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"Damn it… Not again…!"
With a boom, Obito crashed into the ground. The feeling of being hit by the same old tricks and techniques was beyond infuriating.
Minato, having teleported back to his original position, didn't seem too pleased either. "A Sage Art: Giant Rasengan can hurt him, but the effect isn't ideal. Even Guiding Thunder: Swift Flash might not be enough to deal a decisive blow."
From his observations, the damage from the Giant Rasengan was minimal against Obito in his Ten-Tails Jinchuriki form. He would likely recover within seconds.
As for the impact of the fall? That was negligible. After all, no real powerhouse would die just from falling from a height, right, Kuina?
Obito wasn't physically weak. What Minato's attack truly hurt was his pride. Even as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, even after gaining the closest thing to the power of the Sage of Six Paths… am I still unable to defeat that man?
No… Impossible!
I am the strongest now! My plan, my dream world—I will create it no matter what!
Wait for me, Rin!
Obito's determination reignited. He soared back into the sky, and five protrusions on the back of his neck each ignited into flames. "You've almost exhausted all your little tricks, haven't you? I won't fall for the same attack again."
This wasn't just arrogance. The five flames, known as Six Paths Sacred Fire—or Cross Sacrificial Flames—could be used for both offence and defence. Like the Nine-Tails' chakra, they could transform into massive hands, and their destructive power was enough to shatter the Four Red Yang Formation used by the Konoha F4.
Just as the battle was about to resume, several new figures appeared on the battlefield—Tenten, Neji, Lee, Guy, Gaara, Yagura, and Ōnoki.
The Raikage and Killer Bee, having sustained severe injuries, had been sent to Tsunade for treatment.
After returning to the battlefield, Tenten made a quick stop at the command post, where Inoichi informed them about the battle against the mastermind—Minato and his team were already facing the incomplete Ten-Tails.
That was all the three Kage needed to hear. Realizing that Minato's battle was the key to the war, they had Tenten teleport them over immediately. Guy and his team came along as well.
"So, this is the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki? Looks troublesome," Ōnoki muttered, surveying the battlefield littered with destruction and then looking at Obito floating in the sky.
Gaara and Yagura exchanged grim glances.
Minato nodded. "Yes. Right now, only Sage Jutsu and taijutsu can hurt him. But even if we hit him, the attacks must be powerful enough, which makes things difficult."
"Taijutsu?" Guy's ears perked up. "Is it finally time for the Proud Blue Beast to burn with the flames of youth? By the way… his face looks kind of familiar. Have I seen him before?"
Kakashi's tone was heavy. "That's Obito."
"Obito?" Guy tilted his head, searching his memory. He recognized the name, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember that face.
"Well, whatever. Let me test him out," Ōnoki said, floating up. He wasn't the type to just accept that his jutsu wouldn't work without trying it himself.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
A blinding white light shot forward.
Obito didn't even attempt to dodge. He gripped his staff and charged straight through it.
Ōnoki's eyes widened.
Dust Release, a Kekkei Tōta that combined Wind, Earth, and Fire—far more potent than a regular Kekkei Genkai—should have disintegrated anything in its path upon contact. But Obito emerged completely unscathed.
This was the first time Ōnoki had encountered an opponent immune to Dust Release.
And Obito was fast. Too fast. At his age, Ōnoki knew he wouldn't be able to dodge in time.
Gaara reacted instantly, controlling sand to form a defensive wall.
Obito swung his staff, effortlessly dispersing the sand.
That brief moment, however, was enough for Ōnoki to retreat.
The others quickly spread out—getting too close to a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was a death sentence.
Obito ignored them and set his sights on Kushina.
He wasn't here to kill the Five Kage. He wasn't here to wipe out the Allied Shinobi Forces. He wasn't even here to challenge Minato.
He only wanted one thing—the Nine-Tails.
Kushina, however, remained unfazed. The Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak granted her extreme speed, allowing her to retreat rapidly while activating Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Five golden chains shot out, their tips forming sharp spikes.
Adamantine Sealing Chains weren't just for binding—they were also highly offensive, capable of crushing even the Wood Release: Wooden Golem Technique. Granted, that had been a weaker version of the jutsu used by White Zetsu controlling Yamato, but still—these chains packed serious power.
Obito had no intention of testing their strength firsthand. He countered with five Truth-Seeking Orbs, each intercepting one of the chains.
Kushina poured chakra into the chains, but after a brief struggle, the Truth-Seeking Orbs—formed from Yin-Yang Release—disintegrated them.
Then, a fireball shot toward Obito.
Unconcerned, he continued forward. "A mere Fire Release… What could it possibly—"
Smack!
Pain flared across his face.
Obito, momentarily stunned, barely had time to react before dozens, then hundreds of fireballs rained down on him like a torrential storm, striking him from every direction.
His entire body trembled under the relentless barrage.
For a moment, he was too stunned to react.
Had someone just shouted "Morning Peacock"?
Is this some new Fire Release technique?
Wait… Ninjutsu shouldn't be able to hurt me—!
Looking up, he saw a red-faced Might Guy hovering in the air.
The green jumpsuit and bowl-cut haircut triggered unpleasant memories, but this wasn't the time for nostalgia.
Activating his Sharingan, Obito closely examined Guy's chakra and realized—
This isn't ninjutsu. This is pure taijutsu!
He hadn't been burned—the damage came from the sheer impact behind each strike.
This man had reached a point where he could harm a god-tier being through raw physical force alone.
Obito summoned a Truth-Seeking Orb, shaping it into a thin barrier to block the assault.
Guy continued his onslaught, but after a few dozen more punches, he realized the barrier wasn't breaking. He landed gracefully, crossing his arms. "As expected, he's strong. The Sixth Gate won't be enough."
Obito adjusted his posture, shaking off the dust. He was still in one piece, but the fact that Guy had injured him at all was unsettling. He briefly considered whether to kick Guy in the face or continue his pursuit of Kushina.
Guy, however, had already made up his mind.
If six gates weren't enough—
"Eight Gates Released Formation—Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder… OPEN!"
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