Infinite Anime [266-267] (Patreon)

Chapter 266: Obito's Three Legs

Time rewinds a little. Outside Konoha, in the southeastern woods.

Corpses of Root operatives litter the forest. After Danzo's death, his body could no longer control the proliferating cells; half his body turned into wood and rooted into the ground.

A forest fire burned quietly beneath the night sky, warping the air around it.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere. He looked at Danzo's corpse with a disdainful gaze.

"Truly useless. Even with preparations in place, he couldn't scratch Calamity."

Obito muttered to himself, staring at Danzo's body.

He didn't care about Danzo's life or death, but Danzo's demise had indeed caused him trouble—the plan to annihilate the Uchiha Clan had become difficult to execute.

Besides, he'd already sold Gusion to Danzo, which meant he'd been ready to abandon that dangerous and unstable guy. But Danzo didn't get it done—he loudly telegraphed his intent to encircle and kill Gusion, and then failed to kill him.

Gusion isn't an idiot. Obito figured that once Gusion returned, he would definitely question Nagato about it. Nagato certainly wouldn't take the blame, and he'd immediately notice that Obito and Danzo had been closely collaborating.

If Nagato thought further, he might even dig up the fact that Obito orchestrated Danzo and Hanzo's massacre of the original Akatsuki. That would be a headache.

Thinking of this, Obito realized he'd agreed to Danzo's request far too rashly—mainly because he hadn't expected Danzo to be such a brainless fool.

Couldn't he at least pretend to argue during the deal, let tempers flare, and then start fighting? Instead, he went straight for the kill on Gusion without even discussing the Nine-Tails transaction. Calamity would definitely sense the deal itself was a trap.

Now Danzo's dead, and Obito still has to face Calamity's crisis of trust.

Not good.

If he mishandles this, he won't just face Calamity's wrath, but also Nagato's. The Akatsuki might even vanish from this world, because Nagato's goal would shift from nuclear peace for the shinobi world to hunting Obito.

After mulling it over, Obito decided he had to maneuver: simply keep Gusion in Konoha.

Luckily, he noticed Calamity had his own schemes—he'd already hooked up with Orochimaru and was attacking Konoha. As long as Obito could keep Calamity in the village and Calamity died there, Obito could spin the story however he liked afterward.

The dirty deal with Danzo would vanish. He could say Calamity harbored ill intent from the start, planned to attack Konoha, and killed Danzo on sight for betraying the organization.

Thinking this cheered Obito up. He moved at once, disappearing into the woods to find a chance to ambush Gusion.

He didn't think Konoha had anyone who could kill Gusion, but draining Gusion's strength so he could finish him in one strike should still be doable.

Obito used space-time ninjutsu, vanished, and headed toward Konoha.

As luck would have it, by the time he arrived, Konoha's ninja corps had been completely suppressed by Gusion. Even the Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, had been grievously injured and blasted onto the Hokage Rock, their fates unknown.

Analyzing the battlefield, Obito judged that after such a battle Gusion must be exhausted. It was the perfect moment to strike.

He watched Gusion, who strode toward the shelters like a world-ending demon, and considered using Kamui for a sneak attack—slice Gusion in two.

Just as Obito was about to act, he saw a Konoha ninja dash out from a side street, kunai in hand, blocking Gusion's path.

Obito didn't care at first—he glanced over and thought it was just a regular Konoha jonin. But when the firelight flickered and lit up that face, he felt as if struck by lightning.

Impossible!?

Obito's heart trembled—he saw his dream girl, Rin!

She wore a combat uniform and tactical face paint, just as dazzling as in his memory, only a little older, more mature.

Obito racked his brains but couldn't fathom why Rin would be here. Wasn't she dead? He'd seen it with his own eyes!

Could it be… Rin didn't actually die? She lived on in Konoha under a new identity?

The sudden sight of Rin threw Obito's mind into chaos. He even forgot to immediately use his eye power to verify whether it was a Transformation Technique.

He hadn't considered it mainly because he was in the shadows—virtually no one in the shinobi world knew his identity. There was no reason for anyone to transform into Rin to confuse him.

While Obito's mind spun from seeing Rin, Gusion moved—he sprinted without hesitation and drew his blade to behead Rin.

Seeing this, Obito's scrambled brain couldn't think. He instantly used the Body Flicker Technique—faster than he had in his entire life—and rushed forward.

In his mental shutdown, he even forgot he could Kamui someone entirely into the other space. His body simply moved on instinct.

"Rin!"

Obito shouted reflexively. He fired Kamui at the charging Gusion, regardless of whether it was a good moment, and himself lunged at Rin, intending to use his body and Wood Release to block Gusion's blade for her.

