"Things are going quite smoothly."
Obito and Zetsu moved swiftly across the surface of the remote island.
Zetsu's sensory and intelligence-gathering abilities were among the most elite in the entire ninja world.
Despite Kirigakure's tight barrier seals, he had managed to chart out a safe path straight to the Hidden Mist Village—once again proving the capabilities of the Akatsuki's Black Tortoise.
"I've already planted plenty of spores along the way. That'll let me monitor and infiltrate later as needed…" Zetsu's voice cut off abruptly.
It was as if he had suddenly sensed something unspeakably strange and terrifying. His half-black, half-white face twisted in shock and disbelief.
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"What is it?"
Though White Zetsu had plenty of exaggerated clones, the original was always calm and composed—especially with Black Zetsu around.
"All my spores have… gone dark," White Zetsu said, visibly shaken. "That's impossible—Watch out!"
Before he could finish, a black shadow sliced through space, moving at a terrifying speed—arriving in an instant.
An explosion of raw power blasted a crater into the island.
At that distance and speed, there was only one way to dodge that kind of sneak attack—Kamui.
Thankfully, the target happened to be the man who possessed Kamui.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Obito's eye narrowed into a slit as his gaze locked on the emerging silhouette.
It was a twisted black creature, its entire body cloaked in pitch darkness, like hardened keratin armor. Its face was hidden behind a hideous mask, making it resemble some warped humanoid beast. It radiated a terrifying, evil, corrupted aura.
But the most horrifying feature?
A circular hollow in its chest—like it had no heart.
"What the hell is this thing?" Obito muttered, stunned.
"ROOOAAARRR!!"
A grating roar ripped from beneath the creature's pale mask.
In a flash, it blurred into another black streak, lunging at Obito again.
Frowning, Obito remained in his intangibility state, letting the strike pass through harmlessly.
But then—mid-air—the creature halted abruptly.
And in the next instant, a massive, dark-red Cero beam exploded from its body!
"What?!"
"Wood Style: Wood Pillar Wall!"
While Obito remained in his intangible state, Zetsu, hidden beneath the ground, reacted instinctively—layering a thick wooden barrier between them and the blast.
The wall was shattered instantly.
But thanks to Zetsu curling himself deep underground and Obito remaining phased, they both narrowly avoided the attack.
"What... what is that thing?" White Zetsu gasped. "Its power is insane, but I can't sense any chakra at all!"
Black Zetsu said nothing.
Obito's expression grew darker—he already had a guess.
Between the two of them, they'd seen almost every known species or entity in the ninja world.
But this thing? It was completely foreign.
No chakra signature at all—yet capable of such destructive power?
"So... Yuki Yoru isn't just studying Shinigami anymore... he's playing with monsters like this too?"
"Are these failed experiments? Living weapons? Spawn of the Shinigami?"
His expression hardened, his mind racing with questions.
"Wait," Obito turned. "Zetsu—you said your spores were... gone?"
"More accurately… they were eaten," Black Zetsu replied hoarsely.
"All of them. Devoured. And not by that one we just saw."
Obito's expression darkened further.
That meant—there were multiple such creatures on this island.
"Get into my Kamui dimension. I'll go in alone."
After a moment of thought, Obito spoke calmly.
To average Jōnin, these monsters might've been a nightmare.
But to Obito and Zetsu—they weren't much of a threat.
What really concerned him was drawing attention from Kirigakure.
Yoru's ability to teleport across vast distances using space-time ninjutsu was well known.
He had fought Nagato in the Land of Iron and then immediately appeared in Konoha to intervene in the Nine-Tails incident.
This entire Chūnin Exam spectacle had been designed as a distraction—to lure Yoru away, giving them time to sneak into Kirigakure and steal the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku.
If they were caught before even entering the village, and Yoru warped back in response...
That would be game over.
"Fortunately..."
"I have Kamui."
Obito twisted the air, sending Zetsu's body into the Kamui dimension.
Then he phased underground again, heading directly toward Kirigakure.
As he neared the edge of the barrier, Obito rose cautiously to the surface.
"Hm?"
The moment he poked his head aboveground, his body froze.
Dozens of massive, twisted creatures—each several meters tall—towered over him.
Their masks were eerily pale, but their eyes glowed blood-red with a disturbing excitement—as if they had just spotted the most delicious prey imaginable.
Each body was grotesque: spider-like torsos with dozens of limbs, mantis-like arms with bladed scythes.
But one thing was clear:
They had once been human.
"Disgusting soul experiments… Damn you, Yuki Yoru!"
Obito's eyes blazed with rage.
He glanced around at the countless Hollows, scoffed, and headed directly towards the barrier.
These monsters might be powerful—enough to trouble even the Five Kage in numbers…
But in the face of his invincible Kamui, whether they were powerful or not was meaningless.
Expressionless, Obito walked forward.
Even as the monsters lunged, he simply phased through them.
When some turned on each other in confusion, savagely attacking anything in sight, Obito's lips curled into a cold sneer.
This... is Uchiha power.
"SQUEEEEEE!!!"
Suddenly, a piercing screech split the sky.
Obito's body stopped mid-step.
A black-and-white figure appeared directly in front of him.
