The individual vanished in a blink, reappearing at the single remaining marker.
However, a sudden, unexpected event transpired. Minato Namikaze had barely materialized when a hand shot up from the ground, seizing his ankle with surprising speed and strength.
"Not good!"
A sense of impending danger washed over Minato Namikaze. Before he could react, a voice, barely audible yet chillingly clear, whispered in his ear: "Mind Body Switch Technique!"
His vision swam, his body lurched, and he was abruptly pulled beneath the earth, only his head remaining visible above the surface.
Bang!
Simultaneously, Kouki's shadow clone, secretly positioned nearby, automatically deactivated, dissolving into harmless smoke.
Minato Namikaze was effectively neutralized. Completely immobilized, his jutsu rendered useless, he posed no further threat.
Minato Namikaze: "…"
His frustration was immeasurable. He had fought countless battles during the Third Great Ninja War, traversing the ninja world undefeated, yet today he had suffered two consecutive humiliating defeats in rapid succession.
Both times, he had fallen victim to the same, unexpectedly effective technique.
Just as Kouki had immobilized Minato Namikaze, a voice echoed: "Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
An immediate sense of danger washed over Kouki.
Swish!
In that instant, a jet of water, impossibly sharp and capable of piercing even steel, erupted from Yagura Karatachi's mouth, aimed directly at Kouki.
Kouki instinctively activated Kamui, his body becoming intangible. The water jet passed harmlessly through him.
"Tsk tsk tsk, resorting to a sneak attack? How unbecoming," Kouki remarked, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips as he glanced towards Obito.
While Yagura Karatachi had launched the attack, as a Kage, he was highly unlikely to resort to such underhanded tactics. It was clearly Obito's command, a testament to his ruthless pragmatism.
Obito's face, concealed within the White Zetsu mask, flushed slightly. He considered himself a master manipulator, using individuals as pawns in his grand scheme to control the ninja world. Such underhanded tactics were, even to him, somewhat embarrassing.
But he had no choice.
Kamui and Flying Thunder God, either one alone was enough to render a ninja untraceable and immune to most attacks. This individual possessed both. Without extreme measures, Obito couldn't hope to capture him!
You ambushed Minato Namikaze with a shadow clone," Obito retorted defensively, though he knew the situations were vastly different.
His words were a thinly veiled attempt to deflect attention from his own underhanded tactics.
Kouki scoffed. "But this paltry Water Release jutsu? Do you think it can harm me?" His confidence was unwavering.
"Not usually, but remember where we are—Amegakure, a village of perpetual rain," Obito said confidently, a glint of triumph in his eyes. He was finally exploiting a weakness.
"The humidity here is intense. The air is far more saturated than elsewhere."
"In this environment, guess how long that Water Release jutsu will be effective?"
Obito spoke with an air of assured confidence, his plan finally unfolding as intended.
The others didn't understand, but Kouki did. Only he and Obito knew that Kamui's intangibility had a time limit.
Obito planned to use Yagura Karatachi to exploit this weakness and break Kouki's Kamui!
"That exposes your own weakness. You went to great lengths to counter me," Kouki stated calmly, completely unfazed.
His confidence was not arrogance, but a reflection of his superior understanding of the situation.
"We should help him!"
Konan, who had been observing, whispered to Yahiko and Nagato. While Yagura Karatachi's attack hadn't harmed Kouki, Kouki and Obito's exchange suggested otherwise.
Konan, ever perceptive, sensed something was amiss and decided to intervene. Her loyalty to her comrades was unwavering.
"Stop them!"
Obito, watching Konan, instantly ordered the White Zetsu and other controlled ninjas to attack. His response was immediate and decisive.
They charged towards Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
"You two cover me!"
Konan whispered to Yahiko and Nagato, summoning numerous paper sheets that coalesced into wings behind her. Her movements were fluid and graceful.
She soared into the air, evading the ninjas, and flew towards Yagura Karatachi. Her speed was remarkable.
"Stop her!"
Obito barked the order, and the ground forces launched a barrage of kunai and shuriken at Konan. The attack was relentless.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Konan countered with a flurry of paper shuriken, deflecting the attacks with skill and precision. Yahiko and Nagato launched a fierce counterattack, easing the pressure on Konan.
She easily reached Yagura Karatachi, unleashing a torrent of paper shuriken.
"Hmph!"
Obito snorted, clapping his hands. Wood Release jutsu erupted, and branches burst from the ground, creating a formidable defensive barrier.
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