Obito stood in the void, facing Ōtsutsuki Tsuigen from afar.
"What a shame there aren't any Ōtsutsuki named Quadratic Equation or Polynomial Formula. You could've formed a whole team."
Tsuigen sneered, his cold eyes flashing dangerously.
"Isshiki, I'll make you pay for your arrogance."
Obito snorted but said no more. His figure blurred as he charged straight at Tsuigen.
"Daikokuten!"
A barrage of black rods rained down upon Tsuigen like a storm.
Yet, Tsuigen remained unfazed. He didn't even attempt to dodge.
Instead, he activated his dōjutsu—"Ichigon."
(Ichigon: Said to determine fortune or misfortune with a single word. The divine eye of fate and prophecy.)
"Fortune!" he intoned.
With that single utterance, he shifted his body ever so slightly—just enough to evade every single black rod without suffering even a scratch.
"What an annoying dōjutsu," Obito muttered.
Tsuigen conjured a crimson chakra blade using his ability, "Hagakure."
He brandished the blade, slicing through the void as he lunged toward Obito.
Obito countered with a black katana forged from Yin-Yang Release, meeting Tsuigen's strike head-on.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades clashed, each strike aimed at the other's vitals, a deadly yet graceful exchange.
Sparks flew as their figures weaved through the battlefield, shadows and steel intertwined.
Obito's Rinnegan shimmered as he once again activated "Daikokuten."
A massive black cube materialized, descending upon Tsuigen at an unrelenting speed.
Tsuigen, however, remained calm. He locked blades with Obito and spoke in an indifferent tone:
"Misfortune."
At that moment, Obito's chakra faltered for a brief instant, his movements stalling just enough to cost him control.
The colossal black cube, now unrestrained, tumbled helplessly into the void beyond.
Seizing the opportunity, Tsuigen's blade flashed, carving a deep gash across Obito's chest.
"Heh, Isshiki, is that all you've got?" Tsuigen taunted.
Obito's expression darkened.
Tsuigen's dōjutsu, "Ichigon," allowed him to manipulate his own or his opponent's fate with a single word.
An ability like this was virtually impossible to guard against.
But this works in my favor... Obito thought to himself. It makes it easier for me to 'die' at his hands.
...
Inside the "Takamagahara," a star-class battleship.
Almost every Ōtsutsuki aboard stood gathered on the observation deck, eyes glued to the battle outside, unwilling to miss even a second of the spectacle.
"When will I be able to stand among the great ones and participate in the Divine Selection?"
"One strike alone can tear through the void… This is true power."
"Heh, quit dreaming. Takamagahara provides food and shelter. Why not just enjoy an easy life?"
Amid the crowd, two particular Ōtsutsuki seemed out of place.
They watched for a while before losing interest, shaking their heads as they turned away, heading toward the control room.
Seeing this, a curious bystander called out.
"You're leaving? If you miss this Divine Selection, you might never witness another one in your lifetime."
One of the departing figures sighed.
"This kind of event is too far beyond our reach. The more I watch, the more hopeless I feel."
The other chuckled bitterly.
"Better not to watch at all. That way, we won't waste time on unattainable dreams."
The questioning Ōtsutsuki shook his head. "An Ōtsutsuki who doesn't aspire to divinity isn't a true Ōtsutsuki. You two are far too pessimistic."
He then turned away, refocusing on the battle.
But as the two passed beyond his sight, their faces twisted into eerie smiles.
One of them licked his lips before speaking in a sinister tone.
"I've waited a thousand years for this. Let's hope it all pays off."
He turned to his companion and smirked. "Are you ready, Kabuto?"
His companion adjusted imaginary glasses and curled his lips into a smirk.
"Of course, Orochimaru-sama. I've been waiting for the signal."
That's right—these two Ōtsutsuki were none other than Orochimaru and Kabuto!
Long ago, Obito had delivered the body to Orochimaru for research.
After nearly a century of study, Orochimaru had deciphered the secrets of the Ōtsutsuki's genetic makeup.
Building upon this knowledge, he modified the "Living Corpse Reincarnation" technique.
He transformed it into a forbidden jutsu capable of seizing Ōtsutsuki bodies!
With Obito's covert assistance, he and Kabuto had successfully taken over the bodies of two insignificant Ōtsutsuki.
Then, using their intelligence and cunning, they had spent thousands of years working their way up within the Takamagahara.
Now, they were key figures in the battleship's control center.
And all of this had been in preparation for today—the Divine Selection. The moment they had been waiting for!
"It's finally time…"
The two exchanged glances, seeing the excitement reflected in each other's eyes.
...
Back in the void.
Obito was being pushed further and further back.
Each time their blades clashed, Tsuigen's crimson sword repelled Obito's black katana, carving fresh wounds into his body.
"Misfortune!"
Once again, Obito found himself inexplicably faltering, making an uncharacteristic mistake.
Tsuigen capitalized on the moment, knocking aside Obito's katana before severing one of his arms with a single swing.
"Gah!" Obito let out a pained cry.
Among the onlookers, Urashiki covered his eyes dramatically. "Oh no, Isshiki's getting wrecked! I can't bear to watch."
Momoshiki twirled his fan, unfazed. "Looks like Tsuigen's dōjutsu is superior."
The nature of "Ichigon," an ability capable of altering fate itself, was fundamentally overpowering against tangible dōjutsu like "Daikokuten."
Tsukine stroked his chin, a nearly imperceptible smile flickering across his face.
It was clear to all—Tsuigen had seized absolute dominance. "Isshiki's" defeat was inevitable.
Seems I was overly cautious. Isshiki poses no real threat to me after all. Heh.
Kaguya watched as Obito, his body torn and bleeding, struggled against the overwhelming force.
Her large, expressive eyes shimmered with an unsettling mist.
Human… are you really going to die this time?
"Misfortune!" Tsuigen laughed wildly.
Another exchange.
Another arm lost.
"Now, become part of me, Isshiki!"
Tsuigen clapped his hands together, causing the crimson rings behind him to expand dramatically.
"Hagakure Fusion!"
A storm of chakra weapons erupted from the rings.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Swords, spears, halberds, axes, scythes, hooks, whips—
A blinding flurry of red light.
Before most could even react—
The weapons had already passed through Obito's body.
In the next instant—
Splat!
Obito's body shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the void.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (316 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)