"In the course of a long life, even the unluckiest guy will eventually welcome his own 'that day.'"
Maybe it's proposing to the girl he loves, and she agrees with tears in her eyes.
Maybe it's studying hard for exams and finally getting into his ideal school.
Or maybe it's after being busy for most of his life, finishing a meal happily with his family, watching the smiles of children and elders alike.
In short, when you reach "that day," no one needs to remind you, you'll naturally feel that this life was worth it.
"My 'that day' is today." Obito told himself.
So he took off the blue robe he usually wore, polished until it gleamed with wear, and went bare-chested. His Sage Body shimmered with a grayish-white sheen under the blazing sun, Truth-Seeking Balls circling behind him, looking like a true immortal descending from the heavenly palace.
Whenever he passed by an oasis, he would even borrow the lake water below to admire his heroic figure.
Obito had finished all his preparations. Maybe it was just arrogant self-delusion, but he truly felt it, the gaze of the world upon him.
He was very much looking forward to how desperate Ryosuke would be when he saw him become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki and personally experienced that overwhelmingly powerful strength.
"Stop admiring yourself."
The White Snake Sage's voice appeared directly in his mind.
To ensure stable communication, before the operation began, the three members of the Evil God White Snake had used a forbidden technique provided by the White Snake Sage to achieve soul linkage.
White Snake Sage No. 1 had cultivated for so many years, and with the technical support of Orochimaru and Obito, it had long since recovered part of its abilities. Although it still couldn't compare to its peak in the past…
It was already able to see part of the "present."
Very blurry, unable to see details, unable to hear sounds, with frequent "signal interruptions," sometimes even complete long-term disconnections. And for now, it could only lock onto a single target to observe.
Even so, the White Snake Sage intermittently saw something off.
Interrupting the signing ceremony, deploying defensive forces, and then inexplicably coming to the most remote, uninhabited desert region of the Land of Wind… what exactly was Ryosuke trying to do?
Just as this thought arose in the White Snake Sage's mind, the battle between Ryosuke and Isshiki erupted.
And then… the connection was cut.
"You're saying Ryosuke proactively released Isshiki?!"
Obito was excited.
"This is huge good news!"
In the Evil God White Snake's plan, the hardest part was getting Ryosuke to transfer Isshiki's head away.
Because during this period, it was Obito and Ryosuke fighting one-on-one.
Now, for reasons unknown, Ryosuke had made a foolish decision and released Isshiki ahead of time.
Didn't that mean the most difficult part had been skipped?
"Today really is my lucky day!"
Obito said to Yakushi Kabuto beside him, "Take me there immediately."
Before the White Snake Sage could speak again to warn them, Yakushi Kabuto used the transplanted Kamui to activate its spatial ability. Passing through the Kamui space as a springboard, they arrived at the battlefield.
Stepping out of Kamui space, Obito cracked his knuckles, ready to join forces with Isshiki. He was already imagining Ryosuke kneeling and begging for mercy. But when the distorted space froze into place... the ground was torn apart.
Magma boiled.
The sky still burned with strands of purple flames, dyeing the horizon a deep violet.
These were the residual flames left behind when the planet-destroying cannon fell, igniting the natural energy in the air.
"Where the hell did this send me?"
"Is this still the ninja world?"
Obito looked around in confusion, then saw Otsutsuki Isshiki kneeling on one knee, vomiting blood in great mouthfuls.
Good news, Isshiki had been released.
Bad news, He was about to die.
Sensing the spatial fluctuation, Ryosuke turned his head to look over. Years of getting beaten made Obito instinctively take a step back, wanting to shrink back into the warm, pleasant Kamui space, only to find he stepped into empty air.
After throwing him out, Yakushi Kabuto, knowing he didn't belong on this battlefield, didn't even step out of Kamui space and had already vanished without a trace.
Obito looked at Isshiki, then at Ryosuke, and muttered in a low voice, "To hell with this lucky day."
Obito no longer hesitated and charged at Ryosuke.
At this point, there was no way out. If he saved Isshiki, there was still a chance to fight. If he turned around and left now, truly letting Otsutsuki Isshiki die, then once Ryosuke freed up his hands, it would be time to settle accounts with them.
Determination and cold resolve flashed in Obito's eyes as he growled, "Ryosuke! Today is the day you and I decide life and death..."
Before he could finish, another ring-shaped spatial portal opened. A crimson giant hammer blasted out, smashing into Obito and sending him flying.
Kinshiki carried the crimson giant hammer, raising a hand to block the top edge of the portal so Momoshiki wouldn't hit his head. Only then did he slightly turn his body, inviting Momoshiki to step out of the portal.
Obito crashed to the ground. Looking at the two Otsutsuki walking out of the spatial gate, his expression was blank.
"Wasn't today supposed to be my 'that day'?"
All he wanted was to fight freely.
Either kill Ryosuke, or be killed by Ryosuke.
To put it plainly, Obito had hidden in the shadows his whole life. Today, stepping out at last, all he wanted was a stunning debut, said crudely, he just wanted to show off.
Yet whether it was the previous round or this one, every time he ended up being forced to hold it back.
Obito felt a tightness in his chest.
If it were the younger Obito, he probably would have rushed in without caring about anything.
Thankfully, over these years, under Ryosuke's suppression, constantly hiding and dodging, even if he didn't learn much else, he truly mastered the "art of endurance."
He stared at the suddenly appeared Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
The situation had returned to the same dilemma as the previous round.
"Should I make a move?"
On the way to the research institute, the White Snake Sage said impatiently, "The same question, why ask it twice? Of course..."
Suddenly, the White Snake Sage froze in place. The cigarette in its mouth fell to the ground without it noticing. Its mind was filled with a single question, of course… what?
Something was wrong...
Very wrong!
"There are two 'presents.'"
The White Snake Sage pushed its senjutsu to the limit.
"Two completely different 'presents.' One of them, the one that had already been experienced, was artificially erased."
It was like someone used correction tape to wipe out part of the text on a piece of paper and then rewrote it.
Others couldn't tell, but with the White Snake Sage's attainment in the Path of the Present, how could it not notice?
"What exactly happened in the erased 'present'?"
The White Snake Sage murmured softly, slowly raising its head to look toward the research institute ahead.
Amenominaka would give it the answer.
———
[Desert Battlefield]
Seeing Momoshiki and Kinshiki arrive, Isshiki let out a sigh of relief.
Even though he didn't know how these two half-wits had shown up.
But it was good that they did.
Momoshiki narrowed his eyes at Isshiki, not concealing the desire in his gaze at all.
He wanted to eat Isshiki.
Literally eat him.
Isshiki braced himself on his knee and stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're not qualified to eat me yet."
Momoshiki's Cursed Technique, Elixir Refinement could refine a target into a pill. The stronger the "material," the stronger the pill.
Isshiki was top-grade material.
However, with Isshiki's methods, unless he willingly sacrificed himself and removed the restrictions of the Kāma, there was no way Momoshiki could refine him into a pill.
Momoshiki clicked his tongue. "Gravely injured by a lower lifeform, and you're still acting proud."
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Ryosuke.
Ryosuke was checking his watch.
Twenty-nine seconds.
From unsealing Isshiki to Obito, Momoshiki, and Kinshiki arriving, only twenty-nine seconds had passed.
"You came really fast."
Ryosuke brushed the dust from his hands and scanned the four people before him. His expression was calm. Surrounded by powerful enemies, yet for some reason, it felt as if he alone was surrounding the four of them.
He took out a scroll once more, preparing to summon his mount.
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