Chapter 185: Kushina Explodes!
Everyone from Konoha was once again visibly moved upon hearing Kushina's explanation.
One by one, their gazes turned toward Obito, filled with hatred.
"What else do you have to say?"
Kakashi asked, staring at Obito.
"I have nothing to say."
Obito closed his eyes, expressionless, as though inviting them to accuse him however they pleased.
"Who is this?"
Ōnoki looked at Kushina with a puzzled expression.
"This is Uzumaki Kushina—wife of our late Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
"When Kushina was giving birth, Konoha was suddenly attacked by the Nine-Tails."
"Afterward, Minato sacrificed himself to fight the Nine-Tails, while Kushina and their newborn child went missing—presumed dead or alive unknown…"
"I truly never expected to see you here, Kushina."
The weakened Hiruzen Sarutobi—supported by Shisui and the others—came forward.
After explaining, he looked up at Obito, who was still being held in the air like a chicken by the Fourth Raikage:
"You… if I'm not mistaken, you should be Obito, right?"
Clearly, even though years had passed and Obito had grown and changed significantly from his teenage appearance,
some features remained unmistakable.
Hiruzen had recognized him.
"So it really is Obito…"
"Uchiha… Obito? But… didn't he die on the Third Great Ninja War battlefield?"
"No wonder he looked so familiar—it's him!"
"Is it really him? But… why? If this guy is Obito, why would he control the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha??"
"Damn it! You bastard—hey!! Why did you do this?"
"…"
As soon as Hiruzen spoke, the Konoha ninja—who had already suspected but dared not confirm—now stepped forward one after another, voicing all kinds of questions and accusations toward Obito.
The Sunagakure ninja also crowded in.
"Was it you who controlled Shukaku to attack our Sunagakure?"
"Answer us, you scum!"
"Why the hell would you do this?"
"What's your goal? What do you gain from destroying Sunagakure??"
"…"
Facing the storm of condemnation, Obito remained completely expressionless and silent.
He had already decided: even if he died here today, he would not utter another word.
Seeing the culprit remain so coldly indifferent, Kushina's rage exploded.
She had always found this man vaguely familiar. When Hiruzen called out his name and Obito didn't deny it, Kushina was stunned.
But the next instant, she snapped out of her shock. Gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, she charged straight at Obito.
All her new and old grudges erupted in that moment. Kushina swung her fist with monstrous force, smashing it directly into Obito's face.
"You bastard…"
"You really are Obito?"
Kushina's strength was no joke. That single punch deformed Obito's face and made him cough up blood instantly.
She didn't continue the barrage right away. Instead, she lowered her head, struggling to control her emotions, and asked coldly:
"Why? Why would you do this to us?"
"Why attack Konoha!! Answer me!!"
Remembering how good Minato had been to Obito—how her whole family had treated him like one of their own—
Yet this man had controlled the Nine-Tails to destroy Konoha and caused Minato's death.
That night, he had even tried to kidnap Naruto—an infant barely born!
If Oborotsuki hadn't intervened, not only would Minato have died—she and little Naruto would likely have suffered the same fate…
Thinking of all this, overwhelming hatred surged through her again.
Kushina's attacks grew even fiercer. Her inner rage and pain poured out completely.
In moments, Obito was beaten black and blue, head bleeding profusely, on the verge of unconsciousness.
Everyone around watched Kushina's ferocious onslaught in stunned silence.
The Fourth Raikage reacted first. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, he rushed forward to stop her:
"Enough!"
"I don't care whose wife you are—this guy still has a lot of information we need to extract!"
"If you kill him now, that won't do!"
The Fourth Raikage warned gravely.
At this point, Ōnoki, Rasa, and the others also stepped forward, voicing their support for the Raikage.
Oborotsuki walked over and gently pulled Kushina to his side, shielding her as he spoke softly:
"Don't worry—this guy isn't going anywhere."
"Once they've gotten the information they want, I'll hand him over to you personally for execution."
With Oborotsuki's reassurance, Kushina's emotions finally stabilized somewhat.
But she still kept her fists clenched, body trembling, glaring furiously at the barely conscious Obito.
"Kid, let me ask you…"
The Fourth Raikage—like an enraged guardian deity—lifted Obito's chin and questioned him.
But before he could finish, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from the rear mountain area of Kirigakure.
BOOM BOOM BOOM…
The sky and earth trembled continuously.
Wave after wave of sound rolled outward, while thick columns of smoke rose from the distant rear mountain.
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn by the commotion.
Oborotsuki's gaze flickered slightly.
His chakra sensing had been locked onto the other enemies' positions the entire time.
He knew clearly that Kakuzu and the Six Paths of Pain had not only captured the Six-Tails jinchūriki—they were now attacking Kirigakure's ANBU prison.
He had deliberately allowed the enemy to succeed—so he could strike at the perfect moment.
Without the Gedo Statue, Oborotsuki couldn't revive Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
Without reviving Kaguya, how could he make her his wife?
"What's happening over there?"
Oborotsuki pretended to ask his subordinates.
"It seems we've come under enemy attack!"
The ANBU member didn't dare reveal the location of Kirigakure's secret ANBU prison in front of the other villages' ninja.
So he could only give a vague answer.
"Your people are still moving?"
Oborotsuki looked toward the Kage of the other four villages, his gaze darkening.
"Sunagakure's forces are all here—no one is acting independently!"
Rasa hurriedly stepped forward to explain first.
Next, Ōnoki also declared: "Iwagakure's people haven't moved either."
Konoha and Kumogakure's leaders—Hiruzen and the Fourth Raikage—both turned back to check with their subordinates.
They quickly confirmed: no one from their side had acted without orders.
"So it's your people?"
The Fourth Raikage glared coldly at Obito.
"Hmph…"
Though severely weakened, Obito still hadn't lost consciousness completely.
He let out a soft, mocking laugh:
"Why can't it be… Kirigakure staging their own play?"
This contemptuous retort plunged everyone back into doubt and confusion, the truth once again shrouded in fog.
Both Obito and Oborotsuki were acting—each pursuing their own goals.
Only the four great ninja villages remained completely in the dark, being played like fools.
"Enough talk. I've already handed you the culprit."
"Deal with this guy yourselves however you see fit."
"Also—today's events won't be settled so easily. We'll calculate the losses Kirigakure suffered today."
"You four ninja villages attacked us out of nowhere. If we don't settle this debt, that won't do!"
"Follow me!"
Oborotsuki called to Kushina, Konan, Yūhi Kurenai, Hoshigaki Kisame, and the others—then turned and headed toward the village's core area.
He pretended he was going to reinforce the regions under attack.
Hearing Oborotsuki's warning, every ninja from the four villages showed expressions of both anger and deep wariness.
They knew that today they were in the wrong—compensation was unavoidable.
Sunagakure—already struggling—would suffer even more.
The other three villages weren't much better off.
In an instant, everyone redirected their fury toward Obito. Countless furious eyes fixed on the true mastermind.
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