A distance of over a hundred meters isn't much for a trained ninja's vision—especially not for one with the Sharingan.
Even though it's not as suited to long-range perception as the Byakugan, the thousands of spirit bodies gathered atop the White Snake's back were clearly visible to Obito.
Understanding what was happening was easy.
Accepting it was not.
The deafening clash of two titans echoed across the sky, and waves of spirit bodies streaked past him like stars. Obito stood silently atop a treetop, eyes closed, but his expression beneath the mask twisted between joy, anguish, and disbelief.
Just one glimpse—and the floodgates burst open. All the emotions he had buried deep inside rose violently to the surface.
Across the battlefield, Rin Nohara paused.
She turned her head, sensing something—someone—watching her.
But it was too late.
All she saw was the faint ripple of the air healing shut.
"Strange…" she murmured, frowning.
"Rin, focus," a firm voice interrupted.
Rin looked back at the red-haired woman before her and nodded. "Right…"
Kushina Uzumaki softened. She ruffled Rin's hair and smiled gently.
"I know how badly you must want to return to the village… to see the people you left behind. But now isn't the time."
Her gaze lifted toward the sky, watching the battle unfold above.
The chakra she'd once left behind still lingered in the world. That meant Naruto was alive.
As a mother, she desperately wanted to see her son again—make up for the time stolen from them.
But some things had to come first.
"Don't worry so much," Kushina said, seeing the tension in Rin's brow. "Our job is simple. Just support the Kage with chakra."
She looked up to the dragon's head, where a golden-haired man stood, calmly giving instructions. Her eyes warmed.
To meet Minato again, freed from the seal of the Reaper—that alone made her return to the world of the living worthwhile.
---
Meanwhile, miles away in a jungle far from the beach, Obito stood motionless among the treetops, as still as a statue.
Like the fleeing spirits, he had left the battlefield.
But for different reasons.
His mind churned with emotion—conflicting, chaotic, unresolved. He had made up his mind long ago. He had endured endless suffering, taken brutal steps, severed every tie.
But now, seeing Rin again had thrown everything into disarray.
He remembered the day she died—how Madara twisted his pain and gave it purpose: a world where Rin would never suffer again. A world without war.
That vision had driven him to everything—the Nine-Tails attack, betraying Konoha, abandoning Kakashi.
All for the dream of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
A world of peace. A world for Rin.
But now…
Rin stood alive again. And to achieve his dream, he would have to become her enemy.
His thoughts spiraled into silence.
Then, something emerged from a nearby tree—half-merged with the wood.
Black Zetsu.
Its emotionless gaze locked onto Obito. "What happened out there? Who's fighting?"
Ever cautious, Black Zetsu had sent only a White Zetsu clone to scout—but it couldn't clearly identify the two fighters. All it sensed were two massive chakra sources.
Obito had taken the risk himself to investigate.
But now, he said nothing.
Zetsu's brow furrowed. "What's wrong with you?"
It suddenly remembered the thousands of spirits… and put the pieces together.
"Could it be…"
"…Yes," Obito said quietly, cutting him off. His voice steadied. "It's as you think."
He turned to Zetsu, forcing composure back into his voice. "But that doesn't matter now. What matters is the one fighting Orochimaru—it could be an Ōtsutsuki."
He quickly described what he had seen, doing everything he could to steer the conversation away from Rin.
Zetsu narrowed its eyes.
"This is bad," it muttered. "Very bad."
This was the greatest crisis yet—and Obito was still distracted by emotional attachments.
Zetsu noticed the distant look in his eyes. "…What about Madara? How is the recovery going?"
Obito snapped back. "With the Nine-Tails as a chakra source, it's progressing smoothly," Zetsu replied. "But restoring him to his prime will still take time. Time we don't have."
"I see…" Obito nodded.
Then asked something unexpected.
"These spirit bodies… They carry a lot of chakra. Could they be used to replace the remaining tailed beasts?"
