Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!
Chapter 558: Seven-Tails Captured

Chapter 558 - 558: Seven-Tails Captured

"How did you dodge that?"

Madara's eyes narrowed in brief confusion before realization dawned on him, and a look of understanding settled over his face.

"I see... your body has already touched the threshold of the Six Paths' power."

With Senju and Uchiha blood fused within Kawakaze, it was no surprise that he had gained the potential to reach such a level.

"But what does it matter if you can sense it?"

"The Seven-Tails is mine."

That arrogant smile returned to Madara's lips.

With everyone else already taken down, he turned his focus to Kawakaze, commanding his four shadow clones to launch a relentless assault.

Like reapers from the abyss, the unseen shadows carried nothing but pure, murderous intent.

"You won't get away with this!"

Kawakaze's heart clenched as he realized what Madara was about to do. Panic surged through him, his heartbeat pounding erratically, as if it might tear through his chest.

With a desperate roar, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting to the Seven-Tails' side in an attempt to get Tsunade out of danger.

But the four shadows never left his side, giving him no chance to breathe.

The moment he arrived next to the Seven-Tails, he was already forced to fend off their merciless attacks.

At the same time, chains erupted from the mouth of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, wrapping tightly around the Seven-Tails.

Watching everything unfold, despair gripped Kawakaze. He knew—he had completely lost the chance to save Tsunade.

"Damn it!!!"

Enduring several blows, Kawakaze swung his sword, severing the purple chains.

But before he could make another move, an invisible force struck him, sending him flying.

"I'm not giving you a chance."

Madara scoffed as he watched Kawakaze crash through the air.

Nine more chains shot forward, streaking through the sky like whips of pure energy, binding the Seven-Tails completely.

Kawakaze struggled to his feet, his chest visibly caved in from the impact, blood dripping relentlessly from the corner of his mouth.

Gritting his teeth, he ignored the pain and teleported onto the Seven-Tails' back.

"Kawakaze, go!!!"

"It's too late."

Tsunade's weak but unwavering voice came from the beast's mouth.

With the last tail she could still move, she struck him away.

"Tsunade!!!"

Kawakaze was sent hurtling through the air, his body twisting in flight. Tears streamed down his face, unstoppable.

His eyes, filled with anguish and desperation, could only watch as the Seven-Tails was slowly dragged into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Then—

It was over.

Tsunade's body fell lifelessly from the statue's mouth.

The Tailed Beast had been completely extracted from her.

Boom—

She hit the ground hard, kicking up a cloud of dust. Motionless. Silent.

She wasn't breathing.

"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

Kawakaze's eyes burned blood-red, ablaze with unquenchable fury.

He knew exactly what it meant for a Jinchūriki to lose their Tailed Beast—

It was a death sentence.

Tsunade was gone.

The cruel reality cut into him like a blade, deep and unforgiving.

He refused to accept it. He couldn't accept it.

Only one thought remained.

Kill Madara.

No matter what it took.

Even if it meant taking him down with him.

A surge of chakra exploded from Kawakaze's body, raw and overwhelming.

The sheer force of it sent the four shadows reeling backward.

"Stop struggling."

"I've felt this pain before."

"One day, everyone around you will be gone."

"But once I complete the Eye of the Moon Plan... it won't matter."

"No matter who they are, you'll be able to stay with the ones you love forever."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Madara's voice remained steady, but there was a cold detachment to it.

He was completely immersed in the grand vision he had painted for himself, unfazed by Kawakaze's rage and defiance.

In his mind, he could already see the moment of his plan's success—that was the true ninja world he had always strived for.

"Good, my ass!!!"

Kawakaze's sudden outburst caught Madara off guard. He had never heard someone curse him out so bluntly.

Before Madara could react, Kawakaze vanished.

The massive Buddha statue once again found its master, and under Kawakaze's command, it launched a relentless assault on the mighty Susanoo.

Having absorbed another Tailed Beast, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had grown even stronger, radiating an aura of pure menace.

And with Hashirama still down, Kawakaze's attacks weren't enough to break through.

But he had guessed correctly—Limbo: Border Jail was in cooldown.

"Now's our chance—he can't use that invisible attack!"

Kawakaze knew that taking down Madara alone was impossible, so he wasted no time sharing the information with everyone else.

Hearing this, Hashirama and the others forced themselves to stand despite their exhaustion.

Mito quickly used Adamantine Sealing Chains, carefully pulling Tsunade's unconscious body away from the battlefield.

Her heartbeat was weak, her life force fading. Eyes shut, she was completely unresponsive.

"Tsunade..."

Tears welled up in Mito's eyes. Of all her grandchildren, she loved Tsunade the most.

With just that one soft call of her name, the tears finally spilled over.

She trembled as she pulled Tsunade into her arms, her grief overwhelming.

Moments later, the warmth left Tsunade's body. Her skin turned cold and stiff.

...

Meanwhile, the others had launched a coordinated assault on Madara, pushing his armored Susanoo back step by step.

It felt like they were so close to victory—just a little more, and they could bring him down for good.

But reality was never that kind.

Madara was merely stalling for time, waiting for Wheel Tomb: Border Jail to reset.

And they had nothing left to wait for.

"It's time to end this little farce."

Madara's expression relaxed, his confidence returning as Wheel Tomb: Border Jail reactivated.

In a single breath, everyone was sent crashing to the ground again—except for Kawakaze, who barely managed to hold his ground.

The force was stronger than before. Even Hashirama's reanimated body cracked like porcelain, fractures spreading across him like a spiderweb.

"You still have time to run," Madara said, watching Kawakaze struggle against the attack before finally laughing.

"Lord Madara, we must eliminate Hatake Kawakaze," Zetsu spoke up again. "He's the biggest obstacle in our way."

"You think he can escape?"

Perhaps sensing victory, Madara's tone was lighter now, almost amused.

"My mistake," Zetsu replied with a fleeting smirk.

Once Kawakaze was dead, his plan to resurrect his mother would be halfway complete.

All that remained was for Madara to gather the remaining Tailed Beasts, revive the God Tree, and then—

The final step would begin.