The monstrous eight-headed serpent, a manifestation of malice and curses, towered over the land.
The colossal Yamata no Orochi stood firm, its size no less than Danzō's Susanoo-armored Wood Golem.
The eight writhing serpent heads loomed opposite the wooden giant, and when the two titans descended upon Kirigakure, countless villagers were left stunned and shaken.
"Orochimaru, you've hidden yourself well!"
"Hidden?"
From the central serpent's massive head, a gaping maw opened, revealing Orochimaru's true body within. He gave a chilling laugh toward the Wood Golem Susanoo before him:
"Danzō… I haven't even used my Bankai yet."
At those words, Danzō's expression changed, his face growing more solemn.
Indeed—despite the battle escalating to this level, Orochimaru had yet to unleash his Bankai, and his current power was already no weaker than Danzō's own.
This sheer display of strength had made Danzō subconsciously overlook that crucial fact. Now that he realized it…
"Impossible! 12th Division is supposed to be the Research Division, not a combat division! There's no way your strength could be this great!"
Perched atop his Wood Golem Susanoo, Danzō growled, not sure if he was questioning Orochimaru or trying to convince himself.
"Even that brat Hōzuki Gengetsu—I could still handle him!"
Without waiting for Orochimaru to reply, Danzō commanded his Susanoo-armored golem to swing a massive fist toward the eight-headed serpent.
From its shoulder, the Susanoo-armored wooden dragon roared as if alive, lunging at the Orochi with claws bared. Empowered by Susanoo, its strike carried the weight of mountains.
Orochimaru sneered. Despite its gargantuan body, the Yamata no Orochi was unnaturally swift and flexible.
One serpent head dodged the incoming fist, only to be seized in the Wood Golem's massive hand. But with eight heads at its disposal, the beast retaliated instantly, several maws opening wide to snap down upon the giant.
Thus began the savage clash—Wood Golem Susanoo and Yamata no Orochi locked in brutal close combat. A colossal battle played out once again before the eyes of the world.
The earth-shaking roars and crashes drew every gaze.
"That Orochimaru… I didn't expect his power to be this terrifying."
Beneath the ruins of the Mizukage's building, Mei Terumi glanced nervously at the nearby abyss carved into the land, then quickly turned her eyes toward the distant battlefield to distract herself.
"That level of strength is no weaker than an ordinary captain's Bankai. If he really used it, could he just outright crush Danzō?!"
"His Zanpakutō is special," Uzumaki Hiromi said gravely, well aware of Orochimaru's situation.
"In theory, its power has no ceiling. Combined with the research of Squad Twelve, his overall strength might not even be inferior to Uchiha Shisui back then."
"However, his Bankai cannot be used lightly. It carries immense risks, and its combat boost isn't straightforward—it's more functional than destructive."
"A functional Bankai that strong…?" Mei muttered to herself, shaken.
Even she had to admit—her own strength paled in comparison.
"Enough talk," Yuki Kiri cut in coldly.
"Whatever his power may be, as long as he stalls Danzō, that's enough. Uchiha Madara has already taken the Three-Tails. Miroku just reported—Shadow Island was obliterated by that golden sword strike, and the Five-Tails was lost."
"Damn it, already?!"
"Then that only leaves the Four-Tails, the Six-Tails, and Kushina's son?!"
"No. We can't afford to lose the remaining Tailed Beasts, no matter what!"
The women's expressions darkened.
The importance of the Tailed Beasts was beyond question. They weren't just vital energy sources for Kirigakure—they were the keystones holding back the enemy's grand plan.
Yuki Yoru had warned them before: As long as the Tailed Beasts are in our hands, ninety percent of the world's threats can be dismissed. But if we lose them…
Then they might have to face an enemy on par with the Sage of Six Paths himself!
"Uchiha Obito's whereabouts have also been confirmed. He's outside the Kirigakure Duel Tower, temporarily held back by Namikaze Minato. Hikari is already on her way back—if she teams up with Minato, Obito won't be much of a threat."
