"Spore Technique!"
Obito raised two fingers like a sword.
Instantly, countless white spores burst out like rain, spraying across the Kumogakure ninja and wrapping around their bodies.
"What is this?!" Samui cried out in shock.
The white spores spread rapidly over her skin, wriggling like living organisms as they burrowed inward.
"Use chakra to shake them off!" Tutai shouted urgently.
"These spores absorb chakra—!"
He immediately released a surge of chakra, blasting the spores off his body.
But the moment they hit the ground—
They spread again.
Like spiderwebs, they crawled outward and fused into the earth within seconds.
Several Kumogakure ninja didn't react in time.
Their bodies were completely covered.
Then—
The spores transformed.
Their forms twisted, reshaping into White Zetsu clones.
Empty eyes opened.
Low, eerie laughter echoed.
The newly formed White Zetsu quickly assembled into formation, surrounding the remaining Kumogakure forces.
The Raikage Strikes
"DAMN IT—!"
A roared in fury.
Lightning armor exploded around his body once more, thunder surging like a raging dragon.
The spores attached to him were instantly vaporized into ash.
Moving at terrifying speed, he charged straight at Obito.
His lightning-wrapped fist slammed down.
The ground shattered with a thunderous explosion.
Dust filled the air.
But then—
A frowned.
He stared at his own fist.
Because he had clearly seen it—
pass straight through Obito's body.
Obito's figure twisted in the smoke like a reflection on rippling water.
Before A could react—
A cold voice sounded from behind him.
"Wood Release: Cutting Stake Technique."
Yugito Captured
Pssshk—!
A's pupils shrank.
He spun around instantly—
And froze.
Obito stood behind Yugito.
One hand pressed against her body.
Dozens of wooden spikes had pierced through her torso, suspending her in midair.
Blood dripped onto the snow below.
"Wood Release?!" Tutai shouted in shock.
"It's Wood Release!"
Wood Release had terrifying suppressive power over Tailed Beasts.
Especially during sealing operations.
A's breathing stopped.
His gaze locked onto Yugito's body hanging on the spikes.
A deep, furious growl escaped his throat.
"Ha—!"
Despite the agony, Yugito's eyes turned blood-red.
A massive surge of chakra erupted.
A crimson mist of Tailed Beast chakra wrapped around her body, forcing the spikes apart.
"Stay still!" Obito barked.
His hands flashed through hand seals.
The broken spikes regenerated instantly, transforming into thicker wooden chains that wrapped around Yugito layer after layer.
The chains embedded deep into her flesh.
Bones cracked under the pressure.
She was completely immobilized in the air.
The Amber Purifying Bottle
Obito stared coldly at the struggling Yugito.
Space twisted beside him.
A half-human-sized jar appeared.
A's eyes widened.
"The Amber Purifying Bottle… it was you!"
In that instant, he understood.
The intruder from days earlier—
Had been Obito.
Obito smirked faintly.
He tapped the jar with one finger.
The bottle floated into the air.
Its mouth pointed directly at Yugito.
Immediately—
Her red chakra began to drain.
Like threads being pulled from her body, it streamed into the bottle.
"AAAAHHHH—!"
Yugito screamed in agony.
Her body convulsed violently.
Tailed Beast chakra poured out of her like a flood.
Her skin began to crack and pale.
The Rescue
A's eyes turned bloodshot.
With a furious roar, he charged toward Obito.
The White Zetsu in his path were meaningless obstacles.
His lightning form tore through them like a storm.
Bodies exploded into ash wherever he passed.
He closed the distance.
Just as he was about to reach Obito—
Space twisted violently.
Obito vanished.
The Amber Purifying Bottle vanished.
Everything disappeared.
Yugito fell from the air.
Her body hit the ground weakly.
A faint rasp escaped her throat.
Her life force had dropped to the brink.
Medical Response
Samui rushed forward immediately.
Her hands trembled—but her movements were fast and precise.
She formed hand seals.
A soft green glow of medical ninjutsu appeared at her fingertips. ✨
A stood frozen nearby.
His fists clenched.
His eyes burned as he stared at the empty space where Obito had vanished.
Seconds passed.
Finally—
Samui exhaled deeply.
"The Tailed Beast wasn't fully extracted."
She spoke with relief.
"Most of the chakra was taken, but the core remains."
"Her body is being slowly repaired by the remaining Tailed Beast chakra."
"There is no danger to her life."
A's tense expression eased slightly.
But the rage in his eyes remained.
Was It Konoha?
A surviving ANBU staggered forward, furious.
"Raikage-sama, this must be Konoha's doing! The Sharingan is proof!"
A raised his hand, silencing him.
Then he turned to Tutai.
"What do you think?"
Tutai stared at the residual chakra marks on the ground.
After a moment, he spoke quietly.
"The Sharingan is indeed a trait of the Uchiha clan."
"But that does not mean Konoha is responsible."
He continued calmly:
"If Konoha possessed Wood Release, they would never hide it."
"When the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, used Wood Release, it shook the entire world."
"Konoha would display such power openly."
"And besides—"
He paused.
"They already possess overwhelming strength."
"Five Susanoo users."
"And even the Rinnegan."
"If they wanted our Tailed Beasts, they wouldn't resort to tricks."
"They would simply take them by force."
"This operation feels more like the Akatsuki—"
"Using the Sharingan to mislead us."
A slowly nodded.
He agreed.
Akatsuki had been increasingly active in recent years.
Their target had always been the Tailed Beasts.
His voice turned cold.
"No matter what—"
"This isn't over."
Then suddenly—
He froze.
"…Wait."
His eyes widened.
"B."
He realized something instantly.
Obito had clearly targeted Tailed Beasts.
And when the Amber Purifying Bottle appeared—
That meant Killer B had already been breached.
But now that Yugito had been attacked—
Why would Obito leave without capturing the Eight-Tails?
Something was wrong.
"You follow behind," A ordered sharply.
"I'm going ahead!"
Lightning exploded around him.
He shot forward instantly.
Tutai understood immediately.
Everyone rushed back toward Kumogakure.
The Return to the Village
All along the journey, A's lightning streak carved black scars across the sky.
His urgency roared inside his chest like thunder.
Each step shattered rock.
Snow melted under the heat of his chakra.
After a full day and night—
He finally returned to Kumogakure.
Seeing the village intact—
He released a breath.
But he didn't slow down.
He rushed straight into the Raikage building.
Then he saw him.
Killer B sat outside the office door, looking dejected.
The moment A saw him—
All tension vanished.
Killer B lowered his head like a scolded child.
"Big brother… I'm sorry."
"The Amber Purifying Bottle was stolen…"
A said nothing.
Instead—
He stepped forward and pulled B into a tight embrace.
He patted his back firmly.
"You're safe."
"That's all that matters."
In A's eyes—
No legendary weapon.
No sacred treasure.
Not even the Six Paths tools—
Were worth more than his comrades, his family, and his people.
—------------------------------
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