Minato narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan has space-time ninjutsu. He can phase through objects, pass underground, and absorb or release anything at will."
Naruto smiled confidently. "I've known about his abilities for a long time."
Sasuke, watching the controlled Reanimated Jinchūriki, then glanced at Obito's subtle hand seals. He narrowed his eyes. "So... they've been under your control the entire time."
Sasuke didn't understand how Obito could control the seven Jinchūriki without the Rinnegan, but it was clear now—he had planned this all along. Just like his brother... Itachi.
Obito dropped his hand seals and replied calmly, "It's just a contingency to prevent the Tailed Beasts from going wild. Real control lies with you, Sasuke—wielder of the Rinnegan. Go ahead."
Sasuke scoffed and turned to his team. "Jūgo, Suigetsu, take Karin and hide in the forest behind us. You'll be of no use in the fight to come."
Jūgo pouted slightly. "Sasuke-kun… I don't want to leave you."
Suigetsu rolled his eyes at Karin. "Just listen to him. If we stay here, we'll only be liabilities."
He grabbed Karin's arm and dragged her away.
Karin, teary-eyed and reluctant, kept turning back as she cried, "Sasuke-kun… Sasuke-kun…"
But Sasuke's eyes weren't on her.
They were on Naruto.
"I'm going in."
Sasuke stepped forward. The seven Jinchūriki followed his lead. All eight of them leapt into the air, launching an attack toward Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails.
Naruto grinned. "Ah, this scene brings back memories. Funny how the roles are reversed now—Sasuke's the one on the attack, and I'm the one watching."
The Eight-Tails roared, and Killer Bee launched the first move. Massive tentacles lashed out, sweeping across the battlefield with brutal force.
The Tailed Beast-enhanced Jinchūriki scattered in all directions. The Six-Tails, however, didn't dodge—charging straight at Eight-Tails and getting caught.
Naruto's expression shifted. "Uncle Bee! Throw him off now! The Six-Tails is corrosive—watch your hands!"
But it was already too late.
Acid began to ooze from Six-Tails' body, burning into Eight-Tails' tentacles. The massive beast winced in pain. "Damn it! That burns!"
Sasuke suddenly appeared, blade in hand, and slashed downward. "You should worry about yourself, Naruto!"
Naruto didn't flinch. A giant chakra arm formed behind him—emanating from Nine-Tails Chakra Mode—and caught Sasuke's sword with both hands.
Sasuke didn't panic. He activated a half-body Susanoo, its skeletal arm swinging violently toward Naruto.
Naruto scowled. Another chakra arm extended from his back and caught Susanoo's hand mid-swing.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Sasuke's Rinnegan eye pulsed. A massive shockwave of repulsive force erupted.
Naruto and Minato were blasted backward through the air.
In mid-flight, Naruto flipped and smiled. "Not bad, Sasuke."
Before he could stabilize, Sasuke followed up. "Amaterasu!"
A stream of black flames surged toward Naruto like a spiraling drill of destruction.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and raised both hands. The force of Shinra Tensei still lingered in the air, creating a repulsive barrier. The Amaterasu flames splashed harmlessly against it.
Sasuke smirked. "You're not bad either."
Meanwhile, Minato wasn't having it easy.
Two Jinchūriki charged him—Two-Tails Yugito with her "Cat Claw" and Seven-Tails Fū with "Bug Bomb."
Minato took the hits, too focused on Naruto to dodge. Just then, Three-Tails Isobu emerged behind him.
"Coral Palm!"
A surge of chakra struck Minato, and coral-like growths began forming on his back. He plummeted toward the ground like a stone.
Naruto's expression changed. This was Obito's signature ambush tactic from the previous war.
He was about to move, but Minato called out, "Naruto, don't worry about me! Focus on your enemy!"
Naruto paused. True—his father was not only reanimated, he also had Flying Thunder God. He'd survive.
Minato, mid-fall, threw marked kunai in all directions. He wasn't called the Yellow Flash for nothing.
Below, Four-Tails Son Gokū opened his mouth and spewed lava, forming a molten field meant to burn Minato alive.
As Minato reached for a kunai to teleport, Obito acted.
A buzzing sound announced Obito's arrival. He phased through space and reappeared behind Minato, reaching out.
"Sensei… This time, I win."
Minato's eyes widened. There wasn't time to teleport again—Obito had predicted his movement.
But just as Obito's hand was about to touch him, a white blur shot across the field.
"Ninjutsu: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Long, white hair extended like tendrils, wrapping around Minato's body and yanking him out of harm's way.
Minato blinked in shock. "What—?"
The hair pulled him free and then retracted, slicing through Obito's phasing body.
Minato landed safely and turned to see the figure.
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
The Legendary Sannin nodded, then smashed the coral growths on Minato's back with a single punch.
Obito looked at his empty hand and chuckled bitterly. "Missed again…"
Naruto, having kicked Sasuke away, teleported in with Flying Thunder God.
"Pervy Sage! You showed up right on time!"
Jiraiya crossed his arms and snorted. "Don't act innocent. You sensed me coming a long time ago, didn't you?"
Naruto laughed sheepishly. "Maybe."
In Nine-Tails Mode, Naruto's sensory abilities were razor-sharp. He had known Jiraiya was approaching for a while.
Nearby, Eight-Tails roared in anger. He grabbed Five-Tails Kokuō by the horns and flung him across the battlefield.
With a thunderous boom, Five-Tails crashed into the ground far away.
Sasuke returned to Obito's side and scolded, "You're pathetic. That was the perfect opportunity."
Obito crossed his arms, saying nothing.
Behind them, Karin watched worriedly.
Suigetsu muttered, "Don't bother. The Sasuke we knew during the Five Kage Summit… he's not the same anymore."
"Right now, it's a battlefield for Kage-level fighters. If we get involved, we're just cannon fodder."
Jūgo clenched his fists. "Even so… if Sasuke needs me, I'll fight!"
Karin glared at Suigetsu as if to say, Look at Jūgo—learn something from him!
Suigetsu rolled his eyes and then narrowed them as he looked into the distance.
"…In that forest," he murmured, "Orochimaru is watching."
Karin turned toward him. "You want to go to him?"
Suigetsu chuckled. "It's been a while. I wouldn't mind catching up with Orochimaru-sama."
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