Ninja World.
Land of Rain.
No one knew why the Land of Rain was attracting so much attention today. All kinds of powerful figures had gathered here.
But in reality, it wasn't just the people on the scene who were watching the construction site of the Yang God.
Near the site, on a nearby inland lake, a toad's eye had already turned into the Rinnegan pattern. It was staring at the battlefield, closely observing any useful scraps that might fall when the fight broke out.
Aside from the toad, another figure emerged from the ground in the distance. It was Otsutsuki—no, it was Hyuga Black Zetsu. A trace of worry appeared on his face.
He had already confirmed that his father, Hyuga Hitoshi, would definitely cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi. That meant Uchiha Madara didn't actually need to get involved in this fight.
After all, he had used Madara for so many years. Even though it was purely for his own goals, he still had some attachment to him. He really didn't want to see Madara get beaten up.
But Madara had arrived too quickly. He didn't even have time to talk to him. And now, looking at the situation… there was no way to avoid a fight.
Nagato didn't like Obito or Madara. Obito and Madara seemed to have come for the Rinnegan and the Tailed Beasts. But the First and Second Hokage had just joined the Akatsuki's special operations team, essentially becoming Nagato's subordinates. Facing Obito and Madara, two highly unstable factors in the ninja world, they had every right to interrogate them.
And looking at them… they definitely weren't going to cooperate.
A major battle was inevitable!
Meanwhile, secretly watching everything through the toad's eyes was Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He had returned from the Pure Land but could only exist temporarily in Mount Myoboku using Gamamaru's offering. His brows furrowed.
From the people present to the atmosphere and even the reasons behind the fight, he could roughly piece together what was happening.
The reincarnations of Asura and Indra had successfully appeared—this should have been a good thing. Once they started fighting, Hagoromo had a way to extract the remaining fragments of his two sons from them. Then, using his soul's power, he could nurture those fragments and fully resurrect his sons, allowing them to take over the ninja world.
But…
Both the Uzumaki, Senju, and Uchiha clans could all be considered his descendants.
Yet, among the Uchiha, there was one person with the Sharingan, but half of his face was covered in strange markings. What was that about? And his chakra fluctuations… they felt strange. There was even a hint of something ominous, something similar to his mother's presence.
Sweat dripped down the Sage of Six Paths' face. He was starting to feel like he couldn't understand this new ninja world anymore.
Especially when he accidentally spotted someone sitting in the air, wearing the same markings as Obito. A deep sense of unease rose within him.
But whether it was unease or an attempt to intervene, the situation had already escalated.
Amidst the tense standoff, an unfitting voice broke the silence.
"The Land of Rain sure is packed with clowns today."
Senju Tobirama, having just stopped working at the construction site and joined his brother in the confrontation, spoke coldly.
"Come on, Tobirama, the real clown captain isn't even here in the Land of Rain."
Despite the tension, Hashirama still joked as if none of this was serious.
"Actually, Tobirama, if we're talking about clowns, wouldn't you be the best fit for that title?"
Obito sneered. He even instinctively spoke in Madara's tone, looking down on the Second Hokage with disdain.
Look at the level of power standing here. And then look at yourself, Senju Tobirama. Do you really think you belong in this fight?
But Madara wasn't amused.
"So many years have passed, Obito, but it seems like your only improvement is running your mouth."
He glanced at Obito, then at Nagato, who was radiating killing intent and clearly disliked both Obito and himself. A quick analysis told him that Obito had completely failed to steer Nagato in the right direction.
What a waste!
The only useful thing this so-called successor ever did was hand his body over to Danzo so that Danzo could use Edo Tensei to revive him.
But did he even need Obito for Edo Tensei?
Had Obito been wasting his life all these years?
"No matter how much I haven't improved, at least I've grown enough to understand that forcing the entire world into a fake dream won't bring peace."
Obito's voice dripped with sarcasm as he looked at Madara with disdain.
"At the very least, I've woken up from that ridiculous dream. But you? You're still clinging to the idea that the Infinite Tsukuyomi will bring peace. From start to finish, you've just been a puppet. A fool being used."
Obito's arrogance was clear in his gaze.
