Chapter 44 (Patreon)

The next morning, at Konoha’s main gate—

“Kurenai-nee-san, relax. We’ll come back safely.”

Yujiro smiled lightly as he looked at the worried expression on Kurenai’s face.

Kurenai crossed her arms, clearly unhappy.

“Hmph. Don’t get cocky just because you’ve gotten stronger.”

“There are still plenty of shinobi stronger than you out there.”

Her expression softened slightly after that.

“…Just make sure you come back safely. Got it?”

Yujiro grinned.

“Don’t worry.”

With the black blade resting over his shoulder, he turned and started walking forward.

Kakashi and Itachi followed close behind him without hesitation.

At some point, the two of them had already begun treating Yujiro as the center of the team.

Their mission was simple on paper—

Escort a classified scroll safely to the Land of Hot Water.

Right now, in terms of overall combat ability, Yujiro and Kakashi were already roughly on the same level.

And if Yujiro pushed his Limiter further…

He was even stronger than Kakashi in short bursts.

As for Itachi—

Despite only being six years old, his strength already rivaled some Chūnin.

With two Jōnin-level fighters and a prodigy like Itachi, this squad should have been more than enough for a normal A-rank mission.

Unless…

…

Only half a day after leaving Konoha—

Inside a dense forest overflowing with greenery—

A dark figure slowly appeared atop a branch.

“Uchiha Itachi…”

Obito muttered quietly beneath his mask.

During the past few days, while secretly infiltrating the Uchiha clan, he had noticed Itachi many times.

The child’s talent was abnormal.

Perhaps…

He could be useful someday.

A ripple of distorted space spread out.

Obito’s figure disappeared instantly.

…

It normally took around two days to travel from Konoha to the Land of Hot Water.

Night had already fallen.

The campfire crackled softly in the darkness.

Itachi and Yujiro were resting nearby while Kakashi remained on watch duty.

The forest was quiet.

Too quiet.

Even Kakashi failed to notice it.

More than a hundred meters away—

At the top of a massive tree—

Obito’s figure slowly emerged from Kamui.

The moment he saw Kakashi, his body stiffened slightly.

“Obito… still can’t let go, huh?”

A strange voice echoed beside him.

White Zetsu.

Obito’s gaze turned cold almost instantly.

“There’s nothing left to hold onto.”

“This world is fake.”

“…Even Kakashi.”

In another world, there would always be another Kakashi.

Slowly, Obito pulled out a pitch-black kunai.

Then his body disappeared into space once more.

The next second—

Inside the camp—

A black kunai suddenly pierced out of the void and stabbed directly toward Yujiro’s throat.

No warning.

No sound.

“Kuh— Yujiro!!”

Kakashi’s eyes widened in shock.

A hand had literally emerged from empty space itself.

“It’s over.”

Obito’s indifferent voice echoed out.

But just as he thought he had succeeded—

Yujiro’s eyes snapped open.

A dark gleam flashed through them.

“One-Sword Style…”

“Black Flash Slash.”

Limiter Release — Second Stage.

In that instant, Yujiro’s body exploded with power.

The black blade tore through the air in a streak of darkness and slashed directly toward Obito’s mask.

Clang!!

But Yujiro immediately realized something was wrong.

The blade passed through without fully connecting.

At the exact same moment, Obito’s hand pierced through Yujiro’s shoulder.

Kamui.

Obito had activated intangibility at the critical moment.

Both sides instantly separated.

Obito landed several meters away and stared at Yujiro silently.

He truly hadn’t expected the seemingly harmless black-haired boy to react that quickly.

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Itachi immediately drew their weapons and moved beside Yujiro with wary expressions.

Yujiro, however—

Was smiling.

His blood was boiling.

At the moment between life and death just now, he had felt his Limiter loosening again.

As expected…

Real combat was the fastest way to evolve.

And now, Yujiro had completely confirmed the identity of the masked man before him.

Uchiha Obito.

A tragic fool manipulated by Uchiha Madara until the very end.

Still—

There was no denying how powerful he currently was.

Kamui.

Hashirama cells.

A Mangekyō Sharingan with almost no recoil.

The current Obito was far stronger than the one Kakashi remembered.

Yujiro could even feel excitement vibrating through the black blade in his hand.

This was the thrill of finally facing a truly dangerous enemy.

“I’ll attack head-on.”

“You two support me.”

Yujiro smiled faintly.

The instant his foot touched the ground—

Boom!!

His figure vanished.

“So fast—!”

Even Obito’s expression changed.

He barely had time to react before Yujiro was already in front of him.

Clang!!

Obito immediately raised a kunai to block.

“One-Sword Style…”

“Chidori Flash Slash.”

Lightning exploded across the black blade.

A violent streak of lightning slashed directly toward Obito’s abdomen—

But once again, Kamui phased through the attack.

“One-Sword Style— Cross Slash!”

Yujiro continued attacking without pause, using the battle itself to refine his swordsmanship.

Black sword-light mixed together with razor-sharp wind blades and violent lightning chakra.

The surrounding terrain was instantly torn apart.

Trees collapsed.

Boulders shattered.

The forest shook violently.

Obito became more and more alarmed.

The black-clothed boy before him fought like a monster that never tired.

One mistake—

Just one—

And the flow of battle would completely shift.

“Lightning Style: Raikiri!”

On the other side, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector.

The scarlet Sharingan spun within his eye.

Violent lightning gathered in his right hand.

An S-rank assassination technique—

Raikiri.

Yujiro glanced toward him and sighed inwardly.

Obito probably never imagined it.

The eye he entrusted to his best friend…

Would one day become the weapon aimed at his own heart.

Still, Yujiro had no intention of interfering in their relationship.

Kakashi still hadn’t recognized the man before him.

Right now—

They were simply enemies.

Obito stood there silently.

For a brief moment, countless memories flashed through his mind.

And finally—

Everything stopped at one image.

Kakashi’s Raikiri piercing through Rin’s chest.

At that exact moment, Kakashi’s Raikiri shot toward him.

Obito suddenly raised his arm.

Boom!!

He grabbed Raikiri head-on.

His entire right arm exploded apart instantly from the impact.

Kakashi’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected anyone to willingly sacrifice an arm just to stop the attack.

Then—

Obito laughed.

A low laugh at first.

Then louder.

“Hahaha…”

“If you already abandoned everything…”

“Then I don’t care anymore either.”

A crimson glow erupted from his Sharingan.

“Wood Style…”

“Cutting Sprigs Jutsu!!”

Massive wooden branches burst violently from the ground.

Yujiro clicked his tongue when he saw the scene.

At this point, anyone with half a brain could tell the masked lunatic had issues with Kakashi.

Without hesitation, Yujiro gripped his black blade tightly and rushed toward Kakashi.