Chapitre 221: Chapter 220: The Deadly Rescue Plan
A monstrous three-tailed beast rampaged through Konoha, its chakra storm lifting and destroying large swathes of buildings. Although not as powerful as the Nine-Tails, the Three-Tails was still a genuine war beast!
'This is bad…' thought Hiruzen.
It wasn't that he believed they were powerless against the Three-Tails, but the ferocity of the attack, first by the Mizukage and now the tailed beast, was too overwhelming. The enemy's determination to rescue Obito was so strong that it made it difficult for Konoha to predict what further schemes might be awaiting them.
The plan to "use Obito as bait to lure out the hidden enemy and eliminate the threat" was on the verge of collapsing.
The sensei and student exchanged glances, both understanding each other's thoughts. Without turning back, Hiruzen shouted, "Shisui, kill Obito!"
To avoid complications, the Third Hokage did not order Kakashi to do it.
Although Shisui knew Obito, they were not deeply connected, merely acquainted clansmen. Upon hearing Hiruzen's order, Shisui did not hesitate and drew the short sword from his back, slashing towards Obito's head in an instant.
The blade was swift, as quick as lightning.
However, it never reached Obito's head.
A leaf-like shell suddenly burst from the ground, firmly protecting Obito. Though its defense wasn't particularly strong, it was more than enough to block a non-chakra-enhanced metal weapon.
—Zetsu had finally found Konoha's vulnerability and appeared at the last moment!
With Orochimaru and Hiruzen entangled with the Three-Tails, rescuing Obito remained extremely difficult, but at least there was now a glimmer of hope.
Zzz—
Shisui's short sword cut into the leaf-like shell but stopped after penetrating only about twenty centimeters, unable to go any further.
"You dared to come…" A cold gleam flashed in Shisui's eyes. As a prodigy, his reactions were much quicker than an ordinary shinobi in such a critical moment.
He abandoned the sword, erupted with the Body Flicker Technique, and rushed into the shell, coming face to face with Obito and Zetsu.
In the cramped space, close combat was Shisui's specialty!
Though pitch-black inside, to the Sharingan's three-tomoe vision, it was as bright as daylight.
No, something was wrong… It was too bright!
In an instant, the young Uchiha realized the problem—while the Sharingan's visual acuity was indeed high, allowing him to see clearly at night, it wasn't supposed to make night as clear as day.
It was so bright because that black-and-white wretch had thrown out a stack of explosive tags!
The moment the leaf shell had enclosed Obito, Zetsu had taken out a thick bundle of explosive tags and flung them all out without a second thought. Shisui's speed was so fast that by the time he had completed the "slash and rush in" move, the chakra fuse of the explosive tags had just finished burning, releasing the blinding light before the explosion.
Hiruzen acted decisively, ordering Obito's death as soon as he realized the situation might spiral out of Konoha's control; Shisui had also performed flawlessly, like a machine.
However, Black Zetsu's plan was even more extreme. He knew that Konoha had many skilled shinobi, and to rescue Obito, he had to do something unexpected.
—Including but not limited to using explosive tags right beside Obito. Even if it meant risking Obito's death, he had to maximize the chances of a successful rescue!
After all, to Black Zetsu, who was nearly immortal and could escape anytime, waiting another thousand years was an option. Gambling with Obito's life, though painful, was better than having no hope at all.
Boom!
Shisui crossed his arms in front of him, curling his body into a ball to minimize the impact of the explosion, but even then, he was blasted over ten meters away, with several parts of his body scorched by the flames.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his mind hazy.
"Kamui!" At that moment, Kakashi unleashed the Mangekyō Sharingan's technique in his left eye. After hearing the Third Hokage's command, he had begun silently accumulating chakra, preparing for any emergency. He hadn't expected the moment to come so quickly.
However, the powerful space-time jutsu hit nothing.
Apart from a pool of blood, neither Obito nor Zetsu were anywhere to be seen.
Shisui and Kakashi's expressions froze.
This intense exchange of blows had lasted less than a second. From Hiruzen's order to kill Obito to Kakashi's Kamui missing its mark, the situation reversed in the blink of an eye, and Konoha lost its best card.
Hiruzen and Orochimaru could never have predicted that the enemy who had come to rescue Obito would dare to recklessly throw explosive tags, risking Obito's life in the process.
"Pursue them! They can't have gotten far." Tsunade, her hair tied into twin ponytails and clad in armor, finally landed on the execution ground, looking like an enraged Valkyrie. "A hundred explosive tags—Obito won't be in good shape even with a comrade protecting him… Seal off the village, leave the Three-Tails to the Third and Orochimaru."
*Roar—*
As Tsunade spoke, the Three-Tails roared again not far away, a faint wail hidden within the sound. Clearly, Hiruzen and Orochimaru had already gained the upper hand; defeating or even sealing the tailed beast was only a matter of time.
Shisui and Kakashi struggled to their feet and nodded, moving to carry out Tsunade's orders.
...
"Obito, are you still with me?"
Somewhere in Konoha, Zetsu placed the bloodied Obito down, his expression grim.
Obito mumbled something, and Zetsu leaned in, but he couldn't hear anything clearly.
"Are you about to die…?"
Zetsu's eyes were complex, knowing that his only companion was on the verge of death.
A hole had been blasted in Obito's skull, his right chest caved in, his nose gone, over ninety percent of his skin burned...
Even though Zetsu had risked his life to protect him, the imprisoned Obito, with his spine broken and having been confined for four days, couldn't withstand the explosive tags' impact.
The cost of escaping the execution ground was steep.
But… for the sake of Mother, I must save him.
Black Zetsu thought this, then spoke, "Hang on, think of Nohara Rin."
Obito's dim eyes suddenly opened, a faint light appearing within them.
'It's working, but how do I get him out of Konoha,' Zetsu scratched his head in frustration.
The only way to save him was to fuse more of Hashirama's cells into his body. Half of Obito's body had already been transplanted with these cells at Kannabi Bridge, and he had no rejection reaction. There should be no problem.
'His body is in terrible condition. He can only last another ten minutes at most. If surgery is to be done, it has to be now. There's no time to take him back… I have no choice, I have to risk it!'
Zetsu gritted his teeth and carried Obito to a secluded area within Konoha.
He extended a branch into the ground, carefully using a White Zetsu clone to transport a large amount of Hashirama's cells. Without wasting any time, he began repairing Obito's body on the spot.
Due to Yuto's actions, Konoha no longer had an organized "Byakugan Search Team," reducing their search capabilities considerably, which gave Zetsu some confidence.
At the same time, Konoha shinobi wearing the village's forehead protectors began to sweep through the gradually darkening streets.
Both sides were racing against time.
(End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone