Pursuit of the Cloud Shinobi

"Pakkun! Can you find the trail of that Cloud Shinobi squad?"

Compared to Kato Osamu's sensory abilities, which could be used to avoid encounters in advance, Pakkun's sense of smell was far better suited for a pursuit like this.

Obito Uchiha carried a scroll containing more than a dozen Konoha ninja corpses, his eyes full of anticipation as he looked at Pakkun.

"That way!"

Pakkun kept sniffing the ground, then suddenly raised his head toward a deep, shadowy forest before taking off at full speed.

"Move!"

Obito had lost his usual chatter. His voice was heavy as he followed close behind Pakkun.

"Obito, stay alert!"

Kakashi Hatake brought up the rear, while Kato Osamu and Rin Nohara followed behind Obito.

The wind swayed the high treetops, producing vast, slow rustling sounds.

The four moved swiftly without exchanging a word. Kato Osamu could sense that Obito was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, merely searching for the right moment.

"A Cloud Shinobi squad capable of killing more than a dozen Konoha Chunin and Genin, including two Jonin, must be one of their elite squads..."

"We might not be able to beat them with just us..."

Rin's voice suddenly rang out, but as she looked at Obito charging ahead and the expressionless Kakashi and Kato Osamu, her voice gradually faded.

"Rin, take this. Carry it..."

"The deaths of those bastards are already decided..."

Kakashi took Minato Namikaze's specially made Kunai from his clothes and handed it to Rin. Anger simmered in his eyes as well.

"But..."

"Stop!"

"Take cover!"

Kato Osamu's voice interrupted Rin before she could say anything else. The four swiftly concealed themselves behind large trees.

The soul fluctuations he had spread out detected a four-man Cloud Shinobi squad hidden ahead.

"Enemies ahead. Four in total, northeast, about one kilometer away..."

The four communicated through hand signals behind the trees.

"They're moving, but not quickly. They probably don't have a sensory ninja..."

The distant Cloud Shinobi squad maintained its original pace. Kato Osamu gestured to Kakashi, who nodded.

"Obito, Rin, sneak ahead and intercept them..."

"Pakkun, go!"

Kakashi lightly waved his hand, and Pakkun vanished into the forest with Obito and Rin.

Kato Osamu glanced at Kakashi and knew that he was still wary of him. That was why Kakashi had not sent the most suitable person—him—to precisely locate and intercept the Cloud Shinobi ahead.

"You and I will circle around from behind..."

Kakashi drew his short blade, glanced at Kato Osamu, then slowly spoke.

"Yes, Captain Kakashi..."

Kato Osamu followed behind Kakashi expressionlessly. Tree shadows fell across his face, flickering between light and dark.

"It's them, the Cloud Shinobi from that hidden fortress!"

Pakkun lay on Obito's shoulder, lightly sniffed the air, and confirmed their identities.

"Looks like this area is under the responsibility of this Cloud Shinobi squad..."

"That's... perfect..."

Rin looked at Obito, who was gritting his teeth. Unsure of what to say, she merely tugged lightly at his arm.

"Rin, don't worry. I won't act rashly..."

Hidden in the woods, Obito and Rin crept forward slowly. Silvery wire behind them reflected the faint traces of sunlight.

This forest was already filled with traps.

After setting the traps, Rin and Obito hid in a corner of the woods, concealing their presence as they stared fixedly at the bushes ahead. Several black dots kept darting closer from the distance.

"Stop!"

The middle-aged man wearing a Cloud Shinobi forehead protector had thick sideburns along both cheeks. His one remaining eye slanted as he surveyed the surroundings, his fingers gently stroking the goatee on his chin.

"Something feels wrong... Stay alert!"

The goateed leader spoke in a low, muffled voice. The two young ninja in their twenties and the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl behind him all drew Kunai and warily watched their surroundings.

The Cloud Shinobi in his thirties had experienced the Second Shinobi World War. Already a Jonin, he was highly experienced and had noticed something was wrong from the slightest traces.

