"All right, Obito, Black Zetsu—it's time for you two to go," Kazuki instructed carefully. "Remember: three years from now, if you sense no strange space-time fluctuations coming from the shinobi world, then try to return."

"Don't try to play heroes. I've told you before—saving the shinobi world doesn't hinge on the chakra of two kids like you."

Kazuki smiled faintly.

"Still, though I speak in a way that sounds pessimistic… I do believe I'll win!"

"As for the rest, we'll talk when we meet again…!"

Before Obito or Black Zetsu could say a word, Kazuki gave them a gentle push, sending the two of them into the rift of another space.

And the last image that strange couple saw—was Kazuki's warm smile as he waved to them.

"Hah… this way, Black Zetsu and Obito will also become part of the great formation, sincerely and wholeheartedly joining Susanoo itself…"

After sending them off, Kazuki gazed up at the turquoise sky and murmured to himself: "How could their chakra not matter? Even setting aside a pair of precious Eternal Mangekyō, the chakra—or even the life force—of a single genin, of an ordinary person, might be that last sliver that tips the balance…"

"Perhaps this is what they call the power of bonds."

Kazuki closed his eyes slightly, linking with the chakra within Senju Tobirama to check the development progress of the technique, making sure no structural flaws remained.

He had not lied to Black Zetsu or Obito.

When it came to the imminent threat of Myōshiki, and the far greater possibility of Ryōshiki hidden behind him, Kazuki indeed had no absolute certainty. He was straining every thought to prepare a way to respond.

That claim of victory had not been some casual declaration.

It was the determination to ensure that the living beings of the shinobi world would prevail in this life-and-death struggle.

...

Within the alternate space.

Obito, seeing Black Zetsu's joy already fading, stood stunned, feeling the chakra Kazuki had infused into his brow.

He had thought Kazuki only wanted him to look sharper, more impressive, when facing Uchiha Rin… he never expected this was actually the boarding pass Kazuki had prepared for him in advance—an ark to escape!

"No…"

Obito recalled every moment he had spent with Kazuki.

"No—I can't just abandon him in the shinobi world. The Ōtsutsuki clan is far stronger than I ever imagined!"

"Whether my chakra makes a difference or not, I will never stand by and watch Kazuki fight for the whole shinobi world while I hide behind him living in peace…"

He turned his gaze to Uchiha Rin's face, shut his eyes tightly, then snapped them open with sudden resolve. His voice was low and firm: "Rin… you have my Kamui's power. You hide first. Wait for me—when I help Kazuki defeat the damned Ōtsutsuki, I will come back for you!"

"No, Obito…"

Black Zetsu shook her head gently. The pattern of the Kamui Mangekyō surfaced within her beautiful eyes as she answered solemnly: "I'll go with you! We'll fight together and help Kazuki defeat the enemy!"

"You're right, Obito… Even though Kazuki doesn't need our power… we can't just sit back and watch him face the enemy alone."

Black Zetsu gripped Obito's hand tightly.

"This is a matter of attitude! Suppose—just suppose—that in Kazuki's battle against the pursuing Ōtsutsuki, the only thing missing is the chakra of the two of us?"

"He's done so much for us. As his friends, we can't just abandon him."

Obito, deeply moved, clasped Black Zetsu's hand in return and pulled it into an embrace.

"I knew you'd understand me!"

But after holding each other again, Obito frowned.

"Rin… I feel like it should just be me. If even Kazuki worries about these enemies, then they must be terrifyingly powerful."

"When the battle erupts, the shockwaves alone could be catastrophic. They might even hurt you…"

Black Zetsu gave a cold snort, and the pair of Kamui Mangekyō in its eyes suddenly flared with pupil power nearly equal to Uchiha Obito's.

"Who are you underestimating, Obito?!"

"I'm no longer that artificial creature of Yin–Yang Release and Hashirama cells. I'm a kunoichi who bears the name of Uchiha Rin!"

