Chapter 99: Obito’s Mistake

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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"But if you think this is enough to make me bow... you're gravely mistaken"

Guts said with a grin that stretched across his face, veins bulging on his forehead.

In the next instant, a surge of Conqueror's Haki burst from him like a tidal wave.

Red lightning crackled wildly around his body, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

The force didn't just spread outward, it shot directly into the Third Mizukage's body, rebounding his own spiritual energy in a shockwave of backlash.

The punch that could have been avoided just a moment ago came crashing in with no time left to dodge.

CRACK!

The massive ice mirror behind the Mizukage shattered into glittering fragments as his body was sent flying into it from the force of Guts's punch.

BOOM!!!

He was launched into the air like a ragdoll, bouncing and sliding across the battlefield for dozens of meters before skidding to an awkward halt, covered in bruises and cuts.

"You've got issues"

Guts said flatly, pointing at the battered Mizukage.

Ten miles away – Hidden in the damp woods

A clone of White Zetsu emerged from the mossy ground next to a tall figure cloaked in black, his face hidden behind an orange spiral-patterned Uzumaki mask.

"You moved too soon, Obito"

White Zetsu said with a helpless shrug.

"You revealed the Third Mizukage's instability in front of Guts. You can't maintain control perfectly. Is the fusion of Senju and Uchiha power making you reckless?"

"Shut up."

The voice that answered wasn't Obito's usual tone...it was deeper, colder.

It was Madara's voice.

Obito, the man once considered the dead last in his class, was no longer there.

"Don't call me that. I am Uchiha Madara now."

White Zetsu raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Yeah, yeah. My bad, Madara."

A vine-like stem rose from the ground nearby as Black Zetsu emerged beside him.

In a voice that was neither fully male nor female, Black Zetsu rasped.

"Either way, that pawn is done. Guts is too sharp,if we keep using the Mizukage, he'll see through everything. It's best to discard him."

Obito fell silent, staring into the forest.

"I didn't expect Guts to be able to resist Mangekyō illusions already…"

Black Zetsu added,

"Part of it is your lack of adaptation to the Mangekyō and Hashirama cells. But even so... his growth is unreal."

Back on the battlefield

The wounded Third Mizukage staggered to his feet, blood dripping down his chin as he formed a seal with one hand.

"Secret Technique – Thousand-Kill Water Image!!"

The air around Guts twisted as it was shaped into a fusion of water and ice, forming countless sharp projectiles that attacked from every angle,360 degrees, with no blind spots.

But Guts stood still, lowering his stance.

"Tekkai Body – Immovable like a Mountain."

Like a living fortress, his body remained unmoving.

Countless ice arrows rained down on him. Not a scratch.

Guts let out a sigh.

He had purposely refrained from using his Advanced Observation Haki in this fight.

If the enemy was strong, equal or even stronger...he'd enjoy unleashing it. But now?

"This is boring as hell."

"Th-this guy is a monster!"

"Lord Mizukage's secret techniques are completely useless!"

The nearby Mist Shinobi could only watch in horror. The tide of the war had already turned against them, and now their Kage was being humiliated before their eyes.

From the rear lines, Namikaze Minato, who had finished cleaning up the lower-ranked enemies using his Flying Thunder God, frowned as he watched the Mizukage.

"Why haven't they ordered a retreat yet?"

It was clear to everyone: the battle was lost.

The Mist Village had lost both tactically and strategically. Holding the line now was pointless,it was suicide.

And then, something insane happened.

The Third Mizukage, bloodied and bruised, formed a blade of ice from his right hand and charged straight at Guts.

Everyone froze.

This wasn't just reckless...it was suicide.

Just like the world had once learned not to meet the eyes of an Uchiha, a new rule had been forged during this war:

"Don't get close to Guts."

After he'd crushed the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, after he'd killed even the Third Raikage, a man said to be able to fight tailed beasts with raw strength alone, it was now legend.

Even Kage-levels stayed away.

Guts narrowed his eyes.

"It's not a clone."

He met the charge head-on.

The ice blade shattered on contact.

"Iron Fist Impact!!"

BOOM!

The punch landed cleanly...but just before it did, Guts's eyes flashed red.

His Future Sight activated, and what he saw left him stunned.

"Damn it!"

He shouted, turning toward the Konoha shinobi nearby.

"GET BACK! MOVE OUT OF RANGE, NOW!!"

"Mystery Technique – Freeze and Kill!"

It was a forbidden jutsu, never seen even from Haku of the Yuki Clan. The ultimate technique of Ice Release, triggered at the cost of the caster's life.

Minato's eyes widened. He instantly tossed a marked kunai and blurred into motion.

But even Flying Thunder God had its limits,he needed time to throw a mark.

The Third Mizukage's body exploded with ice energy. The surrounding air froze instantly, the temperature dropping below anything natural.

Everything within 100 meters began to crystallize...earth, trees, shinobi, nothing was spared.

Even Mist and Konoha ninja alike were frozen mid-motion, turned into perfect ice statues.

"GUTS!!!"

Tsunade screamed from afar, panic in her voice.

She was too far. If even Minato couldn't reach him in time, what could she do?

Everyone stared, horrified, as Guts and the Mizukage were encased in pure white ice.

Was this the end?

Had the brightest star of the Third Great Ninja War been snuffed out in a frozen instant?

Then after a moment from within the dead silence of the ice...

"...Is that it?"

A familiar voice echoed through the frost.

"You looked like Aokiji for a second... but too bad you ain't him."

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