Shink! Shink! Shink!
Clang, clang, clang.
The weapons thrown by the other five Uchiha clansmen were easily deflected by the Blazing Flame Formation.
"Damn it!"
Seeing that their projectiles were useless, the five immediately began weaving hand seals. They all used the same jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
Boom!
Five pillars of fire slammed into the fiery walls of the formation with a deafening roar. The barrier flickered violently.
Bathed in his own blood, Obito pushed more chakra into the technique, and the walls of the Blazing Flame Formation surged toward the heavens. The white light of the Temporal Stasis Field flickered in and out of existence. Time was running out.
Fugaku's heart tightened. A ferocious look crossed his face as he endured the excruciating pain and poured even more doryoku into his eyes. His Susanoo shuddered violently before solidifying once more. The explosive surge of chakra and ocular power made the very air grow thick and heavy, the immense pressure causing the entire Temporal Stasis Field to flicker unstably.
Seeing this, Obito funneled even more chakra into his formation, desperate to withstand Fugaku's killing blow.
"Aaargh!" Fugaku screamed, forcing his doryoku to its absolute limit. His face twisted in a grimace as tears of blood streamed from his eyes.
His Susanoo had finally entered its third stage. It was now clad in full armor, its patterns more intricate and its face as fearsome and majestic as a temple guardian. A wisp of purple-black flame ignited upon the Susanoo's giant claw.
The flame then erupted. The sheer force of the blast knocked the surrounding Uchiha clansmen to the ground.
"Burn to ash!" Fugaku roared.
The monstrous claw, wreathed in roaring violet flames, howled through the air and crashed against Obito's Blazing Flame Formation. The purple-black fire possessed an astonishing destructive power. After a brief stalemate, a sharp crack echoed through the air.
Crack... crack... CRACK!
The Blazing Flame Formation shattered like glass. The giant claw broke through the wall of fire and descended mercilessly.
Damn it all!
Blood trickled from the corner of Obito's mouth, his face contorting beneath his mask. As he stared up at the descending claw, his left Mangekyo Sharingan flared with a blinding crimson light.
Izanagi!
His body was crushed like clay, torn asunder and scattered across the ground. A grotesque mixture of white, red, and dark-red flesh splattered everywhere.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Gasping for breath, Fugaku swayed unsteadily before collapsing to his knees, his Susanoo rapidly dissolving around him.
At that moment, the space around them trembled. Countless sealing formulas and runes emerged, only to shrink back into the distance. The white barrier of light, previously invisible, materialized at the edge of the clan grounds before contracting toward the center.
The Temporal Stasis Field had been released.
Obito's mangled corpse shimmered and faded from existence. The air behind Fugaku twisted, and a figure materialized out of the void. Filled with hatred, Obito lunged, his hand reaching for Fugaku.
"Patriarch, look out!"
"Patriarch!"
Several Uchiha cried out in warning.
Just as Obito's hand was about to close around him...
Poof!
Fugaku's body instantly transformed into a pile of logs.
Obito froze, his face a mask of disbelief.
Substitution Jutsu!? When did he...!? Did he know about Izanagi from the start!?
A sliver of panic pierced Obito's heart. His secrets... did the entire Uchiha clan know!?
Fear gripped him. A vortex began to form in the air before him. He had to escape.
But the vortex was opening much slower than usual.
Damn it! Is it because I've used too much doryoku and chakra, or is it a lingering effect of the Temporal Stasis Field!?
Shink! Shink! Shink!
As if they had been waiting for this very moment, the surrounding Uchiha attacked in perfect unison. A storm of shuriken and kunai rained down upon him while two clansmen charged forward with their blades drawn.
Obito was forced to abandon his attempt to enter the Kamui dimension. The shuriken passed harmlessly through his intangible body, embedding themselves in the ground behind him. One of the pursuers glanced at their position and fired a signal flare into the sky.
