Anya calmly addressed the three, "Now that your teacher has left, it's up to us to complete the mission. I don't have experience working with you, so would you like to practice first?"
Rin Nohara was about to agree when Kakashi spoke up, "There's no need. This mission is perfectly manageable with just us. Your involvement wasn't necessary in the first place."
"Oh my, you're quite stubborn," sighed Anya without concern, readily going along, "Then I'll keep an eye on you from a distance. If you encounter a situation you can't handle, I'll intervene."
"That kind of situation won't happen."
After this rather unpleasant exchange, the four of them set off again. Anya quickly vanished from sight, leaving the squad to follow from neither too far nor too close. At the same time, the soul from the Division Technique detached itself and attached to the three of them to allow immediate rescue if needed.
Rin Nohara had clearly sensed this. She was now communicating with Anya within her mental realm.
"Big brother, I can tell that Kakashi has a special attitude toward you. He's cold toward others, but not like this."
Anya chuckled lightly, "Your attitude toward him is special too."
"Ah, why are we suddenly talking about me?" Rin Nohara became a bit shy.
"Do you like Kakashi?"
After feeling shy, Rin Nohara frankly admitted, "Yes."
"Have you confessed?"
"Not yet."
"Do you want me to help?"
Without hesitation, Rin Nohara refused, "No thanks, big brother. You should focus on yourself first."
"Be careful, enemies incoming," Anya warned.
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu] Kakashi and Obito had also spotted the enemies. Obito launched the attack first, finally managing to successfully release his Fire Release this time.
Unfortunately, through long battles against Konoha, Iwa had already analyzed the characteristics of Konoha squads and therefore their primary target was Rin Nohara behind the two.
A rock ninja using the Hiding with Camouflage Technique had silently infiltrated and reached beside Rin Nohara.
"How naive."
Just as Anya was about to take action, a familiar voice sounded in his ear, "So it's you."
"Tsuchikage? What are you doing here?" Anya's body stiffened; his arm, already reaching for his sword, paused as he tightly stared at the small figure that suddenly appeared above.
The airborne Onoki smirked proudly, "Trying to destroy our Supply Stronghold just like in the Second Battle? How could I possibly make the same mistake twice?"
"Oh, that's the case," Anya remained outwardly calm and composed, but deep down he was already in turmoil. Onoki shouldn't be here, or more accurately, his appearance at this moment is simply too much of a coincidence.
The Supply Stronghold was indeed important, but not important enough for a Kage to personally defend. After all, you wouldn't know when the enemy might attack. If the enemy didn't come for a long time, you'd just be wasting a top-tier combatant there. It would be better to deploy the strongest combatants at the frontlines to crush the enemy.
The Tsuchikage's presence could only mean two things: either Konoha had a mole—high-ranking, no less—or someone mysterious had tipped him off.
If I'm not mistaken, it must have been that person's handiwork. Doesn't want me interfering, huh? Seems like his choice aligns with the original plot. In that case, my mission arriving now couldn't have been better timed.
"It ends here," Onoki said, completely unaware of Anya's elaborate inner thoughts. His expression was solemn as he glared at the person before him, eyes burning with killing intent.
The two stood locked in a tense confrontation, their mutual wariness generating a suffocating aura of killing intent that made the entire forest tremble.
Meanwhile, Rin Nohara had already been captured by the Iwa ninja. Between Kakashi and Obito, a fierce argument erupted.
"I disagree with rescuing Rin. Completing the mission is more important." This was Kakashi's cold reply.
Obito shouted in disbelief, his voice filled with outrage: "Every time we've been injured, it was Rin's medical ninjutsu that saved us. Without her, both of us might already be dead. The mission isn't important anymore—we should prioritize rescuing Rin."
Seeing that Kakashi remained cold and indifferent, Obito gave up on expecting anything from him. He turned and said, "I believe the White Fang is a hero. While those who don't follow the Ninja World's rules are trash, those who don't value their comrades are the most useless trash of all."
After saying this, Obito chose to go alone to rescue Rin Nohara, regardless of Kakashi's conflicted expression.
[Lightning Blade Art, Ruiga!]
[Sword Manipulation Art, release!]
