"Come again!"
Sasuke tensed his legs and launched himself forward, the ground beneath him cracking from the force. Like an arrow released from a taut bow, he shot toward Danzo, his Sharingan spinning with determination.
Danzo narrowed his eyes. If he couldn't handle those monsters from earlier, at the very least, he could deal with this brat.
And if he could take Sasuke hostage, maybe—just maybe—he could find a way to turn things around.
With a cold snort, Danzo raised his hands to intercept.
As Sasuke's fist shot forward, Danzo expertly caught it, absorbing the force with practiced precision. In the same motion, his other hand cut toward Sasuke's throat like a blade.
Sasuke's reflexes, honed through countless battles, kicked in. He twisted his body at an angle just enough to dodge while delivering a sharp kick toward Danzo's lower body.
Danzo had no choice but to shift into defense.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A fierce exchange of taijutsu followed.
Despite his young age, Sasuke held his ground. The three-tomoe Sharingan tracked Danzo's every movement, allowing him to anticipate attacks and counter with surgical precision.
With each passing second, Danzo's unease grew. How is he this skilled?
This child was barely twelve. Yet, despite his own years of experience—decades of combat, countless battles—he couldn't gain an upper hand.
After nearly thirty blows, Sasuke suddenly changed tactics. A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes as he abruptly leaped backward.
"Huh?"
Danzo's instincts screamed at him.
Something's wrong!
Still airborne, Sasuke smirked and formed a quick sequence of hand seals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A thin but intensely hot flame shot forward, slithering through the air like a serpent.
The flames danced along invisible threads—chakra-infused wires that had latched onto Danzo's arms, legs, and back during their previous exchanges.
Before Danzo even realized it, the fire had split into three separate streams, attacking from above, the middle, and below simultaneously.
Damn it!
Realization hit him like a kunai to the gut. He hastily cut himself free and leapt back.
With the guiding threads severed, the fire dissipated mid-air.
"Not bad for an old fossil," Sasuke remarked as he landed gracefully. A smirk tugged at his lips.
Danzo's expression darkened. This brat…!
Sasuke cracked his knuckles. "I hope you're ready. Next time, I won't let you escape."
As he prepared to charge in again, his hand instinctively reached for his sword—
Only to grasp at empty air.
A brief flicker of embarrassment crossed his face. Damn it, I left the Kusanagi sword behind.
Keeping his composure, he smoothly returned his hand to his side, pretending nothing had happened.
That's when a familiar voice called out—
"Sasuke!"
His body tensed. That voice—
Sasuke didn't dare turn around. He knew Danzo would take any opening to counterattack.
"Nazuo, get out of here! It's too dangerous!" Sasuke barked.
But the footsteps behind him didn't stop.
A moment later, Naruto—grinning ear to ear—appeared beside him.
"Let's teach this weird old man a lesson together!" Naruto declared, cracking his knuckles.
For a second, Sasuke froze.
A strange feeling washed over him.
This moment…
It felt eerily familiar—like when he had once fought side by side with Naruto against the legendary Madara Uchiha.
Memories of their battle against the Six Paths Madara flickered in his mind.
Then, the moment passed.
Sasuke let out a sigh. "Tch. Fine. But listen to me and don't act on your own."
Naruto's grin widened. "You got it!"
Just as the two prepared to strike—
A new voice chimed in.
"I just had a fun idea."
Shinomiya Uzumaki's amused tone cut through the battlefield.
Danzo's body stiffened. He knew that tone.
"If you can defeat both of them," Shinomiya continued, "we'll let bygones be bygones."
Danzo's heart pounded.
Was this brat serious?
No way…
"I promise," Shinomiya said with a lazy smile.
Danzo wasn't sure why Shinomiya had suddenly decided to spare him—but he wasn't about to question it.
"Tch. You better keep your word!" Danzo snapped.
Standing on the sidelines, Minato furrowed his brow. "Uzumaki, are you sure about this?"
"Don't worry," Shinomiya replied, stretching out lazily. "You'll be surprised."
Minato still looked unconvinced.
"I'll step in if things get too dangerous," Tobirama reassured him.
Minato sighed but nodded.
Meanwhile, Shinomiya casually gestured, and thick tree roots erupted from the ground. Within moments, they twisted and intertwined—forming a wooden sofa right behind him.
"Ahhh, much better," he said, reclining comfortably. "Now we can enjoy the show properly."
Minato facepalmed.
At that moment, Obito—who had been silent until now—suddenly frowned.
"Kamui's space is fluctuating…" he muttered.
Shinomiya's eyes flickered with understanding.
"Oh. Him."
Minato turned. "Who?"
Obito didn't even need to clarify. Shinomiya already knew.
The "other" Obito.
The one from this timeline.
"Man," Shinomiya sighed. "For someone who's supposed to be plotting world domination, he sure spends a lot of time lurking around Konoha."
He lazily waved a hand. "Obito, be a dear and take care of him for me."
Obito gave him a flat stare.
"You are so lazy."
Shinomiya clasped his hands together and pouted. "Obito-chan, please~?"
Obito groaned. "Fine, fine."
As he activated Kamui—
A hand grabbed his shoulder.
Obito blinked.
It was Kakashi.
"I'm going with you," Kakashi said simply.
Obito studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Suit yourself."
With that, the two disappeared in a swirl of Kamui.
Shinomiya yawned and leaned back.
"This is gonna be fun," he murmured, watching as Naruto and Sasuke squared off against Danzo.
The real battle was just beginning.
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(End of Chapter 35)
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