A flash of cold light struck first, followed by a spear thrust as fast and fierce as a dragon's roar.
The spear's tip radiated an icy chill, piercing through the air.
In the split second before it reached the clone, time seemed to freeze—
Buzz—!
Naruto casually raised his hand and flicked his index finger.
Clang!
The spear's trajectory was deflected in an instant. A massive recoil force traveled from the tip down the shaft of the weapon.
The newly-evolved Second-Level White Zetsu—a variant resembling the A-Fu-type Zetsu—felt a jolt run through his grip. He quickly pulled the spear back and launched a sweeping kick.
The kick targeted Naruto's waist.
Boom—!
Naruto easily blocked the powerful kick with his knee.
Seeing his strike fail, the Second-Level White Zetsu spun mid-air, wielded the spear in both hands, and came down with a heavy smash.
Naruto sidestepped fluidly and countered with a backhanded shove, knocking the Zetsu away.
But even after stumbling back several steps, the Zetsu dug his heel into the ground and stopped his retreat cold.
He lowered his center of gravity, twisted his waist, and suddenly launched a reverse thrust—a backstep stab aimed at Naruto's flank.
The spear's tip was nearly at his throat when Naruto slightly tilted his head. The weapon missed by mere inches, slicing the air beside him.
The Second-Level White Zetsu's eyes gleamed with fanaticism. He abandoned his spear, drew a sword from his back, and slashed forward, the blade twirling into a flurry of sword flowers.
Naruto seized the discarded spear, gripping the base with one hand and executing a practiced push-pull motion with the other.
Clang—!
The blade wavered under the counter. Still, the White Zetsu pressed on, slashing relentlessly to close the distance.
But Naruto had seen enough. It was time to end this.
As the Zetsu lunged again with his blade, Naruto spun and delivered a devastating kick to his chest.
Crack!
The blow was so powerful, it knocked the Second-Level Zetsu clean out of the basic White Zetsu host body.
"Power and speed have evolved dramatically," Naruto observed coolly.
"Swapping 100,000 ordinary Zetsu for 200 elite versions... the conversion works."
"We can incorporate Ninjutsu amplification... Taijutsu enhancement... all during the evolution process."
"If a Taijutsu-type shinobi were to possess this form, even a low-level Genin could rival an elite Jonin instantly."
The biggest problem? The sheer volume of 100,000 White Zetsu—too noisy, too chaotic.
"Naruto-sama!"
"White Zetsu Unit 3366 is dying!"
"Aaaahh... Naruto-sama! Don't forget about Baymax 3366~!"
A-Fu rushed forward, crouching beside No. 3366 to check his vitals.
He shook his head grimly.
"It's no good. Unless Lord Naruto steps in personally, Baymax 3366 might really be done for."
"...Bury it," Naruto said indifferently.
A few White Zetsu solemnly picked up 3366 and followed A-Fu away.
"Eh? Seriously? We're actually burying him?" A-Fu blinked.
"Master Naruto! Baymax 3366 can still be saved—Naruto-sama, you can't be so—huh?!"
Suddenly, 3366 leapt up with a shovel in hand and started filling in his own grave.
A-Fu: Feed me peanuts...
Elsewhere—
"Damn it! Naruto-sama is still after us!" a Black Zetsu roared.
"Scatter!"
Without hesitation, it merged into the earth and fled.
The feeling in its chest grew heavier by the second. It had to be cautious. Already, one-fifth of the White Zetsu forces had defected.
At this rate, continuing to command them was meaningless. Worse—if it stuck around, it might be next to die.
"Why?! Just one look from that guy and all these fools betrayed me!"
"How am I supposed to explain this to Mother...?"
"Still—if I can delay them long enough... once Mother is revived, we can create unlimited White Zetsu!"
Meanwhile, in the Kamui Dimension—
Zzzzt—!
Crackling lightning flickered in the void.
Clash—!
Obito and Kakashi's blows met in midair.
