On the battlefield, four blazing crimson beams shot into the sky, forming a massive square barrier that shimmered above the chaos.
Rinjin watched the spectacle, muttering to Tsunade at his side, "Looks like the Impure World Reincarnation bodies are limiting the First's power."
White Zetsu, packed with Hashirama cells, made for perfect vessels—actually boosting the Second, Third, and even Fourth Hokage's abilities. But Rinjin couldn't shake the feeling that the technique was also holding Minato back.
Honestly, pairing Minato with the other Hokage felt like a waste. Rinjin had seen countless prodigies in his long life, but Minato's ability to adapt and analyze intel was second to none. Jiraiya hadn't been wrong—compared to Namikaze Minato, everyone else just looked mediocre.
Minato was the ultimate all-rounder—a six-sided warrior. Chakra reserves, adaptability, countermeasures—he had it all.
Beside him, Tsunade watched the previous Hokage restraining the Ten-Tails, her eyes alight with excitement. "Rinjin, let's go help them!"
"You're recovered?"
"Yup!" Tsunade pointed to the purple diamond Yin Seal on her forehead. "My chakra's built up again. It's time to finish this war!"
Rinjin smiled indulgently and nodded. "Alright. But you need to understand—once we join the fight, there's no telling how the battle will shift."
"What do you mean?"
He looked at her, exasperated. Sometimes she was just too naive. He was a boss-level threat, after all.
If he stepped in, who knew if the Sage of Six Paths wouldn't use the chance to take him out?
He'd struck a deal with the Sage: help the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura end the war, and the Sage would return Mizuguma's soul. But Rinjin didn't trust that ancient schemer one bit.
Who knew if the old man would try to seal him—and his mother—at the first opportunity? The Sage was a pure-blood supremacist at heart, and Rinjin's existence blocked the path for his two sons.
Bottom line: both wanted peace, but Rinjin wanted it fair for everyone, while the Sage wanted his sons in charge. You couldn't reconcile that.
If he entered the battlefield, chaos was guaranteed.
With a sigh, Rinjin braced himself on his knees and stood. "Let's go! The sooner we fight, the sooner it's over."
"Mm!" Tsunade nodded fiercely, then flashed him a teasing look. "When the war's done, I'll retire and go home to be a proper daimyo's wife!"
Nice flag, Rinjin thought, giving her a mental thumbs-up. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and with a flicker of Flying Thunder God, the two vanished.
A heartbeat later, they reappeared beside Uchiha Shisui.
Rinjin dropped his hand and gave Shisui a quick order. "Shisui, tell Grandpa and the others to get ready!"
"Got it!" Shisui nodded with crisp seriousness, then darted back.
As Rinjin spoke, Madara—who'd been idly watching from the sidelines—suddenly frowned, his expression darkening.
Here comes the troublemaker again.
He'd hoped to catch up with Hashirama, but Rinjin was back to stir things up. What a pain.
Where was Obito, anyway? Wasn't he ready yet?
Ignoring Hashirama's wood clone, Madara rose to his feet. Just then, a spiral of space twisted above the Ten-Tails' head, and Uchiha Obito crashed to the ground, blood soaking his body, a massive hole torn through his chest.
Madara's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. Had Obito destroyed the curse mark and his own heart at once?
Heh. If he wanted to live, sealing the Ten-Tails was his only option.
This time, Madara didn't force Obito to use Rinne Rebirth like in the original story. He just watched, relaxed. Even if he resurrected now, without the Rinnegan, there was no way he could face both Hashirama and Rinjin.
...
Within the Four Crimson Ray Formation, Obito's body twitched on the ground.
Suddenly, everything changed.
The Ten-Tails, restrained by Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, began to shrink rapidly toward the center, flowing like water.
Under stunned gazes, the Ten-Tails collapsed into a single, perfect sphere.
Then, the blinding white orb shattered, scattering glittering particles on the wind as a crushing aura swept the battlefield.
As the sphere broke, Obito hovered in the air, clad in sacred white-green robes, hair now pure white, a black staff in hand, and black Truth-Seeking Balls floating behind him.
Five scale-shaped protrusions lined his shoulders, each tip flickering with ghostly red flames.
Rinjin narrowed his eyes, sensing Obito's new power.
Obito's icy gaze shifted back to him.
Madara had told him: since the Third Mizukage, the Mist Village had been under Rinjin's control.
Obito believed it. He'd visited countless times. Elder Genji had ties to Rinjin, Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi was his adopted daughter, and even the mighty Samehada was in Rinjin's hands.
Rin's death? Obito was sure Rinjin had played a part.
With a cold expression, Obito fired a Truth-Seeking Ball straight at Rinjin.
He was going to take Rinjin out first.
The black orb shot toward his face. Rinjin tilted his head, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
This Truth-Seeking Ball... somehow doesn't feel all that dangerous to me...
He was the least "ninja-like" ninja alive—immune to flashy tricks.
His skin was nearly impenetrable, his taijutsu pure and overwhelming.
From the start, aside from a few single-target jutsu, his only complete skill tree was taijutsu.
As the Truth-Seeking Ball closed in, Rinjin simply raised his hand and caught the black sphere.
A faint, almost nostalgic sting pricked his palm.
But that was it.
Like grabbing a cactus with rubber gloves—uncomfortable, but nothing serious.
He watched the ball wriggle in his grip, then glanced at Tsunade, rolling his eyes.
"...This is it?"
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