Since Rin Nohara was right beside Shindai, she immediately began treating his wounds.
Kakashi, who had just defeated Taiseki, ran over to Rin's side and anxiously asked, "Rin, how is Shindai?"
Rin's expression was extremely serious. "The blade went in deep and the bleeding was severe. Shindai's condition is critical—we must handle it urgently."
Suddenly, an explosion rang out. Obito used Fire Release to explode open the Iron Sand Sphere, burning his right hand in the process.
However, Obito ignored his injury, frantically searching for Shindai.
Seeing Shindai covered in blood with a blade still lodged under his right arm, Obito's face gradually turned fearful. His Sharingan eyes flew wide open.
Rin shouted at Obito, "Obito, don't just stand there! Come help quickly!"
But Obito couldn't hear anything right now. His vision seemed to be dyed entirely blood red.
Kakashi noticed that Obito hadn't moved from his spot. Just as he was about to speak, he spotted numerous Rock ninjas emerging from the nearby forest.
This was the Rock ninja unit sent to reinforce Demon Leech, Hikaru, and Taiseki.
"Obito! Prepare for battle!"
Kakashi formed his Chidori. Through the monocle over his left eye, he roughly estimated there were nearly twenty enemies approaching.
"A Rock ninja unit? This is troublesome. Hurry up and wake up for battle!"
Yet Obito remained motionless, lost in memories of everything he had experienced with Shindai.
Just as the Rock ninjas rushed forward together, Obito let out a sorrowful scream.
"Ahh!"
Two streaks of blood flowed down from the corners of Obito's eyes. His two-tomoe Sharingan instantly evolved into a three-tomoe Sharingan, and those three tomoe continuously spun, forming a unique pattern.
[Spinning Three-Tomoe Sharingan]
Obito turned and charged toward the Rock ninjas. A barrage of attacks from the enemy headed straight for him.
"Obito! Dodge quickly!"
But Obito showed no intention of dodging at all.
Kakashi's expression darkened. "What an idiot! Is he trying to get himself killed?"
Kakashi was some distance away from Obito and couldn't reach him in time to assist.
To Kakashi's disbelief, the Rock ninjas' attacks actually passed straight through Obito's body.
It wasn't just Kakashi who felt shocked—Shindai was just as stunned.
That's right, Shindai was completely unharmed.
If he could bestow magnetic properties onto Obito's body, wouldn't he naturally have them on himself too?
When the blade thrown by Black Zetsu was about to pierce him, Shindai subtly adjusted its trajectory using his magnetic ability.
The blade merely pierced through the fabric under his arm.
The skin was only slightly cut—just a scratch.
As for the blood he spat out earlier—it was just water dyed red.
Shindai did this solely to prevent Madara Uchiha from targeting him.
After all, he had openly ruined Madara's plan of taking Obito away. He might have even made an enemy of Madara. Though Madara was aged, he still had Black Zetsu, that cunning schemer, at his side.
Perhaps Madara would grow furious enough to command Black Zetsu to eliminate him.
Therefore, when Rin Nohara was preparing to save him, Shindai asked her to pretend he had sustained severe injuries.
Although Rin didn't understand why, she followed through.
When Kakashi arrived, Shindai gave him a knowing look, and Kakashi caught on immediately.
The one opponent Shindai absolutely dreaded facing was Black Zetsu.
Because Black Zetsu was brimming with treacherous schemes. Shindai felt that his straightforward nature wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Thus, Shindai decided to feign serious injury, hoping Madara would dismiss him as insignificant trash and leave him be.
But what sent a chill down Shindai's spine was what he saw just as he fell—after Kakashi pierced Taiseki with Chidori, a pile of black, slimy mud spilled out from inside Taiseki's pants leg.
Originally, Shindai had believed Taiseki was merely Madara's lackey or someone controlled by Madara's Sharingan—never expecting that Taiseki had been possessed by Black Zetsu.
Shindai had always assumed that Black Zetsu wouldn't reveal himself until after Obito had been manipulated into becoming Madara's successor. Yet Black Zetsu appeared far earlier than expected—and even took over a Rock ninja's body.
This realization terrified yet relieved Shindai. Fortunately, he had just pretended to die. Otherwise, having already ruined their plans, how desperately would this Black Zetsu scheme to kill him?
It seemed Black Zetsu valued Obito just as much as Madara did, prompting the master schemer to act in person.
Then again… he never imagined Obito would awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan because of him.
Since Shindai was pretending, Kakashi's earlier words—"Quickly, wake up and fight!"—were meant for Shindai, not Obito.
Initially, when Rin urged Obito to come help, she was also trying to tell Obito that Shindai was fine.
Suddenly, Shindai shivered.
Obito awakened his first Sharingan because of him—and now he had activated the Mangekyo Sharingan because of him too.
The condition for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan seemed to require intense negative emotions experienced by a member of the Uchiha clan—such as witnessing the death of a loved one—which then produced unique chakra.
A loved one… No way! Obito was supposed to be in love with Rin Nohara, right? Could it really be… him?!
"I'll make every last one of you perish alongside Shindai!"
[Fire Release: Explosive Gale Dance]
Obito combined the Doujutsu of his Mangekyo Sharingan with [Fire Release Techniques]. First, he used Kamui to twist the surrounding space and create a whirlwind, then released swirling flames from his mouth.
The vortex of wind and fire formed a massive rotating inferno, sweeping toward the Rock ninja with incredible speed and range.
Four Rock ninja were instantly consumed by the flames.
Shindai, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara stared with wide eyes at Obito's overwhelming display.
Rin bit her lip and turned to Shindai, who was staring with wide eyes: "If Obito finds out you were faking... he'll be really angry, right?"
Kakashi nodded firmly, "Definitely furious. I just saw Obito cry bloody tears because he was sad."
Shindai stiffly turned his neck toward Kakashi and Rin, "Well... since the atmosphere is already like this... should I die for real?"
Kakashi and Rin hesitated for a moment before awkwardly replying, "If you don't die... it'll be hard to wrap things up convincingly."
Seeing that Obito seemed to be in a desperate situation, Rin urged, "Hurry and go help Obito fight! He won't last much longer!"
Shindai and Kakashi glanced toward where Obito was fighting.
Because Obito had only recently awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan and wasn't yet skilled in its use, his eyes had reverted back to the Spinning Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Shindai roared loudly, "Obito! Don't be afraid! I'm coming to help you! Who dares hurt Obito, I'll kill them myself!"
When Obito heard Shindai's voice, he looked at him in disbelief.
Alive? Not dead? Why did he look... so full of life?
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