Naruto: Promotion is my Ninja Way

Terumi Mei and Mangetsu observed the strange pattern manifesting in Uchiha Obito's right eye with growing unease. While they remained unaware of the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan's existence, both experienced shinobi recognized the distinctive markings as something far beyond an ordinary Sharingan.

Given the Uchiha clan's renowned bloodline limit, both warriors correctly deduced that this mysterious technique represented some form of advanced dōjutsu. Their instincts proved remarkably accurate, though neither could determine the cooling period of Obito's eye technique or identify other potential weaknesses in his arsenal.

"This man wields Wood Style and possesses a Sharingan," Terumi Mei muttered, her voice tight with disbelief. "Just who exactly is this enemy?"

Mangetsu gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. "How can the abilities of both Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, and Uchiha Madara, the Shura of the Ninja World, manifest in a single person? What could his true purpose be?"

The implications sent chills down their spines. Had the Uchiha somehow stolen the Senju's legendary techniques, or had the Senju clan acquired Uchiha abilities through some unknown means? Both possibilities seemed equally disturbing and impossible.

Terumi Mei and Mangetsu frantically analyzed their opponent's fighting patterns, desperately searching for any exploitable weakness that might turn the tide of this increasingly one-sided battle.

High above the chaotic battlefield, Shihouin Naraku watched the three-way confrontation with a mixture of fascination and concern. While Obito's dominance over both Kirigakure forces didn't particularly surprise him, something else had captured his attention entirely.

"Something's definitely wrong with how long Obito maintained his intangibility just now," Naraku observed, his analytical mind working furiously.

Based on his previous encounters and intelligence gathered, Naraku knew that Obito's Kamui technique should only allow continuous intangibility for approximately five minutes. However, during the current battle below, that duration had clearly exceeded seven or eight minutes without any apparent strain.

This development proved both unexpected and troubling.

As Naraku continued observing Uchiha Obito's combat performance, an unsettling feeling grew in his chest. Everything about his former opponent seemed fundamentally different from their last encounter.

Had Obito somehow become significantly stronger? If so, was this genuine improvement or some form of deception?

Naraku could clearly sense that compared to their previous battle, Obito's overall strength had increased by more than an entire order of magnitude. The Wood Style techniques he deployed not only demonstrated tremendous destructive power but also possessed the terrifying ability to absorb chakra directly from his opponents. Even Yagura, despite his status as a jinchūriki, was being systematically overwhelmed and brutalized.

This dramatic transformation left Naraku wondering what exactly had happened to Obito after their last confrontation, when he had nearly killed the masked man. What could have caused such a radical change in his capabilities?

"Should I intervene and help them?" Naraku hesitated, weighing his options carefully.

He held no particular allegiance to Kirigakure's forces. At most, he maintained a hostile relationship with Obito, but even that stemmed primarily from the masked man's unprovoked attacks against him. There existed no compelling reason for him to descend and assist the Mist ninja in their desperate struggle.

As a high-ranking official of Konohagakure, with no existing treaty between the two villages, Naraku could simply remain a neutral observer without facing any political consequences.

Furthermore, the mission Tsunade had assigned him wasn't to provide aid to Kirigakure's forces. Instead, his primary objective involved monitoring the situation and ensuring that Kirigakure didn't initiate any aggressive actions that might lead to open warfare.

Naraku frowned as he continued analyzing the battle below. Mangetsu appeared to be reaching his physical limits, his twin swords moving with decreasing speed and diminishing power with each successive attack. His breathing had become labored, and his movements increasingly sluggish.

Obito no longer even bothered acknowledging Mangetsu as a threat, instead focusing his attention primarily on Yagura and Terumi Mei. This shift in priority clearly demonstrated how thoroughly the masked man had dominated the battlefield.

Something appeared fundamentally wrong with Yagura as well. The jinchūriki was rapidly losing control, teetering on the edge of complete mental breakdown as his bijū's influence grew stronger.

Terumi Mei found herself in the most precarious position of all. Under Obito's concentrated assault, she had narrowly escaped death multiple times and looked absolutely terrible. Her clothes were torn, her body bore numerous wounds, and exhaustion was clearly taking its toll.

As for the other Mist ninja present on the battlefield, they remained completely unable to participate meaningfully in a confrontation of this magnitude. Their skills simply couldn't match the level required to make any significant impact.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Terumi Mei called out desperately.

While Obito remained engaged with Yagura, she quickly formed the necessary hand seals and released her technique. A massive water dragon materialized and roared through the air, crashing directly toward Obito's position with tremendous force.

"Boom!"

Water exploded in all directions as the technique passed harmlessly through Obito's intangible body. Simultaneously, Yagura's partially transformed state allowed him to lash out with razor-sharp claws, the terrifying force of his attack creating a massive crater in the ground where Obito had been standing.

"Whoosh!"

Without missing a beat, Obito materialized a wooden spike and hurled it toward Terumi Mei before charging forward like an arrow released from a bow, his target clearly the beautiful kunoichi.

