"Father… Lord Hokage, I'm sorry. I was ambushed in the village." Kakashi clutched his left eye, his expression filled with regret as he looked at his father, Sakumo Hatake. "Even the eye that Obito gave me… I couldn't protect it. I'm useless!"
Kakashi was drowning in guilt and self-reproach, feeling like he had failed both his friend and the village. Sakumo crouched down, placing both hands firmly on his son's shoulders.
"That's enough, Kakashi. Don't blame yourself too much. The masked man's space-time jutsu is elusive, even Konoha's barrier couldn't detect his arrival. None of us could have predicted this attack."
Sakumo paused, allowing Kakashi a moment to collect himself before continuing.
"What you can do now is recall the details of how you were captured."
Hearing this, Kakashi forced himself to suppress his sorrow. Though in front of his father, he could allow himself to grieve like a child, as a ninja, he had to be strong.
"There were two attackers. I first sensed someone behind me, so I immediately slashed backward with a kunai, but it passed right through his head without causing any real damage."
"I tried to retreat instinctively, but suddenly, my foot sank. A black humanoid form emerged from the ground and grabbed my ankle, immobilizing me."
"The masked man's right eye emitted a spatial force, and before I knew it, I was sucked into his dimension."
Kakashi recounted the entire battle in meticulous detail, ensuring nothing was overlooked. His opponents were formidable, both possessing the strength of elite jōnin. Combined with the element of surprise, Kakashi had fallen into their trap before he could react.
Just as he was about to continue, a sharp pain flared in his left eye socket, forcing him to clutch the wound. His eye was gone, yet he could still feel a phantom pain, as if the lost eye was responding to his words.
There was a lingering feeling Kakashi hadn't voiced, but Sakumo had already sensed it. He slowly stood up.
"In that strange space, besides the masked man fighting you, did you see any other prisoners?"
"Yes. Based on the intel from the ANBU, I recognized a few of them from their portraits. One was Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. Another was Yugito Nii from Kumogakure, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. They were both in a severely weakened state, most likely from prolonged starvation and dehydration."
"Alright, Kakashi. You should rest for now. Leave the rest to me."
At Sakumo's signal, a medical ninja immediately stepped forward to support Kakashi and escort him away.
As Sakumo pondered the implications, an elderly figure with a pipe in his mouth and a cane in hand approached—Hiruzen Sarutobi. Though he was a retired Hokage, he still made appearances when necessary, especially in matters of great importance.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Hiruzen asked.
Sakumo glanced at him but remained silent. Yet, silence itself was an answer.
The masked man had every opportunity to kill Kakashi, just as he had done with the other Jinchūriki by abandoning them in the alternate dimension to die slowly. However, after taking Kakashi's left eye, he had ultimately let him go.
That alone was a critical piece of intelligence.
A gentle breeze swept through as the two Hokage stood side by side.
Whoosh!
A golden blur suddenly appeared behind them.
Kneeling on one knee, Minato Namikaze's face was filled with remorse as he bowed slightly.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Hokage. The archives have been tampered with. As ANBU Commander, I bear full responsibility!"
The archives contained Konoha's most classified documents, including the Forbidden Jutsu Scrolls left behind by the Second Hokage.
"Is the Scroll of Seals still there?" Sakumo asked.
"Yes, but it has been accessed." Minato's voice was heavy with concern.
First, Kakashi's Sharingan was stolen. Then, the intruder infiltrated the archives.
"They came prepared, and they were methodical. Fourth Hokage, I will review the Scroll of Seals myself. By analyzing the disturbances in the files, we might deduce which jutsu they were after. That could give us insight into their next move."
Hiruzen shifted slightly. Though his body had aged, he wasn't just here to observe. He could still contribute to Konoha.
"Lord Hokage, the enemy is proficient in space-time ninjutsu. Such techniques, while mysterious, are not without traces. Please allow me to search the village for residual spatial distortions."
