The two top-tier Fire Style techniques clashed violently, and in an instant, the surrounding temperature skyrocketed to an unbearable level.
Fortunately, Kakashi had been prepared. Without hesitation, he activated Water Barrier, forming a protective shield around himself. Had he hesitated even a second longer, the consequences could have been disastrous—he might have suffered severe burns, or worse.
The water from the barrier evaporated almost instantly upon contact with the scorching heat, and within moments, thick steam engulfed the entire area. The sudden fog-like vapor spread in all directions, completely obscuring visibility.
This unexpected phenomenon quickly drew the attention of the nearby villagers.
"What's with all this fog?" one villager muttered, shielding his eyes.
"Is there a fire? It's boiling hot all of a sudden!" another exclaimed.
"Idiot," a third scoffed. "Just look at it—this is clearly a ninja battle."
"Huh? But who would dare fight in the middle of the village? Aren't they afraid of being caught by the Anbu?"
Curiosity got the better of the crowd. Within moments, a dozen villagers had cautiously approached, eager to see what was happening.
Kakashi, still on high alert, noticed them immediately. "Don't come any closer! It's too dangerous here!" he warned.
However, before he could say anything further, the masked man moved first.
He lunged toward one of the villagers at alarming speed. The unfortunate man barely had time to register what was happening before the masked man grabbed him. The villager's face turned pale as fear paralyzed him.
"H-Holy shit!" one of the onlookers stammered. "They're attacking civilians! Run for your lives!"
Panic spread like wildfire. The gathered villagers screamed and scattered in all directions, running as fast as their legs could carry them.
The masked man smirked. Holding his hostage firmly, he sneered at Kakashi and Obito. "If you don't want him to die, then—"
Before he could finish his sentence, something abnormal happened.
His body suddenly twisted, as though being swallowed by an invisible vortex.
"What!?" The masked man's eyes widened in shock. Reacting purely on instinct, he released the hostage and immediately activated his virtualization ability, phasing into the Kamui space to escape whatever force was trying to pull him in.
His gaze darted to Uchiha Obito, who stood a few meters away, his Sharingan spinning slowly. The masked man instantly realized what had just happened—the surprise attack had been Obito's doing.
Had he reacted even a fraction of a second slower, he might have been completely torn apart by the distortion of time and space.
Annoyed, the masked man sneered. "Hmph. Are Konoha's ninjas always this reckless? You don't even care about your own villagers."
Obito rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about? This is called 'attack and you will be saved.' I keep telling you to read more books, but instead, you chose to herd cattle."
The masked man scoffed. "Still the same talkative brat."
Ignoring him, Obito activated Kamui again, transporting both Kakashi and himself into the Kamui space.
---
Inside Kamui Space
A vast, dark void greeted them, where massive cubic structures floated eerily in the distance.
Obito's Sharingan gleamed as he scanned the surroundings.
Sharingan is the eye that reflects the soul.
Obito's own Mangekyō was born from despair, granting him the ability to escape from reality itself—giving him control over Kamui, a dimension separate from the real world.
As he surveyed their surroundings, his suspicion was confirmed.
"The Kamui spaces are indeed connected," Obito muttered.
And sure enough, just ahead, the masked man stood in the distance.
Obito smirked. "Perfect. Let's end this here. No matter how much we fight, the village won't be affected. And…" He narrowed his eyes. "Don't think for a second that you can use your virtualization ability here."
Obito's words were a challenge—a declaration of war. He turned to Kakashi with a confident grin. "Come on, Kakashi. Let's have a real duel."
Kakashi sighed, adjusting his mask slightly. He pulled a kunai from his pouch and, in the next instant, disappeared in a blur.
The battle began.
Kakashi's kunai aimed straight for the masked man's throat.
But his opponent was just as fast. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a long black rod, intercepting Kakashi's attack.
This black rod was crafted using Fire Style—a powerful material infused with sealing and destructive properties. It was incredibly durable, capable of countering even the sharpest blades.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks erupted as their weapons clashed, their movements too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Lightning crackled around Kakashi's palm, his Lightning Style-enhanced attacks just barely missing their mark each time.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "It's not virtualization… he's dodging with sheer speed."
He recalled Obito's words.
Here, virtualization doesn't work?
Kakashi quickly put the pieces together.
The principle of virtualization was simple: moving the user's body into the Kamui space to leave only an intangible "shadow" in the real world.
But now, since they were already inside Kamui space, the masked man couldn't phase his body here.
However… there was one loophole.
If the masked man could transfer himself back to reality, he would momentarily become intangible inside Kamui space.
But Obito wasn't going to let that happen.
The moment the masked man attempted to escape, Obito would strike in the real world.
The masked man understood the situation all too well. He abandoned the idea of using virtualization for now.
The battle raged on.
Blades clashed, lightning sparked, and the air crackled with energy.
After dozens of exchanges, neither fighter had landed a decisive hit.
Then, Kakashi exhaled slowly. His gaze sharpened as he asked the question that had been nagging at him.
"…Are you Obito?"
The masked man's body stiffened.
Kakashi didn't know why, but something about this opponent felt familiar.
Obito had died at Kannabi Bridge… hadn't he?
And yet, the masked man's eye techniques—his Sharingan abilities—were identical to young Obito's.
The question must have struck a nerve.
The masked man suddenly exploded with power.
Before Kakashi could react, a long black rod struck his chest like lightning, pinning him to the ground.
Kakashi gasped, eyes wide as he instinctively grabbed at the weapon piercing his body.
The masked man loomed over him. His voice was cold and filled with contempt.
"You're still a good-for-nothing, Kakashi."
Kakashi's breathing was labored, but he still managed to whisper:
"…You're really Obito."
The masked man's glare darkened. "You don't deserve to say my name."
Even though it was a rebuke, it was also a confirmation.
He was Obito.
The masked man gripped the black rod, pressing it deeper into Kakashi's chest, intending to end it.
But at that moment—
ZAP!
A surge of lightning burst from Kakashi's body!
The Kakashi lying beneath him vanished, replaced by a crackling mass of electricity.
"A Lightning Style clone!?"
The masked man realized it too late.
Paralyzed, he could only watch as a real kunai pressed against his throat.
Kakashi stood behind him.
"You lost, Obito," Kakashi whispered. "How does it feel to lose to a loser?"
The masked man trembled from the electrical currents, but his eyes burned with defiance.
Kakashi sighed. "Come back with me. Don't make any more mistakes."
Obito scoffed.
Kakashi had no choice. With a swift karate chop, he knocked Obito unconscious.
Then, without hesitation—
He picked him up and prepared to bring him home.
---
End of Chapter 41
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