"What's the situation?"
"Genji-sama, we're making progress. However, the Mizukage's side is putting up fierce resistance."
Inside one of Kirigakure's towering watchtowers, Genji stood silently, gazing into the distance. Standing behind him, Terumī Mei spoke in a low voice, reporting the current developments.
This battle was for the future of Kirigakure. Yet, seeing the situation unfold like this, even Genji felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
But he quickly composed himself. Since when had any revolution been bloodless?
"And there's more, my lord. Some have begun to express doubts..."
Just as Genji was deep in thought, Terumī Mei spoke again.
"They're worried... that they might be labeled as traitors to the village. You know how we—"
"Hmph. Tell them this—losers are the rebels. The victors bring revolution!"
Genji cut her off before she could finish.
"Besides, we must have faith in Ao, and in the Byakugan. He would never deceive us!"
"Yes, understood. I'll pass it on."
"Good."
Hearing her reply, Genji finally gave a nod. But just as he was about to say more, the ground suddenly shook violently!
In the next instant, accompanied by a thunderous boom and clouds of smoke and dust, a sinister chakra burst forth like a flood. Amid the haze and thick mist, the vague silhouette of a massive beast loomed.
"This is..."
Genji and Terumī Mei's eyes went wide—they could tell things had spiraled even further out of control.
And then, the beast let out a grief-stricken, furious roar that echoed across all of Kirigakure.
...
"Impossible..."
Struck by the Rasengan, Uchiha Obito's body was slammed into the ground.
The immense impact shattered stone in all directions, while the only thing visible through the dust was the blinding glow of a white Rasengan.
His mind was reeling. Everything felt like déjà vu.
Back then, hadn't Namikaze Minato defeated him in exactly the same way? Was history repeating itself?
He couldn't understand—why had he fallen to Flying Thunder God not once, but twice?
And more importantly... when had that brat learned to use the Flying Thunder God?
All of it left Obito's mind buzzing. But what truly made his blood boil was the boy's parting words.
"Who would ever try to replace reality with an illusion?"
That line pierced his heart, twisting his expression. For a moment, self-doubt crept in.
"Illusion... reality..."
Obito kept repeating those words in his mind—but soon after, he brushed the thought aside.
Illusion or reality—what did it matter?
He believed he now stood at a higher vantage point, looking down upon the entire shinobi world.
To him, people were slaves to their desires. That was the root of the world's suffering.
Only the Eye of the Moon Plan could fix everything—by freeing everyone from desire's grip, he could truly save the world.
Only then could Rin's tragedy be avoided. Only then could Rin be saved for real.
Besides...
He didn't have time to think further, because Kitagawa Gen came charging at him again, swinging the White Fang dagger down without hesitation.
...
"Did he lose?"
Elsewhere, the battle between Kakashi and Kisame had slowed.
Kisame's expression was somewhat odd. Though still locked in combat with Kakashi, his attention had shifted to the other battlefield.
That bizarre space-time jutsu... he couldn't make sense of it. But one thing was clear.
"That brat actually pulled off a successful sneak attack using the Flying Thunder God?"
For a fleeting moment, Kisame doubted everything. Was this guy really someone he could rely on?
"Gen..."
Kakashi and Jiraiya had both noticed it too. Their gazes lit up with a mix of excitement and emotion.
Obito had once betrayed the Fourth Hokage—but in the end, it was also the Fourth who had left the mark that could prove and change everything.
"What a perfect opportunity..."
At that moment, Jiraiya suddenly noticed something.
His eyes locked onto the Fourth Mizukage.
There was a stiffness to the man's movements—his attacks weren't as fluid as before.
"Obito's injury... is the genjutsu weakening? Then let's break this guy free of the control now!"
Jiraiya made the decision instantly. This mysterious organization was far too dangerous—even if Kirigakure and Konohagakure were sworn enemies, no village leader deserved to be puppeteered and humiliated like this.
