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The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-ar4ngel
-Cain
-Ryan biggins
-Kreios
-Sabo
-Goha21
-Cherudim
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"Meat Tank!"
A massive, rolling ball of flesh shot out from the forest, barreling straight toward "Obito."
"Tch."
"Obito" had no choice but to maintain his intangible state.
"Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Konan, who was about to make her move, instinctively dodged Ino's secret technique.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya's hair extended once more, wrapping around Naruto's body.
The shadow connected to Naruto's body disconnecte and Jiraiya's hair swiftly dragged Naruto back to his side.
"You came just in time!" Jiraiya praised with a smile.
"Jiraiya-sama."
Asuma, along with Shikamaru and Ino, jumped out from the forest.
"Asuma-sensei!"
On the other side, Choji, who had just exited his Meat Tank state, picked up Asuma's weapon and returned to his teammates.
"Is this all the reinforcements you have?"
The single eye visible beneath "Obito's" mask glowed red.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like you'll be much help."
Asuma took his weapon from Choji and scrutinized "Obito." Having seen the Akatsuki's intel, he couldn't reconcile this man with the Obito he remembered.
"Obito?" His tone was hesitant. "It's hard to imagine you've become like this."
"Hmph, don't act like we're close. What do you know about me, Asuma-sama?"
"Obito's" hoarse voice carried a cold sneer.
"Hiss..."
Asuma took a deep drag of his cigarette and blinked.
Was this the same Obito who used to enthusiastically help old ladies cross the street every day?
"Exhale..."
White smoke escaped his lips as he spoke with a touch of weariness. "Don't say that. We were classmates at the academy for six years, after all."
"Obito" scoffed. "Oh? I was just a loser back then. I wasn't close to someone like you, Asuma-sama."
"Obito! Don't let them stall for time!" Konan couldn't help but interject coldly.
Something felt off to her.
Why had they suddenly stopped fighting and started reminiscing about old times?
And why had Obito suddenly admitted his identity? That was strange.
Hadn't he always insisted he was Madara Uchiha? Not that anyone believed him.
Was he just giving up now?
"Hey, beautiful, I just got a little excited seeing an old classmate," Asuma said casually, exhaling another puff of smoke. "It's only natural to catch up with an old friend."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Obito" immediately ended the reunion, his cold gaze sweeping over the Leaf shinobi.
"You think a few of you can stop me from taking the Nine-Tails?"
"Even if we can't stop you, we'll fight to the death trying," Asuma said, his finger blades now visibly coated with chakra. "And don't think the Leaf only has a few shinobi like us."
"How is it?" Shikamaru asked, turning back while Asuma spoke.
Ino was crouched on the ground, examining Guy and Naruto. She replied, "Naruto's body is fine, but his mind is a bit damaged. His body is healing itself, though. Guy-sensei's body is severely overworked and will need some time to recover."
"Shikamaru, Ino, Choji," Asuma ordered directly, "you three guard Guy and Naruto. Leave the fighting to me and Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya, who had taken the chance to chew a few soldier pills, finally regained some stamina. He stepped forward, dramatically flipping his hair.
"With me here, you have nothing to worry about. Just stay put."
Asuma and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, then charged forward to confront "Obito."
Asuma's finger blades were now extended with sharp chakra edges, and he closed the distance rapidly, using taijutsu to keep "Obito" on the defensive, forcing him to maintain his intangible state.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld."
The ground beneath Konan and the unconscious Nagato turned into a swamp, causing their bodies to sink immediately.
"Nagato!"
Konan quickly bent down to pick up Nagato, spreading her wings to fly out of the swamp's range.
"Good, that separates the two of them."
Jiraiya rushed forward, firing another Toad Oil Bullet at Konan in the air.
Konan, carrying Nagato, wasn't fast enough and was drenched in the oily substance. Her paper wings became uncontrollable, and she fell from the sky.
Jiraiya used the oil to draw an arc on the ground, then changed his hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"
"Fire Style?"
Konan's expression changed as she dodged the fireball with Nagato in her arms.
The oil ignited instantly, and though Konan narrowly avoided the fireball, the flames followed the arc Jiraiya had drawn, creating a towering wall of fire that temporarily trapped her on the other side.
Drenched in oil, Konan couldn't cross the fire wall quickly. Jiraiya turned his attention to Asuma and "Obito's" battle.
Despite knowing the intel, Asuma found it difficult to deal with "Obito's" space-time ninjutsu.
At first, it seemed like he had the upper hand, but "Obito" quickly became more agile, switching between tangible and intangible states effortlessly. His unpredictable attacks kept Asuma on the defensive.
If not for Shikamaru's timely use of his shadow techniques to provide long-range support, Asuma might have already been injured.
"Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Technique."
Jiraiya's hair grew wildly again, twisting into several snake-like strands, their tips even opening like mouths.
While controlling the hair snakes to assist Asuma and Shikamaru in attacking "Obito," Jiraiya kept an eye on Konan's situation.
Facing the relentless attacks and harassment from the three, "Obito's" transitions between tangible and intangible states became less smooth. He had no time to form hand seals, and every time he materialized to attack Asuma, the others' attacks forced him back into intangibility.
Despite this, "Obito" remained calm. His true goal was the opposite of what it appeared—his master had promised the Fourth Hokage that Naruto wouldn't be taken away.
However, he couldn't keep up this act for too long.
"Obito" thought with frustration.
To ensure his identity wasn't exposed, he would soon have to go all out.
If he wasn't careful, he might actually end up taking Naruto.
So, when Shibi Aburame and Tokuma Hyuga arrived with a dozen Leaf shinobi, "Obito" felt the same relief as Jiraiya and the others.
"Great, more reinforcements!" Choji shouted excitedly.
"Guy-sensei!"
Seeing Guy lying on the ground, Lee and Tenten rushed out from the reinforcements and hurried to his side.
"Don't worry, Guy-sensei isn't in critical condition. He's just overexerted himself," Ino reassured them.
"That's a relief. Guy-sensei will be fine," Lee said, tears streaming down his face. "I'll take over the fight for him now!"
On the other side, the fire wall died down, and Konan finally broke free from her isolation.
With Nagato on her back, she scanned the group and frowned, shouting, "Obito!"
*****
T/N: Check out my new works:
1. Naruto: Starting as a Defector in The Hidden Mist Village
2. Cunning Three Kingdoms