96-100

Chapter 96: No Pain Can Surpass the Heartache of Losing Rin!

"The illusion battle? Is Tobi okay? This isn't what we originally planned. We haven't fully figured out Uchiha Sōgen's eye technique yet, so why is he going into battle himself? What if Sōgen's technique can alter minds? Wouldn't Tobi be in serious danger?"

White Zetsu looked at Uchiha Obito with confusion.

The man in the mask leaned against a tree with his eyes closed, as if resting. However, with White Zetsu's perception, he could clearly sense the storm-like intensity of Obito's ocular power.

"Unless it's an ocular technique that can directly inflict physical harm, the illusion-based techniques of the Mangekyō Sharingan can't actually kill another Mangekyō Sharingan user. Even techniques that can alter a person's will can't confuse another Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō."

This was a conclusion Black Zetsu had reached after observing the Uchiha clan for over a thousand years. He had subtly taught it to Uchiha Madara, who then passed it on to Uchiha Obito.

"Also, in the mental space where the tailed beast is sealed, there’s no need to worry about Sōgen hiding an ocular technique with physical attack power. Obito’s choice is sound."

There is no such thing as a perfect plan in this world.

Black Zetsu, having lived for a thousand years and crafted countless schemes in the shadows of the ninja world, knew this all too well. While he had devised many brilliant strategies, an equal number of failures and setbacks had taught him that plans don’t need to be overly detailed.

The main purpose of a plan is to define the goal.

As long as the ultimate goal is achieved, it doesn't matter if the plan becomes distorted beyond recognition. In fact, if you can't adapt to changes, blindly sticking to a plan often leads to failure.

Black Zetsu admired Obito’s decision.

As long as his safety is ensured, taking some calculated risks is acceptable.

Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Uchiha Obito, they ranked among the top three most challenging puppets he had ever controlled over his millennium of existence. Yet, he didn’t mind their autonomy one bit. He was tired of controlling mindless puppets who needed his constant intervention. To achieve his goals, he needed individuals like Madara and Obito, not those useless wooden puppets.

He just needed to align his objectives with their desires, and these capable individuals would naturally exhaust their intellect and energy to achieve what he himself couldn't.

"So, should we strike now and eliminate Uchiha Sōgen?" White Zetsu asked eagerly, glancing at the deep crimson Susano'o in the distance. "If I go all out with the wood clone technique, I could probably break through Susano'o's defenses with the first strike and crush Sōgen with the second."

"Now is not the time for you to act," Black Zetsu replied, also gazing at Susano'o, which was clad in black tengu armor. He admired Sōgen’s cautiousness, using extra eye power to protect himself. If Madara hadn’t chosen Obito, Sōgen would have been a good candidate.

"Besides, this 'two-strike victory' you’re talking about is just a guess. Don’t underestimate Uchiha Sōgen. Who knows what hidden tricks the leader of the Uchiha clan still has? Leave it to Obito. This is his mission."

White Zetsu immediately deflated.

When Black Zetsu spoke like that, it meant he wouldn’t get a chance to make a move.

Ignoring White Zetsu’s antics, Black Zetsu looked up at the stationary Three-Tails, wondering if the battle in the mental space was nearing its conclusion. Fights in the mental world don’t flow at the same pace as reality.

---

"So, this is it?"

"An ocular technique of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

A pond, a rock garden, bamboo groves, stone lanterns, and a massive cherry blossom tree... It looked like a lovely garden.

Uchiha Obito pressed the mask, which was also formed by ocular power, against his face and glanced down at his lower body, which was buried in the ground. He couldn’t quite figure out when this had happened. Was this an illusion-based Mangekyō technique? Terrifying!

Even though he also had the Mangekyō Sharingan, he didn’t even have time to react, let alone resist.

Actually, he still hadn’t figured out how it happened. One moment, he looked up at the six-petal windmill pattern in the sky, and in the next, the dark, iron-and-rock dome was gone, replaced by a vast, impossibly blue sky.

"Mask man who calls himself Uchiha Madara, how do you like my little garden world?"

A voice came from a branch of the flourishing cherry blossom tree.

Obito turned his neck slightly and looked up, seeing Uchiha Sōgen sitting on a branch, looking down at him with a haughty gaze.

"This is your Mangekyō technique? Interesting. The scenery is nice. Since you've worked so hard, I’ll tell you something: illusion-based Mangekyō techniques can’t kill another Mangekyō user. Illusions are ultimately a contest of ocular power. As long as your power can’t completely overwhelm mine, you won’t be able to kill me here."

As he spoke, his single red eye unleashed an enormous surge of power, sending shockwaves rippling across the courtyard.

Cracks appeared in the ground, and ripples formed on the surface of the pond.

The small garden world shook violently, like a crystal bottle struck by a heavy force. If it fell, it might shatter.

"This is the first time I’ve heard of something like that. So, that's why you lured me into this mental space with the Three-Tails seal? Outside, were you worried my technique had physical attack capabilities, or was it something else?"

Sōgen smiled, unfazed by the trembling tree beneath him. He calmly replied, "Maybe you’re right. I might not be able to kill you here. But... that doesn’t mean you’ll walk away unscathed."

"Oh, really?"

Beneath the mask, Obito’s expression remained icy. "Show me, then."

