Kanon stared at Naruto's toad-like pupils, the hallmark of his Sage Mode, and her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
"Die quietly, Naruto."
Kanon's Kusanagi Blade slashed down, met instantly by Naruto's kunai. The sheer reactionary force of the blow pushed them both back. In the very moment they separated, Kanon flipped through the air and thrust a single hand forward; a beam of white light from her Particle Style shot straight toward Naruto.
"Watch out!" Kakashi warned.
Naruto wove a sign, and a shadow clone appeared beside him. The clone yanked the original body out of harm's way before transforming into a giant Fuma Shuriken and hurling itself at Kanon.
Kanon retracted her hand, instantly canceling the Particle Style. Behind her, a crimson ribcage of Susanoo manifested, snatching the Fuma Shuriken out of the air and crushing it into splinters.
"Is this all you've got?" Kanon sneered as both of them began weaving signs simultaneously.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto and Kanon roared in unison.
POOF!
As the white smoke cleared, thousands of shadow clones flooded the area. In a heartbeat, both armies of clones and their originals charged. The area turned into a chaotic war zone; water splashed, dust billowed, and the shockwaves sent Kakashi and Sakura flying back.
The battlefield was total pandemonium. Through the haze of war, orange and blue beams of light collided violently, leaving craters and explosions in their wake. Suddenly, two figures surged out from the smoke.
"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasenshuriken!"
"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan Fire Dance!"
Two terrifying jutsu, large enough to blot out the horizon, clashed. The force of the impact sent Sage Mode Naruto spiraling backward. Kanon, however, remained standing, blade in hand and body unscathed. She watched Naruto with a look of derision while her body phased into intangibility.
As the smoke settled, all of Naruto's shadow clones had been decimated by Kanon's own clones. Not a single one remained. It was a staggering display of the gap in their power; the current Naruto was simply no match for Kanon.
Her shadow clones dispersed, and Kanon landed on the water's surface. Looking at her former Team 7 comrades, she slowly sheathed her Kusanagi Blade. In her palm, the Rasengan Fire Dance began to swirl. She was ready to deliver the final blow.
Sensing her intent, Naruto pulled himself up from the water, his Sage Mode reaching its limit.
"Die, you Konoha scum."
BOOM!
The Rasengan Fire Dance in Kanon's hand, surrounded by a ring of flame like a miniature sun, smashed ruthlessly toward Team 7.
"Get back!" Kakashi screamed.
Using the last of his Sage Mode, Naruto conjured a Sage Art: Rasenshuriken and hurled it at Kanon.
KA-BOOM!
A terrifying roar echoed through the region. A mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and Naruto and Kakashi were sent flying, slamming hard into the distant walls.
…
Naruto looked at Kanon with an expression of deep pain.
"No matter what you say now, I won't change, Naruto," Kanon said coldly. "Whether it's you, or those ignorant, self-righteous bastards in Konoha... I will kill every last one of them."
"To complete the Uchiha's revenge and quell my rage, I will be the one to trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War!" Kanon practically shrieked, leaving Naruto no room for negotiation.
"I'm serious... is this truly the only path?" Naruto looked at her with concern, yet a faint smile remained on his lips.
"That's right. I told you long ago: your only choices are to kill me and become the hero of Konoha, or be killed by me like a stray dog."
"Kanon, that's not what I think... I won't be a stray dog, and I won't be the hero who kills you!"
As Naruto spoke, a crimson Susanoo arm manifested behind Kanon, reaching into the rubble and dragging out a hidden White Zetsu.
"Did you really think I hadn't noticed you?"
"You..." The White Zetsu looked at Kanon with trepidation. "Tobi told me not to let you find me, but your sensory abilities are beyond imagination."
The Susanoo ribcage faded, and Kanon dropped the White Zetsu to the ground. Currently, her goals aligned with the masked man's for the Eye of the Moon Plan. There was no need to turn on each other yet; she still intended to use him to win this war.
…
In an underground base, a wall of Sharingan floated in cultivation jars. A man in an orange mask stood before them.