Little did he realize that if he hadn't just had a near-death experience and learned the truth about chakra, he would still be obsessed with the Eye of the Moon Plan.
His confidence now?
It only existed because he had found an alternative.
Compared to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he now believed the Chakra Fruit was the real way to grant everyone's wishes.
That's a real case of "the pot calling the kettle black."
"Infinite Tsukuyomi? What a load of crap. Even Nagato didn't buy into that. Honestly, your understanding of things is worse than his. At least he longed for a real world. And you? Even if you succeed, you'll just be living in a dream."
Obito tilted his head slightly and chuckled.
"So who's the real fool here?"
Where did you get the guts to mock Madara?
As Obito kept ranting, Hashirama's face showed even more shock. He knew his old rival too well. Just by sensing the heavy atmosphere around them, he could tell Madara was about to explode.
But this was only the beginning. That level of anger wasn't enough, and stirring the pot wasn't fun unless everyone was in on it.
"If you want to talk nonsense, fine. But who gave you the right to drag me into it?"
Nagato glared coldly at the masked man who had deceived him for half his life.
"And what are you, exactly? Some nobody from some second-rate group? What gives you the right to judge my actions? Do you really think you've grasped some ultimate truth? Or did you just pick up a few scraps of knowledge about the world and couldn't wait to show off? You're no different from a clown in front of someone who truly understands everything."
Well said!
On the other side, Uchiha Madara suddenly felt much better. And with that, his mind also became clearer. He remembered hearing some interesting rumors on his way here.
"Nagato is right. You're just a clown being used by me. Don't forget, I'm the one who handed you your script. Also… I heard that the girl who pushed you into following the Eye of the Moon Plan has been revived. And guess what? She's about to marry someone else."
"Man, she's already moved on, and you're still stuck in your emo phase? Do I even need to say what that makes you?"
At that moment, everyone turned to Obito, their eyes filled with gossip.
"Tsk."
"Isn't this just the classic case of a desperate simp who never got the girl? It's like something straight out of those cheesy kids' cartoons on Sun God Kingdom's preschool channel."
So he turned evil because of a woman? And she didn't even like him back? Looking at Obito now, it was hard not to laugh.
He was trying so hard to act superior, but deep down, wasn't this just a way to cover up his insecurity and crave attention?
What kind of pathetic loser logic was this? Did he really think that if he got stronger, fought the whole world, and acted tough, his so-called "goddess" would suddenly fall for him?
No way. No way. Who's still dumb enough to think like that in this day and age?
"Hahaha!"
Hashirama didn't even try to hold back. While others might at least consider the atmosphere, he just laughed outright. That's the kind of person he was—straightforward to the core.
"You ignorant fool."
What kind of "God of Shinobi" is this? If his patience is this thin, how is he any different from a raging bull?
Obito finally snapped. Furious, he threw a heavy punch at Hashirama, pure Taijutsu, a full-force slap across the face. He had finally realized that everyone here, without exception, looked down on him.
He might have been able to win over Madara as an ally, but his arrogant attitude had pissed Madara off so much that any chance of cooperation was gone.
"Kid, don't get ahead of yourself. There's a reason they call me the God of Shinobi."
Blocking Obito's attack with just one hand, Hashirama felt the strength in Obito's body and gave him a kind smile, shaking his head.
"A mere grain of sand. Not even half as good as Madara."
You…
Obito's Sharingan spun rapidly, and in that instant, as if something inside him had snapped, he activated his second-stage "Karma" transformation.
As his chakra surged violently, a strange horn extended from his forehead. He reached out and summoned a mysterious black rod, his sudden burst of power completely overwhelming Hashirama's Taijutsu. The arm that had been blocked a second ago now pushed Hashirama back with sheer force.
Power boost?
No, it's not just strength!
Uchiha Madara, standing nearby, had his Three Tomoe Sharingan spin in his eyes. At first, he felt pleased by Hashirama's praise of him, but suddenly, his expression changed. He had no idea where Obito got this kind of power. What's more, he was now completely sure that the seal on Obito's heart had vanished. The black rods that were supposed to control him had instead become his weapons.
