Chapter 71

Chapter 71

"I will never allow you to harm my comrades!"

Obito said this as if gathering strength, and his eyes quickly changed, with the two-tomoe Sharingan fully formed.

"Obito... you..."

Haneda and Kakashi, who had been knocked to the ground, looked in surprise at Obito's eyes.

But what good would a two-tomoe Sharingan do? Even Haneda's three-tomoe had been defeated by Ichiro.

"Haneda, Kakashi, don't worry. No matter what, I'll protect you!"

Obito drew the Special kunai entrusted to him by Minato, holding it in front of him, eyes locked on Ichiro.

"A two-tomoe Sharingan, not bad."

"Too bad, even a three-tomoe Sharingan falls under my Swift Release."

In a flash, Ichiro appeared before Obito, lifting his leg to kick, but Obito blocked it with a kunai.

*Clang!*

The kunai struck Ichiro's leg, as if hitting steel, leaving not even a scratch.

With both Swift Release and Steel Release, Ichiro combined speed and defense. Obito, who had just awakened his Sharingan, was barely able to keep up with his movements.

"Only weaklings can't protect their comrades. Your strength is so insignificant, it barely catches my interest."

Ichiro said contemptuously. Compared to Haneda and Kakashi's coordinated use of Chidori, Obito was pitifully weak.

Suddenly, Haneda got up, forming a blue Chidori spear in his right hand and striking at Ichiro. However, Ichiro sidestepped, disappearing again and reappearing behind Haneda.

He stroked his chin and lifted his leg, aiming straight for Haneda's heart.

"I'll deal with the ones who are a threat first, then I'll finish off you weaklings."

Ichiro laughed wildly, ignoring Obito and Asuma's desperate attacks. Since Haneda was nearby, Obito couldn't use his Fire Release without risking hitting his comrade.

Even if he did manage to use it, it was unlikely to hit someone with Swift Release.

"Am I really just going to stand by and watch my comrade die?"

Despair filled Obito's two-tomoe Sharingan as he thought this. He hated his past self for not training harder, and now that Haneda and Kakashi had fallen, there was nothing he could do.

"Am I really going to watch him kill Haneda?"

Obito whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.

At that moment, a bright golden flash shot toward Ichiro, knocking him away.

"Am I too late?"

A gentle male voice echoed, and the one who arrived in a flash was none other than the Yellow Flash—Minato Namikaze.

"Sensei Minato!" Obito cried out excitedly.

"Severely injured already? You all did well."

Minato said as he placed several special kunai throughout the battlefield.

"The enemy has Swift Release and Steel Release, Minato-senpai!" Haneda called out in warning.

"Steel Release? A tricky one..."

Minato used his Flying Thunder God Technique and instantly appeared behind Ichiro. Before Ichiro could react, Minato's kunai, infused with Wind Release chakra, was already aiming for his neck.

*Clang!*

The kunai struck Ichiro's neck but broke instantly, leaving only a small cut. It barely scratched the surface, with no sign of hitting any vital arteries.

"Even Wind Release chakra, which specializes in cutting, can't break through his defense. I really lack in the offensive department."

Minato flashed away just as Ichiro's fist missed him by a millimeter.

Even someone with Swift Release couldn't compare to Minato's speed. However, as Minato attacked, memories of fighting Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, came to mind. Though fast, he couldn't penetrate their tailed beast cloaks.

Minato glanced at Ichiro's right chest and shoulder, where the scorched flesh and scars were. Clearly, Haneda and the others had inflicted those injuries.

At that moment, Haneda, who had the body of a Sage, stood up, his stamina and chakra partially restored.

"Use Lightning Release, Minato-senpai. Chidori can break through his defense." Haneda said, wiping dirt off his face.

"Chidori? Understood. Can you still fight, Haneda?" Minato asked kindly.

"I can!"

As soon as Haneda spoke, the sound of a thousand birds echoed as a bright blue light flashed on his short blade.

"Just attack head-on. Leave everything else to me."

Minato smiled. As his words fell, he activated Flying Thunder God!

In the moment Ichiro tried to retreat, a short blade crackling with electricity shot toward his chest!

In just 0.01 seconds—this was Minato's speed!

The blade pierced through Ichiro's heart, and in desperation, Ichiro activated the seal hidden in his watch, releasing countless explosive tags that wrapped around him.

He was going to self-destruct!

"Minato-senpai!"

Before Haneda could finish speaking, a flash of gold streaked across the battlefield, pulling Ichiro's body away from the explosive tags.

In a blur, Haneda found himself standing beside Obito, completely unaware of how quickly it had happened.

"Get ready for the explosion."

Minato warned softly.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

As his words fell, a series of explosions echoed across the battlefield. Meanwhile, a strange black liquid oozed from Ichiro's body.

Looking at Minato's calm, confident figure, Haneda felt an unprecedented sense of safety. This man, both gentle and powerful, was perfect in every way!

Especially his Flying Thunder God—something Haneda deeply admired. Not even Swift Release could match it. Such was the power of space-time ninjutsu!

"Sorry, I almost arrived too late."

Minato turned back to Haneda and the others, apologizing.

"No… you came just in time, Minato-senpai," Haneda smiled.

"Yeah, sensei, you came at the perfect time!" Obito said excitedly. Just moments before Minato's arrival, Obito had been utterly despairing at his inability to protect his comrades. Minato's arrival had been a beacon of hope, instantly reversing the situation.

Minato, a little embarrassed by the praise, scratched his head and looked at the three fallen ninja.

"It looks like this B-rank mission will be upgraded to S-rank."

He pulled out a sealing scroll, storing Ichiro's body away for further investigation by the village's forensics unit. The reason behind Ichiro's attack would be revealed in time.

"Let's head back. This mission is considered complete," Minato said softly.

With that, Haneda and the others finally relaxed, gathering the items they had dropped on the battlefield.

Seeing Kakashi, who had fainted at some point, Haneda smiled wryly and hoisted him onto his back. In response, Obito and Asuma exchanged happy looks, each carrying Rin and Kurenai as they left the battlefield.

***

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