Nagato realized Madara's intent and immediately controlled the Juubi to fire a Bijuudama to intercept, but it was too late.
The Bijuudama's explosion even aided in shattering part of the Chibaku Tensei seal.
After the Kyuubi was also seized by Susano'o.
"Y-You… you…"
Naruto looked bewildered, not recognizing Madara at all. If not for the different size and color, he might've thought Sasuke had come to save him.
But the Kyuubi within Naruto roared instantly.
'It's Madara! That bastard!'
'Naruto! Be careful of him, he—'
Before the Kyuubi's warning finished, it realized its mental connection with Naruto was suddenly cut off!
In Naruto's mental space, a familiar, domineering figure appeared before the Kyuubi.
The Kyuubi immediately bristled, snarling and lunging at Madara.
"So, you're here?"
"Kyuubi, long time no see!"
Madara's spiritual entity smirked, greeting the Kyuubi with his usual arrogance, merely glancing at it.
The Kyuubi froze on the spot, its eyes reflecting the Mangekyou Sharingan's projection.
It was clearly under the Sharingan's genjutsu control.
Though Madara's Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan wasn't specialized in genjutsu, with its immense and abnormal eye power, its genjutsu strength was no less than Itachi's.
Even Obito could control both the Sanbi Jinchuriki and Isobu simultaneously, so for Madara?
Using genjutsu to subdue both the Kyuubi and Naruto at once was no challenge.
"Hm?"
"This Kyuubi is only half?"
"The other half is sealed elsewhere?"
"Well, good enough…"
Madara chuckled softly, slightly surprised but unbothered.
Half a Kyuubi wasn't as strong as a whole one, but it was sufficient. After all, 50,000 and 100,000 were on the same scale, far surpassing the thousands of other Bijuu.
It was enough to serve as his mount.
The mental domination, in the real world, lasted only a moment.
After Madara captured the Kyuubi and Naruto, in the blink of an eye, both Jinchuriki and Bijuu were fully under his genjutsu control.
This was also thanks to Nagato's seal, which suppressed the Kyuubi's resistance. Otherwise, Madara couldn't have dominated a perfect Jinchuriki with genjutsu so quickly.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seeing Naruto, the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki, with his striking blonde hair, Madara grew slightly curious.
"What's your name?"
"Naruto… Uzumaki Naruto…" Naruto answered with a vacant stare.
"Uzumaki? Mito's descendant? And related to Nagato, somewhat connected, but why isn't your hair red?"
"Quite rare. But perfect—you'll be my mount!"
With the Kyuubi sucked into the mostly shattered Chibaku Tensei meteorite, Madara chuckled and landed atop the Kyuubi.
Instantly, he felt an odd sensation riding Naruto's head; but compared to Naruto, riding Hashirama might've been more satisfying.
However, with a great enemy before him, he didn't care about such trifles.
The Perfect Susano'o expanded, easily enveloping Naruto and the Kyuubi within.
Kyuubi Mode: Armored Susano'o!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"He's controlling Naruto and the Kyuubi?"
"Susano'o can be armored onto a Bijuu? Damn Uchiha Madara! Not simple at all…"
Nagato frowned, clicking his tongue, increasingly aware of the warlord's strength from the Warring States Period. Not only was his military power immense, but his battlefield strategies and tactics were extraordinarily rich.
It should be noted that Edo Madara's power was already near the peak of Super Kage.
Now, with the massive chakra support from the Kyuubi, both his endurance and strength surged dramatically.
This would be very tough to face!
Unless he could also strengthen the Juubi?
But with all Bijuu except the Kyuubi already absorbed by the Juubi, there seemed no other way to enhance it!
Or, could he also armor the Juubi?
Nagato glanced at Sasuke and Itachi in the distance, then at the massive Juubi beneath his feet.
Clearly, both Itachi and Sasuke were too young.
Their small Susano'o, though cute, couldn't possibly envelop the Juubi's size or withstand its power!
Impossible.
To defeat Edo Madara, he'd have to rely on himself!
Nagato steeled his resolve, fully controlling the Juubi, transforming it into its third form.
Compared to the lean, agile second form, the third form was robust, its strength multiplying several times, arguably the Juubi's strongest combat form.
It could even sprout a giant flower muzzle from its mouth to fire massive Bijuudama!
Of course, this form was more ferocious, and Nagato would struggle to control the Juubi in this state for long.
"Hahaha! You can still transform?"
"Good, let's test your limits!"
Madara shouted gleefully, controlling the armored Kyuubi, glaring fiercely.
He smashed a large chunk of the Chibaku Tensei meteorite with a kick, using the thrust and gravity to accelerate an assault on the robust Juubi below.
The 'war of gods and demons' erupted again.
Even fiercer than before!
The unfortunate Konoha Village was utterly destroyed…
The remaining Konoha ninjas hastened their escape, fearing being caught in the battle and dying in vain.
Tsunade, the Hokage, saw the repeated terrifying explosions behind her, feeling the despairing chakra impacts, her face hopeless.
'What sin has Konoha Village committed?'
'To become the battlefield of two such monsters!'
'Grandfather fought a monster like this and even won?'
'Utterly unbelievable!'
'If only, if only I'd surrendered to Akatsuki earlier; at least, it could've spared some casualties!' Tsunade felt deep regret, wishing she'd surrendered sooner.
Sadly, there's no medicine for regret in this world.
Unless she could truly return to the past with her memories, with Tsunade's stubborn nature, even faced with surrender, she'd likely choose to fight to the death.
Unchangeable.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, Kisame and Itachi's escape faced a slight disruption.
The reason was Sasuke, now awake, causing trouble.
He'd realized the current Madara wasn't the one who'd beaten him before but one revived by Kabuto here.
Though still wary, he felt much better.
More importantly, Sasuke noticed Naruto was caught in the massive battle between Madara and Nagato, even becoming Edo Madara's mount!
How could he tolerate that?
Only he could ride Naruto!
Whether Naruto was killed by Edo Madara or Nagato, Sasuke couldn't accept it!
The only one in this world who could kill Naruto was him, and it had to be him!
Sasuke broke free from his brother Itachi's hold, preparing to return to the battlefield, rescue Naruto, defeat him, and take revenge!
Naturally, Itachi and Kisame wouldn't let Sasuke return to court death.
Sasuke wasn't an Edo body; recklessly entering a 'war of gods and demons' like that would likely leave no trace of his bones.
"Nii-san, let me through!"
"Sorry, Sasuke, I won't let you go die."
"Naruto can only be killed by me. I won't let him die by anyone else's hand."
"I know the bond between you two, but hold on a bit longer. Wait until the battle's over. Besides, Naruto might not die…"
"No, I can't wait a second longer!"
"Haaah… then I'll have to restrain you for now!"
Unable to persuade him, Itachi had no choice but to act, preparing to forcibly restrain Sasuke.
Kisame, watching with interest and excitement, chimed in:
"Yare yare, another entertaining show! These brothers fighting over a man?"
But they didn't notice a dragon-like figure had reached Sasuke's position underground, lurking restlessly.