A Moment of Life and Death

"Guy, you must be alright!"

Nohara Rin's voice was choked with sobs as she flipped Guy's body over, which had been lying prone on the ground. His chest had caved in, and it was clear that several of his ribs had been shattered.

She gently pressed a hand against Guy's chest, feeling a slight sense of relief in her heart. She could feel a faint pulse beneath her palm; clearly, Guy's heart had not stopped.

Nohara Rin immediately began to perform medical ninjutsu, a soft, pale yellow chakra glowing on her palms to help repair the injuries to Guy's chest.

However, just as she began her treatment, the light before her eyes suddenly dimmed. Subconsciously, she looked up and saw a tall figure already standing before her. The person's cold, indifferent eyes were fixed directly upon her, creating a suffocating pressure that made it hard to breathe.

This figure was none other than Uesugi Shinji, the man who had just severely wounded Guy with a single blow.

"Rin!"

Seeing this, Kakashi and Obito shouted in unison. Their faces were filled with anxiety as they charged toward Uesugi Shinji at top speed. Shiranui Genma and Ebisu, standing to the side, did not hesitate to follow right behind Obito.

Kakashi's right hand suddenly flashed with a dazzling bolt of lightning, and the sound of hundreds, if not thousands, of birds chirping filled the ears of everyone present.

"Lightning Style: Chidori!"

Kakashi stared fixedly at Uesugi Shinji, his eyes baring his unmasked fury and killing intent. Under the enhancement of the Chidori ninjutsu, his body, sprinting at extreme speed, seemed to merge with the lightning itself!

"Hmm!?" Uesugi Shinji felt a flicker of surprise; at this moment, Kakashi's speed had far exceeded the movement speed achievable by the Nintaijutsu of an ordinary Jonin.

Without special training or some unique ability, the human eye could never adapt to such high-speed movement.

Just as Uesugi Shinji had analyzed, Kakashi's vision was currently a blur; he could barely see his enemy at all.

However, out of sheer concern for Nohara Rin and a desperate need to prevent her from falling victim to Uesugi Shinji's cruelty, Kakashi had been forced to use the Chidori, a technique he could not yet fully control. Even in the future, it was only through the powerful dynamic vision granted by his transplanted Sharingan that he would be able to easily master the speed of the Chidori and the Lightning Blade.

Like a streak of lightning passing through, Kakashi arrived before Uesugi Shinji in an instant. The Lightning Style chakra in his right hand thrust forward, aiming to pierce directly through Uesugi Shinji's body with this single strike.

Even if he couldn't wound the man, he had to at least force him back!

Regrettably, the trajectory of the attack—which even Kakashi, the user of the Chidori, could not fully control—was crystal clear in the eyes of Uesugi Shinji.

After all, he was a man capable of restraining the Yellow Flash!

Without retreating even half a step despite Kakashi's impressive offensive, Uesugi Shinji calmly reached out his left hand and grabbed Kakashi's right wrist with pinpoint precision as the boy thrust forward with the Chidori.

"Impossible!" Kakashi's eyes widened, filled with utter disbelief.

Before he could break free from Uesugi Shinji, Kakashi felt his body lifted uncontrollably into the air, and the next moment, the man slammed him violently into the ground!

With a loud boom, Kakashi crashed back-first into the earth, creating a shallow crater. He felt a sharp, agonizing pain radiate from his back throughout his entire body, as if every bone and limb had been struck by a heavy hammer.

A large mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, and the violent impact caused blood to seep from his eyes, nose, and ears, a truly gruesome sight to behold.

Kakashi struggled to remain conscious, wanting to react immediately, but both his dizzy brain and his battered body were no longer under his control.

Seeing the enemy's other hand rise high, the Wakizashi in his grip thrusting straight down toward him, Kakashi suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of calm.

Is it all over? Perhaps this is for the best.

In that moment, he thought of his father, the White Fang, who had committed suicide, and reflected on his own short career as a ninja, suddenly feeling that dying here might be a form of release.

Kakashi's Chidori sprint had been too fast, and his clash with Uesugi Shinji had lasted only the blink of an eye, leaving Obito and the others, who were also charging toward Uesugi Shinji, still some distance away. They were unable to provide support in time and could only watch helplessly as he was about to perish under Uesugi Shinji's Wakizashi.

However, while Obito and the others were too late to rescue Kakashi, one person acted in time. Ignoring the need to treat the severely wounded Guy, Nohara Rin immediately pulled out a Kunai and thrust it toward Uesugi Shinji's back.

Nohara Rin's attack lacked power, but Uesugi Shinji was merely flesh and blood—unlike non-humans like Senju Hashirama or Naruto who could tank various attacks—so he had no choice but to temporarily halt his strike against Kakashi.

Slightly shifting his body to avoid Nohara Rin's attack, Uesugi Shinji turned to counterattack by reflex, swinging the Wakizashi in his hand in a horizontal slash.

But when he saw that the attacker was Nohara Rin, the target he was meant to capture alive, he slightly pivoted his right hand to turn the back of the blade toward her, ensuring that even if it struck, it would not cause a fatal injury.

Yet, Uesugi Shinji's adjustment of the Wakizashi was so subtle that to Obito and the others, it looked exactly as if he were about to cut the delicate Nohara Rin in two.

Obito's eyes were bloodshot, and time seemed to stand still in his vision. The gentle smile that had always graced the face of the girl he loved had vanished; at this moment, all he could see was Nohara Rin's panicked, despairing face.

"NO!!!"

Bright red blood streamed from Obito's eyes, and a strange, crimson pattern suddenly manifested within his pupils!