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Hiding underground, Black Zetsu watched the "jellyfish" floating in the sky, feeling a deep sense of unease. Did Obito succeed… or fail?
Minato and the others had the same question.
Only Naruto reacted immediately, forming a Sage Art: Wind Release Rasenshuriken at top speed and hurling it straight at Obito.
When in doubt, always follow up with another attack—best case scenario, it finishes him off for good.
However, Naruto was disappointed. A small black sphere morphed into a thin shield, blocking the attack with ease.
"Sage Art: Lightning Release—Thunder Serpent!"
With a confident voice, a purple lightning bolt, shaped like a massive serpent, shot toward Obito's back, jaws wide open to swallow him whole.
Naruto tilted his head and saw Sasuke standing there, exuding an aura of smug confidence—as if declaring to the world, "The heavens are first, Itachi is second, and I am third."
But more than his attitude, Sasuke's appearance had changed significantly.
The once delicate features of his lower face were now partially covered by white serpent scales. His eyes had transformed into slit-pupilled snake-like irises, with a ring of purple markings extending from his eye sockets to his nose, similar to Itachi's facial lines. Two small horns protruded from his forehead, slightly disrupting his hairstyle.
Wait a minute—Sasuke learned Sage Mode!? Naruto finally understood why Sasuke had been acting so mysteriously lately—he had secretly signed up for extra lessons!
Judging by his appearance, though, his mastery wasn't perfect. He looked somewhat like Kabuto in his Sage Mode—No way, Naruto thought in horror. This is my childhood friend—please don't tell me he's about to become that unhinged.
His gaze flicked to Sasuke's waist—no extra "features." Phew, thank the Sage of Six Paths. He's still normal.
Even Kakashi was smiling proudly. Even though I had nothing to do with it, I now have two Sage students! The chances of stopping Obito just got higher!
Everyone else was equally stunned. Itachi, who had noticed Sasuke's strange schedule, was the most pleased—his otouto's hard work had finally paid off.
Sasuke, despite his serious expression, was secretly observing their reactions with his Sage Mode sensory abilities and Sharingan. He was clearly satisfied with their surprise—except for Naruto's weirdly complicated expression, which he couldn't quite read. What is this idiot thinking now?
The purple lightning faded, revealing Obito once again curled up into a protective sphere—this time, a black one. The Truth-Seeking Orbs had reshaped into a shell, shielding him at the center.
Slowly, the shell reverted to a sphere before parting to reveal his transformed figure.
Obito now stood tall, his white hair flowing down his back. A single large horn and a smaller one protruded from his forehead. His left eye bore the Rinnegan, while his right eye remained a Sharingan. A white cloak draped over him, and behind him, nine Truth-Seeking Orbs floated in perfect formation. His expression was cold and unreadable.
"So, it's finally complete?" Obito muttered, raising his hand and flexing his fingers, as if testing his newfound power.
Sasuke, seeing that his attack had been ineffective, refused to accept it. He quickly formed seals for another jutsu—
Only to be cut off by a devastating kick to the gut.
"Urgh—!" Sasuke was sent flying. If not for the enhanced vitality of Sage Mode, he might have coughed up blood from the impact.
As he struggled to his feet, he saw a Truth-Seeking Orb hurtling toward his head. His body crackled with lightning as he tried to dodge. "Damn, too fast—!"
At the last second, Naruto appeared beside him, yanking him away just before impact. Landing safely, Naruto shook his hand with a wince. "Tch, you're all static electricity."
Sasuke sighed in relief before snapping back, "Shut up!"
Witnessing Sasuke's close call, Itachi made his move. "Yasaka Magatama!"
But Obito didn't even attempt to block. Instead, he casually sidestepped before vanishing, reappearing right in front of Itachi's Susanoo. A Truth-Seeking Orb morphed into a staff and slammed downward.
Itachi raised the Yata Mirror in defense.
A dull thud echoed as the small staff collided with the massive divine shield. Yet, the impact alone forced Itachi's Susanoo to stagger backward, cracks forming on the Yata Mirror.
Shisui seized the opening, lunging forward with his green Susanoo's spiraling sword, which rotated like a drill, its lethal power apparent.
Obito glanced at him and sent a small Truth-Seeking Orb to block the sword's tip. The two forces clashed in a deadlock.
Shisui's eyes widened. He gritted his teeth, pushing his blade forward with all his might.
"It's useless." Obito, sounding almost bored, raised his left hand and directed his palm toward the Truth-Seeking Orb, increasing its pressure.
Crack! As the orb pushed forward, Shisui's sword began to fracture. Soon, the blade shattered completely. Shisui clutched his eye in pain.
"Shisui!" Itachi took a step forward. His red Susanoo swung its sword down at Obito.
Clang!
Obito blocked the Totsuka Blade with his staff as if it were a toothpick against a broadsword—an absurdly mismatched sight.
Crack!
Shisui's weapon fully shattered, and a Truth-Seeking Orb shot toward his head.
At the same time, Obito deflected Itachi's Totsuka Blade and lunged toward the Susanoo's cockpit.
With a grunt, Itachi's Susanoo shattered, and he plummeted to the ground.
Before Obito could pursue, four golden chains shot toward him.
Kushina skillfully controlled the Adamantine Sealing Chains, weaving them into a net in an attempt to ensnare the "big fish."
Obito instinctively stepped back—but then noticed something was off. There should have been five chains. Glancing left, he spotted the missing chain looping around to his blind spot.
This technique was troublesome. Truth-Seeking Orbs, in theory, should be unaffected by sealing jutsu, but these chains were specifically designed to suppress Tailed Beasts. Obito wasn't sure if they would interfere with his powers, so he didn't take any chances.
At that moment, Minato saw his opening. He flicked a kunai toward Obito's right side—opposite the direction Obito was dodging.
As Obito moved to evade the chains, Minato teleported behind him.
Obito barely had time to register the movement when something happened—Minato's left hand caught the kunai, subtly tossing it upward without a sound, while his right hand, carrying a Sage Rasengan, drove into Obito's back.
As someone who had fallen victim to this exact technique before, Obito had been wary of his backstabbing master.
But he was still too late.
The distinct pain of the Rasengan told him one thing:
"Your teacher is still your teacher."
And then Minato added, "I believe I've said this before—this is Flying Thunder God: Level Two!"
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