Anya, wielding both The Supreme Blade and the Blade of Indifference, had developed a much more versatile fighting style. Without hesitation, she struck first. As soon as she engaged the Tsuchikage, a flurry of extremely fast sword techniques caught him completely off guard.
The Blade of Indifference, flickering with lightning, stood in the center, while The Supreme Blade split into six blades, circling around. These tangible blades carried boundless killing intent, surrounding Anya in endless sharpness.
In midair, Onoki could only retreat repeatedly under Anya's relentless onslaught of blade techniques. His eyes revealed uncontrollable shock. She had gotten even stronger since their last encounter—if it weren't for his fear of her Dust Release, her attacks would probably be even more aggressive.
This time, facing the Tsuchikage, Anya was finally fighting with some ease thanks to her long-range attack methods, but achieving a killing blow remained difficult. The Lightning Blade Art and Sword Manipulation Art weren't fully refined yet—they were still in the developmental stage. Effective against ordinary ninja, but still insufficient against the Tsuchikage's defenses.
Even so, the Tsuchikage was still in a terrible predicament, possessing only the ability to defend, unable to launch even one effective counterattack amidst the storm-like onslaught.
"What? Is the great Tsuchikage nothing more than someone who can only keep retreating and dodging?" Anya couldn't help but mock.
"Hmph, brat, say whatever you want." Onoki wasn't in a hurry; this was his home ground, and reinforcements could arrive at any moment. Even the former Third Raikage had perished to his Strategy of Overwhelming Numbers—how much more so for this young Anbu member?
Anya naturally saw through his intentions. She stopped attacking and sneered, "I know someone gave you information, old man, but is that person really reliable? Have you ever considered—I might just be the decoy attacker."
Onoki flinched slightly at the words and asked with interest, "So you're saying another group has already made a move?"
Anya admitted bluntly, "Of course. Instead of wasting time with me, you'd better guard the key strongholds. It might've already gone up in flames by now."
"Hmph, trying to fool me." Onoki shook his head and said, "I think I'll deal with you first."
[Dust Release: Outer Domain — Annihilation.]
Using the time during their conversation, Onoki successfully performed the Dust Release. His hands formed a semi-transparent barrier between them and fired it toward Anya. A massive explosion appeared midair; everything hit by the Dust Release was torn into atoms, turned into ashes, and vanished into emptiness.
Anya's figure was completely obliterated by the attack.
"Dead?" Onoki's face showed no sign of happiness. "It seems... too easy."
His expression flickered between suspicion and caution. Onoki formed hand seals and activated a sensing technique inherited from the former Tsuchikage. After scanning a wide area, he confirmed the Anbu had disappeared from the vicinity, finally feeling slightly relieved.
So he really died? Well then, what he said wasn't wrong either. I should head to Kannabi Bridge first. If it really gets blown up, cutting off the supply line, the Iwa ninja at the frontlines will fall into the same predicament as during the Second Battle.
Without hesitation, Onoki soared toward Kannabi Bridge.
Shortly after Onoki left, the previously vanished Anya suddenly reappeared exactly where he had stood.
However, Anya's condition was terrible. Gasping for breath, he knelt on the ground, blood tears streaming from his eyes. A dizziness throbbed in his head. After reopening his eyes, his vision was even blurrier—his eyesight had gotten worse again—perfect timing.
[Reversal], a Mangekyo Sharingan dojutsu.
This time, the eye technique affected not just the body but also the surrounding time. In other words, at the moment Onoki launched the Dust Release attack, Anya returned to the past, no longer present at that point in time, so naturally avoided being hit by the Dust Release.
The main reason for paying such a high cost was to hide himself. That person watching from the shadows—Black Zetsu—surely didn't think I wouldn't notice. Anya murmured coldly under his mask: "Sasori, Kakuzu, the Third Kazekage Puppet, and me. If even this lineup can't beat Madara Uchiha, we deserve to die."
After speaking these words, Anya vanished from the spot.
Already hidden in the shadows, Black Zetsu still felt something was off about what he'd seen. Uncertainly, he said, "Did that person really die so easily?"
White Zetsu replied, "I think so. That was Dust Release. No one could survive that technique."
"I still feel something strange," Black Zetsu muttered, a faint unease stirring inside him without clear reason.
