Chapter 231: Rinne Tensei!

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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"Black Zetsu!"

Obito's heart shook.

He hadn't expected Black Zetsu to appear at such a critical moment, and now, it was trying to wrest control of his body.

"Obito, you showed up just in time. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to find you."

At this moment, Obito's body was half white and half black.

Under Black Zetsu's control, he let out a dark laugh.

"You planned well—using Sasuke to get rid of Madara-sama's curse and then looking for the right opportunity to seize the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchūriki. But you made one mistake."

"You were against Madara... If he gave you something, he can easily take it back. Destroying your heart won't stop him."

"Don't... even... think about it!" Obito gritted his teeth, struggling to control his body and complete the seal to absorb the Ten-Tails.

"Damn it! Obito is still alive!"

After Naruto's warning, Jiraiya noticed Obito as well, his expression changing drastically.

"No! He's about to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki!"

Jiraiya prepared to rush over and stop him, but Colt grabbed his arm.

"Don't worry about the Ten-Tails. If I can deal with it once, I can do it again. But not now."

Colt noticed that Obito had appeared as he expected.

The reason Colt had Sasuke bring Kakashi was to use his Kamui to find Obito and retrieve the other Rinnegan.

Only with both Rinnegans could the Divine Tree's flower bloom in its most perfect form.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi cast then would fully liberate Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

"Isn't it too much for you? You fought Hashirama and Madara, then took down Orochimaru. It must've been exhausting."

Jiraiya thought he understood why Colt had stopped him and came to his own conclusions.

"You need to recover your chakra as soon as possible. Naruto and I will handle Obito."

Colt didn't reply, only glanced at Obito, half-black and half-white.

Then he slammed his hand onto the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Three coffins emerged from the earth.

"This is... the Impure World Reincarnation?"

Jiraiya was taken aback by the coffins.

'When did this kid learn that jutsu? And what does he intend to do?'

The coffins remained closed for the moment as Colt knelt down and placed his hand on one of them.

"Orochimaru, even though you only obtained one Rinnegan, you've learned a great deal of forbidden techniques, haven't you?"

Orochimaru nodded, though still uncertain about Colt's intentions.

"The Rinnegan reveals many secrets, doesn't it? Ninjutsu like the Demonic Statue Chains, Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals, and Rain Tiger at Will Technique are only the beginning."

"And more advanced abilities like Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, and even Chibaku Tensei—all gifts from the Rinnegan."

Orochimaru nodded once again.

Colt smiled, satisfied.

"I can offer you life, Orochimaru."

"You'll let me go?" Orochimaru perked up.

Colt stood, turning to Naruto and Jiraiya, both confused.

"As long as you help me perform a certain jutsu, I'll spare your life."

He was interrupted then.

"Colt, no! You can't let Orochimaru go that easily!"

Jiraiya tried to dissuade him.

Even with the bond he shared with Orochimaru, he had never imagined sparing him.

Orochimaru was an enemy of the whole world, it was far too late to forgive him.

How could Colt agree so easily?

The brief moment of joy on Orochimaru's face faded.

Something felt off.

"What jutsu do you want to learn? I'll teach you any I know." Orochimaru, terrified of death, was eager to cooperate.

"No need for you to teach me. Just help me perform it."

Colt laughed softly, rejecting the offer.

In the distance, Obito's newly formed seal had dissipated, replaced by another set of seals.

With a thought, the Torii Seal that had restrained Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama began to disintegrate.

Above the giant Buddha statue, Madara and Hashirama stirred, regaining their freedom as the torii gates scattered.

Hashirama still seemed confused, unsure why he was suddenly free.

He also noticed that the control from Impure World Reincarnation had weakened, allowing him to act of his own will.

"It's finally come to this," Madara muttered, ignoring Hashirama.

He leaped from the massive Buddha and ran toward Obito.

His heart raced, though his expression remained calm.

His eyes locked onto the struggle between Obito and Black Zetsu, and he paid no attention to the surrounding chaos.

He had accepted his defeat to Colt earlier, admitting he was the stronger one.

But being alive was a different matter altogether.

His peak combat ability had yet to be fully realized.

He would be the most perfect Jinchūriki.

Before he cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, he would face Colt one more time.

Colt clapped his hands together, summoning vines from the ground that bound Orochimaru, lifting him into the air.

"It's my hope that you survive this, Orochimaru."

In the entire ninja world, only Orochimaru valued the power of science and technology.

To some extent, he was a rare talent.

As Colt spoke, an invisible force manipulated Orochimaru's body, forcing his hands to form a seal.

Black Zetsu was a product of Yin-Yang Release. And it could control Obito.

Although not powerful, its essence was extraordinary. And there was no reason Colt couldn't do the same.

Today, for Colt, this technique was trivial.

"You...what...are...you...doing?" Orochimaru stammered, struggling as the seal formed against his will.

Jiraiya and Naruto realized something was wrong, but they were unsure of what to do.

Should they stop Colt?

No, Colt was one of them.

He had no reason to do something harmful to his allies.

But from the start, his actions had been strange, and this felt no different.

Naruto glanced at Jiraiya as they stood frozen in indecision.

"Naruto, that birthday present I mentioned? You'll see it soon." Colt muttered.

The Susanoo surrounded Colt, separating him from the others.

It was just a precaution, after all.

In the distance, the battle between Obito and Black Zetsu reached its climax.

Obito, desperate to maintain control of his body, had exhausted most of his chakra.

Gradually, Black Zetsu gained the upper hand, completely covering Obito, and forcing him to complete the jutsu.

At the same moment, Obito, Black Zetsu, Orochimaru, and Colt all murmured the name of the technique:

"Rinne Tensei!"