Black Hand, Bitter Disappointment

The Land of Grass, the Kannabi Bridge.

Hidden in the distance, the Minato watched the Kakkou erupt on the bridge.

First, a watchtower at the south end of the bridge collapsed, a result of Choza's Multi-Size Technique. Then, the battle began, with various Ninjutsu flying everywhere.

Not long after, at the bottom of the bridge, a dazzling burst of lightning erupted, which must have been Kakashi's Chidori. Then, a series of Explosive Tag followed, their explosions echoing through the sky.

The battle came suddenly and ended just as quickly.

First, Choza's side retreated, but Minato clearly saw that at least two Jonin led small teams to pursue Choza.

After that, the commotion under the bridge gradually disappeared. Although he couldn't see it, Minato could vaguely sense it through his senses. Kakashi and the others had also retreated, and six Iwagakure were chasing after them.

Now it was time for him to act.

Minato vanished in a flash, reappearing near the bridge pier. In the shadows there was a Flying Thunder God Kunai, which Kakashi had left behind before he left.

Seeing that no one was around, Minato acted quickly, releasing Explosive Tag from his Storage Scroll and attaching them to the bridge piers.

This was a huge project, Iwagakure used Earth Style to reinforce the entire bridge to ensure Kannabi Bridge safety.

Destroying it completely won't be something that can be done with just one or two Explosive Tag.

Time passed second by second, and the Minato had already been affixed to the two bridge piers. However, to achieve the desired effect, at least six more bridge piers needed to be installed.

Looking at this "massive" project, Minato couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Iwagakure was truly insane, reinforcing the bridge like this. He couldn't help but quicken his pace even more.

While Minato was busy blowing up the bridge, Kakashi was also facing a choice.

"Kakashi, how can you improve without experiencing life and death? We have our trump cards now, yet we're still so timid and hesitant. How can we catch up with Taiichi like this?"

Obito's words were like a demonic chant, constantly eroding Kakashi's resolve, until he said, "Catch up with Taiichi's pace."

Finally, he broke through Kakashi's defenses; his chest heaved violently, his eyes fixed on Obito's crimson eyes.

"You're right, but you guys go first. I'll stay behind and hold them off for a while, otherwise nobody will be able to leave."

"Kakashi, you----"

Obito wanted to retort, but Kakashi interrupted him sharply.

"Stop talking nonsense. Only I can do this mission. Your skills are far from sufficient."

With that, he tossed the Flying Thunder God Kunai to Obito.

"Listen, you idiot, this Kunai for you. Activate it immediately if anything goes wrong. Training is fine, but don't actually lose your life."

Kakashi sensed the Iwagakure Ninja getting closer and closer behind him, and then said, "I can only buy you a little time. There will definitely be other Rock Ninja slip through. You must be careful."

He stopped in his tracks, stood still, adjusted his breathing, and waited for the Rock Ninja to arrive.

"Kakashi ----"

Obito couldn't help but look back at Kakashi, who was getting further and further away. He solemnly put the Flying Thunder God Kunai into his Ninja Tool Pouch and fled quickly with Rin.

As the figures disappeared into the dense forest, a dark shadow appeared on a large tree not far away.

"So young, making such a decision with just simple Genjutsu manipulation and mental seduction. Luckily you didn't call that brat, or this whole charade would have fallen apart."

On the other side, Kakashi, who remained behind, gripped his Short Sword tightly, watching the six Rock Ninja approaching from the opposite direction.

"Oh, so you left one behind to die." Kakkou scoffed. "Hey, silver-haired brat, do you think you can hold us all off by yourself?"

How will you know if you don't try!

Kakashi points his Short Sword forward, adopting an upward stance as his starting position, clearly indicating that he is using offense as defense, or even abandoning defense altogether.

"Be careful, this kid is strong."

The Mahiru spoke up as a warning, the burning pain in his chest constantly reminding him that the brat before him was not someone to be easily dealt with.

"Kakkou, you and I stay here to deal with him. Taiseki, you take the rest of the men and go after the other two."

The Jonin named Taiseki Jonin slightly, waved behind him, and led three other Chunin to bypass Kakashi's defenses.

How can I let you pass?

Kakashi roared and Body Flicker moved to Taiseki and the others.

Suddenly, a figure shot out from the side, slashing at Kakashi's chest with a blade.

"Your opponent is me."

Then the voice of the Mahiru came, truly treacherous to the extreme.

Kakashi had just sheathed his sword to block the attack when he felt something strange beneath his feet. Before his brain could even register the attack, his body was thrown several meters to the side.

Immediately afterward, a spike pierced through the ground from where it had been, and Kakashi felt a tightening in his anus upon seeing the point of impact.

The exchange ended in a draw, but the group of Iwagakure Ninja had already slipped out of Kakashi's sight.

"Obito, Rin, you two need to be careful from now on. This is all I can do."

Kakashi thought to himself, then calmed down and prepared to deal with the enemy before him.

On the other side, Obito and Rin were fleeing at top speed ahead. By this time, they had used up all the simple traps they had prepared in advance, and could only try to disrupt the enemy's pursuit by Teuchi the footprints behind them.

However, this had very little effect. After escaping for less than 20 minutes, the two were caught up by the Jonin Taiseki, who had gone ahead.

Earth Style: Flying Gravel.

Dozens of head-sized rocks hurtled towards Obito and Rin, blocking their escape route.

The two had indeed become skilled, and with a simple change of footwork, they evaded the Ninjutsu attack.

The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other without needing to speak, and charged towards the Rock Ninja from the left and right respectively.

Fire Style: Great Fireball.

Obito spat a large Fireball at the Rock Ninja Taiseki, and then charged towards the Taiseki, right after the Fireball.

But Taiseki didn't even look at it, and quickly Hand Seals.

Earth Style · Earth Style Wall.

An Earth Wall rose up in front of the Fireball, blocking both the Fireball and Obito's attack route.

At that moment, Lin had already rushed to the front of the Taiseki.

As Medical Ninja, Rin only knows one Water Style: Water Wave and doesn't know any other offensive Ninjutsu. However, she has made some progress in Taijutsu under Taiichi's guidance.

Now, when he fights against Taiseki, he can actually manage to hold out for a few moves.

If Obito's attack had followed up at that moment, the two of them could have held out a little longer.

What can I do?

When Obito emerged from behind the Earth Style Wall, he saw Rin being kicked away by Rock Ninja, rolling a long way on the ground.

"Lin!"

Obito a roar, Body Flicker broke through his physical limits and appeared beside Rin in the blink of an eye.

He helped Lin up from the ground, and what he saw was blood gushing from the corner of her mouth.

"Lin, Lin, are you alright!"

Obito has lost his composure.

"Cough cough, Obito, quick, call for backup."

Rin struggled to stand up, constantly reminding Obito.

"Yes, yes, we need to call Taiichi over."

By this time, Obito had fully regained his senses and realized the fatal mistake he had made.

He overestimated himself and underestimated the strength of the Jonin.

This not only harmed himself, but almost harmed Lin as well.

Fortunately, it's not too late yet.

He suddenly reached into the side pocket of his Ninja Tool Pouch, where the Taiichi Flying Thunder God Kunai was stored.

However, upon arrival, it was completely empty!

The hope on his face froze instantly, turning into incredulous horror!

He looked down and frantically searched, discovering that a neat tear had been made in the side of his Ninja Tool Pouch at some point.

Everything inside, including that Special Kunai vanished without a trace!

"No—it's impossible! How could it be gone? How could the Ninja Tool Pouch be torn?"

Obito's voice was distorted by extreme fear and despair. He searched desperately, but found only a tattered leaf in his empty Ninja Tool Pouch.

In the distance, from the shadow of a large tree's roots, a half-black, half-white Black Zetsu quietly emerged from the ground.

Between his fingers, he was toying with a Kunai of a special shape, the very Kunai that Obito had Obito longing for.

He then grinned maliciously, and a peculiar branch extended from the Root a large tree beside him, its edges sharp as a blade.

The branches took the Kunai from his hands, wrapped around them, thickened, and squeezed them, twisting the Kunai into a pretzel in the blink of an eye, before shrinking into the ground and disappearing.

"Now, no one will bother us anymore."

A sinister laugh echoed through the woods, but no one heard it.

A chilling despair instantly overwhelmed Obito Uchiha.

The glaring rip in his Ninja Tool Pouch seemed to mock his foolishness and arrogance like a gaping maw.

The team's last lifeline had vanished from him; he had personally destroyed their only escape route.

"Lin, Kunai —is missing."

Obito's voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with apocalyptic fear and immense regret.

Fear is about to kill Rin and Kakashi.

I regret my overestimation of my abilities back then.

Upon hearing this, Lin's body trembled violently, and she stumbled, nearly falling again.

She turned to look at Obito, her eyes filled with disbelief. How could she lose something so important!

You could see that Obito was so anxious that tears were streaming down his face, but he swallowed all his blame back down.

"Focus on fighting, Obito. This time, you might really be going to die!"

Rin's words were like steel knives; although there was no blame, they made Obito wish he could disappear into the ground.

But he has more important things to do now.

