However, although very displeased, Obito did not let anger cloud his judgment. After realizing the opponent's goal, he signaled Nagato with a look. Nagato understood immediately and did not summon the jinchūriki who had replaced the Six Paths to join the fight.
Both Obito and Nagato were well aware of the Rinnegan's abilities. Although the opponent's Rinnegan looked somewhat different, the general capabilities were likely similar. Summoning the jinchūriki would probably just provide the enemy with chakra.
"This is truly heartbreaking. To think we are being looked down on by you lot who don't even look human or ghost-like."
"Heh heh, interesting. I didn't expect a native like you to have the guts to mock me. But let me first test whether you have the qualifications for that."
Facing Obito's sarcasm, the three in the sky indeed had their attention drawn. Among them, the one with a red fish basket at his waist summoned a fishing rod of the same color and launched the first attack.
"Heh heh, this thing, rather than calling it a weapon, feels more suited for amusing people."
"Hmph."
Facing the rapidly incoming attack, Obito still stood motionless in place. Even in the second before the fishing hook was about to pierce his body, he remained the same.
Seeing this, a trace of disdain flashed across Urashiki's face. In his current view, the opponent was just a boastful native who did not know the meaning of death. He had previously thought that someone standing together with the Rinnegan might have some real strength.
Take down this one first. Then, how to deal with that red-haired native next.
"Hm?"
Just as Urashiki was about to shift his attention to Nagato, he suddenly realized his attack did not feel like it had hit a solid body. The opponent's form felt as if it did not exist at all.
Realizing something was wrong, Urashiki immediately tried to retract the fishing hook. But at the same moment, Obito slightly shifted his body to the side, moving it out of the fishhook's range.
Then, accompanied by the frantic spinning of the Mangekyō, a vortex distorting space appeared. Without Obito making any contact at all, it absorbed the fishhook near him—along with the connected line—entirely into the Kamui dimension.
The reason for going to such lengths was that, since the opponent could use it, this strange weapon was surely not as simple as it appeared. After the previous battle with Furina, Obito had become even more cautious and would never risk his own body.
Judging from the ugly expression on that person's face now, this choice seemed to have been correct.
"You damned native, how dare you damage my weapon! I will definitely kill you!"
As he spoke, Urashiki took the fishing rod and closed in for hand-to-hand combat with Obito. But after only a few exchanges, Obito already felt something strange. It could not be said that the opponent was strong.
In his perception, the opponent's taijutsu might not be weak, but in terms of experience, it was not much better than a student who had just graduated from ninja academy. Yet precisely because of this, it made him feel odd.
Because when this "rookie" was about to fall for one of his carefully prepared surprise attacks, he would suddenly seem to transform into someone with incredibly rich experience, countering from angles that ordinary people could hardly imagine. The inconsistency back and forth made Obito almost think the opponent was toying with him.
However, this thought had barely appeared before Obito discarded it. The killing intent the opponent directed at him did not seem fake—he clearly wanted to kill him as quickly as possible.
But this strangeness did not last long. Soon he realized it was most likely due to some ability at play.
Because during the exchanges, he noticed that the opponent's pair of blue Rinnegan would occasionally switch to Byakugan. And this happened precisely every time he was preparing a hidden move that might injure the opponent.