"But the one who destroyed Shadow Island… he's the real problem." As Yuki Kiri spoke, her eyes shifted again toward the enormous chasm nearby, as deep as an abyss.
That single sword strike had not only cut straight through Kirigakure's village barrier, but also obliterated the Mizukage's office and left a scar across the village that could not be erased easily.
According to the information from Miroku, Shadow Island had been destroyed by him as well. Even with Miroku present, the entire island had been completely annihilated in just an instant.
One sword.
With one sword, Shadow Island collapsed, and the Six-Tails was taken.
If that man were to arrive in Kirigakure again, with Yuki Yoru absent, it would be nothing short of a disaster!
"Let me go."
The sudden voice broke their silence. A slender figure stepped forward—Kimimaro. He lifted his head to look at his elder sisters and spoke softly:
"I will stop him."
"Kimimaro, you…"
"Lady Kiri, I know very well how strong that man is. But I must protect Kirigakure—because this is Lord Yoru's village!"
His youthful face carried unshakable resolve.
"I will never—never let them continue this destruction!"
A faint golden radiance flickered across his body—that was the cost of shielding Yuki Kiri, Uzumaki Hiromi, and the others from that golden wheel strike earlier.
His Schrift had already been activated!
"I understand." Yuki Kiri nodded, meeting his eyes with a rare look of seriousness.
"Then… we leave that man to you, Kimimaro."
"Yes!"
From Kimimaro's back unfurled wings of spirit particles, and a luminous spirit disc appeared above his head. Combined with his pale robe, he looked like an angel—an angel of death who ruled over souls.
Kimimaro soared skyward, vanishing into the heavens.
Obito, locked in combat with Minato, immediately noticed. His eyes lit up, and even his movements against Minato grew sharper, more nimble.
He had once crossed blades with Kimimaro. Though the boy had been far weaker then, his impression of Kimimaro's power had been unforgettable—utterly beyond words.
Immunity to damage.
Immunity to control.
Immunity to death.
Everything disadvantageous to him simply did not apply. He was a true anomaly, existing on the level of fundamental rules.
Obito wasn't sure whether his current Six Paths-level strength could suppress Kimimaro's, but if he could leverage this boy, he was confident he could seize back control of the so-called Anti-Yoru Alliance and dictate the flow of battle once more.
But what puzzled Obito most was—
Where was Yuki Yoru?
This war was far beyond some children's squabble. Kirigakure was already devastated—ruins and rubble everywhere, the village reduced to a wasteland.
Clones, Shinigami, and Quincy were still locked in bloody combat, tearing apart the place Yoru had spent over a decade building.
The Shinigami captains were being pressed hard. The Mizukage's office had been flattened. All of this was no different from slapping Yuki Yoru directly across the face.
And with the loss of Tailed Beasts, Kirigakure had suffered one disaster after another—yet still, Yoru had not shown himself.
Was this truly the same man who once stepped onto the battlefield himself, crushed Konoha, marched into the Land of Iron to stabilize the ninja world, and conquered Sunagakure in the Land of Wind?
Strange. Too strange.
Unless…
"Yes… it must be that."
"That day, his spiritual pressure shook the heavens and crushed all beneath it. But to stabilize such a power would demand an enormous toll on mind and body."
The Rinnegan in Obito's eyes gleamed with dazzling light.
"Yuki Yoru may be powerful, but containing that level of energy is no easy task. Right now, he must be in a special state, stabilizing his power."
"If that really is the case, then we have to seize this opportunity."
A vicious light flashed in Obito's eyes as the vast power of the Six Paths erupted from within him. With a roar, he unleashed a Universal Pull straight at Namikaze Minato.
"Vmm…"
The sudden, overwhelming gravity left Minato no time to dodge. His body was yanked toward Obito with a howl of air—yet in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.
Flying Thunder God Jutsu—space-time counter!
