Obito's Heart Was Shattered (Physically)

"Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash!"

Clang, clang, clang! Obito held his staff horizontally and blocked Naruto's three blades—one in each hand and one clenched in his mouth, all black swords transformed from Truth-Seeking Orbs. Even Zoro next door would have been drooling with envy.

After donning the Sage of Six Paths Robe, Naruto possessed strength on the same level as Obito's. Only with Truth-Seeking Orbs in hand did he have the qualifications to clash with Obito head-on, and only then did he have a chance of hurting or even killing him.

Having been ganged up on by five fierce close-combat fighters, Obito had become even more adept at wielding his own power. Naturally, he had no intention of letting this Nine Tails Jinchuriki, who had delivered himself right to him, get away. What Three-Sword Style? After fighting for so long, Naruto had just been swinging wildly. If not for that hereditary reflex of his, Obito would have knocked him flat long ago!

While fending off Naruto's attacks, Obito glanced at Minato behind him. He had to stay alert for sneak attacks. The father and son's strange cloaks were clearly unusual. If Naruto had become this strong, then that man would not be weak either!

"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"

Naruto retreated slightly before raising his blades and slashing again. He muttered under his breath, "Anime was all lies. You can't speak clearly at all with a sword clenched in your mouth."

Obito's Taijutsu was probably Fifty-Fifty with Kakashi's, but he currently possessed the power of the Ten Tails, granting him comprehensive boosts in speed, strength, and every other aspect. Naruto felt that his own Taijutsu was also Fifty-Fifty with Kakashi's, and he had likewise been enhanced by the power of the Ten Tails. Though it was only the Little Ten Tails, he also had the Nine Tails and Sage Mode. After rounding it all up, Naruto should be Fifty-Fifty with Obito... right?

So Naruto clashed head-on with Obito, using the Chaotic Cloak Sword Technique—or rather, wildly swinging his black swords with Hakke Eight Trigrams.

Thanks to their equal level of strength, the Truth-Seeking Orbs they both used as weapons, and the small gap between their Taijutsu abilities, neither side could determine a victor for the moment.

Just as Obito suddenly mobilized the Truth-Seeking Orbs behind him to force Naruto back, intending to temporarily disengage and try crushing Naruto with sheer power, Minato made his move.

Minato threw a Special Kunai at Obito. Boosted by the Little Ten Tails, Minato's strength had increased enormously compared to before, and the kunai flew far faster than it ever had.

However, Obito's reaction was beyond ordinary as well. With a wave of his hand, a Truth-Seeking Orb flew out and blocked the kunai's flight path more than ten meters away.

"Even if you've grown stronger, is this still your only move? I won't lose to the same trick twice." Obito looked somewhat guilty as he said that.

The Truth-Seeking Orb collided with the kunai. Even a Special Kunai was as fragile as an eggshell before a Truth-Seeking Orb. The instant they collided, the kunai's tip snapped off, and the weapon lost all momentum as it fell.

However, the mark on its handle had not been destroyed. Just as Obito shifted his attention away from the kunai, another Special Kunai seemed to drill out of the handle and flew toward him!

At a distance of barely over ten meters, the kunai reached Obito in almost an instant.

Just as Obito was about to react, pain erupted in his chest. An exaggerated black greatsword pierced through him. What entered his vision was dazzling golden hair and a white cloak.

Naruto vaguely recognized the sword in Old Dad's hand. It looked just like the Frostmourne he had once asked Haku to make while they were playing around.

"Flying Thunder God: Third Stage: Slash." Minato softly spoke the name of the technique beside Obito's ear, without the slightest hint of pride or joy in his voice.

When one kunai flew to a certain position, a second kunai was thrown, while the Flying Thunder God Barrier was activated at the same time. It made the second kunai appear around the first and continue flying in the direction it had originally been thrown. This extended its flight distance, or allowed attacks from blind spots like the Uchiha Shuriken Throwing Technique. It expanded the attack range of Flying Thunder God: Second Step and made its attacks more flexible and varied, hence the name Flying Thunder God: Third Stage.

If Minato wished, he could even throw kunai one stage after another, relaying them all the way to the moon.

Correspondingly, using Flying Thunder God this way required complete knowledge of the flight speed and direction of both kunai, as well as flawless timing when launching the second kunai. It demanded powerful Observation Skills and reaction speed. Even Minato found it extremely difficult to use this technique perfectly in battle.

Fortunately, it had succeeded this time.

"Cough..." Obito coughed up blood, his body gradually losing strength.

The sword that had pierced Obito's body had been transformed from a Truth-Seeking Orb. Even the body of a Ten Tails Jinchuriki could not be immune to it. A wound that directly pierced the heart was definitely severe, though his immense vitality prevented it from being immediately fatal.

To make matters worse, the already unbalanced power within Obito's body began to run wild. The Chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts bulged out from his back, taking the forms of Tailed Beast heads.

"Big Fox! Get to work!" Naruto was not about to be polite. He would take this chance to pull out the Tailed Beast Chakra first.

"Got it!" the Nine Tails answered. Cooperating with Naruto's Tailed Beast Transformation, he released nine tails. Each tail fused with one type of Tailed Beast Chakra and likewise transformed into the shape of a Tailed Beast head, biting firmly onto the corresponding Chakra within Obito.

"Haaah~"

Naruto's exertion marked the official start of the Fourth Shinobi World War tug-of-war competition.

Tailed Beast Chakra was gradually pulled from Obito's body by Naruto, and a pained expression appeared on Obito's face.

"Hah!" Obito suddenly exerted himself, pulling the sword from his chest out of Minato's hand and breaking free of Minato's control.

Obito's heart had already been shattered, blood gushing from the wound, but he merely covered it with one hand and focused on wrestling Naruto. He didn't care how badly he was hurt—the Tailed Beasts absolutely could not be lost!

After all, he was the Jinchuriki of the "Big Ten Tails." Naruto found himself struggling for the moment, and the two sides reached a stalemate.

Minato raised his sword again behind Obito, but ultimately lowered his hand and let the Truth-Seeking Orb return to its original form. He flew to Naruto's side and controlled the Little Ten Tails' power to form a Chakra Hand, helping Naruto with the tug-of-war.

Naruto blinked without saying anything, merely putting more strength into it.

"I'll help too!" Kushina also entered a Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, her nine tails joining the tug-of-war team.

Yagura ran over. "Isobu."

"Alright." Isobu readily agreed.

Gaara called out, "Shukaku, help."

Shukaku shouted unhappily, "Don't order me around! I want to reclaim my own Chakra!"

Utakata silently walked over, apparently having already discussed helping with Saiken.

"Is this a tug-of-war competition? I want in too!" Fu had just arrived at the battlefield when she loudly joined in. Tenten had specifically gone to fetch her after seeing that they needed the Jinchuriki's help.

The Jinchuriki on the Shinobi Allied Forces' side had gathered together, working as one. Obito, meanwhile, stood alone and wounded. The scales of victory gradually tipped.