386-390

*Chapter 386: Hiruzen Sarutobi Is Completely Done For*

Whether it was Madara, Obito, or anyone else on the battlefield, they were all merely pawns in his game.

The reason for warning Madara that Black Zetsu was a traitor was nothing more than curiosity—to see if Six Paths Madara could defeat Sasuke and Naruto, who had obtained the power of the Six Paths.

The so-called "Shura of the Shinobi World" was, from the very beginning, a complete tragedy.

But compared to the original story,

This time, Aizen would give him a more dignified death.

---

"Old monkey, hang in there. How are you feeling?" The Second Hokage, who had just finished examining Jiraiya’s injuries, turned to the Third Hokage.

As expected, the Third’s severed limbs did not regenerate.

Yet, Jiraiya’s case puzzled him. Despite being struck by the same blade, Jiraiya showed no signs of soul damage.

Could it be that the technique wasn’t tied to the blade? Maybe it was a jutsu that couldn’t be repeatedly used?

“Second Lord Hokage... I’m in so much pain.” Hiruzen barely managed to grind out the words through clenched teeth.

The old face, already marked by wrinkles and cracks from Edo Tensei, was now twisted beyond recognition.

The grotesque distortion caused so much movement in the dusty remains of his face that parts began flaking off.

---

"Brother," Tobirama turned to Hashirama with a grim expression. "Hiruzen’s severed limbs didn’t regenerate. It seems that young man, Fujiwara Aizen, really possesses a jutsu capable of tearing the soul apart. What should we do?"

Before Hashirama could respond, a deafening roar erupted, shaking the heavens.

The Ten-Tails’ massive body visibly expanded as it sensed a threat from Naruto and prepared to act.

And as if things couldn’t get worse, another explosion rang out in the sky.

A shadow descended like a meteor, landing on a nearby high ground close to Hashirama.

“Hashirama, I’ve been waiting for you,” Madara said, stepping out of the dust with his Uchiha fan, clad in crimson armor and sporting his long black hair.

“Hold on a second,” Hashirama replied with an almost haughty tone, pointing at Madara. “The priority is stopping the Ten-Tails.”

Madara, surprisingly, did not react as harshly as he did toward others like Aizen. With Hashirama, he still recognized the bond of friendship, even though their ideals differed.

“Hmph, I really can’t get along with this guy,” Madara muttered softly, his voice carrying an uncharacteristically indulgent tone. He sat cross-legged, choosing to observe the battlefield rather than act.

---

Seeing Madara comply, the Second and Fourth Hokage, along with the Allied Forces, collectively sighed in relief.

Hashirama, Tobirama, and Minato exchanged glances, their eyes inevitably falling on Hiruzen, who lay on the ground like a beaten dog.

Eventually, they turned toward Karin, who was still treating Jiraiya.

Tobirama addressed her with a commanding tone. "Girl from the Uzumaki Clan, time is of the essence. Leave Jiraiya to other medical ninja. Can you handle the Four Red Yang Formation?"

Although reluctant to admit it, they all knew that Hiruzen’s chakra was nowhere near Karin’s level. At best, it was slightly higher than a standard ninja.

And now, reduced to a shell of himself, Hiruzen was utterly useless.

Even the man himself was consumed by shame—more painful than his physical injuries.

Having been humiliated repeatedly by Aizen, Hiruzen’s spirit was in tatters.

The title of "The Strongest Hokage in History" had become a curse. Every time Aizen mockingly uttered it, the Allied Forces would inevitably cast scornful glances at him, leaving him utterly mortified.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the once-proud Third Hokage, was now completely done for.

---

As Tsunade’s student, Karin was familiar with the Four Red Yang Formation. She had even seen Aizen personally teach Chika how to perform it using shadow clones.

Hearing Tobirama’s question, she hesitated momentarily before answering, “I should be able to.”

“Don’t say ‘should.’ Give me a definite answer. Can you or can’t you?” Tobirama snapped.

