As the dust scattered, Might Guy was left collapsed on the ground, clearly bearing the brutal aftermath of a Rasengan blast.
Madara and Kanon, however, leaped backward completely unscathed. In that split second, even against that extreme velocity, Kanon had managed to extend her intangibility to Madara, shielding him from the Daytime Tiger.
But Madara's counterattack was instantaneous; he hurled a Truth-Seeking Ball straight toward Might Guy.
Minato pitched his body forward. Bereft of his arms, his only option now was to physically ram the projectile aside and use the Flying Raijin Technique one more time to save Guy!
"Kakashi, the kunai!" Minato spat the kunai from his mouth toward Kakashi. Kakashi caught on to Minato's intent instantly. Yet, in that exact same breath, Kanon had already hurled her own Flying Raijin kunai.
She had completely read Minato and Kakashi's minds. All three projectiles sliced through the air with terrifying speed, converging on the Truth-Seeking Ball.
Kanon was a fraction faster, her specially engraved "Hana" kunai pulling ahead of Minato's.
But at that crucial juncture, Rock Lee, who had arrived alongside Might Guy, threw himself directly in front of his master.
The moment Lee grabbed Guy to hurl them both out of harm's way, Kanon's silhouette flashed directly to her Flying Raijin kunai. A pink aura flared, positioning her perfectly to intercept Rock Lee's desperate rescue.
It was the exact replica of the Flying Raijin: Level 2 that Minato had once used against Obito, except this time, Kanon's hand didn't hold a Rasengan. It held a razor-sharp Chidori!
Splat!
With a singular, piercing thrust, Kanon's Chidori drove clean through Rock Lee's chest, puncturing his heart.
"Rock Lee!!!" Kakashi and Gaara screamed in horror.
Lee's pupils shrank to pinpricks, but he had long prepared himself for death to protect Guy. The agonizing pain tearing through his chest couldn't shake his resolve for even a fraction of a second. Gathering the last of his strength, he violently flung Might Guy away from the blast zone.
Amidst the swirling smoke of the explosion, Kanon stood tall, her expression chillingly cold. Having walked this far, she would absolutely never back down. The dream that led to ultimate hope was right before her eyes.
In that world, Rock Lee, the Five Kage, and everyone else could be brought back to life.
But right now, the most agonizing torment belonged to Guy. Slumped helplessly on the dirt, his trembling hand rose slightly, reaching out to touch Rock Lee, who lay motionless beside him. Blood welled from Lee's lips, and a gaping, hollow wound scarred his chest where the Chidori had pierced through, arcs of lightning still flickering faintly around the edges.
"I'm sorry... Lee..." Tears spilled uncontrollably from Guy's eyes.
"Don't apologize... Guy-sensei... Our youth... never stops..."
"Guy-sensei, you told me... that a man's farewell must be met with a smile... right...?"
"In a hot-blooded youth, I only want to see joy and laughter. I don't want to see anyone cry..."
"So... Guy-sensei..." Lee's trembling fingers reached up to brush the tears from the corner of Guy's eye.
But in the next heartbeat, his hand failed to reach Guy's face, dropping listlessly to the ground.
Watching Lee's life fade into nothingness, Kanon remained entirely unmoved. She spoke flatly:
"Don't give me that look. This is exactly what you all did to me before."
"You've barely tasted a fraction of the pain, and you're already breaking?!"
Might Guy glared up at Kanon with unbridled fury. It was undeniable that, at this moment, Kanon had crossed a line that shattered Guy's last restraint.
Seeing Guy's wrath directed at her, Kanon actually broke into a loud laugh;
"Hahaha, do you hate me, Might Guy?"
The moment Guy grit his teeth, preparing to launch himself recklessly forward, Kakashi clamped a heavy hand down on his shoulder.
"Guy! Don't be reckless! We need to stay calm right now."
"How do you expect me to stay calm, Kakashi?!"
Listening to the exchange between Kakashi and Guy, Kanon continued, "Don't waste your energy. If I didn't have the strength, you all would have slaughtered me a long time ago."
"The chain of hatred cannot be broken without absolute power. You fight for your justice, and I fight for my dream."
"Power alone is the true manifestation of one's will. Without power, your words are meaningless, and you deserve nothing more than to fade away quietly in a dark corner."
"Just like Rock Lee, needing to trade his very life just to save someone. In the end, you are all simply too weak." As Kanon spoke, memories of her former comrades, the members of Team Hana, flashed through her mind.
Though she directed these words at Kakashi and the others, she was ultimately speaking to herself. If she had only been stronger back then, would she have been able to save everyone?
"Without power, you cannot protect the people you are meant to protect. The strong devouring the weak is the fundamental nature of this world!"
Hearing Kanon's declaration, Guy ground his teeth and turned to Kakashi. "It's far too early to declare that physical attacks are useless..."
"Lee... your youth has inspired me. Our youth will never fade!"
"Kakashi, I will not abandon hope!"
Kakashi nodded. This was the Guy he knew.
"Lee said it himself, a man's farewell cannot be stained with tears!"
Yet, despite his words, Guy's tears flowed uncontrollably. Even when Neji died, Guy had not felt a sorrow as deep as this.
Looking toward Kanon and Madara in the distance, Guy made his decision. He would use the final gate.
"It's true that desires don't always come to fruition."
