Chapter 182: If They Can't Handle It, We'll Have to Revive Madara Early!
Oborotsuki grabbed Obito and left the Kamui dimension, arriving directly inside the barrier area.
At this moment, Kushina and the others were still on high alert, guarding against any further enemy sneak attacks.
When they suddenly saw Oborotsuki appear—tossing the bound enemy to the side—Kushina, Mayumi, and the rest were overjoyed.
"Oborotsuki!"
Kushina walked over. Her gaze instinctively flicked toward the trussed-up Obito on the ground:
"This guy is…"
She recognized the clothing, hairstyle, and build.
But without the swirling mask covering his face, Kushina hesitated—she couldn't quite believe this was the same mysterious figure from earlier.
"He's the true mastermind behind both the Nine-Tails incident and the destruction in Sunagakure."
Oborotsuki explained calmly and matter-of-factly.
Hearing this, Kushina's eyes instantly sharpened. Hatred flared once again.
"You bastard…"
"Who… exactly are you?"
Because half of Obito's body had been reconstructed with Hashirama's cells, his current appearance—while not quite monstrous—was still far from normal. And right now, covered in blood, he looked especially ferocious and terrifying.
It was only natural that Kushina couldn't immediately recognize his true identity.
"So you really have forgotten me…"
"But that makes sense. People like you—full of hypocrisy, always preaching righteousness and morality—none of the things you actually do are for the peace of this world."
"You're only acting for your own selfish interests."
"For selfish people like you, forgetting me is perfectly normal."
With his mask removed and now completely restrained by Oborotsuki, escape had become virtually impossible.
So Obito stopped hiding. He turned to Kushina and began mocking her coldly.
Hearing this inexplicable rant, Kushina frowned deeply. She shook her head, looking at him uncertainly:
"I don't really understand what you're saying."
"Who exactly are you?"
She studied Obito's face carefully. Something about it felt vaguely familiar.
But she still couldn't connect this man to one of her late husband's former students.
After all, everyone knew that cheerful, innocent Uchiha Obito had long ago died on the battlefield—crushed by a massive boulder from Iwagakure ninja.
No ordinary flesh-and-blood human could survive that.
Obito said nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes, adopting the attitude of "torture me if you want."
"I'm taking this guy to explain things to the people from those other ninja villages—let them know everything has been a misunderstanding."
Oborotsuki couldn't directly tell Kushina Obito's true identity.
Seeing that she still hadn't recognized him after all this time, he simply reminded her once, then grabbed Obito and left.
Kushina understood the current situation. She said nothing more and simply nodded as she watched Oborotsuki depart.
…
On the other side, the Six Paths of Pain (controlled by Nagato) and Kakuzu had already captured the Six-Tails jinchūriki, Utakata.
They were just about to regroup with Obito and seize the sealed Four-Tails and Five-Tails when a figure suddenly emerged from the ground—it was the combined Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"Obito has been defeated."
Zetsu said to the Deva Path.
Hearing this, both Kakuzu and the Deva Path were stunned.
"It must be that kid Hōzuki Oborotsuki…"
Kakuzu thought of him immediately.
But his face showed both gravity and confusion:
"That guy should still be fighting the elites from the other ninja villages right now, shouldn't he?"
"How could he possibly break away to deal with us?"
Black Zetsu nodded at once: "It has to be that kid—no doubt about it."
"I can't think of anyone else who could injure Madara in just a few moves…"
These words made both the Deva Path and Kakuzu's pupils contract sharply.
A chill ran through them.
In just a few moves… injure that legendary Uchiha Madara?
Even the Deva Path didn't dare claim he could achieve such a feat!
For a moment, both their expressions became extremely grave.
"In any case, our operation to recover the Four-Tails and Five-Tails has failed."
Zetsu shook his head at this point.
"Don't worry. I'll deal with Hōzuki Oborotsuki next."
"Kakuzu—you and Zetsu focus everything on recovering the tailed beasts afterward."
Even though he said this, the Deva Path knew very well that with his current strength, the outcome against Oborotsuki might not be much better than "Uchiha Madara's."
So right now, he prepared two plans.
He would personally hold Oborotsuki back—creating an opening for Kakuzu and Zetsu to act.
Watching the Six Paths of Pain and Kakuzu turn to head toward the barrier area,
Zetsu spoke again: "I've also confirmed the locations of the other tailed beasts."
"The Nine-Tails has been sealed inside Kushina Uzumaki's son. Kushina herself appears to have become the Three-Tails jinchūriki—her body contains the Three-Tails' chakra signature."
"Additionally, the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails jinchūriki are imprisoned in Kirigakure's ANBU prison. Both the outer and inner interrogation rooms are protected by sealing barriers."
"Even I can't easily get inside."
Of course, these words were meant for the Deva Path.
Because among them, only the Deva Path had the power to forcibly break the sealing barriers inside Kirigakure's ANBU prison from the outside.
"These are easy targets."
"Let's head to the prison first and secure the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails."
Kakuzu suggested.
The Deva Path nodded and took the lead toward the ANBU prison.
Neither he nor Kakuzu noticed that, at this moment, the look in Zetsu's eyes behind them had turned utterly cold and sharp—like a venomous snake watching everything from the darkness.
"Let's see how it goes first. If you can't handle it… then I'll have no choice but to use that move…"
Black Zetsu thought silently to himself. Soon he sank into the earth, following the Deva Path and the others underground.
…
Outside Kirigakure, at the entrance to a secret laboratory in the southeast direction.
Orochimaru stood with arms crossed. One after another, his scouting white snakes returned to his body.
He had already figured out the root cause of the distant explosions and sounds of fierce combat.
Knowing that Kirigakure was under attack from powerful enemies of the other four ninja villages, a playful smile curled at the corners of Orochimaru's mouth.
"Heh heh…"
"How many interesting specimens will I get to choose from this time…?"
Orochimaru greedily extended his long tongue and licked his lips. Then he stepped forward, walking toward the battlefield.
Even now, he still had no idea that Oborotsuki had already killed Danzō and wiped out the entire Root organization.
He remained obsessed with further researching the power of Wood Release kekkei genkai—planning to use it as a bargaining chip with Danzō when necessary.
Whether to secure more research funding or achieve other goals, it didn't matter.
In short, right now he desperately needed a large number of test subjects to help him collect more data and perfect his Wood Release experiments.
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