Chapter 158: Eye Power from Forty Years Ago

The intense explosion behind turned the rock wall red, with the heatwave and rubble hitting his back, but Yuto paid no attention.

He wore a twisted smile, the killing intent in his eyes almost tangible.

Yuto rarely showed such an expression. Even on the battlefield or when he made casual threats about "taking someone's eyes" to his clansmen, he often wore a cheerful smile, almost as if he were attending a wedding.

But this time was different. Madara's counterattack was skilled and ruthless, causing him real harm.

—With Nagato dead, where could he find the materials to make Uzumaki clones?

Yuto had gone through great lengths to tie Nagato to his camp, not only to add a usable combat power but also to use his cells to create Uzumaki clones.

But now, with Nagato dead, the only named Uzumaki clan members left were Kushina, Naruto, and Karin.

Karin's "quality" wasn't high enough; using her flesh, the Uzumaki clone might not grow to a level that could be devoured.

The dignified Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki definitely qualified, but he wasn't born yet.

Kushina, as the stable Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, undoubtedly had a considerable amount of chakra and vitality. He could exploit Minato's trust to lure Kushina into a trap or simply strike when she was pregnant. The flesh of both mother and unborn child would suffice, but...

Alright, Yuto admitted that sometimes he, as a self-proclaimed villain, indeed couldn't be heartless enough.

Aside from the Uzumaki clone issue, he also lost a Mangekyō Sharingan and a main family Byakugan from Meiko. The power of the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags was no joke; Meiko was definitely blown to pieces, not even needing a burial. Counting the Mangekyō he just destroyed from the one-eyed masked man, his dream of building a Gundam was temporarily shattered.

Amidst the surge of emotions, Yuto's body suddenly paused.

Behind him, the severely damaged Impure World White Fang used the Shinra Tensei. Nagato was too close to Meiko's self-destructing body; even as a reanimated body, it would take a long time to repair. At this critical moment, only White Fang could attack from a distance and hinder Yuto's steps.

However, Impure World White Fang's body was also severely damaged by the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, greatly reducing his combat power and unable to catch up with Yuto. The two exchanged long-distance blows without closing the gap.

But even so, Yuto's speed was significantly slowed.

He silently calculated the time.

'To reach Madara's side still required... one minute and fifteen seconds.'

...

"Hey, Madara-sama, is this really okay? We can already hear the sounds of battle," White Zetsu, while stitching up Obito's body, looked anxiously at the old man.

"No need to panic," Madara Uchiha still lowered his head, "You take Obito and leave through the secret passage. It's dangerous here."

"...You're not coming with us?"

"Mm."

As he spoke, the giant Gedo Statue began to tremble, excess chakra being transmitted to Madara's body through tubes. He was very old, with all his muscles and chakra pathways degraded, unable to bear this level of chakra. Turbid blood seeped from his skin, dyeing the stone chair crimson.

Madara struggled to lift his hand, forming a seal.

Even he felt a touch of fate's mercy at this moment.

Forty years ago, on the eve of challenging Hashirama, he had casually placed a dark chess piece. These years of being confined underground, Madara had almost forgotten its existence, but now it had become his last trump card.

"In a few more years, that eye power would have faded too... the timing is just right."

Madara forcibly bound the Gedo Statue's surging chakra within his body and, using the power of the seal, cast the technique.

In the darkness, this old guy from the Warring States period softly uttered a word.

—"Release!"

...

Land of Grass.

On the vast open field, Konoha and Iwagakure shinobi were fighting fiercely, blood flowing everywhere, and the ground was littered with severed limbs.

For strategic safety, the Land of Fire had to stop the Land of Earth from invading Kusagakure. Fighting on the open plains, with no cover for either side, the battle's intensity was very high. Since the outbreak of this campaign, the death rate had even surpassed that of the Rain Country's meat grinder battlefield.

Minato and Onoki, as the leaders of both sides, bore the brunt of the battle. Flying Thunder God and Dust Release were techniques capable of annihilating large numbers of ordinary shinobi. They couldn't allow the other enough time to act and could only desperately engage each other.

Behind Konoha, in a house temporarily built with Earth Release.

Kushina rolled up her long red hair, the sweat on her neck soaking her collar.

She was extremely busy. As the head of the sealing squad and the known lover of Minato, many Konoha shinobi viewed her as one of the decisive figures on the battlefield.

With Minato and Onoki locked in intense battle, the vice commanders who accompanied the troops was also on the front line. Therefore, in the rear, all emergencies had to be reported to Kushina.

"Why are there so many wounded on the eastern front... this wound? Lava Release? Send a shinobi proficient in Water Release over!"

"Don't let Iwagakure's shinobi approach the area where Minato is. Be careful of their tricks with kunai."

"Have the shinobi skilled in Lightning Release circle behind Iwagakure and find a way to destroy their Earth Release fortresses..."

Fortunately, Kushina was an Uzumaki orphan, meticulously trained from a young age, commanding with great order and avoiding fatal mistakes.

Seeing Kushina's sweaty face, the ANBU member beside her handed over a towel. The red-haired woman smiled as she took it, even having the leisure to say thank you.

But at this moment, an old voice rang in her ears.

—"Release"!

At the same time.

Deep within Kushina's body.

In the chaotic and hazy space, a giant sphere floated like a miniature planet.

The Nine Tails fox was trapped on it.

Fourteen giant pillars pierced through its nine tails, limbs, and abdomen, with chains tightly binding it here.

This beast was the Nine-Tails!

Since being sealed in Mito Uzumaki's body, it had never seen the light of day again. Pain occupied its mind, making the already irritable Nine-Tails even more extreme, filled with hatred for everything in the world.

—"Release"!

At this moment, Madara's voice reached Kushina's ears, transforming into chakra that invaded the sealing realm, turning into bolts of lightning, nearly tearing open this chaotic cage.

Above the Nine-Tails' head, a massive eye power was suddenly activated.

Forty years ago, Madara captured the Nine-Tails and fought Hashirama at the Valley of the End. Before that, he specifically placed eye power in the Nine-Tails as a hidden move.

Forty years later, even though it had weakened significantly, combined with the Gedo Statue's power, it was enough to break the seal.

"Damn it, it's Madara..."

The Nine-Tails roared, withdrawing its right claw and breaking the pillars and chains.

The ominous chakra completely went berserk.

...

"Roar!"

Outside, Kushina's eyes were bloodshot, her body severely damaged, blood gushing out, and with violent chakra wrapping around her skin, forming a crimson Tailed Beast Cloak.

"Ahhhh——!"

The red-haired woman roared, her face twisted like a demon.

The enormous chakra erupted from her, a chakra explosion as powerful as a hundred Fireballs exploding simultaneously!

A mushroom cloud rose behind Konoha, and just one strike claimed countless lives.

Tailed Beasts are lives but also coveted weapons.

On the battlefield, both Iwagakure and Konoha shinobi simultaneously stopped fighting, staring in shock at this sudden change.

Gulp...

Losing her senses, Kushina growled lowly, but instead of falling into chaotic slaughter, she exerted force with her feet, wrapped in the Tailed Beast Cloak, and disappeared at super speed, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

(End of Chapter)