Obito easily knocked the First Hokage back. His figure vanished in an instant, and the next moment, he reappeared behind Hashirama, swinging a black rod straight at his head.
It wasn't just strength—his speed had increased too. No, it was an all-around enhancement!
Seeing that Hashirama had no time to dodge, Senju Tobirama didn't hesitate. In this critical moment, he didn't even form hand seals. He simply opened his mouth and fired a Water Dragon Bullet directly at Obito.
"I already told you, the era of ninjas is over!"
Obito didn't dodge the sudden attack. He didn't even use Kamui to phase through it. Instead, he casually reached out his hand toward the incoming Water Release attack.
Absorption!
With a strange smile on his face, the next second, the raging Water Dragon Bullet was completely sucked into his palm, leaving him completely unharmed.
"He doesn't have the Rinnegan, but he can absorb ninjutsu?"
Madara frowned. This power was truly baffling. He had no idea what Obito had gone through after his death or how he had gained this ability.
What confused him even more was that when the Rinnegan absorbed chakra, it simply disappeared. But now, after absorbing the Water Release, Obito's aura had grown even stronger.
And then—
"Uchiha Rebound."
Even without an Uchiha fan in his hand, Obito muttered the name of the technique. A moment later, an even larger Water Dragon Bullet, far bigger than the one Tobirama had launched, formed in midair and shot toward him.
Unlike Obito, Tobirama wasn't interested in showing off. He didn't want to risk his Edo Tensei body getting destroyed and sealed just to test if he could counter the attack head-on. Instead, he simply used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport away.
However, while he managed to escape, the construction site behind him, which wasn't even finished yet, was completely destroyed by the massive water attack.
"You bastard! Do you have any idea how much effort went into that?!"
At that moment, Hashirama was furious. He clasped his hands together, instantly entering Sage Mode.
Birth of the Tree World!
Thick, life-filled trees grew from the ground, stopping the flood from spreading. But this was only the beginning of his attack.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
The chakra-infused trees continued to grow, forming an enormous wooden giant.
Blossoms bloomed on the trees due to the sheer amount of chakra, and a massive dragon coiled around its arm.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
Against an arrogant fool who dared to destroy the Yang God's construction site, Hashirama planned to teach him a lesson with sheer overwhelming power.
"The era of ninjas won't end just because you say so!"
Where did this kid even get such ridiculous ideas?
"When I say it's over, it's over!"
Obito sneered. He didn't feel the slightest bit intimidated by the towering Wood Human and Wood Dragon. Instead, he calmly raised his finger and pointed at them. His eyes flashed with power.
"Sukunahikona!"
In an instant, a strange energy spread out from his body.
Then, something happened that left everyone in shock—especially Madara, who had been looking forward to seeing Hashirama beat Obito to a pulp. His face was filled with disbelief.
It was simple.
The enormous Wood Human and Wood Dragon suddenly began shrinking at an unnatural speed. In the blink of an eye, the giant turned into a mere toy, and the dragon became nothing more than a tiny mudfish.
Now, instead of being intimidating, they just looked… kind of cute.
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
What kind of dojutsu was this?
It could even shrink something powerful enough to fight a Perfect Susano'o?
Madara stood frozen in the distance.
If it could shrink Hashirama's Wood Human…
Then, did that mean it could shrink his Susano'o too?
It looks like that move isn't over yet.
Obito's eyes flared with power once again, and this time, the shrunken wooden giant and wooden dragon vanished on the spot.
If we ignore personality and focus only on strength and combat talent, Obito is undeniably powerful. He could even find creative ways to use a single Truth-Seeking Orb. Even though this was his first time using the eye power inherited from Otsutsuki Isshiki through the "Karma," he wielded it effortlessly and even developed his own unique version.
"Daikokuten!"
His eye power activated, instantly linking him to another dimension.
In the next moment—
The wooden giant and dragon, which had disappeared, suddenly reappeared right above Hashirama, their original owner. Now back to their full size, they came crashing down on him with tremendous force!
"When facing an unfavorable situation, he shrinks the threats using Sukunahikona. Once it's safe, he uses Daikokuten to store the shrunken objects in his own separate dimension instead of my Daikokuten's storage. Then, when the time is right, he restores them to their original size and drops them from above for a crushing attack."
