CH-215 THE REASON FOUND.

Tobirama's eyes widened at Jiryoku's words. How could he know? The thought had crossed his mind more than once during the battle, but he had hidden it well—or so he thought. Jiryoku's perceptiveness was beyond unsettling. Every secret Tobirama held, every intention he had buried deep within, Jiryoku seemed to lay bare with ease.

Jiryoku, without another glance at the Hokage, turned and walked to a nearby boulder. With the weight of a man unconcerned by the chaos around him, he sat down and closed his eyes, resting as if the war itself were of no consequence. He knew this was far from the final battle. More challenges lay ahead, more wars to fight. But for now, he would wait, conserve his strength, and let the events unfold as they were destined to.

Naruto, accompanied by all the tailed beasts, arrived at the location where Madara was pinned down. Hashirama's 'Sage Art: Gate of the Great God' had done its work, sealing Madara beneath a series of massive, red torii gates, suppressing his movements. The sight should have been reassuring—a powerful enemy neutralized. But Madara's eyes still burned with unshaken confidence.

With a smirk, Madara turned his gaze toward Naruto. "Thank you, Naruto," he said, his voice calm, almost mocking. "For extracting the tailed beasts from Obito and weakening him. I must also thank Jiryoku—after all, it was his intervention that injured Obito enough for you to succeed."

Naruto's expression tightened, irritation flickering across his face. Despite being restrained, despite the looming threat of being sealed, Madara spoke as though the war was still his to control. Naruto clenched his fists, anger bubbling inside him. To Naruto, Madara was already a defeated enemy, yet the man acted as though he was still pulling the strings.

"Why are you talking nonsense?" Naruto snapped, his frustration breaking through. "You're done, Madara! You're going to be sealed for good. Just wait and face your fate!"

But even as Naruto prepared to end things, far away from the battlefield, another surprising event was unfolding. Minato and Kakashi stood in stunned silence as Obito lay on the ground, his eyes filled with a rare, somber resolve. There was no trace of the manipulative villain they had battled for so long, only a man burdened with guilt and a crushing sense of responsibility.

Obito's voice was steady, but his words hit hard. "I've caused too much destruction, too many deaths because of this war." He paused, glancing between his former sensei and his once-best friend. "I've decided to use the Rinne Rebirth technique. I'll bring back all the ninjas who died in this war. That's the only way I can atone for what I've done."

Minato's eyes widened, and Kakashi's breath caught in his throat. They both knew the cost of such a technique—Obito's life. Kakashi's voice was heavy with emotion as he finally spoke. "Are you sure, Obito?"

Obito nodded slowly, his gaze distant as if already preparing for what lay ahead. "I'm sure. It's the only way to make things right."

As the weight of Obito's decision settled over them, Minato and Kakashi stood silently, knowing they couldn't stop him. This was his choice—his redemption.

Without wasting a word, Obito formed the necessary hand seals for the Rinne Rebirth technique. His expression was resolute—he had accepted his fate. This was how he would atone for the destruction he had caused. But just as the technique was about to activate, a dark presence emerged from beneath the earth.

Black Zetsu.

In an instant, Black Zetsu shot up, his shadowy form twisting as his five fingers pierced Obito's stomach, latching onto him with terrifying speed. Before Minato or Kakashi could even process what was happening—before they could move to stop it—Black Zetsu had fully merged with Obito, taking control of his body.

Obito's eyes widened in shock and horror as his body, once his own, was now a puppet for Black Zetsu's sinister will. The power of the Rinne Rebirth, meant to bring back the lives lost in the war, was no longer under Obito's control. Instead, Black Zetsu shifted the target of the technique. His true objective was revealed—Madara Uchiha.

Minato and Kakashi watched, helpless. Obito, who had sought redemption by offering his life to revive the fallen ninjas, was now being forced to bring Madara back to life and full strength instead.

Obito's body trembled as the life force drained from him, his own spirit struggling against Black Zetsu's control but unable to break free. The Rinne Rebirth technique was no longer his—it belonged to the will of Black Zetsu that had been manipulating events from the shadows all along. And as the technique neared its completion, Obito's life was slipping away.

Kakashi could barely contain his rage and sorrow, knowing that Obito's final act of redemption had been stolen from him. "Obito!" he shouted, but there was nothing more he could do. Black Zetsu had sealed Obito's fate.

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