However, before the surprise in Tobi's eyes could fade, another sharp flash of sword light came, cold rays scattering everywhere.
Tear!
In an instant, it seemed as if the very air was being severed, producing a sound like tearing cloth.
Sora closed the distance, the Zanpakuto in his hand descending towards Tobi's face.
This time, Tobi no longer dared to be overconfident.
He leaped backward, forming a one-handed seal. Immediately, several rotating water spears rose from the ground, attacking Sora's position.
At this moment, Sora stood firm and unmoving.
A powerful Reiatsu erupted from him, instantly shattering the opponent's Water Release Ninjutsu into scattered droplets that fell to the ground.
'Shinra Tensei?'
'No!'
'That is just the most basic Chakra Explosion!'
As the water droplets scattered, the surprise in Tobi's gaze grew.
'Just a Chakra Explosion was enough to defeat my Water Release? Did Kirigakure's Anbu have such a strong fighter?'
"What is your purpose?"
"And why are you here?"
Tobi's strange voice suddenly turned cold.
'The arrival of such a powerful Ninja was no coincidence, the other party must have come prepared.'
Who would have thought.
Sora just stood there, smiling lightly. "Don't be nervous. As Kirigakure's Anbu, eliminating the lapdogs under Uchiha Madara's command is only natural, isn't it?"
"What?"
"How do you know that!??"
Before the words finished…
Screech!
The sound of a sword cry rang out.
The Zanpakuto traced a perfect arc, landing precisely on Tobi's shoulder.
This time, perhaps the words Sora spoke were too shocking, Tobi was momentarily dazed, directly revealing a fatal opening, and was sent flying by the blade's light.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Light and shadow flashed continuously.
The swung Hyorinmaru drew out streaks of white sword light, enveloping Tobi with trajectories as beautiful as crescent moons.
At this moment,
Amidst the dancing cold light, the power of Sora's Expert-level Zanjutsu was displayed thoroughly.
Thump thump!
Thump thump!
Thump thump!
Tobi was continuously sent flying. The incredibly sharp blade also left behind shocking marks on his body.
Clang clang clang!
Clang clang clang!
However, every time the Zanpakuto collided with Tobi, sparks scattered everywhere. It didn't feel like striking a human at all, but rather like metal colliding with metal.
The immense recoil force on his wrist made Sora frown slightly. Although he had expected Tobi's toughness, it still exceeded imagination.
'As expected of a God Tree's creation that can take a Water Gun to the face and hold off the Allied Shinobi Forces alone!'
'Perhaps…'
'This thing really can serve as cannon fodder in a war against the Otsutsuki!'
Sighing inwardly, Sora sent Tobi flying with another slash, while he stood still, unmoving.
Lifting his gaze again, Tobi's body was now covered in deep wounds. But strangely, even where the skin was split open by gaps over ten centimeters, no flesh or blood could be seen beneath.
All that was visible was empty darkness, making one's heart palpitate with fear.
Tobi landed in a sorry state on the ground, staggering a few steps while clutching his nearly severed shoulder.
His opponent's strength also exceeded his expectations. Each slash possessed force comparable to a Tailed Beast, as if he wasn't facing an ordinary human, but some rampaging Jinchuriki.
'Troublesome…'
'When did such a monstrous Ninja appear in Kirigakure?'
'His power is even stronger than the Second Mizukage at his peak!'
Tobi's face showed terror.
This was obviously a very, very high evaluation.
Kiragakure's Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, was a powerful existence capable of single-handedly pushing through a Ninja Village. Being stronger than him was already incredibly unbelievable.
Even,
At this moment, Tobi felt somewhat fortunate that he had accompanied Obito this time and happened to stall this monstrous Anbu.
'If Obito had run into this person alone, he probably would have been killed on the spot before even seeing Nohara Rin, right!??'
Thinking this, Tobi already felt the urge to retreat. His opponent was very strong and even knew about Madara. He no longer dared to fight, feeling he might have fallen into some trap.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Wave!"
In an instant, Tobi quickly formed hand seals, and then a massive amount of water surged forth, instantly transforming into a towering wave that seemed capable of turning the surrounding forest into a marsh.
Within the waves, rampant Chakra also surged, forming terrifying shockwaves inside the colossal wave. The frightening energy within seemed capable of tearing everything apart.
"Hyorinmaru!"
"Ice Dragon Tail!"
Facing the flood-like towering wave, Sora didn't retreat. He raised his hand and delivered a slash filled with endless frost. The extremely cold freezing air instantly collided with the towering wave.
Boom!
Boom!
The power was frenzied.
However,
The flood-like giant wave could advance no further before Hyorinmaru's freezing air. It was quickly devoured by dragon-shaped streams of freezing air, directly turning into an ice sculpture.
A moment later, the onrushing giant wave was frozen into a massive ice sculpture tens of meters high, standing there like a mountain.
'Escaped?'
Sora could no longer sense Tobi's Chakra. Presumably, the other party had used some concealment method and escaped underground under the cover of the Water Release.
Regarding this, Sora's emotions showed no fluctuation. His coming here was just a coincidence, wanting to give Madara a bit of a shock, so that Madara and his pawns wouldn't idly amuse themselves by tormenting the village's Mizukage.
Ultimately,
Sora had lived in Kirigakure for over ten years. He naturally had very deep feelings for this land.
He couldn't just stand by and watch his home be trampled and destroyed at will by certain ambitious individuals, could he?
'However…'
'That Spiral Zetsu's strength seems a bit stronger than imagined.'
"In a one-on-one fight, even Konoha's Sannin might not be its match."
Just now, Sora hadn't used his full strength against Spiral Zetsu, but he had roughly gauged the opponent's combat level.
Proficient in all Five Nature Transformations!
Fast hand seals!
Vast Chakra Reserves!
Plus that steel body far exceeding the durability of a Kage-level Ninja.
Tobi's combat power was also not to be underestimated.
Turning around, Sora looked back towards the direction he came from.
'Probably…'
'The fight is about to start, right?'
The classic scene from Naruto: the Mangekyo Wood Release User single-handedly slaughtering the Kirigakure's Anbu, plus the Chidori Kakashi…
If he stood by and did nothing, Meigetsu and the others would probably end up like in the original work, slaughtered alive by the cheating Obito.
'Tsk tsk!'
'People really can't fight against cheaters!'
'The only way to deal with a cheater is to use an even harsher cheat to brutally crush them back!'