pjbooks Chapter 400 Is it Rin's turn to stab Kakashi this time?
Chapter 400 Is it Rin's turn to stab Kakashi this time?
The next morning.
Kakashi opened his eyes, feeling a heavy weight on his head.
The dreams I had these past two nights were... indescribable.
Those scenes still linger in his mind to this day.
Just as Kakashi was rubbing his temples, trying to dispel the discomfort, a voice suddenly rang out in the room.
"Kakashi, your vigilance has decreased a lot."
Kakashi was startled and looked up sharply. He saw a figure standing in the shadows near the window at the foot of the bed.
His body tensed instantly, and he instinctively went into a state of alert.
But then he realized what was happening.
That voice, that breath...
Kakashi sighed helplessly and said, "Obito, could you please stop sneaking into my house like this every time?"
The dark shadow by the window moved slightly.
He was still wearing that black trench coat with red clouds, but he wasn't wearing the orange vortex mask on his face.
Half of his face was covered with twisted scars, which made Kakashi's heart tighten.
The crisscrossing scars were shocking to behold, and memories flooded back. A hint of sadness flashed across Kakashi's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
Obito glanced at Kakashi sideways and scoffed disdainfully, "Hmph, who said I sneaked in? I clearly came in openly and honestly."
Kakashi was too lazy to get entangled in such a pointless question with him.
He threw back the covers and got up, putting on his coat as he calmly asked, "What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Kakashi noticed that Obito's expression was somewhat different from usual.
It's highly likely that his mental state was affected by last night's dream.
Obito did not answer immediately, but lowered his eyes and pondered silently.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the rustling of Kakashi getting dressed.
After getting dressed, Kakashi turned around and sat down on the tatami mat opposite Obito.
Kakashi didn't urge him, but simply waited quietly for him to speak.
Finally, Obito slowly raised his head and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, if the 'you' in the dream dies, can the real you still enter that dream?"
Upon hearing this, Kakashi's body stiffened, and he was stunned for a moment.
Yes, if you die in a dream, can you still enter it in reality?
Who knows...
He really didn't know.
Kakashi muttered to himself, "Perhaps once the character in a dream dies, the person in reality can never enter again?"
This answer did not surprise Obito.
He didn't ask any further questions, and the two fell silent again.
But this silence wasn't awkward; rather, it felt like a wordless exchange.
After an unknown amount of time, Obito suddenly looked directly at Kakashi with a serious expression on his face.
"This time, I will not let anyone die."
Kakashi looked up at Obito in the shadows opposite him with some surprise upon hearing this.
He stared at Obito, his emotions a complex and unfathomable mix.
After a long pause, Kakashi slowly nodded and replied in a low voice, "...Yes, I believe you."
Obito didn't reply. He stood up and looked out the window, as if his solemn promise from just now was nothing more than a casual remark.
However, the atmosphere in the room subtly changed because of this brief conversation, and the barrier that had stood between the two for many years seemed to dissipate somewhat.
Not far from the window, on the training ground, the new batch of ninja academy students were sparring, shouting and yelling continuously.
Compared to the turbulent tension in the dream, the reality before my eyes seemed exceptionally peaceful.
Kakashi strolled to the window and yawned.
"I heard there's a new dango shop that opened in 3-chome. Kai said it's pretty good. Want to try it?"
Obito snorted, glanced at Kakashi, and said dismissively, "If Kaito only said it was alright, then it's probably not that great. It's definitely not as good as the previous one."
Kakashi casually retorted, "Maybe your tastes have changed."
"Hmph, it's because your standards for food are too low." Obito chuckled, but there wasn't much hostility in his tone; it was more like a habitual banter.
Just then, an unexpected scene unfolded on the training field outside the window.
Two genin trainees were sparring when one of them suddenly lost control of his chakra, causing his ninjutsu to backfire. Instead of hitting his opponent, it exploded on his own face.
After the explosion, the unfortunate man's face was blackened by smoke, and his hair was singed, making him look both comical and pitiful.
Finally, it was the teacher, Iruka, who rushed out and carried the unfortunate student to the medical room.
