No one understood the terror of the True Several Thousand Hands better than the Senju brothers. It was the ultimate technique, a move that had once shattered Uchiha Madara's complete Susanoo, and it stood as the strongest manifestation of Hashirama's Wood Style.
Yet against the overwhelming storm of fists, Kaito only smiled faintly. His eyes were steady, unshaken like an ancient well.
"What's the use of countless fists," he murmured, his voice calm. "When a single punch of mine is enough?"
His gaze sharpened.
"It's time I tested that technique."
A terrifying aura erupted from his body, crashing outward like a tidal wave. The sheer momentum swept across the battlefield, shaking the ocean itself. Waves rippled violently, boiling as if under a storm.
"This pressure… it's stronger than mine," Tobirama muttered with a frown.
Beside him, Hashirama's expression softened into a strange smile.
"So powerful. I didn't even have this presence at my peak."
Their words had barely left their mouths before Kaito's chakra exploded outward. A massive torrent surged skyward, forming a beam of pure energy that pierced the darkened heavens, briefly illuminating the world below.
His hair whipped wildly, his robes snapped in the wind, and his clenched fists pulsed with monstrous power. Veins rose along his temples, muscles tightening as though his body itself had become the weapon.
In a blink, his figure appeared above the Senju brothers. His voice thundered through the air:
"Sekizō—First Step!"
He swung his fist downward.
HUM!
From his strike burst a colossal shockwave, a beam of compressed air so dense it seemed like a pillar of divine light descending from the heavens. This was not ninjutsu, not chakra molding—it was pure physical strength refined to its limit.
The brilliant blast engulfed half of the Thousand-Armed construct, its radiant power cascading like judgment upon the Senju brothers.
The Arm's fists reacted, descending like meteors, attempting to crush him where he floated.
CRACK! CRACK!
The giant arms didn't shatter—they dissolved, melting away like snow under spring sunlight.
Then came the roar.
BOOOOOOM!
The air itself screamed as the impact tore through Konoha. The ground trembled violently, and the monstrous avatar split apart. The towering True Several Thousand Hands was cleaved in half, annihilated under the pillar of light.
The lingering force didn't stop there. It hammered down into the ocean below, churning the waters into chaos. A massive whirlpool spiraled into existence, devouring the sea as the water level dropped drastically before their stunned eyes.
Kaito hovered above the devastation, his expression as calm as ever. Beneath him, the brothers' Edo Tensei bodies disintegrated, turning to dust and scattering into the wind.
But before they were fully gone, their forms reassembled briefly—just long enough for Kaito to strike again. His arm morphed into a blade of dark lightning, and with one swift motion, he cleaved their heads apart.
Two ethereal lights emerged from their bodies—their souls freed at last.
Hashirama laughed warmly, unbothered by his fate.
"Well done, boy! You bring no shame to the Senju!"
Tobirama's sharp gaze softened, his voice carrying rare approval.
"Good work, junior. Tell me, this lightning of yours—it carries both Yin and Yang, doesn't it?"
Kaito nodded.
"Yes. Thunder and lightning at the core, fused with Yin release… and now, after stepping into the Six Paths' power, strengthened with Yang as well."
The brothers exchanged a glance.
Tobirama smiled faintly—an expression so rare it startled even Hashirama.
"Then the Senju clan can rest easy. With you here, Konoha has a future."
Under Kaito's watchful eyes, the brothers' spirits ascended toward the Pure Land, fading into peace.
Only once they were gone did Kaito turn, reappearing before Jiraiya and the other shinobi.
Their faces were pale, eyes wide and unfocused, as though they still couldn't comprehend what they had witnessed.
Kaito shook his head and spoke calmly.
"It's done. But the rest… is up to you. The cleanup of Konoha is your responsibility."
Jiraiya blinked, then managed a strained laugh. His voice was tinged with disbelief and weariness.
"To think… even the Hokage of the past brought back through Impure World Reincarnation would fall here. This is a day none of us will ever forget."
"No trouble at all," Kaito replied with a small smile. "After all, I am still part of Konoha."
He paused, his expression softening.
"I'll leave the aftermath to you. I need to head to the Five Kage Summit. Kushina is still there, and I can't help but worry."
Jiraiya nodded firmly.
"Go. And come back safe."
Everyone present understood the weight of those words. Kushina was no ordinary kunoichi—she was the second Nine-Tails jinchūriki. None of them questioned Kaito's urgency.
Quietly, he walked over to Hinata. His hand reached out, gently ruffling her hair. His voice softened, meant for her alone.
"I'll be gone for a bit. Take care of yourself. If all goes well, Tsunade and I will be back tomorrow."
Hinata's face flushed crimson, her eyes glistening.
"Y-Yes! Just… be careful."
Kaito smiled faintly, nodding. Then, with a wave to Jiraiya and the others, his form blurred and slipped into a swirling vortex of space.
The moment he vanished, Inuzuka Kiba exhaled loudly, clutching his knees.
"Finally… he's gone. I thought my chest was going to cave in just standing near him."
Aburame Shino tilted his head.
"Strange. Watching him fight today… I felt something pressing down on me. A weight I couldn't shake."
"That's your problem," Shikaku muttered, though his eyes betrayed the same truth. He, too, had felt that pressure.
Jiraiya's gaze swept the ruined village. His expression grew grave.
"Enough talk. Kaito's not on the same level as us anymore. Our job is to handle what remains. Shikaku, the planning is yours."
One by one, the shinobi turned toward Nara Shikaku, who sighed heavily, already forming strategies in his mind.
…
Far away, in a dim cavern, four smoldering Edo Tensei pawns crumbled into ashes upon the stone board.
The hooded figure watching them didn't frown. Instead, a sinister smile spread across his face.
"So they failed… As expected of Ayanami Kaito."
His voice echoed with chilling certainty.
"Fine. It's time to retreat for now. Next time we meet, Senju… next time won't be so simple."
The darkness swallowed his laughter, leaving only the unsettling echo behind.
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