41

The pressure took the village hidden in the mist by storm. The mist broke up and dispersed in all directions like the vaporization of an invisible giant with supernatural powers.

Everyone watched the spectacle with surprise or worry, almost without even knowing what to do or say. In fact, they were all shocked at this unexpected event that appeared suddenly like a ghost in the night.

Ghost stood there for a moment while the spectators looked at him in awe and anxiety. This guy has the power that shook their very existence. This is the real thing. It's him. Ghost hailing from Konoha.

He could sense it perfectly, It was Obito's chakra for sure, but... Obito is dead, he made sure of that. Then who is this guy...

"How did he find me", Obito asked the white Zetsu still attached to his body.

"..."

"Zetsu...!"

"Impossible...", The skin attached to Obito talked as if it were another entity, "He marked your chakra down when you two met in Konoha, even when you were in Kamui the entire time. How could that be...?!"

Obito scowled upon hearing that.

"It seems we have underestimated his sensory abilities by a long shot. Right now, even if you run to the end of this world he will find you; no matter what...", White Zetsu answered while making Obito frown...

"I didn't think I would be able to witness such a stellar display of chakra-sensing ability in my entire life. This guy really is one scary opponent...", White Zetsu said in awe

Everyone including Ghost was shocked, who is this spiral-masked man talking to..?! And who is answering? What is going on here..?!

"Do something", Obito said in an undertone as he looked at Ghost with eyes full of malice and dread.

"Let me take over your entire body, he will never sense us then..."

"Got it", Obito answered as he dashed towards his target. Before leaving, he has to fight this Ghost by himself. There is no other choice right now. Once Zetsu is done, he will leave.

Noticing the masked Obito charging toward him, Ghost merely raised his finger, letting the chakra flow out of his body as if it were a blade impaling the winds with its tip.

This is too easy; Obito thought as he simply phased through the deadly aura without even grazing it. By the time he has done so, he was already near Ghost with his punch aimed at his face...

"...", Ghost grabbed Obito's fist with his hand rather easily, as he stood in his position with no expression on his face.

"Huh?", Obito gasped in surprise, staring at the masked shinobi in utter fear...

Ghost understood what happened before in Konoha, and now here, this spiral-masked man had somehow done the impossible and managed to copy his signature technique of phasing through the attacks—revealing proficiency in space-time ninjutsu, just like him.

Though it was surprising, but seemingly pointless before the likes of him. To dare use his own technique in front of and against him is ridiculous.

An invisible barrier erupted from Ghost's body, encasing several miles, with Ghost himself acting as the epicenter. Wherever he moved, the barrier would follow, and both Obito and Ghost were relieved of their ability to phase through anything.

Even though it also hampered Ghost's ability to phase through physical attacks, it didn't hamper his ability to fight strong multiple Kage level shinobis, but for Obito Uchiha who always relied on Kamui space. This dampens his ability to fight Kakashi let alone someone at the level of Ghost...

"Making me angry isn't exactly a wise move...", He stated as he bend Obito's fist in his arm with force while looking straight into Obito's eyes, "There is something you should know about my existence. I am not as weak as you are..."

Ghost said as he suddenly deformed Obito's arm like a twister's toy.

Obito yelled, it felt as if all the bones in his right arm were breaking at once, and the arm itself twisted like a piece of clay, only the joint still attached, pointing to his elbow.

"...Damn you..."

"Is that all you have..?!", Ghost said with an irritated expression.

His right hand was just beginning to bend when suddenly he saw something coming out of Obito's skin...

Something like a white arm...

"What... the... hell..?!", He let go of Obito and blurred away from him as fast as a flash.

Obito grit his teeth and used the white arm to quickly make hand signs, and fired a scorching fire volley at Ghost; intending to distract him enough for him to attack...

He took a step forward and was suddenly behind Obito, swinging his arm like a pendulum and hitting Obito's face from the side, making Obito fly through the air before the white skin acted again and cushioned his back from hitting the ground hard.

Coughing up the blood Obito looked up to see Ghost already standing right beside him with his sword drawn. His visual acuity allowed him to see the incredibly fast sword approaching him. His eyes widened slightly as his body was encased in a unique white skin. Hiding his chakra to the point where even someone like Ghost lost sense of his chakra. But the moment white zetsu took over Obito's body, his emotions were immediately captured by Ghost.

Obito manages to react in the nick of the time; the white arm from his body sacrificed itself as he jumped backward while the sword cut through the weird white arm just as easily.

Obito didn't have enough time to get stable though, Ghost was once again at his heels; his sword once again came slashing at him. This time it is a straightforward stab on the back rather than an angled one.

It would have been Obito's end if not for Mei Terumi who suddenly found herself compelled to save Obito Uchiha even at the cost of her own life...

