The Shadow Guards were fighting the soldiers of Obito, men who had been injected with Hashirama cells. Both sides clashed fiercely, but the dominating force was clear—the Shadow Guards were completely overwhelming this fight.
Except for Navi, two other Shadow Guards in this team could also use Wood Release. Although not as powerful as Navi's, their version was still far stronger than the crooked, unstable imitation used by only a handful of Obito's soldiers. One of the Shadow Guards stepped forward and slammed his hand toward the ground. Instantly, thick wooden vines burst forth from the earth around him, tearing through the soil with a sharp, splintering crack.
They twisted violently, their thorn-covered surfaces writhing like living serpents before snapping around two of Obito's soldiers. The vines tightened.
A sickening crunch echoed.
The thorns dug in deep as the vines constricted further, crushing bone and flesh alike. Blood seeped out, then spilled, staining the wood dark red as the pressure increased with each passing second. The soldiers struggled, their bodies twitching, their enhanced recovery trying—and failing—to keep up. Not fast enough…
Another sharp crack.
The vines tightened one last time, and the two bodies went limp, their forms mangled beyond recognition. Even their regeneration could not save them from something this brutal, this immediate.
The recovery ability granted by Hashirama cells was nothing compared to that of the Shadow Guards. The difference was absolute. And against injuries of this magnitude… there was hardly any chance an Obito soldier could survive at all.
And like this, the Shadow Guards continued to dominate Obito's soldiers, cutting through the fifty-man force that had already been reduced significantly as the battle dragged on. The air was thick with dust and the sharp scent of blood, bodies falling one after another. Whatever attacks the soldiers launched—wild, desperate, or coordinated—the Shadow Guards responded with effortless precision.
They slipped past strikes using their nimble Shave technique, their bodies blurring and shifting just out of reach at the last possible moment. And when an attack came too fast to evade, they met it head-on, their arms hardening instantly with Armament Haki. Steel clashed against hardened will, blows landing with dull, heavy thuds that failed to break through.
It wasn't a fight anymore—it was a dismantling.
One by one, Obito's soldiers were overwhelmed, crushed, or cut down, their enhanced bodies unable to keep up with the sheer skill and power of the Shadow Guards. In the end, the battlefield tilted completely in one direction as the Shadow Guards decimated what remained of the force.
High above, on one of the tallest rock cliffs, Obito stood silently, his mask hiding his expression. Beside him were the white and black Zetsu, both watching the carnage unfold below. A faint wind brushed against his cloak, making it ripple softly in the stillness.
On the surface, he appeared calm—composed, unmoved.
But inside, that calm did not exist.
He watched as his forces were wiped out, one after another, and yet there was very little he could do about this defeat. Yes, he could descend into the battlefield and kill these Shadow Guards himself. That option was always there.
But even that… would not be simple.
With the abilities and strength they had displayed, he could not be certain of victory if he fought them alone. They're stronger than expected… far stronger.
More importantly, if he made a move—if he personally intervened—it would not go unanswered. Shanks, or any one of the Uzumaki siblings, could appear at any moment. And their strength… it could be close to his, equal to his, or perhaps even beyond.
That was a risk he could not afford to take.
So he remained where he was, standing atop the cliff, watching in silence as his army was destroyed.
Obito raised his right hand and formed a hand seal in a single, fluid motion.
The next instant, the corpses of the fifty soldiers he had brought to test against the Shadow Guards began to swell—unnaturally, violently.
Then—
They exploded.
Countless booms tore through the battlefield, one after another, the ground shaking beneath the force as fire and fragments burst outward in all directions. The air filled with smoke, splinters of flesh, and the sharp, burning scent of destruction. It was sudden, chaotic—meant to catch them off guard.
A Corpse Explosion technique.
Obito watched from above, hoping that in that brief moment of surprise, at least a few of the Shadow Guards would be killed… or at the very least, severely injured.
But nothing of that sort happened.
The moment the corpses began to react, every Shadow Guard sensed it. Their Observation Haki flared almost instinctively, a silent warning ringing in their minds. Without hesitation, they moved—bodies shifting, vanishing from their positions just before the explosions consumed the ground they had stood on.
Those who couldn't escape in the perfect instant reacted just as swiftly.
Their bodies hardened with Armament Haki, their bodies bracing against the incoming force.