He continued to struggle, unleashing his powerful eye techniques in a storm that shook the small garden. He hadn't forgotten Madara’s teachings: whether it's the Sharingan or the Mangekyō, it's ultimately a contest of ocular strength.

If his power was strong enough, Sōgen's technique couldn't harm him.

Snap!

Sōgen snapped his fingers, revealing a meaningful smile.

Wood Flower Blooming

Obito suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his back, but it didn’t faze him. Ever since Rin died that night, he had lived in hell. No physical pain could surpass the anguish of losing her.

The weight on his back, though, alerted him to the fact that this wasn’t a typical attack. Before he could turn around, dark roots snaked over his shoulder and pierced into his chest like needles.

And then, he felt excruciating pain.

In this illusionary world, their bodies reflected their mental states. Here, wounds didn't bleed or kill, but they inflicted unbearably real pain. It was true "heart-wrenching" agony.

In the real world, such an injury would have been fatal. But in the illusion, the torn heart and lungs were made of spiritual energy, delivering pain without death.

Even enduring such excruciating pain that would make most people faint multiple times over, Obito didn’t make a sound.

Pain was nothing to him.

He glared coldly at Sōgen with his lone red eye, silently conveying his disdain.

Is that all? It’s not enough!

"Underestimated, huh!"

Looking at Uchiha Obito, who was still desperately trying to destroy this courtyard world with sheer force, attempting to break through his ocular jutsu, Sōgen’s smile grew even brighter. He actively allowed his chakra to be consumed by the growing cherry blossom tree, deliberately matching Obito’s attempts, as his illusionary world swayed to the rhythm of Obito's bursts of chakra.

It was maintained at a level that made it seem like, with just a bit more effort, the small courtyard world could collapse.

Once, twice, three times...

The cherry blossom tree grew larger and larger. Even before it began to bud, its height already surpassed that of the two withered cherry trees nearby, making Sōgen marvel. As expected, the Uchiha clan’s natural gifts were indeed exceptional, possessing mental energy as powerful as the life force of the Senju and Uzumaki clans, something ordinary people could never hope to attain.

Every attempt to break free ended in failure, each time falling just short.

Noticing his diminishing chakra, Obito finally sensed something was wrong. His chakra shouldn’t have been consumed so quickly. He tried once again to surge his chakra and escape from the tree roots tightly binding him, causing the illusionary world around him to tremble.

But at the same time, he noticed that the roots piercing into his body were slowly siphoning his chakra.

"Uchiha Sōgen!!!"

Obito still had enough strength to shout in anger.

Unlike Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who, at this point, could barely speak.

"You finally realized? Much quicker than I expected... But that’s enough." Sōgen glanced at the cherry blossom tree, which now had delicate buds forming on its branches. At this stage, even someone as powerful as Uchiha Obito was destined to fall.

"You little brat, how dare you scheme against me!"

Obito didn’t forget to maintain the persona of Uchiha Madara, though his anger made it increasingly difficult to keep that haughty, condescending attitude toward his junior.

"What’s this talk about scheming? Isn’t combat all about trickery? You’re the legendary Uchiha Madara, the one who pacified the warring states. Shouldn’t you be used to tricks like these by now? Why so angry? You should be proud to see the younger generation growing. The mighty Uchiha Madara can’t be this petty, right?"

Sōgen’s words were as cold and slick as a venomous snake, spitting venomous taunts.

His respectful tone, addressing Obito as “you” in a formal manner, somehow sounded more irritating than if he had simply addressed him informally.

Beneath the broken mask was a face resembling Uchiha Madara’s.

One had to admit, Obito’s mental resilience was remarkable. Even within this illusionary world, he had gone so far as to use his chakra to alter his appearance, trying to prevent Sōgen from discovering his true identity.

Obito gritted his teeth.

He hadn’t expected Uchiha Sōgen’s Mangekyō Sharingan ability to be so bizarre, able to devour another’s mental energy. After all, chakra was merely a variant of mental energy, essentially a form of Yin Release power.

In a moment of carelessness, he had allowed Sōgen to drain so much of his chakra.

He had no idea what the mechanism behind Sōgen’s ocular jutsu was—whether it merely drained an enemy’s mental energy or allowed him to absorb it for his own use. If it was the former, that was still acceptable; losing some chakra was within Obito’s tolerance.

But if it was the latter...

Then things would get troublesome! If Sōgen could absorb mental energy to replenish his own, wouldn’t that mean the curse of Mangekyō Sharingan blindness would be much slower to take hold than Obito had anticipated? Could it even be that, by draining Obito’s chakra, Sōgen might restore what he had previously expended?

In that case, all of Obito’s efforts would have been for nothing, and if he failed to capture Yagura, he would lose even more than that.

"No way."

Obito gritted his teeth and looked up at the dense canopy of cherry blossoms, the countless pink buds swelling and beginning to bloom.

From between clenched teeth came his determination.

Gathering all of his remaining chakra, he unleashed *Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change*, an illusionary technique that reflected the enemy’s illusions back at them. It was said that this technique had been developed by a genius Uchiha during a clan civil war, specifically to counter other Uchiha illusions.

In essence, this technique wasn’t as powerful as the Mangekyō Sharingan’s ocular jutsu.

However, with the power of Obito’s Mangekyō-level chakra behind it, it momentarily burst with dazzling brilliance. Sōgen’s *Wood Blossom Sakuya* faltered for a brief second, and Obito seized the opportunity he had created.

