CH - 125 Succesful Escape!

{Shuko, war has descended upon us. While I'm unsure about the village's situation there, I believe it should be holding up well. Don't concern yourself over my safety, I'm safe here. The Grass and Rain Villages have formed an alliance, ensuring our protection. Leaders Akihiko and Hanzo are watching over us.

The five major ninja villages may appear daunting, and it's natural for us to feel uneasy. However, please, do not be afraid. My blessing will be always with you.

Let's place our trust in Leader Akihiko, just as we did when we first arrived in the Grass Village. The Land of Grass and the Land of Rain will undoubtedly emerge victorious!

Speaking of which, I have a secret to share. A few days ago, Leader Akihiko confided in me that the war would conclude peacefully soon. So, let's anticipate the arrival of peace together. Furthermore, please relay to Ruko not to wander around too much. 

I believe I'll return home soon. There's no need to write me more letters, as the outbreak of war will keep the ninjas busy. This will be my last message for now. Inform Ruko that her dad misses her dearly.}

Koujou smiled as he set down his pen and glanced out of the window. The day was just beginning to brighten, and a light rain fell outside.

But he had a task at hand, he needed to deliver the letter. Once he delivered it, he'd have to return to work. These were uncertain times, and as the factory manager, he anticipated a hectic schedule to ease the concerns of many.

He gathered the letter from the table, meticulously folded it, and secured it inside an envelope. In a soft, hopeful murmur, he said, "I truly hope Shuko receives this letter!"

…

As the Grass and Rain Villages officially announced their alliance and the Sand Village and Mist Village observed the Grass Village's steadfastness, both villages deployed a portion of their forces towards the Grass and Rain Villages in the midst of this tense war.

This unexpected outbreak of hostilities somewhat alleviated the pressure on Konoha. In a way, the Grass and Rain Villages were shouldering a part of their burden.

However, as of now, Konoha is still in the dark regarding the source of this crucial information. The intelligence was immensely valuable, raising suspicions. Did the Grass Village, by any chance, sell it for personal gain? But that notion seemed improbable. Which ninja village would willingly trade its own secrets for mere monetary profit?

In fact, shortly after the news had circulated, whispers in the ninja world hinted that this intelligence might have been acquired by Shimura Danzo, the enigmatic figure known as the Darkness of Konoha, through his secret investigations. However, Konoha remained dubious, given the high cost of this information.

In response, after the initial commotion, Konoha decided to seek clarification from Danzo. However, he had remained unresponsive for several days, fueling suspicions that Danzo might be covertly diverting these resources for his own agenda.

As several days passed with no word from Danzo, the Third Hokage couldn't help but grow increasingly frustrated, pondering the secretive activities of him. He wondered, 'What could Danzo possibly be up to?'

Speaking of which, Despite the Grass Village's lessening of their burden, Konoha still faced substantial pressure. Furthermore, the return of the Three-Tails was a crucial element in the pursuit of peace.

Faced with despair, Obito finally comprehended the essence of what his old teacher, Madara-sensei, had been emphasizing all along. He realized that the so-called 'talk of a peaceful village' effectively meant sacrificing himself, Rin, and everyone else for the greater good. What baffled him was that he and his companions had exerted so much effort to protect Konoha, yet they felt abandoned in their time of need.

In the midst of his despair and anger, one of Obito's eyes underwent a sudden transformation, attaining the Mangekyo Sharingan. Despite Rin's reassuring smile and words of 'Don't worry about me,' Obito remained determined to rescue her from the clutches of the darkness and hypocrisy that seemed to envelop the village. It was at this moment that he resolved to break free from Konoha and convinced Rin to join him.

However, awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan for the first time and embarking on the run with an injured friend while being pursued by their former teacher, Minato, and Obito's old rival, Kakashi, proved to be a challenge.

"Obito, please," Rin implored, her voice laced with both gratitude and anxiety. She understood that Obito's actions were driven by his desire to protect her, but the weight of betraying their village weighed heavily on her conscience.

But Obito remained resolute, firmly clutching her and continuing to carry her to safety. "I won't leave you, Rin. I'll get you out of here."

In an attempt to reassure her, he offered a small smile and shared his vision for their future. "I know of a place. It may be a bit chaotic, and there's no sunshine, but it's filled with good people. Madara-sensei is there too, although he can be strict. I believe you'll like it in that place."

As he gazed ahead, Obito's determination shone through. "We're almost there. Once we reach the Land of Grass, we'll be safe. Even if I can't become a ninja there, it doesn't matter. I'll work alongside that guy to make a living."

Rin observed Obito's resolve, aware of the pain hidden behind his cheerful facade. She knew that Obito's dream was to become Hokage, and the current circumstances had dashed those dreams.

