Lin's disappearance

Obito felt as though he had been lost in a very long dream, one so real and so blissful. In it, he and Lin had lived happily together.

But when he woke, he found the loathsome Uchiha Itachi standing before him. Though the other man's expression looked somewhat odd, Obito still raised his right hand.

At this distance, Lightning Cutter was the perfect ninjutsu. Skipping the hand seals had weakened the lightning, but it made the attack far more sudden.

Yet despite being within arm's reach, Uchiha Itachi seemed prepared. An instant before Obito struck him, he transformed into a flock of crows.

All Obito was left with was a black feather or two. He hadn't managed to hurt Uchiha Itachi in the slightest.

He didn't know why Uchiha Itachi had anticipated his awakening yet still dared to approach him, but this was a perfect opportunity. His opponent had exposed himself, and Obito had to kill him in a single strike.

When Lightning Cutter failed, Obito turned to Wood Release. Wooden spikes shot toward the crows Uchiha Itachi had scattered into, seeking to wipe them all out.

But Uchiha Itachi didn't let the crows fly far. He re-formed in midair, spat out a modest burst of flame, then threw his shuriken.

The shuriken passed through the flames and lit up the sky like a shower of blossoms. This was the genuine Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, executed with practiced ease by Uchiha Itachi. It intercepted every wooden spike and burned them all to ash.

Unless Wood Release was thoroughly destroyed, it could sprout again at any moment and become a fresh problem.

Uchiha Itachi, however, had remained in Obito's sight the entire time. He seemed to have no intention of hiding again, either. Blood suddenly trickled from the corner of