XXX - Second Wind
A simple slip of his hand is enough—Kakashi rotates out of the way of Pein's incoming Shinra Tensai, his hands grabbing onto to safe ground as he flips back up. Pulling on his chakra as it grinds together, lightning roars to life within his left hand, while he continues forming hand-seals with his right.
This time, he will have to trust in Dharma. As his left thumb slides into the final Snake seal, the Dog Elder nods. Right, Kakashi has one chance for this.
With his Sharingan, he can see nature chakra spiraling to life around the Naraka Path. Howls fill the air, as he uses his ocular Genjutsu alongside Dharma's vocal illusion to call forth an endless horde of howling hounds.
Hundreds of kunai fly from his grip as he uses the Shadow Kunai jutsu, electricity coalescing around them. Already, it is building up within his own coils, surrounding him in a blue cloak.
The distance between them closes in seconds, and he can feel the timer ticking down for the Deva Path's cooldown.
"Kamui!" With a singular move, he's removed Nagato's most powerful asset, and in the next, he's next to the Naraka path, Chidori obliterating it in seconds. The other Paths are in disarray due to his Genjutsu, allowing him to finish the battle.
The wind roars in the sky, as hundreds of clouds begun to form—Kakashi's shadow clones emerge from the wreckage of Konoha- because Kakashi doesn't have to win, he has to send a message.
A dragon sounds in the deep—there is something moving within the storm, multiple somethings. Thunder sounds, and Kakashi raises his hand into the air.
"Begone with the thunderclap." For some reason, Danzo had insisted on Kakashi saying this before using the jutsu. Rain starts to fall, mixed with hail and snow. The winds wrap around his fist, and the Fifth Hokage takes aim.
"Sage Art: Oroshi Kirin." In one moment, hundreds of serpents descend from the Heavens. When Pein tries to absorb the nature chakra, the body simply turns to stone.
There is no escape, no mercy.
Only a swift annihilation by the horse of the Northern Winds. But his work isn't done yet, so Kakashi grits his teeth, and rushes forward picking up one of the many black rods Pein had used in their clash, slamming it into his shoulder.
"THERE!" Dharma calls, and Kakashi follows the lingering remnants of Nagato's chakra. Taking a moment of rest, he withdraws the needle from his right shoulder, throwing the (now empty) unique Soldier Pill Danzo had provided to him onto the ground.
His chakra is at least semi-full now, with Sage Mode to close the gap, he is more than ready to face down Nagato.
I'm coming.
Jin dodges backwards, moving next to Jiraiya as the two face off against the masked man. Kaito had already evacuated Naruto, so the duo was free to unleash their most powerful techniques.
But Jin could only feel sorrow as he battled Obito Uchiha. How Elder had come by the information, only God knew.
It didn't change a thing.
"So, who are you then?" Jiraiya called out, hair shielding the Sannin from the attacker. "And don't say you are Madara!"
"Names are irrelevant now. You may call me what you please." Jin's eyes narrowed. His voice was a near perfect match for Madara's own.
"You can hide between masks all you like." Emerging from the shadows, Danzo Shimura stepped into the light. "But that does not conceal the truth."
"You are one to talk, Shimura."
"Do not lie, Obito-kun."
Jiraiya stopped, turning sharply to face Danzo. "That's-"
"You are right, Jiraiya. This is the student of the Yondaime Hokage, the man who killed his own teacher." Danzo raised his right arm, clicking each one of the seals as they deactivated. The bandages surrounding his eye fell to the ground, revealing the Sharingan hidden within.
"What-!" The Toad Sage was cut off by Kaito reappearing behind him.
"Sorry, but you're needed elsewhere." The two of them disappeared in a flash, leaving Danzo, Jin, and Obito alone within the cavern.
"So," Obito drawled, mask still obscuring the truth. "You knew all this time, did you Danzo?"
"There is nothing that escapes me, boy." Shimura remarked, moving his body into a ready stance. "Do not underestimate the visual prowess of the Uchiha."
"How ironic."
"I do think there is a certain irony that Kakashi became the Hokage instead of you." Obito didn't respond, only inclining his head down. "How long were you manipulated, you spineless rat?"
"Says the Third's lapdog. The past is meaningless, just as is this world. It is folly to ignore that." Obito didn't appear to be bothered by Danzo's words in the slightest. "Your tricks and schemes will not work on me, Shimura."
"Are you so sure about that, Obito-kun?"
Obito didn't bother giving a response and rushed forward, straight into Danzo's guard. But Jin waited for the right chance—everything had to go as planned.
The next second, Kaito reappeared next to Jin, and nodded, while Jin unleashed a hurl of paper bombs into the air.
In the very next second, the entire room collapsed into a bottomless chasm, filled entirely with explosives. "Let us see you escape THIS, Madara!" bellowed Danzo, as hundreds of paper bombs descended into the chasm followed by hundreds of kunai.
There wasn't a single moment for the man to try to materialize and flee using Kamui. But Danzo had also taken into account the Izanagi—there would be no escape.
