The Land of Earth. Kitsuchi was leading the escort team protecting the Four-Tails when a man in a black robe and a swirling mask suddenly ap
The Land of Earth.
Kitsuchi was leading the escort team protecting the Four-Tails when a man in a black robe and a swirling mask suddenly appeared on a bare stone pillar ahead.
"Good evening, everyone," the masked man greeted.
"Who goes there?!" Kitsuchi shouted, raising his hand as a signal. The Iwa ninja squad instantly spread out in formation, activating sensory ninjutsu to scan their surroundings.
It had to be said—this Iwa escort team was indeed elite.
"You're seriously asking who I am?" White Zetsu Afei tilted his head thoughtfully. "Should I tell you? Hm... well, if I did, wouldn't that make the mask kind of pointless?"
Kitsuchi's face darkened. "Capture him!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Several rock projectiles blasted toward White Zetsu Afei, but he simply melted into the stone pillar and vanished.
"He's completely gone. I can't sense his chakra at all," one of the sensory ninja reported with a frown.
"No signs of other enemies either," another added.
"Did he really just vanish like that?" someone muttered.
"Don't let your guard down," Jonin Sumashi ordered sharply.
Almost immediately, White Zetsu Afei popped out from the left flank. "Hey, I'm over here now!"
A team rushed toward him—but once again, he sank into the earth and disappeared, reemerging moments later on the right side.
"He's using Earth Release techniques far beyond the norm!" Sumashi barked. "Watch the ground!"
White Zetsu Afei laughed. "Well, looks like the game's up. Time to get serious."
Suddenly, pale white spores erupted across the bodies of several Iwa ninja—Kitsuchi and Sumashi included—wrapping around them and draining their chakra.
"This bastard's been setting this up the whole time!" Kitsuchi growled. He formed a hand seal.
"Earth Release: Gangeki!"
Opening his mouth, he expelled a torrent of clay that quickly formed a massive rock golem. It lunged forward, swallowing the parasitic spores from Kitsuchi's body.
Sumashi acted in sync, using the same technique to purge himself.
But just as they regained mobility, a ripple in space-time distorted the air beside the barrel containing the Four-Tails.
Uchiha Obito stepped out.
He reached for the barrel—and activated Kamui.
But just as his hand phased through the seal, a massive stone column erupted from the earth beneath the barrel, lifting it high into the air and out of reach.
Sumashi leapt up and brought his rock-hardened fist crashing down on Obito's head—but the blow passed right through him.
"He's intangible!" Sumashi shouted, pulling back just in time.
Kitsuchi landed below with the barrel in hand and quickly passed it to another jonin. "Evacuate the Four-Tails! I'll handle this guy!"
Obito retaliated with a kick that sent Sumashi flying.
Then, brilliant blue chakra erupted around him. Susanoo began to take form—first the skeletal frame, then tendons and musculature.
"That chakra… that technique… it's Susanoo!" Kitsuchi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Uchiha Madara?!"
Susanoo roared, swinging both arms in a wide arc. Iwa ninja were flung like rag dolls, some screaming as they crashed to the ground.
Kitsuchi dove toward Sumashi. They clasped hands, then pressed their palms to the earth.
"Earth Release: Mountain Break!"
Twin hemispheres of rock erupted from the ground, slamming shut around Susanoo like a pair of jaws.
Boom!
Susanoo groaned under the pressure. Arms raised, it pushed upward, straining against the massive stone encasement.
Sumashi took to the air and used his Rock Fist Technique, smashing it down on Susanoo's head.
Crack!
Cracks splintered across Susanoo's arms. Then—CRASH—the armor shattered, and the construct collapsed under the mountain.
Sumashi landed next to Kitsuchi. "Is it over?"
But before Kitsuchi could reply, a shadow emerged from the rubble—Obito, completely unharmed.
And then came a thunderous roar.
They turned.
The Four-Tails had been released!
From behind the battlefield, White Zetsu Afei had phased into the barrel using remote Kamui, bypassing the weakened sealing jutsu.
The Four-Tails, now free, locked eyes with Obito. Obito raised a hand—and the beast's eyes turned crimson.
Sharingan!
"Damn it!" the Four-Tails cursed mentally as the illusion took hold.
"No!" Kitsuchi gasped.
"He's controlling it—!"
…
Back in the Land of Grass, Hoshita Shuichi—already in Sage Mode—opened his eyes.
"It's happening."
"What is it?" Shisui asked beside him.
Hoshita Shuichi narrowed his gaze. "Obito. Susanoo just appeared."
"I see. So Madara didn't show. Your theory might be right—maybe Obito's the one continuing his will."
Asuka closed her eyes briefly. "The Four-Tails just appeared."
