"The Uchiha Clan's ultimate weapon?!"
Black Zetsu's words left Obito stunned.
The Uchiha Clan had something like that? How have I never heard of it?
In that genjutsu space where Madara passed on his knowledge, he had given Obito everything: Yin-Yang Release, the legends of the shinobi world, foundational ninja techniques, and more. He had intended to mold Obito into his successor—another Madara Uchiha—so that he could act in Madara's name in the shinobi world.
And Obito had not disappointed him. During that time, he had absorbed a tremendous amount of knowledge. He had mastered ninjutsu, Fire Release, Yin-Yang Release, and internalized all kinds of shinobi legends and historical secrets.
He could even summon the Nine-Tails. Aside from his different eyes, he was a genuine Madara Uchiha of this era!
And yet, with all that knowledge, he had never heard of any "ultimate weapon" hidden within the Uchiha Clan.
If such a weapon had existed—and it rivaled the strength of Yuki Yoru—why would Madara have lost to Hashirama Senju?
"Seems Madara didn't tell you," Black Zetsu said darkly. "Not surprising. That 'ultimate weapon' isn't an object—it's a person."
Obito narrowed his lone eye, suspicious.
Black Zetsu went on. "During the Warring States period, there was a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder within the Uchiha Clan whose dōjutsu was so unique that the rest of the clan raised him as a weapon—a living tool to fight the Senju."
"But as time went on, his power grew so immense that other clans began to fear him. Eventually, the Senju allied with the other clans and sealed him away."
"As for Madara… his situation was complicated. His fight with Hashirama wasn't just for supremacy—it was personal. And frankly, that 'ultimate weapon'... probably wasn't someone Madara had much affection for."
"I see… a living weapon of war," Obito murmured.
His blood-red Sharingan gleamed faintly.
From Madara's few vague words about the Warring States period, Obito had already gathered that the wars of that time were far more brutal than any modern shinobi war.
If this "ultimate weapon" had activated his Mangekyō during that era, and was raised as the clan's countermeasure against the Senju…
Then if Obito could get his hands on that power—
His entire plan's success rate would skyrocket.
"Where is that person sealed?"
"Within the Land of Fire," Black Zetsu replied.
...
Kumogakure's elite troops were pushing hard against Konoha's defensive line. But the difference in both numbers and power was undeniable.
Even combining Uchiha Setsuna and Danzo's forces, they barely had a thousand shinobi. Add in scattered reinforcements from Konoha, and they were still outnumbered and outmatched by the organized, tactical assault of Kumogakure's three thousand elite.
Luckily, they were on defense.
By sacrificing territory and slowing the advance with explosive tags, barrier traps, and terrain control, Konoha was able to delay the enemy until reinforcements arrived—until Uchiha Fugaku appeared.
In truth, Fugaku alone couldn't turn the tide of a battle of this scale.
But his very presence on the front lines, paired with the absence of the Raikage and the Jinchūriki who had gone to assassinate him, sent a ripple of panic through the Kumo ranks.
"Why is Uchiha Fugaku here?! Where's the Fourth Raikage?!"
"Weren't the Raikage, Killer B, and the Two-Tails supposed to ambush and kill Fugaku?!"
"Don't tell me… the Raikage has already—!"
"Impossible! That's the Fourth Raikage and two perfect Jinchūriki! They couldn't have lost! No way!"
"It has to be genjutsu! Or a Shadow Clone! This 'Fugaku' must be a bluff—meant to keep konoha's morale up!"
"Right! Everyone stay calm! The Raikage is probably already deep in Konoha's core. Don't waver—charge!"
Kumogakure's shinobi were clearly shaken. The commander, Dodai, barked orders in an effort to stabilize morale.
No matter what happened to the Raikage, he thought grimly, we still have the numbers advantage. We can break Konoha's lines. Whatever happens next, we'll deal with it then.
But the moment Fugaku activated Susanoo, all of that morale shattered.
"The Raikage has fallen! Konoha shinobi—follow me! Attack!"
His booming command echoed across the battlefield as Fugaku, cloaked in a fully armored Stage 4 Susanoo, surged forward like a god of war.
Even though Stage 4 Susanoo wasn't enough to fight the very strongest shinobi head-to-head, on a battlefield of this scale, it was devastating.
Its defense was virtually impenetrable—explosive tags, senbon, shuriken, even high-level techniques couldn't break through.
Its sword attacks packed the destructive force of A-rank jutsu with every swing.
Its massive, terrifying presence delivered a psychological shock so strong that the Kumo ranks began to break.
Meanwhile, on the Konoha side—
Their morale soared.
"Our Hokage has arrived!"
Inspired by Fugaku's presence and his rallying cry, the Konoha shinobi surged forward, their spirits ignited like a raging fire.
Flames blazed. Lightning flashed. Ninjutsu exploded in every direction.
Though outnumbered, Konoha fought like lions.
Because in any ninja village, the Kage is the pillar. The core of faith. The symbol of strength.
And Fugaku's announcement that the Raikage had fallen was enough to crush that pillar for Kumogakure.
Once that faith broke, it didn't matter whether you had three thousand or three hundred.
Three thousand soldiers with no will to fight collapse faster than a disciplined few hundred.
A collapsing army is like wildfire. Once it spreads—unstoppable.
The battlefield became a slaughterhouse. Screams echoed. Heads flew.
Kumogakure shinobi fell by the dozens. Dodai shouted orders, trying to regroup, but it was like trying to hold back a flood with bare hands.
