Thick fog enveloped the canyon, reducing visibility to less than a few meters.
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin stood back to back, their rapid breathing unusually clear in the silent mist.
"There are more and more of them!"
Obito clutched his still throbbing shoulder, his Two-Tomoe Sharingan slightly swirling, trying to catch a glimpse of the figure faintly visible in the mist.
"There were only a dozen or so just now, but it feels like they're everywhere!"
Kakashi gripped his short sword tightly, his expression extremely grave.
"Something's not right. Their chakra feels... very strange, and their coordination is completely haphazard, yet it seems endless."
His intuition was screaming a warning: this was no ordinary Kirigakure Pursuit Force.
Rin placed her hands, which glowed with the green light of medical chakra, on Obito's wounds, and said anxiously.
" Obito, don't move! Your wound is still bleeding!"
"There's no time!"
Kakashi gave a low shout and swung his sword sharply, slicing through several Senbon that shot out from the mist.
"Come with me! There's a Cave over there!"
The three fought and retreated, relying on Kakashi's quick wit and Obito's newly awakened Sharingan's limited predictive ability.
They struggled to dodge attacks coming from all directions.
The attacks consisted of Kunai, water bullets, and even the occasional bone spikes and ice crystals—a chaotic and unpredictable pattern.
But the pressure was mounting, as if Kirigakure had deployed an entire squadron of manpower to besiege the three Genin.
Finally, they stumbled into the narrow entrance of a Cave.
Kakashi quickly set up several simple Talisman at the cave entrance, knowing it wouldn't hold out for long, but at least it would buy him some time.
"Rin, quick, Obito stop the bleeding!"
Kakashi leaned against the cave wall, watching the entrance warily, his ears listening for any sounds outside.
Rin immediately focused her attention and did everything she could to treat Obito.
Under the green light, the wound on Obito's shoulder began to heal slowly.
" Kakashi..."
Obito was panting, his face pale from blood loss and pain.
"Thank you for earlier..."
He was referring to Kakashi not doubting him at a crucial moment, but instead cooperating with him to kill the Mist Ninja who launched the sneak attack.
Kakashi didn't turn around, but simply gave a faint "hmm," then his tone became extremely serious.
" Obito, Rin, listen, that ' Minato-sensei ' from earlier might not be real."
"What?!"
Lin's hand trembled, and the medical chakra almost stopped.
"Impossible!"
Obito even shouted it out directly.
"That's clearly Minato-sensei's look, his voice..."
"It's because they look so alike!"
Kakashi interrupted him, his tone urgent.
" Minato-sensei would never lead us into such an obvious trap without explaining the detailed plan."
Moreover, the way he left...
It's subtly different from the Flying Thunder God; I found it strange at the time, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Looking back now, it was probably an extremely sophisticated Transformation Jutsu or Genjutsu!
Obito and Rin looked at each other, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
As they recalled the details, it became clear that " Minato-sensei " was indeed less reassuringly attentive than usual.
There was a hint of barely perceptible impatience and...
Hollow?
But after Kakashi said that, the doubts suddenly became clear.
"Who... why did they impersonate Minato-sensei and deceive us?"
Lin's voice was filled with fear.
"I don't know. But the purpose is obvious: to lure us here and hand us over to Kirigakure."
Kakashi's eyes were cold.
"Someone who can perfectly imitate Minato-sensei has appeared near the village. Today it's Minato-sensei, tomorrow it might be Lord Chiyo!"
This is too dangerous! We must go back and report immediately!
"But outside..."
Obito looked towards the cave entrance; shadowy figures shrouded in mist suggested that an unknown number of enemies were surrounding it.
"We have no choice but to fight."
Kakashi gripped his sword tightly.
"I'll lead you out of here."
The instant he finished speaking...
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The trap Talisman at the cave entrance was triggered instantly, emitting several muffled sounds before being completely destroyed.
"Found you, you little mice of Konoha."
The leader of the Kirigakure Leader spoke with a mocking tone.
Immediately afterwards, no fewer than twenty figures surged into the narrow Cave, completely trapping the three inside.
What's even more chilling is that these later-appearing Mist Ninjas mostly had somewhat dull eyes, but their movements were exceptionally swift and ruthless.
"Take away that Medical Ninja. As for the other two, kill them."
The leader coldly gave the order.
"Don't even think about it!"
Kakashi snorted coldly and took the initiative to meet the attack. His sword flashed like snow, and he instantly became entangled in a battle with several Mist Ninja.
The confined space limited his speed, but it also meant that he only needed to face the enemy directly in front of him for the time being.
Obito also struggled to his feet, clumsily parrying attacks with the help of his Sharingan's perception, desperately protecting Rin behind him.
But there are too many enemies!
Moreover, some of them are clearly at the Jonin level!
" Lightning Release, Earth Run!"
Kakashi attempted to paralyze the enemy with Lightning Release, but the excessive chakra consumption resulted in minimal effect.
A Kirigakure from Kirigakure Jonin the opportunity and slashed Kakashi's parrying arm, the blow so deep that bone was visible!
