Naruto’s Strongest Force [translation]

Fugaku's strength finally gave out. His attack faltered, creating a brief opening. When his blade swing slowed, it broke the rhythm of Kiyome's attack.

Obito seized the moment. Just as Kiyome's sword movement weakened, Obito kicked him aside with a powerful strike and used his other hand to force down Fugaku's blade.

Feeling triumphant, Obito sneered. But before he could celebrate, Fugaku lifted his head abruptly, his face twisted with resolve.

The Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly!

A Genjutsu!

Obito's heart skipped a beat. Damn it! He still has enough power for this!?

The space around Obito began to warp and distort. He recognized it instantly—his mind was under attack, being invaded by Fugaku's illusion.

With no time to spare, Obito forced his own remaining Sharingan to spin frantically.

Boom!

It felt like thunder crashing inside his skull. The two powerful Sharingan clashed head-on, unleashing raw energy. They battled in a dangerous, primal struggle of ocular powers.

Obito gritted his teeth. There's no way his Mangekyō can outlast mine!

But Fugaku's face twisted with rage and pain. He pushed his Mangekyō to the limit, forcing out every last bit of its power.

Blood flowed freely from Fugaku's eyes, staining his face. His body trembled, his teeth clenched so tightly it seemed they might break.

This man had gambled everything to destroy Obito—the one responsible for nearly bringing the Uchiha clan to ruin.

"DIE!!!" Fugaku roared hoarsely, his voice distorted like that of a vengeful ghost.

Fueled by desperation, Fugaku poured all his strength into his Mangekyō. His body shook violently, his bloodied face now horrifying to behold.

"Clan Leader!!!" Yōki shouted in panic.

Distracted, Yōki was struck by a sharp branch from Zetsu, sending him sprawling. His hand instinctively pressed down on the signal flare strapped to his body.

Seeing the critical state of the fight, Zetsu rushed toward Obito.

"Clan Leader!!" Kiyome called, lunging forward with his blade.

But his sword passed harmlessly through Obito's intangible form.

The clash of Mangekyō power between Fugaku and Obito reached its peak. Both men groaned in pain as they staggered backward.

Fugaku's face was drenched in blood, his legs unsteady as he stumbled several steps.

He slammed his sword into the ground with a loud clang, using it to prop himself up.

Obito, still reeling, retreated step by step. Blood seeped from beneath his mask as his body wavered, but he somehow managed to remain standing.

"Madman!"

Obito's mind screamed. This Fugaku is insane!

He couldn't fathom someone pushing their Sharingan so far, sacrificing everything, even their life, for vengeance.

Obito coughed up blood. His head throbbed as if it were being torn apart by a blender. Even the faintest sensation was unbearable agony.

Forget Kamui, Obito thought bitterly. I can barely stay on my feet!

Zetsu grabbed Obito's cloak and began dragging him backward.

Kiyome hesitated to pursue, choosing instead to guard the barely-conscious Fugaku.

Fugaku leaned heavily on his sword, his vision completely gone, his bloodied face a ghastly sight. He panted heavily, every breath a struggle.

With trembling lips, he croaked, "Pursue… him…"

Before he could finish, Fugaku collapsed, unconscious.

"Clan Leader!!!" Kiyome cried, rushing to catch Fugaku's falling body.

Yōki, still pressing his signal flare, kept his gaze fixed on Obito and Zetsu as they retreated.

Finally, Yōki severed the branch lodged in his leg and hobbled toward Kiyome.

Only when Obito and Zetsu disappeared from view did Yōki release a long, shaky breath.

He pulled out another signal flare and shot it into the sky.

"Whoosh!"

The flare burst into brilliant blue flames.

Madmen!

Another madman!

Is there no one normal in the Uchiha clan?!

Clashing Sharingan powers, colliding mental strength—it was the most dangerous battle. Many had turned into idiots or died on the spot from such duels.

Fugaku Uchiha, aren't you the clan leader?!

How could you go so far, even risking your life for mutual destruction, just to kill Obito?!

Thankfully, Obito had the First Hokage's cells, which kept him in slightly better condition.

As Zetsu dragged Obito along, he noticed something horrifying: Obito's remaining Sharingan was blind.

That meant he had already used Izanagi.

Obito had barely survived!

As the cornerstone of Zetsu's plan, Obito couldn't die here.

Zetsu was furious and deeply shaken. If Obito died, how could the plan proceed?

What started as a simple raid to snatch a few Sharingan had turned into a devastating loss.

Not only had Obito been trapped by the Time-Space Sealing Formation, but Fugaku had also inflicted severe damage with his Mangekyō Sharingan, risking mutual destruction.

This cursed place—Zetsu never wanted to come back!

"Cough… cough…"

With the help of Hashirama's cells, Obito regained a bit of strength. He noticed they were still in the forest outside Konoha.

Zetsu remained on guard, scanning the surroundings. Thankfully, Fugaku was too injured, and the Uchihas had not pursued them.

"How's your eye?" Black Zetsu asked.

Even White Zetsu had dropped his usual humor.

Obito, breathing heavily, replied, "I've recovered a little… We need to leave. This place isn't safe."

A vortex formed in midair, swirling slowly. Obito, enduring immense pain, dragged Zetsu into the Kamui dimension.

Finally, they entered the Kamui space.

The moment they arrived, Obito's body gave out, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

In the Uchiha Clan's territory…

At the summoning platform, Iori was just about to activate the reverse summoning technique.

But when the blue signal flare lit up the sky, he sighed in relief.

He assigned another member to remain on watch at the platform and jumped down to assist elsewhere.

In a sealed chamber, the clan members preparing to activate a second Time-Space Sealing Formation relaxed slightly.

Elsewhere, hidden underground shelters opened, and clan members cautiously emerged.

Meanwhile, the injured Uchiha elite whom Fugaku had led out earlier were being carried back one by one.

Those with medical training rushed forward to treat the wounded.

Large, jagged tree branches had pierced many of the injured, leaving them severely bloodied and unconscious.

Fortunately, the clan had stockpiled many precious medicinal herbs.

Thanks to their wealth, every injured Uchiha was given the best possible treatment. Bleeding was quickly stopped, and with rare medicinal tonics administered, their conditions began to stabilize.

"Quick, quick! Treat the clan leader!"

At Kiyome's sharp cry, Fugaku was carried in on a stretcher.

His face was covered in blood, his seven orifices leaking red, and his life was hanging by a thread, like a flickering candle in the wind.

Iori jumped down, his face pale with fear at the sight of Fugaku's condition.

His hands lit up with healing chakra as he began treatment.

Others pried open Fugaku's mouth and poured restorative medicine down his throat.

But—

It wasn't working!

Fugaku's injuries weren't just physical.

He had pushed his chakra, his Sharingan, and his mental strength far beyond their limits.

His spiritual energy was in complete disarray and steadily declining.

Iori cried out in anguish, "Clan Leader, hold on!"

Everyone around was in chaos…