Chapter 286: Teacher vs. Student
Though Obito was significantly stronger than he had been in the original story, it made little difference in a battle that would be decided by speed. While the Flying Thunder God did not have the same absorption ability as Kamui, it was far superior in terms of pure, instantaneous movement.
Against Kyosuke, he had been able to use his Susanoo to buy himself time. But against Minato, that tactic was useless. Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God, and the combat style he had developed to complement it, was far more refined than Kyosuke's. Obito had learned this the hard way in their initial exchange.
He produced a chain from somewhere within his cloak and began to circle his former teacher, the chain rattling ominously.
"Kamui!"
The moment Minato's gaze shifted, Obito unleashed his dōjutsu, trapping him in the warping vortex of space. But he knew it was a futile gesture. He was betting on one thing: that Minato would not abandon the battlefield, that he would not allow him to continue to control the Nine-Tails. And in this relatively small area, with a limited number of markers, he could predict where he would appear.
Your sentimentality... that will be your downfall, Sensei!
Just as Minato teleported to one of his kunai, Obito, who had been waiting for this very moment, reached out and touched his body.
"It's over..."
But as the spatial vortex began to form, a faint smile appeared on Minato's lips.
"Just as I thought."
"What?" Before Obito could react, the world around him shifted. It was the unmistakable sensation of the Flying Thunder God.
"Your ability is powerful," Minato said, his voice calm, "far more so than my own. But it has one fatal flaw."
"Squish." In the instant Obito's eyes widened in shock, Minato appeared before him, a kunai driven deep into his chest.
"...and that is," he continued, "that when you use your ability, you can only open a specific spatial barrier. If I use my own space-time jutsu first, I cannot be absorbed."
He placed his other hand on Obito's chest.
"Contract Seal: Release!"
A series of strange, black markings spread across Obito's body, and he felt his connection to the Nine-Tails sever.
"...So that's it. You didn't kill me because you wanted to free the Nine-Tails."
His azure Susanoo flared, and he looked at the retreating Minato, a look of pure, unadulterated hatred in his eyes. "This time, I will let it go," he hissed. "But next time, I will destroy Konoha. And that day is not far off..."
With a final, parting glare, he vanished.
"A dangerous ideology... a strange ability... this man will be a great enemy to Konoha in the future," Minato whispered to the empty air.
"Kushina..."
His own form flickered and was gone.
On the outskirts of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other village shinobi were engaged in a desperate battle against the rampaging Nine-Tails.
"ROAR!"
A massive Tailed Beast Bomb formed in its mouth and shot toward the village.
"NO!!!" Hiruzen roared in despair.
Just then, a figure wreathed in a blue, steam-like aura appeared in the path of the attack.
"Eight Inner Gates, Seventh Gate of Shock: Open!!!"
"Daytime Tiger!!!"
A massive tiger made of pure, compressed air slammed into the Tailed Beast Bomb from below, the force of the impact sending it soaring into the sky.
"BOOM!"
The sky flashed, and a deafening roar echoed through the village. But before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, another Tailed Beast Bomb, just as large as the first, shot from the Nine-Tails' mouth, smashing through the village gates and heading straight for the Hokage monument.
"What?! He can use an attack of that level in rapid succession?!"
Might Duy, his body wracked with pain, knew that even if he were to open the Eighth Gate, he would not be in time. He could only watch in horror as the black sphere of destruction sped toward the faces of the Hokage.
But at the last possible second, a series of black, seal-like markings appeared on the monument, and the Tailed Beast Bomb, as if sinking into a swamp, was absorbed and vanished.
"Just in time," Minato said, a look of relief on his face as he stood atop his own stone likeness.
He appeared above the Nine-Tails and, with a single hand sign, slammed his palm on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A giant toad, Gamabunta, appeared in a puff of smoke and, with the force of its massive body, pinned the Nine-Tails to the ground.
"Whoa! This one's a big one," Bunta said, a pipe dangling from his mouth.
"I know. I'm counting on you," Minato replied.
From his vantage point on Bunta's head, he could see the distant battle Kyosuke was engaged in. It seems he has things under control. Now, it's just you and me... Nine-Tails.
Just then, an Anbu arrived, carrying Kushina in his arms. And in her arms was the crying Naruto.
"Minato... what are you...?" Hiruzen began, a sense of dread washing over him.
"Lord Third," Minato said, his hands already forming a series of hand signs, "I leave the Nine-Tails to you."
"Minato!!!"
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