Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 43

Immediately afterwards, a blue skeleton enveloped Naruto's body, and then an arm extended out, directly blocking the attack.

"This...this is impossible!" Kakuzu staggered back in shock. "Who exactly are you?"

“I already said,” Madara said, slowly stepping forward, “Uchiha Madara.”

Madara's entire body was constantly releasing visible chakra.

"Now, witness true power."

"Susanoo!"

The blue chakra instantly condensed into a half-skeletal shape, which then rapidly grew flesh and armor.

The half-body Susanoo stood on the bridge, and the mere chakra fluctuations it emitted caused the bridge surface to begin to crack.

Kakuzu's face was ashen: "This...this is..."

"ended."

Susanoo swung its giant sword and slashed down. Kakuzu desperately dodged, but still lost an arm and two masked monsters.

The last remaining wind-attribute masked monster fled back into his body in a panic.

"No... I can't die here..."

Kakuzu trembled as he formed hand seals: "Earth Grudge Fear - Final Form!"

His body suddenly split open, and countless black tentacles gushed out, forming a disgusting monster.

This is the final form of the Earth Grudge, sacrificing all reason in exchange for a temporary boost in power.

Madara, however, showed a look of disgust: "A disgusting forbidden technique."

"Shut up!" Kakuzu's voice had become inhuman: "I'm going to kill you! I'll take your heart!"

Black tentacles surged towards Susanoo like a tidal wave.

Madara snorted coldly, and Susanoo crossed its two swords, instantly slicing the sea of ​​tentacles into pieces.

But Kakuzu's true form had already taken the opportunity to infiltrate underground and launch a surprise attack from behind Madara!

"Got it!" Kakuzu's tentacles wrapped around Susanoo's neck.

Ban didn't even turn his head: "A boring trick."

Susanoo suddenly unleashed its chakra, shattering all the tentacles.

Immediately afterwards, Madara's main body leaped out of Susanoo, and a ball of blue chakra condensed in his right hand.

It was the Rasengan that Naruto had practiced so hard, but in Madara's hands, the form of this technique was even more perfect, with even the edges carrying a faint glow of fire.

Goodbye, imposter.

The Rasengan was pressed directly into Kakuzu's chest, completely shattering his last remaining heart.

Kakuzu stared wide-eyed at the empty hole in his chest, utterly incredulous: "No...it can't be...I clearly...was with Hashirama Senju..."

There's a limit to lying.

Madara coldly interrupted him: "If Hashirama were to actually fight you, you wouldn't even be qualified to stand in front of him."

Kakuzu's body crashed to the ground, his eyes still frozen with resentment and fear.

Meanwhile, Minato also ended his battle.

Although Hidan is not dead, his regenerative abilities have been greatly diminished after being continuously weakened by the Four Symbols Barrier.

Minato used kunai to pin his limbs to the bridge surface, completely rendering him unable to move.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Hidan roared in a fit of impotence, "Let me go if you dare!"

Minato shook his head: "Immortality is not invincible. As long as you are divided and sealed, even the strongest regenerative ability will be useless."

After the battle, the two Narutos came together.

Madara, controlling Naruto, stared at Haku's corpse and fell silent for a rare moment.

“That boy…died protecting Naruto,” Minato said softly.

“Foolish...but worthy of respect,” Ban commented.

Just then, the two clones suddenly began to shake violently.

Madara and Minato exchanged a glance and simultaneously formed hand seals to release the control.

“They’re waking up,” Ban said.

"Okay, let's leave the rest to Naruto." Minato nodded.

As the white smoke dissipated, the two clones merged into one.

The real Naruto swayed slightly and looked around blankly.

When he saw Bai's body, memories flooded back like a tide.

"White..." Naruto knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

Kakashi finally snapped out of his shock and cautiously approached: "Naruto? Are you... alright?"

Naruto did not answer, but three voices were conversing within him.

"That kid suffered quite a blow." Nine-Tails unusually refrained from mockery.

