Chapter 80: Uchiha Iizumi! My Capacity Is Above Yours!

The two gazes locked in a silent clash—Setsuna’s mind already consumed by a single, merciless resolve. With a flicker of invisible spatial ripples, Obito’s right hand tore through the air, and a single kunai slowly emerged from the void.

—Uchiha Iizumi must die.

The thought was absolute, unshakable. If the secret of Kamui Phasing leaked, Obito couldn’t bear to imagine how many ninja across the world would begin devising countermeasures against his ability. And worse still—the truth that Madara Uchiha was actually Uchiha Obito—that could never be exposed, especially not to Nagato and Konan within the Akatsuki. If they found out… all his years of effort would crumble into ruin.

A flicker of disbelief lingered beneath the cold fury in his eyes. How could Uchiha Iizumi possibly know secrets no one else could?

At the peak of his murderous intent, Obito struck.

Whoosh—

In a flash of Shun, he closed the distance, appearing mere inches from Iizumi’s body. With a single hand, he formed seals and split into two clones. Three figures of Uchiha Obito—each holding a kunai—surged forward from three impossible angles, aiming to pierce Iizumi’s vital points.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Pfft!

The kunai plunged into Iizumi’s form—yet the sensation was wrong. Not flesh. Not bone. It was as if the blades had pierced molten rock.

Obito’s eyes widened. The intel from the White Zetsu clone was true—Uchiha Iizumi possessed a molten release technique akin to the legendary Water Transformation Arts of the Kiri clan.

Sure enough, Obito watched in horror as his kunai melted before his eyes, the searing heat of lava making his eyelids twitch.

And then—his Mangekyō Sharingan caught it.

Iizumi had moved.

His left arm had completely transformed into liquid fire, a stench of sulfur and burning stone filling the air. Yet instead of slashing at Obito’s head, the molten limb shot forward—grasping for the hand that still held the kunai.

Obito froze.

His face paled.

He knows the weakness of Kamui Phasing!

The realization flashed through his mind like lightning. Without hesitation, Obito exploded backward—his body recoiling in desperation. But it was too late.

A searing agony tore through his palm.

He looked down.

His hand was missing a third of its flesh. Two fingers were gone—vanished.

“…How did you know?!” The question tore from his lips, raw with shock and pain.

The mask of Madara cracked. No more pretense. Obito had endured many shocks in his long life, but none had shaken him like this.

He stared at Iizumi now with the eyes of a man seeing a monster.

Cold sweat poured down his back. He hadn’t felt this unsettled in decades.

But Iizumi didn’t respond. Instead, he lunged forward—his molten arm coiling like a scythe, slashing at Obito’s sword hand.

The strike passed through empty air.

Lava splattered across the path of the Leaf Village Cemetery, splashing like hot rain. Instantly, the stone cracked and ignited, a ring of fire spreading outward in a heartbeat.

“Kamui Phasing… such a dirty trick,” Iizumi’s voice cut through the smoke, calm and cold.

Obito’s face darkened. He nearly shouted back—What do you mean “dirty”? You’re the one who’s practically invincible!

Physical attacks couldn’t harm you. You’re just as unkillable as Kamui!

“You can’t take him down,” a familiar voice murmured from behind.

A split-second later, a black-and-white head emerged from the ground behind Obito.

“The old friend of yours—Hatake Kakashi—is coming this way. Don’t waste time. He can’t beat your ability now, and you can’t beat him either. Keep fighting, and you’ll draw every Leaf ninja in the village. Right now, that’s far too risky for our plans.”

Obito clenched his jaw, his face twisted in anger.

“He knows my secrets.”

“Can you kill him in three minutes?” The question hung in the air.

Obito fell silent.

He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Iizumi—then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he sank into the earth.

Only his head remained above ground.

He turned to Iizumi, his voice low and icy.

“Uchiha Iizumi… why did you want to kill me back then?”

Iizumi’s face remained expressionless.

“Your Future Evil is laid bare before my eyes. I chose to erase it before it could ever take root.”

“Uchiha Obito… you should be grateful the Fourth Hokage saved your life. But you, a selfish beast, could never feel gratitude. You’d turn the blade of your own salvation against the man who gave it to you—the Fourth Hokage.”

He knows about the Nine-Tails Night…

And he called me a beast!

The words burned in Obito’s mind. His face turned ashen.

Finally, only his head remained above the earth.

Obito laughed—cold, bitter.

“Uchiha Iizumi… I don’t know how you know all this. But one thing is certain—you don’t understand my dream.

You can’t see the true nature of the ninja world. You and I exist on different planes. My Capacity… is above yours.”

“But… one day, you’ll understand.

And when that day comes… you’ll be powerless to protect your so-called Justice.”

The words faded into silence.

Obito vanished.

He left behind only the echo of his pride—just enough to salvage a shred of dignity in the face of Iizumi’s unwavering gaze.

“Meow… that guy’s eye technique is so unfair,” Tachibana Jiro muttered, scratching his head in disbelief. “Why do all these lunatics keep talking about ‘Capacity’? What’s his problem? He’s barely even in the same league as Iizumi-sama. So full of himself.”

Iizumi remained unmoved.

“A madman’s excuse for evil. Nothing more.”

…

“Huh?!”

Kakashi stepped into the Leaf Village Cemetery, his senses instantly alert. The faint scent of sulfur hung in the air—familiar, yet sharp.

His blood ran cold.

He’d smelled that same odor near the Yamanaka Clan Residence.

That meant—Iizumi was here. And he’d used his molten release technique right here, in the cemetery.

Was he hunting another criminal?

The speed was terrifying.

But then again… if Iizumi’s eyes could truly see a person’s past and future evil… then who in the ninja world could truly escape his gaze?

Still…

Kakashi hesitated.

He had fought in countless wars. He had killed enemy ninja. His hands were stained with blood.

In Iizumi’s eyes… was he a monster?

The thought lingered.

Then—movement.

Ahead, a shadow.

Damn it… I’ve run into him.

Too late to turn back.

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end