When Kakashi heard Shindai say that someone from the Cloud Ninja side was looking toward them and even pointing in their direction, his heart immediately sank.
"What? Let me see quickly!"
Kakashi snatched the telescope from Shindai's hands and looked toward the Cloud Ninja encampment.
This sight nearly gave him a heart attack. Kakashi noticed three Cloud Ninja charging toward their location.
His hair standing on end, Kakashi lowered the telescope and urgently shouted, "Retreat now! We've bee-"
Before Kakashi could finish speaking, a black shadow had already darted forward.
That shadow wasn't anyone else but Shindai himself.
When Shindai heard Kakashi say "retreat," he knew they'd been discovered. Without hesitation, he immediately took off running.
Shindai firmly believed in one saying:
During a team retreat, whoever runs slowest becomes bait to draw enemy fire.
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara stared briefly at the rapidly fleeing Shindai before immediately chasing after him.
The three Cloud Ninja behind them gave chase without pause.
Rin, being a Medical Ninja, moved the slowest. She was about to be caught when a Cloud Ninja launched a kunai at her. Rin dodged, but was forced onto a very thin branch.
CRACK!
The branch couldn't withstand Rin's weight and snapped accordingly.
"Rin!"
Obito immediately stopped, turned around, and rushed toward the falling Rin. He caught her mid-fall and landed hard on the ground.
However, this delay completely allowed the Cloud Ninja to catch up with them.
One Cloud Ninja used [Shifting Body Technique], instantly appearing before Obito and Rin.
[Cloud-Style Crescent Moon Beheading]!
The Cloud Ninja drew his ninja blade and swiftly launched a large crescent-shaped slash toward Obito and Rin.
Obito shoved Rin aside forcefully.
Frightened and anxious, Rin hurriedly formed hand seals.
But clearly, Rin's speed forming seals couldn't match the Cloud Ninja's sword-swinging speed.
Just as the Cloud Ninja's blade was on the verge of striking Obito,
At this critical moment, Kakashi appeared like a god descending from the heavens, blocking the attack with the White Fang Short Blade.
"Ka... Kakashi."
Obito stared blankly at Kakashi in front of him.
He never expected Kakashi would come back.
Ever since Kakashi's father Sakumo Hatake died, Kakashi had become extremely fixated on missions and rules.
Given the situation, Kakashi should've left him and Rin behind without hesitation and headed straight back to Konoha's base camp to report to Jiraiya.
Kakashi seriously said to Obito, "Don't just stand there! Fight while retreating!"
The three Cloud Ninja simultaneously charged toward Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara.
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin immediately used the Substitution Jutsu and fled in the direction of Konoha's base camp.
As he ran, Obito asked anxiously, "What about Shindai? Are we just abandoning him like that?"
Kakashi replied coolly, "What else do you think he'd do? Still think he'll come save us? After all, he's not one of us, and frankly, he's a coward. He obviously puts his own life first and wouldn't risk anything for anyone else."
Obito grew angry. "Seriously! I actually thought he was my friend! And he took off so fast too!"
Kakashi barked, "Stop whining. They're closing in. Use ninjutsu to slow them down! Rin, keep moving forward—don't stop!"
Kakashi and Obito suddenly stopped and turned around, their hands rapidly forming hand seals.
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!]
Obito gathered chakra at the back of his throat and exhaled a massive fireball from his mouth. Though it didn't hit the Cloud Ninja directly, the explosion briefly slowed their chase.
Meanwhile, Kakashi created a Shadow Clone that charged toward the Cloud Ninja holding a short blade.
After finishing the jutsu, Kakashi and Obito continued retreating.
Kakashi's Shadow Clone was almost destroyed instantly under the combined assault of the three Cloud Ninja.
"Rumoda, you're the fastest one. Charge ahead and intercept them!"
Rumoda leaped onto a tree trunk, bent his legs to the limit, then sprang forward like a coiled spring.
Obito was still smirking, "Kakashi, looks like we've shaken them off. Those Cloud Ninjas aren't that impressive after all."
In response, Kakashi kicked Obito away with a single kick.
Obito rolled along the ground twice before stopping. Rubbing his sore butt, he was about to yell at Kakashi when he suddenly noticed Kakashi flying backward.
Kakashi crashed against a tree trunk and fell to the ground, bleeding from his right leg.
Earlier, when Kakashi had kicked Obito, Rumoda had managed to slash his leg.
Luckily, Kakashi yanked his leg back in time—or it would've been sliced clean off.
Kakashi rose to his feet, his expression hardening as he glared at Rumoda.
Rumoda charged at Kakashi—who was clearly the biggest threat among the three.
Obito drew a kunai and started rushing to Kakashi's aid, but he was still some distance away. Rumoda was much closer, so Obito couldn't reach in time.
[Summoning Jutsu – Rolling Log!]
A puff of smoke appeared in front of Kakashi, revealing a log that flew outward and smashed toward Rumoda.
Rumoda had no choice but to abandon his attack on Kakashi and sliced the incoming log into two halves with one slash.
The rolling log had actually been summoned by Rin Nohara. Originally supposed to be ahead, she had grown worried about Kakashi and Obito and doubled back—just in time to see Rumoda lunging at Kakashi.
Obito threw several shuriken at Rumoda, but Rumoda sidestepped and dodged them all.
Obito grew serious and said to Rin Nohara, "Rin, heal Kakashi! I'll take care of this guy!"
Kakashi frowned. "Obito, you're not his match!"
"Says who?! I'm Obito Uchiha! Don't underestimate me!"
Obito leapt into the air, placed his left hand in front of his mouth, then formed a series of hand seals.
[Fire Release: Flame Bullet]
Flames burst from his mouth in all directions, speeding toward Rumoda.
Rumoda weaved left and right, skillfully dodging all the flames.
Seeing Rumoda dodge the attack, Obito pulled out two kunai and hurled them.
But the kunai missed by a wide margin—Rumoda didn't bother to dodge.
Rumoda's main target was still Kakashi. Ignoring Obito completely, he planned to finish off Kakashi first.
Right now, Kakashi was receiving emergency treatment from Rin for the injury on his right leg. If left untreated, it would severely hinder his mobility—and worse, there were still two Cloud Ninja waiting ahead.
Seeing Rumoda ignore him yet again and move to attack Kakashi, Obito snarled angrily, "I said, don't look down on me!"
[Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!]
Obito completed the hand seals and unleashed a blazing torrent of fire straight at Rumoda.
Rumoda activated the Shifting Body Technique, narrowly evading the attack, and frowned at Obito.
Finding Obito annoying, Rumoda decided to eliminate him first—his two allies would arrive soon, and together they could handle Kakashi and Rin afterward.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>