"I told you—shut up!"
Obito's voice sounded like a demon crawling out of hell.
He appeared in a flash, a wooden spike in his hand radiating terrifying chakra.
Ren reacted instantly, springing upward as his kunai shot out—
The two figures crossed paths in a blink—
And Ren collapsed to the ground.
A wooden spike had pierced clean through his body.
A rain of crimson splashed across Obito's white spiral mask, making it look eerily grotesque.
"…Boring tricks."
But Obito's eyes narrowed sharply.
He spun toward Shisui—
And Ren was already standing behind Shisui.
"Has no one ever told you?" Ren said coldly.
"In front of these eyes, you have nowhere to hide!"
Puff—!
Smoke burst outward.
The "Ren" lying on the ground turned into a wooden log.
A substitution.
But Ren's expression was heavy now. He stared at the wooden spike in Obito's hand and spoke in a low voice.
"Shisui… is that Wood Release?"
"…Yeah."
Shisui's gaze was cold and grim.
"If nothing unexpected happened… that's exactly what it is."
Wood Release.
The symbol of Konoha itself.
A rogue Uchiha not only had the Mangekyō—
He also carried Wood Release.
The thought made Shisui's skin crawl.
He had no idea how Obito obtained such power, but if the village took this seriously…
It would explode into catastrophe.
"We have to keep him here," Shisui said, voice hard.
"No matter what—we have to."
He'd already made his decision.
Even if he had to use Kotoamatsukami, he would end Obito here.
His Sharingan began to spin rapidly, and he spoke urgently to Ren beside him.
"Coordinate with me. I need an opening—just one—so I can use my dōjutsu and finish him. A disaster like this can't be allowed to live."
"Mm."
Ren nodded—while silently complaining to himself.
Genjutsu shouldn't be blocked by space, right?
Especially Kotoamatsukami. That thing is practically a divine technique—rewriting will so cleanly people don't even realize it happened.
A jutsu like that shouldn't exist.
Maybe that was exactly why Shisui died so early—partly his personality, partly because this power warped events too much.
"But against Obito… Kotoamatsukami might not be enough."
Ren tightened his grip on his kunai, thinking fast.
Obito was the man who resisted the Ten-Tails' will.
And as long as Black Zetsu was watching, Obito had backups—Izanagi, for one. Even if he got hit, he might still wriggle out.
More importantly—
This stage is mine.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
If he wanted results, he needed to make this incident as big as possible.
He looked at the medium-sized tree that had erupted from the ground and a plan formed immediately.
What could draw attention faster than Wood Release?
"Senpai—I'm going in first. Watch for the moment."
Without hesitation, Ren flicked out several kunai and threw them in a rapid burst.
They passed straight through Obito's body and pinned into the tree and the ground behind him.
The next instant, Ren flashed into place behind Obito.
"Childish."
Obito snorted and struck again—his wooden spike stabbing viciously toward Ren.
"Careful!"
Shisui shouted from the side, hands already sealing.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
Chakra thundered.
A massive fire dragon roared forward, charging Obito head-on.
At the same moment, Ren shifted—reappearing behind Obito again.
Front and back.
No room.
No mercy.
But Obito only smiled coldly.
His exposed Sharingan rotated slowly.
"You really think I'll fall for the same trick a third time?"
With a furious shout, Wood Release surged.
Boom—!
In front of him, wood swelled into a massive shield, blocking the oncoming fire.
Behind him, the wood twisted—
Becoming a spiraling tree that rose upward, bristling with sharp wooden spikes.
Vines lashed out, whipping toward Ren in a deadly tide.
Obito's gaze was filled with killing intent.
Ren had said it himself—
Every jutsu has a limit.
Kamui did.
And so did Flying Thunder God.
His teacher's Flying Thunder God could only chain so far in an instant—two steps at most.
Obito refused to believe Ren could manage three.
"Thanks."
Ren didn't panic at all.
Obito even saw a faint smile on his face.
Then—
A strange, eerie chakra suddenly erupted.
Obito's face changed violently.
"…How is that possible?!"
— — —
"Confirmed? It's on the Uchiha side?"
On the road to the Uchiha district, Hiruzen Sarutobi sprinted with a squad of ANBU, his voice tense as he questioned the sensor-nin beside him.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The sensor answered instantly, not daring to hesitate.
"A dense chakra signature was detected here, along with clear traces of combat. Every member of the sensor unit can confirm it."
"…Understood."
Hiruzen nodded.
The Uchiha were already under close watch. ANBU kept surveillance on them at all times.
Now chakra had erupted—and from an area outside the surveillance range.
Hiruzen couldn't afford to be careless.
He turned his head, looking at Yugao and Kakashi at his side. After a moment's thought, he asked:
"Ren still hasn't arrived?"
"Hokage-sama," Yugao answered quickly, "Ren went home. He didn't seem well, so his response may be slower."
Hiruzen could only sigh.
The ANBU medical unit had records: Ren had reported several times that his chakra felt abnormal—yet no examination could find the cause.
No one had a solution.
And losing even one piece of strength here was painful—
Especially when that strength was Flying Thunder God.
As for Shisui… Hiruzen didn't ask.
Shisui was capable, yes—
But his identity was simply too sensitive.
"And you, Kakashi," Hiruzen said quietly. "How is your eye now?"
"Hokage-sama… I believe I'm fine."
Kakashi's voice was low.
Ever since learning he also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, his mission load had sharply decreased.
Other than missions with Ren, he'd spent nearly all his time studying and mastering that eye.
He still couldn't wield it freely—
But the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan needed no explanation.
"That's good. This time—"
Hiruzen exhaled.
But before he could finish—
A terrifying chakra burst exploded ahead.
The next second, everyone saw it—
A massive tree surged up from the ground.
Staring at that tree—dense chakra pouring from it, vitality practically overflowing—
Everyone froze for half a breath.
Then their faces changed.
No reminder was needed.
They all accelerated.
That was Wood Release.
The Wood Release only the First Hokage had possessed.
"This is…"
When they finally reached the battlefield, they saw two figures locked in fierce combat.
Trees stood everywhere. Vines coiled and strangled, tangling and whipping through the air.
Both fighters had sharp wooden spikes forming in their hands.
One was Konoha's wanted criminal—
Uchiha Obito.
And the other—
"…Ren?!"
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL