belamy20

471-475

Added 2025-05-25 16:53:38 +0000 UTC

Chapter 471: Kakashi's Choice!

Green Reef Battlefield, Second Coastline, South Shore.

Watching the massive Kirigakure army withdraw from the frontlines, a gap appeared—an opening that would allow him to infiltrate the rebel forces and complete his mission.

Kakashi Hatake stood still, his mind replaying the words Uchiha Obito had shouted in anger just moments before they parted ways:

"I've always believed that White Fang was a true hero!"

"Kakashi,"

"When you and I were injured, Rin always used her medical ninjutsu to save our lives. Without her, we would have died a long time ago!"

"Right now, saving Rin is more important than the mission!"

"It's true,"

"In the ninja world, those who break the rules and regulations are called trash."

"But—"

Obito suddenly turned his head, shooting Kakashi a cold glance before leaping away.

"Those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash!"

Kakashi’s squad had arrived in the Land of Water, originally thinking the situation was merely a minor disturbance caused by the Third Mizukage's absence. However, they soon realized—

The entire Land of Water had already plunged into war before they had even arrived!

After vanishing for half a month, the Mizukage suddenly reappeared, joining forces with the Elder Council led by Genshirō. They launched an attack on the rebel faction led by Mei Terumi, accusing her of treason.

She was branded as a Uchiha spy planted within Kirigakure, secretly married into the Uchiha clan to conceal her true identity. The alleged goal was to rise to power within Kirigakure and ultimately deliver the Land of Water into the hands of the Uchiha.

Upon hearing this, Mei Terumi was first stunned, then furious. But soon, she realized the severity of the situation.

In a desperate bid, Mei led her forces in a fierce retreat, battling as they withdrew. Eventually, they seized control of the Second Coastline of Green Reef and fortified their defenses, leading to a stalemate against the Third Mizukage's army.

Meanwhile, Kakashi’s squad had been assigned a different mission—recovering a Konoha spy whose cover had been blown in Kirigakure.

The person responsible for handing over the spy to Konoha's retrieval team was none other than Mei Terumi, designated for the task by Elder Genshirō. This meant that their target was currently within the rebel faction, and, at this moment, only she possessed firsthand information about the entire situation.

What initially seemed like an unimportant mission had suddenly become a critical one, impacting not only relations between two nations but even the power balance of the entire ninja world!

However—

With Mei Terumi now labeled a traitor by the Mizukage, retrieving the spy would mean crossing the war-torn Second Coastline of Green Reef!

This left Kakashi’s team in a dilemma.

And then, unexpectedly, the Kirigakure Anbu Captain, Ken, launched an attack on them for unknown reasons and abducted their seemingly insignificant medical-nin, Nohara Rin.

Obito was determined to rescue Rin.

But Kakashi stubbornly insisted that completing the mission took priority.

The two disagreed and parted ways.

Obito pursued the Anbu Captain Ken toward the First Coastline of Kirigakure, while Kakashi arrived at the Second Coastline. The two were now only ten nautical miles apart.

At this moment, the opportunity to complete the mission was right in front of him!

Yet, even though he had the perfect chance to infiltrate the rebel camp and make contact with Mei Terumi and the Konoha spy, Kakashi felt distracted—his thoughts clouded.

It was true—the withdrawal of Kirigakure's forces had opened a path for him to accomplish the mission.

But it also meant that Obito, who had gone to rescue Rin, might now be surrounded by the Kirigakure army on the First Coastline. Both of his teammates could very well die there!

"Rules and regulations are important, but they're not everything."

"I've told you before—"

A final memory of his teacher, Minato Namikaze, flashed through his mind. He recalled Minato's solemn advice:

"A ninja must sometimes adapt to the situation!"

With that thought, Kakashi took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and suddenly turned around—

Abandoning the best chance to complete the mission, he dashed across the water, heading straight for the First Coastline!

Meanwhile, on the First Coastline of Kirigakure's Main Island

At the rear of the Kirigakure army’s camp—

"Found it!"

Uchiha Obito crouched behind a rocky outcrop near the shore, peeking toward the distant Kirigakure camp with a puzzled expression.

"Strange... There are so many Kirigakure ninjas, but the camp looks almost empty?"

"Stay calm, don’t overthink it,"

He took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks, and lifted his goggles.

"I can do this! I will save Rin!"

After giving himself a pep talk, Obito reached into his pouch and gripped a kunai tightly.

The Kirigakure Anbu Captain Ken, who had attacked Kakashi’s team earlier, was skilled in stealth techniques, Water Release, and Lightning Release. He was a master of taijutsu and extremely cunning. Even Kakashi had struggled against him and had to use Chidori just to drive him back temporarily. But since Ken’s main goal had been capturing Nohara Rin rather than fighting Kakashi and Obito directly, the two had managed to escape.

After splitting from Kakashi, Obito had followed Ken’s trail all the way here.

He was certain—Rin was inside that camp!

He wasn’t confident about rescuing her, nor was he sure he could even make it out alive with her.

But—

He still came.

Taking a deep breath, Obito tightened his grip on the kunai, shifting his weight forward.

"Alright... Let’s do this!"

However—

A cold, emotionless voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Going somewhere?"

Thud!

Obito’s heart skipped a beat. He spun around sharply—

There, standing atop the rocky outcrop, was Anbu Captain Ken. A sneer played across his lips as he formed the "Ram" hand seal, dissolving his Water Clone technique and revealing his true body. He locked eyes with Obito with a chilling glare.

"I can't let you interfere with our plan."

"Die!"

The moment he finished speaking, his blade cut through the air, slicing toward the back of Obito’s neck!

The icy wind from the blade sent shivers down Obito’s spine. Fear gripped his heart, but the attack was too fast—he had no time to react!

But then—

"Idiot, duck!"

A sharp, commanding voice rang in Obito’s ears, followed by another cold flash slicing through the air!

Instinctively, Obito obeyed and dropped his head.

Clang!

Sparks flew as two blades clashed!

Obito rolled across the sand, pushing himself up with his hands. His eyes widened in shock and joy—

Standing in front of him, gripping the White Fang’s short blade and locking swords with Anbu Captain Ken, was none other than—

Kakashi!

The very same Kakashi who had abandoned him and Rin to complete the mission—

Had returned!

Chapter 472: Obito Awakens His Eyes, The Heavenly Curse Mark!

Before long, the ANBU Captain, Ken, who was an elite Jōnin, quickly demonstrated his superior strength and experience over Kakashi. With a swift counter, he parried Kakashi’s attack and sent him flying backward. Then, without hesitation, he formed the "Mi" hand seal, and his entire figure vanished into thin air.

"As expected..." Kakashi stared intently at the spot where Ken had disappeared, his nose twitching slightly.

"There’s no scent. I can only determine his position by detecting air movements and the sounds of objects being disturbed."

Without turning his head, Kakashi solemnly warned Obito:

"Obito, watch the footprints!"

"Where is he?" Obito anxiously scanned the area but found no footprints on the ground.

After all, their opponent was the ANBU Captain of Kirigakure, a highly experienced elite Jōnin. Knowing the limitations of his jutsu, he would naturally take extra measures to avoid exposing his position.

By precisely controlling the chakra in his feet—using a more delicate balance than even walking on water—he synchronized with the ground's texture. Combined with specialized taijutsu techniques, he could move without leaving any traces.

At this moment, the key to breaking the situation lay in one fact—

The only time their opponent would reveal himself was the moment he launched an attack!

And right then—

From behind the two, the hidden Kirigakure ANBU Captain, Ken, revealed a sinister grin. Stealthily stepping forward, he swiftly drew his blade, aiming to strike down the visibly tense Uchiha Obito.

"Obito, behind you!"

Kakashi was the first to sense the attack. Without hesitation, he twisted his body, gripped his blade, and launched himself toward Obito in a desperate lunge!

However—

Slash!

