Although Kushina and Kurama had exchanged quite a few words, in the outside world, only an instant had passed.
As Obito charged toward Mikoto, many Uchiha clansmen had already reacted—some launching ranged attacks, others positioning themselves to block his path.
However, these attacks passed right through his body without any effect whatsoever.
The surrounding Uchiha couldn't believe their eyes, staring with mouths wide open.
"How did he do that? Is he a ghost?"
"Could we all be caught in a genjutsu?"
Obito moved through the encirclement like an uninvited guest, effortlessly breaking through.
Arriving before Mikoto, he raised his hand and launched Kamaitachi no Jutsu toward her.
Suddenly, chains of chakra extended from behind Kushina and flew forward like spears.
Hearing the whistling sound from behind, Obito's expression slightly changed beneath his mask as he quickly dodged sideways.
Kushina shouted urgently, "His body becomes solid when he attacks!"
At Kushina's warning, the Uchiha clansmen finally understood.
"No wonder he dodged just now!"
"So that's it—we just need to strike when he's attacking!"
Obito, however, completely ignored them, directing his displeasure toward Aizen as he asked in his altered, raspy voice, "Didn't you influence her senses with a genjutsu?"
Aizen tilted his head slightly, "I've heard the Nine-Tails can sense malicious intent. Perhaps your own malice was just too obvious?"
"Sense malicious intent? Then why don't—" Obito paused suddenly, glancing toward a new figure that had appeared beside Kushina. "Forget it, I'll just capture her myself!"
Minato arrived shortly after, first checking on Kushina's well-being before narrowing his gaze at the two enemies.
Kushina reminded him, "Be careful of their genjutsu—it even affected Kurama!"
Upon hearing that, Minato's expression grew significantly more solemn. "Understood!"
Meanwhile,
The clansmen, now aware of Obito's ability, heightened their vigilance, closely watching the enemy's every move, ready to strike with full force the moment he acted.
Obito sighed softly, "I had no intention of eliminating you all, so why insist on standing in my way?"
[Wood Release: A Thousand Arrows Unleashed!]
As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of sharp, solid wooden stakes suddenly shot out in all directions.
The attack was fast and fierce, but for those with the Sharingan, it wasn't actually fatal.
Yet just as they were preparing to dodge, several vines suddenly sprouted from the ground, entangling their ankles.
This brief delay was enough for the stakes to pierce through them, pinning them to the ground as they cried out in pain.
Obito remained indifferent to their agonized screams, his expression showing not the faintest flicker of emotion.
If it weren't for Shisui's sake, he wouldn't even care about the lives of these fellow clansmen!
In the rain of wooden arrows, Mikoto's shoulder was pierced. Gritting her teeth through the pain, she forced herself to flee farther away.
As the wife of the Uchiha clan head, she was actually quite strong in her own right.
But this "not weak" depended on who she was being compared to. Compared to Obito, her strength was clearly insufficient.
"Come here!" Obito raised his right hand, and several vines shot out from his palm, heading toward Mikoto.
Just as the vines were about to entangle her, a fire dragon suddenly flew from the distance and swallowed them up!
Behind the wall of flames stood a young figure.
"Uchiha Itachi?" Obito's expression remained calm. Although the other was a renowned genius, as long as he hadn't awakened the Mangekyou, he wouldn't pose any threat to Obito.
At that moment, Mikoto also sensed a sudden movement behind her. She turned her head and her heart tightened instantly. "Itachi, you can't defeat him. Run away now! Don't worry about me!"
Itachi yanked a handful of shuriken from his tool pouch without even glancing back. "His strength is indeed formidable, but I don't need to defeat him. The Third and Lord Orochimaru are already on their way, and Lord Seiki could arrive any moment. The one who should be anxious is him!"
"You're right. So..." Obito didn't deny it, forming hand seals and slamming his hands onto the ground. "This next move will be a big one!"
[Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees]
The entire block was overturned by an enormous forest of trees erupting from the ground. These trees seemed alive, chasing after the two like giant serpents.
However, just as the trees pursued them, several graceful arcs sliced through the air—obviously, more than a dozen shuriken had bypassed the trees, slipping through the gaps and shooting directly toward Obito!
"Incredible to be able to wield shuriken to this level—truly rare!" Obito nodded appreciatively, dodging the attacks with Intangibility, then continuing to manipulate the sea of trees to corner Itachi, who was fleeing while carrying Mikoto.
Then he suddenly became alert, catching the sharp sound coming from behind.
"A Fuuma Shuriken? Your control is indeed impressive..." Obito used Intangibility once again, arrogantly commenting as he moved. Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. "Wait a second, this is..."
In his perception, one of the shuriken suddenly became unstable, as if it would explode at any moment.
No longer pretending, Obito immediately shifted his entire body into an otherworldly realm.
The next instant, fierce flames erupted violently, waves of heat surging forward, nearly engulfing the surrounding trees in an instant.
Two full seconds passed before Obito, still shaken, returned from the otherworldly realm.
On the opposite side, Aizen, who was keeping Minato and his wife occupied, slightly turned his head.
However, he wasn't surprised by Itachi's setup, but rather shot an astonished look toward Obito.
"Two seconds... That lasted longer than I expected! Also, his clothes seemed to suddenly gain some binding marks..."
Obito didn't notice Aizen's stare. He was still visibly shaken.
Actually, his ability wasn't true Intangibility, but rather shifting the attacked parts into an otherworldly realm, making it seem like he had no physical form.
In other words, while he transferred the attacked areas, the rest of his body still remained in the real realm.
If he hadn't retreated into the otherworldly space in time, and allowed that shuriken to explode within his "body," he might have already been blown apart!
"Surely I can't afford even a second's carelessness... But this guy's combat talent is truly terrifying. He saw right through my ability!"
Obito was both shocked and secretly enraged.
From the beginning, he had never truly intended to capture Mikoto to threaten Kushina, but now he was genuinely furious!
"If you're so eager to die, I'll be happy to grant your wish!"
[Wood Release · Hellish Onslaught!]
The once smooth tree trunks suddenly sprouted thorns and rushed forward in a frenzied attack toward Itachi and Mikoto.
Faced with this sky filled with murderous intent, even Itachi furrowed his brow. He could still dodge on his own, but carrying her made it extremely difficult!
Just as the forest went berserk, a tangible purple chakra enveloped them.
The trees crashed against this solidified chakra and shattered, littering the ground!
Then, the chakra gradually took shape, forming into the figure of a half-bodied skeleton.
Seeing the familiar half-bodied skeleton, Obito muttered, "Fugaku, the 'Evil-Eyed'?"
Fugaku stepped forward step by step from within the half-bodied skeleton, roaring, "Scum, what are you doing to them?"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>