The location marked on the scrap of paper Obito had left behind was the Forest of Death, on the border of the Land of Fire. As Su Ye and the others entered the forest, the strong stench of blood hit them. Bodies of Akatsuki members lay scattered across the ground. Clearly, a fierce battle had just taken place.
"Something's wrong." Kakashi stopped abruptly, his Sharingan warily sweeping the area. "The wounds on these bodies are too neat. It doesn't look like they killed each other. It looks more like... they were deliberately left here as bait." As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie flute melody sounded from deep in the forest. Countless kunai threaded with Chakra Threads shot from the treetops toward them.
Su Ye instantly unleashed Rinnegan: Shinra Tensei. A repulsive force field formed from pale purple chakra sent all the kunai flying. "Puppet Technique." His Rinne Sharingan pierced the trees and spotted a figure in a red cloak standing deep in the forest—Sasori of the Red Sands, an Akatsuki member. His puppet arms controlled dozens of puppets, forming a ring around them.
"I never thought Konoha would send so many people here to die." Sasori's voice had a metallic quality. He raised a hand and controlled the puppets, drawing dozens of Ninja Blades at once and sending them toward Naruto. Naruto immediately activated Nine-Tails Mode. Golden chakra formed a Tailed Beast Cloak that blocked the blades, while he fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at Sasori.
But the Tailed Beast Bomb had barely covered half the distance when black chakra swallowed it. Obito appeared beside Sasori, his right eye gleaming with the light of the Mangekyō Sharingan. "Naruto, your power is still as useless as ever." He looked at Itachi, the corner of his mouth lifting in mockery. "Uchiha Itachi, you really did come. But do you truly think Sasuke is here?"
Itachi's Sharingan contracted sharply. He charged at Obito. "Where exactly is Sasuke?" Obito didn't dodge, letting Itachi's kunai stab into his chest—but it passed through him as if he were an illusion. "Don't waste your effort. This is just a clone of mine." Obito's voice echoed through the forest. "The real Sasuke should be in Konoha by now."
Su Ye's heart tightened. His Rinne Sharingan immediately locked onto Konoha, and sure enough, he sensed a familiar chakra—Sasuke's Sharingan was approaching the village, with two Akatsuki members following behind him. "No good. Obito's target is Nagato in Konoha!" Su Ye turned at once. "Kakashi, keep Obito and Sasori occupied. I'm going to Konoha to protect Nagato and Sasuke!"
But just as Su Ye prepared to use the Body Flicker Technique, the forest floor suddenly caved in. Countless black chains surged up from below and wrapped around his ankles—chakra chains from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. "Trying to leave? Not so fast." An old voice rang out as Madara Uchiha's phantom rose from beneath the ground, his Rinnegan glowing crimson. "Su Ye, your Rinne Sharingan belongs to me. Today, I'm taking it back."
Madara's phantom raised a hand, and a powerful force pulled at Su Ye. The chakra inside him began to drain out of his control. Seeing this, Itachi immediately activated Susanoo. Pale red bones rapidly covered its muscles, forming a complete Susanoo. "Su Ye, I'll help you!" Susanoo wielded a greatsword and slashed at Madara's phantom.
Madara's phantom merely sneered and raised a hand, forming a black Truth-Seeking Orb that blocked Susanoo's attack. "Uchiha Itachi, you think activating Susanoo will let you fight me?" His gaze settled on Itachi's Sharingan. "If you hadn't chosen to protect Konoha back then, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't have been wiped out. You and Su Ye are both traitors."
Susanoo trembled slightly. Madara's words struck a nerve, but Itachi only tightened his grip on the greatsword. "I never betrayed the Uchiha. And I won't let you hurt Su Ye." He took a deep breath as chakra surged wildly through Susanoo. Its color gradually shifted from pale red to deep blue—the Perfect Susanoo.
The Perfect Susanoo held a bow. Golden chakra gathered into an arrow and shot toward Madara's phantom. His expression changed. He hadn't expected Itachi to be able to activate the Perfect Susanoo. "It seems I underestimated you." Madara's phantom formed more Truth-Seeking Orbs, creating a barrier to block the arrow.
Meanwhile, Su Ye seized the chance to break free of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chains. His Rinne Sharingan resonated in a strange way with Itachi's Perfect Susanoo. Pale purple Rinnegan chakra flowed into Susanoo's bow, making the arrow shine even more brilliantly. "Itachi, aim for Madara's Rinnegan!" Su Ye called, imbuing the arrow with sealing power through his Rinnegan chakra.
Itachi understood. The Perfect Susanoo drew its bow to full strength, and the golden arrow, wreathed in pale purple light, shot toward Madara's phantom once more. This time, it pierced the Truth-Seeking Orb barrier in an instant and struck his Rinnegan with pinpoint accuracy. "Aah!" Madara's phantom screamed as his body gradually dissipated.
Seeing Madara's phantom defeated, Obito's clone turned pale. He immediately ordered Sasori to retreat. "Fall back!" Though unwilling, Sasori knew he was no match for Su Ye and Itachi. He could only control his puppets and flee into the depths of the forest.
Kakashi watched the direction Obito and Sasori had fled, breathing a sigh of relief. "We finally drove them off." Naruto furrowed his brow. "But Sasuke is still heading for Konoha. What should we do now?"
Su Ye looked toward Konoha. His Rinne Sharingan sensed that Sasuke's chakra had already entered the village, while Nagato's chakra had grown exceptionally weak. "There's no time to lose. We're returning to Konoha immediately." He paused and looked at Itachi. "Your Susanoo can resonate with my Rinnegan chakra. That may be the key to stopping Madara and Obito. From now on, we have to fight side by side."
Itachi nodded as the Perfect Susanoo slowly faded. "No matter the cost, I'll protect Sasuke and Konoha."
They immediately raced toward Konoha. None of them noticed the pair of crimson eyes watching them from deep in the forest—it was the real Madara Uchiha, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile. "Su Ye, Itachi... This game is getting more and more interesting."
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Sasuke had already broken through the village's defenses and was charging toward the Medical Department with the Kusanagi Sword in hand. Two Akatsuki members followed close behind him. Their target was Nagato, inside the Medical Department. A fierce battle over Nagato and Sasuke was about to unfold in Konoha.
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