Naruto: Manipulation

Uchiha Obito had unleashed every technique at his disposal!

Whether it was the Ten Tails' tailed beast bombs forming rapidly from the Divine Tree behind him, or the ninjutsu tools crafted from the Truth-Seeking Orbs before him, these were his final gambits against Shigen.

Because...

He was not suited for battles at this level.

In such a tier of combat, ordinary jutsu became meaningless, and he didn't have the luxury of time to familiarize himself with the power he had newly gained.

Moreover, Obito couldn't gain insights on Six Paths-level combat from Black Zetsu or even from Shigen himself—he could only rely on his own instincts to fight.

Shigen's palm struck the Six Crimson Ray Formation—

It shattered like glass in an instant!

At the very same moment the barrier broke, the tools formed from the Truth-Seeking Orbs flew at Shigen, and four crimson Ten Tails' tailed beast bombs came crashing down!

This... was Obito's strongest attack!

A flash of white light shimmered along the black sword in Shigen's hand—

And with a single strike, he cut through all four tailed beast bombs and every Truth-Seeking Orb tool!

That strike—

Was as sharp and overwhelming as ever!

But it still couldn't stop the ensuing explosion.

The combined blast of Truth-Seeking Orbs and tailed beast bombs bloomed into a blazing mushroom cloud, hotter than the sun. Even from far away, the Allied Shinobi Forces could see the towering firelight.

The earth trembled. The blast shockwave swept the land.

"What is that?!"

Fourth Raikage stared at the explosion in the distance, eyes bulging as the air pressure knocked him clean off his feet!

"Defensive formation!"

Tsunade's voice rang like a thunderclap through the Allied Shinobi Forces!

Earth-style users surged forth, creating a unified defense—

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

Dense earthen walls rose to meet the shockwave.

But the force of the distant explosion shattered wall after wall—

Until Jiraiya and Kitsuchi led a larger defense, constructing a wide stone fortress that finally managed to withstand the fallout!

"How far... are we from that?"

Ōnoki's voice trembled.

No one answered.

Because all eyes were glued to that towering mushroom cloud.

And if this was how distant observers reacted—

Those close to the battlefield were in even worse shape, each forced to rely on their own defensive jutsu.

But ultimately...

Only two people could keep everyone alive—

Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju.

"!!!"

Madara realized the danger instantly—

Activating his Full-Body Susanoo and shielding the entire Akatsuki within its wings.

Even then, the explosion shredded its wing armor. The once-invincible god of battle wavered on the edge of collapse.

Meanwhile...

Tobirama and Minato activated Flying Thunder God, warping the surprise attack squad behind Hashirama for protection.

Minato even brought the lone Uchiha Sasuke along without a second thought.

As for Kisame...

Watching the man he followed, Obito, he simply smiled—accepting death.

Just before the end, he fused Samehada into his own body.

"Summoning Jutsu: Fivefold Rashomon!"

Hashirama sensed immense pressure and summoned five giant gates—

Only for them to be obliterated instantly.

"Wood Style: Wood Human Technique!"

A massive wooden avatar shielded everyone behind him—

And was annihilated just as quickly.

"Wood Style: Ranking Shield Technique!"

He conjured huge wooden barriers—

But this was the true power of the Ten Tails' jinchūriki on full display.

Even Madara and Hashirama struggled beneath the overwhelming shockwaves of Obito's attack.

Obito... may not match Shigen—

But he wasn't weak.

His gaze was sharp, focused, scanning the flames for Shigen's chakra.

He knew—

That wouldn't be enough to kill him.

Not someone like Shigen.

But...

"Even you..."

Obito's face curled into a sneer, trying to reclaim a sliver of pride:

"You didn't walk away from that unscathed, did you?"

Though inwardly—

He panicked.

He couldn't sense Shigen's chakra.

Could it be...?

Had he actually killed Shigen?

Was that... even possible?

"A bit messy, I'll admit."

Shigen's voice whispered behind him.

"When?!"

Obito spun around, terrified of another heart-piercing attack—

But this time—

It wasn't his heart.

Just as he turned, he saw the edge of Shigen's black cloak dusted with ash—

And a hand glowing with chakra touched his body.

"Six Paths: Extraction Seal."

Shigen's palm pulled forth a surge of chakra—

The Ten Tails' chakra!

"You—!"

Obito's face twisted in horror!

Behind Shigen—

A massive black Truth-Seeking Orb formed.

Yin-Yang chains burst out—

Binding Obito to it—he couldn't move.

From his stomach, a black vortex swirled—

Obito saw it.

It was familiar.

Just like that time...

When he'd ripped the Nine Tails from Kushina Uzumaki—

Now, he was the one losing his tailed beast.

The Ten Tails—like a tide—was wrenched from him.

It howled in rage, trying to attack—

But the chains coiled around Obito kept it still, pinned in place.

"Hah..."

Obito gasped like a drowning man, his face pale.

He was dying.

Only the Six Paths chakra let him barely survive...

Though now, it meant he'd become someone else's tool.

"Madara!"

Black Zetsu shouted.

Madara's eyes gleamed coldly. He understood.

This was the chance.

Crack—

Yin-Yang chakra flared from Obito's hand—

His fingers moved of their own accord—

The Rinne Rebirth Seal.

Madara's body gleamed white.

He was coming back to life.

He glanced at Shigen—

The only man who could stop him.

Would Shigen interfere?

But Shigen—

Did not.

The ritual completed. Madara's body returned to flesh.

The Edo Tensei Rinnegan in his eye socket turned to dust.

"Madara..."

Shigen casually pulled the other Rinnegan from Obito and tossed it to him:

"Your eye."

Madara caught it, inserted it, and looked toward the bound Ten Tails.

"Begin, Madara."

Black Zetsu sneered:

"Shigen won't stop you. He won't compete for it."

Madara chuckled bitterly.

Even after Obito's failure, he wasn't sure he could handle Shigen.

"He probably doesn't care for such weak power..."

He began forming the seal—

But Shigen suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"Lord Shigen!"

Madara's face darkened.

"Shigen?!"

Black Zetsu's tone shifted.

"No."

Shigen shook his head:

"Isn't the Ten Tails missing the Nine Tails' chakra?"

"Obito was too weak. Even if you become its jinchūriki now, would it be enough for the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"

Madara's expression eased.

He understood.

This Ten Tails... was incomplete.

There was still one tailed beast left.

Obito's Ten Tails was a defective product.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Madara bit his thumb—

Channeling his link to the Nine Tails—

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"Found it."

His eyes locked on one man:

Minato Namikaze.

The Fourth Hokage stiffened.

He knew Madara had sensed the half of the Nine Tails sealed within him.

"And..."

Madara turned to the oncoming Allied Shinobi Forces—

And sneered:

"So the five great nations actually came together..."

Shigen also sensed their arrival.

Calmly, he issued orders:

"Find a White Zetsu clone. Check on Kabuto. Have him return Madara's other Rinnegan."

"Understood."

A White Zetsu shot underground.

"Do we need an army?"

Black Zetsu asked.

"We have the Ten Tails. We can create one."

"Do we need one?"

Shigen looked puzzled.

"Absolutely not."

Madara's expression lit up with battle hunger.

"You've done enough, Shigen."

"Leave the rest to me."

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