Naruto: The Second Chance of Obito Uchiha
Chapter 18: Clash on the Northern Front
Three days after the destruction of Kannabi Bridge, the war shifted once again.
Iwagakure had been dealt a heavy blow, but the other great nations had no intention of giving Konoha time to recover.
Scouts reported increased Kumogakure activity along the northern border.
If the Hidden Cloud broke through the mountain passes, Konoha would be forced to fight on multiple fronts.
Inside the Hokage's command room, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened as Shikaku Nara explained the situation.
"The Cloud has dispatched an elite strike force to secure the pass. At the same time, Iwagakure is attempting another offensive in the west."
Hiruzen looked toward Minato.
"Minato."
"Your Flying Thunder God is the only thing that can respond quickly enough to either battlefield."
Minato nodded.
"I'll stop their commander."
Hiruzen then turned to Team Minato.
"Kakashi. Obito. Rin."
"You'll support the northern operation by eliminating the Cloud's advance unit."
The three answered together.
"Yes, Lord Third."
Hours later, the mountain pass disappeared beneath thick clouds.
Cold winds howled between the cliffs.
Kakashi knelt beside a fresh footprint.
"They're close."
Obito activated his Sharingan.
Three tomoe spun as he scanned the surrounding terrain.
"They're waiting."
Before anyone could react—
Lightning crashed into the mountainside.
The explosion shattered nearby boulders.
Nearly forty Kumogakure shinobi emerged from the mist.
Leading them were two veteran elite jonin whose chakra dwarfed that of the others.
One carried twin swords wrapped in Lightning Release.
The other wore reinforced armor covered in battle scars.
The armored jonin smiled.
"So these are Konoha's young heroes."
Miles away, another battlefield erupted.
Thousands of Iwagakure shinobi charged across the plains.
Standing before them was Minato.
Across the battlefield, an elderly shinobi stepped forward wearing crimson armor marked with the crest of Iwagakure.
His chakra rolled across the battlefield like a tidal wave.
Even veteran Leaf jonin instinctively stepped back.
One of Konoha's commanders whispered,
"…General Gansui."
The legendary commander of the Stone.
A shinobi whose strength was said to rival the Five Kage.
Gansui rested a massive stone war hammer on his shoulder.
"So…"
"The famous Yellow Flash."
Minato smiled calmly.
"I've heard your name as well."
Without another word—
Both disappeared.
The collision shattered the ground for hundreds of meters.
Back in the mountains, the battle had already begun.
The Cloud shinobi attacked with frightening speed.
Their teamwork was flawless.
Kakashi blocked a lightning-infused blade.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
"They're stronger than the reports said."
Obito was already exchanging blows with the armored jonin.
Every strike shook the earth.
The enemy wasn't merely powerful.
He was experienced.
He immediately recognized Obito's Sharingan.
"So you're the Uchiha."
"I've been hoping we'd meet."
The jonin slammed both fists into the ground.
"Lightning Release: Thunderquake!"
Bolts of lightning surged through the stone.
Obito leaped away.
The attack spread across the battlefield, forcing Kakashi and Rin to scatter as well.
"They're trying to separate us!" Rin shouted.
Obito nodded.
"Don't let them!"
Meanwhile, Minato's battle intensified.
General Gansui formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Mountain Collapse!"
Entire sections of the battlefield rose into the air before crashing toward the Leaf forces.
Minato vanished in a yellow flash.
His marked kunai appeared throughout the battlefield.
Every teleportation saved dozens of Leaf shinobi.
But Gansui wasn't finished.
"So this is the Flying Thunder God…"
He smiled.
"Let's see how long you can keep this up."
Stone giants erupted from the ground.
Each towered over the battlefield.
The surrounding Leaf shinobi watched in disbelief.
"This…"
"…is a Kage-level battle."
Back at the mountain pass, Kakashi found an opening.
Lightning gathered in his right hand.
The cry of a thousand birds echoed between the cliffs.
"Chidori!"
He launched forward.
The twin-sword jonin smiled.
"I've been waiting."
Instead of dodging, the enemy countered directly.
Steel met lightning.
The impact threw Kakashi backward.
Blood ran down his arm.
The Chidori had incredible power—
But without perfect timing, it could be stopped.
"Kakashi!"
Rin reached him first, healing the deep cut across his shoulder.
"He nearly broke your arm."
Kakashi gritted his teeth.
"I underestimated him."
Nearby, Obito was fighting alone.
The armored jonin drove him backward with overwhelming physical strength.
Each punch cracked the stone beneath their feet.
Even with the Sharingan, avoiding every attack was impossible.
A punch grazed Obito's ribs.
He coughed, blood staining his lips.
The enemy grinned.
"So the famous Sharingan isn't invincible."
Obito wiped the blood away.
"I never said it was."
His eyes sharpened.
For the first time since returning to the past, Obito stopped relying solely on his memories.
He fought using everything he had learned across two lifetimes.
He baited attacks.
Used feints.
Forced the jonin into narrow terrain.
Turned the battlefield itself into a weapon.
Even so…
He couldn't win alone.
"Kakashi!"
"I know!"
The two moved together without another word.
Obito's Sharingan tracked every movement of the enemy.
Kakashi trusted every call.
"Left!"
"Duck!"
"Now!"
Lightning burst from Kakashi's hand once more.
This time there was no hesitation.
Obito forced the armored jonin to shift his footing with a Fire Style technique.
For the smallest instant—
His guard opened.
"Chidori!"
Kakashi struck cleanly.
The armored jonin staggered but remained standing.
"…Impressive."
He coughed blood.
"I haven't been wounded like this in years."
The battle was far from over.
The second elite jonin joined him.
The two veterans stood side by side.
Across from them stood Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
All three were breathing heavily.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
But none of them stepped back.
The armored jonin smiled.
"Now…"
"This is beginning to feel like a real battle."
Far away, another explosion echoed across the plains.
Minato and General Gansui's clash lit up the horizon, reminding everyone that legends were fighting on two different battlefields.
The outcome of both battles would determine the future of the war.