A Sage's Pursuit of Power

In the original storyline, Obito had a single Rinnegan for a time, but he rarely used its abilities like Shinra Tensei or Bansho Ten'in (Almighty Push and Universal Pull). Instead, he primarily relied on Kamui for combat.

Perhaps the Rinnegan's abilities consumed too much chakra, or maybe Obito wasn't accustomed to using the Rinnegan. The truth was unclear to Aoba.

However, while controlling Obito's body, Black Zetsu had been relentlessly using the Rinnegan in battle. This constant usage rendered Minato and Kakashi unable to subdue Black Zetsu despite their preparations to counter Kamui.

As the fight dragged on, Minato keenly noticed a shift, it seemed that Black Zetsu seemed to be growing impatient. The use of the Rinnegan's abilities had diminished, and it had even used Kamui a few times to evade attacks.

Although these moments were brief, they hinted at something significant. While Kakashi hadn't found the right moment to counterattack, Minato saw a clear signal: something was wrong.

Minato speculated that the Rinnegan's energy consumption was taking its toll. The previous battles and Black Zetsu's escape from the prison must have drained its reserves. Obito's body, already heavily damaged, was now bearing the burden of sustaining both a Mangekyō Sharingan and a Rinnegan. It was an enormous strain.

If Black Zetsu were in peak condition, it might have endured. However, the ambush in Konoha had left it weakened, and Obito's body was teetering on the brink. The repeated overexertion had pushed it to its limits.

Black Zetsu realized it had to retreat. While Madara was essential to its plans, he wasn't irreplaceable. If necessary, Black Zetsu could bide its time and wait for another opportunity. Staying and risking capture or death would be disastrous.

Having used a decoy tactic once before, Black Zetsu knew it was unlikely to succeed again. Calculating the risks, it abandoned the effort to regroup with Madara and instead prepared to escape.

This decision did not escape the notice of Minato and Kakashi. Among the most perceptive shinobi, the two instantly recognized Black Zetsu's intent.

"He's trying to escape," Minato said, exchanging a knowing glance with Kakashi. Both immediately ramped up their assault.

Sensing the increased pressure, Black Zetsu abruptly switched tactics. Instead of evasion, it unleashed a fierce counterattack with Hell Swarm, forcing Minato and Kakashi to retreat.

The two instinctively assumed Black Zetsu was preparing to use a Kamui vortex for escape and readied their Flying Thunder God kunai to disrupt it. Against two Flying Thunder God users, escaping unscathed was nearly impossible.

However, Black Zetsu's next move was entirely unexpected. It reached up, dug out the Mangekyō Sharingan from its right eye socket, and replaced it with the second Rinnegan.

Minato and Kakashi realized their miscalculation too late. Black Zetsu's earlier evasive tactics had lulled them into believing it was desperate to flee and avoid prolonged combat.

In a sense, their judgment wasn't wrong. However, once Black Zetsu decided the cost of further battle outweighed the value of rescuing Madara, its strategy shifted completely.

Now floating in midair, Black Zetsu stretched out its arms.

"Shinra Tensei."

Yumi's Wood Release forest, which had enveloped the prison, was obliterated by the sheer force of the blast. Half of Amegakure was flattened by the shockwave.

The forest had absorbed much of the impact; otherwise, the entire village might have been leveled.

Minato and Kakashi attempted to evade using Flying Thunder God, but they had few pre-set markings within Amegakure. Both sustained injuries from the blast, though neither was critically harmed due to their quick reflexes and chakra reserves.

Among the Rinnegan's abilities, Shinra Tensei was one of the most versatile and devastating. Its indiscriminate shockwave was capable of countering nearly any tactic.

Aoba and Madara were also caught in the shockwave. However, both emerged relatively unscathed due to their exceptional strength.

The blast interrupted Aoba and Madara's duel. Both realized what had happened.

Aoba hadn't expected Obito's body, after all it had endured, to withstand the implantation of two Rinnegan. Madara, on the other hand, understood that Black Zetsu's desperation meant the battle was coming to a close.

Floating in the air, Black Zetsu extended its right hand toward Madara. It wasn't that it didn't want to unleash another powerful attack to finish off the Konoha shinobi; it simply couldn't.

As Aoba had suspected, Obito's body was on the verge of collapse. Black Zetsu could barely muster enough strength to use Bansho Ten'in and attempted to pull Madara to safety.

Naturally, Aoba and the others wouldn't allow Madara to escape. Letting him go would mean losing the battle entirely.

Three Flying Thunder God kunai were thrown almost simultaneously. Minato and Kakashi intercepted Madara mid-flight, engaging him in midair.

At that moment, they truly experienced Madara's terrifying power. Even while being pulled by the gravitational force of Bansho Ten'in, Madara effortlessly suppressed both Minato and Kakashi. In their brief exchange, neither could land a hit, let alone place a Flying Thunder God seal on him.

Madara's mastery of combat shone through. Although he didn't know Flying Thunder God himself, he understood the technique intimately. As soon as Minato and Kakashi approached, he anticipated their intentions and nullified their assault with ease.

However, Aoba suddenly appeared behind Madara.

"Wait a minute, why behind me?"

Madara's thoughts raced. He had exchanged blows with Aoba twice and knew his opponent was a tactical genius. Aoba would never make a meaningless move. But teleporting behind him with Flying Thunder God? That didn't add up.

Madara's body was being pulled forward by Bansho Ten'in. If Aoba teleported behind him, Madara would simply move out of range in the next second. How could Aoba hope to intercept him this way?

The two Flying Thunder God users earlier had teleported in front of him to block his path, that made sense.

But Aoba's next move revealed his true intentions, and Madara quickly realized something was wrong. Aoba wasn't trying to attack him. Instead, he summoned a high-speed tornado that enveloped his body, propelling him through the air.

Aoba didn't strike Madara. Instead, he followed closely behind him, flying at high speed.

As they neared Black Zetsu, Aoba suddenly drew his sword. The Kusanagi sword thrust toward Madara, forcing him to instinctively twist his body. The blade narrowly missed its mark.

But then, in an instant, Aoba extended the blade, lengthening it with Wind Release chakra. The sword bypassed Madara entirely, hurtling toward the air ahead.

"Damn it! His target is Black Zetsu," Madara realized. But it was too late to stop the strike...

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Currently on Chapter 268 - Byakugan Mutation