From an unknown swirling vortex, a masked man appeared before the Kumogakure shinobi.

  Mabui: What was that just now?

  Darui: It’s a space-time ninjutsu. Does Akatsuki have someone like this?

  Uhe eerie night sky, a pitch-bck vortex gave way to a dark and mysterious figure. The masked man’s cold, emotionless eyes radiated an enigmatic aura. A fierce gust of wind swept through the forest. Killer B of the Eight-Tails was about to face a super challenge. Showtime!

  Killer B danced and rapped without a care in the world, showing no sense of danger:“Darkness swirls~ Mysterious man unfurls~ Eight-Tails Killer B~ Ready for the thrill, ya see~ Showtime~ Yo~!”

  Darui, ever cautious, thought to himself: The boss just left, and Akatsuki shows up immediately. Could it be that attag the vilge was just a diversion to lure him away? If so, this is bad.

  He made a quick decision: Protect Lord B!

  “Yes!” The apanying Kumogakure ANBU immediately formed a defensive formation around Killer B.

  Behind the mask, Obito’s Sharingan spun as he analyzed the situation: Darui, ae jonin of Kumogakure, the right-hand man of the Raikage, and the most likely didate for the Raikage.

  Darui, fully alert, responded, “You ftter me. I’m just slightly ahead of my peers. I’ve heard Akatsuki operates in pairs. Are you sure you’re okay alone? Our boss is already on his way back. Your partner causing chaos in the vilge is likely done for.”

  Behind the mask, Obito was momentarily puzzled.

  “No need for chatter! Akatsuki scum, let’s finish this!”

  A hot-headed, blond-haired youth with the kanji for “heat” tattooed on his shoulder grabbed his ninja bde and charged forward.

  Darui shouted, “Atsui! Don’t act recklessly! We don’t know the enemy’s abilities yet!”

  But Atsui, driven by adrenaline, ignored him.

  Fmes ignited along his bde as he charged. “Kumogakure’s Fiery Ssh!”

  Obito stood motionless, making no defensive moves.

  “Huh, frozen in fear? Akatsuki isn’t all that!” Atsui smirked, swinging his fming bde with full force.

  The bde sliced through… nothing. There was ano sensation of cutting through flesh.

  “What?!” Atsui was stunned as his entire body passed through Obito.

  “Reckless or cautious, the oute remains the same. The only difference is the order in which you die,” came Obito’s cold voice from behind the mask.

  Obito turned and reached for Atsui’s shoulder.

  A swirling vortex erupted from his right eye, instantly engulfing Atsui.

  Snap! The vortex closed, and Obito twisted his neck slightly.

  In just one move, Atsui, the ior of the “heat” tattoo, vanished without a trace.

  The Kumogakure shinobi were left speechless.

  Darui demanded, “Where did he go?!”

  Obito turned badifferently. “Another dimension. Don’t worry, you’ll join him soon enough.”

  Darui ched his fists i: How am I supposed to face Samui? Atsui was her younger brother.

  “Now, it’s my turn.”

  Obito charged forward!

  “Storm Release: Laser Circus!”

  Darui formed hand seals, bining Water and Lightning Releases into a ser-like barrage, creating a web of firepower.

  But every attack missed its mark.

  Obito phased through the ANBU’s defensive formation, oer another, until he reached Killer B, extending his hand toward him.

  “Not everyone is Minato. Ohis hand grabs you, it’s over.”

  “Lightning Release: Bck Panther!”

  A bck lightning panther desded from above!

  Obito’s eyes flickered as his hand passed through Killer B’s face.

  Boom! The lightning panther exploded on Killer B, creating arified zohat no one could approach.

  At the ter of the lightning zone, Killer B twitched violently:“Electric baptism~ Ally’s intervention~ Legs paralyzed~ Early retirement~ Lowlight mome-Tails Killer B~ stipation feel~ Fool ya fool~!”

  Outside the lightning zone, Obito’s gaze shifted to Darui. “The Third Raikage’s unique bck lightning. pared to ordinary Lightning Release, it has a stronger paralyzing effect. You, the ior of Kumogakure’s ‘lightning’ tattoo, are the only one capable of using it.”

  Darui replied, “Even if your body phase, the moment you attack, you must materialize. If we catch that moment, we stop you. I won’t let you get near Lord B so easily!”

  Obito smirked. “Oh? You’re quick to cat.”

  Darui’s expression darkened. “But that also means, as long as he doesn’t attack, we ’t do anything to him. Timing his attacks is easier said than done. One mistake, and it’s all over.”

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Ninja bdes, kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, and a flurry of ninjutsu bombarded Obito.

  But all attacks were rendered useless by Kamui’s intangibility.

  Obito phased through one ANBU’s bde and reached for them.

  “He’s materializing! Now’s the time!” Another ANBU struck, but their bde passed through Obito and pierced their rade’s chest instead.

  “What?! He deliberately preteo attack to exploit his weakness and trick me into killing my ally!”

  “Arghhh!”

  Snap! Obito broke the ANBU’s neck from behind.

  Darui grew increasingly armed: The safest option is to evacuate Lord B. As long as he and the Eight-Tails don’t fall into Akatsuki’s hands, our lives are insignifit.

  Making his decision, he anded, “Mabui! Use Heavenly Traeique to send Lord B away!”

  Mabui hesitated. “But!”

  Darui insisted, “I uand the risks. But as long as Lord B enters Version 2 state, the high-density Tailed Beast cloak will prevent his body from being torn apart by light-speed teleportation. He’ll be gravely injured, but he’ll survive!”

  Mabui protested, “Is it necessary? Together with Lord B, we —”

  “It’s not that simple! Look at him! He hasn’t even gotten serious yet! Akatsuki has failed twice to capture Lord B. This time, they’ve goo great lengths, even attag the vilge to lure the boss away. They’re determio succeed!”

  Seeing Mabui’s hesitation, Darui shouted, “Hurry! The Bck Panther’s lightning zone is fading!”

  “I uand!” Mabui began preparing the Heavenly Traeique.

  “You won’t succeed.” Obito’s cold gaze shifted toward Mabui.

  A sharp wooden spike shot from his sleeve, pierg Mabui’s chest.

  With a cruel hand seal, wooden spikes erupted from her body.

  Mabui colpsed into a pool of blood.

  Darui’s pupils tracted. “Wood Release?!”

  “Correct. But the only reward for answering is death.”

  A vortex appeared mid-air as Obito unleashed a rain of wooden spikes.

  “Wood Release: Cutting Teique!”

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

  Desperate screams echoed through the forest.

  In the blood-soaked chaos, Darui roared, “Lord B, run!”

  “Fool ya fool! Eight-Tails Killer B is gonna sting like a bee!” Killer B’s sungsses reflected his rage as his rap turned into a roar.

  Boom! Boom!

  His body and chakra expanded as he transformed into the Eight-Tails.

  Tailed Beast Transformation!

  Obito’s eyes gleamed. “Oh? Finally.”

  A terrifying bck chakra sphere pressed in the Eight-Tails’ mouth before being unleashed.

  Tailed Beast Bomb!

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  “Whether it’s a Tailed Beast Bomb or anything else, it’s meaningless before my eyes.”

  Obito phased through the Tailed Beast Bomb as it obliterated the mountain behind him.

  “A beast’s st struggle. Even the Eight-Tails, sed only to the ails, is no exception.”

  Five fmes ig Obito’s fiips. He crouched and pressed his hand to the ground.

  “Uchiha Fme Formation!”

  Annou

  A neter has arrived! I hope you all enjoy reading. My Patreon has now been updated to Chapter 63. Your support for my work would be greatly appreciated!