If I Get Captured, Pull Out His Oxygen Tube! (New Book-Please Add It to Your Favorites and Recommend It!)

Yamanaka Masato led his unit to intercept the Iwa Ninja, while Uchiha Kei led Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta in a breakout to rescue Kakashi. That was the plan they settled on.

However, Uchiha Kei noticed that Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta seemed to have some objections to his decision. Neither of them spoke up right away.

It was clear that the two of them still didn't trust Uchiha Kei. After all, they were the same kind of people—they wouldn't trust someone like him.

Still, they had to give Uchiha Kei's judgment serious consideration. He had figured out the true nature of the mission before they even set out, and the judgment of someone like him was vital to their survival.

Soon, the group caught up. Under Yamanaka Masato's lead, the Konoha Ninja struck first, launching an attack on the Iwa Ninja.

Although the Iwa Ninja were in a hurry and seemed somewhat careless, they hadn't let their guard down completely.

The sudden attack cost them one or two men, but their counterattack was fierce and effective. In the blink of an eye, the Konoha Ninja and the Iwa Ninja were locked in battle.

Taking advantage of the moment, Uchiha Kei immediately set off, circling around the main battlefield and racing toward Kakashi and the others.

"Why did you choose this mission?" Once they were some distance from the main group, Hyuga Aya asked outright. "Things aren't looking good for Kakashi's team at all."

"Is that so? How many Iwa Ninja are heading their way?" Uchiha Kei didn't answer her question right away. Instead, he asked about the situation.

"More than ten—almost twenty—are heading in his direction," Hyuga Aya replied. "And Uchiha Obito has been buried under the rocks. He's still alive, but his life force is extremely weak. Only Kakashi and Nohara Rin are left. Namikaze Minato's whereabouts are still unknown."

"Good. Let's pick up the pace." Uchiha Kei nodded, then sped up even more.

His move left Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta staring at him in a daze. Was he really going to rescue them?

Hadn't he heard how many enemies were over there?

To be honest, they were all grasshoppers on the same rope. No matter how much they disliked one another—or how much they sometimes wanted to fight—each of them knew too much about the others.

If one of them died, the rest would be implicated and investigated. With no other choice, they had to cooperate and help one another.

"Shouldn't we hide?" Hyuga Aya frowned. "We're all tied together. If one of us gets into trouble, the rest of us won't last long either!"

"I think we should be more cautious, Captain," Imai Kenta added.

"Idiots." Uchiha Kei gave a disdainful laugh. "Do you remember what that Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and his brother said about Namikaze Minato on the Kumogakure battlefield? And what Ninjutsu is Namikaze Minato best at? A shinobi like him—if he's on the front lines..."

"You think he went to support the main battlefield?" Hyuga Aya wasn't stupid. She immediately caught on. "The Flying Thunder God Technique can reach that far?"

Uchiha Kei had no idea how to answer that, but the Flying Thunder God Technique's range was far greater than anyone could imagine!

He remembered that during the Fourth Shinobi World War, the former Hokage's guards had used an incomplete version of the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport the Kage.

And the Fourth Hokage would later transport the enormous Nine-Tails from Konoha to a spot outside the village.

So there was no need to worry about the distance. Unless something unexpected happened, Namikaze Minato should be back soon.

"You're taking a gamble." Hyuga Aya thought it over before speaking gravely. "You have no idea what's happening on the main battlefield right now."

"I am taking a gamble. I'm also betting that Namikaze Minato cares enough about his students to come back for them." Uchiha Kei spoke quietly as he ran. "Don't forget, Obito's an Uchiha, and Kakashi's a Hatake."

"But the Konoha White Fang is gone, and Obito doesn't have a Sharingan, just like you." Hyuga Aya looked at Uchiha Kei as if he were an idiot, but the next moment, her expression changed. "How can this be...?"

With her Byakugan, Hyuga Aya could clearly see that Kakashi's left eye contained the same chakra. It was obvious that the eye didn't belong to Kakashi!

Had Uchiha Obito awakened his Sharingan?

How was that possible? And why was it in Kakashi's eye?

Hyuga Aya also noticed a strange Kunai on Kakashi's body—that Kunai...

"I think I understand what you mean now."

Hyuga Aya nodded. "Kakashi has Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God mark on him. I think that as soon as he channels chakra into it, Namikaze Minato will notice. But how did you know Uchiha Obito would awaken his Sharingan?"

"I'm an Uchiha too." Uchiha Kei gave a disdainful laugh. "The way the Sharingan awakens is rather extreme. Even Lord Hokage must know that. How could I not? Hurry up. There's probably nowhere safer than being beside Namikaze Minato."

"That's true, but if you know how the Sharingan awakens, why are you still like this?"

"Yeah, Captain. If you had a Sharingan, things might be easier for us, too."

"Shut up."

Uchiha Kei had no intention of answering either of them. He couldn't exactly tell them, I've had a Sharingan for ages. I just don't dare use it.

They were smart, but Uchiha Kei didn't believe they knew about the deep-rooted problems between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.

If Uchiha Kei told them that in a few years, only Uchiha Sasuke would be left of the Uchiha Clan and everyone else would be dead, they'd surely think he was crazy.

They continued on in silence. With Hyuga Aya reporting what lay ahead, Uchiha Kei and the others didn't worry about running into trouble.

But as they drew closer, they could hear a piercing shriek.

Uchiha Kei could tell it was definitely the sound of Chidori. He didn't need Hyuga Aya to check; he already knew the Iwa Ninja's main force had found them.

He signaled to Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta, and they immediately drew their weapons.

If they were going to rescue them, they had to do it properly. Their goal was to strike the enemy while avoiding fatal injuries themselves.

At the very least, they could hold off the enemy until Namikaze Minato arrived—or lead Kakashi and the others in a retreat.

The second option was far more dangerous, though, and Uchiha Kei wasn't considering it. He'd only said that to Yamanaka Masato as a joke.

Let's get this over with quickly, Uchiha Kei thought to himself. But if Madara captures me too, should I pull out his oxygen tube?