The blade slashed upward, and in his frantic attempt to protect Obito, Kakashi took the blow directly to his left eye!

"Ugh... my eye—!"

"Kakashi!"

Obito’s face filled with shock and panic as he watched Kakashi collapse to the ground, clutching his wounded eye in agony. He rushed forward in distress.

"Hey, Kakashi! Are you alright?!"

On the other side, Ken, who had missed his intended target and instead slashed Kakashi, swiftly retreated, his brow furrowing.

"My strike was actually blocked by this white-haired brat... Well, no matter. I’ve dealt with the biggest problem. The remaining one is insignificant."

With that thought, Ken’s gaze locked onto Obito, who still had his back turned. Moving silently, he raised his blade and approached with lethal intent.

Meanwhile, as the target of the attack, Obito remained unaware.

He stood frozen, staring at the fallen Kakashi, his eyes brimming with tears of guilt.

If I wasn’t so weak, Kakashi wouldn’t have been injured because of me... If only I were stronger... If only I had the same power and eyes as Tsuru...

"Did you get sand in your eyes again?"

Through clenched teeth, Kakashi’s voice rang out.

"A real ninja doesn’t cry. I’m not dead yet!"

"Obito, stay alert! Watch your surroundings and don’t let your guard down again!"

Hearing this, Obito wiped his eyes and suddenly recalled something Minato-sensei and Tsuru had told him before:

"You’re wearing goggles. How could sand possibly get in your eyes? If you talk about self-control—"

"Then don’t just say it—make your heart strong too!"

"Hey, Obito, next time we meet at the Memorial Stone, don’t forget to burn some paper for me."

At that moment, Obito gritted his teeth tightly.

I’ve always just been a loud-mouthed failure.

I’ve never truly prepared myself, never truly carried my beliefs with the determination that Tsuru had!

But now...

"Those who don’t value their comrades are worse than scum!"

This was the one thing Obito had told Kakashi that he refused to let be just empty words.

If someone had to die today, then he hoped—he would die before his friend!

With this resolution, Obito suddenly stood up and closed his eyes.

Kakashi’s words from earlier—"You can only determine his position through air movement and sound."—engraved themselves in his mind.

But all he could hear was silence.

The sound of Kakashi’s heavy breathing, the waves crashing against the shore, and the distant cries of seagulls...

He couldn’t locate the enemy by sound alone. He had never trained for this.

Tracking someone purely by sound was beyond his ability.

Then—

Silently, Ken had already closed in behind Obito. His sword was raised, and the boy remained clueless, standing there like a fool, completely unaware of the danger approaching.

Ken’s eyes flashed with cruelty as he sneered, then swung his sword down!

Shing!

A flash of steel!

However—another blade gleamed even faster!

Obito’s eyes snapped open. In an instant, he drew a kunai from his pouch, gripped it tightly with both hands, and spun on his heel—thrusting it forward!

Clang!

The sword and kunai collided, sending sparks flying!

Ken’s pupils shrank as he stared at the sudden change in Obito’s eyes—

A crimson glow, with two spinning black tomoe!

Reacting instantly, Ken wrenched his blade free and twisted his body, preparing a follow-up slash!

Sizzle!

Sparks ignited again as Ken’s sword swung in a deadly arc toward Obito!

Yet, Obito remained unmoving, as if unaware of the impending strike.

Unlike in the original timeline where Obito had effortlessly killed Iwagakure’s Jōnin, Daishi, this time his opponent was Ken—a far superior elite ANBU Captain of Kirigakure!

Ken used his masterful Mist-style swordsmanship to block Obito’s initial strike and seamlessly transitioned into an incredibly swift counterattack.

Under normal circumstances, even with his newly awakened two-tomoe Sharingan, Obito should not have been able to react in time!

However—

As the sword neared his neck, slicing through fine hairs, filling him with dread—

Obito suddenly felt a hand press against his back!

"Sealing Technique: Evil Suppression Mark, Release!"

Within his body, a dark and oppressive power burst through the crimson "Heaven’s Doom Flower" seal!

The petals unfurled, transforming into lava-like markings that spread across half of Obito’s body and face in an instant.

And then—

With an inhuman speed, Uchiha Obito arched backward, planting a single foot firmly into the ground.

As Ken’s sword missed, Obito twisted mid-air and unleashed a powerful kick straight into the ANBU Captain’s face!

Boom!

The force sent Ken crashing into the ground, bouncing off the sand from the sheer impact!

Without hesitation, Obito’s body moved on its own.

With his left hand, he planted a palm into the ground, propelling himself forward like a beast.

In his right hand, he reversed his grip on the kunai and drove it down mercilessly!

Ken’s pupils trembled as he stared in disbelief at the incoming death blow.

Impossible! This brat shouldn’t have been able to react!

And how... how did he see through my Mist-style swordsmanship’s flaw?!

The next moment—

Squish!

The kunai pierced through Ken’s skull, nailing the powerful Kirigakure ANBU Captain to the ground.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Obito quickly stood up, picked up Ken’s fallen sword, and turned toward Kakashi with a savage expression.

Like a butcher, he raised the blade high!

"Obito... you..."

Kakashi’s eyes widened in shock, watching his friend about to attack him.

But then—Obito’s expression twisted in struggle.

Thud!

The sword dropped onto the sand.

"Obito... your eyes... those markings on your body..."

Obito snapped out of his trance, staring at his bloodstained hands in horror.

"This is... the Sharingan..."

"And this power... far beyond the Sharingan..."

"This is—"

"The Heavenly Curse Mark!"

Chapter 473: Let Rin Nohara Kill Mei Terumi!

In front of the empty Kirigakure camp—

"Fūja Hōin!"

Kakashi took a deep breath and withdrew his hand from Obito’s neck.

"Just unsealing a little bit nearly drove you insane, yet it gave you enough power to defeat an elite jōnin on the same level as our teacher?"

"What kind of terrifying thing did Shinji give you?!"

"..."

Obito remained silent, wrapping bandages tightly around his sore body, gritting his teeth against the pain. His heart felt heavy.

If he hadn’t already awakened his Sharingan and strengthened his resolve, just tapping into a tiny fraction of the Cursed Seal of Heaven’s power would have stripped him of his will and turned him into the kind of mindless beast Shinji spoke of—one that only knows how to fight.

The side effects of using the Cursed Seal of Heaven were also severe, leaving him completely drained.

He couldn’t imagine what would happen if he fully unleashed the seal’s power. Just how strong would he become? And what kind of tragic fate awaited him after using such power?

"Either way, there’s no time to worry about that now. Kakashi, we need to go save Rin!"

Turning toward Kakashi, who was tending to his injured left eye, Obito pointed to a secluded tent within the camp, his voice deep and urgent.

"Yeah!"

Kakashi nodded, his expression serious.

Meanwhile, in another place—

The Ruins of Yugakure, Land of Hot Water

Unlike in the original story, this so-called "village that forgot war" had been drawn into the Third Shinobi World War after the fall of the Jashin Cult and the conflict between the Land of Water and the Land of Earth.

Due to Hidan’s influence, Yugakure ultimately chose to participate in the war, striving for peace in the Land of Hot Water.

Most of the village’s shinobi followed Hidan north to the Land of Lightning, where they perished in the assassination plot against the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning. The few survivors remained in the Land of Lightning, undergoing an amnesty process and unable to return home.

According to a letter from Hidan, he had encountered the leader of the Kirigakure rebel faction, Yagura Karatachi, who had taken over the village, along with his subordinate, Zabuza Momochi.

At this moment—

Shinji descended slowly from the sky, landing at the site.

However—

What he saw was nothing but a desolate wasteland. The ruins of Yugakure were abandoned, covered in cobwebs, and devoid of any sign of life. It had clearly been deserted for months.

Using his Kagura Shingan sensory ability, he scanned the area. Not only were Yagura and Zabuza nowhere to be found, but there was not a single living person—no traces of human activity at all!