Seeing the flare, Uchiha Iori, who was stationed within the clan grounds, temporarily halted the Reverse Summoning of Kawasaki. The signal indicated that the enemy had reached the maximum effective range of the sealing array. The target possessed space-time ninjutsu and could flee at any moment; their priority was now to capture him alive.
"Notify the Barrier Team! The enemy is outside the perimeter! Do not risk activating a second Temporal Stasis Field!"
The two swordsmen had anticipated Obito's intangibility, leaving room for both offense and defense in their movements. Obito was on his last legs, his vision blurring.
Fugaku's form appeared on a nearby tree branch. He too was panting heavily, an arrow at the end of its flight. No longer able to fight, he made a hand signal. The remaining Uchiha switched to weapons tied with wire filaments and launched another volley. These weapons could be retracted after passing through Obito, allowing for more powerful and relentless attacks that couldn't be ignored.
Combined with the two swordsmen, the group attacked in rotation, giving Obito no time to breathe. As he dodged, he constantly tried to open his vortex to escape into the Kamui dimension. Yet Fugaku and the others stuck to him like shadows, pressing him at every turn. Obito could only endure the repeated agony of weapons phasing through his body. He didn't even dare to counterattack the two clansmen at close range; their coordination was flawless. If he became solid for even an instant, he would be cut to pieces.
Obito knew with chilling certainty that Fugaku understood everything—all his secrets. He knew that entering the Kamui dimension took far longer than pulling someone into it, and he knew that they had specialized teams trained to counter him.
With his Sharingan's abilities completely exposed and his one-time use of Izanagi spent, Obito had lost the will to fight. His doryoku was drained, his right arm was gone, and his body was riddled with embedded weapons. He was dizzy from blood loss, his condition abysmal. The sealing formation was down; his only priority now was to escape their attack range and find another chance to enter the Kamui dimension.
Obito kicked off the ground and sprinted away.
The Uchiha clansmen followed like specters, constantly throwing their weapons and using their swords to impede his escape. Fugaku, though gradually falling behind, grit his teeth and pushed onward, vowing to see Obito dead.
Darkness swam before Obito's eyes. His stamina was nearly gone. Was this the end?
"Hehehe... you look pretty pathetic."
A light, mocking voice cut through the air. It was a tone Obito normally despised, but now, it was a lifeline.
Zetsu was here.
Sure enough, Zetsu slowly emerged from the branch of a tree. The Uchiha pursuers immediately halted, warily eyeing the half-black, half-white figure. Obito seized the chance to create some distance.
The white portion of Zetsu split off and flew onto Obito's shoulder. The flesh there writhed and morphed, forming a new, white arm. He flexed his new hand. Finally, he had an arm to use, and a small amount of chakra to go with it.
Obito spun around, and countless wooden stakes shot out from his new arm. Caught by surprise, the five Uchiha couldn't dodge in time and were sent flying by the heavy impacts. All of them were impaled by the stakes. Fortunately, Obito's chakra was low, or their injuries would have been far worse.
Fugaku watched this unfold from a distance and sighed. The plan had failed. With this new enemy present, Obito could now easily escape using Kamui.
"Cough, cough..."
Obito coughed up a mouthful of blood. His chakra was depleted, and the Wood Style technique faded. Even with Zetsu here, killing them all was impossible.
"Let's go," Obito rasped, preparing to activate Kamui even as blood continued to flow from his wounds.
The vortex had just begun to form when shuriken and kunai flew at him again, their aim and force impeccable. They were aimed at his head, heart, and neck—all vital points.
"Patriarch!"
It was a shout from Uchiha Keimei, who had arrived with Yoki as reinforcements.
Obito's heart sank. These Uchiha just wouldn't give up.
Fugaku was in no better shape. His doryoku was overdrawn, and his eyes were ruined with blood tears. If he hadn't sealed a portion of his power beforehand, he would likely be permanently blind. His vision was blurry, making it impossible to throw weapons accurately. The Susanoo had taken a massive toll on his chakra; he was physically and mentally exhausted. Only the sheer obsession to capture Obito kept him on his feet.
