Seeing the scene before him, Obito was almost scared out of his wits.
Was this still Genjutsu?
It did not belong to reality, yet it did not belong to illusion either.
It was both real and illusory at the same time.
It could not be broken, and one could even increase their combat power through sheer imagination.
Was this really Genjutsu?!
Was this still within the realm of what a ninja could do?
However, Obito was no ordinary opponent.
He quickly realized that the copies of himself created by Kurenai Yūhi did not possess independent offensive capability.
They required Yūhi's direct control. Only when she issued commands could they attack, dodge, or use techniques.
In other words, those illusions that seemed identical to Obito were not truly threatening.
It was equivalent to one person controlling more than a dozen puppets in battle.
How could the enemy possibly manage all of them at once?
Moreover… every jutsu had its weakness.
Obito did not believe he would die here.
Forcing himself to calm down, he carefully observed Kurenai Yūhi.
Unhurriedly, she reached into her ninja tool pouch and took out several kunai.
Engraved on them were… extremely sinister curse seals.
"What is that?!" Obito exclaimed in shock, instinctively focusing his perception.
The next moment, he sucked in a sharp breath as a chill ran down his spine.
His gaze toward Kurenai Yūhi turned horrified.
This woman… had bound other people's souls!
Preventing them from ever reincarnating—
All to refine them into her own puppets?!
This was far too evil.
At this moment, Obito genuinely believed that compared to her, he was practically an angel.
Using the kunai as a medium, Kurenai Yūhi embedded those bound souls into the dozen-plus illusionary Obito bodies.
Instantly, the illusions gained sentience.
All of them locked onto Obito with pure killing intent.
Behind the mask, Obito's expression changed drastically.
An overwhelming sense of crisis surged through him.
He… he was going to die!
If he didn't break this Genjutsu, he would definitely die here!
So—how could he break it?!
Watching the illusions charge toward him, Obito's mind raced.
No—there's no time!
"Shinra Tensei!"
Obito raised his hand and unleashed the repulsive force.
Because of the battle between Naruto and Nagato, Obito had obtained the Rinnegan that once belonged to Nagato.
At this moment, he possessed the Rinnegan and all of its abilities.
However, its power was inferior to having both eyes.
After all, his other eye socket was occupied by his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Obito's Shinra Tensei erupted outward.
In response—
More than a dozen Obito illusions simultaneously unleashed equally powerful Shinra Tensei.
Obito's repulsive force lasted only an instant before being completely overwhelmed.
His body was struck by over a dozen Shinra Tensei at the same time.
At the final moment, Obito covered his entire body with Wood Release to endure the impact.
Crack—
Bang!
The Wood Release shattered.
The mask shattered.
A terrifying repulsive force slammed into Obito's body, sending him flying backward at extreme speed.
Mid-air, Obito suddenly realized—
Kamui could activate!
He didn't have time to question why.
Obito instantly activated Kamui, pulling himself into the Kamui Dimension.
Only then did he finally feel a sliver of safety.
So… what exactly allowed Kamui to work just now?
Inside the Kamui Dimension, Obito lay weakly on the ground, replaying everything that had happened.
So that's how it was.
Kurenai Yūhi's Genjutsu was indeed terrifying.
But it was not without flaws.
Distance.
Her illusion was both illusion and reality.
When it functioned as an illusion, Kamui could not be used.
When it functioned as reality, Kamui could activate.
Obito had been able to use Kamui because Shinra Tensei had blasted him away from Yūhi.
But—
No.
When he entered the Kamui Dimension, the outside world was still an endless white void.
So he had not actually left the illusion's range.
Rather, the farther he was from Kurenai Yūhi, the weaker her control over the illusion became.
As a result, the rule that "illusion is illusion" became easier to break.
Combined with Obito possessing both the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Rinnegan—
He was able to escape using Kamui.
So… what was happening outside now?
Obito didn't dare to leave immediately.
He rested inside the Kamui Dimension.
After recovering somewhat, he cautiously sensed the outside world.
Kurenai Yūhi had already dispelled the Genjutsu.
This was exactly as Obito had expected.
Such a terrifying Genjutsu must consume an enormous amount of chakra.
And Kurenai Yūhi was not a bloodline-limit ninja, nor did she possess a powerful physique.
It was only natural that she couldn't sustain it.
However, because a significant amount of time had passed—
Many ANBU had already gathered at the scene.
Worse still…
That old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, might arrive at any moment.
Although Obito was arrogant, he knew his limits.
Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi in his current condition would be dangerous.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not Kurenai Yūhi.
He was a true Kage-level ninja.
An old-school Kage.
Though his physical strength had declined, his combat experience had not.
With Obito's current lack of Tailed Beast chakra, confronting him would be suicidal.
And this was Konoha—where experts were everywhere.
"Can I only retreat…?"
Obito frowned unwillingly.
He wanted to kill Naruto.
This was a rare opportunity.
But he chose to hide and recover instead.
Outside—
Kurenai Yūhi reported everything that had just occurred.
Hiruzen Sarutobi found it unbelievable and instinctively dismissed much of it.
After all, Obito Uchiha had died long ago—crushed beneath a rock.
Kakashi and Rin had personally seen him close his eyes.
In the end, Hiruzen left additional ANBU to protect Naruto and returned to the village.
Kurenai Yūhi, exhausted and frustrated by his lack of concern, could only endure it.
For Naruto's safety, she decided not to accept missions for the time being.
After taking a soldier pill, she remained by Naruto's side—
Guarding against Obito's return for three full months.
Within the Kamui Dimension, Obito continued to covet Naruto's life and the Nine-Tails' chakra.
But Naruto was constantly surrounded by ANBU—
And Kurenai Yūhi alone was enough to give Obito a headache.
"…Forget it."
Obito's calm voice echoed within the Kamui Dimension.
With both Kurenai Yūhi and the ANBU protecting Naruto, killing him was impossible.
Obtaining the Nine-Tails was even more unrealistic.
It would be better to return to the Dragon Vein.
Perhaps he could travel to an even earlier point in time.
At that time, regardless of who the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki was—
Obito was confident he could seize it.
With that decision made, Obito left Konoha and headed toward the Dragon Vein.
Through it, he returned to his original time.
There—
Zetsu was already waiting for Obito's good news.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 30+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
📢 Check out my new Naruto fanfic!
[Naruto: I Don't Want Recognition]