161-165

Chapter 161: Giving Up 

Shindai was trying to pull out the iron sand sphere. 

After several attempts, Shindai gave up. "The enemy must have fixed the iron sand sphere in place. I can't pull it out." 

Kakashi noticed a flash of fire from the cave and warned, "Someone's coming out! Get ready for battle!" 

Shindai thought for a moment, then told Kakashi and Obito, "You two handle that Jonin. I'll figure out a way to rescue Rin." 

Kakashi frowned, asking, "You're going in?" 

Shindai took a deep breath and replied, "No, anyone who goes in is an idiot. Just leave it to me, alright? I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve!" 

The fiery light was already upon them. Kakashi immediately drew his White Light Blade, blocking the assailant's twin blades. 

"Obito!" 

Obito threw several kunai from the side towards the fiery figure, who retreated to dodge. 

"Shindai, it's all yours!" 

Kakashi called out to Shindai before he and Obito launched their attack on the fiery figure. 

Shindai dropped from the tree trunk to the ground, his hands quickly forming seals. 

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Great Wave!" 

Shindai used magnetism to manipulate the iron sand beneath the ground, causing it to erupt and form a massive, ocean-like wave of iron sand that surged towards the cave. 

Since Rin Nohara was currently protected by the iron sand sphere, Shindai's plan was to fill the entire cave with iron sand and then pull out the sphere containing Rin. 

This way, he wouldn't have to risk going into the cave and encountering traps, Rin could be safely rescued, and as long as he kept an eye on Obito, there shouldn't be any issues. 

Meanwhile, Obito and Kakashi were locked in an intense battle with the fiery figure. 

The fiery figure was starting to get flustered. How could these brats be so strong? Not only were they powerful, but their teamwork was excellent. 

Whenever the fiery figure tried to use Earth Release ninjutsu, Kakashi would interrupt him, and then he'd immediately have to deal with Obito's Fire Release ninjutsu, leaving him almost no time to breathe. 

At this point, forget about luring that spiky-haired kid into the cave; the fiery figure himself might be in danger. 

It was during this moment of distraction that Kakashi seized his chance. 

Kakashi delivered a powerful flying high kick, connecting with the fiery figure's chin and sending him flying into the air. 

Obito leaped high above, his hands forming seals. 

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique!" 

Uchiha Obito unleashed four fire dragons at the fiery figure, attacking simultaneously from the front, back, left, and right. 

Unable to change position in mid-air, the fiery figure managed to block the front and left dragons, but couldn't defend against the right and back ones, forced to endure the hits. 

The fire dragons struck the fiery figure's back and right arm, the searing pain contorting his face. 

And Kakashi was already waiting at the fiery figure's landing spot. 

"Chidori!" 

Lightning crackled in Kakashi's right hand. 

The fiery figure gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and swung the blade in his left hand at Kakashi. 

Kakashi used his White Light Blade to block the fiery figure's blade, and the Chidori, aimed straight for the chest, pierced through the fiery figure's torso. 

With the combined efforts of Kakashi and Obito, the fiery figure was defeated with almost no difficulty. 

Meanwhile, Shindai's iron sand had completely filled the cave, and the iron sand sphere protecting Rin Nohara glided out along with the massive amount of sand. 

Shindai dispelled the iron sand sphere, and Rin Nohara appeared, perfectly unharmed, though a little dizzy from being tumbled around inside the sphere. 

"Rin!" 

Seeing Rin safe and sound, Obito was overjoyed and ran towards her. 

Kakashi, a smile hidden beneath his mask, sheathed his White Light Blade behind his back and walked towards Shindai and Rin. 

But in a spot no one noticed, the two blades tied to the fiery figure's wrists floated into the air. 

These blades were picked up by the camouflaged Black Zetsu, using Oishi's Ninja Art: Camouflage Concealment. 

Black Zetsu's target wasn't Rin Nohara; Shindai and the others could rescue her all they wanted. His true target was only Obito. 

Black Zetsu aimed at Obito's back, as he ran towards Rin, and Shindai's side—both blind spots for Obito and Shindai. 

Black Zetsu intended to heavily injure Obito, then, unnoticed by everyone, abduct him. 

And the reason he targeted Shindai was because Shindai's gaze had been fixed on Obito, meaning he might be able to stop Black Zetsu. 

Kakashi and Rin had both let their guard down, so there was no need to worry about them. 

Black Zetsu forcefully hurled the two blades towards Obito and Shindai. 

Because Shindai's eyes were fixed on Obito, when he saw the blades hurtling towards himself and Obito, it was already a critical moment with little time to react. 

Shindai raised his right arm, manipulating the magnetic field he'd previously imbued Obito with, forcefully flinging Obito away. At the same time, he activated a device on Obito's necklace, causing a summoning scroll to pop out, and iron sand appeared, forming a protective sphere around Obito. 

As for the other blade, because Shindai had raised his right arm, it pierced into Shindai's right armpit. 

The sudden turn of events stunned Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and even Black Zetsu. 

Black Zetsu stared in disbelief at Shindai, who coughed up a large amount of blood and collapsed. 

Is this guy crazy?! 

Given the choice between two, he chooses not to dodge himself, but helps the other person dodge? 

"Damn it! I got careless!" 

An enraged Kakashi formed seals and once again conjured Chidori, charging towards Black Zetsu. 

Black Zetsu intended to continue using Ninja Art: Camouflage Concealment to turn invisible. Shindai was either dead or incapacitated, so he definitely wouldn't interfere anymore. 

Therefore, as long as he remained hidden, waiting for Obito to emerge from the iron sand sphere, the possibility of gravely injuring and abducting Obito was still high. 

However, Oishi's Ninja Art: Camouflage Concealment had a process for becoming invisible; it wasn't instantaneous. 

Kakashi rushed towards Black Zetsu at lightning speed. Although Oishi, controlled by Black Zetsu, was in a semi-transparent state, the outline displayed by Kakashi's single-lens eyepiece didn't disappear, and Kakashi's Chidori-infused hand smoothly pierced through Oishi's heart. 

Black Zetsu gnashed his teeth in fury. Oishi's invisibility jutsu was perfectly suited to his ability to suppress his presence. 

Without Oishi, Black Zetsu, who had no physical form, needed to attach himself to others to move. No one else was as suitable as Oishi, and the difficulty of sneaking in to gravely injure and abduct Obito was now much higher, and he might even expose his existence. 

His plan hadn't fully begun yet, and he absolutely couldn't reveal his existence. 

If he accidentally exposed himself and became a target, it would be a huge problem for Black Zetsu. 

Besides, Uchiha Madara had a backup plan. At most, he'd just get a few snide remarks from Madara when he returned. There was no need to take such a huge risk. 

Moreover, Black Zetsu couldn't see anything special about Obito at all. He felt very ordinary, nothing impressive. 

Black Zetsu thought Uchiha Madara must be senile to consider Obito a talent. 

With that thought, Black Zetsu decided to give up on Obito. 

Black Zetsu transformed back into a gooey, black, mud-like substance, dropping from Oishi's pant leg to the ground, then sinking into the earth and vanishing. 

It seems like things really took a turn there, didn't they? What do you think will happen now that Shindai is down and Black Zetsu has retreated? 

Chapter 162: The Atmosphere's Just Right! 

With Rin Nohara right there by Shindai's side, she immediately started emergency first aid for him. 

Kakashi, having taken down Oishi, rushed over to Rin and anxiously asked, "Rin, how's Shindai doing?" 

Rin's expression was super serious. "The blade went in really deep, and he's bleeding a lot. Shindai's in critical condition, we need to treat him urgently!" 

Suddenly, there was an explosive sound. Obito used a Fire Style Jutsu to forcefully blow open the Iron Sand Sphere, scorching his right hand in the process. 

But Obito didn't care about that right now; he frantically searched for Shindai. 

Seeing Shindai covered in blood with a blade still sticking out of his right armpit, Obito's expression gradually turned to horror, and his Sharingan eyes dilated to their limits. 

Rin called out to Obito, "Obito, don't just stand there! Hurry and help!" 

However, Obito couldn't hear anything right now. His vision seemed to be stained with a layer of blood-red. 

Kakashi noticed Obito frozen in place. Just as he was about to speak, he spotted a large number of Stone Ninja in the nearby forest. 

This was the Stone Ninja unit coming to reinforce Magiru, Hokage, and Oishi. 

"Obito! Get ready to fight!" 

Kakashi formed his Chidori. His right eye's monocular lens locked on, roughly estimating nearly twenty enemies. 

"Stone Ninja, huh? This is troublesome. Wake up and fight!" 

