"A Konoha shinobi? To find this place without making a sound… that is impressive."
Obito Uchiha could not hide his surprise. With his current strength, anyone capable of appearing behind him unnoticed was far from ordinary.
His gaze locked onto the newcomer as he carefully assessed him.
Young.
Too young.
That was the first thing that stood out.
For a brief moment, a strange sense of familiarity flickered in Obito's mind, though he could not place it. The man wore no forehead protector, only simple civilian clothing, making it impossible to identify his origin.
Still, there was only one logical conclusion.
Konoha.
"Oh? The Rinnegan?"
Ryūjin Uchiha noticed it immediately, the additional eye embedded within Obito's socket.
He paused for a fraction of a second, mildly surprised, then lost interest just as quickly.
It was not as if he did not possess the same power.
And unlike Obito, he had both.
"Yeah right," Ryūjin muttered under his breath, his tone indifferent.
Obito's expression turned cold. "Konoha shinobi, you can die now."
Without hesitation, he issued a mental command.
The ground trembled.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The Nine-Tailed Fox moved, its massive form crossing the distance in mere seconds. Towering above Ryūjin, it raised a colossal claw and brought it crashing down.
Ryūjin did not move.
Not even slightly.
He simply removed his sunglasses and looked up.
"Kotoamatsukami."
His pupils turned a deep crimson as the Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
In an instant, the genjutsu overrode Obito's control.
The Nine-Tails froze.
Its claw stopped just inches above Ryūjin's head.
Silence followed.
On the other side, Obito's control vanished completely.
"Sleep," Ryūjin said casually.
Like a domesticated beast, the Nine-Tails lowered itself to the ground.
It closed its eyes.
Then, just like that, it fell into a deep, unnatural sleep.
No matter how Obito attempted to reassert control, nothing responded.
"Impossible… this is impossible!"
His composure cracked.
"It's you… you again!"
Recognition struck him like a blade.
The frustration, the interference, the repeated disruptions.
All of it pointed to one person.
Rage surged within him.
"Why do you keep getting in my way?" Obito demanded, his voice sharp with anger. "Who exactly are you?"
Ryūjin tilted his head slightly, as if actually considering the question.
"If I said it was all coincidence, would you believe me?"
The words were not entirely false.
The previous encounters had indeed been coincidences.
This time, though, was different.
Obito's plan had simply created a convenient opportunity.
Ryūjin took it.
That was all.
Obito's eyes darkened. "You think I would believe something like that?"
"Your choice," Ryūjin replied with a shrug. "Doesn't change anything."
A cold glint flashed through Obito's gaze.
"Good," he said. "Then we settle everything here. I am not the same as before."
Ryūjin let out a faint scoff. "Because you have one extra Rinnegan?"
"You know nothing about the power of these eyes!"
Obito extended his hand.
"Universal Pull."
A powerful gravitational force surged forward, locking onto Ryūjin.
But before it could take hold—
He was gone.
In a flicker, Ryūjin reappeared behind Obito, the Flying Thunder God Technique executed flawlessly.
Lightning erupted from his body.
"Chidori Current."
Electricity spread outward in a violent web, crackling as it surged toward Obito.
Obito did not dodge.
He simply turned, allowing the attack to pass through his body harmlessly.
"Pointless," he said calmly. "Techniques like that cannot touch me."
Ryūjin exhaled lightly and let the lightning fade.
"Then what is the point of this?" he said, his voice calm but edged with annoyance. "We both know this won't go anywhere."
He was not wrong.
With Kamui and Flying Thunder God, neither of them could easily corner the other.
Even if Ryūjin pushed harder, Obito could absorb or deflect most chakra-based attacks with the Rinnegan.
Physical attacks would be repelled.
Genjutsu would not land, Obito had already learned that lesson and avoided direct eye contact.
It was a stalemate.
Annoying, but true.
Still, Ryūjin was not particularly interested in killing him.
Not now.
"Yeah, not worth the effort," he muttered quietly.
Obito clenched his fist.
For someone like him, this situation was unacceptable.
"Damn it…"
Frustration gnawed at him.
Even with the Rinnegan, even after everything, this person remained a problem he could not solve.
And worse, he knew it.
"Tobi is not fully recovered," Obito thought, irritation building. "Without Wood Release, dealing with him alone is risky."
The white Zetsu had survived, but in a pitiful state, far from being useful in battle.
Obito's gaze sharpened again.
"…Fortunately, I made preparations."
At that exact moment—
A flash of yellow light cut through the darkness.
Minato Namikaze appeared instantly on the battlefield.
His eyes immediately locked onto the scene.
The unconscious Nine-Tails.
Kushina restrained in the distance.
And two figures facing each other in silence.
The air grew heavier.