BOOM! BOOM!
The ground shook with a series of massive explosions.
The [Great Fireball Technique], its power practically maxed out, spewed from Shimoku's mouth as if it cost him nothing at all.
One blazing fireball after another shot through the sky,
rushing toward Obito.
Yet without exception,
these violently powerful flames effortlessly pierced straight through Obito's body, instead smashing into the surrounding forest,
failing to inflict even a single scratch on him.
One must admit—
the [Kamui], an exclusive ability of the Mangekyo Sharingan, was truly a nightmare.
Especially in Obito's right eye—enhanced by Hashirama's cells—the 'Intangibility' ability had practically no side effects when activated. It was almost like a passive skill!
This made him completely resistant to all physical attacks and most ninjutsu techniques!
It could only be maintained continuously for up to about five minutes.
But across the entire ninja world,
how many outrageously rich women had six billion explosive tags and could keep firing nonstop for over ten minutes? That kind of firepower was something only Miss Nanjie had.
At least Shimoku was certain he didn't have that many explosive tags.
And even if he did,
he wouldn't dare waste them so recklessly.
Therefore, taking down "Big Bro Tu" wasn't easy.
Of course, besides launching an uninterrupted attack lasting more than five minutes,
there was another way to counter Kamui.
That was speed!
If you were fast enough—fast enough that even the Sharingan couldn't track you (like the Raikage)—
then naturally, Kamui's 'swallowing' power would be useless against you.
Did Shimoku possess physical strength and speed comparable to the Raikage?
Certainly not.
If he did, why bother summoning Susano'o? Earlier, he could've just charged straight in and punched Danzo into oblivion.
Granted, sheer lack of physical speed didn't mean he was helpless—he could still compensate with chakra and advanced ninjutsu.
By using an immense amount of chakra,
techniques like the [Shunshin] or high-level space-time ninjutsu such as the [Flying Thunder God]
could grant a ninja incredible bursts of speed.
Although Shimoku himself didn't have chakra reserves anywhere near those of a tailed beast, and hadn't mastered advanced space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God either,
he, much like Obito,
possessed two Mangekyo eyes whose unique abilities could themselves be considered a form of space-time ninjutsu.
It was more than enough to generate explosive bursts of speed!
Still, landing a hit on Obito required an opportunity…
...
[Fire Release: Flame Bullet]
[Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance!]
While dodging Shimoku's fireballs, Obito skillfully retaliated with offensive ninjutsu techniques.
A storm of flames poured heavily toward his opponent.
Already possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan, he fully understood how terrifying this Kekkei Genkai could be.
Plus, every pair of Mangekyo Sharingan carried different abilities.
Out of caution, until he figured out what Shimoku's ability was,
he had no intention of getting into close combat with that brat!
Fighting from a distance seemed far safer.
Where the hell did this brat get so much chakra?
Didn't he already run on fumes?
Obito thought silently.
He couldn't figure out how this brat still had so much chakra to burn.
Could it be—that brat could absorb others' chakra like Kisame to replenish himself?
...
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Great Fireball Technique!"
Shimoku created three clones, surrounding himself as they continuously spat out Great Fireballs.
It was like watching three blazing flame-cannons firing non-stop.
With just a simple fireball technique, he blocked every single ninjutsu attack from Obito,
and even forced him to struggle getting close with [Kamui].
Obito, however, wasn't worried.
After all, Shimoku's attacks couldn't harm him at all. He wouldn't mind dragging this out for a while.
While maintaining intangibility, he mockingly sneered aloud.
"It's useless! Useless!"
"Your Great Fireball Technique may be impressive, but you can't even hit me!"
"Give up! If you're willing to submit to me, I might even let you live…"
Facing Obito's attempt to coax him into surrendering, Shimoku remained completely unmoved.
Ha!
Submit to Obito? Join the Akatsuki?
Then end up played like a pawn by Black Zetsu, acting like a loyal lapdog, living in a dream of the *Eye of the Moon Plan*?
Trusting one's future not to one's own efforts, but to an endless slumber without awakening?
Don't be ridiculous!
In that case, Big Bro Tu—full of idealism—was indeed pitiful after all.
But pitiful or not, if he needed a beating, then he'd definitely get one!
Thinking thus, Shimoku immediately started acting.
"Snake-Boar-Bird-Hare-Dog-Rat-Cock-Horse-Snake…"
Inside the circle of his three clones, Shimoku's true body swiftly formed hand seals, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips, loudly asking:
"Do you recognize this jutsu?"
"This hand seal sequence?"
"It's [Kinjutsu: Dead Demon Consuming Seal]!!!"
"Oh? Didn't expect you actually recognize this jutsu?" Shimoku deliberately exclaimed in feigned shock.
"Have you gone mad?!!"
Obito's expression drastically changed, letting out an incredulous cry.
