Even though the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was under control, only his mind was being interfered with—his instincts and consciousness were still intact.
That alone was enough for him to realize something was wrong.
Almost instantly, he drew his weapon and scanned his surroundings with sharp vigilance.
As the Three-Tails Perfect Jinchūriki, Yagura possessed keen perception. His short stature and juvenile appearance masked a terrifying presence.
Green hair framed his face, purple eyes cold and sharp, a stitched scar resting beneath his left eye. In his hand was his distinctive club—thick and heavy, hooked at the front, adorned with green floral patterns at the back.
Deep within his purple pupils, an almost imperceptible trace of crimson flickered.
"Who's plotting against me?" Yagura shouted coldly. "Come out!"
Even with a Jinchūriki's sensory abilities, he detected nothing.
The back mountain was silent.
Too silent.
The fog hung unnaturally still, and aside from himself, there seemed to be no one else present.
Yet his instincts screamed danger.
Today was supposed to be a rehearsal day for Kirigakure. For various reasons, everyone stationed around the back mountain had been deliberately sent away.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was a carefully prepared trap.
"…So you won't come out?" Yagura's gaze sharpened. "Then I'll force you to."
His hands moved swiftly, seals forming in rapid succession.
"Wind Style — Typhoon!"
A violent hurricane erupted across the back mountain.
Ancient trees were ripped from the earth, sand and stone hurled into the air as the fog was torn apart. The dark clouds overhead scattered, allowing moonlight to spill down and coat the land in a pale silver glow.
Within a kilometer, everything was laid bare.
The forest was gone—reduced to a vast, empty clearing.
From the shadows at the edge of the devastation, two figures slowly emerged.
"…What kind of technique is this?" one voice muttered. "Some sort of large-scale dispersal jutsu?"
It was Namikaze Kirito.
Beside him stood Kimimaro, silent and unmoving.
Kirito stepped forward casually, a faint smile on his face as he looked down at Yagura.
"Namikaze… Kirito!"
They had never met.
Yet Yagura spoke his name without hesitation—his voice heavy with hatred.
If one looked closely, Yagura's eyes were no longer purple.
They had turned completely red.
Kirito, however, acted as though he hadn't noticed at all. His tone was relaxed, almost friendly.
"Long time no see," he said lightly. "Uchiha Madara… or should I say—Uchiha Obito?"
The moment the name was spoken, Yagura's expression froze.
Shock flashed across his face.
How does he know?!
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible!
He knows my identity?!
For a split second, panic surfaced—then vanished.
Yagura forced his expression back into calm and spoke evenly.
"Uchiha Obito? I don't know who that is. I am Uchiha Madara. But since you've figured out that Yagura is under my control… was that your goal?"
"Heh." Kirito chuckled softly. "A clown hiding behind a mask. After wearing it for so long, you don't even dare say your real name anymore?"
"Namikaze Kirito," Yagura said coldly. "Why are you here? Are you scheming against me?"
"Scheming?" Kirito shook his head. "You misunderstand. Someone hiding behind another person's body isn't even worth scheming against. Why don't you just leave? It'd save me the trouble."
"…You're underestimating me."
Yagura's voice changed.
It was no longer his own.
It was Uchiha Obito's voice—low, distorted, filled with fury.
The plan against the Uchiha Clan had collapsed because of Namikaze Kirito.
Orochimaru had been dragged into Akatsuki—then captured—because of him.
Now, Kirito was interfering in Kirigakure as well.
Is this bastard born just to oppose me?!
Obito roared internally.
And yet—even his hatred paled in comparison to Kirito's.
Kirito's parents had been killed right before his eyes more than ten years ago. Even now, though they had been resurrected, that hatred had never faded.
How could it?
"Why don't you come closer," Kirito said calmly, eyes cold.
"Let's see if Izanagi can save you this time."
"…!"
Silence fell.
Obito immediately understood.
Uchiha Itachi was Kirito's subordinate.
Which meant Kirito knew the Sharingan's forbidden techniques.
And that confidence in his gaze—
It wasn't empty.
He might truly have a way to counter Izanagi.
Obito wasn't afraid of death.
But his goal wasn't complete.
He couldn't die—not yet.
He still wanted to create a world with Rin… and Kakashi.
Against a monster like Namikaze Kirito, revealing his true body was too dangerous.
Especially when even Kamui wasn't safe.
That sense of helplessness he'd felt during the Uchiha incident—
He hadn't forgotten it.
"…Namikaze Kirito," Obito said coldly. "You truly are the greatest obstacle to the plan."
"Then let's bury you here—in Kirigakure."
With that, Obito withdrew his consciousness.
Control returned to Yagura.
"ROAR—!!"
The sound that burst from his throat was no longer human.
Without hesitation, Yagura entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
Crimson chakra erupted violently from his body.
He dropped low to the ground as three massive tails manifested behind him. A hardened, turtle-shell-like chakra shield formed across his back.
The earth beneath his feet trembled.
This was the overwhelming chakra of a Tailed Beast.
A deep, ominous hum echoed through the air.
Chakra began condensing in front of his mouth—layer upon layer, compressing, stabilizing.
A massive sphere formed.
Tailed Beast Bomb.
The true terror of the Tailed Beasts lay not only in their size, but in their ability to weaponize chakra itself—turning it into a living cannon capable of erasing everything in its path.
Far above the battlefield, inside Kirigakure's underground base, a Water Mirror Technique shimmered into existence.
Seated before it were Terumi Mei and several Mist shinobi.
The image within the mirror showed the exact scene unfolding on the back mountain.
"…A Tailed Beast Bomb!"
"Mizukage-sama is using his full power!"
"What happened earlier?! Why did he activate the Three-Tails?!"
"This is bad—if no one stops it, the damage will be irreversible!"
Terumi Mei ignored the chaos around her.
Her eyes were locked onto the image.
On the battlefield—
Namikaze Kirito was smiling.
Just smiling.
Faced with a Tailed Beast Bomb, even she would need time to respond. Blocking it head-on was unthinkable.
And yet...
Kirito showed no intention of retreating.
"What is he planning to do…?" someone whispered in disbelief.
"Is he insane? Does he really plan to fight a Tailed Beast with a human body?!"
Just as panic spread...
Kirito finally moved.
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