“It will take time,” Ban said briefly.

Minato's voice was the gentlest: "Let him cry. After all, this is the price of growing up."

Chapter 49: Kado's Mischief, the Demon's Wrathful Swan Song

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the bridge was filled with the stench of blood and the atmosphere of tension.

Naruto knelt beside Haku's body, tears streaming down his peaceful, sleeping face.

Kakashi was checking on Kakuzu and Hidan, while Sasuke had already been dragged to Dazuna's side by Sakura for protection.

At this moment, Sasuke had already woken up. "Sakura? What happened to me...?"

Sakura quickly reassured Sasuke, "Don't move. Your injuries are serious. Moving around will cause the wounds to reopen."

"I don't know the specifics, I only know that the fighting has subsided now."

Because the Hidden Mist Technique hadn't been dispelled yet, Sakura could only hear the sounds of battle coming from within the mist and had no idea what was happening.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei,"

On the other side, Naruto's voice was hoarse: "Is Haku... really beyond saving?"

Kakashi shook his head silently.

Hidan's curse ritual directly connects to the body, and unless treatment is given at the very beginning of the injury, it's too late for anyone to save him now.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps came from the bridgehead.

Everyone looked up alertly and saw dozens of wandering warriors surrounding a short man as he approached—it was Kado.

He was dressed in a suit and tie, and his small eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses gleamed with greed and cruelty.

"Oh dear, it seems I've arrived just in time."

Gato pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of Kakuzu and Hidan before settling on Zabuza, who was being subdued by ninja dogs.

"The Akatsuki's immortal duo are nothing special after all. Luckily, they only paid a deposit."

He kicked Kakuzu's corpse, grinning to reveal a mouthful of gold teeth: "That saved us a lot of money."

Naruto clenched his fists, his tears drying with rage: "You bastard...!"

Kado then noticed Bai's corpse, a twisted smile spreading across his face: "Oh? Isn't this that pretty brat? He's the one who crippled my arm last time."

He poked Bai's cheek with the tip of his leather shoe: "Serves you right! How dare you attack your employer with just a mere tool—"

"Shut up!" Naruto stood up abruptly, his blue eyes bloodshot. "You're not allowed to insult him!"

Kado, startled by the shout, took a half-step back, then retorted angrily, "What? Did I say something wrong? He's nothing but Zabuza's dog!"

He pointed at Zabuza, who had been subdued: "Look, even his master doesn't care, so why are you getting so worked up?"

Naruto turned to look at Zabuza.

The rogue ninja from Kirigakure, known as "Oni," kept his head down, his gray hair obscuring his eyes, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Zabuza...

Naruto's voice trembled: "Why are you so unmoved? Haku respects you so much; you're the most important person in his heart! But what do you take him for? A tool?"

Zabuza remained silent, only his slightly trembling fingers betraying a trace of his emotions.

Kado laughed triumphantly: "See! How could such a cold-blooded animal care about the life or death of a dog?"

He waved his hand: "Someone, cut off Zabuza's head. I want to hang it in my office as a souvenir!"

Several samurai drew their katana and approached Zabuza. Just as they raised their swords—

"Do you really want this?"

Zabuza's voice was soft, yet it sent a shockwave through everyone.

He slowly raised his head, the killing intent in his eyes so palpable that it terrified the warriors, who retreated in fear.

"Kakashi?"

Zabuza's voice was terribly hoarse: "Let me go."

Kakashi's Sharingan twitched slightly: "Why should I?"

"Give me a kunai," Zabuza stared in Gato's direction, "just one."

Naruto suddenly realized something, took out a kunai from his ninja tool bag, and threw it over.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then finally formed hand seals to release the ninja dog from its restraints.

“You only have five minutes,” Kakashi warned. “After that, I will re-arrest you.”

Zabuza stretched his wrists and picked up the kunai from the ground.

His movements were slow, yet they caused all the samurai to unconsciously retreat.