(End of the chapter)

**Chapter 97: The Flame Fan, Symbol of a Thousand Years of History and Glory**

A cascade of pink petals swayed down like spring rain, while many tender buds still clung to the dense canopy. Sōgen reached up, plucking one small bud. It felt heavy in his hand, though its pupil power was not yet full. Normally elusive and immeasurable, the spiritual energy now had weight, given form by the illusion of **"Wood Blossom Sakuya."**

Uchiha Obito broke free from the illusion of **"Wood Blossom Sakuya."**

Regarding this, Sōgen felt neither disappointment nor regret. 

On the contrary, today's harvest was already beyond his expectations. Although it was a pity that he couldn't permanently solve the Obito problem, some things simply couldn't be forced. You must take one step at a time, one bite at a time. As long as you're moving forward, that's enough.

"Interesting!"

Sōgen crushed the flower bud in his hand. The shimmering power, as brilliant as stardust, slipped through his fingers and vanished into the gentle spring breeze.

Looking at his hand, he clenched his fist thoughtfully.

Obito's pupil power was fundamentally different from his own and Shisui's. It wasn’t just a variation from person to person; it was a deeper difference. Obito's power was unnaturally stable. 

The Mangekyō Sharingan, passed down from their ancestor Indra, was born out of the declining state of the Uchiha's yin energy. Though it surpassed the three-tomoe Sharingan, it couldn't stabilize that immense power. Every use of the Mangekyō Sharingan hurt the user as much as it hurt their enemies.

But Obito’s power seemed injected with some stabilizer, in a constant state of calm and endless supply, allowing him to use his abilities recklessly without fear of any side effects.

“Is this the power of Hashirama’s cells? Or should I say, Senju’s life force… or perhaps Yang Release?”

Whatever name it goes by, the essence is the same.

Indeed, Yin Release and Yang Release—these were the core of the Sage of Six Paths' teachings. Training in both was the most reliable path. It might not offer the speed of cell transplants, but it was stable and dependable.

Unless absolutely necessary, Sōgen had no desire to turn half his body white or have another man's face growing on his chest!

“Indra, the Sage’s eldest son, inherited the ‘eyes,’ while Asura, the younger, inherited the ‘body.’ When the Sage's ‘eyes’ and ‘body’ unite, it forms true Sage power!”

In this small courtyard world, Sōgen was the sole and supreme master. Not even White Zetsu could invade and eavesdrop on his words.

His off-key humming still echoed in the yard, but his figure had already vanished. The courtyard world faded along with the melody, disappearing like snow melting into the sky without a trace.

---

"Roar!!!"

In its prison, the Three-Tails opened its eyes. It felt the pupil power that bound it disappear. The wretched one-eyed Uchiha's power suddenly weakened to a confusing degree—he was still alive, yet his pupil power had diminished as if he were on the verge of death.

However, it wasn’t going to ponder that too deeply.

If that accursed Uchiha died, all the better! Or, even better, if all those annoying red eyes died out entirely. For a thousand years, Uchiha had toyed with the tailed beasts like pets, weapons, or chakra machines...

Shaking off these unpleasant memories, the Three-Tails thought: Now that I’ve broken free from the Sharingan’s control, why not find a place to sleep? After all, Yagura looked too weak to control its power anymore.

It was only because of its constant internal struggle with Yagura that the one-eyed Uchiha had taken advantage of it in the first place.

But suddenly, the Three-Tails felt something on its head. The sensation was familiar, and a deep-seated disgust surfaced... another human? Even the lazy Three-Tails was starting to feel angry—why do these humans always insist on stepping on its head, whether in the real world or the realm of the mind?

Years ago, the most hated Uchiha Madara had stomped on the heads of all nine tailed beasts, finally concluding that stomping on Kurama’s head was the most comfortable. Madara had then bound Kurama in a summoning contract and taken the fox away.

But none of them had fared well afterward.

A freak named Hashirama had beaten them all up and divided them as gifts to various humans.

"Roar!!!"

It let out a low growl, attempting to intimidate the human on its head.

Then—

"Quiet."

The man on its head stomped down.

For the Three-Tails, this was like scratching an itch—it was covered in a hard shell that even Kurama would struggle to break.

But instead of calming down, the Three-Tails only grew angrier.

"Roar!!!"

It shook its head violently, trying to throw the man off. Sōgen, caught off guard by the sudden aggression, was tossed down, landing on the mental cage Yagura had been sealed in.

"Why so aggressive? You look like a turtle, I thought you’d be calm and obedient, but you keep roaring without saying a word."

Sōgen was clearly displeased with the Three-Tails' behavior.

Now it was the Three-Tails' turn to be confused.

It blinked its eyes—each about the size of the gates of Konoha—staring at Sōgen. Black hair, red armor, crimson eyes... Uchiha Madara? Panic surged through the Three-Tails. It had just gotten rid of one one-eyed Uchiha, and now another Uchiha with red eyes had appeared—and he even dressed like Madara!

“Human!”

The Three-Tails spoke.

It sensed the man was formidable, his fearsome pupil power no weaker than Obito’s—in fact, it was even stronger. Honestly, it had grown tired of being manipulated by these red-eyed humans.

When under their control, its consciousness remained in a muddled state, far from the peace of sleep. Instead, it felt nauseating—a truly awful experience.

