In the land of rivers, the figures of Sasuke, Orochimaru, Karin, and Chiyo stood atop a huge dog, Yami. The dog constantly sniffed the air as it continued to run, its speed impressive.
Initially, Orochimaru used the snake for tracking, but since the pair took an aerial journey, the snake's 'sense of smell' couldn't keep up. So Karin directly summoned Yami, the giant dog, who was very excited to 'go out for a walk'. The moment Chiyo presented a piece of Gaara's clothing, the dog, with its incredibly keen sense of smell, was extremely quick to discover the clue.
The next part of the journey was far less comfortable, compared to the snake's crawl, Yami's run was like riding a raging bull. Fortunately, they were all ninjas and could use chakra to steady themselves, but the discomfort remained.
The advantage in speed, however, was clear, with Yami's keen sense of smell and his speed, it only took them one day to get close to their target.
It was at this point that a figure appeared in front of them.
A man in an orange mask appeared on a tree branch, waving cheerfully to them. -Hi! How are you?! Are you lost?! Do you need directions?!
Above Yami's head, the four looked at Tobi with narrowed eyes, especially Sasuke, who had already opened his Sharingan.
Their eyes met, and seeing the Sharingan in that single eye, Sasuke's grip on his sword tightened, a burning rage blazing within him.
He didn't think he was a Uchiha, he no longer had those 'dreams'. In his mind, he was a wretch who had stolen the eye of someone from his clan.
Although Jugo provided information about the Akatsuki members' powers, he did not go into detail regarding their identities, especially Obito's, as he did not want Sasuke to drown in vengeance once again or hear something he shouldn't from Obito.
Seeing his black and red cloak, he spoke. - I'll take care of this guy, you guys go ahead.
Sasuke jumped directly from Yami's head.
Orochimaru smiled. -Then I'll leave it to you, Sasuke-kun, just don't forget Jugo-sama's words.
He didn't care at all that Sasuke stayed behind to fight that masked man, even though he hadn't even asked him, the nominal leader of the group, but instead reminded him that Jugo had asked them to go easy on the Akatsuki.
Sasuke frowned in annoyance. - I know.
He had forgotten about it, but it didn't matter, he would beat him almost to death, then gouge out his eye.
-Hey! Hey! Don't do that! Tobi's mission is to stop you from passing!- As soon as he saw Yami ready to advance, Tobi appeared in front of the ground, about to place his hand on it.
Just as he was about to touch it, his eye narrowed slightly, and behind him, coming from behind, a snake the size of a boa constrictor opened its mouth, about to bite his head. Knowing of Obito's power, Orochimaru wouldn't just stand by and wait, instead, he prepared a trap.
Tobi let it pass, his hand brushed against Yami's head, and the snake also brushed against his head.
The moment he fell, the group was surprised, despite knowing the information, Tobi's jutsu was truly very strange.
-You're that masked guy who fought Ranmaru.- Karin said. -He can let attacks pass through him.
Sasuke already knew this, but he didn't care. Instead, his sword was covered in a layer of lightning. The next moment, he appeared in front of Obito, cutting directly through him. Obito ignored him, instead aiming his kunai directly at Sasuke's heart.
Sasuke perceived everything with his Sharingan, he didn't stop it. Instead, he moved his chest slightly to the side. The kunai missed his heart but hit his lung.
Obito frowned, confused, but the next moment he coughed up a mouthful of blood, causing his eyes to widen.
Sasuke immediately opened the second stage of the Curse Mark, his body quickly closing the cut, although it still took some time to heal completely, Obito wasn't so lucky.
Sasuke grabbed Obito's arm the moment he was pierced, keeping them connected. Sasuke's sword, still covered in lightning, shifted its grip and stabbed Obito directly in the heart.
Obito's eyes widened, spitting out more blood, this time his heart was pierced.
Sasuke had set aside the part about not killing the moment he realized how difficult it was to deal with 'Tobi', in any case, Jugo asked 'if possible,' not that it was actually forbidden, which is why Orochimaru didn't say anything either.
Obito looked at Sasuke, but the next moment, Obito's figure vanished, transforming directly into nothing, as if he had never existed.
Not far away, Obito reappeared, the eye hidden inside his mask now blind, he didn't stay any longer, sensing that it was dangerous to continue without the assurance of Izanagi.
Sasuke was confused by the sight, but he couldn't stop Obito's figure from escaping into a black whirlwind.
The whole event lasted only a few seconds, the group hadn't even gone far. What was supposed to be a long fight was incredibly quick.
-Is that the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan?- Sasuke asked, confused.
-It's Izanagi.- Orochimaru explained. -A forbidden jutsu of the Uchiha clan, at the cost of sacrificing a Sharingan, it's a supreme genjutsu that distorts the boundary between illusion and reality, allowing the user to transform serious injuries or even death itself into an illusion.
Sasuke's eyes turned to Orochimaru. How did he know this? But in the end, it didn't matter, he still saw a Sharingan in that man's eye, he wasn't blind, so he had more.
Sasuke's hand gripping the sword tightened, however, just as he was about to climb back up and continue his journey, he leaped away.
Behind him, Obito's figure had returned.
He only entered the Kamui dimension to exchange his eye, now that he had a new eye ready to use Izanagi, he could proceed calmly. He still hadn't fully understood Sasuke's Dojutsu, so being cautious was a good thing.
Besides, he couldn't let that group pass, it would still take quite a while for the Ichibi's seal to be fully undone.