Under the golden glow of the Flying Thunder God, Minato's every attack claimed the life of an Iwagakure shinobi. The speed with which Minato killed was like mowing grass.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya unleashed an unstoppable wave of five-element ninjutsu.
Han and Roshi exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, they abandoned their offensive and began to retreat rapidly.
The speed with which Minato killed the Iwa-nin might seem like an advantage thanks to their numerical superiority over Konoha's casualties, but each of those fallen were their own comrades. This was not Kirigakure, where cold-bloodedness prevailed... In Iwa, bonds and camaraderie still existed.
Thus, the battle took an unexpected turn. With Minato's Flying Thunder God, the fight became a strategic game where both sides tried to prevent the other from continuing with a rampage.
Roshi and Han, Jiraiya and Minato, chased and dodged, leaping relentlessly across the battlefield.
The fighting intensified and soon the combat fragmented into multiple isolated clashes, each shinobi fighting with everything they had.
Minato, Jiraiya, Han and Roshi were moving further and further away from the center of the battlefield…
Meanwhile, on the edge of the battlefield…
Obito's eyes shone with the glow of the Sharingan. With a few sure-footed moves, he effortlessly dispatched an Iwagakure shinobi who had crossed his path. A confident smile spread across his face.
However, what he didn't notice was...
Behind him, Kazuki looked at him and the person flying above his head with interest...
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki!
Onoki was suspended high in the air.
His expression was grim, but there was also a hint of satisfaction in his gaze. From above, he watched Obito coldly.
"He looks like a child of just over ten years old... but he does indeed have a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan, and his ocular power is quite powerful."
Onoki recalled that scene he had never been able to forget: his sensei and himself being trampled mercilessly by Uchiha Madara. That humiliation had haunted him for decades.
It was an indelible memory.
"He possesses a ruthless instinct, an exceptional mastery of fire release and an innate talent in hand-to-hand combat..."
As he analyzed Obito's every move, Onoki's killing intent intensified.
Setsuna had molded Obito after Madara in his mind, adjusting every detail to the ideal version she had of him.
Although the imitation was not perfect, the result was undoubtedly effective.
The fact that Obito used simplified versions of hand seals for his ninjutsu evoked bitter memories in Onoki, increasing his hostility.
"This kid is dangerous... Thank goodness I was cautious and decided to confront him in person."
Onoki concentrated his chakra and began to calmly form seals, without taking his eyes off Obito, completely ignoring the presence of Kakashi, who continued to fiercely fight against the enemies.
Kazuki watched the scene with half-closed eyes, analyzing the seals that Onoki formed.
Kazuki began to rise into the air, watching the battle from above, as if enjoying a good show.
The boy who was once humiliated, now, as Tsuchikage and master of Dust Release, faced the descendant of the man who humiliated him and his sensei in the past.
"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"
Onoki unleashed his ninjutsu.
The ground beneath Obito's feet began to shake violently.
In the blink of an eye, the ground rose sharply.
Obito was alarmed and without hesitation, he pushed Black Zetsu behind him, all the while scanning his surroundings with a gaze full of distrust. Looking up, he saw Onoki staring at him with a murderous expression.
A chill ran down his spine.
No matter how arrogant he was, no matter how much he considered himself a genius of the Uchiha, he knew well that against Onoki he had no way to survive.
"Rin, run!" Obito shouted with all his might.
The Sharingan in his eyes spun violently as he pushed Black Zetsu away from him.
Obito stared at Onoki, while the tomoe of his Sharingan spun at a dizzying speed, trying to trap the Tsuchikage in a genjutsu.
Black Zetsu was also shocked at this moment.
Onoki didn't take the opportunity to deal with Minato and Jiraiya who were fighting Han and Roshi. It was such a good opportunity to eliminate two powerful Konoha shinobi, why did he find Uchiha Obito so strangely?!
Even if Minato had the Flying Thunder God Technique, he should have tried to sneak attack him instead of leaving him alone...
Countless thoughts flashed through Black Zetsu's mind, why didn't White Zetsu give him relevant information?
The answer is obvious, White Zetsu can receive all kinds of information on the ground but cannot monitor the sky and people's hearts.
This shrewd Tsuchikage taught Black Zetsu a lesson...
"This is wrong... Onoki came here with the clear intention of killing Obito! Even if it were the Four and Five-Tails Jinchuriki, he could still find a way to save him... But if he hits him with Dust Release...!"
Black Zetsu's heart sank.
"Boy, you have interesting eyes!"
Onoki lowered his head sharply to avoid eye contact with Obito, but his hands did not stop and continued to form hand seals.
From the ground, two enormous stone arms emerged, attempting to catch Obito as he tried to escape.
Obito took a quick look at Black Zetsu, forced a smile, and then, without hesitation, ran in the opposite direction with all his might.
"Damn it! I had to meet the Tsuchikage of all shinobi! Seeing his attitude... This old man is coming straight to kill me!"
The rock fists continued to fall with force, forcing Obito to roll on the ground to avoid them. Meanwhile, his mind was working rapidly: 'I must get as far away from Rin as possible... I have to give her enough time to escape! I can't drag her down with me.'
He gritted his teeth and, ignoring the searing pain in his arm, shattered by the blows, continued running, his legs as heavy as lead.
Kakashi on the side was already stunned.
The fight had been difficult, but they still had a fighting chance. However, in an instant, the Tsuchikage had appeared and, without even acknowledging his presence as the once genius of Konoha, had launched himself at Obito as if they were lifelong enemies.
Kakashi didn't know what to do.
If he went to save Obito, wouldn't that be suicide?
It's not that he didn't have the will of fire, but he really didn't have the ability. Obito ran faster than him, and Onoki hurriedly chased him.
And Black Zetsu on the side didn't know what to do.
Uchiha Obito must not die!
Uchiha Madara is so unreliable, and Kazuki has a confusing identity. Black Zetsu must find a powerful comrade-in-arms that he can control, so that he can not only be a behind-the-scenes mastermind but also take the initiative in this increasingly chaotic shinobi world.
But how to save Uchiha Obito?
This unexpected situation finally made Black Zetsu, who claimed to be the mastermind behind the shinobi world and played with all kinds of heroes, feel the panic of losing control.
Onoki looked coldly at Obito, who was still running hard despite his broken arm, and said in a deep voice: "You have a strong desire to survive. If an ordinary jonin came to kill you, you would really run away!"
"But it's over..."
He quickly formed seals and unleashed a series of advanced Earth Release ninjutsu.
Obito tried to keep running, but the ground beneath his feet instantly turned to mud. He applied chakra to his feet to stay afloat, but an invisible force caught him in an iron grip and dragged him down.
In the blink of an eye, the ground hardened again.
Obito struggled desperately, but his body was sealed into the ground as if trapped in cement.
In the distance, Kazuki sighed and pointed his fingers, as if firing a gun, in Onoki's direction.
"If Black Zetsu really is out of options, my plans could be affected."
His intention was to have Obito experience enough despair to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and, in the process, insert himself into Black Zetsu's narrative, cementing his identity as 'Kaguya's third son' and frightening Black Zetsu by unleashing strong emotions.
If Obito died here, the entire plan would fall apart.
"Black Zetsu, you are my brother, don't let me down..."
As if he heard Kazuki's inner whisper...
Rin's body suddenly collapsed.
Upon hitting the ground, Black Zetsu separated from Rin and, using the Mayfly technique, rushed towards Obito at full speed.
"There is still hope, there is still hope!"
"You have to wait for me, Obito!" Black Zetsu slid through the depths of the earth, using his maximum speed.
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---