"What... is going on?"
Sōgen furrowed his brows, watching Uchiha Obito charge toward him. Instantly, he raised his caution to the highest level. He wasn't sure what Obito was planning. Was he rushing back after suffering a loss, eager to make a comeback? Was he preparing to reveal some hidden trump card?
However, something seemed off.
The six-pointed windmill pattern in Sōgen's eyes spun, not because he was using a visual jutsu. He didn't think Obito would be foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice. He was merely observing, pushing the insight of his Mangekyō Sharingan to the limit, trying to figure out what exactly was going on with Obito.
After the exhaustion of his visual power, Sōgen thought Obito would retreat for now...
Yet, instead of fleeing, Obito charged straight at him.
For a moment, Sōgen felt like a tiger facing a porcupine—unsure where to strike. He was certain Obito had something hidden up his sleeve. Otherwise, there was no way he would charge . Watching as Obito got closer, Sōgen's heightened vision caught something strange.
Sōgen was momentarily speechless.
What he saw left him at a loss for words.
Within his vision, Obito's chakra was in complete disarray, especially in his brain. His mental energy, typically well-ordered, was swirling chaotically, like a hurricane out of control. Honestly, in this state, Obito should be collapsing and needing emergency care, not running and jumping around.
"The extreme power of Yang Release?"
Sōgen could only attribute Obito's abnormal vitality and movement to the incredible life force residing in his left side.
Obito's left side was the most stable part of his body, constantly releasing an immense flow of physical energy that kept his chakra in check while also restoring his Mangekyō Sharingan. The nearly exhausted visual power was once again being replenished.
Sōgen's eyes burned with desire.
Looking at Obito was like staring at a clear and visible goal. This was only a partial version of the Sage of Six Paths' body. If it were the complete version...
But this was no time for admiration.
As Obito swiftly approached, Sōgen deactivated his Susanoo, leapt onto a tree branch with his Samehada sword, and calmly waited for Obito to draw near.
For small, agile opponents, a giant body could sometimes be a burden.
Especially against someone like Obito, who could use space-time techniques like Kamui. No matter how fierce and powerful Susanoo was, its attacks were meaningless if they couldn't touch the enemy. Instead of wasting his visual power, Sōgen opted for a more flexible combat style.
Obito's furious roar was filled with rage.
"This time, I, Uchiha Madara, will kill you!"
Sōgen had grown tired of hearing threats like that. From the number of people who'd sworn to kill him, there could be a line stretching from the Hokage Tower to the village gates. What intrigued him was Obito's claim to be Uchiha Madara. Sure, Obito had been trying to pose as Madara before...
But now, it felt different!
Before, it seemed like he was just saying it. Now it seemed like Obito genuinely believed he was Madara.
"A disguise? Or has he truly gone mad?"
The odds of it being a disguise seemed slim.
The sheer chaos in Obito's chakra wasn't something that could be faked. But had he truly lost his mind?
Obito didn't give Sōgen much time to think. Whether out of instinct or lingering wisdom, Obito didn't charge headlong. Instead, he formed hand signs while running, unleashing a jutsu.
**Earth Release: Earth Core Movement!**
This Earth Release technique could raise or lower the terrain. Obito chose to elevate the ground beneath Sōgen, creating a rectangular stone platform that thrust into the sky, taking Sōgen and the surrounding trees with it.
Then came a barrage of attacks.
Massive kunai and shuriken, seemingly meant for giants, were hurled from a distorted space, aimed at Sōgen.
"Trying to block my vision?"
Sōgen glanced at the incoming weapons. His vision was indeed obstructed. The Sharingan couldn't see through solid objects like the Byakugan could. Blocking the Sharingan's sight could be done by distance or physical barriers.
The Sharingan's genjutsu required direct sight to work.
Without seeing the target, there was no way to cast an illusion.
"Since you won't back down, let's continue our second round!"
Sōgen smiled and formed hand signs, ending with the **Dragon** sign.
**Wind Release: Pressure Damage!**
This was a B-rank Wind Release technique, considered a high-level ninjutsu. It was a pure, offensive wind-style jutsu, one of the most destructive among Wind Release techniques.
Sōgen inhaled deeply, his chest expanding, and then exhaled a high-speed, semi-transparent wind orb that seemed to contain a tornado within, speeding toward the incoming giant kunai and shuriken.
The orb collided with the weapons, instantly releasing a vortex of destructive wind, shredding the massive weapons into fragments. The violent windstorm whipped the steel shards into a deadly whirlwind.
