Obito's smugness, Senju Ye's lightning-fast methods

"Ahem, Clan Leader Hiashi, what's the result?"

"Does that even need asking? It must be over. That was an all-out strike from Shisui Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius of this generation!"

"Exactly. I doubt more than a few of us here could have taken that blow head-on, let alone some coward who only knows how to hide in the shadows."

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha Clan's ninja readily soaked up the other clans' praise, their spirits high.

Hyuga Hiashi, however, frowned slightly. His Byakugan narrowed, and his expression looked rather grim.

Seemingly realizing something was wrong, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in a low voice.

"Hiashi, what did you find?"

"The battle... doesn't seem to be over yet."

Tap, tap, tap.

As Hyuga Hiashi's words fell, Obito Uchiha walked calmly out of the blast zone before everyone's eyes.

Apart from a fresh bloody line across his face, he was completely unscathed!

"Impossible!"

At the sight before them, the expressions of Konoha's clan leaders turned extremely ugly.

Shisui Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius of this generation, had failed to finish his opponent even after activating Susanoo.

All he had done was leave a bloody line on his face?

Impossible!

Yet while disbelief spread across the faces of Konoha's clan leaders, an unusual glint also flashed in Obito Uchiha's eyes.

The next moment, he clapped as he walked toward Shisui Uchiha, who had activated Susanoo, his face full of approval.

"As expected of someone whose reputation in Konoha rivals that of the former Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash. You really are fast."

"Unfortunately..."

At that, Obito Uchiha extended a thumb toward Shisui Uchiha's Shadow Clone before him.

Then he turned it downward through a hundred and eighty degrees.

"You're still not quite good enough."

Obito Uchiha was confident that as long as he avoided looking into his opponent's eyes and falling prey to Kotoamatsukami, the most powerful Genjutsu, he would be safe.

In the fight to come, he would give this Shisui Uchiha no further chance to land a hit.

Heh heh heh. Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, couldn't stop me from leaving, and neither can you, Body Flicker Shisui!

Thud, thud, thud.

Obito Uchiha's gesture stunned the vast majority of Konoha's ninja and civilians present.

They had never imagined that anyone in the shinobi world would dare openly show such contempt for their village's ninja.

Was this man looking to die?

Before long, ninja from the various clans stepped forward, angrily rebuking Obito Uchiha while asking Shisui Uchiha for permission to fight.

"You're nothing but a ninja from another village! Don't think stealing one of Konoha's Mangekyō Sharingan through trickery makes you invincible!"

"Lord Senju Ye! Let me go! I'll show this reckless fool what Konoha can do!"

"And us! We'll fight too!"

"..."

But unlike those furious ninja, Konoha's clan leaders, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the others had all fallen deep in thought.

The ability of this unknown man's Mangekyō Sharingan was far from ordinary.

Until they found a way to counter it, none of them dared act rashly.

Yet just as the clan leaders stopped those who wanted to fight, while those unwilling to act had yet to devise a solution, something happened.

A voice rang out from the very center of the crowd.

"Since young people these days are so hotheaded, let me give that Mangekyō Sharingan of yours a try."

Hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, every Konoha ninja present turned toward him at once, excitement filling most of their eyes.

"Hahaha! Lord Senju Ye is going to act himself! That arrogant fool is finished!"

"But even Shisui Uchiha could only leave a bloody line on his face. Senju Ye..."

"Clan Leader, you have to believe in Lord Senju Ye! He'll definitely win and uphold Konoha's honor as the greatest ninja village in the shinobi world!"

"Let's hope so. Sigh."

Tap, tap, tap.

Shisui Uchiha jumped down from the Wooden Man and walked toward Obito Uchiha, one step at a time.

Obito Uchiha frowned slightly, his focus sharpening and his muscles instinctively tensing.

He still dares to fight after learning about Kamui, the ability granted by my Mangekyō Sharingan?

Is he forcing himself to step in? Or has he really found a counter?

No! If this man could toy with Danzo and kill him within a few days, he's definitely not someone who acts on impulse.

For the sake of my plans, I absolutely can't get careless now. I'll probe his strength a little, then find a chance to leave...

But just as Obito Uchiha had that thought, the figure before him blurred for an instant without warning.

Not good!

Almost the instant that thought flashed through his mind, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan's ability.

His response did allow him to evade Shisui Uchiha's sweeping strike with the Kusanagi Sword after Shisui closed in using the Body Flicker Technique at full power.

But the slap and Shuriken that followed immediately from beside him were another matter.

Obito Uchiha failed to evade them!

Smack!

Squelch!

As Obito Uchiha took a slap from Shisui Uchiha's Shadow Clone, a spray of blood also burst from his back.

Blood splattered, and the wound ran deep enough to expose bone!

"So your ability is powerful? Unfortunately, you're still not quite good enough."

Hearing Shisui Uchiha throw his own words back at him, Obito Uchiha was furious, but he chose to hold himself back.

Too fast. He's far too fast!

He had never imagined that Senju Ye, who should have specialized only in Wood Release like the First, could possess such terrifying speed!

He was even faster than Shisui Uchiha!

And his two Shadow Clones were no slower than Shisui Uchiha either...

Could this man really be the First Hokage's personal disciple?

Had he not brought himself to peak readiness just now, he could never have narrowly escaped the original's attack.

Nor could he have avoided the sword strike from the Shadow Clone behind him, which should have cleaved his heart in two!

The next moment, that strange vortex swallowed his body once more, denying Shisui Uchiha any chance to continue attacking.

Immediately afterward, a slightly weakened roar rang out between Shisui Uchiha and his two Shadow Clones.

"Aaaah! Mark my words, Senju Ye! I'll be back soon!"

"When that time comes, my power will reduce Konoha to rubble! Every last one of you will die!"

Shisui Uchiha merely cast an indifferent glance at the spot where his opponent had vanished.

Then he turned to look at Shimura Danzō.

With Obito Uchiha having caused this commotion, he should be able to begin the next stage of his plan...