Zetsu blinked. "…Maybe."
It had considered other plans—reviving past jinchūriki via Edo Tensei, draining their chakra—but this seemed… better.
From what White Zetsu had seen, it now understood why Orochimaru and the Ōtsutsuki had turned on each other.
These spirits were the perfect food for the Ōtsutsuki.
"Send your clones to track them down," Obito said. "I'll pull them into Kamui space one by one."
"We can't wait for Madara's revival. I'll become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. Even if it means using that unknown body."
"…You're right," Zetsu said after a pause.
The other massive chakra source—yes, it had to be a Ten-Tails larva. Even in that immature form, it posed a grave threat.
They had no time left.
Both vanished into the trees.
---
Back on the beach, over three thousand spirits were organizing rapidly.
Most were former jōnin, and many had battlefield experience. Coordinating wasn't difficult.
In fact, for spirit bodies born from the White Snake's chakra, unifying their chakra was remarkably natural.
"Fourth Hokage—use this power as you see fit."
Senju Hashirama clapped Minato on the shoulder, grinning. "To think you've developed something rivaling a tailed beast. Impressive."
Minato shook his head humbly. "I've only focused it into a Rasengan. Whether it hits… is up to you all."
Atop the dragon's head, Sharingan and Byakugan users worked together, connected via Nara clan coordination, tracking the high-speed battle above.
"Leave the launch to me," Hashirama said.
No one had more experience handling vast chakra. No one had deeper knowledge of senjutsu.
Tobirama stepped forward. "Everything's ready. Orochimaru is gaining the upper hand. He'll open a window soon."
"Window?" Hashirama grinned. "We don't need to wait. Let's fire the shell now."
They didn't expect to land a direct hit. All they could do was send the attack straight and let Orochimaru decide how to use it.
Tobirama nodded. "Begin!"
Thousands of spirits surged their chakra into the sky. A glowing sphere formed—pure, blinding power, surpassing even a full-strength Tailed Beast Bomb.
And it wasn't finished yet.
Dozens of Melting Release users poured hot chakra into it. The sphere ignited, glowing with white-hot intensity—like a miniature sun.
It drew attention instantly.
Above, Otsutsuki Isshiki noticed first. Wielding a black staff, he blocked a blow and sneered at Orochimaru.
"Fool. Can't you see? Even your allies are aiming at you now."
He was half-right. If a blast like that detonated mid-battle, both would be caught.
He could absorb most chakra techniques—but not something this infused with nature energy.
And Orochimaru wasn't giving him a moment to escape.
He tried to shrink his body with Sukunahikona—but Orochimaru countered instantly.
He tried to retreat into his own space with Daikokuten—only to be intercepted again.
He was being smothered.
If Orochimaru wanted, he could've ended it already.
Isshiki's rage boiled over.
"Damn you…!"
He knew defeat was close. If he had to fall, he'd take Orochimaru with him.
"You want mutual destruction? Fine!"
The Ōtsutsuki clan feared nothing—not even death. He had contingencies.
The glowing sphere—Senjutsu: Melting Spiral Rasengan—shot skyward, wreathed in fire.
Orochimaru didn't retreat.
He pressed forward—driving Isshiki toward the blast.
"Fine," Isshiki snarled. "Then let's die together!"
He activated Daikokuten again—this time releasing weapons.
Hundreds of black spears shot toward them—enough to cause chakra disruption even in gods.
Orochimaru didn't flinch.
The sphere exploded.
A wave of superheated energy engulfed the sky. The White Snake Sage immediately cast a barrier and dragged the remaining spirits underground.
Flaming debris rained from the heavens.
Then—silence.
Only one figure remained at the heart of the crater.
"Cough… cough…"
Orochimaru stood, blood staining his mouth.
He wiped it away with his tongue.
From his cloak, he pulled a small container.
Inside: a golden Rinnegan.
_____________________
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