His talent is impressive, and his use of eye techniques is spot on. This shows that his body is quite compatible with my power.
Hidden in the air, Isshiki narrowed his eyes.
At this point, his goal was already achieved. He never expected Obito to successfully reclaim the scattered chakra and feed it to the Ten Tails. He was simply using this opportunity to test the talent and body of the man named Uchiha Obito. And now, he had his answer.
But Obito clearly wasn't done having fun yet. Isshiki wasn't in a hurry to stop the fight below. After all, the more Obito used his power, the more the Karma would eat away at him until he completely lost himself. Isshiki wanted nothing more than for Obito to get addicted to it.
And truthfully, Obito was more than satisfied with his newfound power.
Especially Daikokuten, a technique that let him dump out anything stored in his personal dimension. It was unbelievably useful. Over the years, Kakashi had sent who-knows-how-many random things into his Kamui space.
Just now, Obito had emptied everything all at once, dumping it all onto Senju Hashirama. With his sharp eyes, he even spotted a toilet seat crashing onto the wooden giant's head.
As for how and why a toilet seat ended up in Kamui space with everything else Kakashi had sent—Obito had no idea. Either way, once all the junk, along with the wooden giant and dragon, came pouring out, the battlefield's atmosphere took a sharp turn.
"This fight is nothing like I expected."
It wasn't a clash of overwhelming power, where one attack could destroy the landscape. Instead, Obito was using his advantages to toy with Hashirama and Tobirama, and they had no real way to counter him.
As long as that strange pattern on his body remained, Obito was incredibly skilled in both Taijutsu and eye techniques. Even when fighting two-on-one, he didn't fall behind. In fact, he even found opportunities to counterattack using Kamui. At this point, he had completely suppressed both the First and Second Hokage.
If someone had told Madara before that Obito could defeat Hashirama, he would've laughed his head off. But now, reality was unfolding before his eyes. That eye technique seemed to shrink anything—even Obito himself, allowing him to dodge attacks.
"A surprising power."
Uchiha Madara crossed his arms, finally turning his gaze to Nagato.
Since he had only recently been revived, he wasn't very familiar with this new ninja world. But if he didn't understand something, there were people who did. He figured he might be able to get the answers he wanted from that brat, Nagato.
"Just a clown jumping around."
Hashirama and Tobirama were struggling, but a battle between ninjas was also a battle of information. It was natural for Obito to have the upper hand when they lacked intel on his abilities. However, Nagato believed his subordinates would overcome this challenge—at the very least, they could hold out until he finished dealing with Uchiha Madara and went to support them.
And in truth, things were already heading in that direction. Compared to Hashirama, who relied on his immense chakra and Wood Release, Tobirama excelled in perception, Water Release, and analyzing opponents. He had already started piecing together Obito's abilities and looking for a chance to land a decisive blow. He even used Akatsuki's communication channels to tell Nagato not to worry and to focus on watching Madara instead.
"Why do I keep running into these arrogant brats after coming back to life?"
Knowing oneself is a virtue, but Obito and Nagato seemed to lack that awareness.
Facing Nagato, Uchiha Madara didn't even bother drawing his gunbai fan or scythe. He simply curled his fingers, beckoning the boy who was using his Rinnegan.
Nagato wasn't polite either—he stretched out his hand toward Madara from a distance.
The force of Bansho Ten'in erupted, pulling Uchiha Madara's body toward him. But Madara remained calm. A surge of violent blue chakra erupted around him. As he was drawn forward, Susano'o's massive arm swung down, stabbing a chakra sword into the ground to stabilize his position before immediately slashing back at Nagato.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A deep hum filled the air.
The terrifying repulsive force burst out, forcing even a fully formed second-stage Susano'o to stumble backward.
"You're even better than I expected."
But in the end, the Rinnegan was originally his power.
Whether it was the Six Paths abilities or the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, Uchiha Madara was familiar with all of it.
"Trying to use powers I've long since mastered against me... you're still too naive, Nagato."
