White Hot Light: The First's Ultimate Kill!

Obito was too fierce—he had given himself a "protect your comrades" buff.

But in an instant, he was surrounded by several Iwagakure shinobi.

"This guy is an Uchiha too..."

"He hasn't awakened his eyes. He's useless. Kill him quickly, then go with Lord Gari and take down that Nuclear Release brat."

Several Iwagakure shinobi wore cruel expressions.

But what greeted them was a full-powered Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu—though it could not inflict any damage at all.

Obito howled as he charged into battle with them, fighting with high morale. The slightest opening would have gotten him killed instantly.

Yet, incredibly, in a situation that should have meant certain death, Obito actually held out for several exchanges before deliberately taking a kick and getting sent flying.

"Genitsu! Jonin Hiruko! Fall back to my position!!" Obito spat out blood and tore off his goggles.

Genitsu did not even know what to say.

Hiruko and he had been pursued relentlessly by Gari. After several clashes, they were both in a rather sorry state.

Under Hiruko's cover, Genitsu finally joined up with Obito, and the two stood back-to-back.

"Kid, if you have some hidden jutsu, use it now. I can't hold on much longer."

This time, Hiruko was struck by one of Gari's punches. A terrifying explosion erupted from one of his shoulders, scattering blood and flesh everywhere.

His heavy breathing seemed to herald the countdown to his death.

"What a troublesome bastard. You still won't die? And your body is strange..."

Gari sneered. The combination of Explosion Release and Steel Release had elevated his combat power to an exceptionally formidable level.

It made him extremely confident. Given enough time, he would become Iwagakure's new Kage-level powerhouse.

The remaining few figures surrounded Genitsu's group of three from all sides. No matter how one looked at it, the three were doomed.

Although Genitsu's mention of some jutsu concerned him... whatever it was, it would be utterly useless against his Steel Release defense!

"Die, Konoha shinobi."

A hint of excitement flashed in Gari's eyes.

Hiruko anxiously shot Genitsu a glance.

But that one glance made his blood run cold.

Because...

Nuclear Release: Super Vibration Wave!

This vibration wave was Genitsu's most powerful attack, blasting indiscriminately into the ground beneath their feet!!

The next instant, the ground shattered. Countless fragments of stone erupted upward, blocking all vision as a violent roar burst forth.

"Kid, you—"

Hiruko's furious roar was instantly drowned out by the terrible sound of the explosion.

The attack had come far too suddenly, without the slightest warning.

"Retreat!"

The moment the explosion began, Genitsu grabbed Obito and rapidly fell back. Braving several kunai strikes, he forced a path through. Then, as he abruptly raised his head, his unprecedentedly cold gaze turned toward Hiruko.

"Let's go, Obito. Lord Hiruko stayed behind of his own accord, risking his life to hold off the enemy for us... We have to survive."

Genitsu spoke in a low voice, dragging the bewildered Obito away at high speed.

His movements were so decisive, as though he had rehearsed them countless times.

"Lord Hiruko sacrificed himself to stop the enemy for us?" Obito looked utterly confused.

Was that really what happened? Something felt strange.

"That's right, Obito. No matter what, we cannot betray Lord Hiruko's goodwill. He was right—we need to live if we are to have a future."

Genitsu's voice was ice-cold.

Hiruko... that dangerous fellow. Going by the timeline, he would defect during the Third Shinobi World War.

After learning that Kakashi had obtained the Sharingan, he had become intensely jealous. He believed that if he himself possessed the Sharingan, he could become even stronger.

"By my estimate, his defection isn't far off. The Chimera Technique capable of transplanting Kekkei Genkai has probably been initially developed as well... Combined with his behavior, there's a high chance he has set his sights on me. It would be best to deal with someone this dangerous in advance."

Genitsu dragged Obito along as they raced through the battlefield.

A few minutes later.

Gari appeared with the few remaining Iwagakure shinobi. One of his hands was smeared with thick blood and bits of flesh.

"Tch, Konoha shinobi really are troublesome. Those two brats can't have escaped far. Hurry up... What should have been a simple mission has become such a hassle."

Gari's expression was gloomy. That Nuclear Release brat's jutsu was simply impossible to guard against. That Super Vibration Wave just now, aside from its power, had been unleashed with extreme suddenness.

He was growing anxious.

If they delayed any longer, Konoha's other shinobi would react and send support. Then this mission could be declared a failure.

Time passed.

Genitsu and Obito cautiously set up a trap.

"Genitsu, will this really work?" Obito asked anxiously.

"It has to work. Hiruko can't hold him off. We need to find a way to buy time ourselves..."

"Then wouldn't Lord Hiruko have died for nothing?"

"Obito, this world isn't simply black and white. Hiruko had his own will, and in the end, he chose this outcome... When you understand that, we can discuss it again. Maybe one day in the future, we'll reach an understanding."

Genitsu looked at Obito with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Obito did not understand any of it.

But he would understand in the future. From the moment Madara Uchiha set his sights on him, and then Black Zetsu took notice of him, many things had already been destined.

This world needed someone to bring about change.

A series of traps was breached.

Gari finally caught up. He looked up at the two figures ahead.

"This time, no one will come to save you."

Gari charged in with several others, sneering.

At the same time, the explosive tag trap Genitsu had set detonated with a roar, but Gari ignored it all with Steel Release.

It looked as though this was the end.

"Genitsu, go."

Obito suddenly spoke, smiling. "I still don't understand what you were talking about just now, but it looks like I won't get the chance to figure it out... You'll definitely become an incredible ninja someday."

Obito was already prepared to risk his life and create an opening for Genitsu to escape.

Just as he was about to charge at the enemy, Genitsu grabbed him.

Genitsu's gaze passed straight over Obito and settled on Gari. He suddenly sighed. "Gari, you shouldn't have come. If you hadn't, you might have lived a few more years."

Tiger hand sign, Ox hand sign, Rabbit hand sign.

Genitsu formed the seals.

A terrifying heat suddenly erupted.

At this moment, he finally used that technique—the First Godzilla's ultimate finishing move.

Nuclear Release: White Hot Light!