Within the ninja world, a frenzied, all-out war had already erupted.
This time, after the revelation of the "truth of the ninja world," the very nature of the war had undergone a tremendous change.
After all, war itself was something the Sage of Six Paths had yearned for. Only through war could the people of the world grow stronger.
And as for those who died—
"Anyway, there's Impure World Reincarnation. Instead of staying alive and worrying about getting beaten to death, it's better to just die in advance and be brought back with Impure World Reincarnation!"
In any case, there was no shortage of White Zetsu. And since all of this was part of the Sage of Six Paths' layout, Obito and the others no longer held back.
"Kappa, I've finally found you again!"
Hidan was the most excited of all. Braving the hail of bullets, he charged straight toward Guy.
"This time you won't be able to run! Nine years! You've owed me an answer for nine whole years!"
"…"
Guy was momentarily confused, as if trying to recall what this guy was talking about, but he still knew Hidan quite well.
"Damn it, it's that poison-using bastard again. Can't they switch to someone else for once?!"
...
"Hatake Sakumo, it's time for us to settle things as well!"
Sasori and Chiyo had also found Hatake Sakumo, who was hidden within the crowd and keeping a relatively low profile. Compared to Sasori's fury, Chiyo's face was filled with a sigh.
"It seems we really are going to cause you trouble."
"It really is a bit troublesome."
Hatake Sakumo scratched his head. He always felt that his entire life had been endlessly entangled with Sunagakure.
These people were truly like lingering ghosts.
...
"Ah? Why are you two here as well?"
Naruto and Sasuke had originally planned to take part in the "higher-level" battles, but when they spotted Zabuza and Haku in the crowd, Naruto's eyes widened.
"Hmph. The ninja world isn't your home."
Zabuza spoke with disdain, while Haku smiled faintly.
"We came voluntarily to provide reinforcements. Be careful."
"The ones who should be careful are you. I can't look after you that much."
Sasuke spoke calmly, but his gaze also shifted toward Uchiha Itachi.
"Perfect for a warm-up. You beast couldn't be more suitable."
...
As the great battle erupted, everyone found an opponent of their own, and Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama naturally became each other's adversaries.
"Madara, don't act recklessly!"
Senju Hashirama spoke up as he dodged.
"Now that we already know the Sage of Six Paths' plan, shouldn't we be united and face the Ōtsutsuki threat together?"
"That was originally what I thought as well, but now my thinking has changed."
Uchiha Madara wielded his gunbai and scythe as he launched continuous assaults. At that moment, his Mangekyō Sharingan appeared exceptionally crimson.
"I have spent my entire life relentlessly pursuing peace, only to discover in the end that this so-called peace was nothing but wishful thinking. You simply cannot understand how I feel!"
"But now that we already know the whole truth..."
Senju Hashirama continued trying to persuade him. He truly did not think there was any meaning in continuing to fight like this.
"Once the Ōtsutsuki crisis is resolved, won't we be able to welcome peace?"
"That is indeed the case. It's just that all of this was guided by the Sage of Six Paths, so—"
Uchiha Madara's expression was far from pleasant, and his movements grew even more forceful.
"I've already come this far, so all I can do now is carry it through with absolute resolve!"
In truth, Uchiha Madara harbored quite a bit of resentment in his heart. After fully confirming the logic behind the Sage of Six Paths' actions, it was impossible for him not to feel distressed.
He had always prided himself on fighting for peace, only to realize in the end that he had nearly become an accomplice to "the destruction of the world."
The peace he longed for was utterly worthless in the face of a greater crisis.
Meanwhile, that foolish and naïve Senju Hashirama had, in the truest sense, actually pushed the ninja world forward in "responding to the crisis."
For someone as proud as him, such a situation was simply unacceptable.
"Since the Sage of Six Paths' true purpose lies here, then I'll cooperate to the very end. I'll wait until all of this is over and completely forge every form of peace!"
Once the Uchiha's extreme emotions surged up, even Uchiha Madara, no matter how calm he usually was, would lose his balance.
"Damn it…"
Seeing this, Senju Hashirama knew there was no other way. He could only speed things up as quickly as possible.
"Since you're so stubbornly obsessed, don't blame me!"
"Hmph. Do you think you're Kitagawa Gen?"
Uchiha Madara's chakra erupted all over his body, and he let out a cold laugh.
"The way you say that, it sounds like you can deal with me anytime you want!"
"Bring it, Madara!"
"Hashirama!"
Boom—!
A tremendous roar burst out as the two of them collided, and the shockwave visible to the naked eye instantly sent who knew how many people flying.
...
"Damn it, these two are too troublesome."
Senju Tobirama spoke irritably, and what irritated him even more was that in a fight like this, he seemed completely unable to take part at all.
However, while he had a headache over it, Namikaze Minato had already regrouped with Kakashi, and their gazes fell on Uchiha Obito at the same time.
"Obito…"
Namikaze Minato spoke in a low voice, his gaze filled with complicated emotions.
"I really didn't expect that everything back then was actually you, but why did you do this?"
"Why?"
Obito glanced at Namikaze Minato. Then he turned his head to look toward Kitagawa Gen, but he still replied in a cold voice.
"Are you trying to lecture me? But don't you think it's too late, sensei?"
"Sensei…"
Kakashi frowned. He wanted to say something, but Obito let out a cold laugh and shook his head.
"You're always too late to show up at the most critical moment—whether it was me or Rin!"