Obito's black chakra rod pierced through Kakashi's chest—just as Kakashi struck with a Chidori, speaking solemnly:
"Obito... this trick ends now."
"I'm tired of it," he added coldly.
In the next second, both figures flickered and vanished.
Obito reappeared with a single-hand seal.
"Come."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. The true battle between old friends was about to begin.
Memories surged—
They charged forward.
A fist met a fist. A kick answered a kick.
Kakashi vaulted upward, unleashing a sweeping roundhouse—
Konoha Whirlwind.
Obito ducked low and retaliated with a brutal kick.
Bang!
"Oof—!"
Kakashi was launched backward, rolling across the ground.
Whoosh—
Before he could recover, Obito appeared above him, foot descending.
Boom boom—!
The earth cracked beneath the blow, scattering gravel.
Kakashi narrowly rolled aside, dodging the stomp.
He countered with a whip-kick, but Obito leaned back, dodging with ease.
Kakashi didn't hesitate. He drew a kunai and charged again.
Obito weaved through the strikes, then summoned another black rod—a weapon formed from Yin-Yang Release chakra.
Still—just a little too slow.
Clang!
The kunai was knocked away, but not before Kakashi's fist slammed into Obito's face.
Splurt—!
Blood flew from his mouth.
Obito wasn't done. He retaliated with a heavy kick, sending Kakashi skidding across the ground.
Ding ding ding—!
Kunai and chakra rods clashed in a furious melee.
Obito's strikes were brutal and forceful.
Kakashi, however, kept moving in close, using tight angles and rapid shifts to pressure Obito.
What had once been Obito's advantage—longer reach—was now working against him.
Obito was clearly on the back foot, his body marred with several kunai slashes.
But in a flash, the wounds began to close—thanks to the White Zetsu modifications and the Hashirama cells coursing through his body.
Kakashi, sensing the shift, tried to press his advantage. Yet Obito, instead of dodging, took the next hit head-on—then drove a solid punch into Kakashi's chest.
The sheer force made Kakashi drop the kunai in his right hand.
As the black receiver came thrusting toward him, he quickly raised his left-hand kunai to block—striking out with his free hand at the same time.
The two locked hands, pushing against one another at close range.
For a brief two and a half seconds, they stared each other down—face to face, breath to breath.
Then Obito smirked.
Lend me your hand.
Before Kakashi could react, Obito used Kakashi's left hand to form a one-handed seal with his own.
Only a lifelong bachelor would think of something like this...
Startled, Kakashi furrowed his brow and instinctively glanced down to see which seal Obito was forming.
That one-second distraction was all it took.
Bang!
Obito's foot landed squarely on Kakashi's face, sending him stumbling backward.
Even dazed, Kakashi's muscle memory took over—his kunai stabbed out as a reflex, forcing Obito to pause rather than risk a mutual injury.
But Obito didn't follow up. He instead leapt back, his hands forming the final signs of a Fire Release technique.
Chakra gathered at his throat.
Obito inhaled deeply—
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
FWOOM!
The fireball roared through the air.
Kakashi, shaking off the kick, formed seals in response and slammed his palms to the ground.
Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!
Boom! Boom!
A wall shaped like a dog's head erupted from the ground, intercepting the incoming flames.
But Obito had altered the chakra nature—adding intensity and control. The fire swirled, splitting past both sides of the wall, licking the ground as it passed.
The hastily-raised wall began to crack from the heat. But the fireball itself wasn't large enough to fully engulf Kakashi. He managed to endure.
Then—
Fwoosh!
A kunai flew from the right—Kakashi's pupils dilated.
Just as he pivoted, another sharp whoosh cut through the air behind him.
Too late.
He raised his arms to guard his head—
BAM!
Obito's kick smashed into his guard, the force rippling through his body.
Kakashi was sent flying backward, smashing through the crumbling dog-head wall.
His vision blurred.
Through the haze, he could still see Obito approach, black receiver in hand, a sneer curling his lips.