Kakashi grunted, nearly dropping his short sword.
" Kakashi!"
Obito was distracted and looked away, only to find his back suddenly wide open.
"We succeeded!"
Another Kirigakure grinned maliciously, his Kunai aimed straight at Obito's back.
" Obito!!!"
Rin screamed and instinctively lunged forward to push Obito.
At this critical moment...
A massive, icy chakra instantly enveloped the entire Cave!
Time seemed to stand still.
All the Kirigakure Ninja froze for a moment, including the Kirigakure Jonin who was about to succeed.
In the next instant, an incredibly fast figure slashed into the battlefield like a black lightning bolt!
No one saw how she appeared.
Pfft!
The Kirigakure Jonin who attempted to assassinate Obito Kirigakure Jonin arm, which was holding Kunai, severed at the shoulder!
Blood spurted out, and before he could even scream, a precise shuriken pierced his chest, and he fell to the ground with his eyes wide open.
Only then did the figure become clear.
His hair was as black as ink, and he wore the dark blue, high-collared Uchiha Clan uniform, with an upright posture.
She had her back to Kakashi and the other two, and was facing a group of horrified Kirigakure Ninja.
What's most striking is the slowly rotating pattern in her eyes; it's not an ordinary Three Tomoe.
Instead, it's a more complex, more eerie, Four-Leaf Clover Mangekyo Sharingan that exudes a breathtaking Dōryoku!
"U... Mikoto Uchiha?!"
Kakashi recognized the person who had come and was utterly shocked.
He wasn't shocked by her appearance, but by the completely different, icy, and powerful aura emanating from her!
And those legendary eyes!
Mikoto didn't turn around; her cold gaze swept over the Kirigakure Ninja inside the cave.
His gaze lingered briefly, especially on those few ninjas with vacant stares.
A barely perceptible hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.
" Uchiha... Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
The leader of the Kirigakure Leader spoke in a hoarse voice, filled with fear.
"How did you get here?!"
"This is the Land of Fire, shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Mikoto's voice was calm, yet it carried an absolute sense of oppression.
"The methods of Kirigakure are becoming increasingly despicable."
"Attack together! Kill her!"
The leader suppressed his fear and roared.
He realized that Mikoto was alone and took a chance.
The remaining Kirigakure Ninja rushed forward simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of ninjutsu and ninja tools!
Mikoto didn't even Hand Seals.
Her Mangekyō Sharingan twitched slightly.
Her figure blurred instantly, moving like a ghost through the narrow Cave.
The Sharingan granted her extraordinary insight.
Every enemy's movement, the trajectory of every attack, even the next flow of chakra.
Everything was clearly presented to her eyes.
Kunai, Water Dragon Bullet, bone spikes...
She easily dodged all the attacks by the slightest margin.
Her movements were elegant and efficient; with each strike, a Kirigakure Ninja would inevitably fall.
They might be struck in a vital spot by a Kunai kunai, have their throat shattered by a seemingly effortless palm strike, or be burned to a crisp by a simple Fire Style.
She didn't even use any powerful ninjutsu.
With only the absolute advantage of Taijutsu, basic ninjutsu, and the Sharingan, they tore the Kirigakure Village's formation to shreds in an instant!
"Monster!"
The surviving Kirigakure were completely devastated.
This is not a battle, but a one-sided massacre!
Seeing that the situation was not good, the Kirigakure Leader turned around and tried to transform into a stream of water to escape.
"Trying to leave?"
Mikoto's left eye Mangekyō Sharingan, suddenly focused its vision!
" Amaterasu!"
A wisp of black flame silently ignited on the leader's body!
"Aaaaaah!"
A piercing, inhuman scream echoed through the Cave, and in just two or three seconds, he was reduced to ashes in extreme agony.
The Cave fell into a deathly silence.
Aside from the corpses lying on the ground, some of which were being burned by Black Flame, only Mikoto and the three stunned people behind her remained.
Mikoto slowly turned around, the Mangekyo in her eyes gradually fading, returning to ordinary black eyes, but her icy aura had not yet completely subsided.
She wiped the blood from the corner of her eye, glanced at the injured Kakashi and Obito, and finally her gaze fell on Rin.
"Is everything alright?"
Her tone softened somewhat, but it still carried an undeniable air of authority.
"No, it's nothing..."
Lin answered instinctively, her voice trembling slightly.
Obito had already fainted due to exhaustion, shock, and injuries.
Kakashi stood up with great effort, blood gushing from his arm, but he looked at Mikoto with a complicated expression.
"Lady Mikoto, you..."
"We'll discuss the specifics when we get back."
Mikoto interrupted him, quickly checked Obito's injuries, and confirmed that he was not in immediate danger.
"It's not safe here; there might be more pursuers than just these. Can we leave?"
Kakashi gritted his teeth and nodded.
Mikoto said no more, easily carrying the unconscious Obito on her back, and then said to Kakashi and Rin.
"Stay close to me."