"That cursed Kanon... she actually crushed Shisui's eye."
"Obito, Kotoamatsukami was a threat to both of us. It makes no difference whether it exists or not," Black Zetsu said flatly from the side.
"Before the war begins, we must reclaim the Rinnegan as soon as possible," Obito said, removing his mask and stretching.
"Kanon has started fighting Kakashi and the others again. What should we do?" a White Zetsu asked, emerging from the floor.
"I see. Kakashi cannot die yet; he is a necessary link for the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"As for the Rinnegan, Konan is guarding it quite well," Black Zetsu chuckled.
"Then kill her," Obito spat.
"Kanon might kill you first if you do that," Black Zetsu reminded him.
"Tch. She really is troublesome." Obito considered it; Kanon and Konan were indeed very close. "Let's go find her first. An open discussion might allow us to get the Rinnegan without a fight."
Obito picked up his mask and vanished into a space-time vortex.
…
Back at the battlefield.
"Did you find your answer?"
"Yeah, I found it," Naruto nodded to Kakashi.
"What do you mean, Naruto?!"
In the distance, Kanon began weaving signs, the sequence for Majestic Destroyer Flame. Just then, a spatial vortex appeared beside her, and both the masked man and Black Zetsu stepped out.
"What's going on, Kanon? I thought you had already retreated."
"We need to prepare for the war. We can't afford to waste our strength here."
Kanon ignored the masked man. She lowered her hands and looked toward Naruto, who was walking forward.
"Is it the Nine-Tails?" Tobi asked. "It seems you and the Nine-Tails brat can't help but fight the moment you meet. I've already prepared a stage for the Nine-Tails hunt; there's no rush. Retreat for now."
The Zetsu beside Kanon let out a cold laugh. "Let me finish them off. We have to get the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki eventually."
Kakashi stood up. After being healed by Sakura, he finally had the strength to fight again. "Madara and Zetsu..." He looked at them grimly. If these three launched a simultaneous attack, his side would be in dire straits. His mind raced, searching for an escape plan.
"Zetsu, you can't catch Naruto. For a non-combat type like you, dealing with the Nine-Tails is too much work. Leave the Nine-Tails to Kanon. Besides, I want to see what kind of storm this Spider Lily from Hell will stir up..." Tobi sneered, his gaze fixed on Kanon's profile.
"Eh?! Is that how it is?!"
"Correct. I'm a bit worried about Kisame. Go to his side and regroup with Black Zetsu," Tobi commanded, then vanished.
As the masked man left, Naruto continued toward Kanon. His blue eyes sparkled just as they had when they were children, but Kanon's eyes remained devoid of light, not even a ripple of emotion crossed them.
"Hey! Naruto!" Kakashi called out anxiously.
"It's okay. I just have some things I need to make clear to Kanon."
Tobi looked at Kanon one last time. "Let's go, Kanon. It's time to prepare."
"Wait. I want to hear the end of his ridiculous, naive theories." Kanon stepped forward, drawing her Kusanagi Blade.
"Kanon! Do you remember?! The things you told me on that cliff, your old dreams?!" Naruto shouted. "Sasuke once told me that first-class ninjas can understand each other's thoughts with just one exchange of blows. We understand each other now. That means we've both become first-class ninjas."
"Because of that, Kanon, I'm the only one who can handle your hatred! This is a mission only I can complete. When the time comes, I'll carry your hatred and die with you!"
"Hahahahahahaha!" Kanon burst into laughter. Naruto was as naive as ever; she couldn't understand how he could say such things with a straight face.
"You really don't understand me at all, Naruto! But I have to ask... why are you so obsessed with me?!"
Without a second thought, Naruto smiled, the same smile he always gave her.
"Because we're best friends."
In that moment, Naruto's mind was filled with a memory of them at age six, sitting on the cliff overlooking Konoha, where she had gently tucked back her hair and smiled while supporting his dreams.
"Kanon... I really miss the time we spent together as kids."
"I guess 'talking with our fists' really is our style after all."