Raikage Ay's voice exploded first, filled with intense skepticism.
"Absurd! How many fatal blows has the Ten-Tails taken?"
"It was blasted once by its own Tailed Beast Ball, and then Naruto's Tailed Beast Bomb nearly tore half its body to shreds!"
"The power of those two strikes was enough to level mountains and rivers!"
"If Nagato were truly inside that monster, how could he possibly survive an explosion of that magnitude?"
"The shockwaves and energy turbulence alone would have torn him to pieces!"
Ōnoki added solemnly.
"The Raikage is right. The Ten-Tails' own chakra is extremely violent; the internal environment is likely a living hell."
"Nagato is strong, but he is still flesh and blood, not to mention the massive drain from controlling Pain and the Jinchuriki."
"How could he possibly resist the internal erosion of the Ten-Tails' power and the aftershocks of external heavy attacks for so long? This is simply seeking death!"
Gaara remained silent, controlling gold sand to block a wave of attacks from the Ten-Tails, his heart equally full of doubt.
Hiding inside the source of such continuous heavy damage and violent power? What kind of madness or reliance would that require?
Doubtful voices intertwined within the mental network, as Shikaku's speculation seemed to be placed under a giant question mark.
Faced with the mountain-like pressure of the Ten-Tails and the previous world-shaking explosions, the idea of Nagato hiding within it seemed too terrifying and impractical.
Just as everyone was arguing and found it difficult to decide, Minato's firm and clear voice broke the deadlock.
With unquestionable decisiveness: "I believe in Shikaku!"
His stance was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly drawing everyone's mental focus.
"I also believe in Uncle Shikaku," Naruto followed up immediately.
Minato quickly stated his reasons, speaking fast and powerfully.
"First, as a strategist, Shikaku's battlefield analysis has never let us down."
"He has ruled out all other possibilities; 'inside the Ten-Tails' is the logically final answer."
"Second, we have searched for so long, yet the Sensory Unit cannot locate him and the Byakugan cannot penetrate it; this itself points to some extremely special means of concealment."
"The Ten-Tails' own power barrier perfectly fits this characteristic."
"Third, regarding the issue of survival... perhaps we are limited by inherent thinking."
He emphasized his tone, pointing out the key.
"The Ten-Tails is controlled by Nagato! He has an understanding and even control over the Ten-Tails' power that we cannot imagine."
"No matter how violent the Ten-Tails is, its power core might not be anything other than the safest fortress for Nagato."
"If he dares to do this, he must have his trump cards or methods to avoid internal damage."
"Although the previous attacks were powerful, they failed to destroy the Ten-Tails' core."
"As long as the core is not destroyed, Nagato can use some means to survive within it!"
Minato's gaze seemed to penetrate the chaotic battlefield, looking at the giant monster suspended high in the sky.
"So, although it is fraught with danger, this is precisely the most logical answer."
"We can no longer hesitate! Instead of wasting effort on the periphery, we should concentrate all our strength to execute Shikaku's strategy."
"Find and destroy Nagato's original body inside the Ten-Tails! This is the foundation of his control over the Ten-Tails and the only way to end this war!"
Minato's words were like a stabilizing needle, instantly suppressing most of the doubts.
His prestige as the Fourth Hokage, combined with his calm analysis and the courage to take responsibility, allowed the core combat power of the alliance, which had been wavering, to quickly unify their thinking.
Finally, Minato suddenly laughed and spoke once more.
"After all, we have no other way besides this, do we?"
Minato's rhetorical question made the core of the alliance feel a jolt.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Shikaku Nara's furrowed brows suddenly smoothed out, and he took a deep breath.
Yes, the Fourth Hokage had put it as clearly as possible.
The Konoha strategist's mind flashed with images of the alliance warriors clad in red chakra cloaks.
That originated from the warm and powerful Nine-Tails' power shared by Naruto.
It had indeed ignited hope in a desperate situation, reconsolidating the morale that was on the verge of collapse and granting the alliance warriors defense, speed, and recovery far beyond their usual limits.
But at the same time, Shikaku knew the numbers and limits better than anyone.
Through Inoichi's mental network, he could clearly feel that the Nine-Tails chakra fluctuations on every Shinobi were slowly but steadily decaying, like a receding tide.
The Nine-Tails' power was ultimately limited.
Naruto's confession that he "cannot continuously use the highest power Tailed Beast Ball" still rang in his ears.
The irritability on Raikage Ay's face and the excitement brought by the Nine-Tails' power boost quickly cooled; on his thick arms, lightning crackled, but with a hint of anxiety.