"Stop," Suddenly, the atmosphere was broken by sudden voices. The tension in the air was palpable as voices echoed from all sides, halting Obito and Rin in their tracks. They turned to find themselves surrounded by a group of ninjas, including two very familiar figures.

"Obito, please come back with us," Minato implored earnestly, his voice laced with concern. "I'll explain everything to the Third Hokage, and Rin is my student. As her teacher, I'll ensure her safety."

Kakashi, standing beside Minato, observed the situation with a conflicted expression, his single eye reflecting the turmoil within him. He muttered to himself, "This idiot..."

Obito's resolve remained unshaken as he stood protectively in front of Rin. He met Minato's gaze and then glanced at Kakashi, shaking his head while clenching his lower lip. "I can't trust you anymore, Minato-sensei," Obito declared firmly. He continued, emphasizing the profound impact Madara had on his life. "If not for Madara-sensei, I would be dead under those boulders. And if it weren't for me, Rin and Kakashi would also be dead. You can't save anyone, Sensei!"

Minato was taken aback by Obito's words, his response a stammered, "Obito..."

The solemnity of the moment hung heavy in the air as everyone present, including the ANBU ninjas, watched in silence. It was undeniable that Obito had been a remarkable young ninja, It was thanks to his contributions that Konoha had narrowly avoided defeat at the Kannabi Bridge. Sympathy welled up within them, but they were all bound by the duty to follow orders.

Obito, tears in his eyes, took a kunai and wiped them away, slashing a deep gash across his forehead protector. He cast a resolute gaze upon Minato and declared, "That's enough. I'm no longer a Konoha ninja."

"No!" shouted Minat, as his face displayed a sense of panic as he saw Obito's actions. However, he gradually regained his composure upon seeing Obito's unwavering determination, he acknowledged the depth of Obito's resolve. Taking a deep breath, Minato spoke with newfound determination, "In that case... I will personally bring you back."

With this declaration, Minato turned towards the other ANBU ninja, a hint of plea in his eyes as he addressed them, "This is my responsibility as his teacher. Please allow me to handle this personally. Trust me."

The ANBU ninja remained silent, their gazes shifting among themselves. Gripping their kunai, they eventually lowered their heads and took a step back, granting the field to their teacher and his student.

A faint smile touched Minato's lips in gratitude for their understanding. He turned back to Obito, his expression resolute, and declared, "I will bring you back myself, Obito!"

As Minato spoke, he vanished in a blur of speed and reappeared behind Obito, launching an attack. But Obito had prepared for this moment and demonstrated the newfound power he had acquired. He swiftly dodged Minato's attack, proving that he had grown immensely in skill and agility.

However, amid the clash of their abilities, Obito heard something that seemed to catch him by surprise. He turned to Minato with a bewildered expression. Without wasting a moment, Obito harnessed his unique abilities to bypass the surrounding ninja and dashed away with Rin towards the direction of the Land of Grass.

The agility and speed displayed by Obito left everyone stunned. Evading the Flying Thunder God Technique, a technique deemed unassailable by any other Konoha ninja, was a testament to Obito's extraordinary prowess and prodigious talent.

Minato and Kakashi wasted no time and gave immediate chase. Each time Minato attempted to utilize the Flying Thunder God Technique to strike at Obito, he was met with Obito's uncanny ability to elude his attacks.

As everyone else chasing him witnessed Obito continuously outmaneuvering Minato's attacks, they couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and admiration for the young ninja. As they looked at Obito's back, feelings of admiration and regret filled their hearts.

After Minato and Kakashi failed to catch up with Obito, they watched his form grow smaller as he approached the Land of Grass. Obito, still not fully comprehending the extent of his newfound abilities, was filled with unwavering determination.

As Obito neared the borders of the Land of Grass, Minato couldn't help but let a sigh of relief escape his lips, though he quickly composed himself and muttered, "Obito..."

One of the other ninjas, who was chasing with them realized the gravity of the situation and urgently spoke up, "Minato-sama, we're approaching the Land of Grass. We can't enter their territory. Time is running out, and we must bring them back!"

Without hesitation, the group of Konoha ninjas charged ahead, determined to retrieve Obito and Rin. They shouted, "Come back with us and face Hokage-sama's judgment!"

However, before they could close in on Obito and Rin, a sudden voice rang out "Paper Style: Sword Cage", and sharp, paper-like white blades appeared, blocking their path from all directions. These blades swept towards them with relentless force, as a joyful voice accompanied the assault. "I'm sorry, but even though the Leaf and the Grass are allies, we can't have visitors in the Land of Grass right now!"

The unexpected attack left the pursuing Konoha ninjas shocked and scrambling to evade the strikes. As the white blades whizzed by, they saw the figure responsible for this ambush – none other than Akihiko Kusano, the Grass Village Leader.