Sneak Attack

Kaguya's mind trembled, her pupils contracted, and she suddenly turned her head. When she saw the person in front of her, her eyes narrowed and she said in a deep voice, "Why are you here?"

The person in front of her was thin, wearing an orange spiral mask and a cloak embroidered with red clouds—the uniform of the Akatsuki. It was none other than Uchiha Obito.

"Why can't I be here?" Obito approached, examining the purple chakra emanating from the Dragon Veins and said in admiration, "I didn't expect such a powerful force here. This must be the reason you came."

"It's just as well that you're here," Kaguya ignored Obito's question and said coldly, "I was planning to deal with you, and now you've come to me."

"Oh?" Obito said mockingly, "Then why aren't you moving now? Here I am."

"Obito, it seems you don't understand the extent of Mother's power," Black Zetsu said with a twisted smile and a hoarse voice, "You still have time to leave."

"Mother?" Obito looked curiously at the beautiful girl in front of him. "Interesting. I didn't expect such a deep secret and relationship."

"For the sake of our past as Akatsuki comrades, I won't kill you this time," Kaguya's eyes flashed with a cold light, "But next time..."

"You don't need to bluff," Obito interrupted Kaguya, snorting, "You can't kill me now. If you try to leave recklessly, you'll be attacked by the Dragon Veins, right?"

"Then come and try," Kaguya said, her face like water.

"If that's the case, let's see," Obito said, pulling out a sharp iron rod. With a step, he dashed towards Kaguya like a ghost.

"Naive," Kaguya's eyes narrowed. She raised her white arm and aimed at the charging Obito. Chakra gathered in her palm, and an invisible force burst out, distorting the space slightly.

Obito was struck hard, his chest caved in, and he flew back like a cannonball, crashing into a distant wall. With a loud bang, stones scattered, and dust filled the air.

The tower shook slightly, dust falling from the ceiling, making people worry it might collapse.

Perhaps due to the enhancement from the Dragon Veins chakra, the power of Kaguya's repulsion had significantly increased.

"How is this possible?" Obito crawled out from the pile of rubble, looking uncertain. His mask was half shattered, revealing his Rinnegan.

"What are you surprised about? Surprised that I can hit you, or surprised that I can move freely?" Kaguya smiled mockingly, "You underestimated me."

"Just hitting me is no big deal, little girl," Obito snorted, "The Fourth Great Ninja War is about to begin. Then you'll know what real power is."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange spiritual force emanated from Obito's eye. The space around him began to distort, and his body was gradually absorbed into it.

Seeing Obito leave, Kaguya let out a sigh of relief, a trickle of blood running down the corner of her mouth.

"Mother, are you alright?" Black Zetsu asked with concern.

"It's nothing," Kaguya replied, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Hurry and absorb the chakra here."

Kaguya's condition was far from as light as she made it seem. The forceful use of chakra had severely damaged her body. The Dragon Veins' chakra was rampaging wildly within her, causing significant damage to her meridians. However, these injuries were minor compared to the main issue—the negative energy from the Dragon Veins had invaded her body.

If she took off her clothes, she would see that the skin over her heart had turned an eerie shade of purple, spreading at a visible rate. After using chakra, the purple had already reached her neck.

Kaguya felt a bone-chilling cold throughout her body, her limbs trembling slightly, her lips quivering involuntarily. Yet she gritted her teeth and persevered.

"Do you think I would fall for that?"

As Kaguya concentrated on absorbing chakra, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Kaguya's entire body shuddered, her pupils contracting sharply. As she turned, a sharp iron rod was already inches from her, its reflection clear in her wide eyes.

Obito had never believed Kaguya's words. He had been waiting for this moment, striking when Kaguya least expected it.

Seeing the iron rod aiming for her left chest, Kaguya wanted to resist but found it futile. Her body, overwhelmed by the negative energy, was frozen; she couldn't even lift a finger.

Just as despair began to set in, a black figure appeared in front of her, blocking the incoming rod.

Blood splattered.

A few warm drops landed on her face, and it took Kaguya a moment to realize it was blood.

"I won't let you..." Black Zetsu, blood trickling from his mouth, said in a hoarse voice, "...harm Mother."

"Zetsu?"

The figure shielding her was none other than Black Zetsu.

The iron rod had pierced through him, its sharp tip protruding from his body, blood flowing down the rod. This was not the most critical issue; the Dragon Veins' chakra, mixed with negative energy, surged into Black Zetsu's body, tearing it apart bit by bit.

Kaguya's eyes widened slowly, unable to believe that Black Zetsu had taken the fatal blow for her.

"Why did you do this?" Kaguya asked with difficulty.

"Because you..." Black Zetsu managed a faint smile, "...are my mother."

Kaguya's heart trembled upon hearing this, feeling as if a heavy hammer had struck her chest. She felt a blockage in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.