Thankfully, two more clansmen had arrived. Yoki and Keimei split up, engaging Zetsu and Obito respectively. Zetsu, a master of Wood Style, was also low on chakra after the intense battle and had given some to Obito for healing, forcing him into a stalemate with Yoki.
Obito glared at Keimei's youthful face, a surge of rage burning within him. Did every worthless grunt think they could challenge him now?
Keimei swung his blade, but Obito didn't move. The sword passed right through him. Obito reached out to grab Keimei, who widened his Sharingan eyes as the hand drew closer and closer.
Suddenly, Keimei pulled his blade back. Obito suppressed the urge to attack as Fugaku also drew his sword and joined the fray. He was forced to remain intangible, rendering Keimei's attack—and his own—useless. Keimei remained vigilant, his every move perfectly synchronized with Fugaku's. It was a well-practiced tactic, one that forced Obito to abandon his offensive attempts time and again.
As he moved, Obito searched for an opening. He didn't believe Fugaku could last much longer.
He was right.
Fugaku was at his breaking point. After two more exchanges, he felt his strength failing.
No! I can't give up now! Obito must die!
Finally, Fugaku's exhaustion caught up to him. A gap appeared in his offense; his sword swing was a fraction too slow to follow up on Keimei's attack. Obito seized the opportunity. As Keimei's blade lost its momentum, Obito kicked him away and simultaneously pressed down on Fugaku's sword.
Just as a flicker of triumph ignited within him, Obito saw Fugaku raise his head with an expression of grim resolve.
His Mangekyo Sharingan spun wildly.
Genjutsu!
Obito's heart lurched. No! Fugaku still had enough doryoku for a genjutsu!?
The world around him began to twist and distort. He knew the illusion was invading his mind. Without a second thought, Obito's own Mangekyo began to spin furiously.
BOOM!
A sound like a thunderclap tore through the air. The two ocular powers clashed violently in the most primal and dangerous of confrontations: a duel of doryoku.
I refuse to believe your power can surpass mine! Obito raged internally.
Fugaku's face was a mask of pure ferocity. He pushed his Mangekyo with everything he had left. Blood gushed from his eyes. His face contorted, his entire body trembling as he fought to maintain the output. For the man who had nearly brought about the Uchiha's destruction, Fugaku was holding nothing back.
"Aaargh! Die!" An incoherent, demonic roar erupted from Fugaku's throat.
Driven by his desperate, all-consuming will, blood began to pour from all seven of his orifices. His Mangekyo spun at an impossible speed, radiating a horrifying and tragic aura.
"Patriarch!" Yoki screamed. Distracted by his patriarch's plight, he was grazed by one of Zetsu's wooden stakes, his fingers inadvertently brushing against an explosive tag...
Zetsu didn't hesitate, immediately rushing toward Obito.
"Patriarch!" Keimei charged forward, swinging his sword. It passed right through Obito's body.
Fugaku and Obito grunted in unison and were thrown backward.
Fugaku, his face covered in blood, staggered back several steps, each one weaker than the last. He slammed his sword into the ground.
Clang!
He used the blade as a crutch, the only thing keeping him from collapsing.
Blood seeped from beneath Obito's mask. He stumbled back, each step heavy, before finally managing to steady himself.
A madman!
He's a madman!
This Fugaku was completely insane! To drain his Sharingan so recklessly, to throw away his own life!
Another spurt of blood erupted from Obito's mouth. His brain felt like it was being churned in a blender, wracked by wave after wave of unending agony. Every sensation was torture. He could barely stand, let alone maintain his Kamui.
Zetsu grabbed Obito's clothes and began dragging him away. Keimei didn't dare give chase, instead rushing to Fugaku's side.