But Obito was still in a daze, his mind constantly flashing back to all the things he'd experienced with Shindai. 

Just as the Stone Ninja swarmed in, Obito let out a sorrowful roar. 

"AHHHHH!" 

Two lines of bloody tears flowed from the corners of Obito's eyes. His two-tomoe Sharingan immediately evolved into a three-tomoe Sharingan, and those three tomoe constantly rotated, forming a unique pattern. 

Obito turned and charged towards the Stone Ninja. A barrage of attacks headed for him. 

"Obito! Dodge!" 

But Obito had no intention of dodging. 

Kakashi's face changed. "This idiot, is he trying to get himself killed?!" 

Kakashi was some distance from Obito and couldn't provide immediate support. 

Then, something incredible happened to Kakashi. The Stone Ninja's attacks actually passed right through Obito's body! 

It wasn't just Kakashi who found it unbelievable; even Shindai was dumbfounded. 

That's right, Shindai was perfectly fine. 

If he could imbue Obito with magnetism, why wouldn't he do the same for himself? 

When the blade that Black Zetsu threw was about to hit him, Shindai used the magnetism on his body to slightly adjust the blade's direction. 

The blade only pierced through the clothing under Shindai's armpit. 

While his skin was scratched a little, at most, it was just a minor superficial wound. 

As for all that blood he spat out, it was just red paint, believe it! 

And Shindai did all this just to prevent Madara Uchiha from noticing him. 

After all, he pretty much blatantly messed up Madara's plan to take Obito. Madara might hold a grudge, and even though he's old, he still has that sneaky Black Zetsu by his side. 

Maybe Madara would get so mad he'd tell Black Zetsu to figure out a way to off him, you know? 

So, when Rin was about to save him, Shindai told her to pretend he was seriously injured. 

Even though Rin didn't know why, she still went along with it. 

When Kakashi arrived, Shindai gave him a few winks, and Kakashi totally got the message. 

If there was one opponent Shindai absolutely did not want to face, it was Black Zetsu. 

Because that guy, Black Zetsu, is just full of nasty tricks. Shindai figured his "innocent" self couldn't outsmart him. 

So Shindai thought he'd fake a serious injury to make Madara think he was just some insignificant little scrub and wouldn't pay attention to him. 

But what sent shivers down Shindai's spine was that, as he lay on the ground, he saw a gooey, black puddle of sludge fall out of Oishi's pant leg after Kakashi's Chidori pierced him. 

Originally, Shindai thought Oishi was Madara Uchiha's minion or controlled by his Sharingan, but he never expected it was actually Black Zetsu possessing him! 

Shindai always thought Black Zetsu would only make his official appearance after Obito was tricked into becoming Madara's successor. He never imagined Black Zetsu would show up so early, and even possess a Stone Ninja. 

This both shocked and immensely relieved Shindai. Luckily, he "played dead" just now. Otherwise, after messing up their plan so badly, Black Zetsu would be obsessing day and night about how to kill him! 

It seems not only Madara values Obito, but Black Zetsu does too, making that manipulative old schemer Black Zetsu personally step in. 

He'll have to be careful going forward, always guarding against Black Zetsu's sneaky attacks on Obito. 

But... Shindai never, ever expected Obito to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan because of him! 

Since Shindai was faking it, Kakashi's earlier "Wake up and fight!" wasn't actually directed at Obito, but at Shindai. 

And when Rin initially told Obito to hurry and help, she was also trying to tell Obito that Shindai was fine. 

Shindai suddenly shivered. 

Obito's first Sharingan awakening was because of him, and now his Mangekyo Sharingan awakening was also because of him. 

The condition for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan is usually when an Uchiha experiences immense negative emotions, like witnessing the death of someone they deeply love, generating a special chakra to awaken it. 

Someone deeply loved... No way? Obito loves Rin, doesn't he? Could it be... him?! 

"I'll make you all pay for Shindai's death!" 

"Fire Style! Blast Wave Wild Dance!" 

Obito combined his Mangekyo Sharingan's visual prowess with his Fire Style Jutsu. First, he used Kamui to warp the surrounding space and create a storm, then he breathed out rotating fire from his mouth using Fire Style. 

The swirling storm combined with the rotating fire formed a massive, rapidly spinning flame that swept towards the Stone Ninja with incredible speed and range. 

