Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 20

Chapter Inspiration: The Truth Unravels by Two Steps from Hell

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"Wasting your time, all of you," Obito growled.

He finally stood from where Naruto had beat him into the ground. Shaking off the Nine-Tail's attack something shifted out of the corner of his eyes. There he found Mai standing before him.

"I cut off your arm."

"Obviously you didn't do a very good job," she said.

Her arms moved in perfect sync, much to his surprise. One of his own moved to the side without his control. However, Obito brought it back into place by ripping the Chakra Strings away.

"Pathetic. You're going to try this again?"

"No. This time, things are a little different."

The Be Fong's stance changed, arms moving with precision and grace to create unfamiliar hand signs. That's when he felt it. Something wrapped around his limbs and pulling them apart in the same manner Mai had once been subject to. Only it didn't stop there as something pierced the palm and the base of the feet. However, one look revealed nothing.

"Child's play."

Obito went to rip through once more, but this time nothing happened. His immobility confused him. He tried again. Nothing. Slowly, the young man's head turned back to Mai, who in turned stared him down. Visible chakra swirled in the teen's pupils as an aura began surrounding her body.

"What have you done?"

"I wouldn't wish this on my own enemies," she confessed. "But you're different. You don't deserve my mercy." The flick of a wrist made his throat became constricted. "And now you're mine to control."

Finally, Obito could see it. The connection between himself and Mai as the Chakra Strings became visible. Though what interested him most was the arm that had been injured.

"Interesting..." he mused. "So that is how you're doing it."

The limb was completely wrapped in the Chakra Strings. Connected to the undamaged one so it copied its movements.

The Chakra Strings kept coming, the strings emitting from various points in the Be Fong's body and reaching out to wrap around his frame. The pain to the palms were the strings doing, having entered the body through the pores and taking control over the muscles from the inside. Fear in Obito was slowly surfacing once more.

Chakra spiked, drawing his attention to the area around them. They were surrounded on all sides as the Hokages, Naruto, and Sasuke's strongest techniques became activated. The Jinchuuriki tried to run away. He was paralyzed. His mouth opened to order he be released, only to find Mai's eyes had rolled back allowing only the whites to be visible. Such raw energy it was impressive and frightening as the allies rushed forward at a full charge. Their eyes were not only on the enemy, but Mai herself as the strings seemed to lift her body off the ground, feet dangling. As if in a trance, the Be Fong's head craned back, lips parting. The ninja almost looked possessed. There was no possible way this was Mai's doing anymore.

There was something else. It gathered above the Phantom Ninja's collarbone, hovering, and growing in size. A black orb, the surface sparking every now and again with energy it began to rival the former leaders of Konoha as the ninjas stayed on their path.

Mai feared this would happen. No longer in control of her actions after connecting with Obito in such a way. Attaching herself to such a dangerous opponent the Be Fong would be unable to hold their chakra at bay with how depleted hers was. Her body absorbed it without hesitation as the strings linked them together. It was slowly consuming her, making it difficult to breathe.

Her strength pushed Naruto to increase the power behind his own jutsu, forcing every last bit of the Nine-Tail's chakra left into his attack, leaving himself unprotected. But the host would do anything to end the war and protect those around him. Unable to stand it anymore, the Be Fong released the orb. It shot across the field following the other attacks released by her allies.

"Clear the area!" Minato shouted.

None anticipated the teen to get her hands on such raw, dark chakra. And by combining with their own jutsus, they were in a dangerous situation. Sasuke realized with dread that the Be Fong was not moving in the opposite direction, refusing to release Obito so he didn't escape. She would be caught in the blast.

"Mai–!"

Juugo tackled him to the ground before he even had a chance to change course and attempt to reach her. Minato covered his son as well seconds before the jutsus hit their mark.

The chakra swirled together around Obito's form, devouring his form and producing a blinding white light. Its brilliance made Mai squeeze the eyes shut before becoming engulfed, bracing for the aftershock when the connection was finally broken. The Shinobi Army, having finally eliminated the last rampaging beast, shielded their eyes before a strong gust of wind hit them. It hurled those close enough through the air, others knocked off their feet and crashing to the ground rather violently. [song ends]

Eventually, everything settled. From the aftermath, the allies wondered what had happened.

Sakura coughed through the dirt and debris that clouded the air. "Hinata... are they...?" she gasped.

"I can see them," the Hyuuga answered. "They appear to be alive, but I don't know what condition they are in."

The Jinchuuriki couldn't feel anything, lying on his back and staring up at the sky. His arms wouldn't move and he couldn't feel anything below the waist. The extensive damage done canceled out the regeneration process. This time there was no coming back. Never did Obito think he would be defeated. He had been a God. For years he worked behind the scenes to form the Akatsuki, captured the tailed beasts, declared war on the Shinobi World, and produced the Ten-Tail. So how after all of that had he lost? Footsteps drew closer as a shadow casted over him. Obito already knew who it was. He didn't have to look to confirm it.

"End of the line, Obito."

The young man chuckled humorlessly. "Is it really?"

Kakashi stared down at the Jinchuuriki taking it all in. His form was beginning to crumble. "You have lost. Your dream will not be realized."

"Yes, it will."

The Jounin's head shook. "If you had stayed on the right path, maybe you could've seen it for yourself. But you were destined to fail from the beginning."

By now his chest was collapsing. "You are wrong."

A crack ran up the center of the face before his eyes closed. Kakashi shook his head.

"Even in the end... you still refuse to believe it's over," the Jounin said.

What was left of the host turned to dust allowing the wind to take it away.