In the end, Obito set off alone to rescue Rin.
Though he was still only a chūnin, he was no longer the same dead-last he had once been in the original timeline. The difference now was night and day.
First, he had awakened his Sharingan ahead of time—and it had already evolved into a two-tomoe form. With its enhanced perception, he could now hold his own even in close combat against jōnin.
Second, ever since gaining his Sharingan, Obito had completely shed his former laziness. Encouraged by his teammates, driven by rivalry, and guided—sometimes harshly—by his seniors, he had thrown himself into relentless training. The results of that sustained effort were nothing short of astonishing.
And finally, through the brutal trials of war, he had faced death more than once. The timid, hesitant Obito of the past was gone.
The Sharingan had given him more than power.
It had given him confidence.
Confidence that he, Uchiha Obito, was no ordinary shinobi—but a true prodigy of the Uchiha clan.
With his growth in strength and his tempering through life-and-death battles, he now believed he could rescue Rin on his own.
It didn't take long before he tracked down the Iwagakure squad that had taken her—a highly skilled unit composed of two jōnin and two chūnin.
First… he had to find Rin.
"Sharingan… activate!"
—
Obito's departure was resolute and unwavering.
But Kakashi was no different.
After wiping away his tears, the eleven-year-old Konoha jōnin set off at full speed toward Kannabi Bridge.
Midway through his dash, his expression suddenly sharpened. His body halted abruptly, then veered sharply to the left in a swift evasive maneuver.
"…Not bad reflexes for a brat."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
Yet his surroundings appeared empty.
"Hiding with Camouflage Techniquefrom Iwagakure…?"
This wasn't his first encounter with such an enemy.
From past battles alongside Minato-sensei against Iwagakure, he already knew this technique rendered the user nearly invisible by blending them into their surroundings. It didn't conceal chakra flow—but without a bloodline limit, Kakashi had no precise way to detect it beyond keen hearing and hard-earned combat instincts.
"Sharp for someone so young."
Kakashi remained fully alert, watching for even the slightest disturbance in the wind or grass as he slowly drew the short blade from his back.
There!
Left side!
He spun and slashed in one fluid motion. A flash of cold steel cut through the air—
—and blood sprayed instantly.
The enemy was forced out of concealment.
"How… how did you know I was there…?" The young Iwa ninja clutched his chest, struggling to stand as disbelief filled his voice. "And that speed…"
"…Are you the White Fang of Konoha?"
"You're not worth my father's attention," Kakashi replied coldly, stepping forward with a thrust aimed to finish him.
But in that instant—
The situation changed again.
Several massive boulders came crashing down from above.
Twisting his body with extreme precision, Kakashi barely avoided the strike by a hair's breadth before immediately retreating at high speed.
"Is this the Rock Lodging Destruction...?" he muttered under his breath.
A jōnin-level Earth Release technique.
Which meant—
Reinforcements had arrived.
Sure enough, a middle-aged Iwa ninja appeared atop a nearby tree, looking down with a mocking grin. "Taiseki, you look pathetic. Can't even handle a kid?"
"Tch, spare me, Kakkō," another voice called out from a different direction. "Didn't you notice his speed? It's not normal."
Not just "not normal."
It was jōnin-level speed.
The injured ninja—Taiseki—gasped for breath as he steadied himself. "So it's you two… Kakkō… and Mahiru."
Mahiru spoke calmly, "Take care of your wound first. The kid's not going anywhere."
"Got it."
Taiseki quickly treated his injury.
Kakashi stood with blade in hand, his expression tense as he scanned the area, wary of any further ambushes lurking in the shadows.
"Don't bother looking," Kakkō sneered. "It's just the three of us here."
"Three Iwagakure jōnin against a single Konoha brat… that's hardly something to be ashamed of, is it?"
Kakashi remained where he stood, his body tense, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he watched his surroundings.
"What's wrong?" one of them sneered. "You think we're trying to trick you?"
"If you don't make a move soon," Mahiru added with a taunting grin, "my companion's going to recover. Then it'll be three against one. You really think you can handle three Iwagakure jōnin attacking you at the same time?"
Kakashi didn't respond. He didn't even shift his stance.
Kakkō clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. For a kid, he's ridiculously composed."
"When did Konoha start producing shinobi of this caliber?"
Their plan had been simple—use the overwhelming pressure of three jōnin and Taiseki's apparent injury as bait, provoke Kakashi into acting rashly, and exploit the opening to break him.
But the boy refused to bite.
So what exactly was he waiting for?
"Be careful," Taiseki warned quietly. "He's the son of the White Fang."
He remembered it vividly—he had struck first, yet still ended up gravely wounded by that single flash of white.
Whether it was speed or timing, this boy's ability was already at the level of a jōnin.
"The White Fang's son, huh…" Kakkō's expression shifted, then he chuckled. "That explains those eyes. Pretty intimidating."
Mahiru, growing impatient, cut in. "Taiseki, are you good?"
"I'm fine!"
"Then we attack together."
In the next instant, all three Iwagakure jōnin moved in unison, each unleashing their signature techniques as they launched a coordinated assault on Kakashi.
—
After enduring countless hardships…
Obito finally reached Rin.
But what greeted him was a sight that made his heart seize.
Rin lay unconscious, her body battered and broken, covered in signs of brutal torture. It was obvious that the Iwagakure shinobi had used extreme methods to extract information from her.
"Rin…" Obito whispered softly as he pulled her into his arms.
Tears streamed down his face, warm droplets falling onto her pale cheeks.
"…Obito?" Her eyes fluttered open slightly. Even in her weakened state, she recognized those crimson eyes. Her voice was faint, fragile. "Why are you here…?"
Obito quickly wiped his tears. "I'm taking you back to Konoha."
"Can you stand?"
Rin gave a weak shake of her head.
"It's okay," he said gently. "I'll carry you."
"…Where are the enemies?" Rin glanced around, confused. There was no sign of any Iwagakure ninja nearby.
Obito broke into a wide, reassuring smile. "I've already taken care of them."
Only then did Rin notice the blood covering him—dark, uneven stains across his entire body.
"Don't worry," Obito said, scratching his cheek with a shy grin. Under her concerned gaze, he suddenly felt… happy. "Most of it isn't mine."
"Just a little bit is."
It was a lie.
To defeat that Iwagakure squad, he had paid a heavy price. His body was riddled with deep, vicious wounds, and his chakra was nearly depleted.
The only thing keeping him standing now was sheer willpower.
Beneath his tattered clothes, several horrifying injuries lay hidden.
But he couldn't fall here.
Not now.
Because he had to bring Rin back to Konoha.
...
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