Four Stone Ninja instantly perished in the flames. 

Shindai, Kakashi, and Rin watched in utter shock as Obito went on a rampage. 

Rin pursed her lips and looked at Shindai, whose eyes were wide as saucers, saying, "If Obito finds out you were faking... he's gonna be really mad, isn't he?" 

Kakashi stated with certainty, "Absolutely furious. I just saw him crying bloody tears from grief!" 

Shindai stiffly turned his neck to Kakashi and Rin. "Well, with the atmosphere like this... should I just, uh, die for a bit?" 

Kakashi and Rin both "erred" for a good while before finally blurting out, "If you don't 'die'... it looks like this is going to be really hard to explain away!" 

Rin saw Obito seemingly losing his momentum and quickly urged, "You two, hurry and help Obito fight! He looks like he's struggling!" 

Shindai and Kakashi glanced over at Obito. 

Since Obito had just awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, he wasn't skilled with it yet, and it had now reverted back to the three-tomoe Sharingan. 

Shindai roared, "Obito! Don't be afraid! I'm coming to help you! Anyone who dares to hurt Obito, I'll freaking kill them!" 

Hearing Shindai's voice, Obito looked at him in disbelief. 

Alive? Not dead? How does he look... so full of life?! 

Chapter 163: You're Not Pretty, You're Not Gentle Either 

Obito, who had thought Shindai was dead, found that not only was Shindai alive, but his voice was full of vigor, leaving Obito dumbfounded, staring intently at Shindai. 

Shindai summoned Kannazuki, controlling her body to block the kunai that were flying towards Obito. 

Before Shindai could show off in front of Obito, several uniquely shaped kunai landed in front of the Stone Shinobi. 

Swish! 

Minato Namikaze made a flashy entrance. 

Swish, swish, swish! 

With every "swish," another Stone Shinobi's life vanished. 

Soon, all the Stone Shinobi were dealt with by Minato Namikaze. 

Minato scanned Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Shindai, smiling as he said, "It's good that you're all okay. I'm glad I made it in time." 

Obito was still staring intently at Shindai, and Shindai felt a chill run down his spine from Obito's Three-Tomoe Sharingan. 

Shindai forced out a "brilliant" smile and gave Obito a thumbs-up: "Yo, Obito, congratulations! You've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan! That's awesome, you're amazing~" 

Minato looked at Obito in surprise. "Obito, you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?" 

Obito nodded, then asked Shindai, "Why?" 

Shindai scratched his face, chuckling dryly, "Well, I was just thinking of faking an injury to see if there were any other hidden enemies around, you know? That Stone Shinobi could turn invisible, so maybe there were other Stone Shinobi hiding too, right? I didn't mean to fool you. Rin actually wanted to tell you I was fine earlier, but who knew..." 

Obito ran towards Shindai. 

Shindai was about to move to escape, but then he thought better of it and stopped. 

Ah, whatever. Obito was so sad just now. Getting a beating might make him feel better. If he doesn't vent, it'd be bad if he went dark. 

Obito crashed directly into Shindai. Before Shindai could even cry out in pain, Obito hugged him tightly, his voice choked with tears. "I... I thought you were dead... I'm so glad... so glad you're not dead." 

Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara smiled as they watched Obito and Shindai. 

Shindai was certainly moved to see Obito so worried about him, but emotional as he was, Shindai became even more certain of his own suspicions. 

Shindai, with a subtle expression, gently advised, "Obito, you know, my dream is to have two wives who are both pretty and gentle. Even putting your gender aside, you're not pretty, and you're not gentle either! You don't fit my type! How about... you reconsider Rin?" 

Kakashi and Rin Nohara's smiles immediately vanished without a trace, their dead-fish eyes appearing right on cue. 

Minato Namikaze's smile also turned into one of无奈. 

Obito released Shindai, stared at Shindai's face for a few seconds, and then— 

"Go to hell, you jerk!" 

Obito delivered a fierce headbutt, his forehead colliding with Shindai's. 

BUMP! 

Both Obito and Shindai became dizzy simultaneously. After spinning in place a few times, they landed on their butts. 

A little while later, Rin Nohara was tending to the wounds of Obito, Shindai, and Kakashi. 

"Shindai! Stop moving!" 

Rin Nohara was trying to bandage the knife wound on Shindai's right chest, but Shindai kept poking the angry Obito's back with his finger, making it impossible for Rin to properly dress the wound. 

