The white, energy-forged spear shot toward Kyosuke in an instant. The violet-red arm of his Susanoo met it with a sword of its own.
"Susanoo: Chains of Hell!"
The two powerful attacks collided, the resulting shockwave tearing through the already-devastated forest. In the instant the dust and debris obscured their vision, the violet-red Susanoo vanished.
It reappeared behind its opponent, its sword already swinging down.
Dark Owl, caught by surprise, barely had time to raise her Susanoo's arm to block. The blow shattered the arm, and she was forced to retreat.
"Good reflexes," Kyosuke's cold voice came from within the smoke, and Dark Owl's rage flared once more.
"Don't get too cocky, Uchiha Kyosuke," she growled, her voice a low, menacing rasp.
Kyosuke shook his head. He didn't recognize the voice, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that it was disguised.
It doesn't matter. "He" doesn't seem to have any space-time abilities. I'll capture him, and then all will be revealed.
The crimson light in his eyes intensified.
Meanwhile, Minato, having left Kushina in the care of the Anbu, had returned to the ruins of the house. Nothing had changed. He surmised that Kyosuke must have pursued the enemy.
I wonder how he's doing. Did he catch him? The thought that Kyosuke might have been defeated never even crossed his mind. He knew Kyosuke's strength better than anyone. An enemy who could sneak up on him was not to be underestimated, but he had faith in Kyosuke's Flying Thunder God, to say nothing of his reawakened Mangekyo.
He wasn't even sure he could defeat Kyosuke himself, let alone some unknown assailant.
Kyosuke can handle him. There were other disturbances in the village. I should go and check them out. He gave a few orders to the Anbu and then vanished.
He was right. Obito was no match for Kyosuke. But what he didn't know was that the person Kyosuke was fighting was someone else entirely. And, more importantly, because of Kyosuke's sudden intervention, he was unaware that the enemy also possessed a space-time ability. Otherwise, he would never have left Kushina alone.
"Ugh."
The Anbu guard stared in disbelief at the wound in his chest and collapsed to the ground. The others around him met the same fate.
Using White Zetsu's reconnaissance abilities to locate Kushina, Obito had used his Kamui to teleport to her location and had quickly dispatched her guards.
"Hah..." Hearing the sounds from outside, Kushina's breathing quickened. She looked at the sleeping Naruto, a sad, tragic smile on her face.
"I'm sorry..."
"Bang!"
The door was kicked open, and Obito walked in. "No matter how much you struggle, you cannot escape me," he said, his voice a low monotone.
"Who are you?" Kushina asked, scrambling to shield Naruto, her mind racing, trying to buy time.
"Who I am is not important. And your little tricks won't work. No one can save you today," he said with a low, humorless chuckle.
"Damn it," she cursed, taking a step back. She gathered the last of her chakra, preparing for a final, desperate struggle.
Seeing that she had not yet given up, Obito continued, his voice a low, almost hypnotic drone. "I have not come for you, but for the Nine-Tails within you. It is a necessary sacrifice... for this world."
"Your death will bring peace to the shinobi world. Go in peace... Kushina."
She grit her teeth, ignoring his words, and unleashed a series of chakra chains from her back, lashing out at him.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
It was a powerful sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki clan, capable of suppressing even a Tailed Beast. But against Obito's Kamui, it was useless.
The chains passed right through his body. Despair washed over her. She finally understood how he had been able to sneak up on her. And she understood that today, there was no escape.
Damn it... I just became a mother... I haven't even had the chance to take care of Naruto... to cook him a single meal... I'm not ready to die...
I'm sorry... Minato. I'm sorry... Naruto.
The chains fell limp. She was done fighting.
"So, you've finally given up. Good," Obito said, walking toward her. The spatial vortex began to form in his eye.
But then, Kushina spoke. "I will give you the Nine-Tails. But you must promise me one thing. Otherwise, I will release it now, and your plan will be ruined."
"...You are in no position to bargain, Kushina." But for some reason, he was curious. The vortex subsided.
"Let... let Naruto go. Please... he's just a baby," she begged.
He looked at the infant in the crib and, after a long moment, gave a silent nod. "As I said, I have only come for the Nine-Tails. Nothing else... is important."
"Are you finished? Then let's go."
The spatial vortex appeared once more. With one last, tearful look at her son, Kushina vanished, along with Obito.
As if sensing her departure, the sleeping infant began to cry, his wails echoing through the now-empty house.
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