Kamui

Uchiha Yan's first wave of attacks was easily neutralized by Obito.

The [Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique] filled the sky with shuriken, but they passed straight through his body.

Obito's deep, hoarse voice rang out again. "Arrogant youngster, this is the power of Madara."

Uchiha Yan remained expressionless and used the Body Flicker Technique to put some distance between them again.

Without forming any Hand Seals, he used [Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame].

In an instant, a sea of flames separated the two of them.

Since Obito had to become tangible to attack, Uchiha Yan planned to use this move to raise the cost of Obito materializing.

Then he used [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough] again, changing the flames' trajectory to shield the area in front of him and to either side.

A ripple distorted space around Obito, and he vanished completely.

Uchiha Yan cautiously scanned his surroundings with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He knew Obito would most likely attack from beneath him or from behind.

Just as he'd expected, Obito emerged from the ground and grabbed his leg.

"It's over, arrogant youngster. Those eyes of yours are quite fine. I'll take them—What?"

Obito's voice came from beneath his mask, laced with surprise.

The moment he grabbed Uchiha Yan's leg, it had turned into a wooden post.

And the instant Obito became tangible, Uchiha Yan appeared behind him like a ghost.

[Scorch Style: Extremely Steaming Murder]

The terrifying heat instantly evaporated the moisture inside Obito's body, along with the air around him.

Obito let out a cry of pain. He could feel the moisture inside his body and even his organs continuing to evaporate.

If he didn't do something, he'd become a dried corpse.

Obito tried to cut his losses, but the Scorch Release was evaporating the moisture inside him far faster than he'd expected.

The most awkward part was that Obito hadn't brought any spare Sharingan.

In other words, if he wanted to use Izanagi, he had no choice but to use this Mangekyō Sharingan.

Obito gritted his teeth and quickly made a decision.

He used Kamui to escape Konoha in time, then chose to cut his losses.

He used Izanagi.

At the same time Obito used Izanagi, Uchiha Yan received a reward from the system.

Host has killed Obito Uchiha. Reward acquired.

Uchiha Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that with Izanagi as a cheat, Obito was most likely still alive.

Even if Obito survived this time, though, he'd be crippled. Without the cheat-like Kamui technique, he was essentially just a jonin-level ninja.

Uchiha Yan turned his attention to the rewards.

1. Kamui

2. Hashirama Cell Fragment *1

3. Fire Style Mastery

Uchiha Yan chose Kamui without a moment's hesitation.

The instant he made his choice, he felt a mysterious force flow into his right eye.

He realized he could send part of his body into another dimension whenever he wanted.

He could also place a spatial anchor at a distance, then use the Kamui Dimension to transfer himself to the other side.

As Uchiha Yan tested his Kamui abilities,

not far outside Konoha, Obito stumbled into a patch of woods. He leaned against a large tree and panted heavily.

A crow perched in the tree tilted its head at Obito, then spread its wings and flew away, cawing.

Though Obito was blind, he didn't panic. He said coolly, "Come out. Stop pretending."

A white creature poked its head out from behind the tree and said, "Well, well, Obito, what happened?"

Obito replied coldly, "Call me Madara!"

White Zetsu answered in its shrill voice, "Got it, Lord Madara. What now? Do you want to go back?"

Obito said evenly, "Take me back so I can replace my eye."

He seemed perfectly calm, but his clenched fist and slightly trembling hand betrayed his feelings.

Obito was already on the verge of breaking down.

White Zetsu, oblivious to this, said, "Huh? Why do you need a new eye? Can't you see?"

Obito gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice, "White Zetsu, your only task right now is to take me back. Don't say another word!"

Hearing Obito's words, White Zetsu readily agreed in its shrill voice. "No problem, Lord Madara. Follow me."

As soon as it finished speaking, it merged with Obito and controlled his body as they returned to their hideout.

After sensing the chakra fluctuations in the distance, Uchiha Yan also vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

Not long after he left, two Anbu members wearing masks appeared at the place where Uchiha Yan and Obito had fought.

They felt the scorching heat radiating from the sea of flames before them.

The two exchanged glances. One of them, wearing a fox mask, said, "One of the fighters is definitely an expert in Fire Release."

"Fire Release." The other Anbu, wearing a cat mask, lowered his head in thought, then looked up and asked, "Could it have been an Uchiha?"

The fox-masked Anbu knelt on the ground and placed a hand on the damaged earth, remaining silent for a long while.

If this had been caused by an Uchiha clan member, who had he been fighting?

The fox-masked Anbu looked up at the cat-masked Anbu. "Investigate the area for any clues. Quickly."

The cat-masked Anbu nodded.

They split up to search, but this time, they were destined to come up empty-handed.

Half an hour later, the two regrouped at their starting point.

The cat-masked Anbu shook his head and said dejectedly, "Aside from battle damage and footprints, there's nothing."

The fox-masked Anbu said helplessly, "Put out the fire, then go back and report to Lord Hokage. Our mission is done."

The cat-masked Anbu nodded reluctantly.

At Kakashi's home,

Kakashi lay on his bed, one eye open as he stared at the ceiling.

Uchiha Yan had repeatedly hinted, both openly and in private, that there was something suspicious about the death of his father, Sakumo Hatake.

But Kakashi didn't understand how Uchiha Yan knew about it.

He'd hesitated for a long time. Thinking of the gathering tomorrow, he decided to get a clear answer from Uchiha Yan.

The next day, at the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant,

Uchiha Yan arrived right on time.

Kurenai had arrived early. When she saw Uchiha Yan, her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly waved him over. "Yan, over here."

Hearing Kurenai's voice, Uchiha Yan walked straight over and sat down beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Kurenai draped an arm over Uchiha Yan's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Are you really not coming to my place? My cat can do a backflip, you know."

Uchiha Yan merely stared at Kurenai expressionlessly.

Under his gaze, Kurenai began to feel a little guilty.

In the end, she could only stick out her tongue and lower her head, no longer teasing Uchiha Yan.

Just then, the familiar smell of tobacco wafted over.

Asuma had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He greeted Kurenai warmly. "Kurenai, long time no see."

Kurenai responded with a cool "Mm," then turned her attention back to Uchiha Yan.