It was humanoid—but its mask stretched from chin to crown like a rhino's horn. Its mouth was grotesquely large, puffed like an inflating bladder.
Its blood-red eyes locked onto Obito's Mangekyō.
And somehow… Obito could feel mockery in its gaze.
The creature didn't attack.
It just... inhaled.
Shit!
Obito immediately activated Kamui again, trying to phase fully out of existence.
But as the monster exhaled—
A sonic blast erupted from its swollen jaws!
The air warped. The ground trembled.
The space around Obito distorted violently.
And before he could completely phase out—
The sonic wave ripped him out of Kamui's dimension.
"What?!"
"ROAAAARRRR!!"
Excited roars burst forth in that instant. The dozen or so Hollows from before suddenly appeared around Obito, pouncing on him like ravenous beasts feeding...
..
The first round of the Chūnin Exams had grown more brutal than anyone expected.
After three grueling days, only eight teams had gathered all the required stars and reached the Gold Sand Fortress.
As the exhausted Genin crossed the threshold, the world before them exploded with color and sound—cheers and roaring applause.
A massive screen hovered in the center of the arena.
Over 30,000 spectators filled the stands—Daimyō, nobles, citizens, shinobi from every land.
And at the highest seat, the three Kage—Kazekage, Hokage, Mizukage—watched quietly.
Whoosh!
With a flash of wind, Baki appeared beside the eight teams.
His image also appeared on the giant screen.
"Some of you might be wondering—why begin the second round immediately, without even letting you rest?"
"The answer is simple—because it reflects the core of what it means to be a shinobi!"
After explaining the rules, Baki's tone turned serious.
"Ninja are warriors born to endure. You've all reached your physical and mental limits over the last three days—but that also means your team synergy is peaking."
"Which is why—now is the perfect time for the team battles!"
"The eight teams will draw lots. Four matches, team versus team. The winners will draw again for semifinals and finals. Simple elimination."
"Don't worry—the results of today's team battle won't affect your personal scores for tomorrow's individual matches. However, higher team rankings will earn special rewards—bestowed jointly by the Wind Daimyō and the Kazekage, Hokage, and Mizukage!"
Once everything was explained, Baki returned to the Kage platform.
He knelt and offered the drawing box to Kazekage Rasa.
"Kazekage-sama, all eight teams are prepared. Please draw the first match!"
"Long live the Kazekage!!"
"Kazekage-sama!"
"Hokage is invincible! Uchiha is invincible!"
"Mizukage is so hot!"
"I want to have Mizukage-sama's babies!!"
"KYAAA, MIZUKAGE-SAMAAA!!!"
The cameras zoomed in on the three Kage, and the fortress erupted with wild cheers.
Rasa smiled, then looked to both sides—Fugaku Uchiha and Yuki Yoru.
"Hokage-sama, Mizukage-sama—you're our guests. Why don't you go first?"
"Kazekage-sama is too polite!" Fugaku laughed. He turned to Yoru.
"Given how popular Mizukage-sama is, perhaps he should have the honor."
Yoru pulled aside the veil of his Mizukage hat, revealing his youthful, handsome face.
The crowd went insane.
Yoru smiled faintly.
"Very well. I'll set the tone."
He reached out, flicked the drawing lever—
And two teams appeared on the screen:
[Mist VS Cloud]
Fugaku smirked.
"Looks like a real clash of titans. Confident, Mizukage-sama?"
Yoru chuckled.
"Just hoping the kids don't freeze up under the pressure."
Then Rasa drew a team and passed it to Fugaku, who passed to the Wind Daimyō, and finally Rasa drew one himself.
The matches were set:
Kirigakure vs Kumogakure
Konohagakure vs Amegakure
Kusagakure vs Iwagakure
Sunagakure vs Hoshigakure
With the matches announced, Rasa didn't waste time.
He waved his hand—the battle was officially underway.
At each corner of the arena, four Suna Jōnin activated barrier jutsu, surrounding the arena in a transparent dome to protect the audience.
As the Mist and Cloud teams entered the field, the stadium erupted in cheers.
"Did you hear that, Utakata, Anko? They're cheering for our victory!"
Zabuza stepped onto the platform, pulling out a perfectly forged replica of the Kubikiribōchō,, his eyes locked on Darui and his team.
"Hmph. The Fourth is watching. Don't embarrass us," Anko muttered, a senbon in her mouth. She glanced toward the broadcast cameras, her mind wandering.
Orochimaru-sama... Are you watching me now?
Utakata didn't speak. His eyes were focused, locked onto the three Cloud ninja—especially Darui, standing front and center.
Storm Release… Disciple of the Third Raikage… Darui.
There's something… familiar about him.
Darui cracked his neck, his usual lazy expression sharpening.
"Mist-nin, huh…"
He, too, had sensed something familiar—
Spiritual Power
The battle was about to ignite.
Meanwhile, in the stands—
Amegakure's disguised team wasn't watching the arena at all.
All three of them had their eyes fixed on Yuki Yoru.
Yoru's gaze met theirs. He smiled gently.
One of them clenched his fists in fury.
One narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
And the last one…
Looked lost. Confused. Bewildered.