Obito put her in Genjutsu the last time Ghost escaped their prison, he could see it, the look in Ghost's eyes; so similar to his when he looked at Rin back then...

Ghost frowned as his sword stabbed Mei's back...

Mei grit her teeth, blood spurting out from her back, with her body writhing in pain...

He grabbed her waist and stopped her from falling onto the ground with the strength of an experienced fighter...

"No!", Obito yelled as Ghost's sword didn't stop moving as he swung his sword towards Obito who managed to jump out of the way in the nick of time, the swing resulted in an enormous shockwave to ripple through the pathway in its wake, destroying everything along the path it cut through.

However Ghost couldn't help but admire his opponent's agility, but he did not attack as Mei in a shocking turn of events stabbed his throat while still under the effect of Genjutsu.

He stared down at the girl, his eyes full of pain...

"You...", Mei Terumi found her eyes trembling at seeing him. Her heart aches with great sadness.

Gritting his teeth, Ghost threw blood out of his mouth and fell on his knee as he let Mei fall on the ground, his mask falling off by the impact. Revealing an unknown face.

He should have been careful, he couldn't sense Mei's intention of attack since she was already in the masked man's Genjutsu, it was done without any help of Chakra either, it's been a long time since he had a proper battle, he is getting sloppier indeed...

He looked up, watching Obito disappearing in a spiral, somehow that white skin is capable of cracking through the barrier. Interesting, very interesting indeed...

His eyes moved towards her as he coughed weakly, he used his weakened hand to stumbled up back on his feet, "You sure are a handful, aren't you?", His voice was hoarse and painful...

His words made her regain her clarity; using her arms she back-flipped herself back to her feet, her eyes contained emotions beyond words. "Get him"

Standing there with a kunai struck on his throat, this might be the only chance to catch or kill Ghost in a single blow, it's either that or let him live until he kills me.

Mei gritted her teeth, the stab in her back is unbearable; the blood is still flowing out, but she refuses to show any weakness. She had endured enough pain for one lifetime already.

Yet his situation didn't stop anyone from attacking him. The Rebels attacked with everything they could. However, the attacks only created dust clouds and destroy the surface, Ghost was nowhere in the sight— shocking everyone.

"What... just happened..!!"

"How did he-

"Is this Genjutsu?"

"Mei", Ao said as he approach her cautiously.

She looked at him with a serious face, "No need to be shocked. He is a shinobi of the highest caliber", Closing her eyes she opened them again, "Let's just retreat. Mizukage might have planted more spies in rebels. Search carefully. Find out who was that spiral masked man, and what's his relationship with Konoha's Ghost"

"Hai", Ao said

Mei took a deep breath and looked at the sea, before she retreated as well, "Take care of things over here and find out who else in our midst is in Genjutsu..!"

"Yes"

"Also, he is injured badly, he couldn't have gone too far off. Find out his location", She ordered and went off.

"Yes"

"Ao sama. who was that", A Kiri rebel asked in a low voice

Ao sighed, "No one you should know about. Spread around. Find out his location"

"Yes"

Watching Mei going back, Ao sighed, she shouldn't have done that. Did she forget he has Byakugan!!!

...

"It's embarrassing, Madara san", Hoshigaki Kisame, who was caught and brought into the Kamui space grinned and looked at Obito.

He felt a burst of pleasure in his heart! This guy who calls himself Uchiha Madara talked about Project Tsuki no Me, but he is so unreliable!

"I'm curious, are you really the legendary Madara?", Hoshigaki Kisame asked with a mocking smile.

Uchiha Madara, a man who is literally equal to a god, a man who ended an entire era along with First Hokage, how could he be so weak..!!

Anyone could see that if Mei Terumi did not jump in. This Uchiha Madara might very well be dead today.

After all, there is a saying that once Ghost appears, blood follows, and a living person dies. You can not fight him on equal terms, you can only run and hope to survive somehow.

But then again, given his tracking ability, he can track you down even to the depths of hell. If Ghost wants you dead, you can not live to see another day.

"If you don't believe me, you can give me a try", Uchiha Obito said coldly to Kisame.

"How long do we stay here Zetsu?", Obito asked the white skin on his body

But Zetsu didn't answer

"Zetsu..!", Obito called again, "What is it..?!"

"He sensed me!!", Zetsu said slowly

"What?!"

"He sensed me Tobi chan... I don't know how, but he did, we have to get rid of him fast, he is not just a hindrance to project Tsuki no Me, he is hounding us, any moment he will come after us even with me covering your entire chakra network"

"Can he come in here?!"

"It should not be possible... but... with him I can't be sure..."

Obito glowered under his mask, "We can't take any risk with that guy. Is there a way?"

