looked solemnly at Tsunade and the Raikage. He couldn't afford to stop here!
Tsunade and A observed Naruto with curiosity. This was the first time Tsunade had seen his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode in person.
So this is what it looks like to control the Nine-Tails' power... You finally did it, Naruto, Tsunade thought to herself.
"Brother, let Naruto pass! Please! I'll personally vouch for him!" B pleaded.
"Don't be ridiculous! This war is being fought to protect the two of you!" A shouted. "If you are captured by that Uchiha brat or Madara Uchiha—"
Before the Raikage could finish, Naruto interrupted: "Then the enemy's jutsu will be complete and the world will end, right? Iruka-sensei already told me everything!"
The Raikage flared with anger. "If you know that, then why are you going, you fools?! Do you have any idea how terrifying Madara Uchiha and Kanon Uchiha are right now?!"
Naruto grit his teeth, his heart heavy. "It's exactly because of that, because everyone is fighting so hard to protect us. I can't just sit back and watch my friends die! If we win the war but everyone is dead and I'm the only one left, what's the point?! I don't want that!" Naruto crouched down, bracing himself to break through.
"That is still better than the destruction of the world! Everyone believes that!" A bellowed. "That is why we fight to protect you without fear of sacrifice!"
"You've got it wrong, Raikage! Kanon won't let this world be destroyed, and I'm going to stop her right now! I'm not so cold-blooded that I can just do nothing after finding out the truth. And besides..."
"Enough! I won't let you leave!" A cut him off.
"If I can't talk my way past you... then I'll force my way through!" Naruto roared.
With a flicker, he tried to bypass the Raikage, but A instantly activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. His speed was not a fraction slower than Naruto's. A swung a fist, sending Naruto in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode flying back.
"His fist is so heavy!" Naruto stumbled as he hit the ground.
"Granny Tsunade, you have to understand! I can end this war, let me go!" Naruto shouted to Tsunade, seeing that he couldn't get past the Raikage.
Tsunade closed her eyes and shook her head, refusing his request. "Currently, my role is the Advisor of the Allied Shinobi Forces. The Alliance has decided to stop you. Even though I am the Hokage, I cannot act on my own."
Seeing her resolve, Naruto understood her position. "I get it. In your position, you have no choice. In that case... I'll just have to break through with even more speed!"
Naruto pointed at the Raikage. A flash of light erupted, a literal blink-of-an-eye movement, as Naruto vanished to bypass A. But the Raikage was just as fast, keeping pace with Naruto in just a few strides.
The Raikage is so fast... Naruto thought grimly.
In Tsunade's eyes, however, the speed of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode was what was truly impressive. It was a well-known fact that the Raikage was the fastest shinobi alive, having only recently been surpassed by Kanon Uchiha.
"Among shinobi, no one is faster than me except for Kanon Uchiha," A declared. "Not since the Fourth Hokage passed away."
Naruto froze. "You knew my dad?!"
"I clashed with him several times. I once believed no shinobi could ever defeat him. I heard he was the Child of Prophecy mentioned by Jiraiya of the Sannin, the one people called the Savior. If he was a Savior, why isn't he here for this crisis?!"
"Because he failed during the Nine-Tails incident! And as his son, you've learned nothing! You're even foolish enough to spout baseless possibilities, thinking you can stop Kanon Uchiha on your own!"
Naruto's expression shifted. He glared at the Raikage. "Don't talk like you know my dad or Kanon!"
In that moment, Naruto remembered the words Kanon and Kushina had said to him while he was subduing the Nine-Tails' chakra, and the warmth of their smiles.
"The Fourth Hokage did not fail! And I'm going to show Kanon how cool I look when I become Hokage!"
Naruto's gaze hardened. He looked at the Raikage; this time, he wouldn't hold back.
"If you insist on leaving, I'll have to kill you here and now!" A shouted. Suddenly, the lightning flickering around him intensified, booming like thunder.
"Hey! Raikage!" Tsunade yelled.
"This will buy us some time until the Nine-Tails revives! It will force the enemy to accelerate their plans!"
Ignoring the Raikage's boast, Naruto simply clapped his hands together and began to weave signs. "It sounds like you have a death wish."
Naruto looked at the Raikage, his lips moving slightly. "Kanon can beat you, so I can too!"
"You brat!" The Raikage lunged with a punch, but Tsunade, about to intervene, stopped in her tracks. A's fist had been caught by Killer B!
"B! You!"
"In that case, it's the same if I, the Eight-Tails, die! That would also mess up the enemy's plans! I'll use my life to send Naruto to the battlefield!" B shouted.
Tsunade barked at the Raikage, "Raikage! The Allied Forces don't know about this yet. You cannot take this into your own hands! As the Supreme Commander, I do not approve!"
"I have the responsibility to win this war, and I will do whatever it takes!"
"Then like the Eight-Tails said, why kill Naruto?!" Tsunade interrogated.
"As the Raikage, I am prepared to kill my own brother if necessary. But right now, it is better to kill Naruto than B! B, who can control the Tailed Beast Bomb, has greater combat potential! Let go of me, B!"
Ay looked at B, his face set in a grim mask.
"No way! Bakayaro, Konoyaro!"
Infuriated by the resistance, the Raikage roared, "You Jinchuriki are yourselves, but you aren't just yourselves! You are the balance of power for nations, and you belong to your villages! You are special to your countries! You don't get to act on your own whims! Know your place, you fools!"
B nodded slightly. "Yeah, you're right. But I have things I can't give up on. If I lose those, I'm just a weapon."
B's octopus tentacles vanished, and he slammed his fist against the Raikage's. "Even by bumping fists, can you no longer read my heart, Brother? You are the most special person to me. We will always be the best partners!"
The Raikage's expression slowly softened. Looking at B, he recalled the memories they shared from the past.
Just then, a voice drifted through the air, carrying a hint of mockery and coldness.
"What a touching display of brotherly love."
The four of them whirled around.
A young woman had appeared. She had long, beautiful black hair and a fox mask perched on her forehead. On the back of her blue coat was the Uchiha crest, a clear testament to her identity.
It was Kanon Uchiha. She stood with her arms crossed, and though she wasn't particularly tall, she looked down on the four from the top of a small hill.
Cold sweat broke out on Tsunade and the Raikage. They had no way of knowing that only the Kanon in the red Uchiha coat was the original; the one before them was merely a Shadow Clone.
"Kanon..." Naruto's pupils contracted as he stared at her.
Kanon's lips curled into a slight smirk. She looked at Naruto and B with total indifference, completely ignoring Tsunade and the Raikage.
"I've finally found you two... the Jinchuriki."
————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]