Obito watched this scene, his lips twitching, and he muttered under his breath, "Heh, another loser."
Upon hearing this, Kakashi glanced at the training ground and couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, didn't that loser of a class use Fire Release to set a mission scroll on fire back in the day?"
"How can that be the same?" Obito retorted immediately, then paused, adding somewhat awkwardly, "At least I didn't burn myself."
……
……
When Obito opened his eyes again.
What came into view was a dark and dense forest.
Ancient trees all around reach for the sky, their branches and leaves shading the heavens.
This time, unusually, he was still recalling his conversation with Kakashi in reality.
He shook his head.
Let's put aside the events of the day for now and focus on the present.
"Think, think... Am I in this world now preparing to save Kakashi?"
Foolish guy.
Thankfully, he's here now.
If that ignorant and clueless boy Obito were to take control of the body, the situation would likely become much more complicated.
However, with him possessing future memories and abilities, taking over would at least allow him to assess the situation more calmly and take more effective actions.
However, this sense of relief lasted only a moment before a strong sense of crisis suddenly arose in Obito's heart.
time is limited.
During a casual chat with Kakashi during the day, Kakashi had subtly mentioned it.
In the dream, the boy Kakashi is about to become a "Jinchūriki".
Obito clenched his fist tightly.
The tragedy that Lin experienced in real life must never be repeated here.
His mind raced as he deduced the most likely location where Kakashi was imprisoned.
Just as Obito was deep in thought, a quirky and comical voice suddenly rang in his mind.
Hey, hey.
Obito.
What are you spacing out for?
Are we not continuing our journey?
Kakashi's situation might not be good.
If we keep dawdling, we might miss it, hehe.
The teasing voice was all too familiar, and Obito felt a chill run down his spine.
He was startled and immediately assumed a defensive posture.
However, apart from the swaying shadows of the trees and the howling wind, there was no one around.
Do not!
wrong!
An ominous premonition came over me.
Obito also noticed the abnormality in his body, and he subconsciously looked down.
The next second, his pupils suddenly contracted!
All he could see was that his once ordinary uniform was now covered by a layer of wriggling white substance!
The thing, like white vines, clung tightly to the contours of his body.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
hooligan?!
That cheeky tone, coupled with that white organization that's so different from the other White Zetsu.
Who else could it be but Ah Fei?!
But how did Ah Fei end up here?!
It's attached to me?!
Obito's heart sank to the bottom.
He couldn't resist the urge to tear off the strange white substance from his body immediately, but reason forced him to suppress the impulse.
No! This is wrong!
A tremendous wave of shock surged through Obito's heart.
The "self" in this world never experienced the tragedy of the Kannabi Bridge.
Without having half of his body destroyed and without receiving treatment from Madara Uchiha, it would be impossible for him to be possessed by Tobi.
Why?
Why is Ah Fei here?
It can even possess my body?!
Just as Obito was in a state of confusion due to this sudden situation, Tobi's annoying voice rang in his mind again.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't you want to go save your good friend Kakashi again?"
Afei deliberately drew out his words, speaking sarcastically, "Today you came to me on your own initiative, pitifully begging for my help, saying you absolutely had to save Kakashi, that you couldn't do without him. And now, you're just standing here in a daze? Looks like your relationship with that Kakashi isn't as deep as you claim, is it?"
Obito suddenly snapped out of his shock.
I came to him for help?
Obito immediately picked up on the key information in Tobi's words.
It seems that before he took over the body, the boy Obito in the dream had already made contact with Tobi and even reached some kind of cooperation.
However, what Obito was more concerned about was Tobi's eagerness.
What is it in such a hurry for?
Obito sneered inwardly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Are you in a hurry to urge me to get going?
Are you in such a hurry for me to go find Kakashi?
Connecting his previous speculations about the mastermind behind the scenes, and seeing Tobi's illogical appearance and urging, Obito instantly understood.
Sure enough, the old man was behind it all from the beginning.
Kakashi's situation is probably on the verge of collapse.
It can be determined that it contains soil.