Minato was determined to use his expertise to uncover any lingering clues that could lead them to the masked man.
Sakumo did not refuse. He simply nodded, giving his silent approval.
...
Shortly after, the intelligence gathered by Sakumo was relayed to Kakuzu.
"Heh, Twin Kamui Obito… things are starting to get interesting."
Kamui was already an overpowered ability. In the original timeline, Obito had hesitated to reclaim his left eye due to his lingering emotions for Kakashi.
But in this life, was his attachment to Kakashi truly weaker? Perhaps not. The real reason was likely that he had encountered Kakuzu, someone who had shown him the true gap between himself and true powerhouses.
Kakuzu had not allowed Obito to use his Kamui to manipulate the ninja world from the shadows. Instead, he had forced Obito to confront his own weakness, driving him to seek more power. Reclaiming his left eye was probably just a last resort.
"The emotions in this world of fiction are indeed complicated. But I must admit, your move was quite brilliant. Let's see how you handle me today."
A third Rinnegan eye on Kakuzu's forehead slowly opened.
Yomotsu Hirasaka activated.
Kakuzu tore open the fabric of space and stepped through.
...
A few days later.
Land of Lightning.
A small island under Kumogakure's jurisdiction, where the sea and sky met in breathtaking harmony. It was also home to the Falls of Truth, a place where one could confront their inner darkness. But more than that, the island itself was a colossal, living turtle.
Today, black smoke curled into the sky from its shell.
A towering figure, the Eight-Tails, lay battered on the ground. Several of its tails had been severed, and its massive body was covered in deep wounds and bloodstains.
"B… Can you still hold on?"
Standing beside him, the Fourth Raikage, A, had already activated his Lightning Release Armor. However, unlike his usual reckless approach, he now stood alongside the Eight-Tails, adopting a more cautious stance.
"Damn it, idiot! Big bro, just look at Little Eight! Do you think I'm doing any better? Oh, yeah!" Despite the dire situation, Killer B remained as eccentric as ever.
"B! You idiot! How do you still have the mood to joke around?!" The Fourth Raikage roared in frustration. If their opponent weren't so overwhelmingly strong, he would've rushed over and beaten some sense into Killer B himself.
"You two brothers, cut the banter! If you have time to talk, send a signal for reinforcements already! The three of us alone aren't enough to handle this guy!" The Eight-Tails, Gyūki, braced itself with its arms, visibly struggling to stay upright.
Sweat dripped from the Fourth Raikage's forehead. He knew Gyūki was right—that was the most rational course of action. But...
"Even if we call for reinforcements, will they make any difference against this guy?!" His heart sank as he gazed at the towering figure before him.
A colossal giant, dozens of meters tall, loomed over them. Its entire body radiated a deep blue hue, with wings sprouting from its back and clad in an imposing suit of armor. A massive katana rested at its waist, its form resembling the legendary demon gods from their myths.
And in this era, such a figure had a name of its own—
Susanoo!
Atop the giant's forehead crystal stood the masked man. His mask was no longer the single-tomoe swirl design of before but now bore the pattern of the Rinnegan in both eyes. Arms crossed, he gazed down at the A–B Combo with an air of absolute confidence.
"Eight-Tails, you've been the hardest of all the Tailed Beasts I've attempted to capture. But today, no matter how much power you wield, you won't escape."
As the masked man spoke, countless chakra fluctuations erupted around them. One by one, hidden shinobi emerged from the shadows, completely surrounding the A–B Combo and the Eight-Tails.
"Damn it! Raikage, what the hell were you thinking?! I told you to call for reinforcements, and you didn't! Now look—our enemy's reinforcements have arrived instead!" Gyūki fumed, scolding the Fourth Raikage relentlessly.
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists in frustration. "Damn those Kirigakure bastards! Instead of staying in their own village, why the hell are they working with this masked man?! And they're even willing to die for him!"
