Karatachi Yagura Breaks Free

Inside the Kamui Dimension.

While the Uchiha were holding their meeting.

Obito and Karatachi Yagura were locked in an endless chase.

After being controlled for so many years, as though waking from a nightmare, all the humiliation, rage, and towering hatred of being manipulated despite being the Mizukage.

Erupted continuously like a volcano that had been suppressed for far too long.

Dark-red Tailed Beast Chakra surged from Yagura's body like boiling lava, leaving layers of afterimages as he relentlessly pursued Obito.

"Uchiha... Madara!!!"

Yagura's hoarse, warped voice echoed through the endless Kamui Dimension.

His gaze remained locked on Obito, who had been chased for so long that his breathing had grown weak and he was at his most vulnerable.

He might not have known exactly who had controlled him, but he recognized that mask, that space, and the endless nightmare brought by those Sharingan eyes!

No matter how long he had to chase him, he would tear that masked man apart to quell the bone-deep, burning hatred in his heart!

"What a pain!"

Weariness showed plainly on Obito's face beneath the mask.

No matter how carefully he had calculated, he had never expected Izanagi's side effects to ignite his most dangerous "collection" at this moment!

After using Izanagi, his Chakra was already running dangerously low.

After being chased around, Obito felt as though he was about to cough up his lungs.

"Die!"

Yagura transformed into a red storm of destruction once more, charging at him with a Tailed Beast Bomb and fierce Water Release!

Boom!

A massive cube shattered under the impact of Tailed Beast Chakra.

Obito could only rely on Kamui's intangibility to dodge and weave miserably between countless cubes.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Obito's heart roared with humiliated fury.

He had just been forced to use Izanagi in the real world by some unknown Uchiha Mangekyo Sharingan wielder, and now he was being hunted by an out-of-control Jinchuriki in his own lair!

He felt like a clown whose disguise had been exposed, all his plans and control derailed.

He tried to use the Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular power to control Yagura again, but he was in terrible condition now.

Meanwhile, bolstered by extreme fury and Tailed Beast Chakra, Yagura's mental defenses were as solid as an iron fortress. Obito's remaining ocular power could not penetrate them at all!

Although using intangibility did not consume much ocular power now, Kamui's ability merely shifted his body into another space.

The Kamui Dimension itself was absolutely safe, but the outside world was not.

If someone attacked him from outside while he was intangible, he would still be in danger.

And Yagura's attacks came like a relentless storm.

If this continued, Obito might very well die here without even knowing how.

"I have to make a decision now!"

A trace of resolve flashed through Obito's single eye. He no longer cared about appearances or plans.

He looked at Karatachi Yagura and activated Kamui's ocular power.

A vortex appeared around Karatachi Yagura, and in an instant.

Karatachi Yagura was thrown out!

Huff...

Now safe, Obito dropped onto a shattered stone platform and gasped violently.

He had no intention of chasing after Yagura to check on him either. Yagura was not an idiot; once free, he would definitely move.

Karatachi Yagura, flung out of the Kamui Dimension, stood there blankly. He had been thrown to the borderlands of the Land of Fire, surrounded by lush forests.

"Am I out?"

Karatachi Yagura gradually calmed down and realized that he had escaped.

He sniffed the air and caught the briny scent of sea wind.

"Am I close to the coast?"

Karatachi Yagura immediately leaped into a tree. After confirming his bearings, he raced toward the Land of Water.

Tap tap tap...

As Karatachi Yagura ran across the sea, his surging Chakra left a long white trail over the water.

As he moved at high speed, he considered how many useful people remained in Hidden Mist.

At this point, Obito had not been tormenting Karatachi Yagura for long. Although Hidden Mist had already declined, it was nothing like it would be ten years later.

The purge of Kekkei Genkai had already begun, but the Hozuki Clan was still around, and so was the Kaguya Clan.

Even Kisame and Zabuza were still in Hidden Mist and had not left.

Hidden Mist could still be saved!

Thinking of this, Karatachi Yagura's spirits soared, and he longed to return home.

He kept increasing his speed, rushing toward the Land of Water.

The next day.

The Uchiha Clan Grounds had already been located on the edge of Konoha, and with the Sound-Dampening Barrier in place.

Almost no one outside had known about what happened last night.

It was only when the news spread the next day that Konoha erupted in uproar.

The foremost clan in the ninja world had actually fallen into internal chaos!?

Clan Head Fugaku and his son Itachi had actually defected!?

And quite a few people had died within the clan grounds.

For a time, all of Konoha was abuzz.

Meanwhile, Zhiming Uchiha and Shien each headed to the Ino-Shika-Cho and Hyuga Clan grounds.

Hyuga Clan Grounds.

Upon receiving word that Shien, the acting head of the Uchiha Clan, wished to see him, Hyuga Hiashi was somewhat surprised. However, he did not hesitate and immediately ordered someone to bring him in.

Following the Hyuga clansman guiding him, Shien passed through layers of corridors and courtyards before finally arriving at the core inner compound of the Hyuga main family, where he met the formally seated Hyuga Clan Head.

"I am Shien Uchiha. Greetings, Clan Head Hiashi."

Shien was very young, barely twenty years old, and he kept an extremely humble posture as he solemnly greeted Hiashi as a junior.

Hiashi had guessed that earth-shaking changes must have occurred within the Uchiha last night. Since the other party had come now, he must have important business.

He showed nothing on his face and politely extended a hand in a gesture of support.

"Shien, there is no need for such formality. Please rise."

At that moment, Shien took the opportunity to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan. A strange power passed through their clasped hands and entered Hiashi's body.

He raised his head in the same motion. The deep, powerful pattern in his eyes, so different from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, had not yet faded and was clearly reflected in Hiashi's gaze.

Hiashi had originally felt a faint abnormality just now, but the instant he saw those eyes clearly, all doubts were cast aside, leaving only overwhelming shock and disbelief.

"Y-you... those eyes of yours...!?"

Shien's expression was sincere, carrying just the right amount of humility.

"By fortune, I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan spoken of in our clan's legends. With the clan currently undergoing great upheaval, I was unworthy yet chosen as the acting head of the Uchiha Clan, so I came to pay you a visit."

Mangekyō Sharingan! Acting clan head!

The amazement in Hiashi's eyes deepened.

Early that morning, he had received vague intelligence that a powerful ocular technique wielder had appeared among the Uchiha and driven off an intruder.

Yet he had not expected to meet the person himself so soon, much less one with such a special identity.

This was both a display of strength and a visit that established their equal standing.

"Please, sit!"

Hiashi's attitude became noticeably more solemn as he personally invited Shien to take a seat.

"Lord Hiashi has likely already learned of the tragedy that occurred within our clan," Shien said directly after sitting down.

"Fugaku Uchiha and his son Itachi Uchiha have defected."

Hiashi nodded gravely. Rarely, he picked up the teapot beside him and poured tea for both of them.

—That gesture alone represented the importance he placed on this meeting.

"The truth is that Shimura Danzō gave Itachi Uchiha an order to slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan."

Shien's next words made his wrist tremble. The teacup landed on the table with a crisp snap.