He really intends to kill me...
But I'm not Kakashi anymore… I'm Kakaxu now!
SIZZLE——
Pay 50,000 ryō, chakra will arrive. Chakra explosion ready!
The chirping of birds filled the air.
Obito's black rod lunged—only to be shattered mid-thrust by the sudden burst of chakra.
Kakashi's speed surged.
CRACK!
He countered with a flying kick that sent Obito reeling.
Obito, in midair, reformed another black receiver and thrust it out, attempting to halt Kakashi's follow-up.
SHUNK!
The black rod stabbed clean through Kakashi's shoulder.
But Obito didn't smile.
He went silent.
This scene… it's too familiar.
From behind Obito—
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
The sound of Chidori tore through the air.
But Kakashi was still in front of him.
Back then… Rin… the last thing she saw… was this.
Time seemed to freeze.
Kakashi's Chidori pierced through Obito's chest.
They remained locked in place, neither moving, both frozen in a mirrored stance.
A moment later—
PFFF—
Blood gushed from Obito's mouth.
Drip. Drip.
Blood splattered the ground beneath their feet—both his and Kakashi's.
Kakashi closed his eyes. The Chidori vanished in a flicker of lightning.
His arm twitched, fingers spasming from chakra strain.
Then, clenching his fist—
WHAM!
He tore his hand back and delivered a solid kick, sending Obito flying.
But the black receiver in his shoulder disrupted his chakra flow.
Kakashi staggered, backing off a few steps before collapsing into a seated position on the ground.
Panting, he looked up.
Obito knelt half-collapsed, barely able to keep himself upright.
Kakashi's gaze lingered on the bloodied hole in Obito's chest.
Still bleeding.
Still real.
It's over, Obito. …
On the other side, Naruto and his group arrived at Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village—only to find that Uchiha Madara had already left.
Madara… does this count as running away?
Brother, didn't you say he only runs when he's about to get beaten?
At least that last fight had some impact.
He must be heading toward Kumogakure. Knowing Madara, he'll want to personally collect the tailed beasts. That Uchiha Obito… he's just a pawn now.
Senju Tobirama rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
Impure World Reincarnation does have serious limitations.
But there's one major advantage—he can't die. If he were to be revived as a living being, that would be a different story. Truly dead. No wonder he fled.
We can't afford to waste time. Let's move—straight to Kumogakure.
Naruto nodded, eyes firm. He placed his hands on the shoulders of the Senju brothers and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In the next instant, they arrived in the Hidden Cloud Village.
But they were already too late.
The little cockroach had already returned home...
Because Sasuke's eyes are broken...
The village looked calm—eerily so. No signs of chaos. No battle scars.
Both Hashirama and Tobirama narrowed their eyes, their brows furrowed.
We're late.
Madara's probably already taken Yugito and her Two-Tails.
Just then, sensing the sudden appearance of powerful chakra signatures, Mabui and Samui rushed out to investigate.
N-Naruto-sama?
Mabui ran forward, quickly relaying the situation.
Yugito Nii was taken by Uchiha Madara.
Naruto shook his head, voice steady.
Don't worry. She won't die. I'll bring her back.
Without wasting another second, Naruto grabbed Hashirama and Tobirama once again, activating the Flying Thunder God to warp them toward Iwagakure.
Wait for him there. The Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki are still in Iwa. And it's the closest target from here.
Tobirama nodded in agreement.
Right. We can set a trap and wait.
And soon enough, he came.
Madara arrived in front of Iwagakure, standing tall in the full armor of his Perfect Susanoo.
Without hesitation, he summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, its monstrous form towering behind him.
He left a shadow clone to begin extracting the Two-Tails, Matatabi, from Yugito's body.
Meanwhile, his true self—enshrouded in the massive form of his Susanoo—moved forward to capture the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.
But before his clone could begin the extraction, a voice echoed coldly in his ears.
Born evil…