Logically speaking, after the Yugakure shinobi left for the Land of Lightning, the remaining civilians—who had no chakra or combat ability—wouldn’t have foolishly stayed in the dangerous village. It would have made sense for them to scatter and hide throughout the Land of Hot Water.

"As expected, the letter was fake."

Seeing this, Shinji’s eyes darkened.

"The claim that Hidan encountered Yagura and his failed coup faction was complete nonsense!"

"If Orochimaru took Hidan under his wing on my behalf, he wouldn't suddenly abandon him and let him act freely."

"And the so-called Yugakure hideout mentioned in the letter—it’s fake too."

He had already passed through the capital, Yūkake City, which was under reconstruction, and checked Uchiha’s black market stronghold there.

But just like here, it was completely deserted.

The Uchiha clan member stationed there, Seiichiro Uchiha, had left a month ago for another mission assigned by the clan. The only thing that remained was evidence that the Uchiha clan’s internal communication channel had been activated.

"You’re not even bothering to cover it up anymore… The knife is already at my throat, huh?!"

With that thought, a murderous glint flashed in Shinji’s eyes.

This time, he didn’t hesitate—soaring into the sky again, he shot toward the Land of Water at supersonic speed!

Back at the Kirigakure Camp

Whoosh!

The tent’s entrance was flung open!

Supporting each other, Obito and Kakashi stepped inside.

There, kneeling on the ground in a daze, was Rin Nohara.

In front of her stood a green-haired shinobi, dressed in a green cloak, carrying a club-like weapon adorned with green flowers. He had a doll-like face and was about the same height as Kakashi and his team.

At that moment—

Hearing the commotion behind him, the figure turned his head slightly, revealing an emotionless, vacant gaze.

This was none other than Yagura Karatachi—the future Fourth Mizukage in the original story, the current leader of the Kirigakure jōnin squad, and the head of the rebel faction "Chiyu."

However, compared to the Yagura who had previously fought Shinji, this version was drastically different.

His eyes had lost their childlike sincerity, now resembling those of a walking corpse.

When he saw Kakashi and Obito enter, his expression didn’t change. He simply raised an indifferent eyebrow and muttered,

"Useless. You couldn’t even guard the door properly."

Yagura then grabbed Rin by the hair, lifting her slightly as he turned fully toward Obito. A mocking smile played at his lips.

"Tch. Well, no matter—at least the sealing is complete."

The moment he saw this, Obito’s Sharingan flared to life, glowing blood-red. His two-tomoe eyes locked onto Yagura, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared in fury,

"You bastard! Let go of Rin!"

"Wait, Obito—this guy is Yagura Karatachi, the captain of Kirigakure’s jōnin squad. He’s as strong as our sensei!"

"Besides, something’s wrong with Rin… She’s under genjutsu!"

Kakashi grabbed Obito’s arm, his expression tense as he cautiously eyed Yagura. Then, he demanded,

"Yagura Karatachi, what are you planning? Why did you take our comrade?"

"Heh…"

Yagura let out a cold chuckle. Ignoring Kakashi, he instead gazed playfully at Obito’s awakened two-tomoe Sharingan.

"Oh? So you finally awakened your Sharingan—straight to two tomoe, no less."

"Impressive."

Praising him in an almost amused tone, Yagura pulled Rin forward and took a step toward them. Then, he casually raised a hand and formed the Ram (未) seal.

"Release!"

At that moment, Rin’s eyes flickered with clarity as she slowly regained awareness.

She blinked in confusion, then, upon seeing Kakashi and Obito, her eyes lit up with joy—only for her expression to turn deathly pale as realization set in.

"For Kirigakure to achieve true victory, this is a necessary sacrifice."

Yagura tilted his head slightly, glancing at the two boys indifferently.

"Next, I will take this girl to the frontlines of the Kirigakure civil war."

"There, I will make her unleash the full power of the Three-Tails within her."

