Obito's gaze darkened with doubt.
Impure World Reincarnation was powerful, yes—but the sacrifice and conditions required were extreme. And reviving someone like Indra, an ancient progenitor of shinobi?
"Indra's genetic material… where exactly are we supposed to find that?" Obito let out a dry laugh.
Black Zetsu's lips curled faintly. "I have it."
"You… have it?"
Obito stared at him, disbelief clear in his eyes.
But in a situation this desperate, even the faintest hope was enough.
"Fine. We'll do it."
He clenched his teeth and committed.
A cold wind swept through the clearing. The air around them twisted as an ancient chakra began to spread.
The forbidden technique activated.
Its target—
The legendary ancestor of shinobi: Indra.
"…Have I returned?"
When Indra's figure slowly formed before them, Obito and Black Zetsu held their breath.
Even as an Impure World Reincarnation body, the oppressive weight of his presence was undeniable.
Indra listened as they explained the situation. A faint trace of disdain surfaced in his expression.
"So the old man passed Ninshū to Asura…" His voice carried a quiet scorn. "I knew that would lead nowhere. Good. It seems I'll have to correct this world myself."
He closed his eyes.
A violent surge of chakra exploded outward—
And in an instant, he shattered the control of Impure World Reincarnation.
His form grew more solid, more real—like a warrior restored to his prime.
"He broke the control just like that?!" Obito and Black Zetsu exchanged stunned looks.
Indra's strength far exceeded their expectations.
"I'll go see this so-called descendant myself," Indra said calmly.
Obito frowned. "Shuoye Uchiha isn't someone to underestimate. Wouldn't confronting him directly be reckless?"
Indra's gaze sharpened.
"Do not compare me to the fool you call Madara Uchiha. I will send someone ahead to probe Konoha."
He paused.
"As for me… I'll observe this era of shinobi."
"Yes."
Obito exhaled quietly in relief.
Under Indra's instructions, he began arranging a test strike on Konoha. A direct clash would be foolish. They needed expendable pieces.
After careful consideration, Obito chose two notorious rogue shinobi:
Kakuzu and Hidan.
Kakuzu possessed the secret technique Earth Grudge Fear, allowing him to wield five different chakra natures. His combat versatility was terrifying.
Hidan, meanwhile, had an immortal body and the ritual curse of his so-called god—making him nearly impossible to kill in conventional battle.
When Obito found them, both were indulging in separate battles, savoring bloodshed.
But once he mentioned the reward, they listened.
"Konoha?" Kakuzu licked his lips. "That sounds profitable."
Hidan grinned wildly. "I'm immortal. Let's tear the place apart."
Obito watched them go, silently hoping this probe would reveal something useful.
Under his guidance, Kakuzu and Hidan approached Konoha quietly.
They did not attack.
They observed.
Inside the village, everything appeared peaceful. Shinobi carried out missions. Children trained and laughed.
But beneath that calm surface, something else moved.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.
"Konoha's defenses are tight."
Patrols were frequent. The shinobi were disciplined.
Hidan scoffed. "So what? They'll run out of chakra eventually."
Kakuzu shook his head. "Carelessness gets you killed."
Then—
A powerful chakra signature flared in the distance.
They followed it silently, arriving at a hidden training ground outside the main village.
There—
They saw him.
Shuoye Uchiha.
He moved across the field like a streak of shadow and steel. Every motion was precise. Every strike carried force.
Yet he appeared completely unguarded.
Kakuzu studied him carefully.
"Hm. He's not weak."
Hidan cracked his neck. "Then I'll test him."
"Don't be stupid," Kakuzu snapped. "We're not here to fight him head-on. We take a hostage. That's all."
Hidan smirked. "Still… offering him to my god would be entertaining."
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed. "His bounty has skyrocketed. I'm interested in that head."
Hidan laughed. "Fine. You take the head. I'll take the body."
"Deal."
They moved.
—
Before they could advance further—
A hidden killing intent sliced through the night.
"Hidden Assassination Armament."
The voice was cold.
Hidan's body exploded apart in an instant—severed into pieces.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
Kakuzu barely avoided the fatal strike, instincts screaming.
"What—?!"
Silence returned.
Then—
A figure stepped from the shadows. Crimson eyes glowed faintly.
Uchiha Xuanjing.
"You chose the wrong village."
Kakuzu's expression hardened. "Uchiha Xuanjing…"
"Move."
Uchiha Xuanjing attacked without hesitation.
His movements were fluid and ruthless. Each technique was sharp, efficient, lethal.
Hidan struggled to reassemble himself, shrieking curses.
Uchiha Xuanjing ignored him and pressed Kakuzu relentlessly.
Furious, Hidan attempted his ritual—
But Uchiha Xuanjing completed a sealing technique first.
Hidan was bound again.
"Your god," Uchiha Xuanjing said flatly, "is irrelevant here."
Kakuzu realized he was in danger.
He roared.
"Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear!"
His body bulged grotesquely. Four masked chakra hearts tore free behind him, unleashing different elemental techniques.
The battlefield exploded with color and destruction.
Uchiha Xuanjing narrowed his eyes.
"So that's your trump card."
Their clash intensified. The sky flashed with chakra bursts.
Kakuzu temporarily gained ground—but the strain on his body mounted.
"Almost…"
Uchiha Xuanjing spotted the flaw.
At that same moment—
Kakuzu lifted his head—
And froze.
In the darkness beyond the battlefield stood Shuoye Uchiha.
Calm.
Watching.
Like everything had already been decided.
A chill ran down Kakuzu's spine.
"You set this up…"
Shuoye stepped forward slowly.
Kakuzu forced a grin. "Even your First Hokage once faced my assassination."
Shuoye chuckled.
"Oh? If throwing a kunai from eight hundred meters away counts as assassination, then I suppose that's impressive."
Kakuzu's face darkened instantly.
"How do you know that?"
He had never spoken of the truth behind that "feat."
"You know too much," Kakuzu growled. "You leave me no choice."
His remaining hearts began devouring one another—
Chakra compressed violently into a monstrous construct.
"Earth Grudge Fear: Demon Hand!"
A massive chakra arm lunged at Shuoye.
Uchiha Xuanjing's expression tightened.
But Shuoye didn't move.
He lifted one hand.
The incoming techniques shattered midair like glass striking an invisible wall.
Then he vanished.
Reappearing before Kakuzu—
He crushed one forming technique with his bare hand.
Silence fell.
"Impossible!" Kakuzu roared.
Shuoye's voice was calm.
"Hidan can't die, so you thought extra lives would make you bold?"
In one smooth motion—
He pierced through all four remaining Earth Grudge Fear hearts.
Kakuzu's body trembled violently.
Despair filled his eyes.
He had never imagined defeat would come this easily.
Obito, hidden at a distance, retreated immediately.
Elsewhere, Hidan broke free briefly—
Only to be intercepted by Uchiha Xuanjing and the arriving Shisui Uchiha.
"Tsukuyomi."
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
Hidan fell into endless psychological torment.
—
Kakuzu collapsed to his knees.
"Shuoye… I'll serve you."
Fear replaced greed in his voice.
"With me at your side, many things become easier. I know secrets—many secrets. Just spare me…"
Shuoye looked down at him.
Amusement flickered in his eyes.
He understood Kakuzu's ambition. Understood that this surrender was survival, not loyalty.
And at that moment—
A system notification sounded beside his ear.
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