"Ah, that person's already buried under rocks. When do we make our move?" Clearly more interested in someone else, White Zetsu said casually.
"Patience," Black Zetsu murmured darkly. "Just wait a little longer. With White Zetsu's cells within him, he won't perish so easily."
The person crushed beneath Taiseki was none other than Obito Uchiha. Half his body was completely pinned, and his life was slipping away rapidly. In a weak voice, he said, "Kakashi, I almost forgot—I didn't get your jonin promotion gift ready. I've been thinking and thinking about what to give you, and just now I finally figured it out. Don't worry, my gift won't be some useless burden—I'll give you my Sharingan."
At these words, both Kakashi and Rin Nohara were stunned.
Obito continued, "No matter what others say in the village, you're an amazing jonin. This is my wish—please accept it."
Obito turned to Rin, who was already in tears, and gently said, "Rin, use your medical ninjutsu to transplant my Sharingan along with the optic nerve into Kakashi's left eye."
Understanding Obito's intention, Rin quickly wiped her tears and steeled herself. "Kakashi, come here. I'm about to begin."
Kakashi stood trembling, his eyes filled with sorrow, hesitating to step forward.
"I'm already dying," Obito said softly, "but I will become your eyes, helping you watch over the path both of you must walk."
These final words finally convinced Kakashi to act.
At this moment, whether by fate or destiny, the legendary Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake was truly born.
Anya, along with Black and White Zetsu, witnessed the scene from the shadows.
Both parties made the same choice—they did nothing.
With the Sharingan now in his possession, Kakashi broke free from the Iwa ninja's stone prison, his tear-filled eyes burning with hatred.
"You're more trouble than you're worth," the Iwa ninja sneered with a mocking grin. "But still, a ninja is just a child. How childish to cry."
"Come then, crybaby—let's settle this right now."
As he said this, the Iwa ninja noticed Kakashi's wounded eye had changed, and his expression grew serious.
Kakashi drew the White Fang Blade, leapt into the air, and slashed downward at the enemy ninja.
The Iwa ninja crossed his twin blades in a horizontal strike, cutting the White Fang Blade into fragments. This weapon, which had terrified countless enemies during the ninja wars, was now completely destroyed by an unknown ninja.
Anya felt a pang in her chest as she watched, almost deciding to reveal herself.
"Chidori!"
Without his weapon, Kakashi unleashed the ninjutsu he had developed himself. This time, working together with the Sharingan, Chidori was finally perfected, successfully eliminating the Iwa ninja without any complications.
Returning to the dirt prison, Kakashi found Obito was already at death's door. With his last remaining strength, he said, "Kakashi, Rin is in your hands now. With my eyes, protect Rin well."
At that moment, a squad of Iwa ninja arrived. Together, they formed seals and called out: [Earth Release: Cracking Palm Reversal Technique.]
As their chakra struck the ground, the already crushed Obito was completely buried beneath layers of stone, vanishing from sight.
Anya, hiding in the shadows, quickly noticed the trick. At the very moment the boulder was about to crush him, the seemingly doomed Obito had already switched bodies. What was actually buried beneath the rock was merely a decoy; the real Obito had been rescued.
Perfect. Everything was going according to plan. Ignoring Kakashi, who was now surrounded by Iwa ninja, Anya followed the soul mark leading toward Obito.
Since he had already sensed a familiar chakra signature, Kakashi and Rin Nohara were in no danger.
Anya followed Black Zetsu while tracking Obito's movements, which were oddly unnatural—completely unlike those of a regular ninja. If he hadn't locked onto Obito's soul, he might have easily lost sight of him.
As a ninja of Kage-level strength, Anya's stealth abilities needed no further proof. With careful planning against an unsuspecting target, he soon arrived at a massive underground cave structured like a series of cave dwellings. The walls were lined with small doors, and the main entrance was marked by a massive skeletal structure.
Anya immediately recognized the place—Mū's territory, the Mountain Tombyard. The soul presence he had felt from Obito had now vanished completely, clearly blocked by a barrier.
It must be here then. Anya calmed himself, waiting patiently. Coming here was a risk, a gamble—but he was certain he'd come out on top.
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