Night cloaked Konoha in uneasy stillness, broken only by distant clashes of steel and chakra. On a high rooftop, Obito crouched like a shadow, his single Sharingan eye fixed southeast. Below, a terrifying, cat-like demon ghosted across the village.
"A Two-Tails Jinchūriki?" Obito muttered, his tone edged with surprise. "Still alive, after all."
Black Zetsu slid from the darkness beside him, White Zetsu following with a grin.
"Obito, it seems Kumogakure came to the Chūnin Exams for more than pageantry. They're after the Nine-Tails' host."
Obito's lip curled. "Typical Cloud behavior."
"Shall we interfere?" White Zetsu asked, voice almost playful.
"No," Obito said sharply. "The Third Hokage will move to stop them. We can't reveal ourselves yet."
His gaze shifted northwest, where a red giant loomed. "Let's go. I want a closer look at the Uchiha's Mangekyō."
Black Zetsu's voice dropped to a low hiss. "Without the Third Hokage's presence, Danzō will struggle to withstand that power alone."
"It doesn't matter," Obito replied, space beginning to ripple around him. "If necessary, I'll step in."
---
Lightning Strikes
Across the village, Neji Hyūga's body erupted with white-blue light.
"Lightning Release: Chakra Mode," he whispered, and electricity raced across his skin. His muscles thrummed with new speed and power.
In an instant he flashed past Might Guy and closed on Kakashi. Both men froze, eyes widening.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode…" Kakashi murmured, startled. Few shinobi in the world could master the Raikage's signature technique.
The mask hiding Neji's young face made him even more formidable, an unknown threat the mind magnified. Had his pursuers realized he was only six, their fear might have softened. But the mask kept their imagination—and their caution—alive.
Kakashi steadied himself, a sharp screech filling the air as blue sparks danced in his right hand.
"Chidori!"
Two streaks of lightning collided faster than the eye could follow.
Zzztt!
Neji grimaced as Kakashi's strike grazed his shoulder, tearing fabric and drawing blood. Even in Lightning Mode, he hadn't expected Kakashi to match his speed. Kakashi staggered back, chest heaving, his own chakra nearly spent.
Guy rushed to his friend's side. "Are you all right?"
"I'll live," Kakashi rasped, clutching his abdomen where blood seeped through his vest. "Don't let Naruto fall into their hands."
Guy's eyes hardened. "Understood."
Green steam erupted around him as he flared open the Sixth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates. The air shook with his aura.
Neji's eyelids twitched—he had no desire to clash to the death with Might Guy. He thrust out a palm.
An invisible shockwave slammed into Guy, hurling him several meters back. The Tenseigan's repulsive force required no seals and no warning. Guy skidded to a halt, fists still clenched, preparing the devastating Morning Peacock.
But Neji only smiled beneath his mask. With a flick of his other hand he yanked Naruto toward him using a sudden gravitational pull, shielding himself with the boy's body.
Guy froze, fury momentarily breaking.
"Our fight ends here," Neji declared, voice cold. "I'm taking the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
Lightning wrapped him like a comet tail as he launched skyward, streaking past Konoha's defensive lines in a blur of white.
---
The Pursuit
Yugito, seeing Neji succeed, dismissed her own tailed-beast form and bounded after him.
"After them!" cried Maruboshi Kosuke, the eternal genin, already leaping forward with Body Flicker speed. The kidnapping of the Nine-Tails' host ignited Konoha's fury; squads of shinobi swarmed in hot pursuit.
But Neji barely noticed. His Lightning Mode gave him a near-unmatched velocity. Though not yet at the Fourth Raikage's legendary speed, he was far beyond the reach of ordinary ninja.
Then his Byakugan caught something ahead—a chakra signature so vast it eclipsed all others, even the Raikage's. His stomach tightened.
The Third Hokage himself…
If Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off, escape would be impossible. Worse, Neji's chakra reserves had dwindled to barely thirty percent after the night's battles. Even Kosuke and the other pursuers might overwhelm him if he faltered.
He tightened his grip on the unconscious Naruto. Nine-Tails, I need you now.
---
Within the Seal
Deep inside Naruto's mind, the Kyūbi opened one baleful eye at Neji's plea. The great fox gave a low, mocking growl and closed it again, silent and unmoved.
Neji's heart clenched. Nine-Tails, didn't we agree on this?
But no answer came.
---
Uchiha Grounds: Thunder and Flame
Elsewhere, the Uchiha compound blazed with battle. A colossal crimson Susanoo carved through ranks of enemy shinobi, its greatsword leaving arcs of death. Dozens of Konoha ninja lay scattered, Jonin barely holding their ground while ANBU and Root agents fell back in horror.
Veteran Uchiha with three-tomoe Sharingan fought fiercely, buying time for their clan to retreat. But reinforcements for the Hokage faction kept arriving. The defenders' line thinned.
Uchiha Fugaku, eyes burning like twin embers, clasped his hands. His Susanoo pulsed as lightning danced across its armor.
"Lightning? A new form?" Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes, recognizing the rare awakening of a unique Mangekyō ability.
"Takemikazuchi!" Fugaku roared.
Azure lightning exploded across Susanoo's frame, the sky itself trembling as bolts hammered the battlefield. Screams echoed as Root operatives and ANBU alike were incinerated in divine thunder. Only Danzō remained, leaning on his cane amid a field of charred corpses.
Fugaku's gaze sharpened. This man had orchestrated the Uchiha's downfall. Tonight, he would pay.
Danzo smirked coldly. "So, you think you can kill me?"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
Emerald wind orbs slammed into Susanoo, bursting with howling force—but the giant's armor held.
Undeterred, Danzō bit his thumb and slammed his palm to the ground. With a roar of smoke, a massive chimera-like beast appeared: Baku, the vacuum demon.
Fugaku leapt skyward, chakra condensing around him. Twin blades of pure energy formed in Susanoo's hands, lightning crawling over their edges. With a hawk's cry he dove, striking with both swords.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall! Water Release: Water Wall!" Root operatives frantically layered defenses. Stone and water barriers shattered like paper under the colossal strike. The ground quaked, dust and steam choking the air.
A sudden gale cut through the haze.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!" Danzō and Baku combined their powers, hurricane-force winds battering Susanoo's armor until a fissure cracked across its chest. Danzō allowed himself a thin smile.
But Fugaku's left eye spun faster. A black flame ignited across Danzō's torso.
"Amaterasu!"
Danzō screamed as the inextinguishable fire consumed him, collapsing in agony. Fugaku exhaled, victory within reach.
Then a low voice echoed. "Four Purple Flame Formation!"
A violet barrier surged up, encasing them both. Danzō stood unharmed atop Baku, though the transplanted Sharingan in his right eye had turned lifeless gray.
"Izanagi," Fugaku whispered, realization dawning.
"Indeed," Danzō said coolly. "A forbidden Uchiha art, made righteous in my hands."
Space distorted beside them. Obito stepped through the ripple, single eye gleaming crimson behind his mask. Fugaku stared at the newcomer, dread and understanding colliding.
---
To Be Continued…
patreon (Obito_uchiha)