Seeing that Isobu still had strength remaining even after taking the full force of Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation, a flicker of intensity crossed Tatsuya's face. Then, his hands blurred through seals once more.
"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!"
Tatsuya expelled a great dragon formed of white, churning liquid. Clasped in its claws was an orb akin to a dragon pearl. The dragon coiled and spun violently around the orb, which began to radiate blinding light before detonating with unimaginable force.
Instantly, blinding light engulfed the battlefield, accompanied by intense vibrations that shook the very air.
"Watch out! Fall back!"
Sensing the immense danger radiating from the technique, Terumi Mei and the others immediately retreated at full speed, desperate to escape the expanding range of the White Rage Technique. Only after putting nearly a mile between themselves and the epicenter did the group feel the technique's overwhelming effects begin to diminish.
Yet, at the heart of the attack, the blinding white light persisted. From a distance, the shockwaves were so intense they seemed to warp the very space around them.
At that exact moment, deep within Isobu's eyes, the projected image of the Mangekyō Sharingan began to flicker and fade. The earlier Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation had already dealt the Tailed Beast a severe blow. Now, subjected to the intense, disorienting vibrations of the White Rage Technique, Obito's genjutsu finally shattered, unable to hold.
Isobu, the Three-Tails, had completely broken free from control!
As the projection of the Sharingan faded from its eyes, Isobu's massive form turned ethereal, dissolving completely into nothingness. Without Obito pulling the strings, Yagura Karatachi could no longer sustain the full Tailed Beast transformation.
In a hidden, shadowy location far away, Obito's eyes snapped open, filled with a mixture of gravity and bitter resentment. "Who is that guy? Since when did Konoha have ninjutsu that powerful?"
Beside him, a pitcher plant form rose from the ground, Black Zetsu's voice emerging, "That's Konoha's secret technique user, Tatsuya Akimichi. What he used should be Sage Art."
"Sage Art?" Obito murmured, processing the information. "Konoha has produced another Sage?" The Sannin Jiraiya, known as a Sage, was famous throughout the ninja world for the formidable power of his Sage Art. Obito hadn't personally witnessed Jiraiya's techniques, but the sheer destructive force of this Tatsuya's Sage Art surpassed anything he had imagined.
Facing such a troublesome opponent, even with Kamui rendering him virtually untouchable, Obito had no desire for a direct confrontation.
His thoughts solidifying, Obito spoke with grudging finality, "We can't accomplish anything more in Kirigakure now. Let's withdraw." His voice was thick with resentment. He hadn't yet made Kirigakure—the village directly responsible for Rin's death—pay the full price.
"Where to next? Amegakure?" Black Zetsu inquired.
"Let Nagato handle things in Amegakure for now," Obito said softly. "We have someone else to find first."
White Zetsu piped up, "Are we going after that shark fellow next? To bring him into the organization?"
"Correct," Obito confirmed, his body swirling into a spatial vortex and disappearing.
After Obito left, the pitcher plant sank back into the earth, leaving no trace of their presence.
Back on the ravaged battlefield, the blinding light and deafening vibrations finally subsided.
Impaled through the abdomen on one of the sharp earthen spears lay Yagura Karatachi, now back in his human form. His body bore extensive burns. Yagura's eyes fluttered open, the fog of manipulation gone, replaced by clear awareness.
Cough! Cough!
He coughed violently, thick blood spilling from his mouth.
Swish!
Tatsuya flickered, landing lightly atop a nearby spear. He looked down at the dying Yagura, his expression unreadable, though a hint of pity flashed deep within his eyes.
After the brutal battle he'd endured, Yagura Karatachi, only just freed from control, didn't have long left. This baby-faced man had actually been a remarkable leader—he had ended Kirigakure's horrific "Bloody Mist Policy" and had even sealed the volatile Three-Tails within himself in an attempt to master its power. In terms of both strength and determination, he had been top-tier.
But it was a pity. During the Third Shinobi World War, when Kirigakure had targeted that girl, the fate of Yagura, who would later become the Fourth Mizukage, was all but sealed. Against Obito—wielding a Mangekyō Sharingan and augmented with Hashirama Cells—Yagura stood little chance. More critically, Obito operated from the shadows; Yagura likely never even knew of his existence or his terrifying abilities.
Yagura turned his head slowly, looking up at Tatsuya. His eyes held confusion, shock, and a dawning understanding. Though his consciousness had been blurred while under control, he retained fragmented memories of the battle. The power of this Konoha ninja before him... it was immense. To defeat a fully transformed Tailed Beast with just two techniques... Such strength seemed to push the very limits of what Yagura understood about the ninja world.
Konoha's talent was truly enviable.
Tatsuya allowed his Sage Mode to dissipate; the man impaled before him posed no further threat.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A series of flickering sounds announced the arrival of Kakashi and the Kirigakure shinobi.
Yagura weakly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Zabuza, Mei, and the others, finally resting on the aged face of Elder Genshi.
"Lord Mizukage!" Zabuza cried out, rushing forward instantly. The Fourth Mizukage he knew had returned!
"Quickly, treat Lord Mizukage's wounds!" Elder Genshi urgently commanded Ao beside him.
"Yes, sir!" Ao flickered to Yagura's side and immediately began administering medical ninjutsu. As he worked, however, a grim understanding dawned in Ao's eyes. Lord Fourth Mizukage... his life force was fading fast, like a guttering candle. The one who had controlled him hadn't cared about the strain on his body, forcing a full Tailed Beast transformation before Yagura had achieved perfect mastery over Isobu.
If Isobu itself hadn't also been severely weakened during the battle, Yagura might have lost control entirely long before now.
Thinking this, Ao glanced towards Elder Genshi. They had to take advantage of Isobu's currently weakened state to extract it from Lord Fourth as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the Fourth Mizukage perished, Isobu would die along with him, albeit temporarily. When the Tailed Beast eventually reformed, Kirigakure, in its current state, might lack the strength to capture and reseal it. Losing the Three-Tails would further cripple the village's already diminished military power.
"Elder Genshi..." Yagura rasped, looking at the old man. "...the village... I leave it in your hands!"
Hearing this, Elder Genshi turned to the Konoha ninja. " shinobi of Konoha. Our village owes you a great debt for your assistance in resolving this crisis. Kirigakure will not forget this kindness. However, we have urgent matters to attend to now, so we must take our leave."
With that, he signaled, and half of the Kirigakure ninja carefully supported Yagura, disappearing with the Elder using the Body Flicker Technique.
Tatsuya and his squad had no objections. Soon, nearly half the people present were gone.
"Let's go too," Kakashi said quietly, surveying the wreckage one last time.
Tatsuya, Guy, and Itachi nodded, flickering away after him, leaving behind the remaining Kirigakure ninja, their expressions somber.
The era of the Fourth Mizukage had come to an end.