So, the Three-Tails decided to submit. Better to be sealed inside Yagura, where at least it could sleep in peace, however cramped the space might be.

But—

"Lie down!"

Sōgen had no patience for the Three-Tails. After withdrawing from his illusion world of **"Wood Blossom Sakuya,"** he had appeared on the beast’s head, only to have it keep growling at him.

So, Sōgen unleashed a dose of the Uchiha clan’s signature technique.

**"Demonic Illusion: Sharingan"**

An overwhelming force of pupil power surged into the Three-Tails.

Its massive eye, just opened, lost its glow. The lone eye turned blood-red, closing slowly under Sōgen’s control. The beast curled up, becoming as still as a dull gray stone.

Then, Sōgen turned his gaze toward Yagura, who was struggling to climb down from the wall.

Sōgen cast his gaze toward Yagura Karatachi, who was struggling to jump down from the wall.

After Uchiha Obito's ocular power weakened, not only did the binding placed on the Three-Tails dissipate, but even the metal wedges pinning Yagura Karatachi were dissolved, granting the Fourth Mizukage a small degree of freedom. However, after all these years, Yagura's mental state had similarly deteriorated.

Otherwise,

The moment he was freed, he would have immediately acted against the Three-Tails to regain control of his own body.

"Uchiha Sōgen, I think we can have a good conversation." Yagura Karatachi, short in stature and still bearing a baby face, attempted to communicate with Sōgen.

Just as Uchiha Sōgen hadn’t forgotten the battle where he and Shisui teamed up to challenge Yagura Karatachi, Yagura hadn’t forgotten those two young Uchiha kids who gave him such a hard time.

"I agree we can have a good talk, but not right now."

With a glance, Sōgen unleashed the **Demonic Illusion: Shackles of Karn** technique.

Metal wedges appeared out of thin air, deeply piercing Yagura’s limbs, pinning the Fourth Mizukage back against the wall, turning him into a specimen on display. Yagura opened his mouth to curse but decided against it after some thought.

A prisoner,
has no right to negotiate.

He could only hope that Uchiha Sōgen would keep his word, at least giving him a chance to talk.

In the blink of an eye, Sōgen’s figure disappeared from the mental space.

————

Under a cedar tree, Uchiha Obito, who was leaning against it and seemingly dozing, suddenly woke up, as if from a terrible nightmare. He struggled to stand, staggering a few steps, tripping on vines, and falling to his knees.

*Thud!*

Blood dripped from his chin, falling onto the grass.

The edges of his orange mask seemed to be stained with crimson as well.

"Obito?"

White Zetsu, who had been standing nearby, cried out in surprise.

Even Black Zetsu showed a hint of shock in his eyes.

Uchiha Obito looked utterly defeated. Though both possessed Mangekyō Sharingan, and even if Sōgen was more proficient in genjutsu, it shouldn’t have reduced Obito to such a state. With cells transplanted from someone with Sage of the Six Paths’ body, Obito’s ocular powers, while not evolving into the Eternal Mangekyō, should still surpass an ordinary Mangekyō!

Moreover,

Didn't Obito use **Izanagi**? Uchiha Madara left behind only a few Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but there should be a few left. If memory serves, Obito placed one in his empty left eye socket.

Why didn't **Izanagi** activate?

"Obito, are you okay?" White Zetsu asked frantically.

"Obito? Obito? I am...? I am Uchiha Madara! White Zetsu, why are you calling me Obito... No, wait, I am Uchiha Obito. I am Uchiha Obito. Rin, Rin, I must save Rin. No, no, I must create a new world. A world with Rin in it..."

"No, no, I am Madara. I am Uchiha Madara. I must... I must kill him! I must kill Uchiha Sōgen. I have to kill Uchiha Sōgen!"

With one hand clutching his mask, Obito lifted his head and looked at the approaching White Zetsu. In the lone eye hole of his mask, his gaze was intensely crimson.

It wasn’t just his pupil that was red—

His sclera, his eyelashes, his eyelids... everything was smeared in blood red.

All of this made his entire vision turn crimson!

As if he had returned to hell,

No, that’s wrong. He had always been in hell!

"Obito? You..." White Zetsu reached out, trying to grab Obito, but his hand passed through Obito’s arm, touching nothing but air. This left White Zetsu dumbfounded.

Even with his ocular powers weakened to such an unprecedented degree, Obito had still activated **Kamui**?

White Zetsu was stunned.

He couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

But the bigger shock was yet to come. The space in front of Obito distorted slightly, and a long gourd-shaped fan fell into his hands. Gripping the fan tightly, Obito, paying no heed to his weakened state, resolutely charged toward the deep red **Susano'o** in the distance—not just to approach it, but to kill it.

Two or three seconds later,

Sōgen, safe within his **Susano'o**, blinked, his previously dull eyes regaining their focus. His crimson pupils rotated as he quickly assessed the surroundings. His **Susano'o** remained unharmed, despite the precaution he had taken by presetting one of his ocular techniques in his left eye to automatically counter any attacks…

A wasted effort!

But if the same situation were to arise again, he would certainly make the same choice.

"The Three-Tails!"

The enormous, mountain-like figure of the Three-Tails was hard to miss.

Just as he was considering ordering the Three-Tails to revert from its transformed state, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure leaping atop the treetops—a figure wielding a gourd-shaped fan.

His heart skipped a beat!

Was he seeing things?

