Chapter 39: Kakashi: Fire Style - Meteor Volcano!

Chapter 39: Kakashi: Fire Style - Meteor Volcano!

"Seems I'll need to speed up my plans."

After the Akatsuki meeting ended, Obito realized he had delayed his task too long, causing Pain's dissatisfaction. Assigning the mission lead to Ah-Huo, a newcomer, was Pain's way of warning Obito.

Understanding this, Obito decided it was time to stop playing games.

"Zetsu, I need you to instigate the Take clan into rebellion."

During the past few months, Obito hadn't been idle. Using his space-time jutsu to kill without leaving a trace, he had covertly assassinated prominent Hidden Mist ninjas and left false evidence to frame others within the village.

No one suspected Obito's involvement. Those framed, unable to find the true killer, were deemed guilty and became the target of the victims' families' hatred, quickly destabilizing the village. The tense atmosphere began to resemble the "Bloody Mist" era once again.

Though not sophisticated, Obito's methods were effective. Now, by labeling the Take clan as traitors and the culprits behind recent assassinations, he only needed to spark a bit of unrest for the fragile peace to unravel entirely.

"Heh, no problem!" Zetsu cackled. Removing obstacles for their plan to gather tailed beasts was a task he took pleasure in—especially one that fit his expertise perfectly. If this plan had been left to him alone, it might have been even more carefully executed.

"Oh, and what about Kakashi?" Obito asked as Zetsu was about to leave.

"Kakashi was badly wounded in a previous fight. Hanare rescued him, and they've been hiding in a cave to recover."

"Got it," Obito said, waving Zetsu away.

As Zetsu disappeared, Obito was left alone in the dim chamber, his face cast in shadows, a red glint reflecting in his eyes. Then, with a ripple in space, Obito vanished.


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Outside the forest, a shark-faced young man led a squad of about twenty ninjas, including a skilled scout—Yi.

"Yi, please scout for the enemy's location," Kisame requested, standing at the base of the mountain.

"Understood." Yi nodded, lowering his eyepatch to reveal his pure white eye.

Byakugan, activate!

Veins bulged around Yi's eye as his field of vision expanded, taking in everything within the forested mountainside.

"Got them! There are only two people in this mountain," Yi reported.

"Looks like we got lucky," Kisame grinned, revealing his rows of sharp teeth. Taking his sword, Samehada, he moved in the direction Yi indicated, with the rest of the squad following closely behind.

Soon, Kisame and his team reached the mountain, surrounding a cave.

"Come out, Kakashi! We know you're in there!" Kisame called out.

A few minutes later, two figures emerged from the cave—Kakashi and Hanare.

"How did you find us?" Kakashi asked, frustrated. After days of quiet, he had thought the Hidden Mist wouldn't locate him again, but clearly, he was wrong. Their tracking methods were baffling to him.

"Why don't you keep that question to yourself?" Kisame smirked. "So, what's it going to be, Kakashi? It's been a while since I've had a good fight. Last time, we missed our chance to cross blades—don't disappoint me now!"

Kisame's shark-like grin widened as he hefted Samehada, clearly eager for battle.

"Looks like we're in for a tough fight," Kakashi murmured. Turning to Hanare, he instructed, "Stay close to me."

He took a deep breath and recalled the hand seals for a certain jutsu, his hands forming seals at a rapid pace.

"Fire Style: Meteor Volcano!"

As Kakashi finished the hand seals, he mimicked the motions he'd once seen Uchiha Yi use. Clenching his fists, he looked skyward with fierce determination, swinging his fists upward as if launching something into the air.

The Hidden Mist ninjas watched, unsure of what to expect but sensing something ominous. Even Kisame, a seasoned warrior, didn't let his guard down, gathering chakra to brace for the impending attack.

"What an intimidating jutsu!" Yi, with his Byakugan active, was awestruck as he observed Kakashi. But he noticed something strange: although Kakashi seemed to be using an advanced technique, there was no chakra flow visible to his Byakugan. Had Kakashi somehow developed a method to shield his chakra?

He couldn't understand it, but it seemed impressive.

"Kakashi, you're amazing!" Hanare cheered, her eyes shining with admiration.

Hearing Hanare's enthusiastic support gave Kakashi a surge of energy. His years of single life had honed his speed, and he threw his punches even more vigorously, creating sharp whooshing sounds as they cut through the air.

However, as the minutes dragged on, the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward. Kakashi had been punching the air with all his might, but… nothing happened.

Crows seemed to caw overhead, filling the silence.

Embarrassed, Kakashi finally stopped, his face red as he wished he could crawl into a hole.

The Hidden Mist ninjas were dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open, too stunned to say anything.

"Pfft… Hahahaha! This is hilarious! I never knew Kakashi had such a knack for comedy!"

Just as everyone was trying to make sense of Kakashi's odd performance, laughter erupted from a short distance away.
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