Taking a deep breath, Karin closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, a confident expression replaced her earlier uncertainty. “Yes, I can.”

“Good. Let’s begin.” Tobirama turned his back to her, a rare smile on his face. Not bad. As expected of Tsunade’s student.  

---

Minato stepped forward and gestured for Karin to come closer. “Karin, right? Please stand here. I’ll teleport us shortly.”

Minato was momentarily taken aback when Karin activated the Strength of a Hundred Seal, a technique reminiscent of Tsunade’s. He smiled warmly, thinking, What a promising young lady. She’s just like Kushina.  

After handing Jiraiya off to Shizune, Karin placed her hands on Minato and Tobirama’s shoulders.

With a gentle smile, Minato asked, “By the way, Karin, do you like anyone?”

“L-Like someone?” Karin’s face turned crimson as Aizen’s image flashed through her mind. She stammered out a denial, “N-No, not at all!”

“How about my son, Naruto?” Minato continued, oblivious to her embarrassment.

“What?! No way! How could anyone like someone like Naruto?” Karin’s exaggerated reaction only deepened her blush, leading Minato to misinterpret her feelings.

“I see,” he chuckled knowingly.

“Can we stop with the matchmaking? Let’s focus on the battle!” Tobirama barked impatiently.

“Yes, Flying Thunder God!” Minato nodded firmly.

With a flash, Minato transported himself, Tobirama, and Karin to three corners surrounding the Ten-Tails, forming a square with Hashirama.

The four shouted in unison, “Four Red Yang Formation!”

A massive rectangular barrier of fiery red energy rose, enclosing the Ten-Tails.

---

“Not done yet. Watch this—Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!”

Hashirama clasped his hands together, his face transforming with the markings of Sage Mode. Red torii gates descended from the sky, binding the Ten-Tails’ tails.

The beast roared in defiance, releasing a massive Tailed Beast Bomb, but the barrier held firm.

Another torii gate descended, locking the Ten-Tails’ neck in place.

---

At that moment, Obito, locked in a deadly duel with Kakashi in the Kamui dimension, finally made his move.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 387: Madara’s Rage  

 Within the crimson, semi-transparent barrier:  

 The Allied Shinobi Forces, led by Naruto and Sasuke, were guided inside the barrier by the First Hokage's Wood Clone, charging toward the Ten-Tails.  

 To prevent the Allied Forces from advancing, the Ten-Tails split into countless clones, creating obstacles in their path.  

 This, however, became the perfect stage for Naruto, Sasuke, and the Konoha 11 to shine.   

**A showcase of abilities followed:**  

 - Naruto unleashed his **Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.**  
- Sasuke countered with **Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi.**  
- Neji performed **Eight Trigrams: Air Palm** and **Rotation.**  
- The Ino-Shika-Cho trio showed off their coordination with **rolling ball combos.**  
- Kiba used **Fang Over Fang,** cutting through enemies left and right.  
- Shino unleashed his parasitic bugs.  

 Without Sakura’s infamous line, *"Lady Tsunade, I feel like I’ve finally caught up to Sasuke and Naruto,"* the battle indeed became more enjoyable to watch.  

 In the climactic moment, just as in the original storyline, Naruto and Sasuke combined their abilities using the help of their summoned beasts. Their ultimate attack, a combination of **Wind Style: Rasenshuriken** and **Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi,** resulted in the creation of **Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Zero.**  

 The attack struck the Ten-Tails.  

 But it was futile. The Ten-Tails merely shed part of its body to escape.  

 Meanwhile, in the Kamui dimension, Kakashi and Obito finally reached their conclusion.  

 Obito deliberately lost.  

 Above the Ten-Tails, space distorted, and Obito fell with a gaping wound in his chest. Blood flowed from his mouth as he lay on the ground, gasping heavily.  

 “Is it finally starting?” Aizen  glanced toward Madara’s direction.  

 Madara met his gaze with a sly and confident smile.  

 Sitting cross-legged, Madara formed seals, his body radiating a faint golden light.   