"Tsk!" He spat unwillingly, but his eyes turned toward Minato in agreement.
The wrinkles on Ōnoki's tired old face grew deeper.
A stalemate? That was only giving the Ten-Tails more time to adapt and evolve.
Gaara remained silent; he understood better than anyone that the Nine-Tails chakra was not infinite, and the power Naruto shared also had its boundaries.
Minato's question opened up the realization they had briefly hidden under hope: continuing like this was a dead end.
The Nine-Tails chakra was a stimulant, a shield, but definitely not the sword that could slay the Ten-Tails and end Nagato.
It could only buy them time, and that window of time was closing rapidly.
"Shikaku's inference..." Minato's voice rang out again, clear and firm, breaking the brief silence.
"Even if it sounds incredible, it is the only direction we haven't verified so far and the most logical one."
"Nagato's original body is very likely hidden inside the Ten-Tails, maintaining control and hiding himself through that giant chakra source and the connection of the Six Paths Black Rods."
His gaze swept over every core member.
"Try it; if we succeed, the war will see a turning point; If we fail, it also completely rules out a wrong direction for us, proving Nagato is not there, and we must find another way."
"This is, in any case, more valuable than sitting and waiting for death, waiting to be crushed by the Ten-Tails after the Nine-Tails' power is exhausted!"
"The Fourth is right!" Raikage Ay slammed his fist, lightning exploding—this time it was decisiveness rather than irritability.
"Who cares if he's in there or not, let's smash it open and see! It's better than wasting away here!"
"Hmm..." Ōnoki nodded slowly, a sharp glint reappearing in his eyes.
"The process of elimination is also a tactic. Since we can't confirm it, we'll use the strongest attack to 'confirm' it! Let's gamble on Nagato's hiding place!"
"Let's act, Father." The golden chakra on Naruto burned fiercely, his slitted pupils full of determination.
"My chakra can still hold out; I'll clear the way for everyone!"
Naruto was about to rush toward the core of the battlefield, but was stopped by his father Minato raising his hand.
The blond youth was stunned: "Dad?"
Minato gazed into his son's eyes, which were shining with golden chakra, his voice steady but carrying an unquestionable weight.
"Naruto, you stay here on standby for now."
"Why?!" Naruto asked, his Nine-Tails chakra cloak swaying due to emotional fluctuations.
"Precisely because you can be of great help, you cannot take risks now, and you cannot waste too much chakra at this time."
Minato pressed his hand on his son's shoulder, his eyes sweeping across the top combat forces of the alliance gathered around.
"Listen, you are already the 'hope' for the entire Shinobi World Alliance to turn the tide of the battle."
"Regardless of whether we successfully locate Nagato's original body next..."
He paused slightly, his tone becoming heavier:
"If we fail, we need you to lead the remaining comrades to continue persevering."
"If we successfully locate Nagato's original body... you will be the 'final trump card' that pierces through everything and ends the disaster!"
Naruto opened his mouth, the words stuck in his throat.
His father's words were like a hammer striking his heart, making him instantly understand the true weight on his shoulders.
He was no longer a Shinobi charging alone, but the "strategic core" maintaining the alliance's survival and the possibility of victory.
Minato's voice penetrated the wind and sand, also reaching the ears of the powerhouses around him.
"Now, the task of determining the location of Nagato's body and creating an opportunity for a surprise attack is left to us 'seniors' to bear."
"Your power must be saved for the moment that decides the final outcome!"
Raikage Ay crossed his arms and snorted coldly; although he didn't directly agree, he accepted Minato's judgment.
Ōnoki suspended in mid-air, his gaze sweeping over the surging golden chakra around Naruto, and whispered.
"Indeed... overextending one's trump cards too early is a foolish move."
Kakashi patted Naruto's back, his voice under the mask carrying encouragement.
"Trust Hokage-sama's tactical arrangements, Naruto. Your 'trump card' needs the most appropriate timing."
Naruto took a deep breath, he nodded heavily, a determined flame burning in his eyes.
"I understand! Dad, you guys must successfully find that guy! I'll wait for your signal!"
Minato also smiled and nodded, then looked at the powerhouses before him whose strength stood at the peak of the Shinobi World.
Shisui, Itachi, Kakashi.
Raikage Ay, Eight-Tails Killer Bee.
Tsuchikage Onoki, Kitsuchi.
Kazekage Gaara, Mizukage Mei Terumi...