The lush forest covering the mountains resembled a green ocean, roaring softly beneath the breeze.

The undergrowth made the forest unusually dark, and the occasional light filtering through from the treetops merely added a little color to the woods.

The four Cloud Shinobi stood back to back, constantly scanning their surroundings.

"Ono, hand me your blade..."

The young man named Ono slowly drew a long sword from his back. Its blade was straight and gleaming, without a single nick. It was undoubtedly a fine weapon.

Holding the long sword, the goateed Jonin slightly adjusted its angle. The blade reflected the sunlight, sending a beam straight into the forest.

The wire reflecting a silvery gleam immediately stood out like fireflies in the night.

"Take cover! There really is an ambush..."

The goateed man quickly tossed the long sword back to the young man, and the four quietly vanished into the forest.

Shuriken began flying from all directions like raindrops, shooting rapidly into the hidden forest and destroying the traps within.

"Boom!"

The Explosive Tags shook the entire forest. Smoke spread through the air as trees snapped and crisscrossed, while dirt and broken stones blasted outward.

"Have Obito and the others already engaged the enemy..."

Hearing the explosion, Kakashi's heart sank. Chakra continuously surged from beneath his feet, snapping tree after tree beneath him.

He no longer concealed himself. His speed increased as he sprinted toward the explosion.

"Not yet. They're well hidden..."

Kato Osamu could sense that no one had engaged yet. Obito and Rin were still far from those Cloud Shinobi.

"Secret Technique: Soul Firefly Technique!"

He rapidly formed hand seals, and specks of fluorescent light flew in all directions through the forest in an instant.

After his spiritual power had increased again, Kato Osamu could already shape this mass of Chakra fluorescence into the appearance of real insects, allowing them to lurk among the trees.

Before the Chakra erupted, they were difficult to distinguish.

"Damn it! They saw through the traps..."

Obito and Rin hid behind a stump, which was already filled with Shuriken in front of them.

"Rin, we need to stay hidden!"

"Wait for Kakashi and Kato Osamu..."

No matter how furious Obito was, he knew his own strength. There was no hope with only him and Rin, especially when this Cloud Shinobi force did not seem weak at all.

Kato Osamu had already quietly arrived nearby. As he sensed the positions of the four Cloud Shinobi, the Soulfire Insects slowly gathered in their direction.

The goateed Jonin leaned against a large tree, warily watching the surroundings.

His tree was already silently covered with Soulfire Insects. Their grayish-brown bodies seemed to blend into the trunk, densely packed together without making a sound.

"It's too quiet..."

The silent forest filled the goateed man's face with solemnity. The unknown always carried incomparable terror.

"Captain, watch your back!"

The sudden shout from the previously hidden girl made the goateed man shudder.

He had not sensed any enemy presence!

"Detonate!"

Kato Osamu gave a soft shout, and the hidden Soulfire Insects instantly erupted. A violent shockwave exploded outward, followed immediately by two muffled groans.

Kato Osamu and Kakashi rushed out at once, charging toward the Cloud Shinobi.

"Two at four o'clock, one at seven o'clock, one at twelve o'clock..."

"Lightning Release: Cellular Activation!"

One second before the Soulfire Insects exploded, sparks of lightning flashed across the goateed man's body.

After his body cells were activated, the goateed Jonin's defense and speed increased greatly. The shockwave did not cause him much harm.

"Daiko! Use Fire Release!"

Seeing more and more insects rushing toward him, the goateed man gave a low shout and spewed a stream of flames from his mouth.

"Konoha's insect users, the Aburame Clan?"

The fire from the goateed man's mouth did not stop, but his heart sank slightly.

Konoha's Aburame Clan was also a famous clan throughout the Shinobi World. He understood how troublesome Kikaichū were, and the appearance of these insects capable of transmitting information and Chakra meant their movements had already been exposed.

"Not good!"