Shindai raised his right arm, letting Rin bandage it, but his mouth wouldn't stop. "Obito, don't be mad, okay? I didn't pretend to die on purpose. The situation was critical, and I also wanted to see if there were any other enemies around. I was doing it for the team!" 

"Hmph! You have no idea what I'm angry about!" 

Obito was truly furious with Shindai. He considered Shindai his best friend, and Shindai actually thought he was trying to get him! 

Wasn't Rin good enough? The person he loved would always be Rin. There was no way he could like anyone else, and definitely not a man! 

Kakashi asked Minato Namikaze, "Sensei, what are you doing here?" 

Minato explained, "The Stone Shinobi Jonin, Dosu Nin, led 50 elite Stone Shinobi to attack the Land of Fire. Our Leaf's frontline defense force, led by Leaf Jonin Mimura Hamaki, was defeated, with only 4 people remaining. I rushed there, killed all those Stone Shinobi, and got a piece of intel: a 20-person Stone Shinobi squad was heading in your direction to reinforce three Stone Shinobi and then guard Kannabi Bridge. 

I guessed that one of those three Stone Shinobi might be the one you killed with Chidori earlier, Kakashi, so I rushed over immediately." 

Shindai turned his head and asked, "Lord Minato, are you leaving again now?" 

Minato shook his head and said, "No, I'm staying. From now on, I'll go with you to blow up Kannabi Bridge!" 

Shindai was thrilled: "That's great!" 

With Minato Namikaze here, there was no need to worry about Obito's safety. Now, all they had to do was blow up Kannabi Bridge, and the war would truly come to an end. 

As long as the war ended, he wouldn't have to worry about Obito being captured and brainwashed by Uchiha Madara. 

"Hmph!" 

Just as Shindai was overflowing with happiness, Obito let out a heavy snort through his nose. 

Obito couldn't stand to see Shindai happy right now. Didn't he see that Obito wasn't happy? Why wasn't Shindai trying to cheer him up even more?! 

"Oh, come on, Obito, don't be upset! These aren't big deals. Look, you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan! The Mangekyo Sharingan, wow! The strongest eyes in the Uchiha clan! Apart from you, there aren't any other Uchiha clan members who have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan right now... Uh, well, maybe not necessarily, but anyway, you're super amazing in the Uchiha clan now! Who would dare look down on you? Right?" 

Shindai suddenly remembered Itachi Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha. Shisui the Teleporter's name was quite famous right now, but Shindai hadn't met Shisui Uchiha yet and didn't know if Shisui Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. 

And there was Fugaku Uchiha too; it wasn't clear if he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan either. 

If both of them had, then besides Uchiha Madara, Obito would be the third person in the Uchiha clan to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan. 

Hearing Shindai say this, Obito's mood brightened considerably. 

Indeed, with the Mangekyo Sharingan awakened, none of his clan members would dare call him a dead-last anymore! 

"Hmph hmph~" 

From these two "hmphs" from Obito, Shindai clearly sensed a happy emotion. 

So Shindai immediately pressed his advantage, showering Obito with all sorts of flattery, making Obito's soul practically float. He successfully made Obito happy again, and they started bickering. 

After a night of rest, Minato Namikaze once again led the team to blow up Kannabi Bridge. 

Because the Stone Shinobi who were supposed to guard Kannabi Bridge had all been eliminated by Obito and Minato Namikaze, the bridge was completely unguarded. 

Shindai and the others covered the bridge with explosive tags, then detonated Kannabi Bridge. 

As Kannabi Bridge was destroyed, Shindai noticed a peculiar pattern in one spot, which caught his attention. 

However, this pattern was quickly buried by the rubble, but Shindai committed it to memory. 

It seems like Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan awakening was quite the moment! And with Minato Sensei here, the mission to destroy Kannabi Bridge should be a breeze. What do you think that mysterious pattern Shindai noticed could be? 

Chapter 164: Activating the Backup Plan! 

After the Kannabi Bridge was blown to smithereens, Kakashi's squad finally completed their mission. 

Shindai could finally breathe a sigh of relief. 

Just now, Shindai had asked Minato Namikaze, and he said that once the bridge was destroyed, they could head back to the Hidden Leaf Village. 

