Two figures stood silently high above the battlefield, observing the scene below. They were none other than Namikaze Minato—fresh from a deal with the devil—and Hyuga Gakuya.
Minato's gaze was locked on Naruto, who now stood face-to-face with Obito.
For the first time, he saw what his son looked like as a grown man.
He couldn't hear the words being exchanged, but he could clearly see the fury burning in Naruto's eyes.
"Thank you," Minato said to Gakuya.
Suspended midair by Gakuya's Tenseigan technique, the latter responded evenly,
"This is part of the deal. I brought you here to see Naruto—and in return, you'll use the Flying Thunder God mark you left on Obito during the Nine-Tails incident to help me track him."
This was the third step in Gakuya's plan: take advantage of the Flying Thunder God marker left on Obito after the chaos of the Nine-Tails attack, and strike after Obito had exhausted himself in battle.
At the same time, Gakuya had sealed off the sensing ability of the Nine-Tails chakra inside Minato, preventing Naruto's own Nine-Tails from sensing his father's presence.
...
"Bastard!" Naruto roared, unable to suppress his rage any longer. He launched himself into the air, fist aimed straight for Obito.
But his punch passed right through Obito's body—as if he were striking empty air.
Obito spun around swiftly, reaching to grab Naruto by the throat.
Just as he was about to seize him, a kunai came whistling through the air, forcing Obito to phase out once again. His hand passed harmlessly through Naruto.
Naruto used the chance to flip backward and land steadily on the ground.
"So you figured out my ability... I'm guessing that intel came from Minato-sensei?" Obito's voice was cold. Though hidden beneath the mask, his expression clearly soured.
No one answered. No one would be foolish enough to confirm something that critical.
"No response? Then I'll just capture one of you and beat the truth out of you."
The three tomoe of Obito's Sharingan spun and connected, and space around Kakashi began to warp.
He was trying to pull Kakashi into the Kamui dimension.
"Wood Style: Wall!"
Yamato stepped in just in time. Layers of thick wooden walls rose in front of Kakashi, cutting off Obito's line of sight and halting the long-range Kamui.
"As expected. The intel was right—he can only absorb what he sees. He can't attack while phased, and he can't phase while attacking," Shikaku shouted, making sure the surrounding ANBU picked up on it too.
Then, a voice echoed in the depths of Naruto's mind:
"Kid, I can give you my power. But in exchange, you're going to help me kill that man."
Naruto frowned. "Why would you help me?"
"You don't need to know. All you need to understand is that I'm lending you power."
The Nine-Tails wasn't about to admit that he was being controlled by the Sharingan. That would be far too humiliating.
"Fine," Naruto agreed without hesitation. He needed power—he had to avenge his father.
A translucent red chakra enveloped him. Behind him, three massive chakra tails flickered in and out of view, swaying slightly, radiating a pressure that made hearts clench.
This was the most Nine-Tails chakra Naruto could currently summon while maintaining his sanity.
Seeing that familiar crimson chakra, Yamato—once known as Tenzo—tensed up immediately. He feared Naruto had lost control again.
"Naruto, calm down!" Yamato shouted, voice thick with urgency and concern.
But Naruto remained calm—eerily so. He knew exactly what he was doing. He and the Nine-Tails had reached an understanding.
"Relax, Yamato-senpai. We've come to an agreement. Right now, we share a common enemy."
Up above, Minato also noticed the wave of red chakra surging from his son.
Seeing Naruto in danger, a storm of emotion surged within him. He momentarily forgot the precarious situation he himself was in.
Pure paternal instinct kicked in. He wanted nothing more than to rush down and protect his son.
But Gakuya wasn't about to let that happen.
With a swift motion, he unleashed a gravitational force, locking Minato in place, unable to move even an inch.
His voice was cold as ice.
"Don't move. Don't forget what I told you—if your actions disrupt this plan in any way, I'll resurrect Uzumaki Kushina and make her watch you fall."
Minato froze. The threat stabbed deep into his heart. He knew Gakuya meant every word. But how could he just stand there while his son fought for his life?
Gritting his teeth, Minato forced himself to stay still, eyes never leaving Naruto, silently praying for his safety.
...
With all fours touching the ground, Naruto leapt again like a wild beast, hurling himself straight at Obito.
Midair, he locked eyes with his target.
"Foolish," Obito muttered, activating a genjutsu through his Sharingan. Naruto's pupils went dull in an instant.
Caught in the illusion, Naruto lost consciousness and began drifting toward Obito, who extended his hand to grab him.
"I shouldn't have brought Naruto here!" Jiraiya cursed inwardly, full of regret.
He, Kakashi, and the others moved at once. Rasengan and Chidori blazed to life in their hands as they rushed toward Naruto.
They couldn't let Obito get his hands on him—not if they ever wanted to face Minato again.
But just as Naruto was about to fall into Obito's grasp, he suddenly looked up—and raised his hand like a claw, slashing toward Obito.
Thanks to his pact with the Nine-Tails, Naruto was now a pseudo-perfect Jinchūriki. The moment his consciousness was caught in a genjutsu, the Nine-Tails was able to pull him back in the mental realm.
Caught off guard, Obito still reacted swiftly. He phased just in time, letting Naruto pass through him harmlessly again.
Then Obito drew the long blade from his waist, swinging it in a backhand slash.
Naruto didn't turn—he didn't need to. The red chakra at his back coalesced into a massive claw, lashing out toward Obito.
Once again, forced into phasing, Obito evaded the blow.
Both attacks met only air.
"Let's see how you dodge this in midair!"
Obito activated Kamui, space around Naruto warping and twisting, ripples distorting the air.
But just then—like phantoms—Jiraiya and Kakashi appeared on either side of Obito.
Bright chakra surged in their hands.
Chidori. Rasengan.
The attacks howled toward Obito in unison!
This time, Obito didn't phase immediately. His eyes widened—just for a second.
"It worked! That's Jiraiya-sensei for you!" Even Minato, normally calm and composed, couldn't help but cry out in excitement.
Based on his battle experience during the Nine-Tails' rampage, this strike had to hit.
But just as the attacks were about to land, a brilliant blue skeletal frame erupted around Obito.
Susanoo.
The ethereal armor wrapped around him like an impenetrable shell.
Jiraiya and Kakashi's strikes slammed into it with thunderous force, the impact echoing across the battlefield—but it was useless.
The Susanoo didn't even crack.
It stood like an iron fortress—unyielding, immovable, unbreakable.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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