But the instant he drew close and met Rin's eyes, Obito saw them change—into a pair he knew all too well… Mangekyo Sharingan!

In that moment, he knew he'd been duped.

He didn't have time to wonder how Itachi knew his identity, nor why Itachi chose to ambush him now. He only knew he couldn't get caught in Tsukuyomi again.

He keenly sensed his Kamui strike had been dodged by Gusion—which meant the next instant Gusion's slash would land. Even if he used Madara's stored eye power to break the genjutsu, a moment's stiffness would be enough for Gusion to kill him.

He wasn't wearing an Akatsuki cloak this time to remain covert and avoid suspicion. To Gusion, he was probably just a Konoha ninja and would be cut clean in half.

In a split-second brainstorm, right before the genjutsu took hold, Obito pulled out his trump card again—he leapt to evade and triggered his eye technique to send himself into the other space.

But someone even faster than Itachi was present. In Sage Mode, Gusion had just slipped past Kamui's spatial slicing; he pivoted immediately and went straight for Obito.

Squelch—

The Mazuko Godspeed slash came clean; the sound of blade through flesh was crystal clear. Gusion's blow, heavy and forceful, split Obito's hastily raised, paper-thin Wood Release defense—and bisected his body.

It proved that even a space-time master like Obito, if he triggered Kamui at the exact instant Tsukuyomi caught him, would still show a brief opening—enough for Gusion to land a hit.

A dark-red arc flashed. Gusion sheared off Obito's lower half at the root; a graceful arc of blood sprayed the air.

Unfortunately, Obito's Kamui still succeeded. When Gusion moved to deliver a second strike, Obito had already fully become intangible and vanished into the other space.

However, the three legs that Gusion had severed could not go with Obito into the other space.

"What a pity."

Gusion sighed inwardly. For 99% of shinobi, the wound he'd inflicted would be fatal. But for Obito, not necessarily.

Back then, half his body was crushed; later, White Zetsu material rebuilt him, and with copious Hashirama cells, his vitality was monstrous. Losing three legs might not kill him.

Now, all he could hope was that Tsukuyomi would hold Obito long enough for him to bleed out. If Obito broke the genjutsu early, he might still survive.

Gusion stepped forward and flicked a kick, sending the Rin-impersonating Itachi into a nearby building. Amid the dust, Itachi released the transformation and headed straight for the clan grounds to rendezvous with the Uchiha.

This tactic had been prearranged: if Obito didn't show during the battle, Itachi would transform into Rin right before Gusion reached his destination and try to block him.

Itachi, a Mangekyo wielder proficient in the Transformation Technique, knew how to control his chakra leakage to minimize tells—hard for Sharingan to detect.

His transformation was nearly perfect; without close, calm analysis, Obito wouldn't tell.

And Gusion wouldn't give Obito time to inspect. They'd agreed that once Itachi appeared transformed, Gusion would swing immediately. If Obito was nearby, he wouldn't stand by.

If Obito didn't show, it would mean he wasn't around. Gusion and Itachi would stage a small scene and split up, continuing the rest of the plan.

They hadn't expected to actually catch Obito this time. Too bad his survival skills were truly top-tier—he escaped even in such a desperate situation.

They could only wonder what Obito was seeing under Itachi's Tsukuyomi…

After Itachi left, Gusion had no more obstacles ahead. The flanks still thundered with battle. Under the Fourth Mizukage and Kisame's lead, Orochimaru's forces were surging, pushing deep into the village.

In the shelter, Sasuke's face went pale at the sight, but Uchiha pride kept him watching silently.

Naruto had no such restraint—he practically wanted to wave and shout to let Gusion know he was there.

With Observation Haki-like sensing aided by current, Gusion grasped the shelter's situation in an instant. Wearing the mask of a villain, he swung his blade forward.

The wind of the slash was keening. It cleaved the upper structure of the shelter, carving a gaping hole and exposing the civilians and children below.

Front and center were Naruto and Sasuke; they'd been peering through a window, and now they were face-to-face with Gusion.

"Seems Konoha truly has no masters left. In that case, I'll be taking the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."

Gusion's cold gaze swept the shelter, then his left hand reached for Naruto and hoisted him up.

To his surprise, when he lifted Naruto, up came a Sasuke as well…

Sasuke clutched Naruto's wrist with his small hand, face white with fear yet forcing courage, "Don't think you can take Naruto!"

He didn't know what a Nine-Tails jinchuriki was, but he couldn't accept someone taking a comrade from Konoha right in front of him. He might dislike Naruto, but Naruto was the peer who interacted with him the most.

Before he had thoroughly beaten Naruto, how could he watch Naruto be taken away?

 "Sasuke, let go! Hide!"