"And in front of Shinji, she will serve as Kirigakure’s ultimate weapon—killing the rebel leader, Mei Terumi!"

"Once Mei Terumi is dead, Shinji will be consumed by rage. He will destroy her and eliminate my greatest obstacle—the Third Mizukage."

"At last, I will ascend as the Fourth Mizukage!"

Yagura’s lips curled into a fanatical grin.

"And you two—will bear witness to it all. Then, as the only ones who know the truth… you will be silenced forever!"

Chapter 474: I Want to See Your Dreams Come True with My Own Eyes!

"Have Rin kill Mei Terumi?"

"And then have Shinji kill Rin!?"

Hearing the words from the third-party boss involved in the Kirigakure civil war, Obito froze for a moment. Then, disbelief and overwhelming fury filled his eyes as he glared at Yagura Karatachi.

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Hahaha… You actually think I’m joking?" Yagura burst into laughter, his eyes filled with struggle and madness. Deep within his pupils, a sudden flash of crimson flickered.

There was no doubt—the one responsible for turning this strong-willed shinobi, who once had a pure heart like Naruto’s, into his current state was none other than Uchiha Madara, the mastermind lurking in the shadows.

At this moment, through Yagura’s eyes, Madara enjoyed the spectacle of his impromptu script playing out. He watched as Uchiha Obito, trembling slightly and overwhelmed with emotion, his Sharingan's tomoe spinning wildly, processed the shocking words.

And beyond them—

Under the twilight sky, an unstoppable undercurrent surged toward the silent night.

If Rin were to die by Shinji’s hands, Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan would awaken!

Or if a Three-Tails-possessed Rin killed Mei Terumi, Shinji would open his eyes!

Both chosen ones would be forced to witness the deepest despair and darkness of this world. In the near future, they would come to understand—

As long as the cycle of despair in this world remained unbroken, all efforts to protect anything would be nothing but futile and meaningless.

And then—

They would finally accept the ultimate plan he had spent half his life pursuing—the only way to save this hopeless world:

The Eye of the Moon Plan!

Abandon their names. Step into the darkness.

Become the next—

Uchiha Madara!

The mere thought of it made Madara wish there was a button to fast-forward time, to push the process forward—faster, faster, and even faster!

Even though he had begun to sense something off in the process—an unseen force that might be trying to use him for its own ends—

Inertia was already driving everything forward. The grand stage was set, ready for the perfect performance.

Faced with the answer that required sacrificing loved ones, family, friends, and dreams—an answer he had pursued at great cost for half his life—

How could mere nobodies possibly interfere?

At this moment—

Obito's body trembled slightly. Suddenly, he lifted his head, his face twisted with determination. Without turning back, he firmly ordered:

"Kakashi!"

"Right now—release the Heaven’s Curse Seal!"

To Obito—

Shinji was the only friend who had ever acknowledged him during the time when the entire Uchiha clan looked down on him as a failure.

And Rin Nohara—she was the girl he loved, the one who had always supported him with her gentle gaze, encouraging him through his hardest times.

Forcing Rin to kill Shinji, turning brothers against each other.

Or having Shinji kill Rin, losing the one he cherished.

Just hearing these possibilities made Obito feel as if the sky was collapsing!

His heart clenched painfully.

The suppressed fury inside him threatened to explode.

Blood surged violently through his veins.

His Sharingan tomoe spun faster and faster—faster and faster!

"I will never—never let this happen!" His throat hoarse, Obito gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Obito… But if you do this—" Kakashi hesitated, his face clouded with concern.

"Have you forgotten what Shinji said? And what we just tried? You can’t withstand the backlash of the Heaven’s Curse Seal. This isn’t a lifeline—it’s a death sentence for you!"

"I don’t care!"

Obito clenched his fists tightly, his voice unwavering.

"I must save Rin!"

"The Heaven’s Curse Seal? You guys—"

Dragged by her short hair, Rin trembled as she realized what removing the seal meant for Obito.

Her wide eyes filled with urgency as she turned toward him, tears welling up.