As Madara continued his hand seals, Obito roared, stood up abruptly, and began forming seals of his own. His hair turned white, the right half of his body seemed overtaken by Black Zetsu, and black rods emerged from his forearm.  

 **“Six Paths: Ten-Tails Coffin Seal.”**  

 Feeling the Ten-Tails' chakra pouring into Obito, Aizen chuckled and casually sliced through the Wood Clone the First Hokage had been using to monitor him. Then, he approached Madara.  

 “Are you here to stop my revival?” Madara asked coldly.  

 “No, I’m here to see if it’s necessary to revive you myself,” Aizen replied with a smirk, glancing at Obito.  

 At that moment, the Fourth Hokage appeared and stabbed the newly-transformed Obito in the chest. Blood sprayed, and Obito collapsed.  

 “Do you think I’d let you succeed?” one of the First Hokage's six clones said as they arrived.  

 “No, you misunderstand me,” Aizen said, his gaze still fixed on Obito, his tone calm.  

 Sasuke joined the scene beside Obito.  

 The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Sasuke felt invigorated.  

 Looking down at the fallen Obito, he boldly declared:  
“This is too easy. All we have to do now is seal Madara and take down Aizen. The big guy beneath us will fall too.”  

 **“What makes you think that, my traitorous comrade?”**   

Suddenly, a violent suction force emanated from Obito’s center.  

 The massive body of the Ten-Tails began to shrink rapidly.   

Even Sasuke and the Fourth Hokage couldn’t escape the pull.  

 Thankfully, Naruto, aware of Obito’s impending transformation into the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki, used the Nine-Tails' chakra to extend golden claws, pulling both of them to safety.  

 This prevented them from being absorbed.  

 The Ten-Tails’ body continued to condense until it became a glowing, milky-white sphere.  

 The sphere shattered, revealing Obito in his Six Paths form:  

 - His left eye was a Rinnegan, and his right eye a Sharingan.  
- Five scale-like projections emerged from his back.  
- His cloak displayed the Six Paths' black tomoe design, although the full Six Paths’ robe had yet to manifest.  

 This incomplete state showed Obito hadn’t fully mastered the Ten-Tails' power.   Even so, the fear and pressure Obito exuded were unprecedented.  

 **“Obito has become like the Sage of Six Paths.”**  

 Seeing this, Madara could no longer contain himself. Although he still had backup plans, the emergence of Aizen had disrupted his calculations.  

 Madara’s expression darkened as he stood up and turned to Aizen.  
“The curse mark in Obito’s body—did you help him undo it? When?”  

 “No, you overestimate the trust Obito has in me. Since Rin’s death, he’s been more suspicious than you. At least you trust that so-called embodiment of your will.”  

 Aizen smirked.  
“Didn’t you wonder why Obito collapsed as soon as he exited the Kamui dimension?”   

“Could it be...”   

Madara froze, his mind flashing back to the memory of Rin impaling herself on Kakashi’s Chidori.  

 A twisted smile spread across his face.  
“So, he made the same choice as that little girl. How amusing.”  

 “Now, let’s see if he succeeds,” Aizen said with a laugh.  

 While they spoke, the First Hokage unleashed the **Sage Art: Gate of the Great God** to seal Six Paths Obito.  

 But Obito easily broke free using the Ten-Tails’ **Cross Flames.**  

 Not only that, but Obito manipulated the flames into claw-like forms, tearing apart the Four Red Yang Formation.  

 The six Wood Clones surrounding Aizen and Madara vanished as the barrier was destroyed, impacted by the First Hokage’s main body.  

 “Obito won’t succeed,” Madara said, his smile fading into a serious expression as he prepared to head toward the First Hokage.  

 Aizen called out, “Is it because the Infinite Tsukuyomi requires two Rinnegan?”  

 “You bastard, don’t tell me you plan to—”  

 Madara’s anger turned to laughter as a realization dawned upon him.  
“Obito can’t handle two Rinnegan. I know him better than anyone.”  