The shockwaves slammed into them—hot, violent, roaring past like a storm—but it wasn't enough. The Haki held firm, absorbing the impact. When the smoke began to clear, not a single Shadow Guard had fallen.
They stood there, completely unharmed.
High above, Obito remained silent.
At that moment, Navi's expression shifted slightly. His Observation Haki expanded outward, sharper, more focused—and then he felt it.
A presence.
He turned his head toward the tallest rocky cliff in the distance.
There—he saw him.
Obito stood at the edge, his figure already beginning to distort as a spiraling space vortex formed around his eye, pulling him in. The air around him warped, twisting inward as his body slowly faded from sight.
So that's him…
Navi's gaze hardened, locking onto the vanishing figure until the very last trace disappeared.
As soon as Obito was gone, Navi spoke under his breath, his voice low but firm.
"I need to inform Lord Uzukage about this… about the presence of this masked man."
He didn't waste another second.
Turning sharply, Navi faced the Shadow Guards around him, his tone shifting into command—clear, precise, and urgent.
"Immediately search the entire area. Leave nothing unchecked. Find any clue, any trace—anything that can lead us forward."
A brief pause, his eyes sweeping across them.
"And be quick about it."
As soon as Navi gave the order, the Shadow Guards moved without hesitation. They spread out across the battlefield, their figures flashing between broken terrain and scattered debris as they began searching for any kind of evidence. The ground was still scarred from the recent explosions, faint smoke rising in thin trails, but their focus never wavered. Each of them followed their captain's command with precise discipline, scanning every corner, every trace.
Meanwhile, Navi stepped away from the main battlefield, moving to a quieter area. The air here was still, carrying only the faint scent of ash. He paused, then formed a summoning seal.
A moment later, with a soft poof and a burst of white smoke, a raccoon-like creature appeared in front of him, blinking calmly as the smoke dissipated around its small form.
Navi had already prepared the report—every detail of the battle, and most importantly, the presence of the masked man. Without wasting time, he folded the written message and placed it carefully into a small pouch tied securely around the raccoon's neck. His movements were steady, practiced.
Then he waited.
Silently.
This was Uzushiogakure's secret method of communication. In designated locations within the village, several summoning beasts were kept under constant supervision, along with assigned shinobi responsible for their care. When one of these creatures was summoned outside the village, as Navi had done, a strict mechanism came into play—after exactly one minute, the handlers in Uzushiogakure would summon the creature back.
A perfect relay.
The raccoon remained still for a few seconds, its whiskers twitching slightly. Time passed.
Then—
With another soft burst of smoke, it vanished.
At that exact moment, far away in Uzushiogakure, the raccoon reappeared within the messaging department. The shinobi stationed there reacted immediately, stepping forward as the creature settled. The pouch was removed without delay, and the letter was taken out.
The contents were quickly deciphered, their expressions growing more serious with each passing line.
Within moments, the entire report—detailing the Shadow Guards' battle and the appearance of the masked man—was forwarded without hesitation.
Delivered directly to Shanks.
Shanks read through the entire report of the battle, his gaze steady as his eyes moved across each line. When he finished, a faint, almost imperceptible smile formed on his face. He was clearly satisfied with Navi's performance.
The outcome had been decisive.
At the same time, he understood Obito's intention without much difficulty. This had never been a simple clash. Obito had been testing his forces—measuring them against the Shadow Guards, the elite of Uzushiogakure, warriors enhanced with the Super Shinobi Serum.
A calculated move.
So he's begun…
Within his mind, Raphael's voice echoed calmly.
"Master, it is certain that Obito is trying to test the limits of your elite forces. Clearly, it seems that he is preparing for a direct confrontation with Uzushiogakure."
Shanks gave a slight nod, acknowledging the assessment. His expression remained composed, but there was a sharpness in his eyes now, something more focused.
He turned toward the Shadow Guard who had delivered the message, the faint rustle of his cloak breaking the silence.
"Send a reply to Navi," Shanks said, his voice firm and measured.
The guard straightened instantly.
"His orders are to continue the mission. Destroy all of Orochimaru's bases—leave none standing."
A brief pause followed, his gaze shifting slightly, as if already looking several steps ahead.
"Let's see how long Orochimaru can endure this… whether he holds his ground or loses his patience."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"If he does… we might just catch a big fish."
----
Want to get daily updates and read 20+ chapters? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/uSjdDFrW5