Tōka left the cave where Uchiha Madara was and returned to the surface, but Black Zetsu had no intention of taking him back.
"See that way? Keep going, and you'll find your former companions." Black Zetsu curled his lips into a sinister smile, his soybean-sized eyes gleaming with an inexplicable light.
Tōka narrowed his eyes, gave him a faint glance, then darted away.
Anyone with half a brain could tell that Black Zetsu had led a large group of Iwagakure ninja to where Minato's team had been resting.
Otherwise, Tōka had no explanation for why he had been gone for so long.
As he approached the marsh where they had rested, a thick stench of blood hit him head-on, and Tōka's pupils contracted.
Not far ahead in the swamp, a corpse lay face-down in the water, its blood staining the filthy water around it red.
The algae all around rippled continuously, as though something were swimming beneath them.
"Crocodiles?" Tōka's scalp tingled. They posed no threat to him, but seeing them still made his skin crawl.
As a seasoned shut-in, where would he normally ever see such ugly creatures?
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two finger bones shot through the air and plunged straight beneath the algae. The crocodiles that surfaced were struck instantly, turning into a pile of paper scraps.
Tōka's figure flashed past as he crossed the swamp and arrived directly at the spot they had previously guarded.
Just as expected, that bastard Black Zetsu!
Tōka frowned. The footprints nearby were a complete mess—large and small, deep and shallow. At least two four-man squads had approached.
"I wonder how Kakashi and Obito are doing."
The thought flashed through his mind, and Tōka immediately headed toward Obito's position. He knew that if danger arose, Kakashi would be the first to move toward Obito.
It was not because Kakashi had a better relationship with Obito or cared more about him. Compared to Obito, Kakashi simply trusted Tōka more.
A few hundred meters was no more than an instant's journey for a ninja.
When Tōka arrived at the place Obito had been guarding, the ground was littered with corpses. All of them had been devoured by crocodiles lurking beneath the algae, and not a single body remained intact.
However, the fragments of bone were larger, and the clothing did not belong to either Kakashi or Obito.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Tōka rapidly formed hand seals, gathering chakra and spreading it outward.
Chakra sensory technique activated...
A moment later, Tōka suddenly opened his eyes, surprise flashing through them.
"No one?"
Tōka's chakra sensory technique could cover a radius of one thousand meters without issue, but what was going on if there was no one nearby?
With a clap, Tōka formed another seal and gathered chakra again, unwilling to believe it.
"There really is no one..."
Had they withdrawn? Or been captured?
Tōka's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as he swept the area, searching for any hidden signal Kakashi and Obito might have left behind.
Unfortunately, he found no marks at all.
Suddenly!
A massive explosion erupted to the northwest. A terrifying mushroom cloud shot into the sky, its exaggerated shape resembling the dust thrown up by some enormous thing falling from the heavens.
"The direction of Kannabi Bridge?" Tōka's eyelid twitched. Could those three guys—no, could Minato Namikaze have blown up Kannabi Bridge all by himself?
Gulp...
Tōka swallowed in shock. That cheat was invincible!
"No, this isn't the time to marvel at it. If Kannabi Bridge was destroyed, Ōnoki will go insane!" The thought that flashed through Tōka's mind startled him. That guy might be an old fossil, but he was also a genuine Kage-level ninja.
"I need to get out of here quickly." Tōka hesitated for a moment before ultimately deciding to leave.
The corpses around him and the blood scent lingering in the air would attract even more crocodiles.
However, just as Tōka turned to sneak toward the Land of Rain, he caught sight of a mark from the corner of his eye.
"A mark left by Kakashi? The direction is..."
Tōka glanced along the direction of the signal, and ten thousand alpacas stampeded through his heart.
That was a military fortress built by Iwagakure around a fortified city in the Land of Grass!
The question was...
Go, or run?
Tōka's ink-black eyes flickered...
A short ninja moved swiftly through the forests of the Land of Grass. Strangely, he wore Konoha's leaf forehead protector, yet he was racing madly toward Iwagakure's military fortress.
Inside a secluded valley, Kakashi and Obito hid in a cave.
The two were panting heavily, their faces covered in dust and their clothes riddled with tears.
They exchanged a glance, and exhaustion showed in both their eyes.
"What do we do?" Obito asked. His voice had become somewhat unnatural. Even as a Chunin, he was still only an underage kid.
