120-Bird In a Cage

[Wednesday's Chapter]

Tobe took a moment to focus his chakra and immediately after, ten shadow clones appeared next to him. 

He had counted the number of shinobi closing in on him, and his mind raced as he took into account their power levels from their chakra as well as the nature of the ability he was using. 

"Although this is the first time I am using this ability, ten of these shadow clones should be enough going against twenty kurogane shinobi, right?

'While I am surprised that a lot of them showed up from that bastard's smoke signal. I should have expected one of them to call for reinforcements. Maybe he had a special standing in the clan.'

Tobe did not know how close to the truth he was, Kurogane Eguchi was the only offspring of the current clan head of the Kurogane Clan, who despite all his strength, had died after fighting Miwa. 

So when the clan's guard, or what was left of them, saw the purple smoke in the sky, they acted promptly moving in to provide aid to the next clan head.

However, when they arrived and saw Eguchi's lifeless body, their anger only rose. Fueled by anger, Tobi became their unfortunate target, not like things would have gone differently if Eguchi was still alive.

The first shinobi lunged at Tobe, its claws gleaming in the fading moonlight. The shadow clone intercepted the attack, absorbing the impact and reflecting it back with equal force. The shinobi was thrown back, stunned by Tobe's own power. Tobe moved with blinding speed, closing the distance and delivering a powerful kick that sent the shinobi sprawling. 

That was the nature of Tobe's right eye Mangekyo. Its ability was called Kage no Kagami, which translated to Shadow Mirror. This ability allowed its user to create shadow clones that could instantly mirror any jutsu or physical attack directed at the user. 

'It's funny that one of my Mangekyo abilities involves the shadow clone jutsu, which was the first ever jutsu I learnt after copying Mother.'

The clones could act as a buffer, absorbing the attack and then reflecting it back at the opponent with equal force. The only major drawback was that the clones had limited chances of absorbing and reflecting damage back to the target. 

Moreover, the clones were limited in number and each clone drained a considerable amount of chakra. If Tobe had more chakra, he would be able to make almost twenty such shadow clones. But currently, he had to make do with a number that wouldn't strain him.

Another Kurogane pounced at Tobe's shadow clone. Tobe sidestepped effortlessly, his clone mirroring his movements and meeting the shinobi head-on. The impact was absorbed and reflected, sending the shinobi tumbling to the ground. 

The Kurogane shinobi were relentless, their transformations making them formidable opponents, but Tobe's Shadow Mirror ability provided a perfect counter. Each attack directed at him was absorbed and reflected back to them, the clones acting as both shield and weapon.

For a moment, everything seemed to be in a stalemate as Tobe's clones lasted longer than the Kurogane clan expected. But deep down, Tobe knew this was not sustainable as more enemies kept on coming.

'What do I do?' 

Tobe wondered while he was perched up in a tree. Sweat dripped down Tobe's brow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel his chakra reserves dwindling. He knew he was in a tough spot. Desperation clawed at the edges of his mind, but he forced it down. He needed to think, to act swiftly.

He had tried using the clones as a distraction to get away, but after retrieving his brother's body, he realized that there was another condition for his shadow mirror ability to work. 

He had to be in close proximity to his shadow clones for them to efficiently work, they were not like ordinary shadow clones who could perform tasks despite the distance of their maker.

Tobe had also considered simply cancelling the ability and flickering away, but that wouldn't achieve anything as his enemies had already noticed his position and it was only because his shadow clones fighting them that they hadn't closed in on him. Tobe was basically a bird in a cage.

'Here goes nothing, if it doesn't work, then there's nothing else I can do.'

Tobe's vision began to blur, the strain on his right eye threatening to render him blind. He had one chance left. Gathering every ounce of remaining strength and chakra, he poured it into his Mangekyo Sharingan, forcing the chakra into his eye. The pain was excruciating, but he pushed through it.

To his surprise, it worked and new shadow clones appeared replacing the current remaining ones. With their new ferocity, the tide of the battle once again shifted in Tobe's favour.

