Chapter 272: Successful Capture of Four-Tails and Five-Tails
Isshiki coldly watched as Obito was sent flying, his eyes filled with disdain.
The Mangekyō Sharingan in the Shinobi world doesn't have the ability to create dimensions. The Kamui dimension connected to Obito's Mangekyō is merely an unclaimed extradimensional space. Obito is nothing more than a user of it.
Even if it were a claimed dimension, Isshiki could enter it through his own space-time transfer ability—let alone an unclaimed one.
For the Ōtsutsuki clan, traveling through dimensions is second nature. They can traverse past and future worlds with ease, let alone a single unclaimed dimension.
The moment Obito appeared before him and used Kamui, it was as if he had handed over the coordinates of his dimension. Using this, Isshiki could track and enter the dimension, effectively nullifying its secrecy.
Obito crashed heavily to the ground, having taken a strike powerful enough to send a full Susano'o flying. Fortunately, his intangibility ability allowed him to phase underground, avoiding a follow-up attack and escaping serious injury.
Emerging slowly from the ground, his body half-submerged, Obito stared at Isshiki with a somber expression.
"This Ōtsutsuki can even invade my Kamui dimension to attack my real body?" Obito's heart was filled with disbelief.
This was different from his encounters with Madara. Although Madara's strength surpassed his, Obito knew he could never be killed by him. As long as he escaped into the Kamui dimension, Madara was powerless to follow him.
But Isshiki was different.
For the first time, Obito's once-reliable ace in the hole had been completely countered. His confidence began to waver.
Meanwhile, Madara had recovered from his earlier injuries. Isshiki glanced at both of them, seemingly bored.
"If you don't have anything else up your sleeve, stop struggling. Just give up," Isshiki said indifferently.
Even he had to admit that Madara's strength was impressive—remarkable for a native of this world. If he became a servant of the Ōtsutsuki clan, perhaps he could reach greater heights.
Unfortunately, he was born in the wrong place.
The Shinobi world's connection to Kaguya ensured that it would inevitably draw the attention of the Ōtsutsuki clan, sealing its fate of destruction.
Madara remained silent, his cold gaze fixed on Isshiki as he charged forward once more—just as he had done countless times against Hashirama in the past.
Obito summoned his Susano'o, using it to both support Madara and shield himself as he activated his communicator.
"Tamako! What are you doing? Hurry up and help us!"
"I'm watching you get beaten," came the calm reply from the other end, causing Obito's eye to twitch.
"With the way you two are fighting, do you expect me to charge in and die? It's better for me to stay on the sidelines and look for weaknesses in the enemy."
Before Obito could respond, the communicator disconnected.
"..."
Human emotions truly differ. Some stand by idly enjoying the show, while others fight desperately for their lives.
With a deep sigh, Obito muttered to himself, "Guess it's just me and Madara now."
---
Meanwhile, Tamako observed the battlefield through a virtual screen, carefully studying Isshiki's abilities.
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles."
Without intelligence or strength, any strategy would be useless. Even the fearsome Madara was being overpowered.
Her slender frame and lack of combat prowess made her involvement pointless. Better to analyze Isshiki's techniques from a distance than charge in blindly.
Glancing at White Zetsu, who emerged from the ground nearby, she ordered, "Report every change on the battlefield from the moment it started."
---
Elsewhere, Nagato activated his Rinnegan, his calm voice echoing across the battlefield:
"Shinra Tensei!"
A surge of powerful chakra radiated outward, repelling everything in its path. Lava spewed by the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki, Rōshi, shattered into countless fiery fragments, scattering through the air.
"Argh!" Rōshi groaned, his body hurled backward uncontrollably by the immense force. Struggling to stabilize himself, he found the shockwave too overwhelming to resist.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Nagato's cold voice rang out once more. His Rinnegan unleashed a gravitational pull, yanking the airborne Rōshi back toward him. Despite his struggles, Rōshi was drawn in, utterly defenseless.
Seizing the moment, Nagato pressed his hand against Rōshi's forehead and pulled back sharply.
A faint, ethereal essence was torn from Rōshi's body—the very soul of the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki.
"Argh…" Rōshi's anguished screams echoed briefly before his lifeless body collapsed to the ground, his eyes dull and void.
"Rōshi! Akatsuki, you damned scum!" Tsuchikage Ōnoki roared in fury. His Dust Release attacks intensified, nearly breaking through Shinno's defenses.
Shinno felt the heat of Ōnoki's rage and the potency of his attacks. Maintaining his composure, he cautiously parried the Tsuchikage's blows, inwardly irritated.
Though now a Jinchūriki of the Zero-Tails, Shinno found himself hard-pressed against the aging but formidable Ōnoki.
Nagato ignored the enraged Tsuchikage and tossed Rōshi's corpse aside. Black Zetsu emerged to retrieve it. Nagato turned his attention to another Jinchūriki on the battlefield.
"The Four-Tails is secured. Next is the Five-Tails," he declared coldly, his eyes locking onto Han.
Han's heart sank.
"Han, flee immediately! Go to the Land of Fire for help!" Ōnoki shouted desperately.
Han looked at the surrounding carnage—the bodies of his comrades lying scattered across the battlefield. He sighed inwardly and remained still.
Turning to face Konan and Nagato, Han took a deep breath. Determination filled his eyes as he called out resolutely, "If you want the Five-Tails, come and get it!"
---
Minutes later, the dust settled.
Han lay amidst the rubble, his battered body unrecognizable. Blood stained his torn garments, his lifeless eyes staring blankly into the sky.
Nagato retracted his hand, coldly declaring, "The Five-Tails has been secured."
(End of Chapter)