"There are a lot of Stone Ninja. No fewer than twenty." Kakashi was much calmer as he analyzed the situation coolly. "If Tōka were here, we might still have a chance."
Obito clenched his fists, concern flashing through his black eyes.
Although he usually disliked how Tōka acted cold all day and behaved far too mature for his age, Obito cherished his companions and did not want anything to happen to Tōka.
"Don't worry. Tōka is strong. Even I'm no match for him." Seeing Obito's worry, Kakashi smiled, with a trace of relief in his eyes.
Kakashi's words were meant to comfort Obito, but they were also meant for himself.
I hope you're all right...
Suddenly!
Just as the two worried about Tōka, a familiar presence abruptly appeared.
Before either could react, a teasing voice rang out.
"Oh? I didn't realize Obito cared about me so much!" A half-smile played at the corners of Tōka's mouth as he raised a brow at Obito, who was sitting on the ground and catching his breath.
At that, joy first appeared on both Kakashi and Obito's faces.
Then Obito's face darkened, and he awkwardly shouted, "Who—who would care about you?"
"I... I was just worried you'd been captured and would leak information."
"Yeah, that's right. That's all it was!"
Obito's blatant denial left Kakashi speechless. When they had been ambushed by the Stone Ninja, who had loudly insisted on finding Tōka before he would retreat?
Still, Kakashi did not expose Obito. Only, the sharpness in his gaze softened slightly.
Father, I think I've found the true meaning of protection that you spoke of!
Kakashi's throat moved as he pulled back his wandering thoughts and looked solemnly at Tōka. "What should we do next?"
Kakashi had not forgotten what Teacher Minato had specifically told him before leaving.
"Kakashi, although I put you in charge of the team, listen to Tōka's opinions more often. Don't treat him like a kid. That brat is sharp as hell!"
For a moment, both Kakashi and Obito in the cave fixed their eyes on Tōka's face.
One looked displeased, the other serious, but they shared one thing in common.
Expectant gazes, hoping Tōka had a good plan.
"The best thing we can do now is wait for Captain Minato to come back and rescue us." Tōka had been considering the question on his way here. They were being pursued and surrounded by Iwagakure's army of tens of thousands.
Even the Third Raikage, who could go head-to-head with the Eight-Tails, had died from exhaustion. Let alone three weaklings huddling together for warmth.
"What kind of plan is that?" Obito was the first to shout. Never mind whether they could wait for Teacher Minato's rescue—even if they could—
Obito still found it unacceptable. He was Obito of the Uchiha Clan, the future Hokage. How could he let someone else come rescue him?!
Kakashi pondered for a moment. Tōka's plan was conservative, but it was also feasible.
Compared to the three of them breaking out directly, holding their ground and awaiting rescue would clearly save more chakra.
The only question was whether they would be waiting for Teacher Minato—or more Stone Ninja.
"Earlier, I saw a huge mushroom cloud to the northwest, within the Land of Earth. Captain Minato has most likely already destroyed Kannabi Bridge." Tōka paused.
Then he continued, "In fifteen minutes, we take care of the people outside."
"What? Teacher Minato completed the mission all by himself?" Obito's eyes widened. Shock, unwillingness, and anger twisted together in his expression.
But Kakashi focused on Tōka's latter words. "Fifteen minutes? Are you sure?"
There were no fewer than twenty Stone Ninja—at least five standard four-man squads.
In other words, five Jonin and fifteen Genin!
Putting aside whether they could win, fifteen minutes? Are you fucking kidding me? Kakashi glared at Tōka, his eyes seemingly able to speak.
Tōka understood the meaning in Kakashi's gaze, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Kakashi actually swore?
"Eh?! Tōka, what did you just say?" Only after hearing Kakashi did the slow-witted Obito realize what Tōka's second sentence had meant.
"You heard me right. We'll deal with these Stone Ninja in fifteen minutes, relocate somewhere safe, and wait for Captain Minato's rescue," Tōka said firmly.
"If we don't, we'll be surrounded by even more Stone Ninja. By then, we'll most likely all die before Captain Minato can reach us."
At that, Kakashi fell silent. Tōka's analysis was correct.
Based on the information they currently had, the next group of Stone Ninja would arrive in fifteen minutes at the earliest.