After a couple of hours, the battlefield was littered with the defeated forms of the Kurogane clan shinobi. The sun had finally begun to rise, leaving the area bathed in the dim light of dawn. 

Tobe stood amidst the chaos, his breath heavy and laboured, his eyes bleeding from the strain of using his Mangekyo Sharingan to its absolute limit. The pain was sharp, radiating through his skull, but he had managed to overcome every beastly opponent.

'Finally, it is over.' Tobe remarked as he collapsed to the ground.

He had pushed himself beyond his limits, and it had paid off. He was barely standing, his body trembling from the exertion and the immense chakra depletion.

If you counted the number of shinobi that he and his brother dealt with before meeting the jounins who forced them to stay here, the number would be over a couple hundred.

'I feel so weak... I guess that battle really took a lot out of me. But the fact that I still survived showed the enormous power of the Mangekyo.'

Just as Tobe thought he might finally succumb to his injuries and fatigue, he sensed a familiar presence approaching rapidly.

'Are there more coming?' 

Tobe thought as he tried to get up to prepare himself.

Uchiha Tsuji, a fellow shinobi from the group that had been attacked by the Kurogane, arrived on the scene. It was understandable why no one came to Tobe's aid as the disparity in numbers between the two forces was too large.

As Tsuji looked around Tobe, his eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight before him. There were bodies scattered across the battlefield. It was surprising to Tsuji since he was well aware of Tobe's capabilities. 

"Tobe!" Tsuji called out, rushing to his side. "Are you alright?"

Tobe looked up, his vision still blurry. He managed a weary smile. "I'm... still breathing, aren't I?"

Tsuji's eyes narrowed as he examined Tobe more closely. The right side of Tobe's face was streaked with blood, his eye socket dark and ominous. The strain of using the Shadow Mirror had clearly taken a severe toll. "Your eye... it's bleeding."

Tobe nodded slowly. "It's nothing serious."

"You did well, Tobe. You held them off long enough for us to regroup. But you need to rest now."

Tsuji looked around the battlefield, his expression thoughtful. "Let's get you back to the rest, the battle is almost over, and we need to regroup and plan our next move."

Tsuji glanced around and asked. "Tobe, where's Toda? Wasn't he with you?"

The question hit Tobe like a punch to the gut. For a moment, the world around him blurred as memories he had desperately tried to block out came flooding back. 

The image of his brother, Toda, fighting valiantly against the onslaught of the Kurogane clan, only to fall beneath their relentless assault. The pain and grief were almost too much to bear.

Tsuji noticed the change in Tobe's expression, the way his face darkened and his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Tobe... what happened?"

Tobe's voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion. "Toda... he fought bravely. He gave everything he had to protect us, but... they killed him."

Tsuji's eyes widened in shock and sorrow. "No... Toda..."

Tsuji placed a comforting hand on Tobe's shoulder. "We'll honour him properly when we return to the village. He deserves that, and more."

Tobe took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I know. I just... I wish I could have done more. I wish I was strong enough to save him."

"You did everything you could," Tsuji said softly. Tobe closed his eyes, allowing a single tear to escape."

Tsuji instinctively reached out to help Tobe get to his feet, but Tobe raised his hand to stop him. "No, Tsuji. Don't."

Tsuji's brow furrowed with concern. "What do you mean?"

Tobe shook his head slowly, his eyes heavy with fatigue and something deeper, more final. For the past few minutes, he had felt it, a gnawing sensation deep within him. 

It was more than just exhaustion. It was a profound emptiness, a hollowing out of his very essence. When he first managed to keep on using his Mangekyo despite his low chakra reserves, he was glad.

But he kept on doing so, an unsettling feeling crept up on him. Only once the adrenaline was over and the fatigue of the battle overcame did he realize what was happening.

Tobe had given his all in the battle, even to the extent of using his own life force to power his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"I can feel it, Tsuji," Tobe said, his voice a strained whisper. "I've pushed too far. My lifeforce... I used it in the battle. There's nothing left."

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