Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 15: Changes

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm rays over a small, grassy hill. Atop the hill, a solitary figure sat, his presence both commanding and enigmatic. His spiky black hair shifted gently in the breeze, a stark contrast to the stillness of his posture. The orange mask he wore bore a spiral pattern, drawing the eye inexorably to the single opening that revealed only his right eye.

He was clad in dark robes adorned with crimson clouds, the signature garb of an organization known for its infamy and mystery. The midday light glinted off the mask's surface, casting a long shadow behind him, yet his own aura seemed to swallow the warmth, leaving an air of cold detachment.

From his vantage point, he surveyed the landscape below, a realm that seemed both within his grasp and yet distant. The serenity of the scene belied the turmoil that often followed him, a deceptive calm before the storm. The grass rustled softly around him, a gentle whisper against the oppressive silence that he carried with him.

From the ground, White and Black Zetsu emerged, their fused form encased in a venus flytrap-like shell that opened and closed around their head and upper body. Beneath the green, leafy extensions, White Zetsu's short green hair and single yellow eye contrasted starkly with the blackness covering the right half of his body.

"Madara's focus will soon shift to capturing the remaining bijū," Zetsu reported, his voice a discordant blend of their two tones.

Obito stood up silently, his mask hiding any shift in expression. "I won't let that happen."

Space around him began to warp in a spiral pattern, pulling Obito into it. Moments later, the same pattern reappeared, depositing him on a branch on the outskirts of Tsuchi no Kuni. His Sharingan zeroed in on a moving figure below.

The figure, armored from head to toe, wore red plates extending to the bottom half of his face, complemented by a matching red kasa. His Iwagakure hitai-ate rested on a black cloth, while a black gi with torn-off sleeves and black gloves completed his attire. Plated armor covered his arms, legs, and torso.

The figure turned abruptly, locking eyes with Obito. "Who's there?"

Obito dropped to the ground in front of him. "Uchiha Madara."

"You!" the man shouted, charging at Obito.

He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each strike amplified by the steam furnace on his back. Every attack phased through Obito as if the man were punching air. Frustration etched across his face, the man leaped back, narrowing his eyes, but Obito remained unmoved.

Steam shot from the furnace, boosting the man's speed as he launched a powerful punch towards Obito's face. Once again, his fist passed harmlessly through. Obito's hand shot up, seizing the man's neck with an iron grip. The man gritted his teeth, grabbing Obito's wrist with both hands, but his struggle proved futile.

Obito locked eyes with the man, casting him into a genjutsu. The man's body fell limp, losing all resistance as he succumbed to unconsciousness. The air around them warped in a spiral pattern, pulling both Obito and the man into a swirling vortex. Moments later, the same pattern reappeared, depositing them in the midst of a dark, damp cave at an unknown location.

Before them loomed a colossal, earthen-colored humanoid entity with a mummified appearance. Its body resembled a robe, with numerous spike-like protrusions jutting from its back. The statue, towering over even the tailed beasts, had nine enormous eyes that remained closed. Heavy shackles bound its wrists and ankles.

Next to the statue stood a man with short spiky orange hair and purple eyes marked by concentric rings. His face and ears bore numerous piercings: a metal bar through each ear, three studs on the sides of his upper nose, a spike stud on each end of his bottom lip, and multiple piercings on his wrists and neck. Clad in dark robes adorned with crimson clouds, he radiated an aura of ominous power.