The kidnapping of Kakashi, the setting up of the sealing technique, and the guidance of the young Obito to find Tobi were all the work of Madara Uchiha.
Their purpose was nothing more than to turn Kakashi into a Jinchūriki and use this as an opportunity to lure the young Obito into darkness.
For some reason, it wasn't Rin who suffered in this world, but Kakashi instead.
However, whatever that old man's intentions may be, the most important thing right now is to find Kakashi and rescue him.
We'll settle the other accounts later!
Turning against Afei now is clearly not a wise move.
The enemy is in the shadows, while he is in the open, and Kakashi's life is in their hands.
He must first calm down Afei and use him to lead him to Kakashi.
In the blink of an eye, Obito had already adjusted his expression and demeanor.
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, looking utterly exhausted from the long journey and much contemplation.
Obito's voice revealed just the right amount of weakness and panting: "I'm just a little tired, and I... I'm a little unsure of which way to go."
"Hey—" Ah Fei indeed dragged out the sound, "Your body is really quite weak, you can't even walk this short distance? But oh well, what can I do, I'm just kind-hearted."
Ah Fei's voice became cheerful again.
The white substance covering Obito's body wriggled slightly, as if adjusting its posture.
"Come with me, I know a shortcut that will get you to see Kakashi in time."
Obito lowered his eyelids and said in a feigned urgency, "Then I'll leave it to you, Tobi, please take me there quickly!"
"Okay, hold on tight!" Ah Fei replied cheerfully.
The next instant, Obito felt the white substance clinging to his body tighten suddenly, and a strange power enveloped his entire body in an instant.
Immediately afterwards, the ground beneath his feet and the trees beside him strangely became soft.
Obito seemed to have fallen into water, and in an indescribable way, he rapidly traveled into the depths of the forest.
The soil and stones rushed past him.
Obito's heart, however, remained calm and still.
Kakashi, wait for me!
……
in the audience.
Everyone stared in astonishment at Obito's bizarre appearance on the screen.
Apart from a few people who knew the truth, most people were seeing Obito and White Zetsu coexisting for the first time.
People started discussing it.
The audience's emotions, whether shocked or confused, quietly transformed into a series of numbers that flickered and danced on the panel in front of a ramen vendor silently watching from a dimly lit corner.
Naruto pointed at the screen, shouting incredulously, "How did Obito become like this?! He looks so strange! What are those white things on his body?!"
Hearing Naruto's exclamation, Sasuke merely glanced at him and calmly said, "That's a White Zetsu. A White Zetsu is a very peculiar man-made creature."
"White Zetsu...?" Sakura and Karin exchanged a glance, repeating the unfamiliar name in unison, their gazes turning to Sasuke with curiosity and confusion.
Sasuke nodded slightly and added, "Although this thing looks disgusting, its therapeutic effect is quite amazing, especially for the aftereffects caused by overuse of the Sharingan, the effect is outstanding."
He didn't elaborate on why he came to this conclusion, but his few words carried considerable weight.
In fact, Sasuke never mentioned it to anyone. After undergoing multiple treatments by Black Zetsu, he had to admit that Madara Uchiha's ability to create something like this was truly remarkable.
"It seems that Obito from that world also made a lot of efforts to save Kakashi..." Kakashi stared at the screen, muttering to himself.
However, looking at Obito in his current form, he couldn't help but frown.
This form...
Kakashi's gaze lingered for a moment on Obito's half-human, half-white body on the screen, then he subconsciously glanced at the figure sitting quietly in the corner on the other side of the audience.
Uchiha Itachi.
Obito's current appearance bears a striking resemblance to Itachi's current state!
Is this... a coincidence?
What surprised Kakashi even more was that he vaguely felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen Obito in this state somewhere before...
On the screen, with Tobi's help, Obito's body slowly merged with the earth, moving silently through the gaps between the soil and rocks.
This is the White Zetsu's unique mayfly technique, which allows him to avoid all obstacles on the ground and move in the designated direction at the fastest speed.
However, the journey was not peaceful.