"Obito…"
Namikaze Minato frowned, but with the words on the tip of his tongue, for a moment he did not know what to say.
"Besides…"
But Obito clearly had no intention of letting Namikaze Minato off. He clenched his teeth and continued speaking coldly.
"As my sensei, you couldn't even recognize who I was back then. You're nothing special either, Namikaze Minato!"
"And someone like you—do you really deserve to be Hokage?!"
"…"
Faced with Obito's questioning, Namikaze Minato was left somewhat speechless.
Even though he knew Obito was being somewhat unreasonable, as a teacher and as Hokage, he still could not help but think about certain things.
'If I had immediately seen that he was Obito back then, maybe I would already have stopped him successfully.'
'In that case, Kushina wouldn't have had to die, and maybe Naruto wouldn't have had to become a jinchūriki.'
'If I had realized in time that he was Obito, perhaps the entire ninja world wouldn't have had to face this catastrophic calamity.'
With such thoughts, Namikaze Minato could not help but let out a sigh. However, before he could say anything, Kitagawa Gen at the side let out a scoffing laugh.
"Here we go again with the same routine, Uchiha Obito. Do you really have nothing left to say?"
"Gen—"
Namikaze Minato wanted to say something, but Kakashi stopped him. Kitagawa Gen instead stepped forward.
"You were ambushed by Iwagakure because your own strength was insufficient, and you still have the nerve to blame others. Are you really a ninja?"
"…"
Obito's expression darkened slightly. He felt that whenever Kitagawa Gen opened his mouth, nothing good ever followed—but Gen clearly had no intention of letting him off.
"As for being late, I think I've asked you this before. And you? Didn't you notice it? Why didn't you hurry up?"
"…"
"You rely on others for everything. Are you even a ninja at all? No wonder you're a dead last—when something happens, all you think about is blaming others."
"Shut up."
"You never reflect on whether it might be your own problem. You only think about blaming others, and you only think about solving things through fantasy."
"I told you to shut up."
"You can't even tell who's truly good to you and who's deceiving you. You really will forever be a dead last and a clown."
"I said shut up!"
Obito completely snapped. Roaring, he charged straight at Kitagawa Gen, but Gen did not take him seriously at all.
The instant he casually blocked the attack, that unhurried voice rang out once more.
"A clown needs to know his place. Is the peace you talk about really the peace you want? And this so-called 'evolution' of yours—is it truly the 'evolution' you long for?"
Boom—!
A piercing roar erupted once again. Obito was slammed heavily to the ground. He gasped for breath, yet the killing intent in his eyes had already become almost tangible.
Kimimaro and Nagato immediately closed in as well, but Kitagawa Gen seemed to pay them no mind at all and instead spoke calmly.
"You'd better come at me together. Just a friendly reminder—if you don't have any other means, then…"
"…it's time for me to send you on your way."
...
The chaotic battle played out wildly beneath the moonlight. Meanwhile, within the shared consciousness channel of the three Ōtsutsuki, their expressions were also somewhat unusual.
"Truly spectacular. These lower life-forms may be very weak in terms of power, but their application of chakra and their combat techniques are remarkably proficient."
Watching such a frenzied battle, Urashiki could not help but voice his admiration, and Momoshiki also nodded lightly.
"This world truly is extraordinary. The things passed down through a millennium of bloody warfare are genuinely unbelievable."
However, as the words reached this point, Momoshiki and Urashiki could not help but exchange a glance.
And within the minds of both of them, a terrifying thought inevitably surfaced.
'If that 'Sage of Six Paths' really is Isshiki, then was that monster, Genshiki, also created by Isshiki?!'
After all, Genshiki's fighting style was truly very different, and Isshiki had once said that Genshiki had obtained this world's combat capabilities.
The moment they thought of this, the two of them ground their back teeth in hatred.
So all of the disastrous consequences really had been caused by this Isshiki, while they themselves were nothing more than unlucky victims who had been dragged into it!
'Not only did Isshiki release the demon within Genshiki's heart, letting Genshiki see the 'Stairway to Godhood,' but he even gave Genshiki the power to deal with us?'
Although there was still no conclusive evidence, at this moment they truly could not hold it together anymore.
They genuinely wanted to complete the "thawing" as soon as possible, find an opportunity, and strangle that damned Isshiki to death!
That bastard was the true root of all "evil."
...
"It's time to act!"
Meanwhile, as everyone was split up and fighting their own battles, Black Zetsu's gaze also locked onto Nagato.
"I should already be suspected by Madara. But since he still has use for me right now, I must do something to lower his guard."
Black Zetsu knew full well how suspicious Uchiha Madara was. That burst of excitement he had shown earlier had definitely been noted by Madara.
What he could do now was naturally to divert Uchiha Madara's attention as quickly as possible, temporarily leaving Madara with fewer concerns.
"Or rather, make him believe me for the time being. I absolutely must not act rashly!"
Thinking this, Black Zetsu fixed his eyes on Nagato, and his body slowly sank into the ground.
"In that case, I can only help Madara revive and immediately summon the Ten-Tails, letting him become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki."
Only in this way would Uchiha Madara possibly put those suspicions aside for the moment, and at the same time prevent Uchiha Obito from truly releasing his mother!
Humm—!
At this instant, his speed surged. Almost in the blink of an eye, he had already arrived beside Nagato, pushing through that tide-like chakra.
That black chakra, like splattered ink, shot toward Nagato.
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