He turned his head for a clearer look, and there, Uchiha Obito, wearing his orange mask, held a fan that Sōgen had seen countless times in the clan's portraits and records—**The Flame Fan**, symbolizing the Uchiha clan’s thousand-year history and glory, also known as the **Uchiha Fan** because it was passed down from clan leader to clan leader.

Unfortunately, the fan had been taken by Uchiha Madara when he left Konoha, and even after Madara was defeated by Hashirama Senju, his body was returned, but the Uchiha Fan was never recovered, leaving the subsequent clan leaders without it.

Even Sōgen had to use the **Samehada** to fill the empty space behind him.

   
(End of chapter)

Chapter 98: Mad Obito!

"What... is going on?"

Sōgen furrowed his brows, watching Uchiha Obito charge toward him. Instantly, he raised his caution to the highest level. He wasn’t sure what Obito was planning. Was he rushing back after suffering a loss, eager to make a comeback? Was he preparing to reveal some hidden trump card?

However, something seemed off.

The six-pointed windmill pattern in Sōgen’s eyes spun, not because he was using a visual jutsu. He didn’t think Obito would be foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice. He was merely observing, pushing the insight of his Mangekyō Sharingan to the limit, trying to figure out what exactly was going on with Obito.

After the exhaustion of his visual power, Sōgen thought Obito would retreat for now...

Yet, instead of fleeing, Obito charged straight at him.

For a moment, Sōgen felt like a tiger facing a porcupine—unsure where to strike. He was certain Obito had something hidden up his sleeve. Otherwise, there was no way he would charge like this. Watching as Obito got closer, Sōgen’s heightened vision caught something strange.

"······"

Sōgen was momentarily speechless.

What he saw left him at a loss for words.

Within his vision, Obito’s chakra was in complete disarray, especially in his brain. His mental energy, typically well-ordered, was swirling chaotically, like a hurricane out of control. Honestly, in this state, Obito should be collapsing and needing emergency care, not running and jumping around.

"The extreme power of Yang Release?"

Sōgen could only attribute Obito’s abnormal vitality and movement to the incredible life force residing in his left side.

Obito's left side was the most stable part of his body, constantly releasing an immense flow of physical energy that kept his chakra in check while also restoring his Mangekyō Sharingan. The nearly exhausted visual power was once again being replenished.

"Yang Release!!"

Sōgen’s eyes burned with desire.

Looking at Obito was like staring at a clear and visible goal. This was only a partial version of the Sage of Six Paths' body. If it were the complete version...

But this was no time for admiration.

As Obito swiftly approached, Sōgen deactivated his Susanoo, leapt onto a tree branch with his Samehada sword, and calmly waited for Obito to draw near.

For small, agile opponents, a giant body could sometimes be a burden.

Especially against someone like Obito, who could use space-time techniques like Kamui. No matter how fierce and powerful Susanoo was, its attacks were meaningless if they couldn’t touch the enemy. Instead of wasting his visual power, Sōgen opted for a more flexible combat style.

Then—

"Uchiha Sōgen!!!"

Obito’s furious roar was filled with rage.

"This time, I, Uchiha Madara, will kill you!"

Sōgen had grown tired of hearing threats like that. From the number of people who’d sworn to kill him, there could be a line stretching from the Hokage Tower to the village gates. What intrigued him was Obito’s claim to be Uchiha Madara. Sure, Obito had been trying to pose as Madara before...

But now, it felt different!

Before, it seemed like he was just saying it. Now it seemed like Obito genuinely believed he was Madara.

"A disguise? Or has he truly gone mad?"

The odds of it being a disguise seemed slim.

The sheer chaos in Obito's chakra wasn’t something that could be faked. But had he truly lost his mind?

Obito didn’t give Sōgen much time to think. Whether out of instinct or lingering wisdom, Obito didn’t charge headlong. Instead, he formed hand signs while running, unleashing a jutsu.

*Earth Release: Earth Core Movement!*

This Earth Release technique could raise or lower the terrain. Obito chose to elevate the ground beneath Sōgen, creating a rectangular stone platform that thrust into the sky, taking Sōgen and the surrounding trees with it.

Then came a barrage of attacks.

Massive kunai and shuriken, seemingly meant for giants, were hurled from a distorted space, aimed at Sōgen.

"Trying to block my vision?"

Sōgen glanced at the incoming weapons. His vision was indeed obstructed. The Sharingan couldn’t see through solid objects like the Byakugan could. Blocking the Sharingan’s sight could be done by distance or physical barriers.

The Sharingan’s genjutsu required direct sight to work.

Without seeing the target, there was no way to cast an illusion.

"Since you won’t back down, let's continue our second round!"

Sōgen smiled and formed hand signs, ending with the *Dragon* sign.

*Wind Release: Pressure Damage!*

This was a B-rank Wind Release technique, considered a high-level ninjutsu. It was a pure, offensive wind-style jutsu, one of the most destructive among Wind Release techniques.

Sōgen inhaled deeply, his chest expanding, and then exhaled a high-speed, semi-transparent wind orb that seemed to contain a tornado within, speeding toward the incoming giant kunai and shuriken.

The orb collided with the weapons, instantly releasing a vortex of destructive wind, shredding the massive weapons into fragments. The violent windstorm whipped the steel shards into a deadly whirlwind.

Anyone caught in the storm would be ground to dust.

Yet, exceptions always exist.

