Chapter 243 – It's You, Kitagawa Gen!
"What… what the hell is that thing?!"
Outside Iwagakure, Kitagawa Gen and Jiraiya had just arrived with Naruto and Sasuke.
In that instant, a monstrous wave of chakra roared across the land, shaking the mountains themselves until the ridges crumbled apart.
Such destruction was nothing to them; they dodged the falling debris in a flash. But without the mountain's cover, the scene beyond was laid bare—an immense Susanoo towering into the sky, locked in chaos with a rampaging Five-Tails.
Jiraiya swallowed hard. Naruto and Sasuke's eyes went wide; Sasuke recognized the chakra colossus instantly, while Naruto felt his father's voice echo within.
"That's the Five-Tails," Minato murmured from inside his son. "For it to appear now… something disastrous is unfolding."
He remembered it clearly: the battle with Iwagakure where both the Four-Tails and Five-Tails had fired Tailed Beast Bombs at once. If not for Flying Thunder God, he would have died that day.
Naruto stiffened at the memory, and when his gaze shifted toward Jiraiya, Sasuke's did as well.
"Hey, hey, what's with those looks?" Jiraiya muttered defensively.
Gen sighed. "I knew this trip would be trouble. I told you—whenever I go out with you guys, chaos follows."
"Damn it—maybe you're the jinx!" Jiraiya snapped back, but Gen only tilted his head.
"But I couldn't even leave the village on my own before, could I?"
"…"
"And funny enough, when I did missions alone, I never ran into problems."
"…"
Jiraiya fell silent, though in his heart he knew the truth: if anyone was cursed with bad luck, it had to be Gen. Still, maybe it was time he burned some incense and prayed after this…
"But this works in our favor," Gen said at last, smiling faintly.
"Huh?" Jiraiya frowned.
"We needed something from Iwagakure anyway. Help them in a crisis like this, and we'll have all the justification we need."
"…Fair point." Jiraiya rubbed his temples. "So what's the plan?"
"You take Naruto, help with evacuations, and watch for other attackers. Sasuke stays with me—I've found someone… interesting."
Naruto scowled but didn't argue; on missions, he followed orders. Jiraiya gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. Let's move."
As Jiraiya led Naruto away, Sasuke's eyes shone. To be singled out by Gen was an honor.
"Who are we meeting?" he asked eagerly.
"A man worth your full effort," Gen replied with a grin. "But first—one thing."
His gaze flicked to Sasuke's forehead protector.
"Take it off."
"Oh."
Sasuke tucked the headband away without hesitation. When he looked up again, he froze. A man in blood-red armor stood ahead, spiky hair whipping in the wind, eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"Is it him?" Sasuke asked, his breath quickening.
Gen nodded. "Yes. He's no ordinary opponent."
Those words only stoked Sasuke's fighting spirit. His Mangekyō spun to life, a kunai flashing into his hand before he hurled it straight at the man.
The armored figure caught it easily—
And in that instant, Sasuke activated Flying Thunder God.
"Izuna?!" the man barked.
"…Izuna? What are you talking about?" Sasuke frowned, confusion flickering across his face, but his short blade was already wreathed in purple lightning as he struck at the man's throat.
The scarlet glow of the Sharingan glared back at him. And with minimal movement, the stranger slipped past his attack as if it were nothing.
Sasuke leapt back, eyes narrowing. "…Edo Tensei? Then who the hell are you?"
No answer. Just a cold, heavy stare.
Then the man vanished—his body flickering like an illusion—reappearing before Sasuke with terrifying speed. His fist tore the air as it came crashing down.
"So fast—!"
Sasuke barely vaulted backward when the man's voice rumbled:
"Sharingan… and yet you lean on these filthy tricks?"
The punch shattered the ground, stone exploding from the impact.
"This speed… this power… he's even deadlier than Itachi…" Sasuke thought grimly.
The stranger's gaze grew sharper. "And that face…"
Sasuke vanished with Flying Thunder God—but the man was there again in an instant, his shunshin as swift as teleportation.
