Green Susanoo

Kamui!

"Ma...so...rry..."

As Obito was pulled into another dimension by the Space-Time Ninjutsu's vortex, a halting voice came from within.

In that instant, only Minato knew what he was trying to say. The boy who had always been late because he loved helping others seemed to have returned once more.

But all of this was happening under the genjutsu Shisui called Kotoamatsukami.

Had he suddenly come to his senses and apologized because the seed planted in him was "surrender without a fight"?

"Lord Hokage! My Chakra is being cut off!"

Shisui's voice rang out. Minato's expression changed at once. "Kakashi, now!"

The instant the vortex contracted, Kakashi suddenly sprang out. Kamui!

A vortex from another space-time enveloped Shisui and Kakashi, and they vanished from the cave together.

Minato and Fugaku exchanged a glance, then each spread out his senses, keeping close watch for disturbances in the surrounding space.

Inside the other dimension, a trickle of blood ran from Shisui's left eye. Beside him, Kakashi had collapsed to the ground.

"The Chakra connection's been cut. Take a Military Ration Pill and recover your Chakra. I'll deal with him from here."

As he spoke, Shisui looked at the Masked Man opposite him, already suspecting who he was.

The Fourth Hokage had clearly analyzed the enemy's abilities, and it was also true that Kakashi's left-eye Mangekyō ability countered them.

Yet the Fourth Hokage had never told them the enemy's identity. His abilities were clear, but his identity remained unknown—and those abilities were so similar to Kakashi's Mangekyō.

Perhaps Kakashi didn't understand, but as an Uchiha, Shisui knew the truth all too well!

Sharingan: the eye that reflects the heart.

The Mangekyō was an evolution of the Sharingan that crossed a vast divide. Its abilities varied, but at their core, they evolved from what the heart desired.

Hatake wasn't Uchiha. He had no Uchiha blood, so there was no way he could have naturally evolved from the Three Tomoe to the Mangekyō!

Given that, when Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan had truly awakened... it must have been when the other eye awakened!

Such similar space-time abilities, one for offense and one for defense.

As all the clues connected, the identity of the Spiral Masked Man before him became obvious.

Uchiha Obito!

The Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's student, Kakashi's closest friend, and a hero of the Third Shinobi World War!

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Obito was gasping for breath. With Hashirama Cells, he wasn't exhausted or out of Chakra. He was afraid!

Body Flicker Shisui, an Uchiha around his own age, possessed a power that was practically impossible to counter.

Obito's single Mangekyō eye narrowed with concern, but he kept his gaze fixed on Shisui's lower body.

"Uchiha genjutsu from the Mangekyō Sharingan can control people from the depths of their hearts, so subtly and naturally that they don't even realize it."

As he spoke, Obito's gaze shifted slightly upward, but he still didn't dare meet Shisui's eyes. "Even the Mangekyō's power has limits. The difference between dimensions cut off your Chakra, breaking a genjutsu that was practically impossible to counter."

"Body Flicker Shisui. You made a name for yourself in the Third Shinobi World War with your Body Flicker Technique and genjutsu. Was that when it happened? So you've experienced pain too, haven't you? This world is full of sin and war. My successor, do you want to betray me too?"

The moment he finished speaking, Masked Obito appeared beside Kakashi and reached for his left eye.

But in the next instant—

Boom!

Green Chakra wrapped around a skeletal frame and shielded Kakashi. The cross-shaped pattern in its blood-red eye spun rapidly.

The skeleton leaped up, swinging a green Chakra-coated arm down at Masked Obito.

Boom!!

Floating boulders exploded inside the Kamui Dimension.

Obito dodged with a Body Flicker, his gaze grave. "Susanoo... You've already reached this level!"

Blood ran from Shisui's eyes again. The toll of using his Mangekyō's power was already becoming too much for him.

The green skeleton vanished, and the cross-shaped pattern reverted to the Three Tomoe. Shisui slowly drew his standard-issue Ninja Sword.

In truth, if things hadn't been so urgent, Shisui wouldn't have summoned Susanoo.

They had analyzed what they knew about the enemy. Now, the ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan had been rendered useless.

The Hokage and Captain Fugaku were guarding the real world, while he and Kakashi held the other dimension. Either side could attack at any moment.

And the real world was covered with the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Formula. Against the Yellow Flash's speed, Obito would only get beaten if he tried to teleport out again.

All Shisui had to do was keep the battle within the confines of the cave in the real world and claim victory!

Clang!

Obito pulled out a chain. "You can't protect him, Uchiha successor. Now I'll show you the power I gained from Hashirama!"

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

In an instant, countless trees erupted from the stones in the other dimension, their branches rushing toward Shisui.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Using the flames to burn back the trees, Shisui hoisted Kakashi onto his back and dodged. After several Body Flickers, he finally came to a stop on a boulder.

Whoosh!

A shuriken, trailing a chain, shot toward him, while a stream of branches surged in from behind.

"How long can you keep dodging? Hashirama's power can keep this up all day!"

Shisui kept dodging. At last, Kakashi opened his right eye on Shisui's back. "Without Uchiha blood, it's incredibly hard to go from the Mangekyō back to the Three Tomoe. Put me down. I'll leave the rest to you."

Shisui kept dodging with Body Flicker without looking back. "Will you be all right? We'll still need you once we get out."

Kakashi raised his head to signal. "I can stay back and defend. He's afraid I'll teleport him out in an instant, after all. It's hard to deactivate it, but using it once is quick!"

A moment later, Shisui set Kakashi down, pointed to his own eyes, then turned and charged at Obito.

With trees everywhere and flames filling the entire dimension, Shisui pushed his Body Flicker to its limits. He repeatedly closed in, but never had a chance to use genjutsu.

His right-eye Kotoamatsukami had been interrupted, and he had used the left eye's Kotoamatsukami—the one that didn't require a Chakra connection—when he opened it. The only way to decide the fight was with the Body Flicker paired with genjutsu!

Clang!

The Ninja Sword struck the chain, scattering sparks. Trees kept tumbling and surged at him again from behind.

At that moment, Kakashi suddenly lifted his forehead protector in the distance.

Kamui!!

Masked Obito ignored Shisui, whom he had just driven back, and hurriedly dodged.

He knew his teacher too well to ignore the consequences of being teleported out. With Kamui rendered useless, he might still have a chance against Shisui and Kakashi in the other dimension.

But in the real world, covered in Flying Thunder God Formula, his teacher would kill him in an instant!

Clang!

The blood-red cross-shaped pattern appeared again. The genjutsu unleashed by the Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on Obito as he dodged.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

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