The third-stage Susano'o rose from the ground, effortlessly swatting away the rockets fired by Asura Path and casually crushing the summoning beasts of Animal Path. Madara turned his gaze back to Nagato, as if trying to see through whatever trump card he was still hiding behind that calm expression.
"If the Rinnegan's power can't defeat you, it only proves that these eyes aren't that special."
Nagato spoke calmly.
Madara let out a short laugh at his reaction.
"But you're still relying on the Rinnegan's power. Weren't you the one who once called yourself a god?"
He found it amusing that Nagato criticized the Rinnegan while still using it. These younger ones really didn't know their limits.
"I'm just trying to make you see yourself clearly."
Nagato shook his head, giving up on using Chibaku Tensei or Shinra Tensei. Seeing how Madara looked completely unfazed, it was obvious he already knew Chibaku Tensei's weakness was its core and that Shinra Tensei required charging time. Besides, even a powerful Shinra Tensei might not work against an Edo Tensei body.
Neither of them was fighting at full strength.
But Nagato was telling the truth. He used the Rinnegan's power just to give Madara something to compare. He wanted him to realize that, in the face of true power, both his so-called mighty Rinnegan and Susano'o were nothing but a joke.
"Special Task Force 'Akatsuki Zero' requesting leader authorization."
Nagato ran a hand through his slightly messy hair and brushed his fingers over the golden mark on his forehead. A wave of intense heat descended from the sky, instantly spreading in all directions. His bright red hair stood on end as he fully entered serious mode.
Leader authorization was a combat mode that surpassed ordinary permissions. Given Nagato's status, the power he could access was far beyond that of others. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, his incredible healing ability worked in harmony with the Sun God Seal, allowing him to push past his limits for a short time. However, it put a heavy strain on his body, so he rarely used it.
And right now, he didn't think Madara was worth it.
Fiery chakra surged through his body, making Nagato narrow his eyes slightly, while Madara frowned.
What was this strange energy?
Why was it another power he had never seen before?
Obito was one thing—he was an Uchiha, after all. It made sense if he had awakened some unique Mangekyo ability. Madara had already analyzed that Obito's power came from his tattoos and his unusual triangular eye pattern.
But Nagato?
Why did he suddenly feel a vague sense of danger from him?
Even Obito and the Senju brothers, who were locked in battle, noticed the shift.
"So this is the Sun God Seal from the Sun God Kingdom. I wonder how it compares to my own markings."
Obito let out a scoff and launched another attack. Either way, whether it was his markings or the Sun God Seal, as long as these powers spread throughout the ninja world, his claim that the era of shinobi was ending would eventually come true.
"So it's that power..."
On the ocean's surface, a giant toad spoke with a grave expression. This was the power passed down from Hamura to one of his descendants. The aura was familiar, but neither he nor Hamura had expected that descendant to develop the Tenseigan's power to this level.
"This is far from elegant. The way they use chakra is nothing compared to the Otsutsuki clan."
Otsutsuki Isshiki sneered. To him, this was just a mutated form of chakra. It wasn't even suitable as food for the Ten-Tails. If the Ten-Tails ate it, it might even cause indigestion. While he acknowledged the technological advancements of the Sun God Kingdom, he completely rejected this so-called mark system.
"Oh? Then how does your Otsutsuki clan use chakra?"
A curious voice came from behind.
Lost in his own thoughts, Isshiki assumed someone was genuinely seeking knowledge.
"Obviously, we cultivate the Ten-Tails, harvest chakra fruits, and, after consuming enough, evolve into beings like Lord Otsutsuki Shibai—"
Wait.
Something was wrong.
This wasn't an alternate dimension where Kara gathered.
So who was asking him that question?
A chilling sensation crawled up Isshiki's spine, making his scalp tingle. His body stiffened as he slowly turned his head. Even Jigen, whom he was controlling, began to sweat.
A young man with an easygoing yet strikingly handsome face came into view. Seated upon the throne of the heavens, he casually swirled an empty wine glass in his hand—raising it in a silent toast.
When did he get here?
Why didn't I notice him?
And…
Isshiki's pupils suddenly shrank as his eyes swept over Hyuga Hitoshi's waist.
Hanging there was a small doll, grinning at him in an eerie way!
"Otsutsuki Kaguya!?"
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