The Failed World

Robbed of Kurama, Naruto plunges unconscious toward the earth until Gaara's sand catches him, all while the captured tailed beasts are pulled back into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Disgusted by his own shortfall in strength, Madara rounds on a chattering White Zetsu clone and writes the whole army off as botched experiments, though the clone shrugs the insult aside and assures him their side has everything in hand.

Dodging Tobirama's strike by a hair, Madara seems to seize the advantage before the Second vanishes and counters, buying Gaara the seconds he needs to carry Naruto clear. Madara eventually pins him down, and the two exchange scornful words. Sasuke, meanwhile, readies himself atop Garuda, recalling Hashirama's promise of a technique that could counter Madara as he now stands. Setting his hesitation aside, he presents himself to the crippled First Hokage, who hands over the last of his chakra.

Belittling Tobirama, once celebrated as the swiftest shinobi alive, Madara drives a stake into his skull, yet the Second musters one last desperate blow that opens a gap for Sasuke to dart in. Before any attack can land, Sasuke hangs frozen in the air, and ignoring Tobirama's shouts, Madara runs his blade through the young Uchiha's chest, voicing his letdown at someone he felt had been given ample chances to act. The manga never reveals what technique Hashirama supposedly passed to Sasuke. The chapter appears in Volume 69.