Chapter 315: The First Hokage, Truly Deserving
Well, it didn't matter. He never expected much from these people anyway—it was all mutual exploitation.
Exhaling softly, Obito stared coldly at Hyuga Fuji.
The atmosphere grew heavy, and just when Orochimaru thought Obito was about to attack, the latter suddenly spoke. "Hyuga Fuji, you came here to dispel the Tsukuyomi, didn't you? I know the true location of the culprit—Uchiha Hikari's real body."
Fighting wasn't an option. He had fought before, and he knew full well he wasn't Hyuga Fuji's match.
Even if he joined forces with Orochimaru and his summoned Edo Tensei shinobi, the outcome wouldn't change.
A man who knows when to yield is wise.
Orochimaru: "…"
Beside Orochimaru stood a man clad in black combat gear with red lamellar armor layered over it. His face, cracked and lined, revealed an odd expression upon hearing Obito's decision.
Adaptability? When did the descendants of the Uchiha become like this?
Still… perhaps this was a good thing.
Recalling the usual arrogance of the Uchiha clan, Senju Hashirama felt a strange mix of emotions.
Having made his offer, Obito glanced warily at Hashirama, his eyes silently signaling Orochimaru as if to say: "You're not going to get in the way, are you?"
So that's what he meant earlier when he told me not to interfere. I thought he had some trump card and was confident in holding off Fuji himself.
Orochimaru got the message, his lips twitching slightly.
At this moment, Orochimaru was entirely convinced of one thing:
When it came to facing Hyuga Fuji, Obito had no shred of confidence. It was the same as when Onoki had faced Uchiha Madara—he was fully aware of the vast gap in strength.
Repeated defeats had worn away Obito's pride. And unlike Onoki, who had a deep sense of duty to protect his village, everything Obito sought was for himself.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi was a lie. Rin, as she had been in reality, would not appear in his dreams. Everything Obito did was to create an idealized ending for himself because he knew the real Rin wouldn't have approved of him, wouldn't have chosen him.
He didn't care about the rest of the shinobi world. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent years lost in the dreamlike Tsukuyomi space.
In Orochimaru's eyes, Obito couldn't even compare to Madara, who, despite his cruelty, genuinely sought peace after the horrors of the Warring States period.
But Obito? His thoughts were full of himself.
Hyuga Fuji cast a glance at Obito and the now-silent Orochimaru. "Are you finished with your last words?"
Obito remained on high alert as he spoke. "Since you understand this is an illusion, you must know that none of us here are real. These are just projections created by the genjutsu, and our real bodies are hidden in secret locations that even Hikari and Tamako can't pinpoint. Without me, you'll never find Hikari—"
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound interrupted Obito mid-sentence, echoing from his body like glass breaking.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Hyuga Fuji. A chill ran from his feet to his head.
"You… how…"
Before he could finish, his figure disintegrated into specks of starlight, vanishing from the field.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Obito had just awoken in an underground cave. Seeing a figure before him, his body trembled. Without hesitation, he activated Kamui, fleeing into his personal dimension.
Once inside the dark and silent Kamui space, Obito leaned against a wall, sweat dripping from his face as he panted heavily, his mind racing.
"How did he find me so quickly after entering Ideal City? Was it the Tenseigan's power?"
As he pondered, Obito let out a small sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he had retrieved his other Sharingan earlier, leaving no weaknesses behind.
Hyuga Fuji wasn't a Sage of Six Paths; he wouldn't be able to enter the Kamui dimension…
But just as Obito began to calm down, an unsettling thought crept into his mind.
Could the Tenseigan bypass dimensional barriers?
Madara's Rinnegan couldn't, so surely the Tenseigan couldn't…
Whoosh!
A spatial rift opened directly in front of Obito.
A powerful hand reached through, gripping his throat before he could react.
Hyuga Fuji's cold, expressionless face emerged from the portal, locking eyes with Obito.
The Mangekyō's Kamui could open portals between Kaguya's dimensions, and in Boruto, Sasuke's mastery of Amenotejikara allowed him to traverse other dimensions.
With his mastery of the Tenseigan, Hyuga Fuji could do the same!
Obito struggled, attempting to break free from Fuji's grip. But with his free hand, Fuji pressed five fingers against Obito's body, embedding five black chakra rods into him.
Obito's body froze. The rods pierced his joints and chest, completely sealing his chakra flow. A wave of powerlessness washed over him as he felt his strength drain away, leaving him helpless in Fuji's grasp.
"Now then, let's have a good talk, Obito," Fuji said calmly.
Obito gritted his teeth, suppressing the trembling in his body as he tried to appear composed. "What do you want to talk about? Nagato's whereabouts? Nameless's location? Spare me, and I can be of more value to you alive."
Fuji shook his head with a faint smile. "Your greatest value lies in your eyes, doesn't it?"
Obito froze, his pupils contracting. He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, darkness overtook his vision.
The Kamui dimension echoed with a low groan of pain.
"My eyes! My eyes! Give me back my power!"
…
As Obito's form disappeared, Orochimaru stared intently at Hyuga Fuji. "So you're just a clone. I thought your true consciousness had entered this space."
"Fights here mean nothing, Orochimaru," Fuji replied.
"Ha, I'm well aware."
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head. "But by doing this, I'll have to break my promise to Nagato. I won't be stopping you in the real world."
When have you ever cared about keeping your word?
Fuji glanced at him with his Byakugan, unimpressed.
Orochimaru smirked and turned to the remaining figure beside him. "But I can only speak for myself. This person has been wanting to talk to you for a while."
Fuji shifted his gaze to Senju Hashirama and nodded politely.
"Lord First Hokage, I've heard much about you."
Hashirama's expression was complex as he addressed Fuji, his face solemn. "I've heard many things about you from Orochimaru. Originally, I had countless questions to ask. But since Tobirama stands with you, some questions no longer need answers. Now, I have only three."
"You're from Konoha too. What do you think of me, the First Hokage?"
Fuji smiled and replied, "The Warring States period lasted a thousand years, and you were the first to bring change. Compared to the countless others who did nothing, you took the first step and began the journey from zero to one."
"First Hokage, you are truly deserving of the title."
Hashirama paused, slightly taken aback, before a faint smile spread across his face.
(End of Chapter)