Anyone caught in the storm would be ground to dust.
Yet, exceptions always exist.
For instance, Obito passed through the storm unharmed, his mastery of Kamui almost instinctive by now. Even in his confused state, he used Kamui to phase through the whirlwind and climbed up the now-shattered stone platform.
All of this seemed like a distraction.
It was merely to ensure he could get close to Sōgen without falling into a genjutsu.
Though, in Sōgen's opinion, there was no need for all the theatrics. He could've just used Kamui to warp over. Obito's current state was definitely not right, his instincts and muddled mind clashing, creating this odd version of himself.
"Perhaps an opportunity?"
Sōgen flexed his wrist, and Samehada responded by raising its spikes.
Like a phantom, Obito appeared behind Sōgen.
The descending Uchiha fan was blocked by Samehada.
Sōgen twisted his wrist, and Samehada extended like a snake, wrapping around Obito's fan and lunging at his left arm. Samehada sensed the delicious chakra in Obito's body, but when it bit down, it only caught air—Obito had phased again.
Obito vanished just as suddenly as he appeared, yet no relentless barrage followed. His use of Kamui seemed more sporadic and less threatening than before.
"Maybe he's lost his sharpness."
While Obito wasn't as dangerous as before, Sōgen still didn't have an answer for the vexing space-time jutsu. With Obito avoiding eye contact to prevent another genjutsu trap, Sōgen's options were limited. His regular attacks and ninjutsu couldn't break through Kamui's defenses.
Holding Samehada in his right hand, Sōgen reached toward his left eye.
"Should I use it now?"
He pondered silently.
To this day, Sōgen had used **Konoha Sakuya** three times, but had never revealed his other eye's ability in combat. Unlike Konoha Sakuya, which could be fueled by ongoing battles, the other eye's technique was a massive drain on his power.
His left eye's six-pointed windmill pattern spun as his vast visual power built up.
When decisive action was needed, you had to take the chance, even if success wasn't guaranteed. Just as he was about to act, something unexpected happened.
When Sōgen deflected Obito's fan again, Obito didn't phase out this time. Blood dripped from under Obito's mask. Sōgen hesitated, then quickly pieced it together—Obito's visual power had been drained significantly during their earlier battle. Despite the Sage's body healing him, it hadn't been enough to replenish his lost strength.
With his frequent use of Kamui, Obito had depleted himself further. Official source is novel·fıre·net
He couldn't retreat to his alternate dimension anymore.
Sōgen sprang into action with a Body Flicker technique, closing the gap. Samehada coiled around Obito's fan, and Sōgen drew his long blade. The edge glowed with deadly, high-speed wind chakra, sharp enough to slice through steel like butter.
This strike would cleave through anything.
His crimson eyes flared as he swung the blade toward Obito's neck.
"Wood Release: Thorns of Death!"
Thorn-like vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Obito like serpents. It was a Wood Release technique meant to bind and crush its target.
Yet now, it served as a shield.
The wood, harder than steel, blocked Sōgen's blade. Splinters flew, but Obito remained unharmed. Well, mostly unharmed—his right hand, still clutching the fan, hadn't been covered by the wood and was severed by Sōgen's strike.
"I'm not letting you go without a parting gift."
Sōgen gritted his teeth.
His blade spun, abandoning its attempt to slice through the stubborn wood. In a sharp, downward motion, the wind blade severed Uchiha Obito's right wrist. Blood spurted out like a fountain, and both the severed hand and the flame fan tumbled to the ground.
Immediately after, the blade rotated again. Sōgen aimed to thrust the sword into the open wound, planning to give Uchiha Obito a brutal finishing blow.
The ground beneath him began to tremble. A massive wooden figure suddenly appeared beside the rocky platform. Its colossal fist hurtled down toward Sōgen with earth-shattering force. Sōgen's eyes darted around, but he couldn't spot the caster—whether it was White Zetsu or Black Zetsu, neither seemed keen on showing themselves.
The scarlet in Sōgen's eyes deepened.
In an instant, his deep crimson Susano'o advanced to its fourth stage. A massive, deep-red hand shot up to meet the wooden figure's descending fist. However, it was a hasty reaction. Susano'o was struck and staggered back, tumbling off the platform.
Sōgen clicked his tongue in frustration.
But when he saw the flame fan being carried over by Samehada, a smirk finally crept across his face. At least he hadn't come away empty-handed!