He wiped away his tears, gripped the Kunai in his hand, and stood in front of Rin, his eyes fixed on the approaching Taiseki.

"Lin, you go first. I'll hold him off for a bit and create an opportunity for you."

"Oh, that's truly touching. But you Jonin too much. Did you really think they could escape?"

Having said that, he didn't give Obito two a chance and lunged forward.

Obito's Sharingan widened, a Tomoe in his eye spinning wildly as he tracked the movements of Iwagakure Taiseki.

He used his Kunai slash horizontally, blocking the thrusting Taiseki, and then swiftly swung his left leg towards the opponent's waist.

"Oh, Sharingan, but it's only One-Tomoe."

A disdainful laugh came from Taiseki, who had already stepped back to avoid Obito's sweeping attack and was now closing in from behind, rushing straight at Rin.

The Sharingan can see even the movements of Jonin with just One-Tomoe, but unfortunately Obito's own abilities were lacking; his eyes could see, but his body couldn't keep up.

By the time he turned around, Taiseki had already approached Lin again. He could only watch helplessly as Lin's defenses were broken through in a few moves, and she was kicked away again.

This time the injury was more severe; Lin collapsed to the ground and immediately fainted.

Just then, the three Chunin Iwagakure who had been thrown off by the Taiseki also arrived.

"Take that fallen Konoha brat away and find a place to meet me."

"Lin----"

Obito was about to rush to the rescue, Taiseki's figure appeared in front of him.

But he couldn't care less about any of that at that moment. Seeing Lin being lifted up by the three men, he vanished into the dense forest in a few flashes.

Obito let out a beast-like roar, and immense sorrow, anger, self-blame, and helplessness erupted in his chest like a volcano.

The Tomoe in his eyes spun wildly, almost forming a line, before splitting into two, Tomoe crimson backgrounds deepening in color.

Stimulated by this, Obito's One-Tomoe Sharingan advanced to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

A powerful aura surged forth amidst intense emotional fluctuations, while simultaneously, a surge of new Chakra continuously generated within his body.

My strength has increased, and my eyesight has improved.

Obito clearly felt himself becoming stronger, and the enemies in front of him seemed to be easy to kill.

With boundless confidence, he brandished his Kunai and charged at the Rock Ninja once more.

"Hoo, hoo, beside"

His strength has indeed improved. He used to only be able to last four or five moves, but now he can barely manage to go toe-to-toe with others.

Pity----

"Oh, so this is the advancement of the Sharingan? This is truly the first time I've seen it. What a lucky day!"

Taiseki calmly swung his arms, blocking, thrusting, slicing, and chopping, using only the most basic techniques to manipulate Obito at will.

"Hateful!"

Obito by intense resentment, Kunai swung his kunai faster and faster, while the Tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly.

"Grumble."

The cry of Chidori pierced the sky as Kakashi's figure surged forward, instantly rushing from the dense forest to the front of the Rock Ninja.

Kunai obstruction, Kunai breaking.

The hastily thrown Taiseki could only barely turn his body, and his left arm was pierced by Kakashi's Chidori.

It was just a hair's breadth away; it would have pierced his heart. Before he could even feel the lingering fear, his body was carried away by the powerful force.

The Taiseki, having landed, dared not linger for even a moment, disappearing into the dense forest in a few flashes.

Why are you still here? Where's Lin?

Kakashi was also in a sorry state. He was panting heavily and looking around warily. His clothes were tattered, and several knife wounds, each more than ten centimeters long, could be vaguely seen on his body.

"Kakashi, Rin—Rin has been captured!"

Obito's voice was hoarse and cracked as he pounded his head, his Two-Tomoe Sharingan filled with endless regret as he stared intently at the spot where the Rock Ninja had disappeared.

Kakashi's heart sank suddenly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

Looking at Obito, Obito and covered in blood, and at the despair in his eyes that was a mixture of rage and regret, he instantly realized that the seriousness of the situation far exceeded his expectations.

He stayed behind alone to cover the retreat, and even with all his might, he could only temporarily force back the two Iwagakure Jonin.

As a result, he not only suffered serious injuries, but also consumed a huge amount of Chakra. He thought that if Obito and Rin couldn't hold on, they could at least call for backup. Who would have thought that this would be the outcome?

"What happened? How did Lin get captured? Where Kunai? Why aren't you using them?"

Kakashi suppressed his surging blood and qi, his tone urgent and stern.

He keenly noticed a glaring tear in the side of Obito's empty Ninja Tool Pouch, and a sense of foreboding washed over him like a bucket of ice water.

"The Kunai —it's gone!"

"My Ninja Tool Pouch was slashed open at some point, and everything inside is gone!"