Ah Fei's big mouth never stopped from beginning to end, gloating and chattering incessantly:
"Seriously, what's so great about that silver-haired brat? Is he worth risking your life for? Tsk tsk, could it be that you two actually have some kind of weird relationship?"
Normally, Obito would have shut him up with a harsh retort, or even physically taught this chatterbox how to shut up.
But at this moment, his entire focus was on the unknown destination ahead, and on the safety of Kakashi and Rin.
He simply pursed his lips and ignored Afei's incessant chatter.
Seeing that Dai Tu wouldn't listen to reason, A Fei gradually lost interest, his voice turning from noisy chatter to mumbled mutterings, before finally stopping reluctantly.
I don't know how long I traveled underground; time seemed to stretch out infinitely due to my anxiety.
Suddenly, Afei's usually carefree voice became unusually concise and clear: "Hey, we're here. The chakra reaction up there is very concentrated, but also very chaotic... Be careful."
Obito immediately perked up, his Sharingan quietly activating, his sensory abilities extending outwards at full power to capture the subtle chakra fluctuations above.
"Go up."
As soon as Obito finished speaking, Tobi didn't hesitate at all. The white substance covering Obito suddenly tightened, and a strange power instantly enveloped the two of them.
The next moment, Obito felt as if he had turned into a bubble in the water, being dragged up by Tobi and slowly floating, silently passing through the solid ground.
The soil and rocks before him seemed to come alive, obediently parting to make a path for him without making a sound.
When Obito's head and upper body finally broke free from the soil and were once again bathed in the light of the ground, his vision had just returned.
It was like an invisible thunderbolt that fell from the sky and struck Obito hard.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
A clearing surrounded by tall trees came into view.
In the center of the open space, two figures that Obito knew all too well stood face to face.
Kakashi and Rin!
They were surrounded by layers upon layers of enemies.
Kakashi gripped a short sword tightly in his hand, his body covered in wounds, and his once silver hair was now stained red with blood.
He was breathing heavily, but he still tried to stay alert, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.
Lin gripped the kunai tightly in both hands, her pretty face was deathly pale, her body trembled slightly from tension and fear, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The ninjas surrounding them, though dressed differently, all wore headbands with a rock pattern engraved on them.
They are ninjas from Iwagakure!
This scene is strikingly similar to the memory in reality that plunged Obito into an eternal nightmare.
The difference is that in reality, Kakashi and Rin were surrounded by Hidden Mist ninjas, but here, they are surrounded by Iwagakure (Hidden Rock Village) personnel.
The Iwa ninjas all around wore cruel and mocking sneers, resembling a cat-and-mouse game.
They were not in a hurry to attack; instead, it seemed as if they were deliberately waiting for some opportunity.
Why is it like this again...?!
Obito's pupils contracted, and his mind went blank for a moment.
Why?
Why does this dream always lead to the same tragedy, no matter how much he struggles to change it?
Just as Obito was momentarily stunned by the sudden impact, a strange change occurred in the arena.
Surrounded in the center, Lin's eyes suddenly flashed with a resolute glint, and she abruptly let out a scream tinged with tears: "Ahhh—!"
Without hesitation, she raised her kunai and lunged at the unsuspecting Kakashi.
"Hey! What is that woman trying to do?!" A shout of alarm and anger immediately rang out from the group of Iwa ninja.
"That silver-haired brat is still very useful; we absolutely cannot let him die here!" The leader of the Iwa ninjas' expressions changed drastically.
Several quick-thinking Iwa ninja instinctively stepped forward, rapidly forming hand seals, attempting to intercept Rin using Earth Release techniques.
However, everything happened too fast!
……
The audience was stunned.
"Rin...!" Naruto jumped up from his seat, his voice trembling with tension. "What is she doing? Why is she...?"
Sakura gasped in horror, "How...how could this happen...Rin actually did something to Kakashi-sensei..."
Even the usually composed Sasuke had a serious look in his eyes, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
In the corner, Itachi slowly opened his eyes, and a look of shock appeared on his previously calm face.
