Chapter 446: Six Paths Obito
Obito's eyes widened for a moment, filled with a fleeting sense of clarity, followed by an expression of resignation.
Kakashi's low voice echoed in his ears.
"Forgive me, Obito. This is the only thing I can do for you."
Obito broke free from Kakashi's grasp, blood erupting from his body but quickly stopping.
He glanced at his right hand, where a familiar yet foreign Chidori crackled with electricity, and rasped:
"Your Chidori is more ruthless and decisive than last time. If it were Haneda… cough!"
Obito suddenly coughed up black blood, wiping his lips as if making a final decision.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Let's say you've won this fight. But the war? The war's victor is destined to be me!"
Obito staggered and fell, the regenerative powers of the Sage's body healing his shattered heart.
At that moment, the Ten-Tails, now out of Obito's control, began to rampage.
Meanwhile, Madara, still engaged in his fierce battle with the Five Kage, glanced toward the Ten-Tails. The blue flames of his Susano'o burned even more intensely.
"So, in the end, that guy succumbed to the so-called power of bonds. No choice now. I had hoped to play with you a little longer, Hashirama."
Madara raised a finger, and several black rods sprouted from Obito's body. The darkness of the rods consumed half of Obito's form.
Obito screamed in pain as the seals formed on his hands mirrored those of Madara's.
Madara, seemingly still holding some affection for Obito, controlled him while explaining:
"Obito, the reason I saved you was to make you revive me."
"Originally, this task was meant for Nagato, but you failed miserably."
"Since you didn't fulfill your promise to repay me, I'll take what I'm owed myself."
"It's time for you to return the favor."
Hashirama, ever watchful of Madara, immediately realized that Obito was under Madara's control.
Furthermore, Hashirama recognized the technique Madara was attempting—it was the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu!
If Madara succeeded in reviving himself, given his power and cunning, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hashirama split into several wood clones, but his chakra had been heavily drained from the prolonged battle with Madara.
Even though his Edo Tensei body provided unlimited chakra, the recovery rate wasn't instantaneous. He was down to only thirty percent of his chakra reserves.
"Tobirama! Fellow Kage!" Hashirama called out, realizing he couldn't stop Madara alone.
Tobirama immediately created shadow clones, but his chakra reserves were even lower, only enough for two clones.
At the same time, Itachi and Shisui controlled their red and green Susano'o giants, charging toward Madara.
Itachi swung the Totsuka Blade, and Shisui loosed arrows from his bow. The sword and arrows streaked toward Madara.
Madara glanced at the incoming attacks, and with a slight lift of his gaze, three massive meteors began to descend upon the Allied Shinobi Forces.
The Third Hokage, Mei Terumi, the Fourth Raikage, Rasa, and the Legendary Sannin, who were preparing their own jutsu, had no choice but to shift focus to the meteors.
A revived Madara would pose a dire threat, but the falling meteors would claim the lives of thousands.
The choice was obvious.
Madara laughed. "Shadow clones won't stop me. As for the Totsuka Blade and Yasaka Magatama… mere grains of sand against the vastness of my power."
Two black rods flew from Madara's side, colliding precisely with the elongated Totsuka Blade and the Yasaka Magatama, forcing both attacks to retreat or dissipate.
Madara stood tall, invincible and proud.
Meanwhile, on Obito's side, the rampaging Ten-Tails instinctively sought to reclaim the chakra of the Nine-Tails.
The chains pulling at the Nine-Tails' chakra suddenly doubled in strength.
In that moment, Naruto and Minato understood—Obito had been holding back.
If Obito had truly given everything to reclaim the chakra, Minato, even as an Edo Tensei, wouldn't have reached him in time.
And there would have been no prolonged struggle.
But now, the Ten-Tails showed no mercy as it sought the Nine-Tails within Naruto.
Kakashi spoke urgently. "Naruto, give up part of the chakra. Our priority now is stopping Madara!"
Naruto hesitated. To give up the Nine-Tails, even a portion of it, was something he couldn't bring himself to do.
But Minato was different. He was more mature and understood the necessity of sacrifice.
"Kurama, I'm sorry," Minato said, his tone apologetic, as he severed the portion of chakra most entangled with the Ten-Tails.
With that, the Ten-Tails briefly lessened its pull on the Nine-Tails.
At the same time, Kakashi drew his short blade and used the power of his Purple Lightning Chidori Blade to sever all the purple chains extending from the Ten-Tails.
Naruto was temporarily freed.
Sensing Naruto's turmoil, the Nine-Tails spoke to reassure him:
"Don't blame yourself, Naruto. I'm not happy about this, but it's a necessary sacrifice. Once we deal with the Ten-Tails, the chakra will come back. Just think of it as unpaid rent."
Naruto forced a smile. He didn't like being consoled, especially by someone who had been hurt.
At the same time, he felt overwhelming regret and an intense longing for power.
If I had taken my training seriously... If I hadn't run off so often… If I'd trained with as much determination as Sasuke… Would things be different today?
If only…
But there was no "if only."
Naruto's smile turned resolute. "Kurama, I promise I'll get you back from the Ten-Tails!"
Kurama, seeing Naruto's determination, was reminded of Asura, the younger son of the Sage of Six Paths.
"I believe in you, Naruto."
While Naruto conversed with Kurama in the spiritual plane, the battle continued.
Kakashi, after securing Naruto's safety, used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to Obito's side, intending to rescue him.
But he was forced back by the black rods surrounding Obito.
Minato, using the same technique, arrived at Obito's side and was also repelled.
However, Minato had an advantage—the Flying Thunder God mark he had left on Obito was still intact.
Teleported back to Obito's side, Minato's kunai slashed through the blackened part of Obito's body.
Obito's Rinnegan shifted to meet Minato's gaze. "Sensei…"
Minato smiled gently. "I'm sorry, Obito. Last time, I couldn't save you. But this time, I made it in time."
Obito's normal half seemed to curve into a faint smile before his body collapsed.
Noticing Obito's condition, Hashirama questioned Madara. "What now?"
Madara, sitting on the ground with his face half-supported by his hand, smirked. "I failed… but it doesn't matter."
Hashirama's confusion deepened. "What do you mean?"
Madara hesitated for a moment before explaining. "Obito has already met the conditions for the jutsu. He's completed the final piece of the puzzle to revive the Ten-Tails."
"What he just performed wasn't the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu."
Elsewhere, Edo Tensei Minato stood before Obito and spoke softly. "Reality isn't as cruel as you think, Obito."
"The shinobi world's endless wars will one day come to an end."
Kakashi added, "Haneda will entrust this world to the right people and reshape it."
Obito lifted his head weakly. "I know Haneda will achieve it. But people's dreams never end."
"As long as desires remain unfulfilled, happiness will always elude them."
"This world… will never be a truly perfect reality."
"That's why I said, the Eye of the Moon Plan isn't just for me!"
"Kakashi, don't you understand yet?!"
As Obito's voice roared, the rampaging Ten-Tails began to shrink, its mass condensing into a white sphere at Obito's location.
The sphere cracked open. Obito emerged, transformed and ascended.
He had fully mastered the power of the Six Paths.
(End of chapter)