Chapter 111: Obito Uchiha's Proposal, Five Kage Summit

Chapter 111: Obito Uchiha’s Proposal, Five Kage Summit

“Cough… cough…”

Beyond the colossal Meteor Crater, a mountainous wall of rubble—or perhaps a circular hill—rose from the ground. This hill was filled with debris, splinters, metal fragments, and corpses hurled outward by the impact.

Suddenly, a broken slab of stone shifted as a hand pushed it aside. A battered figure emerged, covered in dust and blood, his gray-white mask no longer blending into the night. Obito Uchiha crawled out, coughing violently. Before he could fully extract himself, his eyes widened, his expression freezing in shock.

“The village… it’s gone!”

“Where’s the Raikage?!”

“Where are the sensor ninjas? Find the Raikage and Killer B immediately!”

“Check the shelter! Are the villagers safe?!”

“Send someone to the shelter! If the villagers are alive, the medical team must be too. Gather everyone!”

Survivors began emerging from the rubble, stunned by the devastation but more urgently concerned for the Raikage and the villagers.

Unless summoned for a special mission, the village was never fully occupied. Like the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki, many ninja were away on assignments, guarding borders or protecting daimyōs. At most, half—or less—of the ninja population remained in the village.

Though the destruction was catastrophic, as long as the core remained intact, Kumogakure would still stand as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Compared to the casualties, the lives of the Raikage, the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki, and the villagers were paramount. They were the village’s backbone and strategic deterrent.

Experienced jōnin and elite jonin, their hearts heavy with grief, quickly organized the survivors. Sensor ninjas scanned for chakra signatures, while others, enduring agonizing injuries, used Earth Release techniques to unearth bodies and survivors buried beneath the rubble.

Thankfully, the shelter remained intact, though precariously standing, with only a few barrier specialists lost. Protected by the Barrier Team, the medical ninja and villagers were unharmed. The medical team arrived swiftly via Body Flicker, treating the critically injured.

Due to the crater’s barrenness, they relocated operations into the crater itself, transforming the once-bustling district into an impromptu surgical field.

Painful cries and anguished wails filled the air, the atmosphere thick with despair.

Meanwhile, the Raikage, protected by Killer B, sat silently on a broken slab of stone, staring at the endless expanse of the Meteor Crater.

“What a disaster…”

On a cliff overlooking the shelter’s location, White Zetsu and Obito Uchiha stood unscathed.

White Zetsu sighed, gazing at the scene below.

Black Zetsu remained silent, wary of unsettling Obito. The mysterious stranger’s ultimate dōjutsu was on another level entirely. Even a full-power attack wouldn’t just destroy Kumogakure—it would obliterate all Five Villages with minimal effort.

Repulsive Force and Gravity Release were merely basic applications of this ultimate dōjutsu. The massive technique used earlier was simply channeling chakra into Repulsive Force, albeit at an immense scale.

Black Zetsu suspected the stranger was only a clone, masking his chakra signature. No one with such a dōjutsu could possess such limited chakra.

Still, the mere use of Shinra Tensei had shaken Obito.

Obito’s visible eye trembled as he turned to Black Zetsu, the embodiment of Madara’s will. “Could Nagato achieve this level of power?”

“If Nagato were at his peak, he’d surpass this,” Black Zetsu replied truthfully.

After all, Nagato was a hybrid of the Uzumaki and Senju clans, chosen by Madara for his unparalleled chakra and vitality. He had transplanted the Rinnegan as a child and later summoned the Ten-Tails’ Statue, mastering the Six Paths of Pain and the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.

According to Madara’s plan, Nagato should have already sealed all Tailed Beasts, activated Madara’s contingency plan, or even allowed Madara to possess his body to resurrect himself.

But no one anticipated Nagato being drained to a husk, forcing Akatsuki to proceed cautiously. While the Six Paths of Pain were formidable, they paled in comparison to Nagato’s true form as the Outer Path.

Still, as long as the Five Villages remained divided, Nagato would remain invincible.

Until now.

The stranger’s arrival suggested the Moon’s faction had noticed the Ten-Tails’ Statue and sent him to eliminate Nagato.

Yet Black Zetsu saw an opportunity.

The stranger’s caution implied uncertainty about defeating Nagato. He aimed to ignite a shinobi war, weakening Akatsuki through the Five Villages.

This meant the stranger’s ultimate dōjutsu was likely transplanted, like Nagato’s. He couldn’t use his own techniques.

Black Zetsu cursed under his breath. Damn you, Hamura…

Unaware of Black Zetsu’s thoughts, Obito pondered aloud, “If we transplant Hashirama’s cells into Nagato, could he regain his prime?”

