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He originally thought Ye Dou had already shown all his strength, but he never expected that he could go even further.
This kind of monster... was actually just a Genin from Konoha. At this moment, Ye Dou's jet-black hair flared wildly in the storm of chakra, and the signature green aura of the Hachimon Tonkō—the Eight Gates Released Formation—roared around him like molten fire.
His eyes opened wide at last, but his pupils were gone. Only the cold, emotionless whites of his eyes remained.
"Go to hell!"
"Damn it!"
Kisame Hoshigaki felt a sudden jolt of fear crawl into his chest. This is bad, he thought. From Ye Dou's fist, I can feel an overwhelming force. He's about to explode!
"Asa Kujaku! (Morning Peacock!)"
Ye Dou bellowed, charging with both fists blazing, aiming to obliterate Uchiha Itachi right then and there.
One punch. Ten punches. Fifty. Eighty. The sight was terrifying—within the blink of an eye, he unleashed nearly a hundred strikes.
The air itself ignited from the sheer speed and friction of his fists. The blazing barrage intensified, becoming a literal storm of fire, engulfing both Kisame and Itachi in a maelstrom of flaming punches.
[You Are Very Like Me]
Previously, Ye Dou had only opened up to the Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit (Tomon). But now, he had opened the Sixth Gate—Gate of View (Keimon)—to deliver a finishing blow.
However, the human body cannot endure the Sixth Gate for long. Though it grants immense power, it inflicts massive internal damage and leaves the user severely weakened once the effect ends.
But at this moment, Ye Dou had no reservations. He went all out, pouring everything into this earth-shattering assault.
Boom! Boom! Boom! His fists burned like comets. Each strike sparked a wave of heat and fire. This wasn't Fire Release ninjutsu—it was pure speed and raw power, the air igniting from friction alone.
Ten punches! One hundred! Two hundred! Within seconds, he had launched over two hundred flaming strikes.
The battlefield around them was obliterated. Trees vaporized. Stone shattered. The earth itself crumbled beneath the storm of fire fists, turning the area into scorched ruin.
Yet Ye Dou didn't stop. He kept punching, denying Itachi any chance to counterattack, as if he wanted to erase him from existence.
In the distance, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha stood frozen, dumbstruck—like they were seeing Ye Dou for the first time.
The temperature in Suba Town surged. The entire battlefield became a burning furnace. Vegetation had long since turned to ash, and the heat was unbearable even from afar.
Finally, Ye Dou ceased his attack. His body, battered and drained, plummeted from the air. He could no longer sustain the Eight Gates technique.
Pain and fatigue hit him like a tidal wave. Every muscle, every cell—nearly 130 trillion of them—screamed in agony. It felt as if his body had been torn apart.
Panting heavily, Ye Dou couldn't remain standing. He dropped to one knee, trembling.
The battlefield was unrecognizable. A wasteland. Not even ruins remained—just scorched earth and smoldering craters. Death lingered in the air.
"Ye Dou, are you alright?!"
Might Guy rushed over and caught him just before he collapsed completely.
"I'm fine," Ye Dou said hoarsely, shaking his head. His eyes locked onto the massive crater left behind by the attack.
He had used Asa Kujaku before—but never like this. This was the first time he unleashed it without holding back. Now, not even a sliver of chakra remained in his body.
And because of that, he couldn't tell what had become of Uchiha Itachi. His Kenbunshoku Haki—his observation ability—was no longer functioning.
"Such heavy killing intent from someone so young... what a shame."
A sudden, unfamiliar voice echoed nearby. The group turned in alarm.
Standing calmly among the ruins was a man in a swirling-patterned orange mask.
Beside him were the bloodied figures of Uchiha Itachi—coughing up blood—and Kisame, whose face was partially crushed.
"They're not dead!"
Ye Dou glared at the staggering Itachi, ready to deliver a final blow.
But he couldn't. His body had reached its limit. Like Itachi, he was completely drained—no longer able to fight.
"You... What are you planning?!"
Jiraiya stepped forward, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
He hadn't been in Konoha during the Nine-Tails' rampage years ago—he'd been journeying the world—but as one of the Third Hokage's students and a Sannin, he knew it hadn't been a natural disaster. It had been a man-made attack.
And now, seeing this masked figure, he knew: This was the man who tore everything apart. The one who caused the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato, and his wife Kushina.
"Don't be so tense. I'm just taking a stroll after dinner," the masked man—Uchiha Obito—said with a mocking tone.
"You think I'll believe that crap?! Your target is Naruto. I won't let you lay a single finger on him!" Jiraiya growled, quietly preparing for battle.
"As expected of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya," Obito said coldly. "But in the end, your presence doesn't matter. The Nine-Tails will be mine eventually. With the right plan, even a Sannin is irrelevant."
The arrogance in his voice was clear—and perhaps deserved. This was the man who manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, brought down Kirigakure, and controlled the Akatsuki from the shadows.
"You're welcome to try," Jiraiya replied firmly, ready to engage.
But Obito made no move to attack. Instead, he turned to Ye Dou and spoke darkly:
"You're like me. There's darkness in your heart."
"Not as deep as yours," Ye Dou shot back, lifting his bloodstained arm and summoning Xueyin back into his hand.
"Sooner or later, no matter who you are now, you'll become like me."
"Goodbye, amusing Konoha ninja."
With that, Obito placed a hand on Itachi and Kisame. A vortex of space-time opened, and all three vanished in an instant.
"I'll never become like you, Uchiha Obito!"
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