A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky, followed by a terrifying shock wave that spread outwards.
The wind surged in waves, tearing up trees within a 100-meter radius, scattering sand and rocks, and sending thick smoke into the air.
The explosion's aftermath lasted almost thirty seconds before it began to settle.
Fugaku, who had barely survived, staggered up from the ground, his face covered in dust. Seeing the destruction around him, his heart sank, and he shouted, "Is anyone alive?"
The only response he received was eerie silence.
Fugaku called out a few more times, his voice becoming strained, but there was no answer.
Are they all dead?!
The thought made him shiver as if he were plunged into icy water, sweat breaking out on his forehead.
These were all the young and strong members of his Uchiha clan. If they had died in such confusion, how could he explain this to his clan upon his return?
"Clan Head Fugaku, cough cough."
At that moment, a figure emerged from the thick smoke.
Fugaku's heart leapt with a glimmer of hope amidst his despair. He turned eagerly toward the voice.
Even if only one person survived, it would be better than none!
But to his disappointment, the figure emerging from the smoke was not a Uchiha, but Aburame Ryoma.
In an instant, Fugaku felt a crushing blow of disappointment, as if he had fallen from heaven to hell.
"Clan Head Fugaku, pull yourself together!" Aburame Ryoma, who had narrowly escaped death, was fuming. Seeing Fugaku's distraught state only fueled his anger.
He grabbed Fugaku by the collar and shouted, "This isn't the time for despair. We need to get back and warn the village!"
There was no longer any hope of stopping the Cloud Ninjas at the Kannabi Bridge.
They needed to hurry back to Konoha and report what had happened so the village could prepare.
But Fugaku, still in shock, struggled to focus. "But, maybe there are other survivors."
Bang!
Before he could finish, Aburame Ryoma punched him in the face.
Disappointed, Ryoma thought that as the leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku should have a broader perspective. But it seemed he was completely lacking.
No wonder even Danzo could manipulate him so easily. Ryoma's eyes grew cold as he said, "If you want to stay here, then stay. I'm heading back now!"
After speaking, Aburame Ryoma ignored the others and rushed out of the thick smoke. His chakra exploded beneath him, and within seconds, he vanished from sight.
Fugaku, who had just been punched in the face, snapped to attention.
If I stay here waiting for the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, I'll be finished for sure!
"Wait for me!"
Without hesitation, Fugaku quickly got up and followed Ryoma.
Shortly after, in the center of the explosion from the Tailed Beast Ball, the space itself began to ripple violently, like a massive whirlpool.
Then, a young man staggered out from the vortex.
"I'm still alive?!"
It was Uchiha Obito, his face pale with fear and gasping for breath.
When the Tailed Beast Ball exploded, it felt like something inside his mind snapped. Then, power surged uncontrollably, distorting himself and the surrounding space before pulling him into a dark void.
When he emerged, the explosion had ended, and he was unharmed.
"Oh my, oh my~ Is today my lucky day?"
From the dissipating dust and smoke, a sly voice emerged, "After waiting so long, the fruit is finally ripe!"
"Who's there?!"
Obito, frightened, quickly drew his kunai and scanned the area.
"Don't be so nervous, little brother~"
A figure emerged from the smoke, entirely white, resembling the spirit of a giant carrot. The figure had two orange holes that looked like eyes, and it was far from human.
"Let me introduce myself. I am White Zetsu."
White Zetsu rubbed his chin, staring at Obito with a grin, revealing his white teeth. "Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect to see the legendary 'Mangekyo Sharingan' here."
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Obito looked startled and confused.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Given your age, you probably don't know about it yet."
White Zetsu grinned and shared some scientific information: "The Mangekyō Sharingan is the most powerful eye technique of the Uchiha clan. You can only awaken this ultimate power by witnessing the death of someone you love the most."
"My eyes are hurting!"
Obito suddenly felt like his eyes were being pricked by needles, and his vision became blurry. It felt like all his strength had been drained, and he collapsed to the ground.
"I almost forgot to mention that while the Mangekyō Sharingan is powerful, it also has great risks."
White Zetsu said deliberately, realizing the oversight: "Using it too much can not only be too much for your body to handle, but it might even make you go blind."
Obito, in pain, wanted to curse. Why hadn't he mentioned such an important thing earlier?
"At such a young age, he's actually awakened the Mangekyō."
White Zetsu smiled mockingly as he walked over and crouched in front of Obito. He examined Obito's eyes carefully and said with a click of his tongue: "What a shame. Such beautiful eyes are about to disappear. It's truly a pity."
"What do you mean?"
Obito asked through gritted teeth, trying to cover his painfully throbbing eyes.
"I think the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki will arrive in a few minutes."
White Zetsu crouched next to him, revealing a sinister expression: "Given your current condition, I estimate you'll only be able to use your eye techniques two or three more times before your physical strength and chakra are exhausted. By then..."
"Stop talking nonsense. What do you want?"
Although Obito is usually naive, he's not a fool. With his life on the line, he understood the meaning of White Zetsu's words immediately.
"So smart, I like you more and more."
White Zetsu touched Obito's head, his fingers brushing his cheek before settling near his eye sockets. He grinned and said, "Such beautiful eyes. Why not give them to me?"
"What did you say?"
Obito's eyes widened in horror. Despite the severe pain, he was about to use his eye technique.
But before he could react and the space around him began to distort, White Zetsu acted quickly. His speed was beyond Obito's expectation. He suddenly thrust two fingers into Obito's eye sockets.
Blood spurted out, the distorted space returned to normal, and the influence of Obito's pupil power disappeared immediately.
White Zetsu gently hooked a finger and extracted the bloody right eye, then, while it was still warm, he stuffed it into his own eye socket with a swift motion.
After a slight movement, Obito's right eye suddenly shifted into White Zetsu's eye.
"Aaaaaaah——!"
Obito screamed in agony as his eye was being taken out.
"Don't scream, don't scream!"
White Zetsu held Obito down, covering his mouth with one hand and reaching for his left eye with the other. "Stay still~ It'll be over soon. It's easier for both of us this way!"
"No, please, don't!"
Obito struggled with all his might, but with only his left eye left, he couldn't move to the Kamui space.
"Just breathe, just breathe. It doesn't hurt at all!"
White Zetsu grinned. He finally found what he was looking for and began pulling, digging, and prying it out with force.
"Ahhhh!"
With his left eye removed, Obito was engulfed in complete darkness. He could clearly feel his connection to space being severed!
The constant pain made him lose consciousness.
"Alright, it's done!"
White Zetsu pressed on with his left eye and put his hands on his hips. "Finally, I don't have to deal with this loser anymore. Now I can report to Lord Sogetsu!"
Kamui!
With his right eye as the center, time and space began to warp like a massive vortex.
The unconscious Obito was pulled into the vortex, followed by White Zetsu, and they both quickly vanished from sight.
********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer