The battle was over before it could even begin — all within five short minutes.
The Akatsuki side had been completely defeated.
Most of the White Zetsu clones were slain immediately, and the remaining hundred or so were sealed without exception.
Maki White Zetsu and Shimon Hiruko both fell beneath the blade of the Legend of the White Fang.
Kakuzu's other two hearts were obliterated — one by Kakashi, the other by Might Guy.
Now only half a shattered heart remained, barely alive under seal.
Had Konoha not needed a surviving officer for interrogation, this last remnant would've perished as well.
In addition, Black Zetsu escaped.
When it came to fleeing and surviving, that so-called loyal son was unmatched in the Ninja World.
As soon as he noticed the barrier rising, he fled immediately.
Ordinary barriers couldn't stop him at all.
In fact, very few from the entire Sunagakure forces even caught a glimpse of him...
"Dad... Dad!"
Kakashi stopped before his father, calling out with shifting eyes.
Sakumo Hatake turned with a warm smile, his voice deep and resonant as he spoke:
"So you're here, Kakashi."
"You've really grown up, haven't you..."
"It's been a while. Looks like you've become a fine ninja indeed."
Kakashi: "I…"
"We'll have time to talk later. Right now, go report to Lord Second first."
"Never thought I'd fight for the village again."
"Still, the Second is truly reliable..."
Sakumo patted Kakashi's shoulder.
He encouraged Kakashi to report to Tobirama first.
Though he longed to speak with his son at length,
On the battlefield, he clearly understood what mattered most.
Besides, Kakashi was now the temporary leader of the Anbu—his future was promising, and duties must come first.
"All right! I understand."
Kakashi's expression hardened. He immediately rushed over to Tobirama to deliver the combat report.
...
"Have all the enemies been confirmed eliminated?"
Tobirama scanned the battlefield, asking.
Kakashi: "All confirmed eliminated. Remaining survivors have also been sealed."
"Double-check everything. These enemies are crafty—we can't let them get a chance to play dead!"
Tobirama added an order.
"Understood!"
Kakashi accepted the command and quickly directed the rest of the Konoha ninja into finishing off the remaining targets.
At this moment, the Fourth Kazekage arrived too.
Rasa: "Was it successful?"
Tobirama: "Only halfway there."
"What about your village's Jinchuriki?"
Rasa: "Resting for now—they used quite a lot of chakra, but nothing serious..."
Knowing that his nephew — the one who loved Gaara most — was looking after matters, Rasa felt reassured.
Now that I think about it, the Akatsuki really do know what they're doing.
"But still, they don't seem like a strong enough reason for such a heavy deployment, do they?"
Rasa curiously pressed further.
Tobirama coldly replied: "Akatsuki is merely a kunai in that bastard's hand; although dangerous, the kunai isn't the key—it's the one holding it!"
Rasa: "That bastard? You mean the masked man standing up there earlier?"
Tobirama hesitated—did someone else escape?
Rasa said, "During the battle just now, there was a masked figure standing on that stone tower over there."
"Because I was wary of that masked man, I got stuck fighting this monstrous enemy..."
Tobirama frowned.
Never did he expect that even after setting up a barrier, with divine soldiers descending from the heavens...
...there would still be an enemy able to escape the barrier undetected?
A Space-Time Ninjutsu that ignores barriers?
Or perhaps, that wasn't even the enemy's real body?
Had his calculations been seen through?
...
Several minutes earlier.
Deep underground beneath this [Ancient Capital of Loulan].
Inside the [Tower of the Lost].
A figure wearing a tiger-patterned mask carefully moved forward.
Finally, Obito arrived at the bottom of the tower and discovered the shining [Ryumyaku Chakra Control Seal].
At that moment.
"Puff—"
The clone Obito left behind on the battlefield above suddenly dispersed.
Transmitting battlefield intelligence from outside into his mind.
"Hmph!"
"As expected, the One-Tail was just a trap set by Konoha."
"Tobirama Senju, truly a brilliant strategist!"
"But what you didn't expect was... I've already seen through your plan..."
Obito sneered coldly with satisfaction.
Clearly, ever since learning about the [Ryumyaku] and the [One-Tail], he had known both must be traps laid by Konoha.