He had to admit—Rinnegan’s power terrified him. The scale of destruction rivaled a Tailed Beast Ball. As a bystander, he’d seen the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Ball disintegrated by that force. Disintegrated, not destroyed.

Unless he recovered the other Rinnegan, neither Nagato nor the stranger could be defeated. But Obito had already given away his Rinnegan—he wouldn’t take it back.

Thus, the Moon’s Eye Plan now hinged on Nagato’s strength. The Six Paths of Pain were powerful, but Nagato’s frail, wheelchair-bound body was a glaring weakness. The stranger’s sensory abilities likely revealed Nagato’s existence.

If Nagato’s vulnerability was exploited, even the Ten-Tails’ Statue and Rinnegan could fall into the stranger’s hands.

Even if the Rinnegan remained safe, the stranger’s Rinnegan could seize control of the Ten-Tails’ Statue.

At this rate, even with the Rinnegan, Obito couldn’t reclaim the Statue.

Enhancing Nagato’s power might create another obstacle for the Moon’s Eye Plan. But compared to the cunning, shameless stranger, Nagato was at least on their side.

Black Zetsu’s eyes lit up. If Nagato regained his prime, perhaps even the Five Villages and the stranger wouldn’t stand a chance.

“But if we combine Hashirama’s cells with the Ten-Tails’ Statue, it might work,” Black Zetsu mused. “At the very least, he’d walk again. However, Nagato already distrusts us. He’d never allow us near him. And with his current mindset, he still believes Yahiko should be the god and savior, not himself.”

Obito fell silent before murmuring, “Then we’ll wait until reality forces his hand.”

Gazing at the ruins below, Obito felt a rare pang of regret.

He’d gone too far.

If he hadn’t pushed Kirigakure to the brink, the Three-Tails wouldn’t have died, and the Tailed Beast Plan could’ve begun earlier.

But the memory of Rin’s death erased his regret.

“Let’s go. Inform Nagato of this.”

Obito activated Kamui, vanishing with White Zetsu.

Below, Mabui, who had protected the villagers using the Heavenly Sending Technique to redirect the Meteor’s impact, reported to the Raikage: “Raikage-sama, the casualties are 3,654 dead, 85% chūnin. 65% of the bodies are missing. The injured are countless.”

“I understand.” The Raikage’s voice was grim. “Search the rubble for the chakra-powered televisions’ sealing scrolls. If they’re gone, send messengers to the daimyō at dawn. The families of the fallen deserve compensation. They are Kumogakure’s heroes.”

“Yes, Raikage-sama.” Mabui nodded, her expression sorrowful.

As she turned to leave, the Raikage added coldly, “Send envoys to the other Four Villages. I’m calling a Five Kage Summit.”

Mabui hesitated, recalling the apocalyptic Celestial Flame Rain and the enemy’s ruthless tactics. Then she nodded firmly. “Yes, Raikage-sama.”

Meanwhile, on the mountaintop where they’d confessed their love, Izayoi didn’t immediately check his spoils. Instead, he smiled at Hinata Hyuga. “It’s getting late. Let’s go home.”

“Mm-hmm…”

Though reluctant, Hinata’s body ached from acting as a grip trainer all night. Feverish and exhausted, she nodded gratefully.

Once her temperature normalized, Izayoi destroyed the chair and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the Hyuga clan’s estate.

“Izayoi, Hinata Hyuga, you’re back.”

Karin’s Kagura Shingan detected their arrival, and she approached with Hanabi Hyuga.

“Big Brother, where did you and Onee-chan go on your date?” Hanabi clung to Izayoi like a sloth, hugging his neck. “Was that the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique you used to take Onee-chan away?”

“You’re so clever, Hanabi Hyuga,” Izayoi chuckled, flicking her nose. “But this is a forbidden technique from a forbidden scroll. I stole it. Don’t tell anyone until I’m allowed to teach it.”

“Mm-hmm! Hanabi Hyuga will keep your secret!” She zipped her lips with a tiny hand.

“Good girl.”

He ruffled her hair, set her down, and turned to the sisters. “It’s late. Karin and I should go.”

“Eh! Won’t you and Karin stay the night?” Hanabi asked.

“No. Not yet.” Izayoi shook his head, smirking at Hinata. “From today on, I can visit anytime.”

Hinata blushed, lowering her head.

Hanabi cheered, “Then Big Brother, you have to visit me often! You promised to help me!”

“No problem.”

He pinched her cheek and bid farewell, flying away with Karin.

From above, they saw the banquet had ended, the grounds cleaned up.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end