But now, their power seemed so small in front of the Ten-Tails, to the extent that they could only shoulder the responsibility of locating him.
Minato took a deep breath and also gave instructions for the next plan of action.
Generally speaking, those who could not break through the Ten-Tails' defense would provide support, while those who could break through would be responsible for finding Nagato's specific location.
And those who could break through the Ten-Tails' defense were undoubtedly those three people.
Minato who could use Sage Mode by borrowing Naruto's chakra, Eight-Tails Killer Bee, and Ōnoki who mastered Dust Release...
Takuno watched the scenes below from his throne and was not surprised.
After all, compared to the original work, there was one less true Super Kage standing here.
That's right, Hashirama!
Although the current Minato could be called a Super Kage based on his 1v1 level, unfortunately, his areas of expertise were not applicable here.
No matter how miraculous the Flying Thunder God Technique was, it could only increase his mobility, but it could not increase his destructive power.
As for the Uchiha...
Takuno watched the appearance of those two Susanoo, one blue and one red.
Even for an Uchiha, reaching the Super Kage level was not easy; Madara and the original Sasuke both relied on that pair of Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and... the power of Indra.
As for the rest of the Uchiha, like Obito, he also relied on the space-time ocular jutsu Kamui to rank among them.
In the end, Obito was actually somewhat similar to Minato.
They didn't have the destructive power of a Super Kage, but instead relied on their abilities to join those ranks.
Takuno yawned; the story should be entering the next stage, right?
...
On the other side, Black Zetsu, hidden deep underground, took in everything on the battlefield.
Those two towering Susanoo emitting an aura of destruction, as well as the rampaging Eight-Tails Killer Bee, all indicated the assembly of the alliance's top combat power.
However, its gaze finally fixed firmly on the other side, on those two small but key figures.
Obito and Konan.
A surge of irritation churned in Black Zetsu's heart, which was like a thousand-year-old well.
"Damn it!" it roared inwardly.
Nagato's original body, the core controlling the entire battle situation—it had dug three feet into the ground and searched the entire battlefield with its senses, yet it still found nothing!
What annoyed it even more was that Konan was far more troublesome than expected.
That woman's "Dance of the Shikigami" was simply too slippery!
She decomposed herself into countless special pieces of paper attached with Explosive Tags, perfectly blending into the environment; no one knew how many Explosive Tags and special pieces of paper she had prepared for this scene.
It had originally thought that Obito, with the spatial ability of "Kamui," could easily handle her.
But now it seemed that Obito's Mangekyo ocular jutsu's effect was greatly reduced when dealing with this kind of dispersed defense strategy that was almost one with the environment and never actively showed a weakness.
Obito's attacks were either dodged, interfered with by Explosive Tags, or had very little effect.
Trying to capture a Konan who only wanted to stall and absolutely would not engage him head-on was like trying to catch every grain of sand in a sandstorm!
Time passed minute by minute, the Ten-Tails was still continuing to evolve, and the alliance's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki brought new variables; the balance of the battlefield was swaying subtly.
Black Zetsu's patience, accumulated over a thousand years, was finally completely worn away in the face of the ultimate goal of reviving its mother.
"We can't keep wasting time like this!" A glint of decisive coldness flashed in Black Zetsu's cloudy pupils.
The plan to revive Kaguya must not be delayed by the entanglement and incompetence of these two humans and Nagato's damn hiding!
...
After the Five Kage Alliance was formed, before the Ten-Tails descended on the battlefield.
Inside the cold underground stronghold of Amegakure, Black Zetsu emerged halfway from the rock wall, staring at the uninvited guest opposite him.
Orochimaru's pale face wore an inquisitive smile, his golden snake pupils sweeping over Obito in the shadows.
"Pain will not see you." A cold refusal came from under Obito's mask, "Akatsuki also does not need the cooperation of a traitor."
Orochimaru let out a raspy low laugh, and a scroll slipped from his sleeve and unfurled: "A pity... I originally wanted to show that 'God' something interesting."
The moment the Jutsu Formula patterns lit up, two coffins burst out from the ground.
In the dull thud of the coffin lids collapsing, the Edo Tensei bodies of the First Hokage Hashirama and the Second Tobirama opened their hollow eyes!
"This is... Edo Tensei?!" Obito's Sharingan suddenly contracted.
He had seen documents of this technique, but the pressure of witnessing the dead being resurrected in person far exceeded his expectations.
Black Zetsu's mind, however, was racing.
The revival of Kaguya-sama required the Ten-Tails and the Rinnegan...