While Haori was still rushing forward, lost in his own chaotic thoughts, Kakashi's situation had grown dire.
Obito's death had dealt him a crushing mental blow.
The strain of using the Sharingan—combined with repeatedly unleashing Chidori—had drained his chakra to its very limits.
Yet even so, he had no intention of stopping.
His hands flew through seals once more, crackling lightning surging into existence, accompanied by that familiar chirping sound as electric arcs danced across his palm.
Watching the Iwagakure ninja closing in from all directions, Kakashi had no idea where so many of them had come from.
Perhaps last night's explosion had put Iwa on high alert—but he didn't care anymore.
His eyes were unwavering.
He was prepared to die.
"Oh? Still showing this kind of fighting spirit at a time like this?
Not bad, considering you had the guts to sneak into our rear lines."
The Iwa reinforcements stared at the lightning in Kakashi's hand, listening to the Chidori's cry echoing through the forest.
The leader spoke in a mocking tone, but every one of them was deadly serious.
Even if there was only Kakashi and a single girl, they knew this squad was anything but ordinary.
Not to mention the jōnin and special jōnin who'd already been taken down—just thinking about last night's massive explosion was enough to make their scalps tingle.
"Kakashi…"
He was panting heavily now as he pulled out a specially made kunai with his left hand.
"Rin, I'll hold them off. You leave while you can."
"What—?"
Rin stared at him in disbelief, but before she could finish—
"Obito made me promise. So even if I die, I'll protect you."
"Kakashi…"
Rin tried to say something more, but the Iwa ninja had no interest in letting this conversation continue.
If Suma-shi were still alive, maybe he'd allow a bit of talking to set up an ambush.
But Suma-shi had already been blown to pieces in their own camp.
These ninja were seething with rage.
Their only thought was to eliminate these two brats—if they let them escape again, the humiliation would be complete.
"Move! Capture them if possible!"
With that command, the Iwa ninja surged forward.
"Run, Rin!"
Kakashi shouted, and in the next instant, he charged headlong into the enemy—completely disregarding his own life.
With the Sharingan active, his dynamic vision became terrifyingly sharp, and his control over his own movements improved dramatically.
Most importantly—
He could now handle Chidori in his left hand far more smoothly than before.
"Obito… is this the power you gave me?"
Kakashi murmured as his speed increased even further.
"So fast!"
"Stop him—watch out for that Lightning Release!"
Seeing Kakashi's sudden burst of speed, the Iwa ninja immediately changed tactics.
Kunai flew from all directions.
"I see them…"
Kakashi barely needed a glance to predict every trajectory.
His body twisted and shifted mid-charge, weaving through the storm of steel.
Under the Sharingan's heightened perception, every kunai was cleanly avoided.
"How is that possible?!"
"Look at his left eye—that's a Sharingan!"
The Iwa ninja finally realized what they were facing.
But it was already too late.
Trailing lightning, Kakashi had plunged straight into their formation.
—
High above, a single crow circled silently, observing everything below.
—
"What? It's that bad already?"
As Kakashi fought desperately, Haori's group was still racing toward the battlefield.
They had started from farther away and had to stay alert for enemy patrols while gathering information, so their pace was inevitably slower.
Still, there was an upside.
Through his crows, Aoba had already learned much about the situation ahead.
But after he explained it, Guy could barely restrain himself.
Kakashi had been his friend even before entering the Academy—and Kakashi's father had once inspired both Guy and his own father deeply.
He'd never forgotten that.
Now that Kakashi was in such danger, his heart was in turmoil.
If Haori hadn't yet given the order, Guy would've already sprinted ahead.
"Yeah… it's really not looking good."
Aoba nodded grimly, then added in a low voice,
"But Haori, I haven't spotted Jōnin Minato."
"That's normal,"
Haori replied casually.
"Minato's greatest strength is the Flying Thunder God. That gives him incredible mobility.
Iwa's going berserk right now, and the front lines still need him. He can't stay in the enemy's rear indefinitely.
To ensure the mission succeeds, I'm sure he left behind something that can summon him."
"I see… that makes sense."
Aoba nodded in understanding.
He couldn't help but think—working with Haori was just too comfortable.
Even when he could figure things out on his own, Haori was always a step ahead.
Haori really is someone you can trust.
"So what do we do now?"
Guy asked anxiously.
"Speed up."
After a brief thought, Haori gave the answer.
"Even if we're sure Minato will come, no one knows when.
This is far from the front lines, and Minato may be tied up with something else.
So before he arrives, we do everything we can to save Kakashi's team. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain!"
—
"AAAH!"
A shrill scream echoed through the forest as Kakashi coldly pulled his hand out of an Iwa ninja's chest.
But instead of pressing the attack, he stood there, gasping for breath.
Corpses littered the ground around him.
His own body was covered in wounds.
He was exhausted—utterly spent.
The first-time use of the Sharingan had drained him far more than he'd imagined, and the continuous use of Chidori had only made things worse.
"He's finished—attack!"
Though shaken by Kakashi's ferocity, the Iwa ninja could see his condition clearly.
They launched another assault.
"Is this… the end?"
Kakashi sighed inwardly as they charged again.
But the memory of his promise to Obito—and the thought of Rin behind him—made him grit his teeth and force himself upright.
"No… it's not over yet!"
He wasn't dead.
So he wouldn't give up.
Staring at the approaching enemy, Kakashi squeezed out the last remnants of his chakra.
Just as he was about to make a final, desperate stand—
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
From behind the Iwa ninja, a green figure burst onto the battlefield.
Like a raging gale, he tore through their ranks, sending several of them flying.
"Ninjutsu: Scattering Thousand Crows!"
In the next instant, smoke erupted and countless crows flooded the forest, spreading in all directions.
"Damn it—what is this?!"
The crows blocked their vision and stalled their advance.
Then—
A shadow moved within the flock.
As the crows parted, figures crossed, and a spray of blood blossomed in the air.
One strike.
Clean. Precise.
After finishing, the figure slowly turned around.
Backlit by the sun, surrounded by swirling crows, Kakashi couldn't see his face clearly.
But those crimson eyes—
They burned themselves deep into Kakashi's memory.
~~--------------------------------
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