Chapter 140: The Doomsday Argument
"It looks like Susanoo's resistance is reaching its limit. What now?" Zetsu asked, seeing Uchiha Itachi clearly at a disadvantage.
There was no denying it—everyone on their side was holding back, and against a legendary Sannin like Jiraiya, it was impossible to expect to gain the upper hand under such restraint.
"Can you hold out a bit longer?" Tobi asked Kisame, noting that his condition seemed relatively fine.
"Of course I can. But... do we really need to keep tangling with Jiraiya like this?" Kisame, one of the few who knew Tobi's true identity as "Uchiha Madara," was still holding a grudge about being used as bait earlier. Though cruel and violent, Kisame was meticulous and took missions seriously—he wouldn't sabotage Akatsuki until the Nine-Tails was secured.
"We can't give up now—the Nine-Tails is still within our grasp. We just need to hang on a little longer."
Everyone present held different beliefs about Tobi's true identity, but one thing was certain: outwardly, they all acknowledged his authority and status. If Tobi gave the order, they followed it. Even Kisame, despite his doubts about why someone as powerful as "Madara" needed to be so cautious, still didn't press too far into the organization's secrets.
Instead of using large-scale water release to change the battlefield, Kisame simply advanced, coordinating with Itachi's Susanoo and swinging Samehada to help defend against Jiraiya and Gamabunta's combined assault. For a battle of attrition, absorbing chakra was his most effective tactic.
Seeing this, Zetsu relaxed a little, but still asked, "Why have Kisame go up against Jiraiya? His combat style isn't ideal for this kind of situation."
Indeed, Kisame's strength lay in overwhelming groups with powerful water techniques—his massive chakra reserves made him a juggernaut. But in a straight-up duel of ninjutsu against a sage-mode Jiraiya, even Kisame felt outmatched. Samehada was useful, but fighting close-range against Jiraiya and Gamabunta was dangerous, even with Susanoo's protection.
"So what should I do? Expose my Wood Release? Don't forget, to them, I'm Uchiha Madara..."
Zetsu having Wood Release was barely tolerable as a legacy of the First Hokage. But if Tobi—the supposed Madara—used Wood Release as well, it would raise far too many suspicions. Even Pain wasn't aware of the full extent of their deceptions. Revealing this now could compromise Tobi's manipulation of the Akatsuki leader.
"You've spent too long hiding in the shadows, Tobi. You're so used to scheming that you've forgotten how to fight head-on." Zetsu's words were blunt. "That's why Pain makes a better leader than you."
"And you're no different," Tobi said with an uncharacteristic hint of sincerity. "By their standards, we're just pathetic shadows, cast aside by the world."
"The moment I lost everything, the old me died. If the world has no place for me, then I have no reason to care for it."
"Enough philosophy. Dreams should be acted on, not endlessly talked about," Zetsu replied flatly. "Now, about retreating..."
"What's wrong?" Tobi frowned.
"Your overcautious plan is the problem. If we'd just gone all out, do you really think we couldn't have taken the Tailed Beasts by now? You're too sentimental about your clansmen. Itachi's strong, but he's not irreplaceable."
"You're wrong. If the Nine-Tails were the last beast we needed, I wouldn't hesitate. But it's not time yet. I only wanted to take advantage of the chaos in Konoha after Orochimaru's invasion. The Water Country situation is more favorable anyway..."
With Yagura under his control, seizing the Three-Tails was nearly guaranteed.
Zetsu gave a cold smile. "Would you say the same about me?"
"Yes," Tobi answered without pause. Even though Zetsu had helped him survive the aftermath of receiving Hashirama's cells, Tobi didn't lie.
"Not surprising... still kind of hurts to hear it confirmed."
"Can we skip the emotional banter?" Tobi snapped.
"Fine, back to business." Zetsu glanced toward Itachi and Kisame, who were still barely holding their own. "We've got word from Tobi's clone—he's in trouble. The stealth plan failed. It's no longer a clean operation."
"Huh?" Tobi's eyes narrowed. "They shouldn't have had any defenses left. Could the Jinchūriki have gone berserk?"
"Berserk Jinchūriki don't act this quietly. Think, Tobi."
Zetsu's tone was scolding. "I warned you—your kiddie-tier infiltration plans are too complicated. One misstep, and it all falls apart. You've failed and turned two of our best into sacrificial pawns. Again."
Itachi and Kisame were among Akatsuki's most reliable members. Unlike Hidan, Kakuzu, or Sasori, they could be reasoned with. Losing them would be a huge blow.
"Is it my fault? You didn't object. We had a mutual understanding with Konoha and Itachi. As long as we didn't cross a line, we'd be fine, right?"
"A 'mutual understanding'?" Zetsu mocked. "That's just your own fantasy."
Mistrust, misplaced confidence, and partial intelligence plagued all sides. Konoha's leadership underestimated Akatsuki's true strength, while Akatsuki wasn't clear on what Konoha's breaking point really was. Everyone, including Itachi, was dancing on the edge of unknown thresholds.
"But we've come this far. Turning back now would be a mistake," Tobi decided. "If we can confirm the Jinchūriki is secure, go for it."
"Should we head over? With Kamui, it wouldn't take long."
"Let's wait. If Tobi uses the Wood Golem Jutsu, we'll have Itachi and Kisame withdraw."
Once the Nine-Tails operation failed or succeeded, there'd be no reason to linger in Konoha. Once Jiraiya showed up, the window would slam shut.
…
For Mizuki, whose chakra reserves were currently bolstered, handling low-tier swarm tactics was practically a joke.
"Mizuki-sensei, watch out!"
"Hm?" Still basking in the thrill of crushing White Zetsu clones, Mizuki's smug satisfaction was suddenly interrupted by Sasuke's shout.
Instinctively, Mizuki twisted aside—just as a wooden spike grazed his cheek.
A sneak attack? Spore Technique? That was close. Has Tobi lost patience? Or is he changing tactics?
Wood Release—no matter the context—was never trivial. If Yamato's powers were once revered as a miracle, the casual display of Wood Release by Zetsu and Tobi's clones dragged that miracle into the mud.
If Tobi was pulling out Wood Release now, the real fight was just about to begin.
"Will he use the Wood Golem Jutsu—the same one from the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
Mizuki wasn't sure. In the original timeline, Tobi had used an enormous Wood Golem, something akin to a lesser version of Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands. It took Hiruzen Sarutobi's Five Element Great Bullet to counter. But that version had been enhanced by capturing Yamato and grafting him into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
This clone wasn't that version. Even if he could use Wood Golem Jutsu, it would likely be a degraded form—powerful, but not godlike. Still, it was nothing to scoff at. Wood Release, by its nature, was almost always dangerous.
"Naruto, that's enough," Mizuki instructed. "How's your chakra holding up?"
"I'm good! I've been ready for battle this whole time!" Naruto rotated his shoulders to show he was still full of energy. "But Mizuki-sensei, what is this thing I've been fueling? Why does it eat so much chakra?"
"You… don't know?" Mizuki blinked. He'd known Naruto was undertrained, but this was worse than expected.
"Idiot, we learned this at the Academy," Sasuke said, embarrassed by his teammate.
"Enough." Mizuki shut them up before Naruto could argue. "Now summon Gamabunta."
"Got it, Mizuki-sensei! Watch this!" Naruto bit his thumb and slammed the ground with a confident smirk.
In a puff of smoke… a tiny toad with a tail appeared, hopping around on the rooftop.
Mizuki's jaw dropped.
"I was counting on Naruto?" he thought blankly. "I must be the biggest fool in the world…"
To be continued...
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