 “That’s uncertain,” Aizen replied, grinning wickedly. “A mere Obito with transplanted Hashirama cells might fail, yes.”  

 “But what about Obito as the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki?”  

 Madara’s lungs almost burst with rage. If Aizen’s plan worked, the Moon’s Eye Plan might proceed without him at all.  

 Madara clicked his tongue.   

Aizen smirked. “Relax. I promised to give Obito a chance. And since you’ve gone to such lengths to manipulate him into darkness, it’s only fair I offer you one as well. If Obito fails before using the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the Rinnegan won’t be transplanted into him.”  

 “What exactly are you plotting?” Madara growled.  

 “The Moon’s Eye Plan, of course,” Aizen replied casually, “though my version differs from yours, Obito’s, and Black Zetsu’s. Each of you has your reasons:  

 - Obito seeks a world where Rin exists.  
- You dream of uniting the world in illusory peace.  
- Black Zetsu aims to resurrect his mother, Kaguya.  

 “But my goal... is the Infinite Kotoamatsukami.”  

 “Just make sure you keep your word,” Madara muttered, begrudgingly suppressing his frustration.  

 Bound by his current weakened state and unable to unleash his Limbo clones, Madara knew it wasn’t the time to confront Aizen directly.  

 *This chapter ends.*  

*Chapter 388: The Woman Who Fails to Stir a Man's Interest*

"Karen."

The Four Red Yang Formation was torn apart by Tobi's Fire-Style Cross Flames as Aizen arrived by Karin's side.

By now, the battlefield had been divided into three distinct zones:

- Naruto, Sasuke, the Fourth Hokage, the Second Hokage, and a clone of the First Hokage versus Tobi.

- Madara, true to the original story, sought out the real First Hokage, intending to absorb his Sage Chakra to counter Tobi's Six Paths Mode.

- The rest comprised ordinary shinobi who were now utterly irrelevant.

If they served any purpose, it would be as human batteries when Tobi unleashed the God Tree.

"Lord Aizen." Upon seeing him, Karin's face instantly turned crimson with joy, barely able to contain her excitement.

She nearly threw herself at Aizen.

No—she did throw herself at him.

Like an obsessed fangirl, her flushed cheeks rubbed fervently against Aizen's chest as she frantically inhaled his scent, her breath hot and heavy. She was just short of drooling.

"Enough. You’re not participating in the upcoming battle. You’ll die," Aizen said seriously. "I'll send you to your mother."

"No! I don’t want to!" Karin whined, clinging to Aizen as if her life depended on it.

Her coquettish tone and demeanor were as exaggerated as they could get.

This was precisely why Aizen, a seasoned flirt, found her so unappealing.

Sure, her looks weren’t bad, and her figure was decent enough.

But she had a habit of playing coy, especially imitating Hinata.

Yet no matter how much she tried to emulate Hinata, she failed miserably every time.

Hinata's shyness was natural—an innate trait. Even the slightest interaction with Aizen would make her cheeks flush, steam rise from her head, and in extreme cases, cause her to faint.

Karin, on the other hand, while genuinely embarrassed, came across more as a desperate fangirl than anything else.

It was completely off-putting.

"Enough. Be good," Aizen said firmly, not giving Karin a chance to refuse. Using a long-unused substitution jutsu, he escaped her embrace and reappeared behind her. With his right hand on her shoulder, he teleported her to the Hidden Rain Village's spiritual barrier.

He then approached Shizune, who exclaimed, "Lord Aizen!"

The surrounding shinobi grew tense and wary.

But few dared step forward.

"Shizune, this battle isn’t one you can participate in. Staying here will mean your death. I'll send you to a safe zone where the Infinite Tsukuyomi can't reach," Aizen said, scanning the area. He added with a faint smile, "As for the rest of you, the upcoming fight is for gods, beyond a shinobi’s domain. Even your so-called Kage are nothing more than fodder now. If you want to run, do it now. I have no interest in stopping you."

