"You'll regret not killing me today, Uchiha Shimizu."
Terumi Mei slipped the test tube into her ninja pouch.
Taking a deep breath, a flicker of determination crossed her alluring features, as if she sought to etch the bloody memory deep into her mind.
Then, she rinsed the grime from her body with water, her steps slightly awkward as she left the area.
Beneath the endless stretch of mountains, dense vegetation sprawled as far as the eye could see.
The forest was lush, trees packed tightly together.
Uchiha Obito's figure darted through the foliage.
"Haven't we arrived yet, you white freak?!"
Obito's voice was urgent.
He was so close to the location.
But the creature clinging to him had just informed him that Nohara Rin had been taken elsewhere by Mist ninja, and Hatake Kakashi was in pursuit.
A massive crystal labyrinth suddenly loomed ahead, stirring unease in Obito's heart.
He had never seen anyone use this Bloodline Limit before.
Was Rin in danger?
"We're almost there. They didn't take her far. Kakashi has cornered them, and they're fighting now."
Hearing the word "fighting," Obito quickened his pace.
Sweat poured down his face, his body burning as pain flared in waves.
This was the cost of pushing his stamina to its limits.
"Obito… there's likely a fierce battle ahead, so I need to say this now…"
Zetsu hesitated, choosing not to reveal that the crystal labyrinth was unleashed by Uchiha Shimizu.
It would only distract Obito.
All Obito needed to know was Rin's direction.
They had learned that Shimizu and Obito's relationship was lukewarm at best.
Even if Shimizu died, Obito wouldn't likely grieve.
"Your combat skills are weaker than mine, especially in that battered little body of yours, relying on my larger form for protection."
"So what?" Obito panted, pressing forward.
"Wouldn't it be better if I took control during the fight?"
"Madara said it himself: the Sharingan's true power only awakens when both eyes are united. With Kakashi, who's fought alongside me and wields my Sharingan, we're the better team."
Obito's mind flashed to Kakashi's face, to the left eye that once was empty but now housed his two-tomoe Sharingan.
A spark of anticipation and excitement flickered within him.
"Kakashi and I will protect Rin. Shimizu's unreliable!"
"You're indeed using Hashirama's artificial body. If you combine the powers of Senju and Uchiha, you could unleash strength unimaginable compared to now," Zetsu said gravely.
Madara had told them that Hashirama's cells could accelerate the Sharingan's recovery and reduce its strain on the user.
Drip…
Drip…
A light rain began to fall.
Was it getting heavier?
Obito felt the raindrops strike his face, sensing trouble.
Fighting in the rain would be far harder than in clear weather.
Mist ninja excelled at Water Release, and this weather gave them every advantage.
Boom!
Obito landed on a branch, spotting a massive wave of water rising in the distance, blotting out the sky.
"Over there!"
He faintly heard the chirping of birds, like a thousand gathered in a chaotic chorus.
That was Kakashi's technique!
Obito's heart leaped, and he sped up.
Beyond the dense forest, Hatake Kakashi stood drenched in blood, gasping for breath.
Blood mixed with rainwater trickled down his soaked ninja uniform, seeping into his skin.
"Kakashi!" Nohara Rin called out, worry lacing her voice.
Kakashi looked dire.
His arms, back, and thighs were riddled with wounds, slashed by kunai.
"Leaf ninja, stand down."
A Mist Anbu flicked their samurai blade, shaking off the rainwater.
Kakashi remained silent, holding his combat stance, mentally calculating his remaining chakra.
"I've used Chidori three times already. It's taken a heavy toll on my body. At most, I can manage one more before my chakra's completely drained."
Kakashi tightened his grip on his kunai.
Dozens of Mist ninja surrounded him, spread out in a standoff.
Chidori could only strike in a straight line, and while his Sharingan's dynamic vision let him track targets clearly, his exhausted body couldn't adjust his path mid-movement.
At best, he could take out one line of enemies.
Then his chakra would be spent.
In this state, even the usually composed Kakashi felt a flicker of panic.
Protecting Rin in this situation was nearly impossible.
If anything happened to her, how could he face Obito?
Kakashi glanced toward Shimizu's direction.
After he'd left, Shimizu had unleashed a massive ninjutsu, trapping others within it.
Now, the giant crystal labyrinth was gone.
Had Shimizu dispelled it, or had something happened to him?
Kakashi didn't know.
He could only hope Shimizu was holding up.
"Hmph, seeking your own death."
Seeing Kakashi pause to recover chakra, the Mist Anbu decided not to waste more time, wary of complications.
This mission came straight from the top, with a high difficulty rating.
They had to complete it to protect the village's interests.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Three Mist ninja combined their jutsu, and instantly, three water dragons coiled through the air, amplified by the falling rain, their presence even more menacing.
Kakashi's heart sank as arcs of electricity sparked in his hand.
"Chidori!"
His left Sharingan spun wildly.
The world around him seemed to slow.
He surged forward, darting toward the ninja casting the Water Dragon Bullet.
Chidori sliced through one's throat before blood could even spill, and Kakashi was already on the next.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Kakashi's Chidori-wreathed figure cut down Mist ninja one after another.
"You want to kill her?"
A Mist ninja with a half-broken mask held a kunai to Rin's throat.
Kakashi froze mid-step.
The broken mask revealed coal-black skin, suggesting a female ninja.
Kakashi had no time to dwell on her appearance.
Dark-skinned ninja weren't exclusive to the Cloud; they existed in small numbers across the major villages, though the Cloud had the most.
Namikaze Minato's former Squad Six teammate, Dekai, was one such ninja.
"Kakashi, kill me! The Mist planted a monster in me. I can't control this power. If this continues, the Leaf could be destroyed!"