"These aren't ordinary insects! Looks like we've run into an Aburame Clan Jonin..."

The flames that seemed capable of setting the entire mountain forest ablaze did not harm the incoming insects in the slightest.

The goateed Jonin quickly retreated, gradually leaving the sensing range of the Soulfire Insects.

"Kakashi and the others are here!"

Obito, hidden in the forest, also heard the shockwave explosion. He exchanged a glance with Rin before vanishing from behind the stump.

"They mistook me for someone from the Aburame Clan?"

Kato Osamu could see the movements of all four Cloud Shinobi. The Soulfire Insects hovering high in the sky were like moving cameras, constantly transmitting images of the Cloud Shinobi to him.

"Compared to the real Aburame Clan, this is still far behind..."

He thought of the boy who had once inspired him to develop this ninjutsu. Nanometer-scale Phosphorus Destruction Insects could silently enter the human body and cause it to collapse directly at the cellular level. That was their true nightmare, even if they possessed Lightning Release: Cellular Activation.

"Kakashi, the Jonin is yours!"

"Obito and Rin have already engaged the other two Chunin..."

Kato Osamu looked at the slowly dispersing smoke and gave a soft laugh.

"You picked the one who looked weakest?"

"That really doesn't seem like Root's style at all..."

"Perhaps. Let me remind you, Captain Kakashi, that Jonin won't be easy to deal with..."

Kakashi really knew his identity. It seemed Minato was not as naïve as he appeared; at the very least, he could see some of what lay beneath the surface.

Without saying anything more to Kakashi, Kato Osamu pushed off the ground and vanished.

"I'll be watching you, Kato Osamu..."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Kato Osamu disappear, then flashed away as well.

"Rin! They're already injured..."

Without the girl's sharp senses or the Jonin's speed, the two young Cloud Shinobi had not been so fortunate when the Soulfire Insects exploded.

Though the power of a single Soulfire Insect was nearly nonexistent, a large swarm of them had still inflicted considerable damage.

Their bleeding arms and torn backs left the two young Cloud Shinobi drenched in sweat from pain before they could even move.

"I'll teach you bastards a proper lesson!"

Obito rushed forward almost immediately, separating the two Cloud Shinobi.

He gripped a Kunai in his right hand and slashed like lightning, smashing it into the young Cloud Shinobi's raised elbow. His left hand formed a fist and struck toward the man's throat.

The unstoppable momentum made the already injured Cloud Shinobi's heart sink.

"Lightning Release: Earth Walk!"

Forced back by Obito, the Cloud Shinobi could not help using ninjutsu directly.

In battles between ordinary ninja, most relied on taijutsu. Ninjutsu was only used as a trump card, and without necessity, they would not casually use techniques that consumed so much Chakra.

Enduring the pain in his body, the Cloud Shinobi Chunin rapidly formed hand seals and slammed one palm onto the ground, causing a vast spread of lightning to burst forth.

Obito lightly jumped aside, evading the electricity rushing toward him. His body flashed, and he suddenly appeared behind the Cloud Shinobi with both hands clenched into fists.

As though carrying all his rage, Obito stared fixedly at the Cloud Shinobi's injured back.

"Die!"

His fist, clenched until it turned white, collided with the mangled back. Spattered blood fell beside Obito.

The Cloud Shinobi's body was blasted far away, smashing through countless branches.

The Cloud Shinobi who landed on the ground seemed to freeze for an instant. Then his entire body arched as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The intense pain made his entire body tremble.

"Poof!"

Before Obito could pursue, smoke flashed, leaving only a chunk of broken wood on the ground.

"You can't run!"

The instant his fist struck the Cloud Shinobi's back, a faint smile appeared on Obito's lips. He knew that had been the real body.

The injured Cloud Shinobi had not had time to use the Substitution Technique before the blow landed!

Obito moved his feet and leaped high into the air. With a flick of four fingers, the Uchiha Style: Throwing Technique sent four Shuriken flying like a gale toward a corner of the forest.

