Chapter 98: Battle at Cloud-Jumping Gorge
"This body contains a highly advanced level of Wood Release kekkei genkai, and its affinity for Wood Release far surpasses that of others. He is the near-perfect vessel for me!" Tobi's lively voice echoed.
Upon hearing Tobi's words, Obito understood immediately—Tobi intended to capture Yamato and then take over his body.
Although Tobi was currently inhabiting Obito's body, he was actually capable of separating from Obito and acting independently.
The power Tobi could unleash varied significantly depending on the host body he inhabited.
In the original timeline, after possessing Yamato, Tobi was able to perform a Wood style: True Several Thousand Hands( Shinsu Senju) that was almost on par with the First Hokage's, rendering the Allied Shinobi Forces helpless during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
It wasn't until Madara completed the Infinite Tsukuyomi that Tobi felt his strength was no longer necessary and voluntarily released Yamato.
"Fine. Once we deal with the Third, we'll take this guy too!" Obito said flatly, his voice devoid of any emotion. It was clear that he didn't regard the Third Hokage as a serious threat.
Their conversation was heard clearly by both the Third Hokage and Yamato. They realized that, aside from Naruto—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—their target was also Yamato.
"Who exactly are you? How can you use the First Hokage's Wood Release?" The Third Hokage asked, his voice heavy with suspicion as he stared at Obito.
Obito snorted coldly and, without saying much, instructed Tobi—who currently controlled the body—to take action immediately.
At Obito's command, Tobi brought his hands together. "Wood Release: Wood style: True Several Thousand Hands( Shinsu Senju)!"
In an instant, massive roots shot up from the ground, intertwining and continuously expanding until they formed an enormous wooden figure.
The Wood Golem took the form of a Thousand-Handed Buddha. Its hands were pressed together in a prayer position at its chest, while an array of numerous smaller hands spread outward behind it, resembling a peacock's tail in full display. The visual impact of the wooden Buddha was staggering.
On top of the Buddha's head, five smaller faces appeared, each capable of using one of the five elemental chakra natures: fire, lightning, earth, water, and wind.
Although the Wood Golem Tobi summoned here was smaller than the one he summoned when possessing Yamato in the original timeline, it was still several times larger than Gamabunta, instilling a sense of awe and dread in anyone who saw it.
As he gazed at the towering wooden figure before him, the Third Hokage couldn't help but recall the invincible First Hokage of his youth. A feeling of helplessness began to rise within him.
But at this moment, he realized that only he, as the Hokage of Konoha, had the ability to confront such a powerful foe.
"Before you can take away Konoha's family, you'll have to get past me first!" he roared, charging forward with his adamantine staff raised, heading straight toward the massive wooden golem, which was several hundred times larger than him.
While the Third Hokage and Obito were engaged in their battle, the Fourth Raikage personally led all the Cloud Ninja forces on the frontlines to launch a full-scale assault on Konoha. Naturally, such a large-scale operation could not escape the attention of Yusuke, who had a raven keeping watch in the sky.
Gathering all of Konoha's forces, Yusuke led the army to meet the approaching Cloud Ninja troops.
Soon, the Konoha and Cloud Ninja armies met at a gorge on the border of the Land of Lightning, known as the Leap Cloud Gorge.
The terrain of the gorge was not particularly treacherous, and a skilled ninja could fight normally within it.
The two sides faced off on either side of the gorge, and the Cloud Ninja forces saw the leader of the Konoha army—Yusuke Uchiha—standing before them.
He appeared quite young, just as the intelligence had indicated, not yet twenty years old. His tall figure was draped in a white cloak that fluttered in the mountain winds of the gorge. His calm eyes gleamed with an unprecedented red-gold Sharingan, a Mangekyō sharingan that no one had ever seen before. Standing straight and composed, he resembled an unsheathed sword, his presence almost imperceptible, yet impossible to ignore.
By his side stood Itachi and Izumi, with many elite Uchiha clan members stationed behind him.
Although the Cloud Ninja forces had the advantage in numbers, there was an unmistakable sense of pressure emanating from Konoha's side, as if their momentum was slowly being suppressed by Konoha.
Since the battle had begun, Konoha had maintained the upper hand, and the fact that they had captured the Two-Tails Jinchūriki just today had greatly boosted their morale.
Fixing his gaze on Yusuke, the Fourth Raikage shouted, "Uchiha Yusuke, where is Yūgito? If you return her safely now and formally surrender on behalf of Konoha, I'll spare you!"
Upon hearing the Raikage's words, Yusuke laughed heartily. "Raikage, I didn't realize you had such a sense of humor."
"I suggest that instead of demanding Yūgito, you give me the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. If you do, I'll spare everyone here."
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee, was the Raikage's partner, with whom he formed the 'A-B' duo in Cloud Village. The Raikage had considered Killer Bee a brother, and they were closer than blood relatives. Hearing Yusuke specifically call for Killer Bee to be handed over, the Raikage could no longer contain his fury.
"You bastard! After today, I'll have the Uchiha clan choose a new leader!" the Raikage roared, his anger palpable. He ordered the Cloud Ninja forces to launch a massive assault and, without hesitation, charged toward Yusuke.
As the Cloud forces began their attack, Yusuke turned to Itachi and gave him instructions, "Itachi, take command of the entire army in my stead. The Raikage and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki are mine to deal with."
Itachi and Izumi immediately accepted their orders. They still weren't entirely sure of Yusuke's full strength, but they believed that the forces of the Cloud Ninja were no match for him.
Yusuke's eyes locked with the Raikage's as the latter charged toward him. The two shared a brief, murderous gaze.
At this moment, the Raikage activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, enveloping his body in a layer of lightning chakra. This not only fully energized his muscles but also drastically increased his speed and attack power, while significantly enhancing his physical strength and defensive capabilities.
With a flick of his right hand, his sword, Ryujin Jakka, which had already entered its Shikai form—appeared in Yusuke's grasp. A long, fiery tail trailed behind it, forming a circle of red flame in the air, lighting up the night sky.
The temperature in the gorge rose noticeably due to the sword's activation, making the air feel scorching hot.
With a clash, the Raikage's metallic arm ring collided with Yusuke's sword, which was wreathed in blazing flames.
Seeing that the Raikage's arm ring could withstand the spiritual pressure and intense heat from Ryujin Jakka surprised Yusuke slightly.
It was clear that the Raikage's metal arm ring was made of an exceptionally strong and heat-resistant material.
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