Among the group of Kirigakure shinobi, the Fourth Raikage's sharp eyes caught sight of Karatachi Yagura.
Yagura walked forward, his weapon in hand, swaying slightly as he moved. For a brief moment, his eyes revealed the distinct pattern of the Sharingan. That was the moment the Fourth Raikage finally realized the truth.
"So, the rumors about the Fourth Mizukage being controlled were true!"
"What exactly are you after?!" the Fourth Raikage roared, his voice brimming with fury.
The masked man paused, closing his eyes in brief contemplation before reopening them. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun ominously in both eyes.
"This false world needs to end. It must be destroyed and rebuilt anew. In the world I will create, everyone will achieve their true dreams. At last, this cruel shinobi world will know true peace."
His voice was fervent, filled with an almost religious conviction. However, his words were met with blank stares from his opponents.
Killer B: "Damn it, idiot, I don't wanna dream in some fake-ass world!"
Gyūki: "Is this guy out of his damn mind?!"
Fourth Raikage: "I have no idea what the hell you're talking about."
Their unexpected reactions carried a hint of disrespect, but the masked man paid no heed. Explaining ideals to brutes like them was no different from playing music to a deaf audience. All that mattered was that they would soon enter his dream world, whether they understood it or not.
"Since you don't understand, let me put it in terms you will." He extended a hand, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing with a sinister red light. "I am declaring the Fourth Great Ninja War. This false world must be remade!"
The word "war" was something even the most reckless of men understood. Like a sledgehammer, it struck the Fourth Raikage's heart with immense weight.
He had experienced the Third Great Ninja War firsthand and knew all too well the horrors it entailed. Even as someone infamous for his hot-headed nature, he hesitated at the prospect of another full-scale war.
Even when tensions with Konoha had reached their peak, both sides had exercised restraint, avoiding outright conflict in the end.
"You bastard! Just how many lives are you planning to sacrifice?!"
The masked man raised his arms, his expression as calm as ever.
"Those who die in war will find salvation in the new world. Those who survive will see their deepest wishes come true. This small sacrifice is necessary. No one can stop me."
His unwavering tone left no room for doubt. The world he envisioned was an absolute certainty in his mind—because in that world, he would reunite with the person he longed for the most.
"Is that so?" A calm voice echoed through the air as a dark rift tore open the space before them.
"Ka… Kakuzu-sama! You're finally here!" The Fourth Raikage's voice carried a hint of relief. His long-awaited reinforcement had arrived at last.
"Damn it, idiot, look at Kakuzu-sama beat you down!"
"Finally, Kakuzu's here!"
The moment the towering figure stepped onto the battlefield, the A–B Combo and Gyūki regained their confidence. Only the masked man remained unmoved, regarding Kakuzu with an indifferent gaze.
To him, Kakuzu was nothing special.
"Heh, how long has it been since I last put you in your place? And now look at you, so arrogant that you think you can start the Fourth Great Ninja War by yourself?" Kakuzu smirked. "Tell me, Obito, do you really think you're worthy?"
The moment his name was spoken, the masked man's pupils trembled violently.
"Obito."
That name... a name he had buried long ago, one he had believed the world had forgotten.
Even in that intimate dimension where only he and Kakashi could enter, Kakashi had never once uttered that name.
And yet, Kakuzu had called him by it.
Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan darkened with a storm of emotions.
"You… you shouldn't exist in this world anymore!"
His arrogant declaration was met with a knowing smile from Kakuzu.
"Tch, so now that you've closed off your little 'couple's space' and gone back to being single, you think you're tough?"
"Enough talk. You're not worthy to be my final opponent. Of course, I know you won't accept that." Kakuzu cracked his knuckles. "So let's settle this the old-fashioned way—with our fists."
He had already devised a strategy to deal with Obito. Since Kamui was essentially a game-breaking ability, he would counter it with an equally broken method of his own.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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