Obito Countermeasure! Artificial Human-Nohara Rin Unit!

Uchiha Ensei's shadow clone used the Transformation Technique to turn into a small bird and perched on Kakashi Hatake's shoulder.

Kakashi Hatake could only follow the location from the intelligence report and travel alone.

"Ensei, the chakra consumed by the Transformation Technique may not be much, but you've kept it up for so long. Are you really all right?"

After running for most of the day, Kakashi Hatake finally could not help asking.

Although it was one of the most basic ninjutsu, the Transformation Technique was actually the most difficult technique taught at the Ninja Academy.

When Uchiha Ensei watched anime in his previous life, influenced by the protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, he had always thought the Clone Technique was the hardest. Yet in reality, it was the simplest of the Three-Body Techniques.

The Clone Technique only tested chakra control and did not have particularly high external requirements.

The Transformation Technique, however, required far more consideration.

First, one had to clearly understand every detail of the object being transformed into, including its shape, weight, and even smell.

After clarifying all that, one needed to mobilize the chakra within the body, envelop the entire body with it, and alter it without revealing a single flaw.

Only then could it be considered the completion of a basic Transformation Technique.

Among these techniques, there was one technique that was not quite ninjutsu but still needed to be mastered: the Observation Technique.

Every qualified ninja, even one who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, could instantly commit every trace in their surroundings to memory.

When battle came later, even the slightest change in the surrounding environment would be enough to draw a ninja's attention.

Uchiha Ensei had spent no small amount of effort learning these basic ninjutsu. In his memory, mastering the Three-Body Techniques had been even more difficult than learning higher-level ninjutsu.

Thus, upon hearing Kakashi Hatake's question, Uchiha Ensei immediately recalled his own past learning experiences.

"It's fine. I have plenty of chakra. I'm not worried about wasting this little bit."

After casually brushing him off with a few words, Uchiha Ensei once again fell into a daze.

He had not forgotten that this body was merely a shadow clone. If he could avoid expending mental energy, he would. Otherwise, when the shadow clone returned to the original body, the sensation of that mental exhaustion would be transmitted back as well.

Upon hearing Uchiha Ensei's answer, a trace of envy appeared on Kakashi Hatake's face.

In truth, his own chakra reserves were not particularly low.

But because of the Sharingan, his chakra was constantly being consumed, so he tried his best to avoid large-scale chakra expenditure.

In his current state, if he transformed into a small bird like Uchiha Ensei and maintained the bird's proper weight, he estimated that he could sustain it for less than a day at most.

Yet for Uchiha Ensei, it seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

Shaking his head, Kakashi Hatake quietly committed this intelligence to memory and continued onward.

More than two days later, Kakashi Hatake, serving as a mount, finally brought Uchiha Ensei to Amegakure.

Kakashi Hatake had long known that Amegakure was drenched in rain year-round, so he paid little attention to the fine drizzle falling from the sky.

But Uchiha Ensei knew that this was Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique, an extremely high-level detection ninjutsu.

Uchiha Ensei, transformed into a small bird, leaped down from Kakashi's shoulder and returned to his original form.

"Kakashi, come say hello to the master of the Land of Rain!~"

Uchiha Ensei allowed the rain to fall onto his shoulders as he spoke calmly.

The moment those words were spoken, Kakashi Hatake immediately became alert. Yet no matter how he observed, he could not detect the slightest sign of an enemy appearing, which made him sense danger.

Seeing Kakashi Hatake like this, Uchiha Ensei shook his head and explained, "The enemy is still very far away..."

"Do you see this rain? This is a ninjutsu called the Rain Tiger at Will Technique. It can detect spies infiltrating Amegakure from every direction."

Uchiha Ensei's words answered Kakashi Hatake's doubts, but they did not make him lower his guard.

After all, for a ninja, launching an open attack and infiltrating silently were two completely different situations.

"Ensei, should we withdraw first?"

At that moment, Kakashi Hatake felt danger everywhere, as if countless enemies would rush out the next second and surround them completely.

Never underestimate a ninja's resilience. The Third Raikage, who had once fought the Eight-Tails until both were exhausted, was ultimately worn to death by ten thousand Iwagakure ninja.

This showed just how great a disadvantage a ninja faced once surrounded.

"There's no need. Amegakure no longer has that many ninja to waste."

"And besides..."

For the rest, Uchiha Ensei used a chakra technique to transmit his words directly into Kakashi Hatake's ears.

When he heard that the one accompanying him was only a shadow clone, Kakashi Hatake felt utterly miserable.

Who went out on a mission with a shadow clone? Wasn't that screwing over a teammate?

Countless speculations surged through 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 Hatake looked at Uchiha Ensei's calm face and suddenly asked.

Just as Uchiha Ensei was about to answer, he suddenly noticed that the rain in the sky had vanished at some unknown point.

In the distance, a figure with wings on its back flew over from the horizon.

Seeing this, Uchiha Ensei pulled out a palm-sized sealing scroll from his clothes and tossed it into the air.

Along with Uchiha Ensei's shout of "Release," a familiar figure appeared before Kakashi Hatake.

"Rin..."

Kakashi Hatake's eyes widened. No matter what, he could not believe the reality before him.

"You bastard, what the hell did you do to Rin?!"

Kakashi Hatake could barely suppress his emotions as he grabbed Uchiha Ensei by the collar.

If he had not known that Uchiha Ensei was a shadow clone, that tightly clenched fist would probably have already come smashing down.

"Look carefully! You call yourself a ninja, yet you lack even this much composure."

"Be gentler. If you make me disappear, then you'll really die here."

Uchiha Ensei spoke in a calm tone, finally allowing Kakashi Hatake to regain his senses.

Only then did Kakashi Hatake finally notice that this "person," who looked exactly like Rin, possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan unique to the Uchiha Clan.

"Obito Countermeasure! Artificial Human—Nohara Rin Unit!"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot this counts as a countermeasure against you too, but it should be fine as a companion, right?"

"Don't worry. I only borrowed Rin's appearance. If Rin knew in the afterlife, she probably would not mind her image continuing to contribute to Konoha."

Uchiha Ensei spoke while completely ignoring Kakashi Hatake's murderous glare.