The sea lay as still as glass.
Looking down from midair, one could see a white ribbon continuously extending across the ocean surface. In reality, it was an ice bridge formed by freezing the sea.
On this ice bridge, an old man with a turtle shell on his back, leaning on a cane and wearing sunglasses, was walking step by step.
Hei Yan, now transformed into the "Immortal Sage," was using this method to train his Ice Release techniques, rapidly mastering this Kekkei Genkai.
After some time had passed.
Crack.
Hei Yan lifted his cane and struck the icy surface. The several-kilometer-long ice bridge beneath his feet instantly shattered into countless fragments that merged with the ocean below.
Hei Yan grew accustomed to the power of Ice Release. Then he lifted his head, eyes gazing westward across the sea.
It was time for him to visit Konoha.
Through the Outer Path's Demonic Statue—which acted like a surveillance device—he learned that Madara Uchiha had already dispatched the strongest warriors resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation—the First and Second Hokage—to Konoha in order to capture the Tailed Beasts.
And their targets—two Jinchuriki harboring the beasts—Fugaku Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki were people Hei Yan held dear.
There was no way he'd just sit back and do nothing.
However, just as Hei Yan was about to set off for Konoha—
He suddenly detected a powerful chakra fluctuation coming from the northeast, suggesting that some strong ninja were engaged in battle.
Hei Yan crouched low and dipped a single finger into the water's surface, amplifying his ability to sense chakra signatures.
There were three combatants involved—on one side stood the Sunagakure duo he had recently fought. However, their opponent was an enemy whose presence felt completely unfamiliar to him.
After a moment's thought, curiosity eventually won over caution, and Hei Yan rapidly made his way toward the battlefield.
Ten minutes later.
Hiding beneath the ocean's surface, Hei Yan observed from afar—a mysterious figure wearing a vortex-patterned mask, dressed in a black coat adorned with red clouds outlined in white, currently battling the two Kazekage near the shoreline.
Surprisingly, every attack launched by the Sand-nin duo—whether Ninjutsu or Taijutsu—passed straight through the masked man as if striking thin air, causing no harm whatsoever.
Meanwhile, the mysterious masked individual wielded a black chain, seizing the opportunity to counterattack and suppress both Kage-level opponents all by himself.
"What in the world is going on…?"
Hei Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, murmuring softly. Even though he usually remained composed and calm, at this moment, he showed a rare expression of shock.
Because from the masked man's distinctive appearance and unusual abilities, Hei Yan instantly recognized him—Obito Uchiha.
Yet it was currently only Year 38 in Konoha's timeline. Obito should still be a mere four-year-old child; there was absolutely no chance he would appear exactly like what Hei Yan was seeing now.
Unless… this person came from the future or another parallel world.
Upon realizing this, Hei Yan's thoughts immediately turned to the Dragon Vein.
Four years earlier, while in the ancient Kingdom of Loulan, he came across Team 7 as they temporarily crossed over from the original timeline. He had even made plans with Naruto Uzumaki to meet again in the original timeline for a decisive match.
Though Hei Yan had taken the Dragon Vein from Loulan, another Dragon Vein still existed within the original timeline.
Obito must have found out about Team 7's dimensional crossing and used the Dragon Vein to enter this world.
Within just a few dozen seconds, Heiyan had already pieced together the basic circumstances behind Obito's appearance. The only uncertainty remaining was whether Obito had come alone or if other Akatsuki members were with him.
Regarding this, Heiyan felt neither alarmed nor cautious. Instead, he found the situation becoming quite interesting.
At this moment, the battle took a new turn.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Suna duo conjured Magnet Release: Iron Sand Body as cover and retreated, putting more distance between themselves and Obito.
Next, the Third Kazekage lowered his arms and bowed his head. His expression became extremely dazed. When he lifted his head again, his soul had been erased. What replaced it was Madara's awareness.
"I am the ruler of Kiri. Who are you? State your name."
Madara spoke indifferently, his gaze icy as he stared directly at Obito.
"Ruler of Kiri... Impure World Reincarnation... You're... Uchiha Madara?"
Obito rubbed his chin, murmuring to himself before suddenly asking aloud.
He had originally meant to head for Konoha, but on his way through Kiri, curiosity got the better of him, so he decided to take a peek inside the village. From his memories, Madara had controlled the Mizukage very early on and turned Kirigakure into the Bloody Mist Policy era.
However, instead of meeting Madara, Obito ran into the Suna duo searching for the Three-Tails. One sharp clash quickly escalated into full-on combat.
In response to Obito's question, Madara was shocked, yet responded with silence.
Silence meant confirmation enough.
"You might not believe me, but I'm also Uchiha Madara—or should I say, I'm traveling the ninja world under your name."
Seeing Madara remained silent, Obito said with an amused expression.
As soon as he finished speaking,
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Four massive iron-sand spikes shot toward Obito from above, below, left, and right directions at lightning speed—clearly, Madara didn't believe Obito's nonsense and personally manipulated the Third Kazekage to launch an attack.
Same as before, though, those spikes passed straight through Obito's body without causing any damage.
"Aww, don't be so impulsive. We're practically kindred spirits. After all, it's me who is destined to complete your Moon Eye Plan."
Obito hurriedly waved his hands, trying to explain to Madara, hoping the latter would stop attacking—what a waste if comrades turned blades on each other.
He actually knows about the Moon Eye Plan?
Upon hearing that, Madara was taken aback—this revelation shook him more than anything. After all, the Moon Eye Plan was his deepest secret. Other than himself, only Nagato and Zetsu knew about it.
Thinking thus, Madara became even more determined—to capture this mysterious masked man and extract every secret he held through interrogation.
Under his remote manipulation, the Suna duo charged at Obito once again, engaging in fierce combat.
Yet both sides completely failed to realize: a figure lurking beneath the sea surface had unknowingly drawn near the shore.
Just then—
Along came an immense and unimaginable Ice Release chakra surging violently from beneath the water's surface.
Crunch... crunch...
The water surface instantly froze over, spreading like lightning onto the shore and encasing everything within a hundred-meter radius in thick sheets of ice.
In an instant, a massive wall of ice trapped the three fighters, locking them in place, helpless as statues.
Whoosh.
A shadow burst from beneath the water's surface, darting through the barrier with blinding speed toward Obito Uchiha.
Puk!
The figure's fingers, blade-straight and deadly, pierced Obito's right back and burst through his chest, splattering hot blood across their palm.
A clean, heart-piercing strike.
Staggered with shock, Obito stared down at the hand skewering him. With sheer survival instinct, his right eyelid twitched — he was regaining movement.
The next instant,
Buzzzz—
Originating from Obito's right eye, a space-time vortex spiraled outward, warping his body before yanking him inside.
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