"Can I use space-time ninjutsu in reality? No… that's not it. I've been trapped in that illusion again!"
Uchiha Obito stared at Uchiha Fugaku in astonishment.
In just a few seconds, he realized what had happened—he had fallen into the illusion once more.
"Release me!"
Obito frantically activated the power of his right eye, attempting to dispel the genjutsu cast on him.
The Uchiha clan's Sharingan had the ability to see through and break illusions. Although his Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't specialized in genjutsu, it still possessed a far greater ability to resist illusions than an ordinary Sharingan.
Uchiha Fugaku's technique was undeniably powerful, but Obito believed he should be able to break it using the full force of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, in the next moment, shock filled his face.
Even after pouring all of his strength into his eye, he found himself still trapped in the illusion.
No matter how much he urged his pupil power, he couldn't break free. It was as if he was confined behind an impenetrable steel wall—an illusion barrier so formidable that even his Mangekyō Sharingan was powerless against it.
"What… what kind of genjutsu is this?"
Underneath his mask, Obito's expression grew grim.
Even he couldn't shatter this illusion. This level of power was beyond anything he had anticipated from Fugaku.
If it weren't for the fact that Fugaku's eyes lacked dual patterns, he would have assumed that the man had already awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had completely underestimated his opponent.
Even after learning that Fugaku had killed Uchiha Shisui, he hadn't thought much of it.
And now, he was paying the price for his arrogance.
"You won't be able to break my illusion with your current strength."
Fugaku stood still, making no effort to attack.
He knew that Obito was currently under the effect of Izanagi. As long as Izanagi's time limit persisted, no matter how many times he killed him, Obito would resurrect.
"It's true that I can't break your illusion directly," Obito admitted. "But that doesn't mean I don't have a way out!"
A sharp branch formed in his hand, created from the Wood Release. Without hesitation, he stabbed himself with it.
"Not good!"
Fugaku's expression changed slightly as he realized Obito's plan.
"Sixth Gate—Gate of View, open!"
"Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder, open!"
A torrent of blue steam erupted around Fugaku, amplifying his speed to an extreme level.
Boom!
In a blur of blue light, he instantly closed the distance between them and swung his fist toward Obito.
But before the punch could connect, Obito activated Kamui's intangibility.
Pushing his kunai deep into his chest, Obito's body was immediately impaled by the piercing wood spikes that spread throughout his organs, destroying them completely.
Despite the incredible vitality granted by Hashirama's cells, he died instantly.
With Obito's death, the space within the illusion shattered. Both Fugaku and Obito returned to the real world.
However, even with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku needed at least a second or two before he could activate his ability again.
And Obito seized this moment.
"Kamui—Phase Shift!"
Obito's body flickered and turned intangible, making him immune to any further attacks.
Compared to his teleportation ability, his intangibility was far faster and more reliable.
Still wary of Fugaku's illusions, he refrained from teleporting immediately. Instead, he used his phasing ability to ensure he wouldn't be caught again.
"Real Illusion—!"
Fugaku activated his dojutsu once more, but this time, it failed.
Space-time ninjutsu was an anomaly among techniques. Despite its seemingly close range, it could place an immeasurable distance between the caster and the target.
Separated by space itself, even his most potent illusion struggled to take effect.
Swish—!
Obito turned and fled at high speed.
"Body Flicker Technique—!"
In an instant, Fugaku moved with extreme speed, appearing right in front of Obito and striking with his kunai.
But as expected, the blade phased through Obito's intangible body. Without slowing down, Obito continued his retreat.
Fugaku had anticipated this.
He once again used the Body Flicker, continuously intercepting and attacking, forcing Obito to stay intangible without respite.
Kamui's intangibility had a time limit. As long as Fugaku didn't let up the pressure, Obito would eventually be forced back into his physical state.
Swish! Swish!
One man relentlessly fled, while the other persistently pursued. Their chase quickly led them out of the forest and onto the main street of Konoha.
"They're fighting!"
Pedestrians and off-duty shinobi turned their heads in shock.
"Wait… isn't that Fugaku-sama?"
As the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku was well known, and many people instantly recognized him.
"Why is he fighting in the middle of the village?"
"Who is that masked man fighting him?"
As the crowd gathered, someone gasped in realization.
"The red clouds… the black robe… that spiral mask—he's the Wood Release user from before!"
"Alert the Hokage! Immediately!"
"Don't let him escape!"
Several ninja quickly reacted, attempting to block off any escape routes.
Obito frowned under his mask.
The crowd was growing larger. His identity was at risk of being exposed, and even worse—Fugaku refused to let him go.
"This can't continue…!"
"Why does he feel so weak, though? Wasn't he rumored to be stronger than Shisui?"
Some of the observing shinobi were puzzled.
Rumors claimed that the Wood Release user possessed power rivaling a Kage. Even Uchiha Shisui, despite his Mangekyō Sharingan, had suffered a crushing defeat against him before.
And yet, here he was—being relentlessly pursued by Fugaku, barely able to fight back.
"Something's not right… If he's really that powerful, why is he only running?"
The gathered shinobi murmured in confusion.
Obito gritted his teeth. He had to escape before this situation worsened.
Swish!
Using Kamui, he phased through a nearby wall and entered a locked building, hoping to use the structure as a momentary barrier before teleporting away.
But Fugaku was already anticipating this move.
"Susanoo!"
The pattern in Fugaku's eyes spun rapidly, and a massive black Susanoo emerged around him.
A colossal skeletal arm lifted into the air, then came crashing down toward the house Obito had entered.
Fugaku had already scanned the building. It was vacant—no civilians inside.
Boom!
The entire structure collapsed under the force of Susanoo's strike. Obito, still inside, was buried beneath the debris.
(End of this chapter)