Shizune continued treating Jiraiya with all her might.

Ino–Shika–Cho, along with Neji and Temari, stepped in front of her, blocking Aizen from getting closer.

"Do you really think we’ll trust you? Don’t forget, you’re our enemy. Even now, the First Hokage himself and the other Kage have joined the battle. The Allied Forces will win this war in the end," Shikamaru said.

Though he suspected Aizen’s words were true, fleeing would make them no different from deserters or cowards.

More importantly, it would dishonor the comrades who were fighting valiantly or had already given their lives—like Naruto, Sasuke, and the countless others.

"That’s right! We’ll never give up!" Temari shouted, opening her giant fan to summon a fierce wind.

Shikamaru used the opportunity to boost morale, gesturing to Ino. She nodded and used her Mind Transmission Jutsu to broadcast Shikamaru’s thoughts to the Allied Forces.

Inspired by his words, the shinobi's spirits soared once more.

Watching the revival of morale, Temari smiled, thinking, Shikamaru, you really do have the qualities of a Hokage.  

“You’re complimenting your crush, aren’t you?” Aizen remarked with a knowing smile, causing confusion among most present.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Temari retorted, blushing as she sneaked a glance at Shikamaru before turning to Shizune. “Shizune, if you want to leave, we won’t stop you. But if this guy tries to force you, we won’t allow it.”

“Of course not,” Shizune said firmly.

To everyone’s shock, she pulled out a kunai and pressed it to her neck, drawing blood.

“Lord Aizen, I know you mean well and want to keep me safe,” she said solemnly. “But I’m a shinobi of the Leaf and a member of the Allied Forces. If you try to take me, I’ll die here and now. Even if you revive me later, I’ll kill myself again. Lady Tsunade would do the same.”

Her declaration stunned the surrounding shinobi, who exchanged glances before forming a human wall in front of Shizune.

In unison, Ino–Shika–Cho and Temari declared, “If you want to take her, you’ll have to go through us first!”

“How touching,” Aizen remarked, mockingly clapping his hands.

Reaching out, he extended a chakra thread to drag over the mutilated Third Hokage, who was enduring constant soul-rending pain.

Patting the dust off the Third, Aizen sat down. “You’re Shikaku’s son, Shikamaru, right?”

“So what if I am?” Shikamaru replied, frowning.

“I thought you were smarter than this,” Aizen sighed. “Then again, shinobi like you can’t possibly understand the meaning of overwhelming power.”

“What do you mean?” Shikamaru felt a chill run down his spine.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Aizen said, propping his face on his hand, half his face obscured in shadow. “Watch closely as your mistake gets these people killed.”

A low hum echoed in the distance—the sound of four Tailed Beast Bombs being charged.

Realizing the Ten-Tails’ vulnerability to Sage Techniques, Tobi had summoned part of the God Tree in his fury, simultaneously preparing to unleash the bombs in four directions.

“What… is that?”

Allied shinobi turned to see the massive orbs forming, and their freshly renewed morale crumbled into despair.

“This isn’t good…”

“Four at once?”

“Even if we all used Earth-Style walls, it wouldn’t stop them.”

“We’re done for. We’re all going to die. If only we had…”

Listening to the growing despair around him, Shikamaru’s face darkened. “This is the threat you meant?”

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 389: The Power of Words*

“No, not at all. It’s just four measly Tailed Beast Bombs.” Aizen flashed a mysterious smile.

As he spoke, Obito unleashed the Six Red Yang Formation again.

Aizen’s right hand formed a symbolic seal, using Flying Thunder God to teleport both himself and the Third Hokage, who served as a cushion beneath him, out of the barrier.

At this point, the Third Hokage, who had been blasted apart by the Tailed Beast Bombs, might’ve considered himself lucky. But Aizen was determined to keep him in constant agony, his soul torn apart piece by piece.