In the instant he escaped the pull, Minato reappeared behind Obito, a dazzling Rasengan blazing in his hand.
"Lovers' Chakra Release: Jade Spiral Rasengan!"
Boom!!
The explosive Rasengan smashed against Obito's body, driving him into the ground with immense force. Waiting below, Tsunade was already poised, her fists empowered by the second-stage Bankai of her Golden Withered Tree. Her punch crashed down on Obito's back with crushing might.
But what should have been an unavoidable strike instead struck nothing but empty air.
Kamui!
Obito had slipped through with ease, dispersing the attack with his space-time intangibility. Suspended in midair, utterly unscathed, he looked down at them calmly.
"Space-time ninjutsu really is troublesome." Tsunade's expression was grave as she clenched her fists. "Unless we can suppress his Mangekyō abilities, no matter how strong our attacks are, we won't be able to land a decisive blow."
"It's a fine ability you've got there, Obito," Minato said, gripping his Bankai blade, long and slender like a Flying Thunder God kunai. "Lady Tsunade, please—take Kushina and leave."
"What?"
For a moment, Tsunade wondered if she'd misheard. Weren't they supposed to work together—Minato drawing Obito's attention, Kushina binding him with her sealing jutsu, and Tsunade striking for damage? Why would he suddenly want her to retreat?
"Lord Hiruzen will soon emerge with the Four-Tails and Naruto. I want you and Kushina to protect Naruto."
"Minato…" Kushina looked at him anxiously. From within the Kirigakure Duel Tower, they could already hear the commotion—just as Minato had said, Sarutobi Hiruzen had succeeded, carrying the Four-Tails' sealing vessel and Naruto with him.
"Go. Leave this to me."
His gentle voice carried both trust and unwavering resolve. Without further hesitation, Kushina and Tsunade turned and rushed toward the tower.
The ruined battlefield was left with only two figures—teacher and student, face to face.
"Without Kushina's seals or Tsunade's offense, it's just you alone. Do you really think you can stand against me, sensei?" Uchiha Obito's gaze was cold as he looked at Minato. He made no move to stop the women from leaving.
Hiruzen may be weak, but his experience was vast. Knowing Kushina and Tsunade's strengths, he could hold out for a while. And that was more than enough time for Obito to kill his former teacher—severing his last bond.
"You've certainly grown strong, Obito—perhaps even stronger than me," Minato said softly. "If it were you, you could truly become Hokage."
"Enough!"
The veins at Obito's temple bulged as his chakra surged violently, whipping the air into gales. "Stop your nonsense, Minato! Hokage means nothing to me anymore!"
"I see."
Minato tightened his grip on the trident-like Bankai kunai in his hand. Across his body, black markings unfurled as the Nine-Tails' chakra mode flared to life—stronger, fiercer than ever before.
This was Kurama Mode—a full fusion with the half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, born from a pact made after understanding Obito's threat and the crisis facing the ninja world.
An evolution of the standard Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Kurama Mode allowed Minato to wield the full might of the beast, even summoning a complete golden Nine-Tails avatar while maintaining his human form.
But now, he did not manifest the avatar—instead, he channeled that power, igniting it within his body.
Obito's heart lurched. Instinctively, he lunged forward, his Spear of Totsuka slashing down.
Yet in that same instant, Minato's body flared with golden radiance—not just Nine-Tails' chakra, but the warped shimmer of folding space itself!
"Bankai—Super-Space Aurora Flying Thunder God: Second Form!"
As Obito's spear descended, Minato erupted with impossible brilliance. The teacher Obito had locked onto simply vanished—only to reappear behind him, unleashing power beyond words.
Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?
Obito's Rinnegan insight caught only a flash of golden light. And in that instant, a strange thought drifted through his mind.
The next moment, pain and crushing force exploded through his body. Uchiha Obito was sent hurtling sideways like a cannonball, blasted away by an unstoppable strike!