Naruto, seeing Sasuke grab him, panicked—he actually wanted to leave with Big Brother Gusion. Why are you messing this up! But seeing Sasuke terrified yet still clutching his wrist, he felt a strange warmth. He feared Gusion would kill Sasuke in anger.

Because Gusion stood at the shelter's edge, several meters above, holding Naruto while Sasuke clung to Naruto, Sasuke dangled below comically.

But Sasuke still said something cool, "Don't be afraid, Naruto. The Uchiha will definitely defeat him!"

Chapter 267: The Uchiha Turn the Tide

Hearing Sasuke, Gusion felt a bit amused. With so many civilians watching, and to avoid strange rumors later, he simply decided on the spot to take both kids.

He figured that might actually be better—fewer suspicions about collusion with the Uchiha, since he'd be kidnapping the clan head's son. The drama afterward would feel more authentic.

A faint current crackled and Sasuke immediately went numb, going quiet at once.

As Gusion turned, he tossed Naruto and Sasuke into the air toward the approaching Garaga, "Important hostages. Keep them safe."

Garaga nodded with his snout, caught the two with deft strength, then channeled sage chakra—two chains bound them to the serpent crown. After that, he mumbled, "Don't order the great me around so casually!"

"Then I'll trouble you, Garaga. Please keep them safe."

Gusion corrected himself. He'd found the way to handle Garaga—stroke his ego now and then.

Sure enough, Garaga snorted, then dashed for Konoha's outskirts with Naruto and Sasuke in tow.

He didn't know why Gusion wanted to attack Konoha, but the village had basically been breached. It was time to sweep the field for spoils.

Seeing Garaga carve through and Gusion strolling behind like an invincible war god, Konoha's ninja felt despair.

The Hokage's fate was unknown, the Sannin defeated in sequence, the elite under the Hokage had all fallen. Forget beating Gusion—they couldn't even handle Yagura and Kisame.

Realizing the strongest, most storied village might be destroyed today, Konoha's ninja were overcome with grief and rage, charging their foes to die on the battlefield.

On Kisame's flank, thanks to Edo Tensei's limitless chakra, he unleashed a Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, flooding the Konoha forces like a deluge.

As the torrents scattered the ninja and Kisame prepared to harvest with a Thousand Feeding Sharks, a figure descended onto the waves, rising and falling with the surges like a leaf—yet preternaturally steady.

"The youngsters these days have really fallen off. Just one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and you're this battered?"

The newcomer wore a broad, kimono-like robe with a red-and-white fan on his back. His three-tomoe Sharingan glowed crimson in Konoha's flames.

Those swept up by the flood and despair remembered that a powerful force in Konoha hadn't yet moved.

It was the captain of the Police Force, the head of the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Fugaku!

Kakashi landed beside Fugaku, anxious. "Clan Head Fugaku, please act quickly. If the water spreads to the shelters, it'll be a disaster."

Fugaku gave Kakashi a calm glance. "Kid, I hear you made a name for yourself in the Third War. How have you not taken down even one of the Seven Swordsmen after all this time?"

Kakashi looked embarrassed but didn't argue. He only added, "They're dead men summoned by a forbidden technique. Even if their bodies are destroyed, they regenerate. Please be careful, Lord Fugaku."

Fugaku said no more, nodded slightly, and stepped forward. His crimson Sharingan met Kisame's, tomoe turning like windmills.

In an instant, the raging waters calmed. The leaping sharks fell back into still water.

The power of Mangekyo is no trifle. To showcase the Uchiha's strength, Fugaku opened with Mangekyo and bound Kisame in genjutsu on the spot.

"Get a sealing team," he said lightly.

Kakashi was delighted, and the other ninja were stunned by Fugaku's power. They had struggled with Kisame for ages. The Uchiha clan head solved it in a single move. The stark contrast pained them but also uplifted them.

With the mighty Uchiha, Konoha might still turn the tables today!

 "Lord Fugaku, the right flank has Fourth Mizukage Yagura. The main field has Calamity, and the Hokage's situation…"

Kakashi trailed off awkwardly, realizing that so far Konoha hadn't dealt with a single enemy core figure.

Mentioning the Third Hokage last, he was extra cautious—he'd served directly under the Hokage in the ANBU and knew all about the Uchiha's conflict with Hiruzen.

Especially this time—during the crisis, the Third ordered the Uchiha to stand by, essentially excluding them to the extreme, not even wanting to give them a chance at merit.

He hadn't expected Fugaku to agree so easily when he went to the Uchiha. He'd thought they would be incensed and sit back to watch the village fall, but Fugaku agreed crisply and led his clan to the battlefield at once.

Kakashi couldn't help but admire his breadth of mind—and felt the village truly had gone too far these years.