The shinobi world had always been this way—different from modern warfare.
In mass battles, high-level fighters were everything. They weren't just the strongest weapons—they were symbols of hope and fear.
Just look at Amegakure in the Second Shinobi War, or Kirigakure in the Third.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Uchiha Setsuna stood behind Fugaku's massive Susanoo, elated.
He weaved signs rapidly and launched seven or eight blazing fireballs across the battlefield, each one perfectly timed to strike when enemies were exposed.
Every blast led to another scream.
Bodies burned. Heads rolled.
And with each enemy that fell, Setsuna's bloodlust surged.
This is it.
This is the feeling I've been chasing!
He unleashed one fire jutsu after another, eyes locked on Fugaku's towering figure.
As he watched the Susanoo engulf his clan leader, it overlapped with a deeper memory in his heart…
The year the First Hokage fought Uchiha Madara.
Their ancestor fell in defeat.
Afterward, the Uchiha were sidelined, pushed out of power by the Senju-controlled Hokage.
Tobirama's policies, the treatment of their clan under every Hokage…
Setsuna had never forgotten.
Back then, I couldn't protect our clan's ancestor. Couldn't help Madara seize the Hokage title.
But now—now that Fugaku is the Fifth Hokage, and the Uchiha rise again—this might be our only chance!
To restore the Uchiha's glory! To create the strongest Konoha!
This is our duty!
"KILL THEM ALL!!"
Consumed by zeal, Setsuna charged madly across the battlefield.
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun violently, teetering on the brink of evolution—his terrifying strength stunning even Danzo, who had just arrived to support the counterattack.
Holy crap. What the hell, Setsuna?!
Danzo had studied this "radical Uchiha" extensively—after all, he'd inherited every bit of intel from the Second Hokage.
But even he hadn't expected this level of combat prowess.
How is this guy in his sixties?! With this drive and chakra, you'd think he was in his prime!
Still, surprise aside—they were on the same side today. And the more firepower, the better.
Fueled by Setsuna's ferocity and Fugaku's Susanoo, Konoha's momentum exploded.
Kumogakure was in full retreat, morale collapsing.
"It's already gotten this far…"
The Fourth Raikage arrived late, staring grimly at the chaotic battlefield.
"Bee. Do it."
"Got it, bro!"
Killer B leapt high into the air—mid-leap, his form erupted in semi–Tailed Beast Mode. A dark ball of chakra began forming in his mouth.
"That chakra…"
"Wait—what?!"
"A Tailed Beast Bomb?!"
The moment it began forming, everyone on the battlefield could feel the surge of violent chakra.
Dodai's face lit up with shock, then joy.
"No panic! Don't be afraid! That's Killer B—it's the Raikage! They've returned!"
"Hold the line! We've got our Kage back!"
He let them go? Fugaku's eyes narrowed.
He had assumed Yuki Yoru would eliminate them completely. But now…
"Fifth Hokage, what now?" Hyūga Hiashi muttered, brows furrowed.
They'd seen the Raikage's strength. It was above Fugaku's. And he had two perfect Jinchūriki at his side.
One-on-one, Tailed Beasts weren't unbeatable.
But in large-scale battles? One Tailed Beast Bomb could annihilate hundreds.
That's why they were treated like nuclear deterrents.
"Don't panic. I trust the Mizukage won't let us down," Fugaku said firmly.
He took a deep breath.
His eyes flared.
Susanoo surged back into existence, engulfing his body in destruction incarnate.
He leapt high into the air—then hurled Susanoo's sword straight at the Tailed Beast Bomb.
BOOM!
The sword and bomb collided mid-air, unleashing a blast that shattered the sky.
A pillar of flame soared from the plains, a thunderous shockwave blasting through the battlefield. Trees bent. People shielded their eyes.
"Dodai!"
"Fourth Raikage! And B, Yugito!"
The Raikage and the Jinchūriki landed next to Dodai, who looked ecstatic.
Of course they're alive. With power like that, how could they lose? Konoha was just playing mind games!
"Raikage-sama! Fugaku declared your defeat—it crushed our morale. That's how Konoha got the upper hand!"
"But now that you're back, with B and Yugito, there's no way we can lose!"
Konoha had under a thousand shinobi left.
Kumogakure still had over two thousand.
Even with Susanoo, they had the advantage: the Raikage and two perfect Jinchūriki.
Even if it became a brutal slugfest—they would win.
Dodai was practically trembling with excitement.
Time to crush Konoha.
"Issue the order—prepare to withdraw."
"Yeah! Let's fini—wait, what?!"
Dodai spun, stunned.
"Raikage-sama… did you say withdraw?"
"That's right. Full retreat." The Raikage's voice was final.
In a flash of thunder, he leapt onto the battlefield.
Lightning crackled around his body. His blond hair stood on end.
The strongest Lightning Release Armor—reactivated.
Fugaku and the others tensed, expecting battle.
But the Raikage said nothing.
Instead, he discreetly infused chakra into the scroll Yuki Yoru had given him.
"Seriously now. If this keeps going, we're just going to suffer pointless casualties."
A calm voice echoed from the sky.
A figure descended slowly, overlooking the battlefield from above.
Everyone looked up.
The Fourth Mizukage. Robes fluttering in the wind. Blue-and-white kasa hat. That familiar, handsome face—
Yuki Yoru.
"Of course," he said with a faint smile, "if anyone's still feeling reckless, I'm more than happy to join in myself."
"But... how about doing me this one favor?"
"Let's end this battle here."