Taking advantage of the brief moment when Yagura's claws struck the earth, Obito explosively accelerated. His feet generated tremendous force as he propelled himself forward, rapidly closing the distance to the half-transformed jinchūriki. With fluid precision, he drove a wooden spike deep into his opponent's chest.

"Roar!" The deafening sound of pain and rage echoed across the battlefield.

"Swish!" A massive tail whipped through the air with a shrill whistle, aimed directly at Obito's position.

The attack missed completely. Obito seemed to teleport instantaneously, appearing behind Yagura with another wooden spike already formed in his hand. He drove this new weapon deep into the jinchūriki's body without hesitation.

Several additional wooden spikes followed in quick succession, each one finding its mark. Yagura found himself completely pinned to the ground, unable to move despite his immense strength.

"Wood Style: Eternal Tree Burial!" Obito declared with cold satisfaction.

Numerous saplings erupted from the surrounding earth, growing at an supernatural rate into full-sized trees within seconds. The rapidly expanding wood quickly enveloped Yagura's struggling form, binding him with layers upon layers of living timber.

"Be grateful, beast," Obito spoke with chilling indifference. "If you weren't potentially useful as a tool, you would have died by my hand long ago."

A complex sealing formula appeared in Obito's palm as he pressed it against Yagura's half-transformed body. The jinchūriki's desperate struggles immediately weakened significantly, and his monstrous form began reverting to its human state.

"Swish!" The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan activated with ominous purpose.

Powerful gravitational forces manifested within the distorted space around them. Yagura's body began moving inexorably toward Obito as the masked man prepared to transport him into the Kamui dimension.

Just as victory seemed within Obito's grasp...

"Water Style: Water Pillar Formation!" Terumi Mei shouted with desperate determination.

A concentrated ball of water erupted from her throat, expanding rapidly in the wind until it reached the size of a massive meteorite. The enormous sphere of water crashed toward Obito's position with devastating force.

Even before the water ball made contact, the powerful winds generated by its passage caused Obito's expression to change dramatically behind his mask.

He had no choice but to abort his attempt to capture Yagura.

"Boom!" The moment the colossal water sphere struck the ground, the entire island began shaking violently.

The tremendous impact instantly sent the Wood Style-restrained Yagura flying through the air, significantly increasing the distance between him and his captor.

"Woman, it appears you truly wish to die!" Uchiha Obito's voice carried deadly intent as cold light flashed in his visible eye.

Ignoring Yagura completely, he began slowly sinking into the ground using his intangibility technique.

"Huh—where did he disappear to?" Mangetsu panted heavily while leaning against his enlarged twin swords for support, sweat streaming down his face as he scanned their surroundings frantically.

"Who knows? Such an insufferable man," Terumi Mei replied, her own breathing labored and uneven.

Compared to her companions, she bore the most visible signs of battle. Several deep gashes tore through her clothing, revealing wounds that penetrated to the bone. Her body displayed clear evidence of Fire Style burns, and numerous wooden spikes protruded from her flesh at various points.

Despite Terumi Mei's critical condition, Obito had still directed most of his attention toward Yagura throughout the battle, rarely targeting her directly. Even this reduced focus had proven nearly overwhelming for the skilled kunoichi.

"Remain vigilant—he's far from finished with us," she warned through gritted teeth.

"I understand!" Mangetsu responded grimly.

As both Terumi Mei and Mangetsu maintained their careful watch over the battlefield, Obito silently emerged from the earth directly behind the exhausted woman.

"Mei-sama!" Ao's voice rang out urgently from his distant position.

"Behind you!" he continued desperately.

His Byakugan had detected Obito's movement trajectory before anyone else could react.

Mangetsu demonstrated the fastest response time. His expertise in kenjutsu and taijutsu allowed him to immediately mobilize his remaining chakra and physical strength, swinging both massive blades in a devastating arc.

Based on the trajectory and power behind his strike, it seemed he was prepared to cut through Terumi Mei as well if necessary to reach their enemy.

"Water Style: Water Barrier Technique!" Terumi Mei reacted with remarkable speed despite her exhaustion.

Without even turning around to face the threat, she expelled a large volume of water from her mouth, forming a rapidly rotating sphere that surrounded her body protectively.

"Hehehe..." Obito's laugh carried sinister amusement.

"Too late!" he declared with absolute confidence.

Mangetsu's enormous blade carried terrifying destructive power as it slashed through Obito's form, but just like cutting through flowing water, the attack caused no damage whatsoever.

At that precise moment, the wooden spike in Obito's hand pressed against Terumi Mei's pale, exposed neck. In the next second, it would pierce her skin and end her life.

"You Mist ninja deserve to die from this ability!" Obito thought coldly.

His exposed Sharingan showed no trace of emotion or mercy. Applying steady pressure with his weapon, he watched as the swirling water rising from Terumi Mei's feet had only reached her knees.

The defensive technique was developing far too slowly to save her.

It was too late!

"Bang!!!"

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