For instance, Obito passed through the storm unharmed, his mastery of Kamui almost instinctive by now. Even in his confused state, he used Kamui to phase through the whirlwind and climbed up the now-shattered stone platform.

All of this seemed like a distraction.

It was merely to ensure he could get close to Sōgen without falling into a genjutsu.

Though, in Sōgen's opinion, there was no need for all the theatrics. He could’ve just used Kamui to warp over. Obito’s current state was definitely not right, his instincts and muddled mind clashing, creating this odd version of himself.

"Perhaps an opportunity?"

Sōgen flexed his wrist, and Samehada responded by raising its spikes.

Like a phantom, Obito appeared behind Sōgen.

Clang!

The descending Uchiha fan was blocked by Samehada.

"Samehada!"

Sōgen twisted his wrist, and Samehada extended like a snake, wrapping around Obito’s fan and lunging at his left arm. Samehada sensed the delicious chakra in Obito’s body, but when it bit down, it only caught air—Obito had phased again.

Obito vanished just as suddenly as he appeared, yet no relentless barrage followed. His use of Kamui seemed more sporadic and less threatening than before.

"Maybe he’s lost his sharpness."

While Obito wasn’t as dangerous as before, Sōgen still didn’t have an answer for the vexing space-time jutsu. With Obito avoiding eye contact to prevent another genjutsu trap, Sōgen’s options were limited. His regular attacks and ninjutsu couldn’t break through Kamui’s defenses.

Holding Samehada in his right hand, Sōgen reached toward his left eye.

"Should I use it now?"

He pondered silently.

To this day, Sōgen had used *Konoha Sakuya* three times, but had never revealed his other eye's ability in combat. Unlike Konoha Sakuya, which could be fueled by ongoing battles, the other eye’s technique was a massive drain on his power.

His left eye’s six-pointed windmill pattern spun as his vast visual power built up.

When decisive action was needed, you had to take the chance, even if success wasn’t guaranteed. Just as he was about to act, something unexpected happened.

When Sōgen deflected Obito’s fan again, Obito didn’t phase out this time. Blood dripped from under Obito’s mask. Sōgen hesitated, then quickly pieced it together—Obito’s visual power had been drained significantly during their earlier battle. Despite the Sage’s body healing him, it hadn’t been enough to replenish his lost strength.

With his frequent use of Kamui, Obito had depleted himself further.

He couldn’t retreat to his alternate dimension anymore.

"Now’s my chance!"

Sōgen sprang into action with a Body Flicker technique, closing the gap. Samehada coiled around Obito's fan, and Sōgen drew his long blade. The edge glowed with deadly, high-speed wind chakra, sharp enough to slice through steel like butter.

This strike would cleave through anything.

His crimson eyes flared as he swung the blade toward Obito’s neck.

"Wood Release: Thorns of Death!"

Thorn-like vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Obito like serpents. It was a Wood Release technique meant to bind and crush its target.

Yet now, it served as a shield.

The wood, harder than steel, blocked Sōgen's blade. Splinters flew, but Obito remained unharmed. Well, mostly unharmed—his right hand, still clutching the fan, hadn’t been covered by the wood and was severed by Sōgen’s strike.

"I’m not letting you go without a parting gift."

Sōgen gritted his teeth.

His blade spun, abandoning its attempt to slice through the stubborn wood. In a sharp, downward motion, the wind blade severed Uchiha Obito's right wrist. Blood spurted out like a fountain, and both the severed hand and the flame fan tumbled to the ground.

Immediately after, the blade rotated again. Sōgen aimed to thrust the sword into the open wound, planning to give Uchiha Obito a brutal finishing blow.

But just then—

The ground beneath him began to tremble. A massive wooden figure suddenly appeared beside the rocky platform. Its colossal fist hurtled down toward Sōgen with earth-shattering force. Sōgen’s eyes darted around, but he couldn’t spot the caster—whether it was White Zetsu or Black Zetsu, neither seemed keen on showing themselves.

“Susano'o!”

The scarlet in Sōgen's eyes deepened.

In an instant, his deep crimson Susano'o advanced to its fourth stage. A massive, deep-red hand shot up to meet the wooden figure’s descending fist. However, it was a hasty reaction. Susano'o was struck and staggered back, tumbling off the platform.

“He got away again!”

Sōgen clicked his tongue in frustration.

But when he saw the flame fan being carried over by Samehada, a smirk finally crept across his face. At least he hadn’t come away empty-handed!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 99: The Branch of the Divine Tree

The wooden figure that appeared for only a moment vanished, leaving behind a half-destroyed rock platform in the forest. Uchiha Obito, along with his severed hand, had disappeared, likely taken by Zetsu. Samehada, which preferred high-quality chakra over flesh and blood, only grabbed the Flame Fan.

Upon reflection, it was Obito's right hand that had been cut off, not the incomplete Sage Body on his left side. Even if he had obtained it, it wouldn't have been very valuable. Besides, even if Obito’s left hand had been severed, in terms of the day's spoils, it wouldn’t have ranked very high.

The true treasure from this battle was the Flame Fan he now held.

Standing atop the low mound of rock, Sōgen carefully examined the Flame Fan. It was shaped like a gourd, with black edges and a pale white fan surface. At the top, two sets of six tomoe Sharingan patterns adorned it. The long handle was wrapped with bands of cloth, ending with an iron clasp.

