Chapter 247 – An 'Unexpected' Gain, Obito's Transformation
The endless thunder of battle finally subsided, and silence slowly settled over Iwagakure.
From the distance, staring at what looked like hell on earth, everyone's minds buzzed in numb disbelief.
They had not yet recovered from the terror of what they had witnessed—for this battle had completely shattered their understanding of what "shinobi" were supposed to be.
"A Buddha a thousand meters tall…"
"A chakra giant over a hundred meters…"
"And that future Fifth Hokage—kicking apart that hundred-meter giant like it was nothing."
"This isn't even the same dimension as us…"
Human beings cannot truly imagine what they've never seen before. Legends and rumors are easy to dismiss as exaggeration. But today—they finally understood just how insane this world truly was.
"It seems… it's over."
Ōnoki's aged voice carried both relief and exhaustion as he gazed upon the devastated battlefield.
"Perhaps…" Jiraiya exhaled deeply, his expression tangled with shock. "To think even that man could be suppressed like this. And he was only an Edo Tensei body…"
"Edo Tensei? What of it?" Ōnoki asked, frowning. He didn't quite understand the distinction.
Jiraiya's voice dropped, heavy with thought.
"For most shinobi, Edo Tensei is a boon—endless chakra, tireless regeneration. But for monsters like Uchiha Madara or the First Hokage… it's actually a limitation."
"A… limitation?"
Ōnoki's eyes widened. That terrifying display just now… wasn't Madara at full strength?
If that wasn't his full power—then how far beyond comprehension were men like him? And just what kind of monster was Gen, who had crushed him head-on?
But before he could dwell on it further, the colossal thousand-armed Buddha dissolved into mist. In the blink of an eye, Kitagawa Gen appeared directly before them.
"Gen!"
"Is it finished?"
"You're not hurt, are you?"
Deidara spotted him first, practically vibrating with excitement. Naruto and Sasuke's eyes lit up. Jiraiya immediately asked about his condition.
Only Ōnoki's gaze was complicated—haunted still by the memory of that arrogant silhouette bathed in moonlight, Susanoo's shadow looming like a nightmare. That terror had stalked him his entire life.
And yet today, Gen had crushed it with disarming ease. Ōnoki could hardly find the words.
The other Iwa shinobi, still reeling, broke into cries of awe and disbelief. That kind of battle—so far beyond human scale—made their blood pound with both fear and exhilaration. They knew the truth: without Gen, Iwagakure would already be a graveyard.
"…Relax. I'm fine."
Gen shook his head with a faint smile.
"Obito and Madara have both retreated. For now—the battle's over."
Obito's spirit had clearly collapsed, and Madara… beaten into retreat by a "clumsy" use of the True Several Thousand Hands, hadn't even tried to use his Rinnegan before withdrawing. Gen suspected even if he had, it wouldn't have changed much.
"So what was their goal?"
Gen's eyes shifted to Deidara.
"Jinchūriki, wasn't it?"
"Most likely." Deidara scratched his chin, nodding—promptly earning a glare from Ōnoki.
"Oi! I'm still alive here! I'm the Tsuchikage, brat!"
Ōnoki's fury cooled quickly into a sigh.
"Their target was indeed the Jinchūriki. Your warnings were right. I just didn't expect they'd be so reckless… or so powerful."
His eyes swept across the smoking ruin of his village. His fists clenched. A great village, reduced to near rubble. Even with rapid evacuation, many had been too slow—or had chosen to stay behind to fight. What became of them… Ōnoki dared not dwell on.
"Damn the Akatsuki…"
His voice cracked, eyes reddening despite all his years.
The surviving Iwa shinobi slowly realized it too. Their cheers and relief faded. A heavy pall of grief fell across the battlefield.
"…My condolences," Jiraiya said softly, resting a hand on Ōnoki's shoulder. "This debt will be repaid."
Gen was silent for a time. Then he spoke, voice steady.
"I know it's hard. But you should focus on recovering the Four-Tails quickly. They won't stop here."
"…I know." Ōnoki nodded, exhaling a weary sigh. "Forgive me for showing such shame before you. I truly thank you. Without your help, Iwagakure might not exist right now. But… you'll have to excuse me. The village needs me."
