Naruto: Reborn with the Template System

"It's fine. He still needs to continue serving as a spy inside Akatsuki. He helps us often because we use each other. When the time comes, he'll be dealt with."

Obito sat atop a high mountain, the wind brushing against his cloak. His voice, altered through chakra, still echoed with the deep tone of Uchiha Madara.

Even though the only person near him already knew his true identity, he didn't remove the mask. Nor did he speak in his original voice.

In his mind, Uchiha Obito no longer existed. The only one who remained was Uchiha Madara, the man determined to bring about the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

"Still… Guts's next move remains uncertain," Black Zetsu said grimly.

In truth, he was wary of Guts. Like Obito, he avoided direct confrontation with him. That was why Shisui had been sent alone.

Otherwise, how could someone as dangerous as Shisui, wielder of the Kotoamatsukami have escaped their surveillance?

"That man is indeed dangerous… but he's still just a 'human,'" Obito replied, standing up slowly.

"As long as we obtain the power of the Ten Tails, he won't pose a threat."

Though Guts had never revealed the full extent of his power, Obito speculated that even at his best, Guts might only rival the likes of Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama at their peak.

Formidable, yes, but nothing the Ten Tails couldn't surpass.

What Obito didn't realize was that even now facing the Ten Tails itself... Guts would still remain unshaken.

Regardless, until the Ten Tails was in his control, Obito wouldn't dare approach him.

Not even with Kamui.

At the battlefront…

A shockwave tore through the area, forcing Shisui, Hinata, and Hanabi to leap backward, feet skimming the ground as they slid to a halt amid clouds of dust.

Their eyes remained locked on the figure emerging from the center of the blast.

Without pause, Shisui formed hand seals at a speed nearly indistinguishable to the eye—on par with Itachi's.

"Fire Style — Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Roar—!!

A blazing dragon surged forth, roaring as it spiraled toward them.

Hinata immediately stepped in front of her sister, chakra surging into her fingertips as she spun, forming a protective barrier.

"Revolving Heaven!"

The flames struck the vortex and were absorbed into the spinning dome, redirected and dispersed.

Using the opening, Hanabi lunged forward. She leapt into the air, slender fingers swiftly forming hand seals.

Shisui's Sharingan followed her movements, but his pupils narrowed in confusion.

What kind of jutsu is that…?

As a high-ranking Uchiha with battlefield clearance, he'd witnessed nearly every known technique in the shinobi world.

But these seals… he'd never seen any of them.

It's not Fire, Water, Lightning—none of the five basic elements. The seals don't match anything standard.

His Sharingan attempted to analyze the technique and replicate it but it failed.

It's a Bloodline Limit…! he realized with a start.

"A new ability from the Hyuga clan?" he muttered.

"Tensu Wave Meteor Light!!"

Hanabi's voice echoed as she released a torrent of Yin-Yang chakra from her body, conjuring a storm of ethereal blue weapons that rained down like meteors.

From a distance, Guts observed silently.

Still not refined, he thought. That's the Yin-Yang ninjutsu used by the Ōtsutsuki on the moon…

An ancient technique, rumored to have been developed by Ōtsutsuki Hamura, the younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths.

It was Hanabi's strongest technique to date.

But at only 11 years old, she couldn't yet control it fully.

Still, the sheer power of it…

Boom!!!

The explosion shredded the battlefield, leaving deep craters and upturned earth in its wake.

"Did… did we get him!?" Hanabi asked, breathing heavily. Her chakra reserves were already dwindling.

Despite her unlocked potential through Hamura's legacy, her young body could only do so much.

"Unfortunately…"

Shisui's calm voice emerged from the smoke, startling the sisters.

As the dust cleared, a dark green skeletal ribcage stood firm around him... a protective layer of his Susanoo.

Crack—!

A faint fracture appeared in the ribcage, and Shisui frowned slightly.

"…Impressive strength," he muttered.

"Alright, Shisui, that's enough," Guts said as he approached.

This fight was never meant to be decisive. It was a chance—for Hinata and Hanabi to experience combat at the pinnacle of Kage-level.

And they had learned much.

But Guts wasn't about to let Shisui leave unscathed.

Cracking his knuckles, Guts smirked. "Still… you're not getting out of here completely untouched."

Shisui's expression froze.

"Come on, Sensei go easy on me…"

Bang! Bang! Bang—!!

The force of Guts's blows shattered the sky. Trees were leveled, the forest crushed by the aftershocks.

[Special Achievement Unlocked: "Sensei and Apprentice Reunion"

Template Character: Issei Hyoudou

Completion Rate: 18.28%]

Tch. Only a small gain, Guts thought, disappointed.

But for just one punch, the improvement wasn't bad.

"Let's go. Time to save Gaara," he said.

Hinata and Hanabi nodded, both exhausted but invigorated. Their brief clash with Shisui had taught them something vital—

Despite all their training, the world was still full of monsters.

Back in the cave…

Shisui's form reappeared through the Magic Shadow Technique.

Pain, monitoring him through the link, immediately noticed his battered condition.

"You're injured," he said flatly.

Shisui exhaled. "He's stronger than I imagined. But for the purpose of stalling… I'd say it was enough."

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