Madara's appearance caused a stir among Konoha's forces.
Though most ninjas didn't recognize Madara, they recognized his Susano'o, especially after he effortlessly deflected a Bijuudama.
Those who could identify the enemy, like Tsunade and others, were included.
They were terrified, their scalps numb with fear.
Only a few who knew the truth, like Kakashi and others, were initially shocked but then showed a hint of excitement.
They all understood the danger of reviving Uchiha Madara, but compared to the current crisis of Konoha's total destruction, Madara's threat wasn't entirely unacceptable.
They only hoped this Uchiha ancestor could intimidate Nagato and the others, offering a way out for Konoha Village!
Unfortunately, they didn't know that in Madara's eyes, whether Konoha was destroyed or not meant nothing to him.
He only cared about correcting his plan, reviving himself fully, and proceeding with Mugen Tsukuyomi.
If destroying Konoha could aid his revival, Edo Madara would be the first to charge into the village, swinging his blade with devastating force.
"Nagato, where's Zetsu?"
"I killed him too!"
"Hm?"
"You planned to use Black Zetsu to forcibly control me or Obito and use a jutsu to revive you, didn't you?" Nagato countered coldly.
Madara's eyes flashed with surprise. He had never shared this with anyone, not even Obito.
"Interesting, you even know that? Quite the progress!"
"Hmph! You, a dead man, are just a clown manipulated by Black Zetsu. There's nothing to discuss."
"Clown? How arrogant!"
Madara's anger flared, ready to teach this insolent, ignorant Nagato a lesson.
Though he disliked the talkative Kabuto, Madara understood Kabuto's words were correct.
Whatever Nagato's goals, the Juubi ultimately had to be reclaimed—it was his beast!
It was also a critical vessel for casting Mugen Tsukuyomi!
In other words, strength would decide everything.
Defeat Nagato, force his submission, and all problems and doubts would resolve; the Juubi would return to his hands.
Moreover, freshly revived via Edo Tensei, Madara was itching for a fight.
He had long wanted to stretch his body.
And Nagato—or rather, Nagato controlling the Juubi—was a worthy opponent!
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Without excessive banter, as their killing intent merged, they understood only battle could determine the ultimate victor.
The winner takes all; the loser loses everything!
Under Nagato's control, three Pain puppets quickly retreated. Against Uchiha Madara Edo, these puppets were of little use.
"Roar—!"
The Juubi's terrifying roar tore through the clouds. Another ordinary Bijuudama quickly condensed and exploded, shooting straight at Edo Madara.
At the same moment, Madara stepped forward, leaving the Hokage Rock.
His chakra surged violently, forming a massive vortex, stirring visible air currents in the sky, and rapidly condensing into a towering Perfect Susano'o.
The night sky's clouds were dyed deep blue by the Susano'o. Its giant samurai wings, spanning hundreds of meters, unfurled, each feather a crystallized chakra shard, gleaming with deadly brilliance under the moonlight.
Facing Nagato and the Juubi, it was worth using his full power!
*BOOM!*
The Bijuudama struck the Susano'o, exploding violently and engulfing a wide area, but it failed to shake the Perfect Susano'o even slightly, even protecting the Hokage Rock behind it.
Clearly, whether it was him or not, only Madara was allowed to strike Hashirama's face!
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Seeing the two colossal monsters begin their clash, all Konoha ninjas were scared half to death.
"Run!"
"Get out now!"
"Everyone, leave the village immediately!"
"Flee to the sides!"
Shouts, retreat calls, and cries to escape rang out one after another.
A massive battle between the Juubi and Susano'o was far beyond what ordinary ninjas could handle; even watching up close was suicidal.
One step from them could crush countless ninjas, not to mention the collateral damage from their clash.
Even Tsunade saw unmatched terror and hurriedly ordered the Konoha ninjas to retreat.
Most Konoha ninjas began fleeing, scattering like a dense school of fish to the left and right.
Even Might Guy, with the Seventh Gate open, didn't bother attacking the enemy, quickly grabbing several Konoha ninjas and retreating from the village.
Meanwhile, countless Akatsuki Edo ninjas, unafraid of death, relentlessly pursued and blocked.
Fortunately, the Edo ninjas controlled by Kabuto intervened one by one, giving the surviving Konoha ninjas a chance to escape.
The battle wasn't over, and the outcome between Madara and Nagato was undecided.
These Konoha ninjas were trump cards, and Kabuto was reluctant to waste them.
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At the same time, Madara and Nagato, unconcerned with Konoha Village, unleashed their full power.
The colossal Juubi and Perfect Susano'o charged at each other, each move shaking the earth like rolling dragons, a natural disaster unfolding.
The Perfect Susano'o struck first, swiftly condensing a bow and drawing it back.
As the bowstring trembled, three brilliant arrows tore through the air.
When the chakra arrow tips pierced the Juubi's body, they exploded violently, destroying large chunks of flesh and blood.
But for the Juubi, this was nothing. In an instant, the damaged area rapidly healed, even absorbing the heat energy from the chakra arrows, strengthening itself further.
In a sense, the Juubi was the ultimate nemesis of all chakra, its threat surpassing even Hashirama's Wooden Buddha Statue!
Tasting the thrill of absorbing chakra, the Juubi grew more frenzied. Roaring at the sky, its ten tails suddenly plunged into the ground.
Instantly, the cracked earth sprouted thousands of wooden tendrils, each coated in boiling chakra, like hellish lava erupting, wildly coiling toward their target.
Susano'o moved faster, cutting through the gale and night, unleashing sonic booms like dragon roars. Its four arms wielded four sharp blades.
In an instant, sword energy raged, dazzling and dense like a net.
Wherever the blade tips passed, countless Juubi tendrils were sliced apart, unstoppable.
But the Juubi escalated its assault. Its front claws slammed the ground, lifting a hundred-meter-high wave of earth. Layers of rock melted into blazing red magma under the raging chakra.
Susano'o charged again, using sword light to cleave the earth wave. As it broke through the lava wall, the Yasaka no Magatama spinning in its right palm condensed into a blinding orb, like a sun's core.
Meanwhile, the Juubi's massive Bijuudama finished condensing at the same moment.
*BOOM!*
As Yasaka no Magatama clashed with the Bijuudama, the air within a ten-mile radius was sucked dry, and a terrifying explosion erupted once more!
Witnessing this horrifying scene, like a battle between gods and demons, Tsunade, who had just escaped the village, was stunned, her face filled with despair.
She knew, regardless of who won or lost, Konoha Village was doomed…