"You want me to hide away alone in another dimension, not knowing if you're alive or dead, like some deserter?"

"And what about you going head-to-head with the Ōtsutsuki pursuers—do you think that isn't dangerous? This is a battle for the shinobi world, for the future and peace of everyone. A shinobi who hasn't shed blood and sweat on this battlefield—how do they have the right to step into the new era Kazuki has created?"

Compared to the clumsy-tongued Obito, Black Zetsu was a natural at debate and persuasion. In this lifetime, aside from being toyed with and bewildered by Kazuki, it had never lost an argument to anyone else…

And when it came to fighting alongside Obito in order to support Kazuki—what Black Zetsu said and what it truly thought were more or less the same. But the key lay in its understanding of Kazuki: this "older brother" of his was the type that as long as you did things for him, he would never let you down in return…

To Black Zetsu, hiding away in the rear—even if Kazuki himself commanded it—was less safe than fighting desperately on the front lines for him.

Besides…

This might well be Kazuki's test for it as family!

"I really don't know how to thank him…" Obito muttered, staring blankly at the Mangekyō Sharingan in Black Zetsu's eyes, which brimmed with power. He let out a long sigh.

"With the enemy at our doorstep, for your sake and mine, Kazuki has already burned through so much chakra…"

Black Zetsu nodded silently, then spoke softly: "Obito, if you respect me—and respect me as Kazuki's friend—then stop saying anything else. Let's stand shoulder to shoulder and drive out the invading Ōtsutsuki together!"

"Respect you? Of course I respect you… Fighting by Rin's side—it doesn't get better than this…" Obito nodded quickly, then furrowed his brows again.

"But what should we do? Do we need to rally the whole shinobi world?"

Black Zetsu chuckled, then knocked Obito lightly on the head.

"Kazuki has already shaped the shinobi world into a single fist…"

"All we need to do is step forward openly, and show that we stand with him."

Black Zetsu let out a sigh.

"You and I—our bodies were both created by Kazuki… With that guy Senju Tobirama around, he'll definitely be able to see through it. There won't be any misunderstanding."

Although Black Zetsu didn't know exactly what kind of relationship existed between Senju Tobirama and Kazuki…

The simple fact that Tobirama had been able to dwell inside Kazuki for so long, that Kazuki himself had personally revived him and even granted him Uchiha power—just that alone was enough to make this man worthy of respect.

To have received such treatment…

Across the entire shinobi world, only four individuals could claim it: Black Zetsu itself, Obito, Kaguya, and Tobirama.

In Black Zetsu's eyes, Tobirama—who now held a central position within the Allied Shinobi Forces—was most likely Kazuki's representative, the one chosen to coordinate and consolidate the power of the various hidden villages.

There was no way Black Zetsu believed that Kazuki would ever entrust the long-divided shinobi, who hadn't united for a thousand years, to simply come together of their own will in the face of this looming threat.

If Kazuki were that naive, that careless—then he wouldn't be Kazuki at all.

There had to be an overseer keeping watch.

And Senju Tobirama was the one playing that role.

"Alright… I'll listen to you, Rin! Then let's set out right away!"

After "Uchiha Rin" had won the battle for resurrection, Obito's mind—which had briefly been sharpened by his darkened state—soon returned to its usual level.

Whatever Black Zetsu said, that was what was right…

Thus…

Having just arrived in this otherworld, Black Zetsu and Obito used the power of Kamui to return to the shinobi world, heading toward the main forces of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

With the two of them joining in…

The final missing piece of the shinobi alliance was in place.

Obito, after all, was a lifeform close to an Eternal Mangekyō. Added to that was Kamui, a dōjutsu that could make up for some of the mobility limitations of the ultimate Susanoo.

Although Kazuki had poured out some of his own chakra, in the end, once the grand formation was complete, once that final burning beyond the Eighth Gate was ignited, the chakra Obito and Black Zetsu had gained from Kazuki would be returned to him a hundredfold.

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