As the tornado was absorbed by the Preta Path, the ocean waves gradually calmed down. The two sides looked at each other from tens of meters away, mutually vigilant and on guard. Obito, in particular, had eyes full of apprehension.
The Uchiha clan had not been annihilated. His stock of spare Sharingan was very small, and the chances he could continue to consume them for Izanagi were few. He could not waste them casually.
He said cautiously, "Not just Wood Release rivaling the First Hokage, but also the Mangekyo Sharingan, and it is a straight tomoe. This intelligence gap is a bit ridiculous."
In fact, the black comma shapes in the Sharingan are not magatama, but tomoe. And tomoe are divided into curved tomoe and straight tomoe. Only the Mangekyo Sharingan possesses this kind of variation and classification.
Obito had learned from the real Madara that typically, between brothers, one would definitely have a straight tomoe, and the other a curved tomoe.
When the two merge, they fuse each other's tomoe, transforming into a more complex straight tomoe pattern. In the anime, when Madara referred to Sasuke's Sharingan as a straight tomoe Mangekyo, he was actually talking about an Eternal Mangekyo.
Jokichi's hexagonal snowflake-shaped tomoe pattern, no matter how one looked at it, was an Eternal Mangekyo born from fusing two Mangekyo Sharingan. Furthermore, he had also awakened Wood Release.
Obito himself had Hashirama's cells transplanted into his body, so he knew very well just how massive the vitality contained within body cells capable of using Wood Release was, and how incredibly potent the amplification was for the Sharingan.
Supported by Hashirama's cells, his Mangekyo Sharingan had no side effects no matter how much he used it, and it was far stronger than an ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan. Even with a single eye, he would not be at a disadvantage against typical paired eyes.
"Let's retreat!" Obito stared solemnly at Jokichi in the distance, his eyes full of apprehension. "This kid's strength has already exceeded our expectations. We had better wait until the plan succeeds and deal with him using the power of the Tailed Beasts!"
"No!"
The Deva Path rejected the idea with an indifferent face. "Once our plan begins, we will definitely meet resistance. At that time, it is also possible we will encounter him along the way."
"The preparation work for the plan will take another three years to complete. If we launch the plan in three years... he is already this powerful now. It is simply impossible to imagine what extent he will grow to in three years. If we face him then, we will have even less chance of winning."
"Are you confident right now?" Obito turned his head and looked at the Deva Path.
"I cannot say I am confident, only that the chances are greater now." The Deva Path said calmly, "Deep in this ocean, his Wood Release is difficult to utilize. The only thing we need to be wary of is that Mangekyo Sharingan."
No matter how powerful Wood Release was, it needed soil to grow. Deep in this ocean, tens of thousands of meters from the seabed, even the most overpowered Wood Release could not sprout up.
"We also have to be careful of his bizarre items," Obito reminded him.
The box on the ship that swallowed an entire missile and turned it into a basin. The iron fan earlier that whipped up a Wind Release with exaggeratedly massive power. They couldn't guarantee whether he still had other unknown gadgets.
However, by saying this, Obito indicated that he agreed with Pain's reasoning. Retreating right now would be very simple, but they couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't face his obstruction during their plan three years from now.
"Then, let us first test out his other methods!"
The Animal Path—made from the corpse of a Fuma clan ninja and sporting a long ponytail—formed seals with both hands, then slammed them onto the ocean surface.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
As the formula's runes spread out, three summoned beasts charged out of the bursting smoke. They were a giant lobster, a giant crab, and an Archaeopteryx with feet growing on its back.
The giant crab sprinted rapidly across the water surface, moving at high speed as if walking on flat ground. The giant lobster dove straight into the water, initiating a sneak attack from beneath the sea. The Archaeopteryx soared through the sky, its sharp, elongated beak opening and closing as it let out piercing, eerie screeches.
A triple assault from sea, land, and air. If an ordinary person encountered this, they would simply be overwhelmed.
However, Jokichi revealed a cold smile.
"You want to test my trump cards? Then I'll just show them to you directly! Complete Body Susanoo!"
Chakra condensed in front of his body into a massive purple skeleton, followed by flesh and blood, then armor, and finally the manifestation of wings and gauntlets. Standing over thirty meters tall, its body wreathed in a purple chakra aura, its presence overturned mountains and emptied seas, just like a War God descending to the mortal realm.
The moment the Complete Body Susanoo appeared, the calm ocean surface whipped up waves once again. Dark clouds rolled through the sky, and lightning snaked across it.
The Archaeopteryx hurriedly flapped its wings to gain altitude. The giant crab slammed on the brakes on the water surface. The giant lobster, preparing to launch a sneak attack from the seabed, hid in the water, not daring to move an inch.
Even though they had died long ago and felt no fear toward anything, when confronting the Complete Body Susanoo face-to-face, they actually had long-vanished physical memories triggered within them.
That was the terror of facing a natural disaster. No matter how powerful a force one possessed, before natural disasters, everything seemed insignificant.
However, when facing the Complete Body Susanoo, they felt as if they were facing a natural calamity. Fear seized their instincts, causing them to break free from the Rinnegan's control for a split second and choose to flee.
In the distance, Obito's face was ashen. Even Pain frowned with a deeply solemn expression.
Only those who truly stood before the Complete Body Susanoo could feel the oppressive aura it brought. It truly felt like facing a deity.
Jokichi stood inside the chakra crystal on the Susanoo's forehead, looking down at everything from a commanding height. That formidable power filled him with confidence; it was as if nothing could ever stump him.
"Do not blame me for using my full strength right from the start and not giving you guys a chance. After all, I am up against a Mangekyo Sharingan with spatial abilities and the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. A slight misstep, and the one dying will be me," Jokichi said with a smile, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Just now, while Obito and Pain were discussing countermeasures, he was also thinking about how to fight the two of them.
Because he knew their abilities, while they did not know his abilities were exposed, there were many tactics he could use. However, the many tactics and plans he thought of in his mind all carried a certain degree of risk.
While it was true that all tactics carried the risk of failure, facing these two teaming up, he dared not take even the slightest risk. Therefore, he directly used the Complete Body Susanoo.
He himself possessed a chakra volume comparable to Shukaku's, and he also had the Ring of Shukaku and the Ring of Kurama continuously replenishing his chakra.
Although it wasn't infinite chakra like the Impure World Reincarnation, using the Complete Body Susanoo for basic attacks was still doable. The Susanoo, possessing god-like might and integrating offense and defense, made all tactics pale in comparison.
"Let's retreat!" Obito proposed once again. Sweat had already gathered on his forehead beneath the mask.
It was precisely because he understood the formidable nature of this power that he did not want to make an enemy out of it.
The six Paths of Pain looked up at the Complete Body Susanoo, or rather, looked up at Jokichi inside, their expressions flat. "We will test the waters first. If we cannot manage, we will retreat then."
"I'm just afraid you won't be able to retreat when the time comes."
"You watch from behind. Be ready to extract us using Space-Time Ninjutsu at any time."
"...Alright!"