"N-No! Obito!"

"Aren’t you going to become Hokage!?"

Then, as if grasping onto her last hope, she turned to Kakashi and shouted:

"Kakashi! They put a curse inside my heart—I can’t control my actions!"

"But… If it’s you, I know you can do it!"

"Please… Please use that jutsu on me!"

"I—I don’t want to be their pawn! I…"

Smack!

Yagura lifted Rin’s head by her hair and slapped her hard across the face, making her stagger forward. Then, he followed up with a brutal kick to her stomach, sending her sprawling onto the ground. Blood spilled from her mouth, her short brown hair falling over her face in a pitiful mess.

"Too much talking."

Despite his annoyed tone, amusement flickered in Yagura’s eyes.

That was precisely why he had released the genjutsu on her.

Now, his gaze shifted with interest toward Kakashi.

"You—!"

Seeing Rin being abused like this, both Obito and Kakashi felt a surge of rage, nearly charging forward—

But the overwhelming chakra radiating from Yagura forced them to stop in their tracks.

If just a squad of elite Kirigakure ANBU nearly wiped them out, then what could they possibly do against an actual Kage-level shinobi—someone on par with their teacher, Minato Namikaze?

In that instant—

Kakashi fell silent.

The decision was now in his hands.

If he removed the Heaven’s Curse Seal, he might save Rin—but at the cost of Obito’s life.

But if he didn’t, the three of them had no chance of surviving against Yagura.

The only option left was to use the A-rank Lightning Release: Chidori, a jutsu he had just developed and hadn’t perfected yet, to break through Yagura’s defense.

But he could only strike once.

That single attack wouldn’t defeat Yagura—

But it could kill his own teammate.

Never before had Kakashi felt so powerless.

He had already resolved to follow the beliefs of Obito and his father, Sakumo—the White Fang.

He had already decided that he would sacrifice himself for his comrades.

Yet now—

He was nothing more than an outsider.

A machine forced to choose between the lives of his own friends.

But—

"Kakashi!"

Even as she coughed up blood, unable to get up, Rin’s voice rang out with unwavering determination.

Lying on the ground, she raised her head with great difficulty, her eyes locking onto Kakashi’s with fierce resolve.

"Only your jutsu… can do this!"

"Kakashi!"

"Don’t hesitate!"

Tears spilled from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks.

She forced a gentle smile and choked out—

"Kill me! Take Obito and leave this place!"

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I—I won’t be able to see your dreams come true with my own eyes."

Chapter 475: The Beginning of Defying Fate

“Screech! Screech! Screech! Screech! Screech!—”

It sounded like the cries of a thousand birds. An electric blue lightning suddenly burst from Kakashi's hand!

“Kakashi, w-what are you doing!?”

Seeing this, Obito was startled. He quickly turned his head to look at Kakashi and grabbed his wrist, angrily demanding,

“Are you... planning to kill Rin!?”

However, Kakashi's face was numb, his breathing heavy and ragged. He didn’t respond to Obito at all. He just stared blankly at his lightning-clad hand, as if trying to confirm something.

Meanwhile, Yagura Karatachi’s lips curved up slightly.

“A good choice. If that's the case, the goal can still be achieved.”

But before he could finish his sentence—

In an instant, Kakashi twisted his foot and broke free from Obito's grip. Like an arrow released from the bowstring, he charged forward with his hand glowing with Chidori, aiming straight for Yagura’s face!

“Screech! Screech! Screech! Screech!”

The concentrated lightning converged to a single point, growing larger and larger in Yagura’s pupils.

However—

Snap!

Yagura swiftly raised his hand, as if he had anticipated Kakashi’s attack route, and effortlessly caught the lightning strike. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes as he lifted his leg and kicked at Kakashi’s knee, his other foot sliding forward across the ground.

With a shoulder thrust, he slammed into Kakashi’s chest, launching him into the air. Grabbing his wrist, Yagura spun and hurled Kakashi away!

Bang!

