Who Gave You the Courage?

At the same time, Nagato's resolve only grew firmer. Uchiha Brahman couldn't be killed. After defeating him, they had to capture him and make him contribute to world peace.

This was a talent! As a powerful man who possessed the legendary Eye of God, Nagato was confident. Could Uchiha Brahman really be stronger than him, a wielder of the legendary Eye of God? Who did he think he was? He had nothing but a pair of Sharingan. How could he possibly be a match for Nagato?

Even an idiot could see that was impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!

Orochimaru glanced at Nagato meaningfully, then withdrew.

He'd decided to make himself scarce. Since the Akatsuki couldn't help him, he'd go it alone. Orochimaru didn't think Nagato would let them go after defeating Uchiha Brahman. If he stayed with the Akatsuki, Nagato might well stick him with a needle before long.

And then he'd never be free again.

"Teacher..."

Orochimaru recalled the news he'd received earlier. His teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had gone from being the Hokage of a village—well, the acting Hokage—to becoming a rogue ninja and fugitive. Who knew where he was now?

Maybe...

"Now that's interesting. These guys... Heh!"

A hint of a smile suddenly curled across Uchiha Brahman's face as he headed toward Kirigakure. But he didn't slow down. Kirigakure was almost there.

Ninja were incredibly fast.

Kirigakure.

In a secluded corner, two figures silently watched the village.

"Is he really that strong?"

Obito looked at Black Zetsu beside him.

"Yes. This is the first time I've been discovered, as far as I can remember. If I hadn't escaped quickly, I'd be dead by now!"

Black Zetsu nodded. Recalling Uchiha Brahman's attack, he felt a deep shiver of fear. He had come so close to dying—so close to never being able to resurrect his mother.

The Uchiha Clan had produced an incredible monster!

Even now, Black Zetsu couldn't understand how Uchiha Brahman had become so powerful. He was completely inhuman. And the most infuriating thing was...

Uchiha Brahman was unlike every ninja who'd come before him. Villages, peace, love, hate—he cared about none of it.

All he had was the ambition to conquer the entire Shinobi World, and he was already putting that ambition into action. Judging by the situation, he had the strength to do it, too.

Black Zetsu felt that Uchiha Brahman was like a porcupine. He couldn't figure out how to tempt him from any angle—except with those eyes.

But Uchiha Brahman had no siblings and no family!

He wasn't anyone's reincarnation, either. He was just an ordinary Uchiha who had inexplicably become unimaginably powerful—an utterly unremarkable man outside the bounds of fate, and entirely beyond Black Zetsu's expectations.

Tempt him? There was no way. Black Zetsu even suspected that if he dared appear in front of Uchiha Brahman, he'd be killed on the spot.

"His existence has already affected the Eye of the Moon Plan. You're no match for him."

Black Zetsu spoke slowly, hoping that Nagato and the two of them together could stand against Uchiha Brahman. They didn't need to defeat him. If they could just fight him to a draw, they could still carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan.

"Damn it! I should've killed the entire Uchiha Clan!"

Obito cursed angrily. Everything had been going so well, so why—why had the damn Uchiha Clan suddenly produced someone like Uchiha Brahman? That damn fishmonger! Couldn't he have stuck to selling fish instead of jumping in to ruin their plans?

Rin...

Just wait. I'll create a world where you can live!

Uchiha Brahman, I, Obito, will kill you!

"I want to see just how strong Uchiha Brahman really is!"

Obito watched Kirigakure. Under his control, Yagura had already gathered every ninja in the village.

"Children, get down on your knees!"

Uchiha Brahman stood atop a tree, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, chest out and stomach tucked in. The sun high in the heavens shone behind him like a halo, casting his face in shadow.

"Uchiha Brahman, we'll never submit to you!" Yagura said angrily as he looked at Uchiha Brahman. Then, without hesitation, he activated his Tailed Beast transformation.

"Roar!"

A roar rang out. Black-red chakra enveloped his body, and at last, a giant beast appeared among Kirigakure's ranks.

In the distance, Obito watched silently. He'd step in if he had to.

"Is this the best you can do? Hahahahaha!"

Uchiha Brahman looked at Yagura, who had fully transformed into a Tailed Beast but somehow retained his reason. He laughed wildly, then settled down.

"Why? Why? I just can't understand. Can't you see my power? Who gave you the courage to stand before me and defy me? You think a mere Tailed Beast is enough?"

He looked at the Kirigakure ninja with indifference. Then he simply raised a hand. In the distance, a huge, compressed Tailed Beast Ball shot toward him with a thunderous boom.

Zzzzt—

Chakra spun and a magnetic field appeared. The enormous Tailed Beast Ball landed right in Uchiha Brahman's hand, just as it had with the jinchuriki from the other villages.

"What?! He caught a Tailed Beast Ball with his bare hands!"

In the distance, Obito stared in amazement. This completely defied everything he knew. The next moment, Uchiha Brahman casually squeezed, crushing the Tailed Beast Ball.

"Come on, try this!"

Uchiha Brahman ignored the Kirigakure ninja charging at him, intent on killing him, and raised a hand.

Water Style: Sea Covering Technique!

Boom!

A deafening roar rang out. The next moment, torrents of water surged from Uchiha Brahman, while the ocean that had once surrounded the Land of Water began to churn. Countless pillars of water shot up from the sea, turning into water dragons that rushed toward them.

In an instant, the area became a vast sea, and Kirigakure's ninja were swallowed by the flood.

The water formed countless tentacles. Though it was soft, it was now like steel, binding the ninja with ease.

The ninja tried to escape using Water Style, but to their horror, they found that every Water Style technique was like a mere splash against this vast sea—completely useless.

"You're so weak. Is this what you were so confident about? Who gave you the courage to challenge me? How pitiful! Come, receive my blessing!"

Uchiha Brahman raised a hand. All the Kirigakure ninja were held fast, their heads left above the water.