Aside from the iron clasp, which had clearly been added later, the entire Flame Fan was seamlessly made from a material neither metal nor iron—hard yet elastic.

"A branch of the Divine Tree?" Sōgen gripped the fan tighter.

His eyes gleamed with joy, a smile tugging at his lips that he could barely contain. He gently stroked the fan, a symbol of the Uchiha clan’s thousand-year history and honor. It was the second time in his life he had handled something so carefully—the first being when he held Fujika, barely a hundred days old, after taking her from his mother’s arms.

If not for the self-control he had developed over the years, he might have laughed out loud.

A branch of the Divine Tree—

This fan was crafted from the branch of the Divine Tree! Even the Tailed Beasts were merely portions of the Divine Tree’s power. To put it in formula form:

Nine Tailed Beasts (Power) + Gedo Statue (Body) = Ten-Tails (Divine Tree).

Yet this Flame Fan was forged from a branch of the Divine Tree when it was still whole. Though small compared to the terrifying power of the Tailed Beasts, the Uchiha fan’s essence was far more complete.

Though it seemed unassuming, the information and secrets it held were vast.

The moment Sōgen grasped the fan, he activated the power of "The Knight Does Not Die with Bare Hands," wiping away all the imprints left by previous owners and fully bringing it under his control. The result was a surprise beyond words.

The future might very well depend on this fan.

After admiring the fan for a while, Sōgen replaced Samehada with it, strapping the Flame Fan to his back. His red armor, custom-made by the clan elders in the style of Uchiha Madara’s, even had a slot designed for carrying the fan. It seemed the elders had high expectations for him.

This made it convenient for Sōgen—he no longer had to seal the fan in a scroll or carry it around all the time.

As for Samehada, after releasing the summoning technique, it returned to the Konoha Police Force. Sōgen had already instructed his subordinates to regularly take Samehada to Konoha’s prison to “feed.” While the chakra quality there wasn’t the best, the quantity was abundant and stable, which effectively replenished Samehada’s chakra consumption.

Samehada wasn’t a Tailed Beast; its chakra didn’t generate on its own but was absorbed from external sources. If it kept consuming without absorbing more, even Samehada would eventually run dry.

“Karatachi Yagura!”

The shadow of a figure fell on the desolate land, covering Yagura’s body.

After being crushed by the enormous body of the Three-Tails, nothing grew on the barren land. Having reverted from his Tailed Beast form, Yagura lay there, unattended for some time. Black Zetsu had only taken Uchiha Obito, leaving the Fourth Mizukage, who was also the Three-Tails’ Jinchūriki, behind.

Or perhaps it was out of fear of Sōgen’s power that Black Zetsu dared not return for Yagura.

"The second spoil of war."

Sōgen grabbed Yagura and began walking toward the Kuroshio Castle. In truth, even he found the current situation confusing. This war with the Mist felt strange. The main armies hadn’t even clashed yet, but the leaders had already fought each other.

Technically speaking, with Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage and Jinchūriki of the Three-Tails, now in his hands, there was little doubt about the war’s outcome. The Mist couldn’t stand against Konoha, but the war might not end so simply.

How to use Yagura was not Sōgen’s field of expertise—it was the job of his advisors. There was no reason for the commander-in-chief to shoulder all the responsibilities while his subordinates had nothing to do.

So, after surveying the area one last time to ensure nothing was overlooked, he headed to Kuroshio Castle to meet up with his troops. By this time, the main forces should be arriving soon. He sighed at the thought of the trouble ahead. With the command center of the Eastern Border Defense Forces wiped out, there was still much for him to sort out.

Following the irregular path he had created during his fight with Yagura’s semi-Tailed Beast form, he returned to the weathered Kuroshio Castle. Unlike when he left, the once desolate castle, home only to vultures and corpses, was now bustling with Konoha ninjas in green vests. They cleared away the debris from the collapsed gate and gathered the bodies of their fallen comrades in one corner, preparing for a collective burial later.

Among them, Sōgen spotted his only student sitting under the shade of a tree, reading a book.

"Master!"

Kurama Yakumo looked up from her book as the shadow fell over her, first startled, then breaking into a bright smile.

“Why are you sitting here reading? Where’s Fujika? Isn’t she with you?”

Sōgen asked gently.

“It was stuffy inside, so I came out for some fresh air. As for Fujika, she’s probably at the training ground practicing swordsmanship with Sister Chihaya. She asked me to join, but I wasn’t feeling up to it today, so I stayed behind.” Though young, she spoke clearly and answered all of Sōgen’s questions one by one.

"I see! Don’t worry, soon enough you’ll be able to train in swordsmanship with her. I’ll personally teach you both." Sōgen ruffled the little girl’s hair.

At that moment, he heard a commotion and turned to see a large group of people approaching. Leading the way was his deputy, Hyuga Masayuki, an elder of the Hyuga Clan, followed by Aburame Shikuro, Yamanaka Mokuren, Akimichi Toudou, Inuzuka Kiba, and other high-ranking officers.

“Lord Sōgen!”

Hyuga Masayuki bowed in greeting, though there was a slight edge to his voice, as if he was upset.

Chapter 100: Depth Charge

It really is—

The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi!

Everyone fell silent. No one could have imagined seeing the Fourth Mizukage here. Was this a dream? At this moment, shouldn’t the Mizukage be at the Hidden Mist Village? Even if he were leading the charge, wouldn’t he be under heavy protection from the Mist forces?

