Kannabi Bridge (10)

Meanwhile, on Obito's side, the fight had reached a stalemate. Obito stood in shock, watching Kakashi grunt and cover his injured left eye.

"Kakashi!?" Obito called out, his voice filled with concern.

It felt like an eternity to Obito, from the moment Kakashi had saved him to when he was attacked and fell to the ground. Kakashi had lost an eye due to his impulsiveness and had inadvertently revealed Rin's location to the enemy.

"Are you okay?" Obito asked, guilt-ridden, as he helped Kakashi to his feet.

"The enemy… is still nearby," Kakashi muttered, grimacing in pain.

Realizing he couldn't open his left eye, Kakashi trembled as he removed his hand, revealing the damage. He then signaled to Obito to focus on guarding against the enemy rather than worrying about him.

"He threw away the kunai stained with my blood, so the smell has dissipated. We'll have to rely on the faint airflow and sounds to locate him."

Once Kakashi adjusted to the pain, he quickly assessed their situation.

"Sorry…"

Seeing Kakashi bleeding heavily, Obito felt overwhelmed with guilt and lost his will to fight.

"Ninja Code Article 21: Never cry in front of others. Ninjas cannot cry. I'm not dead yet, and even if I were, you shouldn't mourn for me."

"I..." Obito stammered, struggling with his emotions.

"Don't forget, you made big promises to Yami."

Kakashi drew the White Fang short sword from his back, guarding against the enemy while also lecturing his companion.

"Or do you want to admit that you're just a coward who talks big but does nothing and be the last one in your clan for the rest of your life?"

"Of course not..."

Kakashi was right; he had to be strong, and...

Rin was waiting for their rescue!

Remembering Rin's smiling face, Obito quickly wiped away his tears, drew a kunai, and stood back-to-back with Kakashi to defend against the enemy.

"Left!"

Ding!

At Kakashi's command, Obito's body reacted instinctively, blocking the enemy's shuriken with his kunai.

"Above!"

Obito sensed the enemy's direction by the airflow and quickly reported the location.

Bang!

Kakashi moved swiftly, but instead of defending, he attacked. However, he struck only a puff of white smoke.

"Shadow clone?"

Kakashi hadn't expected the enemy to use shadow clones to confuse them while employing his invisibility technique.

"Obito!?"

Realizing the one next to him was a shadow clone, Kakashi quickly turned around, but it was too late.

Puff!

A kunai pierced through a human body.

"Why... why... you obviously can't see me?"

But the one who got pierced wasn't Obito but Daiki, who was invisible. After being stabbed in the abdomen, his secret technique was dispelled, revealing his bleeding body.

"Obito..."

Kakashi was stunned. Not only had Obito evaded the enemy's attack, but he had also delivered a critical blow.

He soon understood why.

"Your eyes?"

"Yeah…"

Obito's eyes had evolved into a two-tomoe Sharingan. Though the enemy's camouflage technique made his body transparent, it couldn't conceal the flow of chakra used for ninjutsu.

Usually, he would be overjoyed, but now he only had the enemy in front of his eyes.

Daiki cursed Obito as he fell, clutching his bleeding abdomen. "Damn you... Uchiha scum..."

Obito watched as Daiki collapsed, then turned to Kakashi, who was still covering his injured eye.

"Huh... We got rid of the enemy, but my left eye is useless now," Kakashi said, relaxing slightly. "Fortunately, I have the medical kit Rin gave me, so I can handle the emergency."

Enduring the pain, Kakashi bandaged his eye and wounds with Obito's help.

"Let's go to Rin as soon as possible," Obito urged, thinking of the Jonin who had gone after Rin and Yami. The thought of them in danger made him anxious.

"No, Yami's transparent technique is strong. With him by Rin's side, they should be fine. We need to finish the mission now. The Iwa Village sent two Jonin against us, meaning they already know of our presence," Kakashi said, calmer than Obito, who was worried about Rin's safety.

"You're just assuming. Rin is a medical ninja, and Yami was just recently promoted to Chunin. How could they fight a Jonin?" Obito retorted, surprised Kakashi was focusing on the mission at a time like this.

"But if we don't move forward and get out of the forest quickly, the enemy forces will stop us. Then we won't complete our mission!" Kakashi insisted.

Obito clenched his fists. "Are you going to give up on Rin? That was a Jonin. Do you think Rin and Yami can handle such an opponent? Why can't we rescue Rin first and then complete the mission together, Kakashi?"

Kakashi's eyes were indifferent. "Don't you see? Our infiltration has been discovered. If we turn back now, we'll waste too much time, and the enemy's defenses will strengthen. Even if Sensei comes, he won't be able to complete the mission."

Obito's face was conflicted. "Even so, I can't just abandon Rin..."

Kakashi's voice was cold and firm. "Ninjas must complete their missions even if it means sacrificing their companions. That's the rule. If the mission fails, the war will drag on, and more people will die."

"Ninjas don't need emotions, Obito. Ninjas who break the rules are scum."

"Kakashi, you..."

Before Obito could continue, a black shadow rose from the ground and stabbed Kakashi's arm.

"Kakashi!" Obito shouted, horrified.

Daiki, whom they thought was dead, stood up, his stomach still bleeding. "You naive kids. Did you think I was dead without checking my injuries?"

He licked the blood from his kunai, his face twisted into a deranged grin. "I just fainted. Even though my secret technique was cracked, I can still kill you with my physical skills alone."

"Are you alright?" Obito stood beside Kakashi, keeping an eye on the enemy.

"The mission is more important. I'll stay here to hold him back. You hurry up and complete the mission!"

Kakashi's left hand trembled as he fished out explosive tags from his pouch, offering them to Obito. His face was slick with cold sweat.

"You're still talking about this at a time like this?!" Obito shouted, angrily swatting the tags away.

"Don't be willful. I only have one hand and one eye left. I can no longer perform hand seals or ninjutsu. The enemy is injured and won't last long either. Now I need you to complete the mission alone, Obito!"

Kakashi drew a dagger from his back with his shaking hand and tried to focus his remaining eye. He was determined to make a final stand against the enemy.

"Get out of here! This is a captain's order!"

"No!" Obito retorted, his voice resolute. "In this world, ninjas who break the rules and abandon their missions are considered scum, but those who don't cherish their companions are even worse. I'd rather be considered scum than betray my friends."

Obito ripped off his goggles, revealing his Sharingan. "So, I think White Fang is the real hero!"

Kakashi stared in shock, hearing for the first time someone call his father a hero since that incident.

"I will never abandon my companions for a mission!" Obito declared, forming a series of hand seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A blazing fire shot from his mouth, heading straight toward Daiki. Surprised and wincing from the stabbing pain in his stomach, Daiki flickered to the side. But as he landed, his eyes widened when he saw Obito's figure suddenly appear in front of him.

Without hesitation, Obito thrust a kunai at Daiki, piercing his heart.

With wide eyes full of disbelief, Daiki collapsed on the ground, dead for real this time.

***

Thank you very much for your support!!!

For those who are interested in reading or editing my friend fanfic, here's chapter 1 link in author note.