Although he himself didn't know this jutsu,
he had personally witnessed the power of this Uzumaki clan's sealing kinjutsu!
Back then, even the mighty Nine-Tails was weakened like a helpless animal under Minato Namikaze's [Dead Demon Consuming Seal]!
In one swift motion, its soul had been seized and sealed away!
Enough proof of this forbidden technique's terrifying might.
Therefore, Obito never expected—
that this brat would actually know such a forbidden technique too!
And without hesitation, he used this self-destructive forbidden jutsu right away!
Has this brat gone mad?!!
Seeing this, Obito absolutely couldn't gamble on it!
Who knew whether his [Kamui] intangibility could withstand the soul-seizing effect of the [Dead Demon Consuming Seal]?
If it couldn't block it, wouldn't he be done for?
"No way—I must stop him!"
"I cannot possibly allow this brat to succeed!"
Feeling a life-threatening crisis, Obito roared inwardly.
The very next moment,
without hesitation, he made his body intangible again, dashing through fireballs toward Shimoku's true body!
Intending to interrupt the brat's technique.
...
As Obito rushed toward him,
Shimoku secretly felt delighted inside.
"Just as expected—threatened by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Big Bro Tu finally cracked!"
But did he really know how to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?
Of course not.
Although the *jutsu* could be purchased from the system store,
The price was simply too high.
Shimoku had already spent all his saved coins on acquiring the *Mangekyō Sharingan*.
Who would waste money buying this throwaway "one-for-one sacrifice" Kinjutsu anyway?
Even without purchasing it,
He was still a die-hard fan who had watched the entire Naruto series multiple times in his past life.
The hand seals of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal? Already memorized long ago.
Right now, forming those seals and putting on a show
Was meant to scare Obito
Into launching an attack first—that was Shimoku's true intention.
Then, during the gap when Obito materialized to strike,
He could counterattack!
What kind of ninja skips strategy and calls themselves a ninja anyway?
...
Seeing Shimoku finish the hand seals, a grayish spectral figure with a chilling aura slowly emerged behind him,
Which frightened Obito into quickening his assault.
Ignoring everything else, Obito charged forward and hurled several shuriken through the air toward Shimoku.
The sharp shuriken were blocked by one of Shimoku's clones.
It was evident that this brat's taijutsu was pretty good, skillfully dodging and evading the incoming shuriken.
Taking the opportunity, Obito effortlessly passed through two more clones and reached Shimoku's real body.
"Foolish brat! You're finished!"
Obito instantly canceled his intangibility, and his right hand made contact with Shimoku's body.
At such close range, he could easily suck this kid into his Kamui dimension and interrupt his Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
He clearly won!
However, at that very moment,
Obito suddenly noticed—the brat's lips were curving into a smile?
As if mocking him!
"Arrogant indeed! Facing death without awareness!"
Obito sneered inwardly.
Then he activated Kamui, sending ripples through space, and prepared to pull the boy into the Kamui dimension.
"Bang—"
With a crisp sound,
The Shimoku in front of Obito suddenly exploded into white mist.
"What?!"
"It's a Shadow Clone!"
"But if that was only a Shadow Clone, how could it channel such a complex Kinjutsu at all?"
In an instant, Obito was horrified and suddenly realized.
"Oh no! I've been tricked!"
Letting out a cry of alarm, Obito hurriedly attempted to activate Intangibility again.
Unfortunately, would Shimoku give him that chance?
[Mangekyō Sharingan – Left Eye – Setsuna!]
[Third-Stage Eightfold Speed Boost—Activate!]
On Obito's right side,
The supposed Shadow Clone—the real Shimoku—suddenly sprang into action.
Activating the exclusive ability of his left Mangekyō eye, accelerating his own time flow.
In the blink of an eye, under the surge of temporal power,
Shimoku's blood rushed faster, his muscles tensed with supernatural strength… as if his entire being had broken free from the limits of time itself.
With accelerated time, he erupted with speed and strength far beyond his normal state!
Gaining an eightfold increase in speed, this was the highest level of enhancement that Shimoku could currently control.
The next moment,
He launched a punch.
In just 0.02 seconds — lightning-fast!
So fast that even Obito couldn't activate his Intangibility in time.
"Boom!"
Shimoku's fist slammed hard into Obito's right face.
The tremendous force shattered his mask and crushed his cheekbone.
Obito flew backward like a sandbag for dozens of meters, smashing through several trees before crashing onto the ground.
Truthfully, Obito had fallen for it.
Otherwise, even with an eightfold boost, Shimoku would never have been able to hit him.
Unfortunately, the opponent had rushed in up close and deactivated his Intangibility, giving Shimoku the chance to land a hit.
Just like how Minato struck him with the Rasengan back then.
Ninja battles always came down to strategy and mind games!
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