Why would he be here, right in the middle of the Leaf Ninja’s stronghold?

Hyuga Masayuki activated his Byakugan. Yamanaka Mokuren used her clan’s secret technique. The others also began using their various sensory abilities. Sensing Sougen’s silent approval, they all directed their attention to the seemingly defenseless Fourth Mizukage. And then—

They “saw” the vast and terrifying power sleeping within Yagura Karatachi’s body!

That was undoubtedly the energy of a tailed beast!

“Sougen-sama, what is going on here?”

Hyuga Masayuki’s voice was fast and urgent, unable to hide the intense emotions stirring inside him.

It wasn’t just Masayuki who was desperate to know what was happening. Everyone was curious. Why was the Fourth Mizukage here at this time?

“This is not the place to talk. Let’s move elsewhere.”

Sougen shook his head lightly, not immediately answering to dispel everyone’s confusion.

Still using his Byakugan, Masayuki realized they were at the castle’s main gate, with many ninjas passing by and glancing curiously at them. While no one dared approach, Sougen was right; this was no place for a serious conversation.

“Shall we head to the keep?” Masayuki suggested.

Sougen looked up at the highest point of the Black Tide Castle—the keep.

This castle was meant to be the frontline command center. Even though the border defense unit’s command had been destroyed, the plan had to continue. In fact, rebuilding the command here was even more crucial to reorganize the border defenses quickly.

When they arrived at the keep, it was empty except for a few cushions.

Sougen set down the Uchiha fan he had been carrying and sat cross-legged on a cushion. His companions were stunned. Until now, they hadn’t noticed that what Sougen had been carrying on his back wasn’t the Samehada sword but the long-lost Uchiha Fan. Their eyes widened in shock.

“Sougen-sama, is that… the Uchiha Fan?”

The first to speak was Mikura Youka, a bearded man of humble origins. He looked at the gourd-shaped fan with simple curiosity. But during the Third Ninja War, he had been a frontline commander against the Rock Ninjas and was one of the staunchest supporters of the Fourth Hokage.

Although Youka’s achievements were remarkable, he did not fully understand the significance of the Uchiha Fan. The others, hailing from prominent clans, were too shocked to speak.

“You can call it the Uchiha Fan or the Blazing Fan,” Sougen said, gently running his hand along the long handle of the fan.

“Sougen-sama, wasn’t the clan’s fan taken away and lost? How does this connect to the Fourth Mizukage?” Masayuki couldn’t hold back anymore. First, the capture of Yagura, and now this—what had Sougen been doing?

Did he not only capture Yagura but also find the long-lost Uchiha Fan?

What a joke!

It was more believable that the Mist Ninjas had hidden the fan away themselves.

“I’ll explain everything. Yunhai, take the meeting minutes. This situation is complex, and we’ll need to send a full report to the Hokage.” Sougen instructed Kurama Yunhai, who hurried to fetch paper and ink.

“I won’t waste time with pleasantries. We have plenty of problems to deal with. Let me be direct—those who attacked the Eastern Border Defense Command were none other than the Fourth Mizukage and his personal guards.”

Kurama Yunhai quickly started writing.

Masayuki, Aburame Shikuro, Yamanaka Mokuren, and the others listened intently.

“However, during our fight, I realized that something was wrong with the Mizukage. He was under a genjutsu.”

This revelation hit like a bombshell.

Everyone’s faces stiffened in shock. Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, was under a genjutsu? That was unthinkable! He was one of the five Kage, the supreme leader of the Hidden Mist Village, someone whose word determined life and death.

How could someone like that be controlled by genjutsu?

Even Kurama Yunhai’s hand trembled as he struggled to write clearly.

“The Mizukage... controlled by genjutsu…” Nara Suzaku glanced at Yagura’s unconscious form, realizing the complexity of the situation. If this was true, the war between the Mist and the Leaf was far more intricate than he had imagined.

Sougen continued, giving the group time to absorb the information. “The person controlling him wore a mask and black robes. His true identity is unknown, but during our fight, he claimed to be Uchiha Madara!”

Another shockwave rippled through the group.

“Uchiha Madara?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Didn’t he die at the hands of the First Hokage?”

Masayuki completely lost his composure. As someone from the same era as Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had witnessed the battles between the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara. The news that Madara might still be alive was devastating.

With no First Hokage to defend them, how could the Leaf withstand the return of such a monstrous figure?

“Masayuki-senpai, calm down. This masked man only claimed to be Madara. Besides the Sharingan and the Blazing Fan, there’s no proof that he truly is.” Sougen reassured the elderly ninja.

Masayuki was speechless for a moment. True, the fact that Yagura and the fan had fallen into Sougen’s hands suggested this masked man wasn’t invincible.

“The war between us and the Mist was instigated by this person. While we don’t yet know his motives, I suspect the Nine-Tails attack five years ago might have been his doing as well.”

“Past events aside, we need to focus on our current problems. Masayuki-senpai, you’ll handle reorganizing the border defenses. And Suzaku, I need a plan on how to maximize our leverage with the captured Mizukage.”

“This war isn’t over. Capturing the Mizukage was just a lucky break. He’s still a puppet, and we can’t let our guard down.”

“Yes, Sougen-sama!” they replied in unison.

The war had only just begun.