"But if you don't even have a desire, how can you achieve the things you want to do?"
"Just like the challenges I used to throw at you! And what I'm about to do is by no means an empty boast."
Seeing the unyielding determination in Guy's eyes, Kakashi fell silent. His pupils dilated in shock, and his entire body began to tremble.
"The time has come for Konoha's Sublime Green Beast to disappear and transform into the Crimson Beast!"
"Are you... actually going to open the final Gate of Death?!" Kakashi said, utterly horrified.
"Guy! You can't!"
"Think about it, absolutely no one here wants you to do this!"
"Your father also..." Minato's words were cut short before he could finish.
"No, this is my own choice."
"Don't make that face, Kakashi. This time, you make sure to watch me from the sidelines. This time, I am going to pull ahead of you completely!" Might Guy flashed a brilliant grin at Kakashi.
Witnessing Guy's resolve solidify, Kanon stepped out, moving ahead of Madara. If she couldn't stand her ground at a time like this to prove her own will and dream, then what was the point of everything she had endured?!
"What are you doing, Kanon?!" Madara noticed the identical expression of absolute resolve on Kanon's face, and his mocking sneer instantly hardened into a grave look.
"Is this the manifestation of your will? In that case, I have my own will as well."
"I, too, am willing to bet my life for the sake of my dream!"
Kanon spoke softly. At that moment, she turned back and offered Madara a beautifully radiant smile.
"Right now is the critical crossroads on the path to our dream."
"I will not stop here. Old man Madara, neither will you. For the sake of our dream, we must stand tall at this very moment!"
"Even at the very end, you're still worrying about me..."
"You might be the only one left who truly cares about what happens to me..."
"In any case... I'm really glad!"
"Grandpa Madara, thank you."
Kanon smiled. It wasn't the manic, unhinged grin she usually wore; this smile carried a sense of warmth and hope. It was a smile that had completely vanished from her face ever since the day she defected from Konoha.
The expression that bloomed across her features was one beyond words, a mixture of complete liberation and a deep, aching reluctance to let go.
Her gaze was gentle yet unshakeable, as though she wanted to pour every ounce of her love and attachment to this world into this singular, final smile to present to the person she cared about.
Her smile was entirely genuine. But it wasn't a smile born of happiness, nor was it one of reckless bravado.
It was the parting gift of someone who was about to stake everything, executing her final act for the person she cherished.
There was far too much emotion woven into that smile; her gratitude toward Akatsuki, her indebtedness to the Ryūchi Cave, and her sorrow over the fact that she and Madara might not share the future they dreamed of.
To Madara, her smile felt like a razor-sharp blade piercing straight through his chest, forcing his heart to tremble with an unfamiliar pang.
Madara stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief and an unspoken pain.
"Must it really come to this?" Madara asked, his voice shaking slightly.
It had to be said that since the day he was born, he had never met a partner who understood him so perfectly and coordinated with him so flawlessly; she had surpassed even Hashirama and Izuna.
If Kanon died here, it would leave him with nothing but agonizing regret and sorrow.
"If I don't even possess this much courage, how could I ever fulfill our dream?!"
"I'm going to try... that technique."
Hearing her words, Madara offered a slow, solemn nod. "Up until now, no one has ever managed to pull off a miracle like that."
"Then I will be the one to create that miracle this time."
With that, Kanon began to commune with Konin deep within her consciousness.
In the distance, Guy locked eyes with Kanon. Kanon returned his gaze.
As their eyes met, both warriors recognized a conviction in the other that could never be compromised.
Suddenly, Guy unleashed the power of the Sixth Gate of View, springing to the forefront of the battlefield.
At that exact moment, to the absolute bewilderment of everyone watching, Kanon's body also began to radiate a brilliant, emerald-green light. Mirroring Guy's movements precisely, she leaped forward to stand directly opposite him.
"What?! The Eight Gates?!" Minato cried out in sheer shock.
Sure enough, even Kakashi and Gaara were frozen in disbelief. They knew from past encounters that Kanon could utilize the Eight Gates, but for her to deploy it at a critical juncture like this… what on earth was she planning to do?!
Forming a single hand sign, Kanon mirrored Might Guy's exact stance, driving her left thumb hard toward the chakra pathway of her heart.
In that fleeting instant, Madara lunged forward, desperately trying to grab her hand to stop her, but Kanon's form suddenly turned intangible. His hand passed clean through her as her thumb drove deep into her chest.
"Since things have reached this point, I can no longer stop you..." Madara said grimly, tears visibly welling in his eyes.
"Don't worry, old man Madara. I am absolutely not going to die!" Kanon declared as her chakra began to violently surge toward the Gate of Death.
"Father, Mother... Master... Ryūchi Cave... Akatsuki..."
"Everyone from Team Hana... This is the moment I stake my entire life. Watch over me!"
Guy and Kanon bellowed in perfect, roaring unison:
"The Eighth Gate! The Gate of Death! Open!"
Boom!
A catastrophic eruption of crimson steam exploded from Kanon, instantly exerting a suffocating pressure over the entire area. Her red trench coat whipped violently in the updrafts of the boiling blood-vapor.
There was no turning back. She was going to clash head-on against the Gate of Death Night Guy, utilizing the Eighth Gate forged from her very own unyielding will!
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]