Whether our side went for the [Ryumyaku] first,
or whether we went to capture the [One-Tail] first,
With the [Flying Thunder God Technique], Tobirama could instantly teleport into battle, catching us completely off guard!
After all, he was the disciple of the Fourth Generation Hokage Minato. He'd witnessed firsthand the power of the [Flying Thunder God Technique] more than once—and suffered losses from it repeatedly too.
How could he not feel threatened?
Therefore, he intentionally let Shimon Hiruko and others go to capture the One-Tail.
Pretending as if Akatsuki's main force was attacking the One-Tail.
That way, once they eliminated the Sunagakure forces,
The main force of Konoha would naturally believe we'd taken the bait, then suddenly strike out—trap them inside and strike, just like cornering a dog behind closed door.
And during that time gap,
Obito's real body had already deployed the remaining White Zetsus to locate the entrance to the [Tower of the Lost]. He had found the [Ryumyaku] before any reinforcements could arrive.
Right now, the Konoha warriors engaged in battle wouldn't possibly have time to arrive here.
This was the perfect moment for him to break the seal and seize the [Ryumyaku]!
What about the others?
Sacrifices must be made if we're to win.
Just a few White Zetsus, one Kakuzu, one Shimon Hiruko.
If they fall in battle, so be it.
As long as they could draw away the main Konoha forces and allow him to successfully seize the [Ryumyaku], everything would be worthwhile!
In this move,
[Tobirama using the One-Tail as bait] was the first level.
[Obito seeing through the bait] was the second level.
[Tobirama ambushing both fronts, trapping them behind closed doors] was the third level.
[While Obito used their own plan against them, seizing the Ryumyaku] was the fourth level!
"Heh! Even clever Tobirama Senju miscalculated this time."
"You can only blame yourself for being too arrogant!"
Obito sneered inwardly, mocking Hashirama bitterly.
Without further hesitation,
His figure flickered, launching forward abruptly.
One strike took out the Konoha ninja guarding the entrance, eliminating any chance of an alarm.
"So that's the [Ryumyaku Chakra Control Seal]?"
"It seems we were right after all!"
Gazing at the seal at the center of the tower's base, Obito felt a surge of joy.
Still, he didn't let his guard down.
He quickly swept the area.
Sure enough, near the base of the tower, he discovered traces of four pre-set barriers.
"Hmph! Another barrier?"
"So you planned to lure us here and activate the barriers to trap us all at once?"
"Too bad, Tobirama—you've missed your chance..."
With a single sweep of his hand, Obito easily destroyed those four barrier seals.
Then he stepped before the Ryumyaku Chakra Control Seal.
Examining it closely, he murmured,
"This is my master's seal?"
"A Space–Time Ninjutsu combined with the Nine-Cipher Incantations?"
"You actually used such an advanced sealing technique? Now *that's* cautious!"
"But then again, the stronger the seal, the more powerful the [Ryumyaku Chakra] must be."
"Now, this power belongs to me!"
Overcome with excitement, Obito pressed his hand onto the seal.
Although he didn't know how to undo it properly,
His powerful [Kamui] could tear through space itself.
At worst, he could simply suck the entire seal into the Kamui dimension.
That way, the seal would naturally be broken.
The next moment,
[Kamui] activating, warping space itself.
The seal shattered instantly.
"Whoosh—"
An explosive surge of power shot into the sky, piercing through the heavens like a column of divine light.
At the sight, Obito felt pure euphoria.
This confirmed his belief!
Such tremendous energy might truly allow him to twist time and space, sending himself back to the past!
And with that, fulfilling the [Eye of the Moon Plan] would become effortless, enabling him to create a perfect world for Rin!
Unfortunately,
Obito hadn't even finished celebrating for three seconds
when the massive chakra energy erupting from beneath the ground quickly weakened and faded away.
Within ten seconds, it had vanished entirely?
What happened?
Where did the [Ryumyaku Chakra] go?
That shouldn't be possible!
How could it disappear so quickly? That was barely a few seconds! What the hell happened?!
Wait...
No way...
Sudden realization struck him like lightning—he already had a guess.
Just then,
Around his feet, surrounding him completely,
A series of hidden cursed seals—activated by the destruction of the Ryumyaku Chakra Control Seal—suddenly lit up.
This was none other than the trap set by Tobirama Senju!
Damn it! He'd fallen for another trick again!
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