Rin shouted.
She could feel the monster within her, a destructive force that made her tremble.
If the Mist's plan succeeded, the Leaf would suffer catastrophic losses.
"Rin, we're comrades."
Kakashi's face twisted with conflict, clearly aware of the stakes.
As a ninja, the village came first—above lovers, family, friends, or brothers.
His Chidori flickered, unstable.
Whenever Kakashi hesitated, he couldn't maintain the precise chakra control needed for Chidori.
"Kakashi!" Rin called again.
She saw his hesitation clearly.
But she didn't want him to waver anymore.
Her body's purity had already been taken by Uchiha Shimizu.
She had nothing left to give Kakashi.
The only gift she could offer was to make him a hero.
Yes, if he killed her and stopped the Mist's plan, Kakashi would be hailed as a hero!
"Rin…"
Kakashi's face contorted in pain as Chidori's arcs flickered in his hand. The Mist ninja hesitated to approach.
After all, Kakashi had just cut down so many of their comrades. They knew his strength.
Why risk their lives against an enemy nearly out of chakra, only to lose one or two more?
Besides, their true orders were to let Kakashi take Rin back to the Leaf.
The other Mist ninja were merely playing their parts to make Kakashi believe the threat was real.
"Hurry!"
Rin suddenly pushed past the Mist ninja behind her.
The ninja's mask hid a faint smile, though their voice feigned panic: "Stop them!"
Crackle!
Kakashi raised Chidori, cutting down the enemies in a line behind Rin.
But Chidori flickered, on the verge of collapse.
His chakra was nearly gone.
Kakashi realized this, watching Rin run toward him.
Rin realized it too.
She glanced at the surrounding Mist ninja and made an impulsive choice no one expected.
"Kakashi… I… Some things are said too late, but I'm glad I met you."
Instead of running to Kakashi, she charged toward his Chidori.
Kakashi stared, stunned.
He couldn't stop Chidori in time.
Time seemed to slow.
Chidori's electric glow illuminated Kakashi and Rin's faces.
A look of release crossed Rin's face.
Kakashi's expression was one of agony and regret.
But no matter their thoughts, Chidori surged forward unyieldingly.
Crackle!
Chidori roared.
A red light flashed, accompanied by a fiery silhouette.
Shimizu, holding Rin, appeared atop a tree's canopy.
"Were you just trying to die?" Shimizu whispered into Rin's ear.
"That won't do. If you died, who knows what I'd do to Kakashi."
His words were ice-cold.
Rin stared at Shimizu, a flicker of fear and uncertainty deep in her eyes.
"Shimizu!"
His voice was so low, and with the canopy obscuring part of his face, Kakashi assumed Shimizu was comforting Rin.
Seeing Shimizu still had strength to support him and Rin, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief.
His Chidori fizzled out, his vision darkened, and he collapsed.
The remaining Mist ninja froze at the sudden turn of events.
But they pressed on with the plan.
Whether it was Kakashi or Shimizu didn't matter.
As long as Rin returned to the Leaf, their mission was complete.
"Fire Release: Great Yasaka Magatama."
Holding Rin with his left arm, Shimizu created a shadow clone to carry Kakashi, then raised his right hand. A massive fireball formed, swelling rapidly to nearly two meters wide.
Snap.
It split into eight enormous, searing magatama, crashing downward.
Their speed was beyond the Mist ninja's comprehension.
Before they could dodge, a blinding white light consumed their vision—the result of extreme heat distorting their sight.
Boom!
The earth shook.
The forest was reduced to ash, leaving a crater five or six meters wide.
Most of the Mist ninja were incinerated, and the few survivors were gravely injured, their bodies marred with severe burns.
With a flash, Shimizu wielded his Heavenly Prison Fire Sword, dispatching the remaining enemies.
Though called Anbu and jonin, their quality varied.
Uchiha Madara had only orchestrated this from behind, nudging the Mist into this decision.
He couldn't fully control their actions.
He lacked the time and energy.
Thus, the Mist sent only a few dozen ninja for this mission.
They were a suicide squad.
Entering the Leaf meant almost certain death.
Why send truly skilled or talented ninja?
Thud.
The shadow clone set Kakashi down and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Rin hurried from Shimizu's side to check on Kakashi.
"Heartbeat normal, pulse normal…"
Rin sighed in relief.
Kakashi had simply overexerted his chakra and would recover with a few days' rest.
"I need to treat Kakashi now," Rin said.
Her implication was clear: she wanted Shimizu to stand guard.
"Those wounds can wait until Kakashi's back in the village."
Shimizu swallowed five or six soldier pills in one go.
His chakra was nearly depleted too.
But his robust physique allowed him to consume large amounts of soldier pills to restore chakra.
Others could handle one or two at most before refining chakra; any more would strain their chakra pathways.
Summoning his horned behemoth, it stood before Rin.
As Rin crouched, she looked up at the creature. Its massive shadow loomed over her face in the light.
"No… please, don't."
Rin's expression was anguished.
Kakashi had exhausted himself protecting her, yet she was forced into this degrading act.
And in front of Kakashi, no less.
He might wake from the commotion.
This was sacrilege!
Shimizu was defiling her feelings for Kakashi.
He surely knew her heart.
Yet he made this demand anyway.
"Do it, or don't you?"
Shimizu carelessly slapped Rin's delicate face, the blows stinging.
Seeing his increasingly cold gaze, pain threaded through Rin's heart.
She felt suffocated.
It was as if an invisible hand dragged her into an abyss. No matter how she cried for help, no one noticed, and no one reached out to save her.
In the depths of this ocean, only a demon's cruel laughter echoed.
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