Kakashi froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, his single eye wide open, pupil contracting sharply, muttering, "Could it be... the Three-Tails...?!"
……
……
Absolutely not!
This must never happen again!
In the scene, Obito's eyes suddenly widened, and the tomoe of his Sharingan began to spin wildly at an unprecedented speed.
A strange and violent light shone from the depths of his scarlet pupils!
"Pfft!" Rin used all her strength to stab the kunai in her hand into Kakashi's chest!
"Damn it! Stop her!" The Iwa ninja roared in unison, their voices filled with shock and anger at their plans being disrupted.
Lin was instantly overwhelmed by boundless grief.
She felt as if all her strength had been drained away, her knees buckled, and she staggered backward to the ground, the handle of the kunai in her hand falling to the ground with a thud.
Tears quickly blurred her vision; she dared not look at Kakashi lying on the ground.
She couldn't bear to look at the consequences of her own actions.
Kakashi felt a jolt in his chest, a tremendous impact that made his blood surge and nearly knock him unconscious.
However, the expected sharp pain did not come; instead, a dull ache and numbness followed.
His face was ashen, yet he wore an expression of almost relieved calm. His voice was hoarse but gentle as he spoke to the tearful girl before him: "Lin... I don't blame you. This was a choice that had to be made..."
After saying this, Kakashi slowly closed his eyes, quietly awaiting death.
However, the excruciating pain and the chilling feeling of life rapidly slipping away that I had anticipated did not come.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi opened his eyes again, puzzled.
He looked down at his chest and saw that his shirt was ripped and wrinkled, but there was no blood or wound.
What happened...?
On the other side, Lin slowly lifted her teary eyes from between her fingers, staring blankly at the empty kunai handle in her hand.
When she looked at Kakashi's perfectly intact chest, she was completely stunned.
She stared blankly at the kunai in her hand, now only a broken handle, then at Kakashi, her mind a complete blank. She couldn't help but murmur in disbelief, "This...how is this possible...?"
Kakashi's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief: "What... happened?!"
The two men, separated by only a few steps, stared at each other, completely bewildered by their situation in the middle of the battlefield surrounded by enemies.
The surrounding Iwa ninja were also briefly stunned and agitated.
They witnessed the kunai pierce Kakashi, yet Kakashi was completely unharmed, and the metal blade of the kunai mysteriously disappeared.
"What?! Is it an illusion?!"
"A third party is involved! Be careful!"
The Iwa ninja immediately switched from watching the show to being on high alert, each one of them looking as if facing a formidable enemy, scanning every shadow in the forest.
The previously loose encirclement quickly tightened, trapping Kakashi and Rin even more tightly in the center.
Just then.
"Lin! What are you doing?!" An angry roar suddenly came from not far away!
This voice was all too familiar to Kakashi and Rin.
Both of them were startled and looked up sharply in the direction of the sound.
Beside a bush at the edge of the open space, the ground suddenly arched slightly, and a figure was slowly rising from the ground.
When the strange figure fully appeared and stood there, Kakashi and Rin couldn't help but gasp, their pupils suddenly contracting.
"Obito...Obito?!" Rin exclaimed in disbelief.
But at this moment, Obito looked exceptionally terrifying.
His entire body was enveloped in a strange white substance, with only his head showing!
The white substance resembled some kind of living armor, half-covering Obito's thin body, slowly wriggling, its appearance indescribably eerie and unsettling.
"What...what kind of monster is that?!"
"Where did he come from?!"
All the Iwa ninja's attention was instantly drawn to Obito.
Anyone who can infiltrate here silently and appear in such a bizarre manner is definitely a huge threat!
Obito's face was pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He seemed to be struggling as he intensely circulated his eye power.
He stared intently at Rin, who was slumped on the ground, his crimson Sharingan eyes burning with a mixture of anger and rage.
"Rin, how could you do this to Kakashi?!"
"Are you crazy?!"
Rin was so frightened by Obito's inhuman and bizarre form that she forgot to breathe.
She stared at Obito, speechless, her voice trembling, "Obito? You...how did you become like this?!"