Without the Kannabi Bridge to transport supplies, the Stone Ninja forces would have their logistics cut off. That basically means they'd lose their fighting capability and wouldn't be able to keep operating normally, you know? 

Logistical support is crucial for a unit to function properly and maintain its combat power. 

It wouldn't even take a few days; the Stone Ninja would retreat on their own. For now, they just needed to report back to the Leaf about their mission. 

With Minato Namikaze by his side, Shindai wasn't scared anymore. 

If Black Zetsu dared to show his face again, Minato wouldn't be playing around. 

Even though Black Zetsu is practically immortal, he can still be sealed, believe it! 

Under Kushina Uzumaki's 'guidance,' Minato's sealing jutsu is seriously powerful now. 

Right now, all they had to do was wait for Madara Uchiha to kick the bucket, and Obito would be completely safe. 

But... when is Madara Uchiha going to die, anyway? Even though he's probably ancient now, with that Gedo Statue extending his life, who knows how long he'll last? 

If only they knew where Madara Uchiha was right now and what his condition was. 

If he knew where Madara Uchiha was, Shindai would totally pull the plug on him! 

--- 

The Mountain Graveyard

--- 

Black Zetsu appeared before Madara Uchiha, currently possessing a White Zetsu's body. 

Madara Uchiha opened his wrinkled eyelids. Seeing Black Zetsu return alone, he said in a flat tone, "As expected, it failed." 

Black Zetsu awkwardly replied, "It was almost done, but then there was a problem..." 

A hint of disdain flickered in Madara Uchiha's eyes. "I told you, I only look at results. You didn't bring Obito back, and you didn't find that seal. You can't do anything I ask. I'm starting to think your existence is superfluous. Deciding to find a proxy was indeed the correct decision." 

Black Zetsu wanted to explain himself, but Madara Uchiha cut him off directly. "Shut up. I don't want to hear your excuses. While you might be utterly useless, you are, after all, a product of my will. Your only redeeming quality is loyalty. 

There's no more time for you to keep trying. So, let's activate the backup plan. Your mission from now on is to monitor, to ensure events proceed according to my wishes." 

Black Zetsu was seething inside. He desperately wanted to shout at Madara Uchiha that he wasn't loyal to him at all, nor was he a product of his will, and he certainly wasn't useless! He was the mastermind, not some brute who just fought like those ninjas! 

Then he'd pull Madara Uchiha's tubes, watching him die with a shocked and despairing look in his eyes. 

That feeling would be absolutely awesome. 

Unfortunately, he couldn't do that. If he did, all his long-term scheming would be for nothing, completely wasted. 

Black Zetsu took a deep breath and said, "I understand. So, next, I go to the Hidden Leaf and bring out Uchiha Setsuna, correct?" 

Madara Uchiha nodded slightly. "Precisely. Uchiha Setsuna has inherited my will, so there's no need to worry about loyalty. The only issue is his strength. If he's only three-tomoe, he won't be able to balance Nagato. So, we'll need to find a way to force Uchiha Setsuna to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan." 

Black Zetsu inquired, "How do you plan to do that?" 

Madara Uchiha raised his left hand and covered his left eye. "Conveniently, I still have one three-tomoe Sharingan. I'll use the Genjutsu Izanami to stimulate him." 

Black Zetsu was a little surprised. "Izanami, huh... Will that work?" 

Madara Uchiha lowered his left hand and explained, "Izanami can record a sequence of actions between the user and target and make that same sequence of actions replay again. 

The target, caught in the genjutsu, will be trapped in the time between the first and second recorded scenes in their mind, entering a world of infinite loops. To break Izanami, the target must accept their fate. 

Everyone has a scenario they constantly fear and wish to avoid. If we use the Genjutsu Nehan Shoja no Jutsu on Uchiha Setsuna, manifest his fear and make him believe it's reality, then use Izanami to repeat that fear, it should stimulate him to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. 

If... he still can't awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan even after that, then he's not suitable for my grand plan." 

Black Zetsu asked, puzzled, "Madara, isn't there already someone in the Uchiha clan who awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan? That Uchiha Shisui, why not choose him?" 

Madara Uchiha glanced at Black Zetsu, his eyes filled with disdain. "To accept my ideals and carry out my plan, one needs a mind that isn't set in stone, someone who can be shaped. I observed Uchiha Shisui, but I quickly gave up. He is a man of firm resolve; he would never accept my ideals." 

