Plop!
Obito's lifeless body hit the surface of the sea with a dull splash, before slowly sinking beneath the waves.
Not far off, Shisui's scarlet Sharingan reflected the tragic scene, the single magatama within his eye spinning slowly. His heart clenched at the sight of his fallen comrade, and his fists trembled with rage.
"You'll pay for this!" he whispered, his voice cold and sharp like a blade.
Shisui's charging figure paused for just a heartbeat, then his eyes locked onto the Kirigakure ninja responsible for Obito's death. Before the man could even react, Shisui shot forward like a phantom, disappearing into the midst of the enemy ranks.
The Kirigakure shinobi, still riding the high of their victory, were caught off guard. They had just cut down one Konoha youth—another seemed eager to share the same fate. A few of them even sneered, mistaking Shisui's rush for reckless bravado.
But they would soon learn their mistake.
"Shisui, too?"
Back among the Konoha ranks, Obito's peers—Asuma, Genma, and others—watched in horror as Shisui threw himself into the fray. Their hearts were heavy, torn between duty and loyalty. Fugaku's orders still rang in their ears, but the sight of Shisui facing overwhelming odds stirred something deep within them.
Without another word, they broke formation, sprinting towards Shisui, defying orders in the name of camaraderie.
But they were still too far away.
Shisui had already fallen into the heart of the Kirigakure encirclement.
The Mist ninjas wasted no time, tightening their formation around him. But Shisui showed no fear. His eyes remained fixed on his target—the man who had slain Obito.
Swish!
Suddenly, the single magatama in his Sharingan spun faster and faster, until a second magatama snapped into place. A surge of power coursed through Shisui's veins.
"Instant step!"
The words echoed silently in his heart as the Kirigakure launched their attacks. Kunai and swords lashed out, aiming to tear the young Uchiha apart.
But when their weapons struck Shisui's body, they met no resistance—only air.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The sound of metal slicing through nothing echoed eerily. The figure of Shisui flickered and faded like a mirage, leaving the Mist shinobi momentarily stunned.
It was an afterimage.
In the blink of an eye, the real Shisui appeared in front of his target. His dual magatama Sharingan gleamed as he twisted his body, effortlessly dodging a desperate counterattack. With one swift, precise motion, he drove his kunai straight into the enemy's chest.
A clean, fatal strike to the heart.
The Kirigakure ninja's expression froze in shock, the life draining from his eyes.
"Damn brat!"
The surrounding Mist shinobi roared in fury, their earlier arrogance replaced by rage and humiliation. How had a boy barely in his teens managed to outmaneuver them so easily?
But Shisui's speed had bewildered them. Despite their numbers, they couldn't pin him down.
Yet, Shisui knew he couldn't keep this up forever. The Kirigakure forces were compressing their formation, shrinking the space he had to move. His agility was his greatest weapon, but it was becoming harder to use.
Unless I had something like Minato-sensei's space-time jutsu…
Shisui had known the risk when he charged in. But after avenging Obito, all that remained was to fight to the death.
Just as he prepared to make his final stand, reinforcements arrived.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
A flash of green surged into the fray. Might Guy, his eyes blazing with determination, spun through the air with incredible speed. His leg lashed out, a blur of motion that struck a Mist ninja square in the neck.
Clang!
The enemy's sword barely deflected the blow before it snapped under the force. Guy's kick landed with a sickening crack, sending the Kirigakure shinobi flying, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Shisui, get out of there!" Guy shouted.
Shisui's newly awakened dual magatama Sharingan processed the situation in an instant. Before Guy had even finished his sentence, Shisui was already moving.
Swish!
With a burst of speed, Shisui darted through the gap Guy had created, escaping the encirclement.
"Retreat!" Asuma Sarutobi barked. He and the others clashed briefly with the enemy before falling back alongside Shisui.
But the Kirigakure weren't done yet. More of their forces surged forward, trying to cut off the retreat.
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive explosion of water mist erupted over the sea, sending towering waves crashing in all directions. The Mist shinobi were forced to halt, struggling to maintain their footing amidst the chaotic waves. Shisui and the Konoha reinforcements used the opportunity to regroup with the main army.
The waves subsided, and Nawaki and Fugaku emerged from the mist, having broken free from the Kirigakure ANBU's grip. The massive wave had clearly been Nawaki's doing.
"Withdraw!" Fugaku ordered, his voice firm.
Nawaki hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the Mist forces. His eyes locked onto the figures of Kakashi and Rin, still unconscious, slung over the shoulders of Kirigakure ANBU.
"But… those two—"
"They're prisoners," Fugaku interrupted. "The enemy won't kill them easily."
Nawaki gritted his teeth, frustration burning in his chest.
"They're ninjas. They knew the risks when they stepped onto the battlefield," Fugaku added, his voice hard but resolute.
Nawaki scanned the battlefield. The cost of their rescue attempt had been high—dozens of Konoha shinobi had fallen. His heart ached with anger and grief, especially after witnessing Obito's sacrifice. But he knew Fugaku was right.
Bitterly, Nawaki nodded, his eyes bloodshot with suppressed emotion.
The Konoha forces began their retreat. As they pulled back, Nawaki shot one last glare at Terumi Ryuunosuke, who stood among the Mist ranks, a smug expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Terumi Ryuunosuke turned his attention to the captives. His gaze lingered on Kakashi and Rin, both unconscious and bound.
Why did the ANBU go to such lengths to capture these two?
They were just kids, barely twelve. Surely, they didn't possess any significant intel on Konoha's inner workings. Terumi was puzzled, but he knew better than to question the ANBU, who served directly under the Third Mizukage.
After a moment of contemplation, Terumi signaled for his forces to retreat.
As the Mist army vanished into the horizon, the only evidence of the fierce battle that had taken place was the faint trace of blood staining the sea.
But even that would soon fade, swallowed by the vast ocean.
Yet beneath the waves, something stirred.
A shadow moved across the seabed, slipping into the depths, vanishing without a trace.
In a vast underground cavern, White Zetsu emerged from the earth, his pale form blending with the darkness. But this time, he wasn't alone.
He laid a black-haired boy at Madara Uchiha's feet. The ancient, skeletal figure sitting atop his throne smiled faintly, his hollow eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Obito's body was twisted and broken, his form marred by the brutality of the battle and the crushing pressure of the deep sea.
"Well done," Madara murmured, his voice like a whisper in the cavern.
He dragged his frail body forward, leaning over Obito's lifeless form. Placing a hand on the boy's chest, he felt the lingering traces of chakra fading within him.
"It seems you retrieved him a little late," Madara observed, noting the damage. "His internal organs have been crushed by the water pressure."
But Madara showed no sign of concern. Forming seals with his hands, he channeled chakra from the monstrous entity lurking in the shadows behind him. The dark chakra seeped from Madara's palms into Obito's broken body.
White Zetsu watched quietly but soon spoke, his tone laced with confusion.
"There's something strange," he said.
Madara glanced at him, his interest piqued. "What is it?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. The Kirigakure ninja's blade pierced through his chest," Zetsu explained. "But his heart… aside from being crushed by the water, it shows no sign of a stab wound."
Madara's eyes flickered with intrigue, though his face remained impassive.
"Is that so?"
He stared down at Obito's battered form, a knowing glint in his eyes.
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