A Sage's Pursuit of Power

Aoba didn't send Sasuke and Karin away because Obito's abilities were nearly impossible to restrain. If Obito chose to abandon all principles and target the two of them, Aoba wouldn't be able to stop him.

Given Obito's past actions, such a scenario was entirely plausible.

Thus, Aoba decided to keep the two children by his side. This way, if a fight broke out, he could at least protect them.

Aoba wasn't afraid to face Obito head-on.

However, defeating him was another matter entirely if he couldn't counter Obito's Kamui ability.

Fortunately, Aoba had already prepared a contingency plan. Not long ago, he had obtained Shisui's right eye from Itachi.

Using Kotoamatsukami on Obito was currently Aoba's best strategy.

However, Aoba wasn't entirely certain this would work.

Kotoamatsukami was touted as the strongest genjutsu, but it was still, at its core, a genjutsu.

And Obito couldn't be judged by normal standards. He had too many contingencies prepared by Madara and Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu, in particular, as a creation of Yin-Yang Release, remained an entity beyond Aoba's current understanding. Whether Kotoamatsukami would work against Obito was uncertain.

The real reason Aoba was frustrated, though, was that he regretted not replacing his left eye with Shisui's eye earlier.

The problem was that Aoba still couldn't fully control the Sharingan. If he transplanted both eyes, leaving them permanently active, it would be conspicuous and difficult to adjust to.

He hadn't expected Obito to appear so suddenly, giving him no time to prepare.

"So, you're Aoba Kamikawa."

"And you must be the mysterious figure who appeared during the Uchiha massacre?"

Obito didn't answer and instead continued speaking.

"What you've done in Konoha displeases me. So, to restore order and keep this village as rotten as it should be, you're better off dead."

As soon as he finished speaking, Obito's figure disappeared.

At the same time, Aoba entered Sage Mode instantly. Against Obito, there was no room for carelessness.

Even though Obito had once been a mediocre shinobi with poor tactics, let's not forget he had been personally trained by Madara.

Moreover, Obito was loaded with cheats: the Kamui Sharingan paired with Hashirama cells allowed him nearly unlimited usage of his abilities.

On top of that, he had Wood Release as an auxiliary, making his offense and defense nearly impenetrable.

The two exchanged blows in an instant, silent but deadly. Aoba's Kusanagi Sword seemed to slice through thin air.

Aware of Obito's abilities, Aoba knew this was due to Kamui's intangibility. As the Kusanagi Sword passed through, he immediately reversed the swing.

At the same time, Obito was materializing to counterattack.

Clang!

The Kusanagi Sword collided briefly with the black wooden spikes growing from Obito's hand.

The next second, Obito's figure vanished again.

Fighting Obito rendered large-scale ninjutsu virtually meaningless. No matter how destructive, it couldn't harm someone intangible.

Close-range, high-speed taijutsu was the only viable option unless one had space-time ninjutsu.

A black chain materialized around Aoba, attempting to ensnare him.

Aoba's body exploded into countless sparks, his Lightning-infused Shadow Clone had detonated. However, it failed to harm Obito in the slightest.

His intangibility was truly a nightmare in combat.

Obito reappeared in front of Aoba, visibly surprised.

Before arriving, White Zetsu had warned him that Aoba Kamikawa would be a troublesome opponent, one who seemed to know a lot of hidden secrets. Still, Obito hadn't expected his opponent to understand his abilities so well.

During their brief exchange, Aoba had clearly adapted to Kamui's mechanics.

From the unexpected counterattack to the Shadow Clone trap, everything was targeted at his intangibility.

Though Obito grew wary, he didn't take it too seriously. Regardless of what Aoba knew, he had to die tonight. The reasons didn't matter.

Aoba stepped back, placing his hands on the shoulders of the two restless children.

The skirmish between Aoba and Obito was incomprehensible to them. It seemed unimpressive so much so that Sasuke, in particular, was itching to jump in.

"You two, move to the corner. Don't talk, and don't move," Aoba said, his tone more serious than ever.

Neither dared argue.

Lifting his forehead protector, Aoba revealed his Sharingan. Though Obito rarely used genjutsu, his skill was undeniable he had effortlessly controlled the Fourth Mizukage, a perfect jinchūriki.

To be safe, Aoba activated his Sharingan. Even without Kotoamatsukami, it was still a Mangekyō Sharingan specialized in genjutsu, ensuring he wouldn't fall under Obito's control.

When Obito saw the Mangekyō, his interest was piqued.

"Interesting. It seems tonight might yield some unexpected gains. Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs Technique."

Obito swung his right hand, sending a flurry of wooden spikes flying.

Knowing their lethality, Aoba swung his Kusanagi Sword, generating a small whirlwind that deflected the spikes.

Both men tacitly kept their battle confined to the lab. Obito didn't want to be seen by too many people.

Aoba, meanwhile, knew that against someone like Obito, reinforcements from the Research Institute's guards or even ANBU would be pointless, they'd only die needlessly.

Thus, the two fought silently, a deadly battle within the cramped lab.

Obito's intangibility rendered him nearly invincible. Meanwhile, Aoba's Sage Mode elevated all his attributes, greatly enhancing his perception. On paper, Aoba had the advantage.

Yet neither could gain the upper hand.

Obito's tactical skill was about what Aoba expected, elite-level, but inferior to Itachi or Kakashi.

But the real problem was Obito's arsenal: Kamui, Hashirama cells, and Wood Release which was an overwhelming combination.

This was with only the defensive version of Kamui. If Obito were to reclaim his right eye from Kakashi, giving him access to both Kamui abilities, Aoba wouldn't hesitate to retreat.

In truth, Aoba wasn't aiming to kill Obito. His goal was merely to injure him and draw a single drop of blood. If he could manage that, the fight would be as good as won. He only needed one chance.

At this moment, Aoba pushed Sage Mode to its absolute limits. Not even during his fight with the Raikage had he unleashed this level of power.

In this heightened state, his speed, perception, and every other attribute reached their peak.

At the same time, Aoba's fingers gripped several specially marked kunai.

The Flying Thunder God Technique, a trump card he had concealed until now. He hadn't even used it to teleport Sasuke and Karin to safety, reserving it for a decisive strike.

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Currently on Chapter 178 - A Conflict Among Hokages