Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 209: A Conflicted Uchiha Sasuke

The Allied Shinobi Forces

had finally arrived on the battlefield.

In a sense, they had timed it well—no longer needing to face the Ten Tails' jinchūriki, Uchiha Obito, but instead the remaining Akatsuki.

On top of that...

Orochimaru's escape had left his Edo Tensei reanimations behind. Freed from his control, they could now serve as powerful allies.

"Grandfather! Second Grandfather!"

Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. Much of the crushing weight she'd borne finally lifted.

"Old man!"

Jiraiya called out cheerfully to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, but wasted no time searching the battlefield.

"Where's that bastard Orochimaru?"

"He ran."

Hiruzen's expression soured at the mention of his brilliant yet wayward student. He couldn't help but sound tired.

"He bolted when Obito started losing..."

"Typical."

Jiraiya muttered under his breath, then turned toward a much more moving scene—Minato Namikaze reunited with his son, Naruto. His eyes held a trace of emotion.

"Dad!"

Naruto, glowing in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, ran to Minato, overwhelmed with joy. He hadn't expected to reunite with his father here and now.

But...

Minato's expression was grim.

His eyes locked on Uchiha Madara in the distance.

"Naruto, this place is dangerous..."

He was right to worry.

Those already in the thick of battle knew full well—Akatsuki's next target was Naruto, and the Nine Tails sealed within him.

But Naruto didn't care.

His gaze shifted beyond his father, locking onto Sasuke. He sprinted toward his friend without hesitation.

"Sasuke!"

"It's been so long!"

Sasuke was silent, his Sharingan glowing as he looked at his golden-cloaked friend. Words wouldn't come.

What was there to say?

His long-awaited vengeance had come—only to feel... meaningless.

"Fight with us!"

"Come on, Sasuke! Let's stop Shigen together!"

Naruto didn't wait for a reply. He grinned, pulling Sasuke along, ignoring the storm of emotions behind those crimson eyes.

Sasuke didn't resist.

He simply followed Naruto, letting himself be pulled back into the group that had once been his comrades.

Because honestly...

He didn't know what to do anymore.

Obito had brought him here to fight Madara. Naruto asked him to fight Shigen. He had said no to neither.

Just drifting.

It didn't seem to matter.

He had no family left. No purpose. Nothing that gave his actions meaning.

"Sasuke-kun..."

Sakura's eyes lit up when she saw him.

Their classmates' expressions were more complicated. But no one spoke ill. After all, they'd all grown up together.

It looked like...

The Allied Shinobi Forces had gained powerful reinforcements.

Even Obito had been rescued by Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Akatsuki's side had grown thin.

With Orochimaru gone and many members fallen, only Madara stood alone against the Allied Forces—his only companion, a White Zetsu, carrying the Rinnegan stored by Kabuto.

At the center of the battlefield—

Madara took the second Rinnegan from the Zetsu and placed it into his eye socket.

"Perfect timing."

Madara's eyes swept the battlefield, locking onto Minato and Naruto.

He smiled—a dark, dangerous grin.

"Just perfect."

"All the Nine Tails' chakra is right here."

Right now...

He was in his prime.

Or rather—

He had never been stronger than at this moment, just before becoming the Ten Tails' jinchūriki. A perfect body and complete ocular power.

"Be careful!"

Hashirama immediately sensed Madara's killing intent. Without even greeting Tsunade, he surged into battle mode, chakra roaring around him.

"All units, ready positions!"

Commanders throughout the Allied Forces barked orders, keeping formations tight as they prepared for the worst.

"Everyone—stay in formation!"

Fourth Raikage raised his arm, bellowing to the shinobi around him.

"Wait for tactical orders!"

This wasn't a battle like any before.

There was no room for reckless charges.

They needed strategy. These weren't enemies you could beat with brute force—Uchiha Madara and Shigen defied logic, defied reason.

Rushing in would only lead to massacre.

"Ready?"

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Madara's smile widened. He strode slowly toward the Allied Forces, his aura radiating death.

Back at HQ—

Nara Shikaku was drenched in cold sweat, absorbing reports from the front and piecing together a battle plan.

"Only Madara?"

He confirmed with Yamanaka Inoichi, then let out a dry laugh.

"He really is confident, isn't he?"

"Feeling the pressure, Shikaku?"

Inoichi asked quietly, sensing the burden weighing on his friend.

"More than a little..."

Shikaku chuckled bitterly.

"We're talking about tens of thousands of lives... and the future of the shinobi world."

But Shikaku composed himself.

There was no time for hesitation—not when his friends, comrades, and even his own son were on the battlefield.

"Let's begin."

"I'll brief everyone on Madara's abilities."

"I'm sure the name needs no introduction. In the Warring States era, he rivaled the First Hokage Senju Hashirama. They fought to a draw even in death..."

"First—do not make direct eye contact."

"Avoid visual genjutsu and preserve the formation."

Shikaku didn't know what Madara would do next. All he could do was ensure that field commanders had the intel they needed.

"Second—Water Style users, be ready."

"Madara is the most powerful Fire Style user in shinobi history..."

But beyond that—

There wasn't much he could say.

War rarely went according to plan.

And just as Shikaku gave his final instructions—

The four Hokage reanimations charged headfirst to meet Uchiha Madara.

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