21: “Then show me just how strong you’ve become.” Kakashi walked toward Obito with a blank expression.
He intended to force the truth out of him.
Of course, there was another reason too.
There was no way Kakashi was going to lose to Obito.
“This time, I’m definitely beating you!” Obito strode forward as well, his fighting spirit surging.
He had always wanted a proper fight with Kakashi.
Back then, however, he had been too weak.
Now, at last, the opportunity had arrived.
“Obito!
Kakashi!
What are you two doing?!” Rin stared at them in shock as the atmosphere suddenly changed.
Both stopped.
Kakashi spoke coldly.
“Let’s take this somewhere else.
I’d rather not humiliate you in front of Rin.” “That’s my line!” Obito snorted and kicked off the ground, disappearing into the forest.
Kakashi immediately followed.
From a distance, Itsuki watched the two leave and couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
It reminded him of Naruto and Sasuke fighting at the Valley of the End.
Except this time, Kakashi had somehow taken Naruto’s role while Obito had become Sasuke.
“This should be interesting.” Before long, Kakashi and Obito had moved far away from Rin.
They faced each other.
The next instant— They crashed together.
Clang!
Their weapons collided.
“Obito, it’s not too late to surrender and come back to Konoha with me.” Kakashi’s voice was cold.
“Save your breath!” Obito growled and kicked at him.
Kakashi blocked with his arm, used the impact to push himself backward, then immediately formed hand seals.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” “Water Release: Wild Water Wave!” Boom!
Fire and water collided violently.
Flames raged.
Wind howled.
Rain poured through the forest.
Lightning flashed across the night sky.
The ground trembled beneath the force of their battle.
Their fight grew increasingly brutal.
Deep craters appeared across the earth.
Trees were scorched, shattered, and torn apart.
Bang!
Kakashi kicked Obito out of the air.
Obito slammed into the ground and blasted open a large crater.
“Come back to Konoha.” Kakashi appeared at the edge of the crater and stared down at him.
Obito’s strength had improved far too quickly.
More than that, something about fighting him felt strangely unnatural.
“You forced me to do this!” Obito roared.
He ripped a piece of wood from his body and hurled it toward Kakashi.
“Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs Technique!” “Obito!
You just exposed classified information!” White Zetsu cried out.
“It doesn’t matter!” Obito wiped the blood from his face and glared at Kakashi as he dodged.
“I’ll just beat him half to death and take him with us.” “Then no one will find out!” “Wood Release?!” Kakashi stared at him in disbelief.
His expression darkened.
He had never imagined Obito would be capable of using Wood Release.
That explained at least part of why Obito could no longer simply return to Konoha.
But it also made Kakashi even more determined to discover what had happened to him.
“Obito.” Kakashi’s face turned grim.
“That was Wood Release, wasn’t it?” “Mind explaining how you can use it?” “Beat me first!” Obito shouted and charged.
“So that’s how you want to play it?” Kakashi suddenly raised one finger toward him.
Obito’s heart jumped.
He immediately remembered the lightning technique Kakashi had used earlier.
He tried to dodge.
Too late.
“Hadō #4: Byakurai.” Zap!
Obito looked down.
A hole had been blasted straight through his leg.
His body gave out.
He collapsed to the ground with a thud, glaring at Kakashi in frustration.
“Is that some new technique you developed?” Kakashi ignored the question.
“Now will you tell me why you can use Wood Release?” Before Obito could answer, another voice suddenly came from around him.
“Time’s up, Obito.” “I’ll handle the rest.” “Don’t kill him!” Obito’s panicked voice came from beneath the mask.
Kakashi immediately went on guard.
“Who are you?” White figures began emerging all around him.
White Zetsu clones.
“Take him with us.” White Zetsu’s voice turned sinister.
“If you can’t, kill him.” Then White Zetsu wrapped around Obito and began retreating with him.
Countless White Zetsu clones remained behind to stop Kakashi.
“Don’t even think about running!” Kakashi gritted his teeth and charged after them with his blade drawn.
Slash!
A White Zetsu clone blocked his path.
“Get out of my way!” Kakashi cut it down in fury.
But there were simply too many.
No matter how many he killed, more kept coming.
All he could do was watch as Obito disappeared farther into the distance.
“Damn it.” Kakashi’s expression turned grim.
What exactly is that thing?
The strange white substance wrapped around Obito could speak.
Just thinking about it made Kakashi’s skin crawl.
Then he looked at the White Zetsu clones attacking him.
And these things look almost exactly like that mysterious presence I sensed before.
Kakashi fought while piecing the clues together.
Could it be…
Was the “mysterious person” mentioned by the Scenario not referring to Obito at all?
Was it actually talking about this thing?
His heart sank.
If that was true, then he still hadn’t uncovered nearly enough.
Before he could think any further— Everything froze.
The Scenario ended.
Scenario [Rin’s Death] complete.
Final Evaluation: A-rank Congratulations.
You have received one A-rank Physical Enhancement Potion.
“It’s over?” Kakashi stood silently.
Far in the distance, Obito had already been reduced to a tiny speck before the frozen world.
A strange emptiness settled over him.
“Obito’s alive…” “So why don’t I feel happy?” Wood Release.
That mysterious white creature.
And wherever Obito was hiding in the real world now.
Instead of finding answers, Kakashi felt as though he had uncovered an even larger mystery.
He clenched his fist.
“Tomorrow.” “I’ll come back tomorrow.” “And this time, I’m getting to the bottom of everything.”