Seeing the sheer disdain in Madara Uchiha's eyes, Black Zetsu wanted to slap himself. Why did he even bother asking that? 

Black Zetsu finally understood; Madara Uchiha truly looked down on him now. 

Madara Uchiha gave Black Zetsu a final ultimatum: "Bring Uchiha Setsuna before me. If you fail this time, you'll have to destroy yourself." 

Black Zetsu's already dark face seemed to grow even darker, almost glistening. 

Black Zetsu grumbled, "I understand!" 

After leaving the Mountain Graveyard, Black Zetsu cursed bitterly in his mind: "Damn it! How much does he look down on me, thinking I can't even bring out someone locked in a prison?! What's a mere pawn got to be so proud about? Just a fool whose entire life is being manipulated!" 

--- 

Days Later

--- 

Shindai and his team had returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. 

The group was currently in the Hokage's office, reporting their mission to Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

It was clear Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a great mood, chuckling as he said, "I already know about this. The ninja animals reported the front line situation to me a day early. The Stone Ninja on the front lines, having lost their supplies, lost momentum and started collapsing. They've already begun their retreat. 

Once the Stone Ninja have completely pulled back, this war should be nearing its end. After that, it'll be time for post-war cleanup." 

A ninja hawk flew in through the window. 

"Looks like more good news from the front lines!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi, still smiling, opened the scroll tied to the ninja hawk's leg and began to read. But the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a grimace as if he'd found ginger in his shredded potatoes. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely, "I was going to let you rest for a few days, but it seems there's no rest to be had. This is a request for aid. A combined ninja force from the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Sand Villages has invaded the Land of Fire and is now heading towards Kikyo Pass. 

All Leaf Village ninja currently outside will proceed to Kikyo Pass for combat. So, Minato Namikaze's Squad! Immediately proceed to Kikyo Pass for battle! 

This should be the true final battle!" 

"Yes, sir!" 

Minato Namikaze responded, and without even returning home, he led Shindai and the others back to Kikyo Pass. 

Chapter 165: Are Your Eyes Eating People? 

Shindai and his team barely had a moment to catch their breath in Konoha before they were off to a new battlefield. 

"Ugh, is this ever gonna end? Can't we even rest for a day? I really miss my soft bed at home. How long has it been since I've had a good night's sleep?" Shindai grumbled as they traveled. 

Kakashi sighed exasperatedly. "Can your mouth stop for a bit? It's been over a day since we left Konoha, and aside from when we were resting, has your mouth ever stopped moving? Don't you get tired?" 

Shindai mumbled, "What's wrong? Can't I even grumble? Don't you understand freedom of speech?" 

Rin Nohara tried to soothe him. "Alright, Shindai, stop complaining. Didn't the Hokage-sama say it? This battle might be the last one of this war. As long as we stop the联合 forces of the Sand and Cloud Villages, they won't be able to advance further, and they'll naturally retreat." 

Minato Namikaze analyzed, "That's right. The Sand and Cloud Villages formed this联合 shinobi army as a surprise attack. Their idea was probably to catch us off guard while we were finishing our fight with the Stone Village. 

And for such a large operation, we only just received the intelligence, which means it's likely a hastily assembled combat unit. That's why we didn't get any intel before. This tells us they only plan to hit us once, aiming to push straight into Konoha Village with a single overwhelming blow. 

As long as we stop them at Kikyo Pass, even if it's a stalemate, it'll be a disadvantage for them. Because they only want to hit us once, they definitely won't have much in terms of logistics, so they can't afford a prolonged fight. 

So, if my guess is correct, once we block their initial push, they'll start thinking about retreating. After that, they might try two or three more attacks at most, but if they still don't make any progress, they'll definitely pull back." 

Obito spoke with a stern voice, "Sensei Minato is right. As long as we stop them from crossing Kikyo Pass, this war will end, and victory will belong to us, Konoha! Hmph, my Mangekyo Sharingan is already itching for action. I'll use the power of my Uchiha's ultimate dōjutsu to end this war!" 

Shindai and Kakashi glanced at Obito, who was trying to act cool, and said in unison, "Idiot!" 

Obito's cool facade instantly crumbled. He huffed indignantly, "I'm not an idiot, you big dummies!" 

Shindai scoffed disdainfully, "My Mangekyo Sharingan is itching for action,' huh? What's that supposed to mean, are your eyes eating people?" 