"…And you dare use his jutsu? That vile man's technique?!"
The punch came faster than Sasuke could dodge—until he slipped through space once more, reappearing behind him.
"Susanoo!"
Purple chakra surged, ribs rising, growing into a full skeletal frame. A colossal blade formed in its grip as Sasuke's Mangekyō spun furiously.
He swung.
The earth cracked wide under the impact, rubble and smoke exploding outward—
But the blade stopped cold. The stranger stood unmoving, blue chakra flaring across his body, holding Susanoo's strike at bay.
"Impossible…!" Sasuke's breath caught.
The man folded his arms, his Susanoo forming around him, equal in size to Sasuke's.
"You fight like him… you even look like him…" His voice dripped with contempt.
"But you reek of that coward's blood."
His Susanoo surged higher, its massive fist slamming forward.
Boom!
Sasuke's Susanoo cracked under the blow, spiderweb fractures crawling across its ribs.
"Who is this man?!" Sasuke's mind reeled.
The stranger's voice was ice:
"You wanted to know who I am? Fine. Blame your fate… blame your cursed resemblance."
He raised his hand, eyes burning scarlet.
In the next instant, Susanoo swelled even larger. Its legs materialized, planting firmly upon the earth, and in its hand appeared a massive chakra-forged blade.
"Remember this well—" the man declared, voice like rolling thunder.
"I am Uchiha Madara!"
The sheer weight of his name crashed down on Sasuke like a suffocating wave. His heart pounded violently.
Uchiha Madara.
The man who stood shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage. The only shinobi ever to rival Hashirama Senju.
"It's really him…?"
Sasuke's face paled as the colossal blade descended. Susanoo's overwhelming might pressed against his chest, locking his limbs in terror.
"Damn it… how can he be this strong?!"
But just before the blade fell, Madara vanished in a burst of chakra distortion.
"What—?"
Sasuke blinked, disoriented. At that same instant, a shockwave erupted from deep within Iwagakure, shaking the ground beneath his feet.
---
Inside Iwagakure
Obito stood within his towering Susanoo, calm and unflinching. The monstrous avatar held the thrashing Five-Tails in its grip, while Ōnoki and Deidara gasped for breath, battered and exhausted.
"It seems you weren't as impressive as I thought," Obito said coldly. "You should have just cooperated from the start."
His Susanoo's blade glimmered as the captured beast roared in futility. The outcome was already decided.
"Still… I suppose this little warm-up wasn't a waste."
"Damn bastard…"
Ōnoki's face was grim, while Deidara gritted his teeth. The worst part wasn't losing to Obito—it was knowing he hadn't come alone.
At the village gates, another chakra of terrifying magnitude surged skyward. Someone else had entered the field.
"This… this is bad," Ōnoki muttered.
Deidara met his gaze. For once, the flippant spark in his eyes was gone, replaced by stubborn resolve. Neither of them would bow, even in the face of death.
Obito noticed their determination and gave a faint nod.
"Not bad… I like those eyes." His voice was almost approving.
"Since you won't yield, fine. All the better."
He thrust the Five-Tails into Kamui's swirling vortex and raised his blade again.
"Because I haven't had enough fun yet!"
BOOM!
Before the strike could fall, a devastating force slammed into Obito's Susanoo from behind.
The impact was so sudden, even Kamui couldn't react. Cracks splintered across the colossal armor.
Obito spun, stunned—only to see Madara's Susanoo lowering its own blade, smoke and sparks hissing from the clash.
For a moment, even Madara's eyes flickered with surprise.
The two Uchiha locked stares.
Neither spoke. Their silence was louder than thunder.
And then—
Both turned at once.
Not far away, a lone figure stood watching calmly, his presence carrying a quiet, undeniable authority.
Recognition hit like lightning.
Obito's face darkened instantly. His voice shook with fury and dread.
"…You. Kitagawa Gen!"