Ensei Uchiha's Shadow Clone used the Transformation Jutsu to turn into a small bird and perched on Kakashi Hatake's shoulder.
Kakashi, meanwhile, could only follow the location given in the intelligence and make his way there alone.
"Ensei, the Transformation Jutsu doesn't use that much chakra, but you've kept it up for so long. Are you sure you're all right?"
After running for most of the day, Kakashi finally couldn't help asking.
The Transformation Jutsu was one of the most basic ninjutsu, yet it was actually the hardest to teach at the Ninja Academy.
Back in his previous life, when Ensei watched anime, he'd always thought the Clone Technique was the hardest, influenced by the protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. In reality, though, it was the easiest of the Three Basic Techniques.
The Clone Technique tested only one's chakra control, with relatively few demands on the outward appearance.
The Transformation Jutsu, on the other hand, required considering many more things.
First, you had to know every detail of the object you were transforming into, including its shape, weight, and even its scent.
Once you had all that clear, you also had to channel the chakra inside your body, cloak yourself in it, and transform without leaving any flaws.
Only then could you be said to have completed a basic Transformation Jutsu.
There was also a skill you had to master—one that wasn't quite a ninjutsu: the Observation Technique.
Every competent ninja, even one fresh out of the Ninja Academy, could memorize all kinds of traces around them in an instant.
Later, during a battle, even the smallest change in the surroundings would catch a ninja's attention.
When Ensei had learned these basic techniques, he'd spent a great deal of effort on them. In his experience, mastering the Three Basic Techniques was even harder than learning other, higher-level ninjutsu.
So when Kakashi asked, Ensei was immediately reminded of his own experience learning them.
"It's fine. I have plenty of chakra, so I don't mind wasting a little."
After casually brushing off Kakashi's concern with a couple of words, Ensei drifted off again.
He hadn't forgotten that this body was only a Shadow Clone. He'd better avoid tiring himself out if he could; otherwise, all that fatigue would be transferred back to his real body when the clone returned.
Hearing Ensei's answer, Kakashi's face showed a hint of envy.
Actually, he didn't have an especially small chakra reserve.
But because of his Sharingan, his chakra was constantly being drained, so he tried to avoid using large amounts whenever possible.
In his current condition, if he transformed into a small bird like Ensei and maintained the bird's proper weight, he probably wouldn't be able to keep it up for even a full day.
Yet Ensei seemed completely unaffected.
Kakashi shook his head, quietly committed this information to memory, and continued on.
A little over two days later, Kakashi—their mount—finally brought Ensei to Amegakure.
Kakashi knew that rain fell constantly in the Land of Rain, so he paid no mind to the fine drizzle overhead.
But Ensei knew that this was Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique, an extremely advanced sensory ninjutsu.
Ensei, still transformed into a small bird, jumped down from Kakashi's shoulder and returned to his original form.
"Kakashi, let's go greet the master of the Land of Rain!"
Ensei let the rain fall on his shoulders and spoke in an even tone.
At his words, Kakashi immediately went on guard. But no matter how carefully he looked, he couldn't find the slightest sign of an enemy. That only made him feel more uneasy.
Seeing Kakashi like this, Ensei shook his head and explained, "The enemy is still a long way away..."
"See this rain? It's a ninjutsu called the Rain Tiger at Will Technique. It can detect any spies who infiltrate Amegakure from every direction."
Ensei's words answered Kakashi's question, but they did nothing to ease his guard.
After all, to a ninja, launching an open attack and slipping in unnoticed were two entirely different situations.
"Ensei, should we retreat for now?"
At that moment, Kakashi felt as though danger surrounded them. It seemed that countless enemies might rush out at any second and surround them.
Never underestimate a ninja's resilience. The Third Raikage had once fought the Eight-Tails until both were completely exhausted, yet in the end, ten thousand Iwagakure Ninja had worn him down and killed him.
That showed just how badly outnumbered a ninja could be when surrounded.
"There's no need. Amegakure doesn't have many ninjas to spare these days."
"And..."
Ensei used a chakra technique to send the rest of his words straight into Kakashi's ear.
When Kakashi heard that the one who'd come with him was only a Shadow Clone, he felt as if his whole world had turned upside down.
Who came on a mission as a Shadow Clone? Wasn't that just throwing your teammate under the bus?
All kinds of guesses flooded his mind, but in the end, he could only accept it helplessly.
"If I die, can you destroy the Sharingan in my right eye?"
Kakashi looked at Ensei's calm face and suddenly asked.
Ensei was just about to answer when he noticed that the rain had stopped at some point.
In the distance, a figure with wings on its back flew toward them from the horizon.
Seeing this, Ensei took a palm-sized sealing scroll from his pocket and tossed it into the air.
With Ensei's single word, "Release," a familiar figure appeared in front of Kakashi.
"Rin..."
Kakashi's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"You bastard! What did you do to Rin?!"
Kakashi could barely control his emotions as he grabbed Ensei by the collar.
If he hadn't known that Ensei was a Shadow Clone, that clenched fist of his might already have come flying.
"Look closely! You're a ninja, for crying out loud. How can you have so little self-control?"
"Easy. If you make me disappear, you really will die here."
Ensei spoke calmly, finally bringing Kakashi back to his senses.
Only then did Kakashi notice that this "person," who looked exactly like Rin, had the Uchiha Clan's distinctive Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Obito Special Attack! Artificial Human—Rin Nohara Model!"
"Oh, sorry. I forgot this counts as a special attack against you, too. But as a teammate, it should be fine, right?"
"Don't worry. I've only borrowed Rin's appearance. If Rin knows from beyond the grave, she probably wouldn't mind her image continuing to serve Konoha."
Ensei spoke, completely ignoring the murderous look in Kakashi's eyes.
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