When Naruto realised that the Edo Tensei of Orochimaru was released,she released her own Edo Tensei on Kato Dan, as discussed previously.
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In the desert-turned forest terrain, Uchiha Madara felt his hold from the mortal realm disappearing. He forced his soul back into the host and tried to go for a killing blow that would eliminate the five Kage. Tsunade, however, tried to stop him and ended up getting stabbed in the abdomen by the huge blade of Madara's Susanoo. She tried healing herself and land a punch with the final ounce of her strength. The attempt was not quite successful and she began losing consciousness. Madara used the opportunity to try kill her with the other sword of his Susanoo.
The other Kage looked on with despair at the approaching death of their comrade when when there was a sudden blinding flash and Tsunade was resting on one knee on a nearby rock hill. 'I thought I couldn't move... How...?' She thought when she heard a voice.
'It's been a long time... It's me, Tsunade.'
She entered her mind to see, 'Dan.'
Tsunade was speechless for a while before she blurted, "Dan! How are you here?" "The Edo-Tensei Jutsu had been undone. I used my Ghost Transformation Jutsu and flew here. But that was a close one!' Tsunade didn't reply. "You haven't changed at all, have you, Tsunade?" Dan smiled amused. She found her voice. "Dan. I've always honoured your-"
"Now is not the time to wallow in sentimentalities. I have to go." "I might have run away for a long time from your memories. But I've changed. I can confirm to you what had once been your regrets and wishes. I am the Hokage. But still-" "You are fulfilling my dreams for me just fine. I really caused you a lot of pain. I am sorry." Dan apologized with genuine sadness.
Tsunade bent her head at the thought of parting ways with Dan again. "I will be waiting for you on the other side." He approached her and put a hand on her chin, lifting it up. "But don't come quickly, okay? For you yourself are my dream." He kissed her temples, imitating her actions when they had first gotten together. He pulled back and gave a wide smile, "I was able to protect you in the end... It seems being reanimated temporarily had its benefits.." He trailed off as his image disappeared in her mind."
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Tsunade thanked her partner before opening her eyes to the real world. She barely registered Ay's question of her well being and her affirmative nod as she turned to Madara, who still seemed to cling stubbornly to his host. "Your vitality has returned, and you received chakra. How?" Tsunade gave a soft but strong smile. "I've got to see an old friend for just a while."
Madara didn't bother to be impressed. "Well, you'll meet again right away." Mei questioned. "What's going on anyway? I thought the reanimation was undone. Why doesn't he disappear and still cling on?"
Said Uchiha replied in a bored tone, "The Edo-Tensei is a Jutsu that summons the dead. However, there is a risk." His face showed a hint of a smirk before it vanished. "As long as one knows the hand signs, the reanimated dead can rescind the Reanimation Contract from their end."
He brought his hands together, making the first hand sign, "When that happens, you end up with the biggest problem of all;" A second hand sign. "An immortal body with infinite chakra that can move without external control." The third one.
"Tell the Jutsu caster: Never use a Forbidden Jutsu carelessly."
A blur of hand seals and "Reanimation Release!"
...
Naruto turned to her fellow Jinchuuriki and the two Jounin. "Tobi seems to phase through all of our attacks. But when he has to attack, he has no choice but to be completely solid." Yugito concluded for the others before staying back as she hadn't completely recovered. Fuu stayed back to give her company and to guard her. Killer Bee transformed into his Bijuu. Guy took out his nunchucks-twin fangs. Kakashi infused chakra into his left eye for the Kamui of his Mangekyo Sharingan. Naruto switched herself with a couple of clones. Utakata was ready with some of his soap bubbles.
Naruto continued, "We aim to attack him and we miss. When he counter-attacks, our timing must be right to hit him exactly when he becomes solid and just before he strikes us." Guy grinned. "Now that's a plan!" Utakata and Naruto's clones ran forward as Kakashi and Guy were given a boost by Hachi-Bee.
Each attack from Guy, Naruto's clones and Utakata was coordinated, but so were those from Tobi. Said masked man turned momentarily in time to see Kakashi use Kamui to gouge out the Gedo Mazo's head because the ScareCrow thought, 'Should the head be gone, the body dies.'
Tobi escaped the attack from his three opponents on time and landed a few feet away and concentrated. The head of the statue that had been close to vanishing in a spiral came back with hardly any wounds. Kakashi fell on his knees and panted as he pondered how his technique could be negated.
