A Shinobi's Will

The moment they reach the front, the five sitting Kage scatter to keep the Allied Shinobi Forces fighting, aware this is a battle they cannot lose. Naruto and Sasuke stay locked with Obito, who somehow holds both of them off. Elsewhere Sakura labors over the badly hurt Shikamaru, refusing to let him slip away. Even mid-combat, a shell of Naruto's Version 1 chakra begins wrapping around the wounded strategist, something Ino later recognizes as an unconscious extension of his drive to guard those close to him.

As his strength returns, Shikamaru's thoughts and feelings pass through Ino's Mind Body Transmission Technique, laying bare his intent to advise Naruto once his friend claims the title of Hokage, and he pulls himself upright. Relief washes over the Konoha 11, Chōji most of all. Tsunade reaches the group and speeds Shikamaru's healing, praising her former pupil's handling of the situation.

Within Kamui's dimension, a bruised but mending Kakashi sees to his own injuries and judges himself nearly fit to rejoin the fight. After a brief word with her grandfather, Tsunade joins A, Gaara, Mei, and Ōnoki in rousing the troops all across the field, and Hashirama delivers the final rallying cry to the steadfast army. This chapter is part of the Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki arc and was collected in Volume 68.