"It seems things aren't going well on your end, Lord Danzo," Obito Uchiha said, his masked face turning toward the distant explosion rising into the sky.
Danzo chuckled lightly at the remark. "Let's skip the pointless psychological tactics," he replied, raising his tanto and pointing its sharp blade directly at Obito
"As long as I'm here, you won't get anywhere near Kushina."
The chilling killing intent radiating from Danzo locked onto Obito, firmly positioning himself between the masked man and Kushina.
"Hmph, as expected of the 'Darkness of the Shinobi.' You sure talk big," Obito said with an ambiguous sigh.
Then, using his eye, he activated Kamui. The immense power capable of distorting space pulled at the surrounding air currents.
At the same time, he lifted his mask slightly and exhaled a crimson flame from his mouth.
"Fire Release: Blazing Storm!"
The flames from his mouth, amplified by the swirling air currents, instantly grew fierce and violent, surging forward like a raging whirlwind, threatening to engulf Danzo and Kushina.
Seeing this, Danzo immediately pressed his hand to the ground.
"Wood Release: Wooden Wall!"
Rows of wooden pillars rose from the ground in front of him, forming a thick wall that blocked the incoming flames.
The obstructed flames exploded violently on contact, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Crimson fire and chaotic air currents scattered in all directions.
Using the flames and smoke as cover, Obito activated Kamui once again.
His target, of course, was Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Unfortunately, all this concealment was meaningless in the face of Danzo's Byakugan.
The moment Obito reappeared near Kushina, Danzo had already teleported to her side.
His tanto gleamed with a dark light, as if ready to unleash the "Void Sword" at any moment.
The intense sense of threat forced Obito to abandon his risky move and retreat once again.
"Damn old man..." Obito muttered through gritted teeth.
He had attempted similar attacks several times since Minato left, but the results were always the same.
Danzo's reaction speed and combat awareness were simply too sharp, making it impossible for Obito to break through his defenses.
This realization darkened Obito's expression, and he began to regret not finishing Danzo off when he first encountered him in the Land of Rain.
But it was too late for regrets now.
Seeing Kushina behind Danzo, who was using a sealing technique to reconstruct her seal, Obito knew he couldn't afford to drag this out any longer.
If the stalemate continued, Minato would return, and the situation would become even more unfavorable for him.
"In that case, I have no choice but to use that move," Obito said, narrowing his eyes as a terrifying killing intent emanated from him.
Danzo also grew serious.
The situation had already diverged significantly from the original timeline, and there was no telling what kind of trump card Obito might pull out next.
"Sorry, Big Sister Kushina," Obito thought to himself, but his hands moved without hesitation.
He formed hand signs and performed the Summoning Technique. However, what responded to his call was not an ordinary summoning creature, but... a coffin.
At the sight of the coffin, Danzo's pupils contracted sharply. This was the symbol of the "Impure World Reincarnation" technique.
Since Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had already been summoned by Orochimaru, who else could Obito possibly be summoning as his trump card?
Perhaps noticing the gravity on Danzo's face, Obito's tone became even more arrogant.
"I didn't want to resort to this, but given the circumstances, I have no choice but to reveal it."
A crimson light flashed in his eyes as he spoke, his tone brimming with confidence, as if victory was already assured the moment he revealed this card.
"Danzo, relics of the old era like you should just rest in peace. I will create a new, better world!" Obito declared.
Before he could finish speaking, the coffin in front of him suddenly moved.
His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
In the next moment, with a loud bang, the coffin lid was kicked open with such force that it shattered into splinters.
As the coffin opened, an overwhelming presence instantly suppressed the entire area.
Even Obito, who had been so arrogant and confident just moments ago, was momentarily stunned.
His gaze instinctively fixed on the figure slowly emerging from the coffin.
The figure was clad in red armor from the Warring States period.
His long, jet-black hair cascaded down to his waist, and his crimson eyes, hidden behind his hair, gazed down upon the earth like a god, despite standing on the ground.
Even the cracks symbolizing the Impure World Reincarnation couldn't mask the terrifying aura he exuded.
"So it's him after all..." Danzo murmured, his eyes narrowing as he felt a rare moment of distraction.
Just from the sheer presence, Danzo could tell that this man was on a completely different level from Hashirama and Tobirama.
Had Obito used a special sacrifice to enhance the reincarnated individual's power? Danzo wondered.
In the original timeline, Kabuto Yakushi had crafted a special body for Madara Uchiha, claiming it would allow him to surpass his prime.
Although Danzo had never witnessed Madara's full power, his performance during the Fourth Great Ninja War far surpassed that of the four reincarnated Hokage.
Therefore, it was likely that Orochimaru had used a special sacrifice to enhance this version of Madara as well.
Regardless, the situation had just become extremely dangerous.
Even if Madara could only wield half of his prime strength, it would be more than enough to cause havoc in Konoha.
Surprisingly, the reincarnated Madara Uchiha didn't immediately launch an attack.
Instead, he frowned, examining the cracks on his hand.
"This is the Impure World Reincarnation? Why not the Rinne Rebirth?" he muttered.
According to his plan, his successor, Obito Uchiha, should have guided Nagato onto the "right" path.
After capturing all the tailed beasts, Nagato would have used the last of the Rinnegan's power to perform the Rinne Rebirth and revive Madara.
Once revived, Madara would reclaim his eyes, absorb the Ten-Tails, become its Jinchūriki, and initiate the "Infinite Tsukuyomi."
But the current situation had clearly deviated from his expectations. "And this place seems to be... Konoha," Madara said, his tone filled with displeasure as he gazed at the distant Hokage Monument.
Hearing Madara's question, Obito quickly dropped his earlier arrogance and cautiously replied, "There are some things I need your help with..."
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