"Whether you believe it or not is your concern. I, Uchiha Madara, have no need to prove my identity to anyone." Uchiha Obito mimicked the arrogance deeply ingrained in Uchiha Madara's bones. Even the look in his crimson eyes was filled with contempt and confidence.
It was as if the person standing before him, Sōgen, was nothing more than a tiny insect, unworthy of having a human prove their identity.
"Especially to someone who is about to die."
At the end, he added another sentence, leaving no doubt about his attitude.
Killing intent roared like a typhoon, and Uchiha Obito was the eye of the storm. With a simple gesture, the semi-tailed beast form of Yagura Karatachi pounced forward like a trained hunting dog, his savage and violent intent overwhelming his rational mind.
The dark red tailed beast cloak ballooned like a balloon injected with air.
As the dark red cloak faded away, the sealed tailed beast finally revealed its true form and stature. Its massive body crushed a large part of the surrounding forest. Three flat tails whipped violently through the air, stirring up fierce winds. Its thick, mud-gray carapace gave the impression of being impenetrable.
This was a tailed beast—few knew its true name, but people called it the Three-Tails, based on its three tails.
"How straightforward! I thought I'd have a chance to launch a sneak attack," Sōgen sighed in regret. But honestly, Kamui's abilities were far too difficult to deal with. Without absolute certainty, he would never expose his eye technique recklessly. Otherwise, when Uchiha Obito first appeared, he wouldn't have used Susano'o to attack.
At that time, the distance between them would have been perfect for using **[Mokuhanasakuya]**.
However, he wasn't sure how effective **[Mokuhanasakuya]** would be against another Uchiha with a Mangekyo Sharingan. If it didn't kill him in one strike or cause irreparable damage, it would only drive Uchiha Obito further into hiding.
So, he chose to wait, looking for a better opportunity.
Now, he raised his head, gazing at the towering Three-Tails. His eyes settled on the creature's single crimson eye, and he genuinely admired it. "Beautiful."
Of course, he wasn't praising the Three-Tails.
Sōgen was captivated by the beast's eye. Even a catastrophe-like creature such as the Three-Tails had to submit to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. No wonder the Uchiha clan was so proud. Even Sōgen, in his heart, couldn't help but be proud of this power.
The Three-Tails lowered its head, staring at Sōgen, who was protected by the dark crimson skeletal form of Susano'o.
"ROAR!"
The Three-Tails let out an enraged howl.
Though its consciousness didn't control its body, Uchiha Obito was the true master. Yet, as if by instinct, seeing Sōgen's Sharingan and the deep crimson Susano'o, the Three-Tails' body began to tremble with fury.
Another Uchiha. Another one of those damned red eyes!
Massive amounts of chakra surged forth.
A pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb appeared before the Three-Tails, swelling at an alarming rate, ready to be fired in an instant...
Sōgen simply stared into the Three-Tails' eye, as silent as a stone.
The battle had already begun.
**[Genjutsu - Sharingan]**
This didn't refer to the Sharingan itself.
It referred to a Genjutsu.
It was the strongest illusion cast by the Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan. It maximized the hypnotic abilities of the Sharingan. As long as eye contact was made, one's own ocular power could be projected into the opponent's will, either to rob them of their bodily freedom or to disrupt their actions.
When pushed to its limits, it could even control a tailed beast.
Just like now.
The Three-Tails' movements came to a halt.
The Tailed Beast Bomb, which had been moments from firing, gradually dissipated, transforming back into pure chakra and returning to the Three-Tails' body.
The battlefield was no longer in the physical realm.
Now, it was a battle of wills and spirits.
---
"This is the consciousness space where the Three-Tails is sealed. It truly is a small, dark, and unpleasant cage." Sōgen stepped through ankle-deep water and looked up at the pitch-black dome, which seemed to be made of both stone and steel. The surrounding darkness was also cut off by similar walls.
Then, he turned his gaze toward the iron bars ahead.
However, he wasn't looking at the motionless Three-Tails locked inside the cage.
"Hey, you who claim to be Uchiha Madara, shouldn't you show yourself now? You're hiding like a coward even after coming this far. It's making it harder and harder to believe you're really Uchiha Madara."
"Hmph! Arrogant brat. I already told you, I don't need to prove my identity to anyone." Uchiha Obito, wearing his mask, appeared atop the Three-Tails' head, looking down contemptuously at Sōgen standing in the water. The disdain in his eyes was clear.
"Is that so? It doesn't matter. Whether you are or aren't doesn't change anything between us. If I defeat you, I imagine I'll solve most of my problems."
"Defeat me, Uchiha Madara?"
Uchiha Obito burst into laughter, arrogant and condescending as ever. He looked at Sōgen and said, "If you think you can, go ahead and try!"
---
Sōgen narrowed his eyes slightly.