As if reading his thought, Naruto, who was standing beside him, said, "Perhaps because his Sharingan Doujutsu technique shares the same space as yours. The Kamui might be in a jutsu of many Uchiha. But is the alternate dimension where you send away objects with the Jutsu the same for everyone?"
Kakashi widened his eyes slightly at what his former subordinate was referring to. He shook his head. "No. The chance are highly unlikely, even zero. It must be the other eye." He concluded.
Naruto's clones fighting Tobi were dispelled in the fight and Utakata and Guy retreated and stood beside Kakashi and Naruto. Kakashi observed the Sharingan of his foe with his own. The pattern of the Mangekyo was same, and no two Uchiha have the same Mangekyo pattern. Even for those whose eyes had been exchanged, the patterns varied slightly.
"I want to confirm it." He said. Utakata stayed back this time as Naruto, Guy and Kakashi were given a boost by Killer Bee. Guy rapidly attacked Tobi with his nunchucks. They passed through him until he caught them in a hand. "I'll be taking these." He said as the weapon swirled into a space originating from his Sharingan. At the same time, Naruto attacked him with Rasengan, but her timing was slightly off as the nunchucks were sucked in already and Tobi began to phase through Naruto.
When the Rasengan was right before Tobi's mask, it vanished as Kakashi used Kamui on it- not that Tobi knew it. The momentum made Naruto and Tobi phase through each other. When Naruto was out, right before Tobi could solidify his body, he felt the effects of an attack. As the body was solidified, the effects seemed to be one from the Rasengan.
The three retreated. "I've got the confirmation I needed." Kakashi said. "He doesn't have two jutsus, one for phasing through attacks and one for sucking in objects. It's all a part of a single jutsu. The Rasengan I used Kamui on, hit him where his body was overlapping with that of Naruto's." Guy began, "Kakashi, is he..." Said Hatake addressed Tobi, "Where did you get that eye?"
"The Battle of Kannabi Bridge." Tobi replied. "The same battle where you earned the nickname 'The Sharingan Hero'."
Kakashi turned towards Naruto slightly before turning back as he said, his voice slightly shaky, "Are you-"
"You flap your mouth readily, Kakashi!" Tobi pointed out, his voice slightly raised. 'That's what I had told him.' was what Naruto would've said, had she not been facing the one who started the war they were fighting currently. She would have said nevertheless, but Kakashi was close to break down. 'After all that talk I had to give him...' She groaned internally.
'You should have simply said the truth.' Kurama told her. 'And what proof did I have? The voice of one who is probably hated by all in Konoha except me? He had been too immersed in his grief over his Sensei's death that he couldn't even hide his emotions when he found me too unbearable because of my resemblance to my father!' Naruto snapped. Kurama sighed and she cooled down.
Tobi continued his rant, "You are all talk now. Your words are worthless! It's too late for regrets now. Reality just keeps cruelly moving ahead. You've seen reality, so you ought to know: Not one wish ever gets granted in this world. That's why I'm guiding it to the dream of Infinite Tsukuyomi. I am going to create a world where it won't be necessary for a hero to pathetically make excuses in front of a grave."
Kakashi began hyperventilating and Guy tried to calm him. Naruto shook her head as she stepped forward. "Why do you say not one wish would come true? I've seen many wishes come true for many people. I've told this already to Nagato- my dream is for peace, something that is similar to what the both of you aim for in someway. And my wish shall be fulfilled, just not in the way you want it to be. I've been entrusted with way too much from way too many!"
Kakashi had calmed enough with those words as Naruto's comrades (Bee, Kurama, Utakata, Yugito, Fuu, Guy) smirked at the confidence in her words.
"Entrusted, you say?" Tobi asked. "What if you were to lose the things you had been entrusted with by your parents, Jiraiya and the Five Kage?"
A pause.
"Naruto, if you fail at the things you were entrusted with, I wonder what you will think of yourself as well."
Naruto raised a perfect brow. "You speak of the Kage whose lives are in danger because of you. And don't even get me started on my parents. Actually, let me use this opportunity for a bit. Your actions caused their deaths and a difficult childhood that still has me scarred. I know what you have done. And knowing your identity, don't you feel the tiniest guilt of what you have done to two of who had always wished your welfare?
And you keep wondering about me as you have done in the past few years. What I think or not is my business. And I have complete faith in myself and my plans, unlike you who only thinks that your plan needs to be executed no matter what and do not have much faith in your former self. Unlike you, I'm going to keep up their hopes!"
There was complete silence for a while and no one dared to move. Then, Tobi adjusted the Gunbai in his left hand as he caught it's extended chain in his right. "If you postpone dealing with your problems and cover it up with the word 'hope', all that awaits you is empty reality. Both those who entrusted, and those who were entrusted with, all in vain."
Kurama rose from his pretend-sleep and said, 'Naruto, switch with me. There is something I want to say to him.' Naruto smirked at him. 'Suit yourself.'
Outside, Naruto's whisker marks became thicker, her fangs grew, and her blue eyes turned vermillion with black slits. Kurama spoke from within Naruto.
"Sorry, but your words don't apply to this guy." A hand rose to point at Naruto (herself? himself?) The other Jinchuuriki smirked at the dumbfounded look on the face of the two Jounin who were positively shocked on hearing Kyuubi's voice from Naruto.
"The Fourth Hokage has entrusted him with me. Not only has Naruto befriended me, but he has mastered my power as well. The Yondaime has sealed me within Naruto as a force help take you down."
Short words. But coming from the greatest being of Chakra alive, they had power and the deep meaning could be perceived if one paid just enough attention.
In the mind-scape, he addressed Naruto, "Go Naruto! You won't fail!" "Yes, sir!"
Outside, Naruto activated her golden-yellow Bijuu cloak. She ran forward in an attempt to defeat Tobi and break his mask. Utakata, Fuu and Yugito followed after a while. Kakashi was still in shock. 'It can't be...He is not...' Guy tried to snap him out of it. "Kakashi!" He yelled. That did the trick as Kakashi turned his head towards his rival/best friend.
"The more diversions , the better when attacking him. We have to join the fight too."
No response.
"I know what you are thinking right now. He was my friend too. I feel similar to how you do. But now is not the time to wallow in self pity. Your former student Naruto has already jumped into action!"
"Naive fool, jumping in all alone." Tobi said as he released few large shuriken from his Kamui Dimension that flew towards Naruto. The Bijuu cloak extended slightly, forming the head of Kurama and caught the shuriken that was heading towards Naruto. The other shurikens were deflected by the other Jinchuuriki. " You seem to be forgetting my brother and my fellow Jinchuuriki." Naruto replied. "Can't your visual prowess of both eyes not see even Kakashi-Sensei and Guy-Sensei behind me?"
Said scarecrow was startled at the fact that Naruto was still having faith in him despite the sombre situation. Guy grinned at him. "You are currently in the lead in our series of challenges. That better not slow you down now, Kakashi."
Kakashi remembered Naruto's words before they left for war. He saw the blonde standing before him that reminded him so much of his Sensei, that gave him the same confidence as Minato and Kushina had once given him. ' Whatever happened, I'm glad you were my subordinate, Naruto.'
"Thanks, Guy. Let's go!" "That's the spirit, my Eternal Rival!"
Naruto approached Kakashi. "Sensei, the enemy thinks that he is strong as long as he hides behinds the mask. I say we take care of it first. Use his own technique against him. Do you have a plan?" He smiled at her. "Yes I do, and you have some explanation to do." Naruto blinked before realising that he was talking about their conversation before the war. Kakashi was not dumb to not realize that it wasn't a simple coincidence.
She simply gave a mysterious smirk as an answer before asking, "Do you have enough chakra for the next attack?" "I have enough for a couple of shots of my Mangekyo." He replied.
Tobi released chakra rods from his Kamui dimension and threw them towards the Jinchuuriki. Bee, who was still in his Bijuu form, shielded them and took the brunt of the attack. Chains sprouted from each rod and wrapped their captive. He warned, "These rods are absorbing chakra. Make sure to not get caught."
The other Jinchuuriki attacked Tobi. Naruto's clone that made a Rasengan approached very close to him as Kakashi began using Kamui on the Spiralling Sphere. 'You can't deceive me twice.' Tobi thought as he pierced a rod through the clone that seemed to have dispelled. The original created a RasenShuriken of large size and threw it at him. The massiveness gave Tobi no other choice but to phase through. He entered his dimension which not quiet.
He turned towards the source to see Naruto's clone that was thought to have been dispelled earlier. 'Kakashi was not aiming for the attack, but the entire clone itself! Damn him!'
"I think it's time we fight face to face..." the clone said as it thrust its arm on his face, breaking the mask, before dispelling.
Tobi was back on the battlefield, lacking a mask, revealing a scarred face.
"... Uchiha Obito!"