Masked Obito

Yahiko's... body?

This question from Pain left Uzumaki Sora stunned. What use could he possibly have for Yahiko's body?

Talk-no-Jutsu?

That guy's brand of persuasion only worked on the members of the previous Akatsuki; it was useless against anyone with a bit of rank or experience in the darkness. How could he even compare to Naruto?

"Calm yourself!"

A sudden voice interrupted Pain, who was preparing to unleash his full power.

Following closely, countless sheets of paper swirled around, enveloping the massive trees that had surged forward.

"BOOM!!"

A deafening explosion rang out, and the countless trees were blasted into fragments and scattered.

Explosive Tags?

Waving his hand to deflect the incoming wooden debris, Uzumaki Sora looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared in mid-air, her wings formed from paper sheets infused with Chakra.

A specialized Paper Release ninjutsu—Konan.

"Everyone has reached the shelter. An enemy of this caliber doesn't require your power."

As Konan's voice faded, eight paper clones suddenly emerged from the corners, each appearing perfectly positioned beside the scattered Flying Thunder God Kunai.

The paper clones picked up the kunai engraved with the formula: "Special kunai inscribed with space-time ninjutsu coordinates. You've already thrown eight—how many more do you have?"

Uzumaki Sora smiled at Konan and then produced a scroll.

"Release!"

As the smoke cleared, another string of Flying Thunder God Kunai was placed into Sora's ninja tool pouch.

"Not many left, maybe a few dozen. After all, I heard the Yellow Flash of Konoha once used this technique to instantly kill fifty enemies, so I usually keep a few extra on hand."

After speaking, Sora looked at the stunned Konan and shook his head. "Actually, I just came to borrow something. There's no need for such a big fight."

Seeing Pain about to get dramatic again, Sora quickly added, "Relax, I don't want Yahiko's body. I don't have any weird hobbies; why would I want his corpse?"

Pain stepped forward, asking in a low voice, "Using the Transformation Technique to take on Yahiko's appearance, and sealing the other five paths of the Six Paths of Pain into scrolls—your intentions are self-evident!"

"But the power of the Rinnegan is not as simple as you imagine. Even if you obtain those bodies, you cannot possess the power of the Rinnegan."

It seems there was a misunderstanding.

Pain's words clearly indicated that he thought Sora was coveting his Rinnegan. While that wasn't entirely wrong, the target was off.

He wasn't eyeing the Rinnegan of the Six Paths of Pain, but the Rinnegan belonging to Nagato, who was hidden in the high tower and connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Just as Uzumaki Sora was about to explain, a space-time vortex suddenly appeared in the ruins.

Masked Obito appeared out of thin air, his voice distorted: "Aha... isn't this Uzumaki Sora? How are you enjoying that arm of mine?"

The mocking voice rang out, yet deep down, Masked Obito was filled with suspicion.

Having just rushed back, he could tell from the scene alone just how much power the Wood Release had possessed moments ago.

This couldn't possibly be the full potential of that arm alone, and without White Zetsu, it wasn't something just anyone could use.

He knew the vitality of the First's cells all too well.

Uzumaki Sora looked at the suddenly appearing Obito and retorted without backing down: "Looks like your arm has grown back? But it's useless to me now."

Masked Obito looked left and right, then asked with a smile, "Are you alone? That's right, you don't seem to be a Konoha ninja, and last time you were just picking up scraps. In that case... you should just stay here!"

"BOOM!!"

A massive tree erupted from the ground, causing the earth to crack as it lunged toward Uzumaki Sora's back.

But the moment it was about to strike, it stopped, then began to bend and roll, lifting Uzumaki Sora up until he was at the same height as his opponents.

"Still using Wood Release after seeing all this? That little bit of power you have is truly not worth looking at."

Sora turned his gaze back to Pain: "My goal was never the Six Paths of Pain. I headed straight for the tower just to see your true body... Nagato."

As these words fell, Nagato and Konan were instantly stunned.

One had to understand that both the true body in the tower and the name Nagato were the most guarded secrets within Amegakure.

With this secret laid bare by Uzumaki Sora, the expressions of both individuals changed instantly.

"Who exactly are you?!" Deva Path Pain demanded sharply.

Konan looked toward Masked Obito: "Who is he?"

Masked Obito's single eye narrowed as he looked at Uzumaki Sora, and he shook his head. "I don't know his identity. Although his name is widely circulated in the Black Market, and his red hair confirms his Uzumaki surname..."

"But not everyone with red hair is an Uzumaki, and there is no way to verify the truth of his name. He possesses the Flying Thunder God Jutsu of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and looking at it now, his grasp of Wood Release is even above my own."

Masked Obito's gaze remained fixed on Uzumaki Sora; in truth, there was much he hadn't said.

For instance, this person seemed to know a great deal of intelligence regarding him.

Or the fact that two years ago, during his trip to Konoha, he had suffered a crushing defeat because of this man—if not for White Zetsu, he might have truly been finished.

And now...

If the person before him knew his identity and spoke it aloud, then the Madara Uchiha persona would no longer be usable.

Nagato's Rinnegan still had great utility for him; in any case, he could not allow the other party to reveal his identity.

"Although I don't know how you've come to learn so many secrets, none of that matters now. The timing is just right."

As the words fell, Masked Obito charged directly toward Uzumaki Sora.

"Swish!"

A chain whipped out, only to be casually swatted away by Sora the next moment.

"I truly don't know what gave you the courage to say such things. Is this it?"

Forming the Snake Seal, a massive forest surged forth.

Countless trees erupted from all directions, continuously piercing through Masked Obito's body.

The intangibility ability was indeed a headache, but it had a time limit; this technique was not without a way to be broken.

"Boom!"

The trees shattered the earth, the strangling assault never ceasing for a moment, yet Masked Obito did not seem nervous.

Giant tree after giant tree was pulled into the Kamui Dimension, and by the time he reached Uzumaki Sora, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes was still rotating slowly.

"Swish!"

Facing the approaching Obito, Uzumaki Sora threw out six kunai in two volleys.

After passing through Obito, the six kunai collided with each other, and after changing their trajectories, three of them struck back once more.

The time was up—now!

In an instant, the Flying Thunder God was activated.

"Swish!"

"Pfft!"

Uzumaki Sora, having just flashed into existence, looked down at his abdomen, where an iron chain had now pierced through him.

"Plop..."

Blood fell, shattering against the massive tree branch.

How is this possible?

Ignoring the wound in his abdomen, Sora looked at Masked Obito, who was pulling the other end of the chain not far away: "Speed? No, that's not it. Even with the combination of the Mangekyō Sharingan and Senju Cells, you couldn't possibly have that kind of reaction speed."

Thank you to all the big shots for the monthly tickets and recommendation votes; I kowtow in gratitude.