As Obito Uchiha fell, there were hundreds of thoughts flickered through his brain.
All of them were centered on a means of escape, and he finally decided to use his final weapon. Reappearing behind Danzo, he stabbed the elder through the chest with a black rod- but he missed, for Danzo had used his own Izanagi.
"You have lost, Danzo!" Obito laughed, but Danzo smirked in response.
"I have not lost, fool." Turning towards Jin and Kaito, a kind smile blossomed on his face. "I have won where it mattered."
A look of peace spiraled upon his expression.
"All these secrets, they end here."
His hand formed a Snake seal and lifted his head towards the sky.
"Goodbye."
For Obito had forgotten one thing—the entire cavern was composed of C4 and wrapped with millions of explosion seals all designed to cause the largest amount of destruction.
Kaito grasped Jin's back, as Jin cried out in shock—this wasn't the plan!
The next second, the two were gone.
Shiro watches as Madara crumbles into dust two minutes into their fight, screaming in frustration and rage. Turning his head to look at Takahashi, he can see his old brother start to fade.
"You will forever be my brother, Shiro." Takahashi whispers, and the two embrace. Shiro's face is wet—he's already forgotten about Madara, who the two were able to match using their own Susanno.
Takahashi had not died from mortal wounds.
He had perished from a sickness embedded in his very genome—doomed to a short life, he had made the overall sacrifice.
"He will hate you." Danzo says.
"I cannot tell him." Takahashi hates lying, but when Danzo tells him who will eventually come for Shiro's eyes, Takahashi has already made his choice.
"You are a kind child."
"No." He was never kind; he knows it the moment he picks up a blade. "I am..."
Danzo chuckled. "You would trust me with Shiro's life?"
Takahashi frowned. "You have given us everything, never asking for anything. We learned to fight out of our own volition—if I can repay you, I gladly will."
"You are just like your parents."
A light smile forms on his lips. "Then they raised me well."
"Good luck, Takahashi."
And as Takahashi embraces his brother, he is happy—the world is finally safe. The scroll in his hand burns into nothingness, the wicked remnant of a cruel god forever doomed to eternal captivity.
He feels his hand crumble, and smiles. "Find yourself a girl who will love you, Shiro. Eat well and do your best."
"Ni-san..."
"The world is safe." Takahashi says, as his chest starts to fade. "You are safe."
"I'll..."
Shiro clenches his fist and looks into his brother's eyes. "I'll do my best."
Both of their Sharingan meet, etching this moment into their memory forever. Shiro may forget Takahashi's calm baritone, the brief hesitation in his voice as he speaks—but he will never forget that smile.
Kakazu and Sasori look at the jail cell, as Deidera grins next to the two. "I told you two, didn't I? We totally got them, un."
Sasori is unamused. "The shark would make quite an interesting puppet, but it's the Zombie I'm more fascinated with."
Kakazu bristles at the comment. "I receive the highest share of the pay, as I captured both of them."
"Whatever you wish." Sasori isn't the least bothered—not when he has so much inspiration. "It's a shame Danzo wants them alive."
"Don't even think of hurting the goods."
"Oi!" Deidera perks up, taking offense to Sasori's comments. "Get your creepy body carving out of here, un. That's not true art!"
As the two start to bicker, Kakuzu sighs as he positions himself in front of the cell. These 'debates' usually end up with an explosion.
Madara is dead.
Zetsu is forever banished from this realm.
Obito is dead.
Pein is almost defeated.
There are no losses.
"Well done, Tobirama-sensei." I comment, bowing my head. Tobirama stares at me, before sighing.
"It would have been better if you didn't need to use the reanimation to deal with that Uchiha brat."
"His Sharingan ability was troubling." Tobirama had fully disguised himself as me, including creating a specific Genjutsu to recreate the Izanagi with the Edo Tensai. "Nevertheless, we have won."
The Nidaime nods, before massaging his temples. "To think Madara survived... at least now that man's evil is laid to rest."
I nod. "It was a pity that Obito-kun was ensnared by the madman's false problems."
"The brat made his bed and lay in it." Tobirama scoffed. "At least his soul can rest in peace now."
"I will release the Reanimation, sensei."
He nods, before smiling. "You are a true shinobi, Danzo. Worthy of the hat, maybe."
"I was only doing my duty."
"Of course." Tobirama chuckles. "The 'Shadow of the Shinobi' is what they call you, don't they?"
"Say hello to Hiruzen for me." I say, choosing not to respond to his second question, before pausing. "And tell the Yondaime it wasn't his fault."
"I will." Tobirama sighs. "Emotions aren't our cup of tea, aren't they?"
I smile at that. "The Leaf will endure."
As the Second Hokage begins to fade, I bow my head in gratitude.
"Raise your head, Danzo. The victor does not belong on his knees."
"The victory was yours." I reply, raising my head to see his ascent.
The last thing I see of my teacher is his smirk as he returns to the Pure Lands.