Crack!
"If I hadn't used the Water Release: Hydration Technique in time, I would've been finished. But that lightning still did serious damage..."Ghost Lantern Mangetsu's body dissolved into a pool of water, spreading across the ground.
"Then let me send you off!"
Hiss!A powerful surge of Lightning Chakra gathered in Obito's right hand, letting out a piercing shriek…
It was Hatake Kakashi's signature technique—Lightning Release: Chidori!
Obito made a gesture and lunged toward Mangetsu with his Chidori.
At that moment, Ringo Ameyuri swooped in, her dual swords crackling with lightning as she slashed downward. Beneath the mask, Obito's eyes glinted with cunning amusement…
Whoosh! Whoosh!Her twin blades sliced clean through his body again—an illusionary trick he had already used before. The difference this time? He sold it even better.
"What?!"Before Ringo could react, it was too late. Her twin thunder blades stabbed directly into Mangetsu!
"AAAHHH!!"The scream tore from Mangetsu's lips.
Right in front of Obito was Ringo's exposed back.
He realized one undeniable truth: Power, when used precisely, can be lethally efficient.
Crack!!Obito's lightning-charged right hand pierced straight through Ringo's chest…
Gahh!!Ringo coughed up blood, her eyes wide with disbelief. There was… no hope left.
Obito yanked his arm free, and Ringo collapsed to the ground—dead.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the stunned Fuguki Suikazan in the distance.
Next...
Fwoosh!Activating the space-warping ability of his right eye, Obito disappeared and reappeared behind Suikazan like a ghost, reaching for his shoulder—
"It's over—huh?"
Suddenly, a sword swung in from the side—it was Kisame Hoshigaki!
Obito immediately switched into intangibility mode.
Kisame's blade passed right through him—but at that moment, Obito's Sharingan met Kisame's gaze.
Genjutsu: Sharingan!
Kisame's pupils dilated in shock.
Suikazan sensed something was wrong and swung his massive blade, Samehada, behind him. Obito blocked it with his Uchiha fan.
Clang!Using the recoil, Obito retreated.
"Kisame, nice timing. If you hadn't interfered, I would've been in real danger," Suikazan said with relief.
Slice!!Without warning, Kisame's blade slashed across Suikazan's throat!
"Kisame, you—!"
Thud!Suikazan dropped to his knees, clutching his bleeding neck, staring at Kisame with bloodshot, horrified eyes.
But Kisame's expression was blank…
"So… this is the power of the Sharingan's genjutsu? Damn Konoha…"With resentment still burning in his eyes, Fuguki Suikazan died.
Fate was truly ironic. In the original timeline, Suikazan was also killed by Kisame. Now, under Obito's genjutsu, history repeated itself.
Ringo Ameyuri and Suikazan had both fallen.The only one left—Ghost Lantern Mangetsu—was pinned to the ground by a thunder blade. The constant lightning had paralyzed his semi-hydrated body.
"Kisame… finish him."Obito's voice echoed within Kisame's illusion.
Moving mechanically, Kisame approached Mangetsu, raised his sword, and stabbed downward—
Slice!!
Blood sprayed violently!
Obito's eyes narrowed.
Kisame had stabbed his own thigh!
Sweating and gasping for breath, Kisame had used the intense pain to forcibly break Obito's genjutsu.
Even Obito had to acknowledge his strength.
"Kisame Hoshigaki… you're worthy of your reputation."
Panting, Kisame said weakly, "Even I… couldn't bear being manipulated twice. But the fact remains—I killed my commander. I can't face the Fourth Mizukage after this…"
As he spoke, he yanked the thunder blade from Mangetsu's shoulder.
Mangetsu rose to his feet, wincing. "We may never see the Fourth Mizukage again… this guy's strength is more terrifying than even Lord Yagura."
Obito said nothing. He stepped forward, kicked Samehada up into the air, caught it, absorbed it into his right eye's space, and then coldly kicked Suikazan's corpse aside.
Fwoosh!!
A roaring blue chakra flame burst into the air—Susanoo activated, entering its second form!
Armored in chakra, Obito advanced with the full force of his Susanoo.
"You want me to spare your lives? Then break through this Susanoo. That's the only way."
Kisame looked up, eyes wide. "You're… offering mercy? I should feel grateful, but I can't even move, let alone smile…"
Mangetsu was equally grim. He unrolled his scroll.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Summon: Long Blade—Sewing Needle!Summon: Blunt Blade—Kabutowari!Summon: Explosive Blade—Shibuki!
"Kisame, pick one. Take whichever you're best with," Mangetsu said.
"Then I won't hold back," Kisame replied, scanning the swords.
Sewing Needle: A long, needle-like sword with wire attached, meant to stitch enemies together. Kisame picked it up and shook his head—too light.
Kabutowari: A cleaver-hammer combo meant to break through any defense. The weight was right, but Kisame didn't like its "blacksmithing" combat style.
Explosive Blade—Shibuki: Covered in explosive tags, this blade unleashed deadly blasts upon contact. Kisame's eyes gleamed. This was his kind of weapon—raw destruction.
"To break his Susanoo… we'll need explosive force, crushing power, and precision piercing," Mangetsu muttered, forming hand seals.
Bang!A shadow clone appeared beside him.
"With your current chakra, are you sure you can handle this?" Kisame asked.
"We don't have a choice. This is for the honor of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!" Mangetsu declared.
Obito narrowed his eyes. "Come. Show me the true destructive power of the Seven Swords!"
Mangetsu's main body gripped the twin swords Hiramekarei, circling to the back of Susanoo. His arms thickened with water chakra as he poured everything into the blades until they grew enormous.
His clone charged straight at the front of Susanoo with the Kabutowari, both sword and hammer in hand.
Boom!!The heavy blade smashed down on Susanoo, followed by the sledgehammer.Crack! A fracture formed on Susanoo's chest.
"Hiramekarei—Release!!"From behind, Mangetsu slammed the blades down hard!
Crack! Crack!The fractures spread from both sides…
BOOM!!The shadow clone dispersed with a blast of chakra.
Dripping with sweat, Mangetsu shouted, "Kisame—now!!"
"DRRAAAHH!!!"Kisame leapt into the air and brought the Explosive Blade down on the weakened crack in Susanoo's armor.
KA-BOOOOOOM!!A deafening explosion engulfed the entire Susanoo!
"AAAHHH!!"Kisame and Mangetsu were blown back, bloodied and barely conscious.
In the distance, Maoyue Xiyang's eyes went wide with shock. She instinctively clasped her hands, unable to look away.
A shadow emerged from the flames.
Obito walked out—completely unscathed.
"You two are worthy. Kisame Hoshigaki, Mangetsu Hozuki—you have my respect. From this day on, I'll call you the Two Demons of the Mist. I'll let you live today. And if the day comes when you can no longer stay in Kirigakure…"
He paused.
"…don't join Akatsuki. Come to my Ninja Village."