Genjutsu activated!
During a brief lull in the battle, Obito Uchiha seized the critical moment and cast a genjutsu with his Sharingan directly into Shihouin Naraku's eyes, instantly ensnaring him.
Elementalization!
The moment he fell under the genjutsu, Shihouin Naraku activated the Mera-Mera Fruit, transforming his entire body into elemental form!
"Victory!"
Obito Uchiha casually threw a large shuriken, which whistled through Shihouin Naraku's body before embedding itself in the ground some distance away.
"Huh?"
Witnessing such a familiar scene, Obito Uchiha's mind nearly froze in confusion.
Flames ignited where the shuriken had passed through Shihouin Naraku's body. His form then returned to its original state, his clothing completely undamaged.
Realizing that projectile weapons were useless and remembering how his Wood Style had failed earlier, Obito Uchiha approached. After all, Shihouin Naraku was under the genjutsu's control and had no way to break free.
Meanwhile, in the pitch-black genjutsu realm, Shihouin Naraku looked up to see three magatama symbols rotating on a scarlet full moon.
"Genjutsu?"
"It's unfortunate for you that my soul is naturally powerful!"
Shihouin Naraku clenched his right hand, materializing a straight-bladed long sword in his palm as a smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
"Besides—my soul and spirit have long since transformed into the sharpest blade in existence!"
His powerful soul and spirit began stirring the chakra in his physical body. Simultaneously, within the genjutsu realm, Shihouin Naraku raised his hand, firmly grasped Kurikara, and slashed downward at the blood moon hanging in the sky!
"Crescent Moon Sky Rush!"
The whistling blade of light instantly transformed into a razor-sharp edge that tore through the dark clouds and split the sky. A black line appeared in the scarlet genjutsu realm, spreading across the blood moon overhead.
The pitch-black blade of light shot skyward, swallowing the only remaining light in this illusory space, slashing at the high-hanging blood moon with incredible force. Silently, the scarlet full moon was cleaved into two perfect halves.
Then, the genjutsu realm shattered completely. Warm moonlight poured down as Shihouin Naraku returned to reality.
While this sequence seemed lengthy, it occurred in merely an instant.
Under the night sky, Obito Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan spun very close to him. The space gradually distorted as a subtle pulling force tugged at Shihouin Naraku's body.
In the distance, a half-black and half-white plant-like creature observed the battle, while beside it, thick branches restrained two unconscious Anbu members.
Shihouin Naraku's eyes gradually regained their clarity as he smiled. When Obito Uchiha attempted to pull others into the Kamui dimension, he had to become tangible, releasing his intangible state.
In other words, he was now vulnerable to attack like any normal person.
"How is this possible?!"
Obito Uchiha couldn't comprehend how Shihouin Naraku had broken free from the genjutsu so quickly. In a panic, he attempted to halt the absorption process so he could reenter his intangible state and avoid all physical attacks.
"Fire Style: Shiranui!"
"Gah!"
The spear formed of crimson flames instantly pierced through Obito Uchiha's body, causing him to uncontrollably cough blood.
"Haaaah~"
"I'll cut you down!"
"Flame God Kagura: Enma!"
Shihouin Naraku held Kurikara and instantly entered a heightened state. His speed became so overwhelming that even Obito Uchiha's Sharingan couldn't track him. He crossed the short distance in a flash, and the blade—burning with intense flames—slashed directly across Obito Uchiha's body.
"ARGH!"
Excruciating pain flooded his brain as Obito Uchiha howled wildly. Blood and white fluid splattered through the air.
The strike cleaved Obito Uchiha into two pieces, with ravenous flames consuming his body, threatening to reduce him to ashes.
From a distance, everyone watched this scene with wide, bloodshot eyes. In just a brief moment, the tide had turned!
Obito Uchiha was about to be slain by Shihouin Naraku!!!
This absolutely could not be allowed to happen!
Obito Uchiha was connected to too many future events—no accidents could be permitted!
"Spore Technique!"
Pale white growths similar to White Zetsu rapidly formed on Obito Uchiha's body. Spore-like substances enveloped the bisected Obito Uchiha.
"Ahhh~"
A scream echoed, but White Zetsu refused to surrender. He endured the pain of the burning flames as he aided Obito Uchiha.
"Slash!"
The sharp blade cut silently through the night, severing a large cluster of spores and similar matter, dropping them to the ground.
"Crack!"
Shihouin Naraku looked down as fissures appeared in the earth. Numerous White Zetsus suddenly emerged from the ground.
They attacked him in waves while the remaining White Zetsus merged with the white spores covering Obito Uchiha's body. They blanketed him thoroughly, attempting to suppress the flames consuming his form, continuing even as their pale bodies ignited.
Simultaneously, the distant Zetsu activated Wood Style. Densely packed branches quickly ensnared Shihouin Naraku.
No longer concerned with concealing his power, Zetsu launched a full-strength assault, releasing extraordinarily powerful chakra. Giant trees rapidly grew, surrounding Shihouin Naraku.
Shihouin Naraku tumbled and dodged the thick branches, while Kurikara—wreathed in beautiful flames—severed any branches that came near.
"BOOM!"
The next second, wildly burning flames exploded outward, igniting all nearby trees.
Wood Style was formidable, but Shihouin Naraku's fire was stronger!
This was the first time in thousands of years that panic had reached such heights.
How could the mighty Wood Style, powered by Hashirama Senju's cells, be vulnerable to ordinary flames?!
"Tear... Hurry up!"
Black Zetsu abandoned his typically gloomy demeanour and shouted hoarsely. White Zetsu, once fused with him, suddenly split outward, dividing into two separate entities. The connective tissue between them rapidly disintegrated as if merely glued together.
Black Zetsu's half-body frantically unleashed wood-style techniques to prevent Shihouin Naraku from approaching.
Meanwhile, White Zetsu lunged toward the unconscious Obito Uchiha, who was encased in body-repairing spores and quickly sank into the ground, disappearing.
Only then did Black Zetsu finally exhale in relief before also sinking into the earth.
"Clatter!"
A mask shattered into many pieces and fell to the side, flames dancing across its fragments.
"BOOM!"
All the burning trees exploded but were quickly extinguished under Shihouin Naraku's deliberate control.
"Clink!"
Kurikara returned to its sheath and vanished. Shihouin Naraku glanced around and remarked, "It seems he truly escaped."
"No matter. I never intended to kill Obito anyway."
Shihouin Naraku walked toward his two unconscious subordinates, completely unconcerned about whether Obito Uchiha could survive after such a devastating attack.
If he died, Shihouin Naraku wouldn't care.
"They weren't seriously injured; they just had their chakra drained."
Shihouin Naraku felt relieved upon discovering his subordinates weren't in critical condition.
"It appears Black Zetsu deliberately spared these two to restrict my actions, or at least to prevent me from pursuing them."
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