"I..."
"I'm a piece of trash who once wanted to abandon you!"
Hearing Rin's confession, Kakashi, true to the original story, gave her a gentle but firm rejection.
Kakashi's words struck Rin's heart like a hammer blow. Her pupils trembled, her eyes flickering with pain and struggle. Kakashi's past abandonment had truly wounded her deeply.
"Ah..."
But Rin had no time to dwell on her pain. The moment she looked up, she realized they were surrounded by twelve Rock Ninja!
She gasped in shock.
"Damn! We're surrounded!"
Kakashi cursed under his breath as he surveyed the Rock Ninja closing in. His spirits sank further; he hadn't even noticed the enemy's encirclement. His body was growing dangerously weak.
"Don't move, and don't make a sound!" Kakashi instructed Rin, shielding her behind him. "When you hear my signal, be ready to run!" He glared warily at the surrounding Rock Ninja.
*Chichichi!*
Kakashi's hands flashed through a series of hand seals.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!*
The piercing cries of a thousand birds erupted from Kakashi's right hand once more. Lightning crackled, and the Chidori reformed in his palm.
"To still fight on in this state... You truly are a ninja who dares to infiltrate enemy territory!"
The Rock Ninja Leader stared in astonishment as Kakashi summoned the Chidori. Though the jutsu surprised him, his shock quickly melted into a cold smirk.
*So what if his ninjutsu is strong? He's just a kid—and alone at that!*
He completely dismissed Rin, recognizing her at a glance as merely a medical ninja with no combat ability.
"The first one to step forward dies! Even if I go down, I'll drag some of you with me!" Kakashi declared coldly, his gaze sweeping across the Rock Ninjas. He had conjured the Chidori primarily for defense, with no intention of attacking immediately.
*Stalling for time is paramount!*
As he spoke, Kakashi gripped the specially crafted kunai Minato Namikaze had given him in his left hand.
Sensing the resolute determination in Kakashi's words—a willingness to drag his enemies down with him even in death—the twelve Rock Ninja involuntarily flinched, clearly intimidated by Kakashi's resolve.
Seeing the Chidori crackling in Kakashi's hand, they knew he was absolutely capable of carrying out his threat.
"Kid, I advise you to surrender peacefully. We might spare your lives if you do!"
The Rock Ninja Leader's eyes flickered as he spoke, eager to avoid unnecessary casualties among his comrades. To him, Kakashi was just a brat whose resolve might not be as unwavering as it seemed. By offering a glimmer of hope for survival, he hoped to undermine Kakashi's fighting spirit.
Given Kakashi's injuries, weakening his morale would leave him vulnerable—an easy kill for the leader alone.
Silence.
Kakashi remained silent, creating the impression that he was considering the offer, planting seeds of doubt in his opponents' minds.
*Chirping, chirping, chirping!*
For a moment, the only sound in the forest was the incessant chirping of the Chidori in Kakashi's hand, radiating brilliant arcs of lightning.
*Heh, it worked!*
Kakashi smirked inwardly. By simply remaining silent, he could buy at least a few more precious minutes.
Kakashi himself didn't realize it, but the corners of his lips twitched upward in a barely perceptible, almost imperceptible smile. Because he was wearing his mask, however, the Rock Ninja Leader caught the fleeting expression.
"Damn! He's stalling for time!"
"Attack! Kill them all!"
Instantly understanding Kakashi's intentions, the Rock Ninja Leader roared the command to his forces.
"Rin! Run!"
Hearing the leader's words, Kakashi's carefully maintained calm shattered. He barked the order at Rin, taking a step forward and glaring fiercely at the twelve Rock Ninja.
*I have no choice but to fight!*
Kakashi thought grimly. He knew he had to give it his all. Even though he was certain Minato Namikaze would arrive eventually, he couldn't afford to let his guard down for even a moment. Facing twelve Rock Ninja Jonin alone, he would be dead long before Minato could arrive if he hesitated.
"Kakashi..."
Rin murmured, her eyes brimming with tears as she watched him shield her. Regardless of whether he had previously chosen to abandon her to complete the mission, she no longer held any resentment.
The tender affection in her eyes returned.
*Whoosh!*
Rin swiftly drew a kunai and, with a *whoosh*, stood beside Kakashi.
"If you're going to die, I'll die with you," she said softly, her voice ringing with resolute determination.
Kakashi's heart trembled at her words.
*Damn it! How could I have rejected her confession just now? My head must have been kicked by a pig!*
The Kakashi whose soul was no longer solely his own cursed inwardly.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!*
In an instant, Kakashi had no time for further thought as the Rock Ninja's attack materialized before him.
"Fire Release: Fireball Technique!"
The Rock Ninja Leader struck first, unleashing a massive fireball at Kakashi.
"Die!"
But facing the leader's fire jutsu, Kakashi roared, thrusting his Chidori directly into the fireball.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!*
The moment the Chidori struck the fireball, the flames the Rock Ninja Leader had just launched began to erode and dissipate. With terrifying speed, the Chidori pierced through the fireball and slammed into the Rock Ninja Leader, whose face was frozen in shock.
"H-how... is this possible...?"
The Rock Ninja Leader had been astonished by the Chidori in Kakashi's hand earlier, but he had underestimated its true power. Ultimately, the Rock Ninja Jonin still believed that a brat like Kakashi's ninjutsu couldn't possibly be that strong, and he had underestimated Kakashi!
"No—!"
*Chirping! Thwack!*
The Rock Ninja Jonin's eyes widened in horror as his scream abruptly cut off. His left hand, which he had used to protect his heart, had been pierced through, and Kakashi's Chidori had still struck his heart. Scalding blood gushed out, splattering across Kakashi's face!
"Kakashi...!"
Even as Kakashi killed the Rock Ninja Leader, Rin's panicked cry rang in his ears!
Despite their leader's death, the remaining Rock Ninja swarmed Kakashi, attacking relentlessly.
Yet Kakashi remained motionless, unresponsive.
*Damn it! My body won't move... and my chakra's completely drained!*
**End of Chapter**