Shindai was trying to suck out the Iron Sand Sphere.
After several attempts, Shindai gave up. "The enemy must have fixed the Iron Sand Sphere in place. I can't pull it out."
Kakashi noticed Hikaru emerging from the cave and warned, "Someone's coming out! Get ready for battle!"
Shindai thought for a moment before saying to Kakashi and Obito, "You two handle that Jonin. I'll find a way to rescue Rin."
Kakashi frowned and asked, "You're going inside?"
Shindai took a deep breath and replied, "No way! Whoever goes inside is an idiot. Don't worry, I've got this! I still have plenty of options."
Hikaru was already charging toward them. Kakashi immediately drew his White Fang short blade, blocking Hikaru's dual blades.
"Obito!"
Obito threw several Kunai at Hikaru from the side, forcing him to retreat and dodge.
"Shindai, she's all yours!"
After saying this to Shindai, Kakashi joined Obito in attacking Hikaru.
Shindai landed on the ground from the tree trunk and began forming hand seals.
[Magnet Release: Iron Sand Body Wave Surge!]
Using magnetic force, Shindai manipulated the iron sand beneath the ground, causing it to erupt like a wave heading toward the cave.
Since Rin Nohara was currently protected by the Iron Sand Sphere, Shindai planned to fill the entire cave with iron sand, then retrieve the sphere protecting Rin.
This way, he could avoid the danger of entering the cave and triggering traps while safely rescuing Rin. Then he only needed to keep an eye on Obito, which should not pose any problems.
On the other side, Obito and Kakashi were locked in fierce battle with Hikaru.
Right now, Hikaru felt somewhat overwhelmed. How come these two brats are so strong? Not only are they powerful, but they also fight together really well.
Every time Hikaru tried to use Earth Release techniques, Kakashi would interrupt him, followed immediately by Obito using Fire Release techniques. He barely had time to catch his breath.
Now, forget about luring this guy with the pompadour hairstyle into the cave—he might be in danger himself.
Just as Hikaru lost focus for a moment, Kakashi seized the opportunity.
Kakashi launched an upper kick directly into Hikaru's chin, sending him flying into the air.
Obito leapt high above and formed hand seals.
[Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique!]
Obito exhaled four fire dragons from his mouth, attacking Hikaru simultaneously from front, back, left, and right.
Unable to change position midair, Hikaru blocked the fire dragons from the front and left, but could do nothing about the ones from his right and rear, taking direct hits.
The flames hit Hikaru's right arm and back, burning him badly and causing excruciating pain, making his face contort in agony.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was already waiting where Hikaru was about to land.
[Chidori!]
Electricity surged around Kakashi's right hand.
Hikaru gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as the blade in his left hand swung toward Kakashi.
Kakashi blocked the blade with his White Fang short blade. [Chidori], aimed directly at the chest, pierced through Hikaru's torso.
Under the coordination of Kakashi and Obito, Hikaru was easily and effortlessly defeated.
Meanwhile, Shindai's Iron Sand had filled the entire cave. The Iron Sand Sphere protecting Rin Nohara then floated out along the stream of iron sand.
Shindai released the Iron Sand Sphere, allowing Rin Nohara to emerge unharmed. However, after rolling around inside the sphere, she felt a little dizzy.
"Rin!"
Seeing Rin Nohara safe and sound, Obito was overjoyed and ran toward her.
Under his mask, Kakashi also revealed a smile. After sheathing his White Fang short blade, he walked toward Shindai and Rin.
Unnoticed by everyone, the two blades strapped to Hikaru's wrists floated upward.
These two blades were picked up by Black Zetsu, who was hidden using Taiseki's [Ninjutsu: Camouflage Hiding].
Black Zetsu's target wasn't Rin Nohara; he could let Shindai and the others rescue her if they wanted—after all, his only target was Obito.
Black Zetsu aimed for Obito's back while he was running toward Rin, and Shindai's flank—these were exactly the blind spots of both Obito and Shindai.
Black Zetsu planned to severely injure Obito and then take him away unnoticed.
The reason he targeted Shindai was because Shindai had been closely watching Obito the whole time, making it likely that Shindai would interfere.
Kakashi and Rin Nohara were now already off guard; there was no need to worry about them.
Black Zetsu suddenly threw the two blades fiercely toward Obito and Shindai.
Since Shindai had been watching Obito the entire time, when he noticed the incoming blades heading toward himself and Obito, it was already an extremely urgent moment with very little reaction time.
Shindai raised his right arm, manipulating the pre-applied magnetism on Obito, forcefully flinging Obito away. At the same time, he activated the device on Obito's necklace, which ejected a Summoning Scroll. Iron Sand emerged and formed a protective sphere around Obito.
As for the other blade, since Shindai had raised his right arm, it pierced directly into his right armpit.
This sudden turn of events stunned Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and even Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu gawked in horror as Shindai coughed up a large amount of blood and collapsed onto the ground.
Have you lost it?!
Given two choices, he chose to save someone else instead of dodging himself?
"Darn it! I underestimated him!"
An enraged Kakashi formed a hand seal and once again concentrated his [Chidori], charging furiously toward Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu intended to use [Ninjutsu: Camouflage Hiding] to vanish again. Whether Shindai lived or died was uncertain, but either way, he wouldn't be able to interfere anymore.
Therefore, as long as he continued hiding and waited for Obito to emerge from the Iron Sand Sphere, there remained a high chance of severely wounding and capturing him.
However, Taiseki's Ninjutsu: Camouflage Hiding was not an instant technique—it needed time to activate.
Kakashi lunged toward Black Zetsu at blinding speed. Although Taiseki, now controlled by Black Zetsu, was partially invisible, Kakashi's Sharingan still traced his faint silhouette. Kakashi's Chidori-charged hand pierced straight through Taiseki's heart.
Black Zetsu gnashed his teeth in rage. This invisibility technique worked seamlessly with his ability to mask his presence.
Without Taiseki, Black Zetsu—lacking a physical body—needed to infiltrate another host to remain mobile. Yet none of the others matched Taiseki's compatibility. The task of ambushing, seriously wounding, and capturing Obito had become far more difficult—and risked exposing his existence.
His plan had barely begun, so exposing himself was absolutely unacceptable.
If he were accidentally revealed and drawn into confrontation, it would bring serious trouble upon Black Zetsu.
After all, Madara Uchiha always had backup strategies. At worst, Black Zetsu might face a few sarcastic remarks from Madara. It simply wasn't worth gambling with such a dangerous risk.
Moreover, Black Zetsu saw nothing remarkable about Obito—he appeared utterly ordinary and unimpressive.
Black Zetsu mused that Madara must have gone senile to regard Obito as talented.
With this thought, Black Zetsu decided to abandon Obito.
Black Zetsu transformed back into a dark, slimy, mud-like substance, dripped down from Taiseki's pants to the ground, then seeped into the soil and vanished.
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