The Third Hokage, pinned under Aizen’s weight, endured the excruciating soul-rending pain. His dilated pupils locked onto the four glowing Tailed Beast Bombs within the barrier, his face paling in horror.

He managed to stammer, “Aizen, you bastard... What’s your goal? Do you really have to stand by and let Obito kill every shinobi before you—ugh!”

Before he could finish, Aizen swung his Zanpakuto, stabbing the old man and twisting the blade viciously.

The Third Hokage’s screams of agony echoed across the battlefield, relentless and piercing.

Unfortunately for him, no one spared a glance at the “strongest Hokage in history.” All eyes were fixed on the four Tailed Beast Bombs inside the barrier.

With a thunderous roar, the Six Red Yang Formation swelled like a massive chimney, violently expanding before releasing searing hot gases that could vaporize anything.

The four Ten-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bombs exploded without a hitch.

The Perfect Susanoo and the wooden humanoid, along with their wielders, Madara and Hashirama, were obliterated into ash in an instant.

Meanwhile, the Allied Shinobi Forces and Sasuke were saved at the last second. Thanks to Naruto, Minato, and their synchronized chakra, they used Flying Thunder God to escape the barrier just in time.

As the shinobi who narrowly survived the ordeal began to cheer and celebrate their survival, only Shikamaru wore a grave expression.

Aizen’s words lingered in his mind, filling him with an ominous foreboding.

He turned to Ino and urgently commanded, “Ino, use your Mind Body Transmission on me!”

“What’s going on?” Ino hesitated, following Shikamaru’s gaze toward Aizen, who was still tormenting Hiruzen, and asked in confusion.

“There’s no time to explain! Hurry!” Shikamaru snapped, his brow furrowing deeper. An inexplicable sense of dread gnawed at him.

Seeing Shikamaru’s urgency, Ino didn’t waste another moment. She placed her hand on his forehead and activated her jutsu.

At the same time, Naruto, realizing that the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki couldn’t suppress sage energy, combined Kurama’s chakra with sage techniques. With help from the Second and Fourth Hokage, he created a massive Rasengan infused with yin-yang energy, launching a direct attack on Six Paths Obito.

Their first clash ended in a stalemate, much to the astonishment of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

Seeing this, the shinobi—except for Sasuke, who refused to be overshadowed by Naruto—were filled with renewed hope.

Ignoring Shikamaru’s earlier warning to stay away from the barrier, many rushed to aid Naruto in defeating Obito.

And that’s when tragedy struck.

As Obito unleashed the Ten-Tails’ final form, the Divine Tree began to rampage, devouring chakra.

Every shinobi it touched was instantly drained dry, reduced to lifeless husks.

“Well, a lot of them really did die, huh?” Aizen muttered, slicing through a hundred-foot radius of Divine Tree branches that dared approach him.

Thanks to his presence, a handful of nearby shinobi, including Shikamaru, Ino, and Shizune, survived unscathed.

But Shikamaru could only collapse to his knees, trembling as he stared at his own hands in disbelief.

If only he had heeded Aizen’s warning earlier and kept the troops away from Obito...

Shikamaru’s despair didn’t last long.

The ninja world is never short on motivational moments.

At the critical moment, Temari snapped him out of it.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya, who had been presumed down for the count, reappeared. Taking over for the Third Hokage’s role, he rescued Naruto from the Divine Tree’s clutches and transported him to Sasuke.

From there, Naruto and Sasuke joined forces. Sasuke, empowered by Jūgo’s Sage Transformation, unleashed his Sage Susanoo. Inspired by Sasuke, Naruto reignited his resolve. With Ino’s help, he rallied the Allied Shinobi Forces with a heartfelt speech and a trip down memory lane.

Together, Naruto and Sasuke launched a coordinated assault on Obito.

“Well, aren’t they lucky? If it weren’t for Obito’s wavering heart, those two wouldn’t stand a chance. No matter how many lives they threw at him, it’d never be enough,” Aizen mused, clicking his tongue as he watched the battle.

