"Gojo." Obito didn't even bother activating Kamui, as the distorted space fizzled away. His eyes narrowed sharply, locking onto Gojo Satoru with a hawk-like intensity.
"You're strong," Obito murmured, his voice low and measured. "Stronger than anyone I've faced so far. But even you can't stop me."
Obito had to admit, Gojo was on a level that made him pause. The man standing before him was, undoubtedly, the strongest ninja in the world—stronger than even Nagato with his Rinnegan. Yet, he wasn't the 'end-all' in Obito's mind. Uchiha Madara still loomed large—stronger, wiser, and waiting in the wings to take this world.
Right now, though, it wasn't about Madara. It wasn't even about Gojo. No, this was personal. Obito knew he had to retreat—quickly—before something irreversible happened. His Mangekyō Sharingan, Kamui, made him invincible—at least, until now. But the moment he started thinking he could just phase through and slip away, Gojo interrupted.
"Let's get something straight," Gojo said, lifting two fingers and forming a weird, intricate seal. "Don't lump me in with those brainless big-chested fools. I'm no recklessly charging knight. I've got a brain, thank you very much."
The air around them grew colder, darker—the tension palpable. And yet, Gojo's face, as serious as his words seemed, betrayed a cocky grin as he scanned the audience gathered around. His eyes swept over the shinobi—powerful Kage-level shinobis—who, despite their strength, looked mildly offended. Well, they had reason to be—because Gojo was nothing if not a master of subtle, cutting barbs.
"Asshole!" one of the ninjas muttered darkly, glaring at Gojo. The mood quickly soured as the ninja, clearly one of the Cloud Village, recognized the insult thrown their way.
"Do you all seriously have to use your brains? We've got nothing on Obito's ability!" Terumi Mei scowled, crossing her arms and shooting Gojo a glare. "Or are you the only one who's smart in this group?"
Gojo, ever smug, puffed his chest out proudly and beamed. "That's right! I'm the only one here with a real brain!" He batted his eyelashes exaggeratedly, feigning innocence. "If you wanna keep praising me, I might even reward you."
"Oh, please," Terumi Mei scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Like we want your kind of 'reward.'"
Gojo grinned slyly, leaning in a little. "Oh? What, you don't like a little charm?" he teased, clearly enjoying her frustration. "Anyway, enough about that. Let's talk tactics, shall we? Because I've got plenty of ways to deal with his ability , to make himself intangible.
The gathered shinobis exchanged skeptical looks. Kamui was practically impenetrable—it warped space and time, making attacks meaningless. Yet, Gojo sounded confident—too confident.
"I've got an ace in the hole," Gojo continued, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "You see, every time 'Madara' uses Kamui, he can only sustain it for five minutes before his eyes start burning out. Then he needs time to recover."
"So what's your point?" Raikage A growled, folding his arms with a scowl.
Gojo smirked wickedly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'll make sure he's never able to pull off another phase. I'll set up an attack that keeps him trapped—longer than five minutes."
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. The thought of holding the masked menace in place for extended periods seemed… impossible. Yet, Gojo wasn't bluffing. The way he spoke, it seemed like he had a solid plan—one even 'Madara' couldn't escape from.
Curious, Terumi Mei asked while raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think you've got something up your sleeve?"
Gojo's grin widened. "Oh, don't worry. I've got something even simpler… and more fun."
"Simple and fun?" Darui scratched his head lazily. "What, is this going to be another one of your weird traps? Just don't make us stand around again!"
"Oh, no," Gojo said with a sly smile, tapping into his chakra. "This one's gonna be fun—no Volcano or weird hallucinations. This… is something a bit special."
He raised his hands, chakra pulsating visibly, and with a sharp incantation, his eyes flashed.
"The realm unfolds—Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void"
In a heartbeat, a ripple spread across the battlefield, and a space like no other began to form—an expanse filled with endless daylight, stitched together by sheer black nothingness. The gathered shinobi stumbled back, stunned by the sheer magnitude of it.
"What is this?" Terumi Mei muttered, eyes wide. "It's... it's like an illusion, but it feels real!"
"It's no illusion," Kurenai spoke up with a serious look. "This is a domain—a space that exists beyond anything else. It's a rare technique, even above any barrier ninjutsu."
The moment those words left her lips, everyone began to understand—this wasn't just a battle technique. This was something entirely different. Something terrifying.
Raikage A clenched his fists. "Infinite space… I know this. I've felt it before."
"You've encountered this before?" Ohnoki narrowed his eyes. "Explain."
"It's a nightmare," A growled, his expression darkening. "Last time I faced this, I ended up in this exact place… as a vegetable, for three whole months!"
Darui groaned, stretching lazily. "Oh great, more trouble. During those three months, you made me do everything! You were out cold, remember?"
"That's beside the point!" The Raikage shot a glare at Darui. "This space—it's not something you can just ignore. Gojo's done something… something insane."
Obito, hovering in the air, felt the change immediately. His Kamui—the once all-powerful technique—faltered. The space began to twist and shift, cutting him off from his ability to phase. His eyes widened in panic, but before he could react, Gojo's voice rang clear.
"You're feeling it now, aren't you, Obito?" Gojo sneered. "Everything, and yet nothing. Trapped in a space where you can sense it all… but you can't touch a thing."
Obito's body began to stiffen, unable to move, chakra locked, Mangekyō Sharingan powerless. He could feel everything—the growth of a sapling, the birth of a tiny insect—but his own body? Immobilized.
"Do you feel it now?" Gojo chuckled, his voice layered with mockery. "Knowing everything, having everything, and yet doing nothing—how does it feel?"
Obito's breathing hitched, his mind spiraling into an overload of sensations. Every second felt like an eternity—an endless stream of knowledge crashing into him. But he couldn't do anything with it.
"I'm offering you a glimpse," Gojo's voice turned colder. "A glimpse of what happens when you let your obsession control you. You wanted to change the world for one person, didn't you? Love will always be a dangerous obsession."
Obito's eyes flickered, a flash of memory haunting his mind. "I… I did what I thought was right…"
Gojo's grip tightened, his blue eyes piercing deep into Obito's soul. "Well, now you'll die—once, and finally understand."
Before Obito could resist, Gojo leaned in, grabbed his head, and with a sharp tug, yanked it up—violently ripping it clean off.
"Puff!" Blood splattered into the air as Obito's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a grotesque scene of crimson lingering in front of Gojo like a macabre trophy.