Powerful Obito, Fugaku's Choice

"Could it be that you are also of the Uchiha clan?"

The corner of Uchiha Mu's mouth, hidden beneath his mask, curled upward slightly. He did not answer.

He flicked shuriken from both hands in rapid succession, his figure flashing as he closed in on Obito.

Obito gave a cold snort and phased his body into intangibility.

Uchiha Mu's shuriken passed straight through Obito's body.

"Useless."

Uchiha Mu did not panic.

He was waiting. Waiting for the moment Obito materialized.

Kamui's intangibility could not be maintained for long. Especially when attacking, he had to materialize.

This was the opening.

Sure enough, Obito emerged from the void, a kunai thrusting toward the center of Uchiha Mu's back.

"Now!"

Uchiha Mu spun around violently, his right hand clawing toward Obito's wrist.

Obito was startled and attempted to phase again, but a strange suction force suddenly erupted from Uchiha Mu's palm.

"Kamui: Suction!"

This was another application of Kamui—drawing a target into the other dimension.

Obito's body tilted involuntarily toward Uchiha Mu's palm.

"You..." Obito's expression finally changed.

He had not expected that the opponent would somehow replicate all his abilities and even develop new applications in such a short time.

"Damn it!" Obito burst forth with chakra, breaking free from the suction.

But his mask was pulled slightly askew by the force, revealing the scarlet Sharingan beneath, along with that familiar scar at the corner of his eye.

Uchiha Mu saw it. He saw Obito's true face.

Though it lasted only a split second, he was certain.

The person before him was indeed Uchiha Obito. The boy who had once sacrificed himself to protect his comrades. The poor soul used by Uchiha Madara and cast into darkness.

"Obito, stop this."

Uchiha Mu spoke up suddenly. "This shouldn't be your path."

"If Rin could see you now, she would be heartbroken."

Obito's body stiffened violently.

Rin.

The name felt like a blade piercing his heart.

"You... how do you know of Rin?" Obito's voice trembled for the first time.

Uchiha Mu did not answer. He simply watched Obito in silence.

After a long while, Obito spoke.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Knowing so many secrets."

"Are you prepared to die?"

With that, he directly utilized Kamui to distort the surrounding space, spewing a massive volume of flames into the void.

The flames poured into the dimensional space, transforming into countless fire serpents that struck out indiscriminately in every direction.

The terrifying fire serpents sent the surrounding temperature soaring.

Even in his state of intangibility, Mu found himself in a dangerous position.

After all, it was a replica; holding it for a minute was already the limit.

And this wasn't even Obito's ultimate technique, Storm Dance.

The attack range was already this vast, and the speed so fast it was staggering.

Most importantly, this strike directly disrupted the surrounding void.

At this point, Mu had no choice but to reveal himself early.

However, the moment Mu appeared, five identical figures scattered in all directions.

Seeing these clones, Obito spoke in shock.

"This is the Five Elements Clone, something even I have not mastered. The five attributes perfectly manifested."

"How could anyone possibly do this?"

But at this moment, why would Mu tell Obito any of this?

The five figures performed hand seals in unison.

In the void, five thick chains emerged from five eerie positions, locking Obito down directly.

Seeing these chains, Obito even forgot to use Kamui.

He muttered to himself, "This is the Five Elements Adamantine Sealing Chains. It rivals the power of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

"Such an anomaly."

"No."

He began to struggle, but the power of the five attributes hindered even Kamui.

Seeing this, Uchiha Mu could not possibly let such an opportunity slip.

He unleashed a barrage of Kamui shuriken.

Fire Style: Continuous Great Fireball Technique.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Three massive explosions rang out in succession, accompanied by the sound of ragged coughing.

Obito crawled out from a pile of rubble, having broken free from the chains, and glared at his opponent with cold, murderous eyes.

"To think Konoha had a master like you. Kid, you have thoroughly angered me."

"Die."

As he spoke, Obito performed simple hand seals, and suddenly the entire earth began to churn.

Giant vines erupted from the ground. Mu dodged frantically while carrying Izumi.

"This is Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence."

"Every vine is imbued with space-time properties, capable of accurately locking onto my position; even phasing can't avoid the tracking."

"This guy."

But suddenly, Obito stopped all attacks.

He looked to his left, his brow furrowed.

Mu also sensed the presence of several Kage-level powerhouses approaching.

"Kid, whoever you are, I will find you."

With that, Obito's body slowly vanished.

Mu did not pursue.

He looked at the remaining two minutes on his replication card.

He let out a long breath.

"Finally gone."

"But that fight was truly exhilarating."

"Using Kage-level power for the first time, I didn't feel much unfamiliarity."

"It seems I really am a genius; all I lacked was the opportunity."

However, this was no place to linger. The experts of Konoha were coming.

Clutching the unconscious Izumi, his figure vanished in an instant.

He placed Izumi in a hidden location and turned to head toward the clan grounds.

One minute after Mu disappeared, a group of Root ninja appeared abruptly on the battlefield.

After a careful three-second inspection, they shuddered and rushed toward the Root headquarters.

Just after they left, the Third Hokage arrived late, accompanied by several clan leaders.

Kage-level battle signatures. It seemed tonight was destined to be turbulent.

Since the operation had begun, there was no turning back.

"If anyone obstructs the boy Itachi's mission, kill them."

"Understood, Lord Hokage."

Inside a secret underground chamber, several Root operatives knelt on the ground.

"Lord Danzo, we have investigated. Both sides of the battle were Kage-level."

"Their strength is formidable. We cannot intervene."

"Kage-level?"

"Does Konoha still have hidden experts?"

"That old man Sarutobi really did keep an ace up his sleeve."

Hmph.

"Regardless, no one can stop me from becoming Hokage."

Elsewhere, within the Uchiha compound, inside the clan leader's bedroom, a teenager covered in blood and carrying a ninja sword pushed the door open and entered.

"Father."

Itachi called out, his voice choked with emotion. Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto were kneeling on the floor. Hearing Itachi enter, Fugaku spoke first.

"I do not wish to kill my own son."

But at this moment, Itachi still drew his blade and stood behind Fugaku. Hearing the long sword unsheathe, Fugaku sighed in his heart.

"Is that so? You have chosen their side."

"But Itachi, promise me, Sasuke is entrusted to you."

"Do it!"

"Do not be afraid. This is the path you have chosen. Compared to you, our pain is only for a fleeting moment."

"Even if our ideas differ, I am still proud of you."

At this moment, Itachi's eyes were filled with tears. He raised his long sword, preparing to bring it down. Suddenly, a black kunai shot in from outside the door. With a crisp metallic clang, it deflected Itachi's blade. At the same time, the door to the room was pushed open. A teenager who looked seventy percent like Itachi walked in slowly.

Uchiha Fugaku and his wife sensed a familiar aura and turned to look at the boy in white. They spoke in unison, voices filled with disbelief:

"Mu? You were supposed to be outside the compound, why have you returned at a time like this?"

"You... you are a chunin? Aren't you unable to cultivate?"

"How is it that now..."

Seeing Mu appear, Itachi's expression froze, and he stepped back two paces. After all, this younger brother who could not cultivate had little interaction with the rest of the clan.

"Mu, how could it be you?"

"Are you surprised?"

Actually, I am quite surprised myself!

Seeing the atmosphere, Uchiha Mikoto spoke up.

"Mu, you shouldn't have come."

"Originally, you were the child I worried about the least."

"In truth, having no talent is the greatest blessing."

"Itachi has chosen the most arduous path, and these are things he must bear."

"Do not stop him, will you?"

"I am proud of both of you."

"No, I have the ability to take you both away. No one will be able to find us."

"That will not be necessary, my good child."

"It has been hard on you, staying away all these years."

Fugaku spoke with earnest sincerity.

"But you two are the future of the Uchiha."

"For your mother and me, it is time to depart."

As his voice fell, Fugaku seemed to make a difficult decision. He used both hands to forcefully and easily gouge out his own eyes, holding them out before Uchiha Mu.

"Since you have also been dragged into this, then these eyes shall be left to you."

"I hope you can make good use of them."

"Mu. Do not stop Itachi."

At this moment, Mu stood stunned, taking the blood-stained eyes. His father's words were still echoing in his mind.

[Ding;]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining an S-rank item: the Mangekyō Sharingan of a Kage-level expert.]