Suddenly!
"Hahaha..." A loud laugh jolted Kakashi out of his thoughts.
Obito sprang to his feet, puffed out his chest, planted his hands on his hips, and shouted, "Not bad! As expected of Tōka! It's exactly what I was thinking!"
Tōka, "..."
Kakashi, "Didn't you just ask me what we should do?"
Obito ignored Kakashi completely. He clenched both fists, his face filled with fighting spirit.
"I'm Uchiha Obito! The man who will become Hokage someday! You two follow behind me, and let's deal with those Stone Ninja who don't know their place!"
Huff... Tōka let out a long breath. What soaring morale—though it felt a little idiotic.
Better than having no fighting spirit, Kakashi said with his eyes.
Tōka curled his lip. He could only comfort himself with that.
Crack!
A visible crack suddenly appeared in the cave wall. The three tensed up and quickly gripped their weapons, going on alert.
Then more than ten unfamiliar presences rapidly approached.
"They're here!" Tōka narrowed his eyes and flashed into the shadows.
"Tō..." Obito had not even finished asking why Tōka was hiding when Kakashi covered his mouth. Kakashi leaned close to Obito's ear and whispered, "Tōka hasn't been exposed yet. Hiding in the dark is better for a surprise attack."
"The two of us will draw the enemy's attention in the open. As long as we take down the five Jonin, we'll have a chance to escape."
"So that's how it is!" Obito wore an expression of sudden realization.
Kakashi sighed softly and glanced at Obito, wondering whether he really understood or was merely pretending to.
Suddenly, murderous intent surged wildly through the air.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless sharp whistles tearing through the air rang out.
Then a dense barrage of kunai shot in through the cave entrance, leaving a blur of green in the air.
"Wind Release nature transformation?" Kakashi's pupils shrank sharply as chakra surged frantically into the White Fang short blade in his hand.
Crackle, crackle, crackle...
Lightning flash erupted as the White Fang short blade danced repeatedly.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
Kakashi deflected every kunai.
"S-so amazing!" Obito stared blankly at Kakashi, who looked as though he had divine aid, before blurting out in shock.
With a whoosh, a black shadow charged into the cave. The sharp kunai in his hand slashed through the air, and the force it generated carved a bottomless gash into the cave wall.
"Move!" Kakashi shouted as he rushed forward with the White Fang short blade in hand.
Clang!
Wind and lightning collided, producing a deafening boom.
"He blocked it?" Obito's face lit up as he prepared to rush over and help.
Suddenly!
Crack!
A crisp snap rang out!
A clearly visible crack appeared in the White Fang short blade. Then a green blur flashed by, and the Wind Release Stone Ninja's blade fell mercilessly.
Splash!
A spray of blood scattered before Obito's eyes.
A savage gleam flashed in the Wind Release Stone Ninja's eyes as he raised his leg and kicked Kakashi hard in the abdomen.
"Kakashi!" Obito's eyes nearly split apart as he charged forward.
I have to catch him. I have to catch him! A blood-red scarlet flashed in his black eyes. His vision seemed to grow clearer, and even the trajectory of Kakashi's flying body became unnaturally distinct.
Even Kakashi's movement appeared to slow greatly, as though Obito were watching a movie in slow motion.
Bang!
Kakashi's body slammed toward the stone wall, but at the most critical moment, Obito caught him in his arms. The two crashed hard into the wall together.
Obito gasped in pain, but spared Kakashi from a second impact.
"Kakashi! How are you?" Obito endured the pain and turned Kakashi over, only for his pupils to shrink sharply.
Kakashi's eye had a savage wound running across it, blood streaming down...
"Tch... You still have the time to worry about someone else? Die!" The Wind Release Stone Ninja appeared behind Obito and Kakashi like a ghost.
The blade empowered by Wind Release in his hand rose high...
Just as it came down, Tōka's figure drifted in like a phantom.
"Heh, you're right."
Splash!
A bone filled with a decayed aura pierced through the Wind Release Stone Ninja's chest, yet no viscera or flesh spilled from the wound.
"You still have the time to worry about someone else? You're already dead."
With a crack, Tōka snapped the All-Killing Ash Bones in his palm, and the Wind Release Stone Ninja's body turned into scraps of paper that fell to the ground.
...To be continued.
Before you continue