**[Genjutsu - Shackles of the Curse]**
In this world of spiritual wills, the Uchiha clan's Genjutsu shone at its brightest. Giant metal stakes materialized out of thin air, piercing through Uchiha Obito's limbs. The real, tangible pain severely stimulated Obito's nerves.
"Not bad!"
Obito twisted his neck, slipping through the stakes as if passing through a phantom. Behind him, the metal stakes fell and shattered like bubbles on the Three-Tails' head.
"But if that's all you've got, you won't kill me!"
As he spoke, flames suddenly ignited around Sōgen's body, wrapping his hands and feet in scorching fire. Though the water reached his ankles, he still felt the intense sensation of his flesh burning, his skin charred, and even his bones starting to crack from the heat...
So this was what it felt like to be burned by flames!
He had always been the one to set others on fire. This was the first time in his life he had experienced being burned.
**[Genjutsu - Unquenchable Fire]**
This was Uchiha Obito's counterattack.
"Whether you're Uchiha Madara or not, your ocular power is indeed strong!" Sōgen said genuinely, enduring the agony of being burned.
This was the truth. Obito's ocular power was incredibly strong. Whether it was due to his talent being drawn out by Madara or the changes from merging with White Zetsu, his Genjutsu was impressive. Controlling the Nine-Tails, controlling the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki, Yagura Karatachi...
The flames burned hotter, but Sōgen's expression of pain gradually faded. In the end, he simply waved his hand, and the flames were extinguished. There were no burn marks left on his body.
In this world of spiritual will, all damage was inflicted on the spirit. The strength of one's spirit determined victory or defeat.
A battle of Uchiha Genjutsu ultimately came down to a clash of ocular power. Unless it was a perfectly executed illusion, a contest between two Uchiha often devolved into a simple comparison of ocular strength. If one's power was strong enough, no illusion could truly harm them, just as Obito had broken free of the Shackles of the Curse.
And just as Sōgen had extinguished the Unquenchable Fire with a single wave.
This was the proof.
**[Genjutsu - Infinite Swamp]**
**[Genjutsu - Dragon's Slumber]**
**[Genjutsu - Mirror of Heaven and Earth]**
**[Genjutsu - Illusionary Foam]**
To outsiders, a Genjutsu battle was often impossible to follow, especially one involving the Uchiha clan. Their illusions would often be over in the blink of an eye, with the enemy falling before anyone could understand what had happened.
Thus, witnessing this dazzling Genjutsu duel within the world of spiritual consciousness was eye-opening for Yagura Karatachi's consciousness. If his situation weren't so dire, he might have applauded.
"Uchiha… what a terrifying clan!" Yagura thought, filled with mixed emotions. He was pinned to a wall by large metal stakes, unable to move, unable to sense his own body, and unable to perceive the outside world accurately.
If he knew nothing, it might have spared him some sorrow.
But Obito, the one-eyed fiend, repeatedly used him like a puppet, forcing him to witness his own hands slaughtering ninjas from his village. He had been forced to witness countless bloody massacres, trapped in endless torment.
He had longed for death, yet even that was denied him.
All he could do was pray for the day when he might escape this living hell. He wasn't sure if his endless prayers had finally been answered.
After an unknown period of silence, this space finally welcomed a new guest today.
However,
What troubled Yagura Karatachi deeply was that the visitor turned out to be yet another Uchiha. Those crimson eyes left the Fourth Mizukage at a loss for words, unsure how to vent his frustration. Yet, watching the battle between Uchiha Sōgen and the one-eyed Uchiha who had attacked him, he still hoped Sōgen would win.
He knew that Uchiha Sōgen wasn't necessarily any better than that damned one-eyed Uchiha. But at this point, he didn't believe his situation could get any worse. The worst outcome would be switching captors—another person to imprison his consciousness and manipulate the power of the Three-Tails...
At this moment,
The battle continued,
The dazzling clash of genjutsu had clearly reached a fever pitch. Even with Yagura Karatachi's sharp eyes, he couldn't determine who would emerge victorious.
"Forcing me to use the Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities, huh?"
Sōgen looked at Uchiha Obito standing atop the Three-Tails' head, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Since you want to see it so badly, then fine—take a good look! And here, in this mental realm where the Three-Tails was sealed, he could accurately strike Obito's spiritual body.
If they were outside,
He'd have to worry about being tricked by a shadow clone!
But here, there was no use for shadow clones.
"Let me show you! The power of my Mangekyo Sharingan! I hope you appreciate its beauty!" Uchiha Sōgen's eyes gathered intense power, and the overwhelming force rapidly flooded the surrounding space. In the iron-like dome above them, a six-leaf windmill pattern appeared.
"Oh! It's finally coming, huh?"
Uchiha Obito looked up at the pattern in the sky.
His will tightened to the utmost in that moment, bracing himself to face the unknown power of this Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu.
(End of chapter)