Chapter 13: If I Get Caught, I'm Yanking Out Madara's Oxygen Tube!
The plan was set. Yamanaka Masato would lead the main unit to intercept the Iwa-nin, while Uchiha Kei, accompanied by Hyūga Ayaka and Imai Kenta, would break away to rescue Kakashi.
Still, Kei noticed a flicker of hesitation in both Ayaka and Kenta. They clearly had opinions about his decision—but neither voiced them outright.
Understandable. People like them would never trust someone like Kei. Same type of people, after all.
But even with their doubts, they couldn't ignore his judgment. From the moment this mission began, Kei had seen through the real objective. That kind of insight was the difference between life and death out here.
It didn't take long before they caught up to the enemy. Under Yamanaka Masato's command, the Konoha shinobi launched their assault on the Iwa-nin.
The Iwa-nin, though rushed and seemingly careless, hadn't completely dropped their guard. They lost one or two in the ambush, but their counterattack came hard and fast. In an instant, the battlefield was engulfed in chaos.
Kei made his move immediately. Slipping past the front lines, he darted toward Kakashi's location at full speed.
"Why this mission?" Ayaka broke the silence once they were far enough from the battle. "Kakashi's situation is bad—really bad."
"Is that so? How many Iwa-nin are headed their way?" Kei didn't answer her directly, instead throwing back a question of his own.
"More than ten—almost twenty. And Uchiha Obito's been buried under rubble. He's not dead yet, but his life force is fading fast. That leaves just Kakashi and Rin. Still no word on Namikaze-senpai."
"Perfect. Let's pick up the pace," Kei replied, accelerating.
Ayaka and Kenta were stunned. Was this guy really trying to save them?
Did he not hear how many enemies were over there?
Truth was, they were all stuck in the same boat. Even if they hated each other's guts and had almost come to blows before, the information they shared made them inseparable. If one of them died, the rest would be pulled into an investigation—and possibly worse.
"We should be hiding," Ayaka said sharply. "We're all in this mess together. If one of us goes down, we're all screwed."
"I agree… We should be more cautious, Captain," Kenta added.
"Idiots," Kei snorted. "Remember what the Cloud-nin said about Namikaze on the battlefield? And what's his signature jutsu again?"
Ayaka paused. "...You think he went to reinforce the main front?"
"Flying Thunder God Technique. You think distance is an issue for a man like him?"
Kei didn't need to say much more. He remembered during the Fourth Great War how the Second Hokage's squad, even with an incomplete version of the technique, could teleport the Kage. And later, Minato would move something as massive as the Nine-Tails outside of the village in a flash.
So yeah—range wasn't a problem. If all went well, Minato would be back any second.
"You're gambling," Ayaka said after thinking it through. "You don't even know the actual state of the battlefield."
"I am," Kei admitted. "I'm also betting on whether Namikaze Minato truly cares about his students. Don't forget—Obito's an Uchiha, and Kakashi's a Hatake."
"But the White Fang is gone. And Obito doesn't even have a Sharingan… like you—" Ayaka's words trailed off. Her expression changed instantly. "Wait… no way…"
Her Byakugan flared. In Kakashi's left eye, she could now see unfamiliar chakra. It clearly didn't belong to him.
Obito awakened the Sharingan?
No… why was it in Kakashi's eye?
And that kunai in his hand—it was no ordinary weapon. It had Minato's marking on it.
"I see what you're getting at," Ayaka said quietly. "Kakashi has Namikaze-senpai's marker. If he channels chakra into it, Minato will sense it and come. But… how did you know Obito would awaken his Sharingan?"
"I'm an Uchiha too, remember?" Kei scoffed. "Sharingan doesn't awaken through love and sunshine. It's pain and loss. Even the Hokage knows that. Why wouldn't I?"
"And yet you still haven't awakened yours?" Ayaka narrowed her eyes. "Strange."
"Yeah, Captain. If you had it, we'd be doing way better," Kenta chimed in.
"Shut up."
Kei didn't bother explaining himself. What was he supposed to say? That he'd awakened it long ago but was too scared to use it?
Ayaka and Kenta were smart, but they didn't understand the disease festering between the Uchiha clan and Konoha.
What would they think if he told them that in a few years, there would only be one Uchiha left—Uchiha Sasuke?
They'd probably think he'd lost his damn mind.
The team continued moving in silence. Ayaka fed Kei constant intel ahead, keeping them clear of ambushes.
But as they drew closer, all of them could hear the unmistakable crackle of lightning in the distance.
That sound—Kei didn't need confirmation. It was Chidori. Kakashi was fighting for his life.
He signaled to the others, and they drew their weapons without hesitation. If they were going to pull this off, it had to be clean. Hit hard, stay alive, and buy enough time—either for Minato to arrive or to get everyone out.
Though frankly, the second option was a death sentence. Kei had only mentioned it to Masato to sound cooperative.
"Let's wrap this up quick," Kei muttered to himself. "And if Madara ever drags me into his hellhole, I swear—I'm yanking out his oxygen tube."