For a moment, Kakuzu stood frozen, muttering in disbelief, "Impossible… This is absolutely impossible. In this era, how can there be a ninja who can wield such overwhelming power?"
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!
The vast forest born from Obito's Wood Release surged forward, rolling over hundreds of stunned Takigakure shinobi. Towering trees crushed them with unstoppable momentum, continuing their advance like an unstoppable force of nature.
"Mokuton—it's Mokuton! Run! Get out of here!!"
Panicked screams echoed as the Takigakure ninjas scattered in every direction. But every tree—every branch—moved as if it had a mind of its own, twisting and turning, hunting down the fleeing shinobi.
Some were snatched mid-sprint, strangled and hoisted by writhing vines. Others were impaled clean through by thick branches and left hanging, suspended in the air like broken dolls.
Blood pooled at the base of the forest, a crimson swamp of bodies. No technique, no man, could stand against the terrifying growth of this living forest.
Shibuki, the elderly leader of Takigakure, watched the devastation unfold with trembling hands. So powerful… Is this truly the price of the choice I made? Have I doomed everyone by provoking this man?
But despair wasn't an option. As the village leader, he had to act.
With resolve in his eyes, Shibuki threw aside his cane and strode forward with surprising speed for his age, planting himself at the frontline.
When the retreating shinobi spotted him, they hesitated, their fear momentarily overcome by the presence of their chief.
"Warriors of Takigakure!" Shibuki shouted, voice firm. "Behind you lies our home—the land we've built for generations! If we must die to stop this forest, then let our bodies become its barricade!"
He launched into a series of hand seals, unleashing a jutsu—weak compared to the forest's might, but defiant all the same.
"We've already risked everything! The worst that can happen is death!"
His unwavering determination lit a fire in the hearts of the remaining shinobi. Though more than half their forces had already fallen, those still standing unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu—so powerful and relentless that it actually managed to halt the advancing forest, if only for a moment.
"Hah… Hah…" Many collapsed from exhaustion. But they had held it back—for now.
High above, standing atop the massive wooden canopy, Obito (once Yamato Arata, now fully merged into the body and identity of Obito Uchiha) watched it all unfold, arms crossed over his chest.
Behind his mask, the Sharingan in his eye flickered slightly with emotion.
This old man… he reminds me of Ōnoki of the Hidden Stone.
Obito recalled the battle where the Five Kage had stood against Madara Uchiha. Despite being repeatedly crushed by overwhelming power, Ōnoki never faltered. His spirit became the foundation that kept the other Kage from breaking.
In this world of shinobi… veterans truly are like banners of will.
Obito genuinely respected Shibuki—but he wouldn't stop.
Just as he began forming hand seals—
Boom!!
A fist came flying toward him.
Obito stopped his jutsu, letting the punch phase through his intangible body.
Kakuzu stood below, his body perched on the tangled forest floor. Black tendrils retracted from his shoulder as his arm reconnected to the rest of him.
"Kakuzu… you?" Shibuki looked up in confusion.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Kakuzu said coldly. "I have no interest in saving this village. I was paid to take care of a threat, and that's what I'm doing. It's nothing more than business."
But deep inside, Kakuzu hadn't revealed the real reason he had intervened.
Long ago, he had fought and nearly died at the hands of Senju Hashirama. The memory of that defeat—the terror of facing such overwhelming power—had haunted him ever since.
He had dreamed of one day challenging that man again. But before he could, Hashirama died—and the opportunity vanished.
Now, after all these years, this man—Obito—stood before him, wielding the same legendary Mokuton. The same crushing strength. Fear, regret, and longing burned in Kakuzu's chest.
If he couldn't fight the original… maybe fighting the one who inherited that power would be enough to settle his old wounds.
"Uchiha Obito. I've heard of you," Kakuzu said with uncharacteristic respect. "Would you grant me a moment?"
Obito turned to him, expression unreadable. "What is it?"
"Fight me," Kakuzu said simply.
Obito raised an eyebrow. "I don't mind. But is it just you?"
Kakuzu turned to the Takigakure survivors below and spoke, voice sharp.
"Nobody interfere. This battle is mine."
"You must be joking!" one of the shinobi shouted. "So many of our comrades died at his hands, and now a missing-nin like you thinks you can make demands?!"
"Enough!" Shibuki cut in, silencing the protest. "Fall back. Medics, tend to the wounded immediately."
Reluctantly, the remaining shinobi obeyed.
Kakuzu then turned to Obito, voice more solemn. "I have one more request. No—call it a plea."
"Speak," Obito said.
Kakuzu met his gaze.
"Use your Mokuton against me."
Obito blinked. It was the first time anyone had asked him that.
"…You sure you want to die?" he asked.
"Maybe. But even in hell, money will still be currency," Kakuzu replied with a grin.
Obito stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "I don't hate that about you."
He raised his hand and formed the two-finger Seal of Opposition—a sign of respect between shinobi.
Kakuzu solemnly tied his Takigakure headband back onto his forehead. He returned the gesture.
The duel began.
Whoosh!
Kakuzu tore off his cloak and tossed it aside as his body shifted. His back bulged, twisted, and split open. Two masked creatures emerged—black, writhing beings from his Earth Grudge Fear technique.
Each one housed a stolen heart. Kakuzu had five in total, each from a shinobi of a different chakra nature. These two were just the beginning.
Swish! Swish!
His hands moved fast.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!"
Three devastating elemental blasts erupted from his body.
Obito responded instantly.
"Wood Release: Wooden Dome Wall!"
Eight thick wooden walls shot up around him, closing in like petals to absorb the impact.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions rocked the dome—but it held.
Then Kakuzu charged, arm hardened to jet black with Earth Spear—his body-hardening jutsu.
BOOM!
His fist smashed through the weakened dome wall, punching a hole clean through.
A third masked creature slithered out and merged with the two already clinging to him. The energy focused into his right arm.
"Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!"
BOOOOOM!!
A massive chakra blast tore through the dome's interior, shattering wood and fire in all directions.
When the dust settled, Obito lay slumped on the ground, chest pierced, unmoving.
Kakuzu stood over him, panting. A weary smile tugged at his lips.
"I… won…"
Click. Click. Click. Click!
Suddenly, his body spasmed. Four massive wooden stakes shot out from behind and pierced his chest—striking four of his hearts simultaneously.
Obito's real body stood behind him.
The Obito on the ground crumbled into a wooden clone.
Kakuzu stared in disbelief.
"The First Hokage's… Wood Clone…?"
"You're finished, Kakuzu," Obito said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Fwoosh.
A spiral vortex of space-time sucked Kakuzu into the Kamui dimension.
Obito had other plans for him.
He turned back to the Takigakure forces below, arms raised.
"Now," he said, voice calm but cold. "Where is the Tailed Beast? Release it."