The Chidori tore into the ground, cracking the earth, and Kakashi crashed heavily into the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Yagura stepped on Kakashi’s face, ready to deliver the final blow, but suddenly, he noticed something was off. His eyes narrowed, and he kicked out!

With one powerful kick, Kakashi’s body flew seven or eight meters, crashing through the tent and landing far away!

Then, the Kakashi who had been sent flying suddenly exploded into lightning, scorching the surrounding sand within a five-meter radius.

“Lightning Style: Lightning Clone?”

Yagura raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked back to see—

From behind Obito, a figure suddenly burst from the ground, swiftly completing the final hand seals mid-air and pressing his palm onto the back of Obito’s neck where the “Heaven’s Curse Mark” was!

“Evil Sealing Method: Release!”

Unlike Uchiha Shinji, who could activate the Evil Sealing Method with just a single hand seal due to his Sage Mode, Kakashi had to perform the full sequence:

Ne - Tora - U - Mi - Uma - Hitsuji - Tori - Tora - U - Mi - Uma - Hitsuji - Tori - Tora - U - Mi - Uma - Hitsuji - Tori - Inu - Ne—a total of 21 seals.

With such a lengthy sequence, no matter how fast his hands were, no enemy would just stand by and watch. That’s why Kakashi had created a solid Lightning Clone before entering, while his real body hid underground, silently observing the situation and deciding whether to break Obito’s Heaven’s Curse Mark.

At that moment—

“As I suspected, this guy is terrifyingly strong. He can catch my fully-activated Chidori with his bare hand, just by predicting my move—just like Minato-sensei. With my incomplete Chidori, there’s no way to break through his defenses.”

“Attacking him or saving Rin right under his nose is simply impossible.”

Kakashi stared grimly at Yagura before turning to Obito and solemnly asking,

“Obito, did you see clearly?”

“Ah~ I was watching the whole time! With these eyes, even against a Kage-level opponent, I can follow his movements!”

Obito smirked, his Sharingan with two tomoe spinning as he locked eyes on Yagura.

“Just as you thought, his speed isn’t faster than Minato-sensei’s. With even a fraction of the Heaven’s Curse Mark lifted, I can barely keep up with his movements!”

At that moment, Obito let out a sigh of relief.

“Seriously, Kakashi, you acted too well. For a moment there, I really thought you were going to kill Rin!”

Kakashi shook his head, took a deep breath, and twisted his hand on the “Heaven’s Curse Mark.”

“Those who don’t care about their comrades are worse than trash!”

In an instant, with Kakashi’s seal release, a dark and malevolent force burst through the crimson petals of the “Heaven’s Curse Mark,” surrounded by a black circular barrier!

The petals spread, transforming into lava-like patterns that crept up Obito’s body, covering half of his face.

Seeing this, Yagura’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. Once he recognized the source of the power, he looked mockingly at Kakashi.

“This power... it’s beyond what that brat can handle.”

“What you’re doing isn’t protecting your comrade. You’re sending him to his death!”

But Kakashi snapped his head up and glared at Yagura, firmly retorting,

“No!”

Even after breaking the Evil Sealing Method, Kakashi didn’t remove his hand from the Curse Mark. He endured the searing heat that was scorching his palm, pressing down on the “Heaven’s Curse Mark” with all his might.

“To care for your comrades is to respect their will and bear all consequences. That is my resolve!”

As his determined voice echoed—

The seals around the “Heaven’s Curse Mark” loosened further!

The lava-like patterns began to spread from Kakashi’s hand to his arm, shoulder, chest, and half of his body!

“But if doing this means death—”

“Then,”

Feeling the surge of power from the excruciating pain, Kakashi’s face twisted into a demonic snarl as he shouted,

“This time, I’ll die before my comrade does!”

At that moment,

Two short yet fierce figures stood tall before Yagura and Uchiha Madara, challenging their fates and tearing apart their destined paths!

Hearing Kakashi’s words, Obito’s face lit up with a bright smile. Clenching his fists, he stepped forward,

“Alright!”