"What the hell just happened?" Obito shouted, swearing as the mine began to shake violently. His eyes were filled with confusion as he tried to understand the situation.
Kakashi, Shisui, and Rasa also sensed something was wrong. They all paused, glancing nervously at the rubble falling around them.
Chunks of rock, disturbed by some unknown force, tumbled from above, giving everyone a bad feeling.
The tremors grew stronger, and soon the entire mine seemed on the verge of collapse.
The violent shaking unsettled them all. Unease crept into their hearts as the mine groaned under pressure.
Rasa swallowed hard and muttered with a hint of fear, "This shaking... do you think the mine is going to collapse?"
He looked to the others, hoping for some reassurance.
But Kakashi, Shisui, and Obito all stiffened at his words. They were thinking the same thing, but none of them wanted to say it out loud.
No sooner had Rasa spoken than the ceiling above them began to crack. Rocks fell like heavy raindrops, and the mine's roof split open.
"Damn it, Rasa! You really jinxed it—"
Before he could finish, an avalanche of rubble came crashing down like a waterfall, burying the four of them instantly.
---
Outside the mine.
Pain stood on a high ledge, cold eyes gazing down at the massive pit he had carved into the earth with Shinra Tensei.
"It's over," he said flatly. "Defying God is foolish."
The crater was filled with thick smoke and dust, obscuring the scene within.
In the distance, members of the Uchiha clan—who had been blown away by the shockwave—struggled to their feet. Their eyes were fixed anxiously on the pit.
"Chief, are you alright?"
"Lord Patriarch, please be okay... if you're gone, what will we do?"
"How can we possibly defeat the Akatsuki without our clan leader?!"
Panic spread among the Uchiha. None of them had expected Pain to unleash such overwhelming power.
Even after trying to flee, they had still been caught in the blast and thrown far from the battlefield. And they had only been near the edge of the attack—what about Fugaku, who had taken the hit directly?
The clan leader's fate looked grim.
Meanwhile, the Akatsuki members showed no such concern. In fact, they looked thrilled.
"Haha! There's no way he survived the leader's Shinra Tensei," Biwa Juzō said with a wicked grin.
Orochimaru, however, looked disappointed. He sighed softly and muttered, "So it seems I won't be getting Fugaku-kun's Mangekyō Sharingan after all."
"As expected of our leader—his power is terrifying," Kakuzu murmured, looking up at Pain in awe. "There can't be many in the entire ninja world who could rival him."
It was the most powerful jutsu Kakuzu had ever seen, and even he was stunned.
As the dust began to clear, all eyes turned toward the pit, eager to confirm Fugaku's fate.
Pain, still floating in the air, had the clearest view. When he looked into the crater, a flicker of surprise crossed his normally emotionless face.
"Oh? He actually survived a full-power attack. Interesting," he said softly.
Descending slowly, Pain landed in the center of the battlefield.
There, kneeling in the middle of the deep crater, was a massive black giant—Susanoo. It rested on one knee, holding a massive machete that had been plunged into the ground to stabilize its form.
The giant's armor was cracked and fractured, as if it could shatter at any moment.
"Haha... I took your strongest hit... and I'm still here," Uchiha Fugaku said defiantly, looking up at Pain.
"The Chief is alive!" one of the Uchiha shouted in relief. "We're saved!"
But before the cheer could spread, Fugaku suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The black giant behind him vanished instantly.
Fugaku remained, kneeling on one knee. He raised his head weakly and said with a bitter smile, "In the end... the winner takes all. And I've lost."
His once-scarlet Sharingan had turned white. His pupil power was completely drained. He was blind.
Struggling to his feet, he spread his arms and shouted, "Do it! Even if I die today, I will die as the leader of the Uchiha clan!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield—filled with sorrow, but also with unwavering pride.
From afar, the Uchiha clan members watched in horror, their eyes wide with disbelief and grief.
"Lord Patriarch..."
Tears filled their eyes. They clenched their fists, nails biting into their palms, yet felt no pain.
Their hearts were heavy with regret—blaming themselves for their weakness, for being unable to protect their leader.
Though rage boiled inside them, they were not the protagonists of this battle. Their fury could not change the outcome.
Then, as if the heavens shared their grief, a light rain began to fall.
Raindrops splashed on the ground, soaking everything—including the hearts of the grieving.
It was as if the skies themselves were mourning Uchiha Fugaku's fall.
Fugaku raised his face to the rain and spoke calmly. "Pain... do it. I only ask that you spare my people."
His voice was steady. He had already accepted his fate.
A faint smile played on his lips as he thought of his family—his wife and sons.
Mikoto... don't be too sad. Just live well after I'm gone.
Itachi is strong now. I know he can take care of you and Sasuke.
Sasuke... he just started at the academy. I'm sorry, son. I won't be there to watch you grow up...
Fugaku closed his eyes, ready to embrace death.
---
Suddenly, from the direction of the collapsed mine, a huge blue arm burst out of the rubble.
The noise startled everyone.
They turned in shock—only to see a massive blue Susanoo crawling out of the ground.
Atop its forehead stood Uchiha Obito.
"Look! It's Uchiha Obito!"
"We're saved!"
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