While Deidara and his team were making their way to Kumogakure, Obito and his group arrived at Otogakure first. This time, it wasn't just him and Zetsu—Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee had also come along, a gesture of significant respect toward Orochimaru.
After all, their current plan was hanging by a thread. If Orochimaru failed them now, everything would fall apart. They had no choice but to take this seriously.
"Who are you?" Kimimaro, full of energy, blocked their path.
"Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya clan," Black Zetsu muttered in displeasure. To think these barbarians dared to claim the name of the Kaguya.
Banshō Ten'in!
Obito didn't bother with words—he simply pulled Kimimaro toward him.
Kimimaro's joints sprouted sharp bone spikes, aiming to pierce Obito.
"Hm?" Kimimaro's eyes widened in shock as his attack phased right through Obito's body. This was completely unexpected.
"Die!" A streak of lightning flashed as the Fourth Raikage charged forward, his punch landing with blinding speed. Kimimaro, still off-balance from passing through Obito, had no time to adjust his stance.
Boom!
Kimimaro was slammed into the ground, but he remained largely unscathed. The dense bones of the Shikotsumyaku granted him an extraordinary level of defense.
As for muscle injuries? They hardly mattered. Shikotsumyaku combat didn't rely much on muscle strength.
Slowly lowering his bone shield, Kimimaro revealed a surface faintly wrapped in creeping tree branches—Raikage's punch had failed to break through.
"Wood Release?! Damn that Orochimaru!" Obito's expression darkened. He had clearly underestimated Orochimaru's research capabilities. Had he known, he never would have let a perfect version of Hashirama's cells fall into Danzo's hands.
Kimimaro attacked again, but unfortunately, his opponents were far from ordinary. His assault had no effect whatsoever.
After exchanging several more blows, Kimimaro quickly realized the vast gap in power. He made a desperate move.
Before he could complete his ultimate technique, his entire body was sucked into Kamui's dimension. Lacking proper intel, he had fallen right into Obito's trap.
With Kimimaro out of the way, the four of them continued their rampage through Otogakure, cutting through resistance like a hot knife through butter. Even Kimimaro, now healed of his bloodline illness and strengthened with Wood Release, was nothing before them—let alone the others.
When they finally reached the depths of Orochimaru's underground lair, they arrived at a chamber at the very end. The moment they stepped inside, everyone frowned.
"Where's Orochimaru?" Obito asked in confusion.
"He was here earlier. I was watching the entire time," Black Zetsu replied, equally puzzled.
There was no sign of Orochimaru anywhere in the room. The only person present was a boy, no older than eleven or twelve.
"Hey, brat. Where's Orochimaru?"
"I don't know. Lord Orochimaru was just here," the boy, Uzumaki Yusuke, answered.
The four of them searched the area thoroughly, but Orochimaru was nowhere to be found. They even interrogated the base's subordinates under genjutsu, and all of them swore that Orochimaru had been there just moments ago.
"Could it be that Orochimaru was reverse-summoned to Ryūchi Cave?" Black Zetsu speculated. It was the only possibility he could think of.
"Damn it!" Obito muttered in frustration.
Black Zetsu made a suggestion.
"Why don't we take Orochimaru's subordinates and research materials with us? That way, he'll have no choice but to come looking for us."
His gaze fell upon Uzumaki Yusuke, and a flicker of admiration crossed his face.
"An Uzumaki with Wood Release and the Sharingan... impressive. He must be one of Orochimaru's most prized test subjects. Let's take him, along with that Shikotsumyaku user outside and Itachi's little brother, Sasuke."
Obito nodded. "That's our best option."
"You think you can just take me?" Uzumaki Yusuke scoffed. He clapped his hands together and shouted, "Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Shinra Tensei!
The rapidly growing trees were obliterated by an overwhelming repulsive force. Obito stood motionless amidst the destruction.
"Even this technique? Not bad."
"I'm not done yet!"
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive wooden dragon surged forward, its fangs bared as it lunged at the group. The ever-impatient Raikage charged head-on, delivering a thunderous punch—but it was evenly matched against the dragon's strength.
Seeing his brother in action, Killer Bee leaped in, shrouded in his Tailed Beast Cloak, and launched a direct attack on Yusuke.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Four massive golden chakra chains shot out from Yusuke's back, instantly binding the unsuspecting Killer Bee.
"Damn! My chakra's sealed! This is bad, yo!"
"Even now, you're rapping?!" The Eight-Tails roared inside Killer Bee's mind. "This is the Uzumaki Clan's sealing technique—watch out for this in the future! Even Tailed Beasts have trouble against it!"
Despite being restrained, Killer Bee wasn't in any immediate danger. Seeing his brother trapped, the Raikage moved without hesitation, slamming an elbow into the golden chains. Though he couldn't break them, it was enough to make Yusuke stagger slightly.
"Alright, alright! I give up!" Yusuke pouted like a child.
Seeing Yusuke's strength, Obito's interest deepened. "How about joining us?"
"What's in it for me?" Yusuke asked warily.
"We can make you stronger."
"That way, you'll be even more valuable to Orochimaru, right?" Obito added.
Yusuke snorted in disbelief. "Hmph! Only Lord Orochimaru can make me stronger. You expect me to believe your empty promises?"
"If you don't believe me, why not come see for yourself? If you're not satisfied, you can leave anytime," Obito coaxed.
A conflicted look crossed Yusuke's face. After a brief hesitation, he finally nodded.
"Fine, but if Lord Orochimaru ever needs me, I'll leave immediately."
"Of course." Obito agreed and swiftly pulled Yusuke into the Kamui dimension.
...
Inside the Kamui space,
Kimimaro and Sasuke were already there. When they saw Yusuke appear, Kimimaro's expression tensed.
"Uzumaki Yusuke? You got captured too?" Kimimaro asked anxiously. Yusuke was supposed to be Lord Orochimaru's next vessel. If he was taken, what would happen to Orochimaru's rebirth plan?
Yusuke chuckled darkly, extending his tongue to lick his lips, his demeanor shifting into something eerily sinister.
"Kimimaro, don't worry."
...
Meanwhile, on a giant bird soaring through the sky, just as Obito had settled Kimimaro, Sasuke, and Yusuke, Deidara and his team finally arrived at Kumogakure.
As for why Obito hadn't kept them in Kamui's dimension longer? After the last incident where Guy had nearly shattered the space with his attacks, he wasn't willing to take any chances anymore.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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