Fugaku stood leaning on his sword, his eyes now blind, his face a canvas of blood. He endured the torment, low gasps escaping his throat. With trembling lips, he managed to force out the words...
"Pursue... pursue..."
Before he could finish, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
"Patriarch!" Keimei cried, catching his falling leader.
Yoki's hand remained pressed against the Sacred Orb on his person, his eyes locked on the retreating figures of Zetsu and Obito. He gritted his teeth and snapped the wooden stake embedded in his leg, then limped painfully toward Keimei. Only when Obito and Zetsu had completely vanished from sight did he finally release the breath he had been holding.
He pulled out another Sacred Orb and fired it into the sky.
A plume of blue smoke ascended into the air, signaling the enemy's retreat.
A madman!
Another madman! Is there a single sane person in the Uchiha clan!?
A doryoku duel! A clash of spiritual energy! It was the most dangerous kind of fight, one where countless had been left as mindless vegetables or died on the spot. Uchiha Fugaku, aren't you the head of a clan!? To be so ruthless, willing to sacrifice himself just to take Obito with him!
Fortunately, Obito had Hashirama's cells, putting him in a slightly better state. As Zetsu dragged him, he noticed that Obito's other Sharingan was now blind.
Izanagi had been used. Obito had been a hair's breadth from death.
Obito was a critical piece of Zetsu's plan; he couldn't afford to lose him here. Zetsu was filled with a lingering fear. If Obito had really died, how would his plans have proceeded? He had only intended to stir up some trouble and harvest a few Sharingan. He never expected to suffer such a devastating setback. Not only was Obito's Sharingan sealed by that temporal stasis field, but he was also gravely wounded by Fugaku's suicidal gambit.
Zetsu swore he would never set foot in this cursed place again.
"Cough, cough..."
Supported by the First Hokage's cells, Obito regained a sliver of strength. He realized he and Zetsu were still in the forest outside Konoha. Zetsu remained on high alert, but luckily, Fugaku's injuries had been worse, and the Uchiha hadn't pursued them.
"How are your eyes?" Black Zetsu asked. Even White Zetsu had stopped his usual joking.
Obito took a deep breath. "Better. We need to go. It's not safe here."
In mid-air, a vortex appeared at an agonizingly slow pace. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Obito pulled Zetsu into the Kamui dimension.
Finally safe.
The tension left Obito's body, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Back at the Uchiha compound, on the summoning platform, Iori was just about to activate the reverse summoning jutsu. When she saw the blue smoke in the sky, she let out a sigh of relief. After ordering her men to maintain their guard, she leaped off the platform. In a secret chamber, the clansmen who had been preparing the second temporal stasis field finally allowed themselves to relax.
In one of the clan's buildings, a hidden passage opened, and clansmen began to emerge. The Uchiha elites who had been taken down earlier were carried back one by one. Those with medical abilities immediately began their work. Large wooden stakes were embedded in their bodies, and many had passed out from blood loss. Fortunately, the clan had stockpiled a vast amount of precious medicinal herbs.
Thanks to their financial resources, every injured Uchiha received the best possible treatment. The bleeding was stopped. After being fed expensive potions, the clansmen's vital signs began to stabilize. Every life had been saved.
"Quickly! The Patriarch needs a healer!"
Amid Keimei's frantic shouts, Fugaku was carried in on a stretcher. His face was a mess of dried blood from his seven orifices. His life was like a candle in the wind, threatening to be extinguished at any moment.
Iori jumped down from her post, her face etched with horror at the sight of her leader's grievous injuries. A green glow enveloped her hands as she began to heal him. Others pried open Fugaku's mouth and poured medicine for internal injuries down his throat.
But it was no use.
Fugaku's wounds were not of the flesh, but of the spirit. His chakra, his doryoku, his very life force had been almost completely exhausted. His spiritual energy was in chaos and fading fast.
"Patriarch, hold on!" Iori cried in anguish.
Chaos reigned all around.