This... was impossible!
When had he...
Gotten behind me?!
The Iwa ninja's widened eyes slowly lowered, and the face twisted with terror and shock gradually stiffened as it sank from view.
"Splat!"
At that moment, a spray of blood burst from his chest, arcing through the air before splattering onto the ground and seeping into the soil, leaving a dark stain.
"Urgh..."
At the same time, the Iwa ninja's widened eyes abruptly opened even farther. His entire body went completely rigid, the light in his eyes rapidly fading. Before his gaze could fully lower, his head drooped.
Hirohiko!
Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito, standing opposite the Iwa ninja, all stared with slightly widened eyes at him—and at the boy behind him, whose eyes were cold and crimson.
Reflected in their eyes was the half of a Kunai protruding from the Iwa ninja's bleeding chest, gleaming with a black, icy light.
"Teacher Minato, Kakashi, are there any more enemies?"
Meeting their astonished gazes, the coldness in Hirohiko's eyes slowly faded as he spoke.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
As he spoke, a row of black, crow-like birds screeched as they flew up from behind him, disappearing into the mushroom-shaped canopy of branches in this vast primeval forest.
"No, there are no enemies nearby anymore!"
Hearing Hirohiko's question, Minato Namikaze swiftly recovered from his shock. He pressed one hand to the ground, sensed the surroundings for a moment, and replied.
When did this child get behind the Iwa ninja? I didn't even notice!
That thought surfaced in his mind.
Hirohiko...
At the same time, Kakashi, clutching the bleeding wound near his right shoulder and chest, narrowed his eyes slightly. Pain seemed to flicker across his face, but his gaze remained fixed on Hirohiko.
Hirohiko... Kakashi...
Off to the side, Obito looked from Kakashi