Chapter 267: Only the Path of Obito Remains


    Chapter 267: Only the Path of Obito Remains


    Hagoromo Gengetsu squatted beside Naruto''s corpse, looking at the face that remained defiant even in death, and remarked with some emotion:


    "Fate is unpredictable. Even the child of destiny cannot escape it."


    What a pity.


    He didn''t get to witness Naruto''s formidable "Talk no Jutsu."


    Hagoromo Gengetsu had really wanted to hear what Naruto would say, wondering if it might touch his heart and give him new insights.


    But he met the elder toad sage, who had heard too much and was numb to it all. The sage didn''t give Naruto the chance, ending his life with a swift, decisive backstab.


    "Is he really dead?"


    Hagoromo Gengetsu reached out to inspect the wound on Naruto''s chest. His heart was completely shattered. Even if Tsunade were here, there would be nothing she could do.


    "What about the Sage Symbol? I remember Mount Myoboku has a resurrection treasure. Could it have secretly kept one for Naruto?"


    Though the possibility was slim that the elder toad sage had used a ruse to let Naruto survive, Hagoromo Gengetsu carefully checked Naruto''s entire body.


    Until he was sure there was no Sage Symbol present.


    So, Naruto was truly, undeniably dead.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu cast a final glance at Naruto''s face, stood up, and ceased his futile efforts.


    He could save Naruto.


    For example, using the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.


    But this technique requires the life of the user as a price.


    In the original story, Nagato died immediately after using this technique.


    Obito managed to stay alive for a while because he had residual Six Paths power in him, had Black Zetsu attached to him, and received help from Naruto''s Yin-Yang power.


    But even he died eventually.


    Would he trade his life to save Naruto?


    Hagoromo Gengetsu wasn''t that crazy.


    Moreover, even if there were another harmless way to revive Naruto, the Nine-Tails inside him had already dissipated. His revival wouldn''t reconstitute the Nine-Tails.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu wouldn''t engage in such futile efforts.


    "This mission is a complete failure."


    Hagoromo Gengetsu surveyed the ruins of Mount Myoboku.


    Despite all the effort, the life-and-death battles, and the numerous close calls, he ended up empty-handed.


    The elder toad sage indeed did everything it could.


    But at most, it only delayed the inevitable.


    Hagoromo Gengetsu looked up at the moon hanging in the sky, quickly contemplating.


    Kisame filled in the gap left by Sasuke''s distraction and asked.


    "Nothing."


    Sasuke replied.


    But in his heart, he silently added:


    "Naruto..."


    Sasuke knew Hagoromo Gengetsu''s target was Naruto.


    Knowing that Jinchuriki wouldn''t be in immediate danger, he hadn''t said anything, intending to plead with Hagoromo later to spare Naruto, like he did with the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.


    Though they were on opposite sides now, Naruto still held a place in his heart.


    Even when blinded by hatred, he would have made this choice, let alone his current, transformed self.


    But...


    "Did something go wrong?"


    At Kisame''s next call, Sasuke pushed aside his thoughts, focused his gaze, and decided to quickly end the battle.


    Soon,


    The Eight-Tails roared in pain.


    Then, after seeing through Killer Bee''s Octopus Legs Substitution and another round of fighting, Sasuke and Kisame swiftly left with the unconscious Killer Bee before the Cloud Ninja reinforcements arrived.


    The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was successfully captured.


    At the same time,


    High above Sunagakure, a rare aerial battle was also concluding.


    Amid the explosions of the recently constructed flying tools piloted by the Sand Ninjas, Deidara used the village below as bait, forcing Gaara to divert part of his sand to defense, preventing the clay bombs from detonating.


    "Ninja Tool: Tailed Beast Prison!"


    The voice of Seimei, who had yet to appear, rang out.


    Gaara had no time to react as an iron prison fell from the sky, trapping him.


    In the next moment,


    Gaara found the chakra of Shukaku within him rapidly draining.


    Correspondingly, Seimei''s aura was steadily rising.


    Even though Gaara broke free of the prison with great effort,


    His chakra was too depleted to fend off the combined assault of Deidara and Seimei. Under the watchful eyes of the many Sand Ninjas, he was ultimately knocked out and taken away.


    The One-Tail Jinchuriki was successfully captured.


    As for the Two-Tails Jinchuriki,


    She encountered unexpected difficulties, similar to Hagoromo Gengetsu.