Shuichi nodded. "Gear up for battle!"
The next moment, all four of them vanished in a blur—Flying Thunder God.
They reappeared midair, directly above the rampaging Four-Tails.
CLANG! Thick chakra chains erupted from Asuka's back, wrapping around the beast.
"There they are!" White Zetsu Afei shouted.
"They got here too fast," White Zetsu muttered. "With the Nine-Tails' power, this is no longer viable. Retreat!"
Obito clenched his fists. "If I go all out, I might still have a chance…"
Black Zetsu replied calmly, "Then do it. We're watching."
They relinquished control, letting Obito take over.
Susanoo reappeared—this time more complete, with armor and chakra swords in both hands.
"The Mangekyō version…" Shisui muttered, awed.
He appeared beside the Four-Tails, his Sharingan spinning wildly.
Genjutsu Release!
The Four-Tails blinked, and its eyes returned to normal.
"Thank you," Son Goku said. "Shuichi, what you told me… you were right. This world really is that dangerous."
Hoshita Shuichi didn't reply. Instead, he created a shadow clone and leapt skyward.
Purple lotus symbols bloomed beneath his feet as he activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
Hovering in midair, he began weaving hand signs.
Earth Release: Yellow Spring Swamp!
"Watch your footing!" Black Zetsu shouted inside Obito's mind.
Obito remained calm. "This kind of trick can't affect Susanoo."
Sure enough, his Susanoo simply dug its hands into the mire and leapt free, slashing at Shuichi in midair.
But the boy moved like wind across the lotus petals, gracefully dodging while weaving another series of signs.
Fireball Jutsu: Lava Style!
Several lava orbs rained down onto Susanoo, each exploding in fiery bursts.
Cracks appeared across the spectral armor.
"He's using Nine-Tails chakra to enhance his elemental techniques!" White Zetsu shouted.
BOOM!
Susanoo staggered—but Obito retaliated.
From above, Shuichi formed two chakra arms and began condensing Rasenshuriken variants.
Scorch Release Rasenshuriken!
Lava Release Rasenshuriken!
Magnetic Release Rasenshuriken!
All three flew toward Susanoo.
Obito raised his own black Kamui Shuriken to intercept.
When they collided, space twisted. The Rasenshuriken were absorbed before they could explode.
One remaining Rasenshuriken veered toward the Four-Tails—but Shuichi's clone intercepted it.
Flying Thunder God: Guiding Strike!
Using the same space-time energy, the clone neutralized the attack midair. Shisui followed up with a massive Great Fireball, colliding against the weakened Kamui shuriken.
The clash ended in a draw.
Inside Susanoo, Obito's mind reeled.
He had deciphered Shuichi's hidden message from earlier—encoded in the hand signs.
"Rin faked her death. She escaped. Spy…"
Could it be true?
Did Shuichi hide Rin somewhere?
But what about the Three-Tails?
Was it possible... he had split it?
Obito's thoughts were spiraling.
"Troublesome space-time ninjutsu," White Zetsu muttered.
Obito refocused. "This isn't over. I still only have one eye…"
Black Zetsu said, "If you truly side with us, we'll return the other one. We want your power to grow."
Obito grunted.
Down below, Shuichi descended and activated his trump card.
With a roar of chakra, a new construct took shape—one forged of Scorch Release, Yin Release shaping, Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and Sage Mode combined.
A massive, three-headed, six-armed godlike being loomed over the battlefield.
Heavenly Star God: Scorch Release Armor!
Its central head resembled Shuichi himself. The left and right bore snarling dragon visages.
He stood inside the god's central brow.
Shisui, Asuka, and even the Iwa ninja were stunned.
"Amazing…" Asuka whispered, eyes sparkling.
"This is the first time I've seen something on par with Susanoo," Shisui admitted.
"Is he even human?" Kitsuchi muttered in disbelief. "This power…"
Back in Susanoo, Obito narrowed his eyes. "Just flashy nonsense."
Susanoo charged. Twin chakra blades lashed out.
Shuichi's god raised its twin arms—purple flame chakra forming mirrored blades—and met the strikes head-on.
CLANG!
The ground quaked.
Susanoo punched with both fists. The Star God responded in kind.
BOOM!
A shockwave blew back trees and soldiers.
The god's third pair of hands rose, forming a Scorch Release Rasenshuriken.
CRACK!
It struck Susanoo's face—breaking the armor apart.
The construct crumbled.
The Rasenshuriken exploded—blazing light engulfing Obito.
…
As the dust cleared, Shisui frowned. "That won't be enough. Obito's Mangekyō is space-time. He escaped."
Sure enough, Obito emerged, unharmed, atop a distant rock pillar.