Surely, after this incident, they would begin taking action against that organization. In a way, this could be seen as helping Konoha!
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Seizing the moment while the Fourth Mizukage was still paralyzed, Jiraiya unleashed a Fire Release jutsu without hesitation.
"Aaaagh!"
The Fourth Mizukage made no attempt to dodge. In an instant, the blazing flames engulfed his body—but at that very moment, the chakra of a Tailed Beast surged forth from within him!
"He's entering Tailed Beast Mode?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. It wasn't exactly good news, but not entirely bad either. The appearance of Tailed Beast chakra meant the Fourth Mizukage was actively breaking free from the genjutsu himself.
However...
It also made him that much harder to deal with!
Watching the Mizukage charge at him with a roar, Jiraiya wiped sweat from his brow. He had no choice now but to meet the threat head-on.
[Zzzzzz—]
While Jiraiya confronted the raging Mizukage, Uchiha Obito seized the opportunity and once again slipped into the Kamui space.
The moment he reappeared, he was met with the gleam of the White Fang dagger, crackling with violet lightning, slashing toward him from behind. His face twisted in frustration.
"Damn Namikaze Minato… damn that blasted Flying Thunder God!"
He hadn't forgotten what Minato had done. But Minato was long dead, and Obito had assumed no one else could ever master the Flying Thunder God. So he never bothered to erase the remaining marks.
And now, this damn brat not only learned the technique—he could even use Minato's old markers! It left Obito completely on the back foot.
"You're really tough, huh."
Kitagawa Gen didn't seem fazed by his first missed strike. As he launched another attack, he continued speaking casually. With the Flying Thunder God markers under his control, he had the upper hand!
And who knew if he'd get the chance to use them again—if he didn't take full advantage now, he'd be wasting a golden opportunity.
"You took a Rasengan head-on and still lived. Plus, you've got Wood Release? Who taught you that?"
"…"
Obito said nothing. He glared daggers at Kitagawa Gen, but his eyes were already beginning to smolder with rage.
"And why are you blaming others when you're the one who showed up late?"
"You're not seriously planning to wipe out all of humanity just to end conflict, are you?"
"Do you really believe in illusions? Or… do you have some other hidden agenda?"
Gen's mouth was just as relentless as his blade, and every word hit Obito where it hurt.
Even though he knew full well this brat was provoking him on purpose, trying to make him slip up—he couldn't help it. It was infuriating!
"Damn brat…"
Obito gritted his teeth, forcing himself to suppress the anger. That Rasengan hadn't shattered his arm, but his entire back was split open.
If it weren't for the fact that half his body was made of White Zetsu tissue, he'd be dead already!
Right now, his top priority was finding a way to get out of this cursed place—but Kisame was still stuck here with him.
He'd just recruited the guy. If he ran now, wouldn't that be disgraceful?
"Hm?"
But at that moment, Obito suddenly turned toward the other side of the battlefield. He noticed that the Tailed Beast chakra radiating from the Fourth Mizukage was intensifying rapidly.
And Jiraiya was using his relentless attacks to disturb the Mizukage's chakra flow. Obito instantly understood what they were trying to do.
"So… you're trying to break his genjutsu."
Obito clenched his jaw in fury—but a new idea suddenly sparked in his mind.
His Sharingan spun rapidly, and at that moment, the chakra of the Three-Tails became violently unstable.
"Then let me help you!"
"What?"
In that instant, everyone in the underground base turned pale. Jiraiya's eyes widened in alarm.
"RROOOAARR—"
The Fourth Mizukage let out a thunderous roar, and in the next second, his body began to swell uncontrollably.
In the blink of an eye, the entire underground base started to collapse!
"Damn it…"
Everyone's expression turned grim—but just then, Kitagawa Gen's eye twitched.
[Side quest complete]
[Cut through the darkness of the shinobi world, soar through the space between dimensions]
[Reward acquired: Three-Tails Chakra]
"…"
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