The Shuriken collided in midair, completely sealing every route of escape for the Cloud Shinobi hidden behind the stump.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

In an instant, the four Shuriken multiplied into countless copies, bombarding the corner behind the stump like a continuous barrage of missiles. The ground itself seemed to be pierced through as enormous smoke billowed up.

"Yuta!"

The Cloud Shinobi still fighting Rin saw the scene as well.

The death of his companion made his eyes rapidly turn bloodshot. Blood dripped from his lowered arm, but it seemed to no longer affect him at all.

"You actually dared... kill Yuta!"

The injured Cloud Shinobi suddenly crouched down, then shot into the sky like a rising dragon.

Huge amounts of Chakra clung to his feet as he kicked backward with force. His feet left two prints in the thick tree trunk, and he launched himself like a cannonball straight at Rin. Lightning also flashed over his body in an instant.

"Die together, you damned Konoha ninja!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Storm!"

"Watch out, Rin!"

Obito Uchiha turned just in time to see it, and his heart nearly burst. No longer caring about his own safety, he leaped forward and threw himself over Rin Nohara.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter..."

With blinding white light filling his vision, Obito Uchiha used his final moments to forcefully spit a wind blade toward a nearby tree, then desperately clutched Rin Nohara and used every part of his body to shield her completely.

The mountains and forest collapsed, the earth shattered, and the entire jungle became layer upon layer of charred ruin, wisps of smoke rising from the blackened trees.

Blood-red rain fell from the sky. Chunks of scorched flesh and blood mixed with black ash rained down upon every patch of broken ground.

"Cough, cough..."

Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara were shielded beneath a massive tree trunk. The completely charred wood crumbled into black ash and fell across Obito Uchiha's face, making his original features unrecognizable.

"Rin! Are you all right?!"

This was the first time Obito Uchiha had ever been so close to Rin Nohara. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, but Obito Uchiha's heart was filled only with panic as his trembling hand slowly reached toward Rin Nohara's neck...

"Obito..."

"Thank you..."

Rin Nohara opened her eyes and gently took Obito Uchiha's hand. Looking at his ash-covered face, she smiled.

"Obito, you're my hero!"

Obito Uchiha's blackened face reddened as though he were drunk, and he seemed slightly dazed.

"Whoosh..."

A kunai suddenly flew out, shattering the warm moment.

The kunai came from an exceptionally tricky angle, like a venomous snake waiting to strike, delivering a fatal blow toward the back of Obito Uchiha's neck.

"Watch out, Obito!"

Rin Nohara used all her strength to roll over and shove Obito Uchiha aside. The kunai narrowly grazed past her ear, slicing off a few strands of hair before burying itself deep in the ground behind her, leaving only a chilling gust at her ear.

"What?!"

Obito Uchiha froze, then swiftly turned around in alert, shielding Rin Nohara with his body. But the sight before him left him stunned.

Sitting amid the ash not far away was the Cloud Shinobi Chunin who had fought Obito Uchiha earlier.

Now, his entire body was charred like a dried corpse. His carbonized skin had completely cracked apart during that last movement, and blood slowly flowed from all over his body, forming a glaring patch of scarlet against the black earth.

His eyes were wide open. Amid his scorched body, only a pair of crimson eyes remained, staring fixedly at Obito Uchiha.

Filled with intense unwillingness and hatred, they were like sharp ice spikes radiating cold as they pierced Obito Uchiha's chest.

Obito Uchiha felt as though that chill had clogged his throat, leaving him unable to say a word.

Under Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara's gaze, his blackened hand slowly rose and pressed against the side of his head.

Using the last of his strength, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Boom!"

His charred head exploded like a cannonball, white brain matter splattering across Obito Uchiha's face.

Obito Uchiha lightly touched his cheek. The breeze against his face carried a piercing chill, and tiny goosebumps instantly rose all over his body.