Chapter 63: Ambush

An-san lay sprawled on the ground.

Every inch of his body throbbed with searing pain.

Even so, he forced himself to lift an arm, shakily reaching toward… a critical area.

"Huff… Ha…"

A deep sigh of relief escaped his lips.

At least that was still intact.

Wait… hold it—hold the hell up!

He frantically fumbled around, patting himself down.

His expression froze.

It was… empty. Completely empty.

Gone.

"I'VE BEEN CLEANED OUT!!!"

His anguished scream tore through the skies, startling countless birds into flight.

"I'LL KILL THEM ALL! I SWEAR I'LL KILL THEM!"

Seeing him in utter despair, others ninja unconsciously gulped.

If he had been the one in that spot earlier…

Yikes.

"Good buddy," he muttered under his breath, "your big bro owes you for life."

Hearing the explosion behind them, Obito's shadow clone memories synchronized instantly.

Obito's expression shifted.

"Everyone, pick up the pace! They're catching up—fast!"

Shikayu's eyes lit up.

"Oi, Obito, did you bring any explosive tags?"

"Explosive tags?" Obito scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh… no, I didn't bring any."

Shikayu froze mid-step.

"No tags? Then that explosion just now… was them?"

Obito shook his head.

"Nah. That was my shadow clone detonating itself. I guess it… got shy?"

Shikayu: "???"

Why the hell would your shadow clone get shy?!

Wait.

Why would it explode in the first place?!

The six of them were sprinting at full speed, chakra propelling them forward.

Even so, the pursuing forces behind them steadily closed the gap.

Though Iwagakure had left only a minimal number of shinobi to guard the rear, even a minimal Iwa force was no joke.

At least ten squads of skilled shinobi were hot on their trail, systematically tracking and flanking them.

As the six sped forward, the ground beneath their feet suddenly began to tremble.

Kakashi's eyes widened in alarm.

"This is… Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"

Not far ahead, three Iwa squads had coordinated their assault, launching a massive earth-shattering jutsu.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The earth groaned and split as their attack hit, creating gaping chasms that stretched like endless ravines before them.

Not only that—terrifying waves of chakra surged from below, bursting upward like a tangible force.

Dust and debris filled the air.

The six of them felt the ground collapse beneath their feet, sending them plummeting downward.

"Everyone, watch out!"

Kakashi, reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, grabbed Ryoko by the arm.

With a quick push off the crumbling wall, he leaped clear of the falling debris, safely landing on stable ground.

Obito dangled precariously in the rift.

Grabbing Rin, he shoved her upward with a burst of strength.

"Go! Get to safety!"

"Obito!" Shikayu's voice called out, frantic.

"Lend me a hand!"

Turning, Obito saw Shikayu clinging to the cliffside. His hands flashed through hand seals, his face flushed red with effort.

From Shikayu's shadow, a tendril extended outward, gripping Nagano—who dangled limply from a jagged outcropping.

It didn't take a genius to see what had happened. Nagano, unlucky as ever, had been caught in the brunt of the earlier chakra wave. Completely dazed, he couldn't even mold chakra to save himself.

If not for Shikayu's quick thinking with his shadow technique, Nagano would've been toast.

"Hang tight—I'm coming!"

Obito released chakra to his feet and launched himself toward Nagano.

Two seconds later, he landed beside him, bracing himself on the rocky ledge. Without hesitation, Obito grabbed Nagano and hoisted him over his shoulder.

"Got him! Let go, Shikayu!"

The shadow receded as Shikayu scrambled upward.

Obito ran a few steps, assessing the remaining distance to the ledge above. Muttering under his breath, he gauged the jump.

"Alright… this should work… Go!"

With a grunt, Obito used his hips to hurl Nagano upward.

"Wha—AAAAHH!"

Nagano flailed helplessly in the air, the rush of cold wind snapping him back to consciousness. He landed heavily on the upper ground, where Rin rushed to help him up.

"Obito! Hurry!" Rin called down anxiously, reaching toward him.

Obito looked up, just in time to see her terrified expression.

"Rin, MOVE!" he screamed, his voice cracking.

"What—?"

The ground-shattering ambush had taken mere seconds to unfold.

But those seconds were all the Iwa shinobi needed.

The three squads that had launched the jutsu were already on the move, closing the distance with ruthless efficiency.

They weren't about to let their prey escape.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Nine Iwa shinobi moved in perfect unison, launching an overwhelming barrage of earthen spears.

The spears shot forth like a deadly rain, aiming to skewer the group from every direction.

"Damn it!"

Kakashi's face paled. Quickly forming seals, he slammed his hands to the ground.

"Earth Release: Mud Wall!"

A wall of earth rose swiftly, shielding him and Ryoko from the deadly assault.

Shikayu leapt behind the wall, his shadows stretching out to shield Rin and Nagano.

But he had pushed himself too far. His chakra reserves were drained, and the shadow tentacles faltered, sluggish and weak.

The stone spears closed in, sharp and unrelenting.

There was no escape.

A sickening sound echoed through the air as the first spear struck its mark.

Warm blood spattered across Obito's face.

He stared, frozen, as Rin fell into his arms.

[System: "Sorry for the delay earlier—I'll keep working on this until we reach the climax!"]

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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