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Obito whirled. Snatched for Suigetsu!
"Back to the trash where you belong!"
Whoosh!
His hand touched Suigetsu's shoulder. His right eye pulsed, ready to suck him in. Whoosh—!
Whoosh…
Obito froze. "My hand… slipped…?"
Shhht! Suigetsu twisted. Slipped right past him.
The realization hit Obito a beat later. "So that's it. That's the mechanism of his right eye's power…"
Thump!
Suigetsu used the momentum. Kicked Killer B flying away. The explosive tags from Blasting Blade: Foam unfurled like a tidal wave, rushing toward Obito behind him.
—Explosive Blade Technique: Kaburareshi!
"Heh. Knowing my ability, you still try this pointless move. Pathetic."
Obito phased. Right on cue.
BOOOOOOM—!
The detonation swallowed him whole.
Suigetsu's eyes darkened. "This is all I can do. The rest… is on you, Nagato!!"
Because of the 'spatial dislocation' of Kamui's intangibility—Obito's body, existing within the Kamui dimension—saw directly before him…
Nagato.
Fully restored. Waiting.
"You—!!"
Sweat drenched Obito's back in an instant.
The trap snapped shut in his mind. An inside-out kill box. But how? How? He'd been careful. Only ten minutes on the way to the battlefield, he'd sucked those two in. Separated them from Nagato in the dimension. How did they find him? Revive him? And how did Nagato know his intangibility would default to this exact zone?!
No time. No time to think.
Nagato's hand shot toward him.
—Human Path!
"Bastard…!!!"
Which was deadlier? The explosion seals outside, or the Human Path right here? Obito knew. He knew instantly.
He severed the phasing. Forced it.
Crack!
Outside—green Susanoo chakra erupted from his body. Bones formed in a flash, shielding him from the blast. He wouldn't risk that again. Never again.
Fwoosh!
His right eye swirled. He ejected Nagato—out of his dimension—and launched himself, encased in skeletal Susanoo, out of the firestorm. Putting distance between himself and the dangerous Nagato.
—Preta Path!
Shoom!
Nagato, now free, absorbed the remaining explosion with the Preta Path's power.
Suigetsu's face split into a triumphant grin. "Operation… successful!"
Both Orochimaru and Sasuke knew one thing. Without a powerful enough space-time ability, rescuing Nagato from that prison was impossible. The only way was to make Obito release Nagato himself.
Hence this insane, audacious plan.
Of course, that tail of the Eight-Tails Obito had left in the Kamui dimension… it indirectly made the rescue possible. A lucky break nobody anticipated.
The old saying held true. Fortune favors the bold.
Suigetsu: "Got the goods?"
"Of course." Nagato produced the porcelain vial holding Fugaku's eyes. "Suigetsu. To me."
Suigetsu dropped the blast blade, gripping a Flying Thunder God kunai. He moved to Nagato, taking the offered vial.
"You've mocked me long enough…!!"
Watching from behind, Obito's rage boiled over. He ripped off his mask. Blood vessels burst in his left eye. His gaze locked onto Nagato's neck.
"Nagato. Go to hell and repent for betraying me!"
—KAMUI!
Fwoosh!
The space around Nagato's head—right in front of Suigetsu—began to twist, distort.
"No…!!!"
Nagato's combat instincts flared.
—Asura Path!
Crack—!!
Two mechanical heads sprouted from his shoulders…!!
Crack! Crack!
The mechanical heads tore apart. Got sucked into the swirling vortex instead of his own.
"You crippled freak, quick on the draw! But this time, I'll be faster…!!!"
Obito's killing intent solidified. His left eye refocused…!!!
"Damn it!"
Suigetsu shoved Nagato aside, ignoring his own safety…!!!
Fwoosh—!
Suigetsu barely dodged. Started to rise. A searing pain lanced through his right eye.
"Gah…! Damn it! The side effect of this shitty eye, right now of all times…!!"
His 'right eye' had reverted. Three tomoe spun weakly.
Obito pressed. "Looks like your luck's run out."
He decided. Kill Suigetsu first.
His left eye locked onto Suigetsu's head…!!
But then—Nagato did the unthinkable.
A burst of Shinra Tensei blasted Suigetsu away. Exposing himself fully to Obito's line of sight.
"Hey…!!!"
"Suigetsu! Get Fugaku's eyes to Sasuke! Tell him… I, Nagato, have fulfilled my duty!!"
CRUNCH.
Nagato's head wrenched free from his shoulders. The twisting spacetime vortex contracted it into a black dot. Sucked into the Kamui dimension.
Nagato's headless body stood there. Blood fountained from the neck.
Suigetsu's pupils shook. "No… no way…?"
Fwoosh.
Continuous Kamui use sent a stab of pain through Obito's left eye. He ignored it. Charged Suigetsu.
"Your fortune ends here. Give Izumi's eye back!"
Suigetsu lowered his head. Clenched his fist. Teeth gritted. He channeled chakra into the Flying Thunder God kunai in his hand.
Shht! Shht!
Two figures in white materialized beside him…!!!
"What!?"
Before Obito could process it, the youth on his left—cloak flaring—kicked him square in the chest, sending him flying.
Sasuke's eyes fell on Nagato's gruesome corpse.
A sigh escaped him. "Still couldn't keep him alive…"
His gaze shifted to Suigetsu behind him, then to Juugo standing behind Kisame in the distance.
At least… you two are safe.
This is the last time. I won't let you risk yourselves again.
Suigetsu lifted the vial, handing it to Orochimaru, face grim. "Two missions. Only one complete."
Orochimaru took it solemnly. "You've done well, Suigetsu. I will take responsibility for reincarnating Nagato. Go to Juugo's side now. What comes next… Sasuke-kun will settle it himself."
As Suigetsu turned, he glanced at Sasuke's silent profile.
"My brother, Mangetsu Hōzuki… was killed by Uchiha Obito. I didn't know that in my past life. That Uchiha Obito… I don't know what he's been through. I only know he's a murderer drenched in blood. If someone with hands that red can just turn over a new leaf and be forgiven by the world… then this world might as well be remade by a 'god'."
Sasuke's voice was low. "Suigetsu. Go. I'll give you your answer."
Kisame murmured. "I see… So that explains everything…"
BOOM—!!
The next second, he tore free from Juugo's grip. Lifted Samehada. Moved to guard Obito's side.
Obito stood, his gaze icy as it fixed on Orochimaru. "As I thought. You were behind this, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru tucked Fugaku's eyes away, turning. "What follows is a matter for you Uchiha. I will not interfere."
Obito's eyes locked on Sasuke.
"Right. It's time to end this…"
Kisame said, "Lord Madara, need my help?"
Obito replied, "No need. Take the Eight-Tails to the base—"
Kisame: "Wouldn't sucking him into your dimension be faster?"
Obito: "I've had enough. Enough of my private domain being invaded. From this day forward, my Kamui dimension will hold no living prisoners."
"…Understood."
Kisame hefted Killer B with Samehada.
"'Madara'-sama. I wish you victory."
As Kisame withdrew from the battlefield, Orochimaru collected Nagato's body. With a final nod, he took Suigetsu and Juugo, vanishing in a flash of Flying Thunder God.
—"Sasuke-kun. Face your seventh battle…"
The roar of the sea. Two Uchiha. Two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan. Staring each other down across the space.
Sasuke: "One of us… will fall here forever."
Obito: "The one who falls will be you."
Sasuke: "But first… since we're both Uchiha. Let's greet each other the traditional way."
Obito: "My thoughts exactly."
Hand seals. In perfect unison.
—FIRE RELEASE: GREAT FIREBALL!!!
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