"Don't worry…"

Hearing Kakashi's report, Fugaku remained composed, his eyes as if seeing through the path ahead. "With the Uchiha taking the field, we will repel the enemy."

He flickered away, shuriken fanning out along the way, dropping a few unlucky Sound ninja.

Not far off, the Adventurers of the Hogwartz Guild cursed and fell back, trying to kite away from Fugaku, this hidden boss.

This wasn't the script Dark Sky Demon expected. He'd thought the Gusion + Orochimaru lineup could flatten Konoha easily, which was why he joined in. But in the fight, Orochimaru, with his complicated feelings for his teacher, was slow to kill, and Gusion—who he'd thought was ruthless and efficient—almost fumbled against Guy.

Now the Uchiha were moving. He had no interest in crossing Mangekyo's cursed powers.

Even if Fugaku couldn't kill him, the Dog-Bark Brothers wouldn't let him go.

With that, he pulled his teammates back.

The Dog-Bark Brothers wanted to press the advantage, but seeing Gusion walking down the street, they froze.

They didn't want to cross Gusion now—but on the battlefield, who knew if he'd still make allowances?

So the elder brother held his younger back, kept a low profile, and withdrew with the Hogwartz—planning to settle explorer business elsewhere.

To his relief, Gusion didn't trouble them and didn't interfere in their feud.

As Gusion and Fugaku closed in on the main battlefield, the other fronts shifted as well.

On the right, Yagura had just killed a Konoha ninja when he suddenly burst into flame.

Pitch-black fire spread, charred him to a cinder. Even with Edo Tensei's regeneration, the black flames kept destroying his reborn body—a perpetual burn.

Itachi stepped from the flank, controlled Amaterasu so the fire wouldn't spread in Konoha. "Get a sealing team. Seal the flames with him."

Seeing the Fourth Mizukage fall, the shinobi brightened. "A Uchiha elite is here to support us!"

"Itachi—is that you!?"

Former ANBU colleagues called out excitedly. It was the first time they'd seen such an eerie eye technique.

"Though this violates the Hokage's orders, we can't watch the village be destroyed."

Itachi's face was impassive. "From now on, the Uchiha will take command of the battlefield."

Those who usually disliked the proud Uchiha felt no such thing now. Instead, Itachi's words made their blood boil.

People worship strength—especially strength that saves you at the brink. That can overturn many prejudices.

Feeling the villagers' eyes, Itachi silently praised Gusion's plan. After tonight, the village would have to accept the Uchiha—emotionally and politically.

After downing Yagura with a sneak attack, he rushed toward the main field, anxious—he'd just heard from chatter that Gusion had even grabbed Sasuke.

His father would handle Kisame; he'd handled Yagura. With the flanks cleared, they had to head to the center to repel Calamity.

As for the mop-up, not a worry—the rest of the Uchiha elites were fresh and would make it a one-sided rout of the Sound Village remnants.

At this moment, Gusion hopped onto Garaga's head, rode the serpent-car through Konoha, and surveyed the battle.

Seeing Kisame and Yagura both downed, he smirked, "So there are still some decent fighters."

Sasuke hadn't awakened his eyes yet, but his young vision was keen—he saw his father defeat Kisame and got excited. "Hmph, that's the strength of the Uchiha. It's too late to be scared now. My father and brother will defeat you!"

"Maybe say less," Naruto advised kindly. He felt close to Gusion, but Gusion wasn't exactly a softie—he'd seen the slaughter, the man looked like a war god.

He disliked the haughty Sasuke, but he didn't want Sasuke to be killed by Gusion for running his mouth.

"Don't worry, Naruto. The Uchiha elites have joined the battle. We'll be rescued soon!"

Sasuke boasted, full of confidence.

Gusion glanced at Sasuke, speechless. The little Second Pillar didn't seem very bright—or was he just too bold? Buddy, you're kidnapped. Show some awareness?

A wisp of current crackled, and Sasuke shut up at once, hair frizzed like an ion perm, tongue out, eyes rolled back. "Brother…"

In the last instant before blackout, Sasuke saw his brother defeat his foe and rush his way.

Swish, swish—

Two figures arrived on Konoha's main avenue almost simultaneously, blocking Garaga.

"Release the Nine-Tails jinchuriki and Sasuke!"

Itachi spoke first—seemingly blunt words, but he was probing Gusion's intent.

"Looks to me like the jinchuriki isn't living well in Konoha. Since Konoha falls today by my hand, I'll find him a better home."

Gusion laughed wildly and shot Itachi a "you know" look.

Itachi froze, concerned at the sight of white-eyed Sasuke.

After a few seconds' thought, he understood: Gusion wouldn't harm Sasuke.