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Zzz!
Izanagi—a forbidden ocular technique that turns unfavorable outcomes, including death itself, into mere illusions. Naturally, this extends to the effects of genjutsu as well!
Obito managed to evade Kotoamatsukami, but the curse inflicted by the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood remained unresolved prior to activating Izanagi.
Naruto adjusted his mask and said calmly, "So, you managed to escape. For the next ten minutes, you're invincible. Now, what's your move? Are you going to fight me to the death?"
"But that wound on your chest doesn't look good. While you might not feel the pain or bleeding during Izanagi's duration, once the ten minutes are up, the accumulated damage could very well be fatal. Your best option is to return to your hideout immediately and treat that wound."
Bang!
Tobi landed beside Obito.
Obito glared at Naruto with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "You calculated everything, didn't you? Even predicting that I'd use Izanagi! I don't understand—why didn't you just have Hidan go for a fatal strike and kill me outright? Wouldn't that have been simpler?"
Naruto replied with a faint smile, "I see you as an opponent, not an enemy. Perhaps in the future, we might even stand together to face the true enemy."
"Heh, the true enemy..." Obito thought to himself.
This dull, decayed, hopeless world—that is my true enemy!
"Naruto, let's say you've won this battle. But in the future, I won't yield to you!"
With that, Obito placed a hand on Tobi's shoulder. As he activated Kamui to teleport away, his gaze froze momentarily when he caught Naruto mouthing four silent words.
After Obito left, Konan approached and asked, "In the memories you showed me, was it through that ocular technique that he evaded my Paper Person of God Technique?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes, Izanagi. It's a forbidden ocular jutsu requiring the powers of both Senju and Uchiha. It comes at the cost of blindness in the eye used. Obito is a cautious man—his left Sharingan was prepared specifically for Izanagi. For ten whole minutes, he cannot be killed, no matter what."
"I see. Ten minutes... that's also the limit of my Paper Person of God Technique," Konan thought to herself. "Then I'll just have to prepare more. If six billion tags aren't enough, ten billion should do the trick."
Naruto gazed at the spot where Obito had disappeared, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Obito... he's like another version of me. In my previous life, I was ostracized and shrouded in darkness. If things had gone differently, I might have become just like him."
Konan asked, "Are you planning to find Sasuke next?"
Naruto sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. "Yeah. Once I re-enter Sage Mode, I'll go."
With Obito and Tobi retreating and their plan failing, the White Zetsus attacking Konoha began to withdraw to preserve their forces.
"Those bastards are retreating! Damn it, after all the comrades we've lost, there's no way we're letting them escape!" The hatred in Konoha's ninjas drove them to pursue relentlessly.
"Let them go!" Nara Shikaku commanded.
The ninjas turned in confusion. "Shikaku-sensei!"
Shikaku explained, "Their numbers are too great. If we continue fighting, our casualties will only increase. Besides..."
He looked out at the devastated battlefield and the trembling ground behind him. With a heavy voice, he said, "We have more important things to do—treat the wounded and support the village!"
The ninjas swallowed their hatred and began organizing rescue efforts.
At the heart of Konoha, the fully-formed Susano'o stood like a revered war god, shaking the heavens and earth.
Its dark purple hue was a reflection of Sasuke's heart, now consumed by hatred.
"Hahahahaha! Tremble and despair before this power! Then die like the ants you are, crushed under my feet! This is the retribution for what you did to the Uchiha clan!" Sasuke's maniacal laughter echoed from the cube on Susano'o's forehead.
Whoosh!
The swing of its massive blade shattered mountains and rivers.
"Ahhhh!!!" The screams of ninjas echoed endlessly.
"Sasuke, please stop!!!" Sakura cried out as she ran to the foot of Susano'o, tears streaming down her face.
From above, Sasuke looked down coldly. "Sakura, at this point, what meaning do your words hold?"
Sakura spread her arms wide. "If you want to keep destroying the village, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
"Then so be it," Sasuke said decisively.
Susano'o raised its foot, ready to crush Sakura.
Under the looming shadow, Sakura closed her eyes in despair. "Sasuke-kun is no longer the Sasuke-kun I knew. Naruto is no longer the Naruto I remember. I've had enough... let it all end here."
Whoosh!
A figure darted in and pulled Sakura away.
Boom!!!
Susano'o's foot came crashing down.
Sakura opened her eyes. "Kakashi-sensei, why did you save me?!"
"Don't do something so foolish, Sakura," Kakashi replied.
"But I have no reason to keep living anymore!" Sakura cried.
"Don't say such childish things. Look at your comrades!" Kakashi said firmly.
Sakura looked around.
Even the genin and chunin were shouting and throwing kunai with explosive tags, unleashing their meager jutsu against Susano'o.
Shikamaru, Neji, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Tenten, Lee, and even Ino, who once admired Sasuke—all of them were fighting in their own way.
Even Choza Akimichi and his son Choji had transformed into towering giants using their clan's Butterfly Mode, engaging in a desperate battle against Susano'o's full form.
Sakura came to her senses. "What have I been doing? Until now, all I've done is cry. I've relied on Naruto so much that I've forgotten I'm a ninja too."
"Go, Sakura. Do what you must," Kakashi urged.
Wiping away her tears, Sakura stood up. "Yes. I, Sakura Haruno, am a disciple of Lady Tsunade!"
Kakashi looked at the battlefield dominated by Susano'o's overwhelming power.
"Even the Nine-Tails' rampage sixteen years ago wasn't this devastating. Sasuke truly has gained an incredible power."
This chakra giant possessed unparalleled offensive and defensive capabilities. To withstand its onslaught and destroy it with brute force would require a ninja like the First Hokage. But now, the village no longer has such a powerhouse.
Kakashi's gaze shifted upward, his mind racing. "However, if it's just about targeting the spot where Sasuke is..."
Boom!
Choza, in his Butterfly Mode, was sent flying, crashing through buildings. His bloodied fist slammed into the ground. "Damn it! That thing is impossible to break with sheer force!"
Kakashi approached him. "Choza, I have an idea. Will you help me?"
Choza hesitated. "Are you serious, Kakashi? If this fails, you might not come back."
Kakashi nodded. "But it's one of our few options."
"I understand."
Choza grabbed Kakashi with his massive hand and, with all his strength, hurled him toward the top of Susano'o.
"Karin, four o'clock direction in the sky!" Sasuke's ally warned.
Sasuke turned to see Kakashi hurtling toward him, lightning crackling in his hand.
"How foolish," Sasuke sneered. "Even now, he dares to challenge me with a Lightning Cutter? I thought his intelligence made up for his lack of strength. I see I overestimated him."
Zzz!
Kakashi's left eye transformed into a Mangekyo Sharingan.
In the split second before impact, his gaze locked onto the cube on Susano'o's forehead.
"Kamui!"
Crack!
A breach appeared in the cube.
"What?!" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.
And in that instant, Kakashi's Lightning Cutter closed in.