"There is a way to change your chakra signature entirely, but it's gonna take some time, and we can't do it often, so don't cross paths with him again till you are sure of your victory, and we would need some equipment from the cave for this to happen..!"

Obito nodded as he turned towards Kisme, "Serve by Yagura's side, for now, I will retrieve you when it's time. Meanwhile, I have some work to do"

...

When Mei reached an isolated forest, she removed the Genjutsu. Reveling the injured Ghost.

"Get lost", She said as she moved away.

Ghost laughed weakly as he lean on the tree while forcefully removing the bloody kunai from his throat. Making him bleed and making him feel even more pain than before...

"Don't waste your breath trying to save me, princess", He said while breathing heavily, "Taking me down is not possible for the current era of shinobis"

"Did I ask?", She turn her head and stare at him, "You spared my life while in prison. I returned that favor now. You and I have nothing between us anymore", She turn her back on him.

A whisper blew beside her ear, "That makes it easier I guess"

She sharply turned her body only to find him performing a broad diagonal slash with bone-shattering impetus. Her body was instantly cut apart with blood splashing against his face and the ground beside them.

With bloodless eyes, and an open mouth, her body fell backward while staring at his standing figure holding a bloody sword.

"Mei", An echo came from somewhere unknown.

"Mei", She could barely make it to anything in front of her.

"Mei. Open your eyes", She opened her eyes and looked up to see Raizel (Ghost) bringing her the food. She looked at it with some excitement.

"You are seriously a great cook. I have never eaten such tasty food in my entire life", She said as she brims herself with food.

Raizel chuckled, "Other than sleeping and eating, you don't do anything. Beware, you might become a pig at this rate"

She glared at him and asked, "You're ruining my lunch by looking at me like that", She laughed...

She was initially going to protest but it felt so good being served the delicious food. So, she ate heartily.

She ate every last drop. Her stomach was stuffed, yet somehow she didn't feel full, "What will it take for you to cook some more..?!", She asked...

Raizel chuckled, "Mm. How about kissing the cook?..."

Mei turned red, "You are so lucky that I like your food so much", She said and blushed as she slowly closed her eyes and leaned forward when a knife suddenly stabbed her right in the belly. Mei let out a cry, her eyes see blood pouring from her wound. She was confused, why would Raizel do that..?! As she slowly closed her eyes in despair...

"Mei"

"Mei open your eyes"

"Mei"

She opened her eyes again to see her comrades shaking her up. She was in a large tent.

"What happened?", Mei asked hissing at the pain in her guts.

"That Scum tried to kill you and took advantage of the distraction before disappearing", Ao explained, "Pity we didn't catch him, we couldn't have gotten a better chance that that"

"How did...", She grit her teeth and held her gut, "How did you get there so fast?"

"That... I... we were following you", Ao said with some hesitation.

Mei frowned, "You followed me? Ao, do you not trust me?"

Ao took a deep breath, "It's not about trusting, Mei. You saved him despite knowing who he is. Mei, wake up. He is not Raizel that came to Kiri that year. He is Ghost, killing him is..."

"Leave me alone"

"..."

"Are you trying to..."

"No...", Ao bowed and was about to get out but he stopped for a moment and turn his head back before pulling out the camp cloth and going out.

...

Meanwhile, Obito warped the space and entered the cave where Madara Uchiha once saved him.

"We have mere minutes before he smells us here. Get the equipment and anything useful", White Zetsu said as Obito along with the black Zetsu destroy anything that could become a lead to them...

Black Zetsu destroy the machine that kept Madara alive for a long time as he spoke, "Aren't you getting a bit too paranoid...?! There is no way he could sense us here"

"If there is anything I have learned in these years is, never to underestimate your opponent! And I can assure you, he is a dangerous man, even with our ability to hide he still can find us...", Obito said with a serious voice.

Black Zetsu nodded and took some information from the cave while the White Zetsu kept Obito's body covered very tightly and did not allow any contact with anything that could leak their location...

However, that proved to be for naught, White Zetsu felt an unknown aura coming at an extremely high speed...

"He is coming", White Zetsu spoke

"That freak... it's only 2 minutes since we exited the space and he is already here...", Obito said...

...

When Ghost reached the position the entire cave was razed to the ground, leaving nothing but ruins and specks of dust.

Ghost stood at the mouth of the cave, the masked man is not just capable of fooling his senses but also capable of dodging his trail. He looked at his hand, this is the first time in years he is feeling the sensation of the hunt.

His eyes lust with blood, his pupils dilated like a predator stalking its prey, "Run if you can," he mumbled, "I will be coming for you soon enough. THE HUNT IS ON!" He yelled with the loudest of his voice that echoed in every nook and cranny of these remote and abandoned mountains as his lips drew into a snarl that had a hint of insanity and hunger in it.