Kakashi also mocked him. "Hearing that come out of your mouth, Obito, is just too lame. Rin, what do you think?" 

"Hmm..." Rin Nohara paused to choose her words. "Actually, it's fine, it's not as bad as you two are making it out to be. I think it's pretty good." 

Obito immediately leaned in, touched. "Rin, you're the best~ If you like it, I'll say it to you every day from now on!" 

As soon as she heard Obito say he'd say it every day, Rin Nohara shook her head frantically. "Then let's not. I still prefer the usual Obito." 

"Eh!" 

Obito's cheeks immediately turned crimson. Rin said she liked him! 

Seeing Obito like that, Shindai and Kakashi nearly rolled their eyes out of their sockets. 

This lovesick idiot is a lost cause. 

Minato Namikaze sternly instructed, "Obito, while it's certainly a happy occasion that you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, I also need to warn you: this power cannot be used carelessly. I've heard about the Mangekyo Sharingan within the Uchiha clan. The Mangekyo Sharingan develops dōjutsu specific to the user's擅长, but it also comes with a huge risk. The more you use it, the faster the day of blindness will come. 

Therefore, you must never use the Mangekyo Sharingan unless it's absolutely necessary. Do you understand?" 

Obito nervously gulped. 

Blindness? 

No one told him about this before! 

Shindai said in a sarcastic tone, "Certain people are going to end this war with the power of their Uchiha's ultimate dōjutsu. I wonder if they'll still be able to see anything after the war ends~" 

Obito immediately cowered. "No, no, no, I think this war can end without my dōjutsu!" 

Shindai just wanted to scare Obito so that he would learn his lesson and not misuse the Mangekyo Sharingan's dōjutsu. 

After all, the current Obito didn't have Hashirama's cells, so he couldn't avoid the side effects of using the Mangekyo Sharingan. 

Upon arriving at Kikyo Pass, they found many shinobi whom Shindai and his group had encountered on previous missions. 

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were also at Kikyo Pass. 

Jiraiya smiled widely when he saw Minato Namikaze arrive. "You're finally here, Minato! And you kids too, you all seem to have grown quite a bit!" 

Shindai said with a beaming smile, "Lord Jiraiya, you still look as dashing as ever!" 

Jiraiya puffed out his chest. "That's right!" 

Minato Namikaze inquired, "Sensei Jiraiya, has the battle plan been made?" 

Jiraiya nodded. "It's made. The plan is to meet them head-on. A direct confrontation." 

Minato Namikaze was a bit surprised. "A direct confrontation? Do we have enough people?" 

Jiraiya explained, "Our numbers aren't as great as theirs, but we've set up many traps in advance on Kikyo Pass. Orochimaru intends to break them in one direct push. Once we break them, they should retreat. 

So, even though our numbers aren't enough, the traps we've set can reduce some of the enemies, and these traps will also cause them to panic. Furthermore, they definitely won't expect us to try and engage them head-on, which means we'll be catching them off guard. This will effectively shrink the gap between us to almost nothing. 

So, the upcoming battle will be a direct confrontation with no special tricks." 

Minato Namikaze pondered for a moment before agreeing. "If that's the case, then a direct confrontation shouldn't be a problem. Besides, the Sand and Cloud Shinobi won't be able to cooperate seamlessly with each other. As long as we can make them fall into disarray themselves, the effect will be extraordinary. 

So, Sensei Jiraiya, when do you estimate the Sand and Cloud forces will arrive here?" 

Jiraiya replied, "We estimate around midnight tomorrow night, meaning we have over 30 hours to prepare. Alright, I won't talk your ears off anymore. Go find a place to rest. I'll come find you when it's time to move." 

Minato Namikaze nodded in agreement. "Understood." 

After Jiraiya left, Minato Namikaze found a place to rest. 

Minato Namikaze instructed the four of them, "You heard it yourselves; it'll be a direct, no-holds-barred confrontation. I'll likely be part of the vanguard with Sensei Jiraiya and the others to engage them. When that happens, make sure to protect yourselves during the battle, understood?" 

"Understood, Sensei Minato (Lord Minato)!" 

Sounds like the stage is set for a massive final battle at Kikyo Pass! Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan is certainly a big deal, but it comes with a heavy price. Do you think he'll be able to hold back from using it, or will the pressure of battle force his hand?