As she said this, she seemed to suddenly realize something, her pretty face turned deathly pale, and she burst into tears.
"Wait! Obito, what are you doing here?! It's too dangerous here, get out of here, get out of here!"
However, Obito ignored Rin's words.
He stared darkly at the broken handle of the kunai in Rin's hand, his eyes bloodshot: "Even if you're desperate... you shouldn't treat Kakashi like this!"
"Cough...cough..."
A sudden cough interrupted Obito's low murmur.
Kakashi was seen clutching his chest with one hand, breathing heavily, his face deathly pale.
This deathly pallor was not only due to depleted chakra and severe injuries, but also to a deep-seated despair.
"I...I'm beyond saving..." Kakashi's voice was hoarse, tinged with a bitter smile. "They...sealed the Three-Tails Isobu...into me..."
"What?!" Obito's pupils dilated suddenly.
Kakashi gave a bitter smile, a smile more painful than a grimace: "I can feel it... howling inside me..."
He struggled to lift his eyes and looked around at the Iwa ninja, whose expressions had changed slightly and whose gazes had grown increasingly cold at his sudden outburst. He said haltingly, "The Iwa ninja's plan... is to take me back to Konoha... and then let the Three-Tails... run rampant in the village..."
"Using tailed beasts... to destroy Konoha... and I... was delivered to Konoha's doorstep... a Jinchūriki bomb..."
Lin was trembling all over and could not stand up.
She covered her face in anguish and wept, large tears falling through her fingers: "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
Killing her own companion must have been incredibly cruel for her.
But she had no choice at the time, rather than plunge the village into a hellish state of being ravaged by tailed beasts.
At least, she believed she had no other choice.
After listening to Kakashi's monologue and seeing Rin's broken state, Obito's madness gradually subsided a little.
A familiar scenario!
Uchiha Madara...!
Obito gritted his teeth inwardly.
It's the same old routine again!
They're using tailed beasts again!
It's another situation where your companions have to choose between the village and themselves!
You old bastard!
"Shut up!!" Obito suddenly shouted, interrupting Kakashi and Rin's painful outpouring.
He rushed up to Kakashi and, to their astonishment, raised his hand sharply.
Snapped! !
A resounding slap landed squarely on Kakashi's pale cheek!
The force was so great that it turned half of Kakashi's face to one side, instantly revealing a bright red five-finger palm print.
"Hey kid! What are you doing?!" Aoi Iwa ninja shouted angrily.
They needed Kakashi to live, but they were even more wary of Obito's actions and took a few steps closer.
Ignoring the hostility around him, Obito angrily questioned Kakashi: "They want to use you as a bomb to throw into Konoha, are you really going to obediently accept your fate? You even begged Rin to kill you? Kakashi, has your brain been eaten by a tailed beast?!"
Kakashi's head was buzzing from the slap, and half of his face burned with pain.
He stared blankly at Obito, who was radiating a terrifying killing intent, and murmured, "But...but I have no other way..."
"Bullshit!" Obito interrupted him rudely.
He whirled around, his crimson Mangekyou Sharingan eyes scanning every Iwa ninja in his vicinity.
The Iwa ninja tensed up, assuming fighting stances, with earth-style chakra faintly gathering and surging beneath their feet.
"Just kill them all, isn't that enough?!" Obito's voice was icy, his killing intent fully revealed.
"How arrogant! Kill this cocky brat!"
Enraged, the Iwa ninja roared, and their leader waved his hand sharply, ordering, "Attack him! Take him down! Be careful not to hurt Kakashi!"
Before he could finish speaking, several Iwa ninja rushed towards Obito from all directions like arrows released from a bow.
The kunai, accompanied by several Earth Release attacks, aimed directly at Obito's vital points.
However, Obito seemed completely oblivious, not even turning his head.
His figure stood motionless in place, letting the fierce ninjutsu whistle towards him from behind.
Obito slowly turned his head to look at Kakashi, who was staring in disbelief behind him, his voice surprisingly calm.
"If you can't do it..."
"Then just watch from the sidelines and see how I protect you."