Nine-Tails Rampage Countdown! Obito: The Advantage Is Mine! Kamizuki Yu: Say That Again

Kushina Uzumaki's due date weighed on the hearts of the Hidden Leaf's upper ranks like a massive boulder.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally oversaw the operation, deploying forces to ensure nothing could go wrong during the delivery.

Minato Namikaze stayed at his wife's side without leaving her for a moment, unable to hide the concern and tension in his brow.

The delivery room was located in an extremely secretive place at the edge of the village, protected by layers of barriers that ordinary shinobi could not even approach.

Elite Anbu stood guard every few steps, vigilant against the slightest disturbance.

The air was thick with the solemn tension of an impending storm.

Kamizuki Yu's figure flitted like a ghost through the dense forest beyond the outer perimeter.

The barriers laid by the Hidden Leaf might as well have been nonexistent in his eyes.

He had long seen through the plot of that masked man—Obito Uchiha.

He intended to strike while Kushina was giving birth, when the Nine-Tails' seal was at its weakest, and seize the Nine-Tails.

It truly was a script fitting his style.

With a light tap of his fingertips, more intricate and concealed [Compound Barrier Runes] silently melted into the night, covering an area far wider than the Hidden Leaf's official defensive perimeter.

These barriers not only possessed powerful defensive and isolating effects, but could also trace any chakra attempting to infiltrate them.

"I'm really looking forward to this, Obito."

He murmured softly, a hint of amusement in his voice.

[Flying Raijin Formula] had been discreetly placed at every key point, like pieces set upon a chessboard, awaiting the player's command.

The moment anything changed, he would be able to arrive in an instant.

After finishing all this, Kamizuki Yu did not stop.

The immense perception of his Sage Body was unleashed without reservation, perfectly combining with Asura's chakra and its minute insight into natural energy.

An invisible web of perception spread outward in every direction, centered on him.

Before long, in a mountain hollow far from the delivery site—

A distorted vortex silently appeared, and a figure wearing an orange one-eyed mask emerged from it.

"Found you."

Kamizuki Yu's lips curled into a smile.

Obito believed his hiding place was flawless, unaware that every one of his movements, including his unique space-time fluctuations, had long been locked onto by Kamizuki Yu's "Mind's Eye."

That guy was still cautiously observing the Hidden Leaf's arrangements.

He was probably still smug about how thorough his plan was.

Pathetic and laughable.

Kamizuki Yu could even "see" the clump of black-and-white shadowy matter beside Obito. It was Zetsu.

"So both of them came. Perfect."

It saved him the trouble of dealing with them separately.

Kamizuki Yu had long prepared for Obito's prized [Kamui] as well.

Specially made [Space Confinement Scrolls] would be enough to temporarily disable his space-time ninjutsu.

There was also [Clear Heart Mirror Powder], made specifically to counter the Sharingan's advanced genjutsu. He probably would not need it himself, but it would not hurt to prepare some for Minato.

These were all little gifts he had carefully prepared for this "welcoming ceremony."

He did not alert anyone.

Not even Minato, who was so close by.

For one, he wanted to give Obito an unforgettable "surprise."

For another, at such an important historical juncture, the system's sign-in reward would definitely be generous.

He did not want an early warning to shift the plot and cause him to miss this perfect opportunity.

"Ah—!"

From within the delivery barrier, Kushina's pained moans came intermittently, each one tugging at the heartstrings of those standing guard.

The chakra fluctuations in the air grew increasingly chaotic, and the Nine-Tails' ominous aura became restless as well.

The seal was weakening.

Kamizuki Yu could clearly sense that Minato's chakra was also slightly unstable, evidently because his emotions were in turmoil.

Don't worry, Teacher Minato. I've got everything under control.

He needed a perfect moment—the instant Obito thought he had succeeded and was at his most triumphant.

Then he would drag him brutally down from the clouds.

That expression would surely be magnificent.

The night wind grew colder.

Leaves rustled, concealing many faint movements.

Kamizuki Yu adjusted his stance, allowing himself to blend more comfortably into the shadows.

He waited.

Waited for that foolish avenger to willingly leap into the net he had painstakingly woven.

Time passed, second by second.

Kushina's cries of pain became more frequent and weaker.

The tense atmosphere within the barrier nearly froze solid.

Finally.

In the distant mountain hollow, Obito's chakra moved.

It carried a hint of impatience, along with cruel resolve.

He was coming.

A cold curve slowly rose at the corner of Kamizuki Yu's lips.

"The script is mine to write now."