At that moment, Orochimaru arrived with the rescued Five Kage. Only the Raikage had regained mobility; Gaara and Onoki remained paralyzed, restrained by Aizen’s Six Light Bind.

The Raikage, however, had carried them all the way.

It was clear that Orochimaru couldn’t undo Aizen’s jutsu.

“Well, well, isn’t this our dear Sensei Sarutobi? What happened to you? Did you upset Aizen again?” Orochimaru’s mocking tone was laced with a hint of fear as he cast a wary glance at Aizen.

“Y-you… you bastard…” Hiruzen could barely speak, his soul hanging by a thread and on the verge of collapse.

“I’m surprised you dared to come here, Orochimaru. Don’t you value your life?” Aizen said, his gaze fixed on the battle above, not even turning to face him.

“Oh, come now, Aizen. We’ve had our differences, but we’ve also been allies, haven’t we?” Orochimaru replied with a sly smile.

Aizen chuckled, glancing back at Hiruzen. “I thought you might be here to plead for your teacher’s release. But at this rate, his soul will completely disintegrate in seven days.”

“For those seven days, he’ll endure unrelenting, soul-tearing pain.”

Orochimaru’s blood ran cold, but he maintained his composure. “You haven’t lost your flair for torment, I see.”

Shifting topics, he gestured toward the ongoing battle. “Who do you think will win, Aizen?”

“In terms of raw power, even ten Narutos and Sasukes combined wouldn’t stand a chance against the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki,” Aizen said, offering an answer that caught Orochimaru off guard.

“Is the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki really that strong?” Orochimaru asked, genuinely shocked.

Aizen nodded. “At the Six Paths level, we’re no longer dealing with mere shinobi. Even if Truth-Seeking Orbs can’t nullify sage techniques, the gap in power is insurmountable. If Obito wanted to kill them, he could’ve done so already. But he hesitates, and I’m sure you understand why.”

“So this is the true power of words,” Orochimaru mused, licking his lips with a sinister smile. “Naruto really has mastered the ultimate technique of persuasion, just as you said he would.”

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 390: Debt Collection, Obito's End*

The battle between Obito and Naruto-Sasuke didn’t last long.

With Obito's inner turmoil weakening him, Naruto and Sasuke deployed a scaled-down version of their combined Susano'o armor, shattering Obito's Truth-Seeking Ball-formed Heavenly Spear.

Then came the iconic tug-of-war scene.

Meanwhile, the fight between Madara and Hashirama also approached its climax. Without a doubt, Hashirama's strength was extraordinary. Even with the Rinnegan, and unable to use Limbo: Border Jail, Madara could only manage a draw against him.

Hashirama was immobilized, pierced like a porcupine by Madara’s black rods.

On the other hand, Madara was restrained by Hashirama’s Wood Dragon, whose chakra-absorbing capabilities counteracted the Rinnegan's sealing techniques. Both were left unable to act.

“It’s about time to bring this battle to an end,” Aizen muttered, standing up and snapping his fingers. The six glowing bindings around Onoki and Gaara dissipated.

Both glanced at Aizen with deep meaning in their eyes but wasted no time rushing to assist Naruto in the tug-of-war.

As the seal vanished, Orochimaru, standing nearby, cast a surprised glance at Aizen. “Are you finally joining the battle?”

“Not quite yet. I just think it’s time to speed things up,” Aizen replied with a cryptic smile. “Obito is finished. It’s time for the next phase.”

With that, he disappeared from Orochimaru's sight, reappearing moments later in the Kamui dimension before Kakashi.

“Kakashi…” Aizen said as Kakashi froze in shock.

Before Kakashi could react, Aizen reached out and ripped out his left eye.

“Ahhh!” Kakashi screamed as blood poured from his wound.

“Consider this mercy for Qianxia's sake,” Aizen said, his voice indifferent, as he hoisted Kakashi like a rag doll and returned to the real world. He appeared between Obito and the Allied Shinobi Forces, right in the middle of the tug-of-war.

