With a bang!
Seizing the opening right after Kakashi released Daytime Tiger, Obito kicked him from behind and sent him flying.
"Hahahaha… Kakashi, ready to face my relentless bombardment next?"
Seeing Kakashi take the hit, Obito's face lit up with excitement.
"Not happening. I'm not falling for the same trick twice."
Kakashi suppressed his frustration, determined to make up for getting kicked away just now.
But it didn't take long for him to understand what Obito meant.
Relentless bombardment.
It was exactly what it sounded like—an unending barrage!
All kinds of ninjutsu poured toward him without pause. Avoiding them completely was practically impossible.
And as time dragged on, the backlash from the Eight Gates grew more and more obvious.
In the end, Kakashi could only helplessly raise his hands. "Obito, I lose."
Only then did Obito stop. He gave Kakashi a firm pat on the shoulder and laughed. "Kakashi, you need to work harder from now on. Cut down on those adult books, or I'll leave you even further behind."
Hearing that, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.
A self-proclaimed genius… defeated by the former dead last.
That feeling really didn't sit well.
Obito, however, had no idea what Kakashi was thinking. He turned to Yuzuru and asked, "Big Brother Yuzuru, I didn't embarrass you, right?"
Yuzuru nodded. "Not bad."
In the original timeline, Obito, after transplanting White Zetsu cells, could already fight Kakashi on equal footing without using Kamui.
Not to mention now.
Not only did Obito have White Zetsu cells, but he was also enhanced by system entries like [All-around Development], [Tailed Beast Without a Tail], [Robust and Vigorous], and [No-Hand Sign Ninjutsu].
With boosts like that, defeating Kakashi was only natural.
As they spoke, Kakashi had already calmed himself.
Looking at Obito, he asked, "When you used ninjutsu just now… you didn't form any hand seals, did you?"
Obito scratched his head. "Still got found out, huh."
In an instant, Kakashi's pupils shrank.
At first, it had just been a guess based on the fight—but he hadn't expected to be right.
"Obito, how did you do that?"
Kakashi asked, shocked.
If Obito had merely modified the hand seals of a technique or created some kind of instant-cast ninjutsu, he could have accepted it.
But just now, Obito had used dozens of different techniques—without forming a single seal!
Could it be…
He had developed a method to cast ninjutsu without seals?
Just thinking about that possibility made even Kakashi's heart race.
If he could master such a method, his combat strength would surely rise to another level.
Though Obito was usually carefree, he knew well what could and couldn't be said.
He vaguely replied, "Kakashi, this method only works for members of the Uchiha clan…"
Kakashi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So it's the power of the Sharingan?"
Feeling a bit guilty about deceiving his friend, Obito lowered his voice. "You could say that. If you became part of the Uchiha clan, you'd understand too."
Kakashi didn't think much of it. He simply assumed it was a secret the Uchiha didn't share with outsiders and didn't press further.
Obito sighed inwardly.
Kakashi… it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just that to gain Big Brother Yuzuru's blessings, you have to be an Uchiha…
Seeing the faint disappointment on Kakashi's face, Obito gritted his teeth.
Fine. I'll think of a way to get Kakashi to marry into the Uchiha clan someday.
After a brief thought, he pushed the idea aside.
Lifting his head again, he looked at Yuzuru. "Big Brother Yuzuru, since we've got time today, how about we spar too?"
Yuzuru glanced at him and replied calmly, "Not interested."
Obito frowned, displeased. "What do you mean not interested? I just beat Kakashi easily!"
"Right now, who in the ninja world can say for sure they'd beat me?"
"Besides, ninjas only improve by constantly fighting, learning from experience and mistakes!"
Yuzuru remained unmoved. "It's different. You don't learn much from a one-sided crushing."
"Huh?!"
Obito stared at him exaggeratedly and burst out laughing. "Big Brother Yuzuru, are you saying you can crush me as I am now?"
"You think this is still the past? I'm not that kid you used to train until he cried!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Obito threw a punch straight at Yuzuru.
Right now, his confidence was through the roof.
Watching the incoming fist, a trace of cold mist escaped Yuzuru's lips.
"Ice Release: Ice Age."
Centered on Yuzuru, everything within dozens of meters instantly turned into a world of ice crystals. All things were frozen solid, and the temperature plummeted to an unbearable level.
As for Obito—he remained frozen mid-punch, transformed into an ice sculpture.
"Release."
With a thought from Yuzuru, the frigid aura receded like a tide in an instant.
Kakashi quickly stepped forward and freed Obito from the ice.
Looking at Obito's undisguised shock, Yuzuru slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Obito, I'm standing right in front of you. How much do I resemble my former self?"
Obito opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak.
He realized that no matter how much he improved, he could never close the gap between himself and Yuzuru.
Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan…
Even though he was nearly unmatched in the ninja world…
Even with his extensive combat experience…
The difference in their power was still like an insurmountable chasm!
But after snapping out of it, Obito felt unwilling to accept it.
"Not fair, not fair, not fair!"
"I didn't even know you had Ice Release, Big Brother Yuzuru! I didn't perform well just now—I demand a rematch!"
Being instantly defeated was way too humiliating. If he used Kamui, there was no way he'd lose this badly!
Seeing Obito's refusal to accept defeat, Yuzuru snorted lightly. "Obito, you only have one life. In real combat, the world won't give you another just because you didn't perform well."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
After saying that, Yuzuru turned and snapped his fingers.
In the next moment, the frozen flowers, grass, and trees shattered into fine ice powder and drifted into the air.
"So… so cool…"
Kakashi murmured.
The scene before him was so beautiful that even he couldn't help but feel his heart race.
As expected of Yuzuru-sama—this aura he carried hadn't faded in the slightest over time.
Still as overwhelming as ever.
But unlike Kakashi, Obito—standing at the center of it all—felt a chill deep in his bones, and a trace of fear suddenly emerged in his heart.
If Yuzuru hadn't held back just now…
He would probably have ended up just like those things—reduced to drifting ice dust.