"No problem," Jiraiya said quickly, waving a hand. "If you need us, just ask. We'll manage."
Ōnoki nodded, his eyes lingering on Gen one last time before departing with Deidara and the others.
Watching him go, Jiraiya felt a pang in his chest. When they were finally alone, he muttered, "Tch… what a mess. At least we made it in time."
"Or maybe…" Gen tilted his head with a mischievous smile, "it's because you led the team…"
"Don't even start!" Jiraiya snapped, cutting him off before he could finish. "We are not bad luck charms! Don't you dare spread that nonsense!"
He cleared his throat and quickly shifted the subject.
"…By the way, that power just now—that was Yin–Yang Release, wasn't it?"
"That's right." Gen nodded seriously.
"It's difficult to combine, but I got lucky. The results in battle are… beyond my expectations."
"Got… lucky?"
Jiraiya's eye twitched. He wanted to argue, but how could he? After all, Gen might truly be the only one alive to pull off Yin–Yang Release. Its might was terrifying.
"…If only I had your kind of luck."
Naruto pressed his lips together, muttering softly. Sasuke, too, couldn't help the flicker of longing in his eyes.
"Yin–Yang Release… what terrifying power."
"It really is," Jiraiya nodded gravely. "With that, it might even be possible to stand against Genshiki Ōtsutsuki."
But Gen looked a little embarrassed.
"Let's not talk about that for now. We actually came away with something else this time."
"Something else?"
All three of them blinked in surprise. Gen lowered his voice.
"When Madara and Obito retreated, I sensed movement nearby. I managed to capture two… things."
"Akatsuki members?"
"No. Something more… humanoid. Haven't you noticed? Madara was far too strong—unnaturally so."
"Too strong…?"
Jiraiya froze, and then realization struck.
This Madara had been absurd. Not only wielding the full might of the Uchiha, but also using Wood Release freely—and yet he was only an Edo Tensei body.
So what kind of vessel could endure that power?
"You mean…" Jiraiya's face darkened.
Gen nodded.
"There's a good chance. We'll test them when we get back. If it's true…" He gave a thin smile. "…then we've stumbled onto an incredible find."
Jiraiya understood immediately. He whispered under his breath:
"For Iwa, this was a disaster. But for us… it could be something else entirely."
Not only had their intervention strengthened Naruto's path forward, but if these strange creatures truly worked as Gen suspected—then there might finally be a way to stabilize the First and Second Hokage's souls.
"Yes. An 'unexpected' gain."
Gen agreed, his gaze flicking toward the tools pouch at his waist. Inside lay a scroll—quietly sealed, containing the chakra of the captured Five-Tails. Another "unexpected" prize.
---
Far away, deep in the mountains of the Land of Earth, two battered figures materialized—Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito.
They staggered as they landed, their faces twisted with frustration.
Boom!
Obito suddenly slammed his fist into the ground. The sheer force cracked the earth wide open, leaving a deep crater.
"Why?! Damn it, why did it end like this?!"
He roared again and again, as though venting the suffocating darkness in his chest. Blood still poured from his wounds—the mark left by Gen's Yin–Yang blade. That kind of injury was not so easily healed.
"Hmph."
Madara's gaze was cold, detached. He offered no comfort.
This battle had been a humiliation burned into his bones. He couldn't comprehend it—how Gen had grown to such heights. And that Wood Release… it had dragged him back into memories he wished to bury.
Once again, he had fallen to the True Several Thousand Hands. That nightmare… the shame of being utterly overwhelmed by Hashirama Senju… it had repeated itself.
He had withdrawn only because he knew the truth: if he was struck directly by that Yin–Yang Release, even Edo Tensei might not save him.
"Could it be… that boy truly is a descendant of the Sage's younger brother?" Madara wondered bitterly.
But before he could dwell further, Obito suddenly lifted his head.
"You said we'd create a world without war—a world of peace! Then why… why did it end like this?!"
"Hmph—"
Madara snorted, about to answer—when he froze.
Shock flickered across his face. Obito's skin had begun to change, dark lines spreading across it like ink. His chakra surged wildly, growing stronger with each breath.
Madara's eyes narrowed.
"…This brat…"