“Naruto, Kakashi-sensei—!” Naruto yelled in shock, noticing the two.

“Focus, Naruto. This is our only chance,” Sasuke urged, his expression grim as he considered Obito, their greatest obstacle with the power of the Sage of Six Paths.

Ignoring them, Aizen casually tossed Kakashi aside and turned his gaze toward Obito. His voice was cold as he spoke. “Obito, I told you before. If you fail, I will kill you.”

“Naruto, are you okay?” Kakashi asked weakly as Naruto caught him.

“I’ll live… but my left eye…” Kakashi clenched his bloodied face, trembling from the excruciating pain.

Suppressing his agony, Obito glared at Aizen. *What is he planning?* he wondered, anxiety gnawing at his core.

At that moment, Gaara and Onoki, recently freed from their seals, arrived.

“Don’t even think about it!” Onoki exclaimed, forming a hand seal. “Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!”

A massive conical light beam materialized and expanded, engulfing Aizen.

“I’ve run out of patience,” Aizen murmured, turning his gaze toward Onoki. His eyes gleamed with cold intent, and without any visible movement, the Dust Release shattered mere inches from him into countless fragments.

This was Aizen’s evolved Haki, fused with the seven chakra elements—Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, and Yang—to create a new Kekkei Tōta.

Onoki’s eyes widened in disbelief as the Dust Release disintegrated. “It… broke?”

A sickening crack followed as Onoki’s internal bones shattered. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fell, only to be caught by Gaara's sand.

“Lord Tsuchikage!” Naruto yelled, his voice filled with alarm.

“Don’t worry. He’s still alive,” Gaara replied, though he knew Onoki’s injuries were beyond saving. He then joined the tug-of-war, replacing Shizune.

Aizen ignored the Allied Forces and turned to Obito, placing a hand on his shoulder and entering his mental space.

“So lively here, Obito,” Aizen remarked, scanning the scene.

Under the influence of Naruto and Kurama's chakra, everyone from the Allied Forces had entered Obito’s inner world.

Naruto was in the middle of his trademark talk-no-jutsu, showing Obito visions of himself as Hokage, wearing the cloak and hat.

Obito was visibly moved, teetering on the edge of surrender.

But Aizen’s next words poured ice water on the hopeful scene.

“How utterly disgusting,” Aizen said, his tone dripping with disdain. “Obito, you killed your teacher, slaughtered countless villagers, and colluded with Danzo and Itachi to annihilate your clan. Now you dare dream of becoming Hokage? Were you brainwashed into thinking you could redeem yourself?”

“Big brother Aizen!” Naruto exclaimed, a bad feeling welling up in his chest.

Ignoring Naruto, Aizen focused on Obito. “Do you remember what I told you before? If you fail, I will kill you.”

“Stop, big brother Aizen!” Naruto shouted.

Aizen delivered a powerful punch to Obito’s gut, sending him crashing into the mental world's ceiling and shattering it into fragments.

The inner world collapsed, and the scene returned to reality.

With a firm pull, Aizen yanked the already unstable tailed beast chakra out of Obito’s body.

In one swift motion, he plucked Obito’s left Rinnegan and stored it away. He absorbed Obito’s bloodline, eyes, and chakra, merging them into his own Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

The entire process unfolded in the blink of an eye. The Allied Forces, distracted by the newly freed tailed beasts, failed to notice.

When they turned their attention back, Obito was a shadow of his former self, barely alive. Aizen held him by the hair, his right eye now a normal one and his left a bloody socket.

Even Obito's body, once altered by Hashirama’s cells, had reverted to its original form.

“So this is the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan? Nothing special,” Aizen muttered, testing his new power.

The Allied Forces, who had just celebrated their victory, erupted into chaos.

Their cheers faded as they realized a new threat loomed before them. Though emboldened by Naruto, Sasuke, and the freed tailed beasts, they stared at Aizen with tense anticipation, waiting for the next battle to begin.

(End of Chapter)