Chapter 158 – Pursuing Ahead
Everyone saw Kakashi use Kamui, and it quickly became clear—perhaps this technique could be used to counter Uchiha Obito's strange ability.
Minato Namikaze clenched his fist. "I don't know what happened to Obito, but if he's determined to target Konoha like this, then I won't let him get away with it."
"Kakashi, can you use that technique to teleport me into that space?"
He had decided to take the risk himself.
After all, his wife had died because of Uchiha Obito.
And his newborn son was still in Obito's hands.
If he didn't step up personally, who could he rely on to seek justice for him?
"I can give it a try," Kakashi replied, uncertain.
He'd never attempted to teleport a living person with Kamui—up until now, he had only practiced on objects.
"Minato, wouldn't it be better to wait for the Fourth Hokage to return first before making a decision?" Hiruzen Sarutobi advised at that moment.
But Minato shook his head, rejecting the suggestion. "You all figure out how to contact the Fourth. I'm going in first to see what's happening over there."
Minato believed that Uchiha Dali surely had a way to deal with the enemy.
But right now, he couldn't wait—he had to rescue his son.
"Let me go with you, Minato-sensei," Kakashi offered.
"But how will you teleport yourself?" Uchiha Fugaku frowned.
Inside this meeting room were all of Konoha's elite forces. At this moment, they were united in resolve.
Kakashi looked at Minato. "We can use the Summoning Technique."
"If that guy's space-time dimension can be freely entered and exited using that technique, then by using the Summoning Technique—also a space-time jutsu—I can be summoned over there."
Minato nodded in agreement.
That strategy was indeed worth a try.
"Then let's get started. There's no time to waste."
He stepped into the center of the meeting room, facing Kakashi.
"Wait a moment!"
Uchiha Shisui stopped them.
Everyone turned to look at him, curious about what he wanted.
Shisui spoke to Minato and Kakashi, "Minato-senpai, mark me too."
"If you encounter danger over there, you can summon me with the Summoning Technique."
Minato was well aware of Shisui's capabilities.
He nodded in response.
"And me as well," said Fugaku. "Although my strength isn't the greatest in the village, this is a disgrace to the Uchiha clan. As clan leader, I must take responsibility."
Minato then marked the major combatants with summoning seals.
"If needed, I'll call on you for help," he said seriously to each of them.
Everyone responded with firm nods.
Kakashi took a deep breath and focused his gaze on Minato before activating Kamui.
As the power of his left eye activated, the space-time force enveloped Minato, and in the next moment, he was sucked into a swirling spatial vortex under everyone's watchful eyes.
The other ninja in the meeting room were visibly moved.
A few seconds later, Kakashi also vanished with a loud "pop."
"It looks like they succeeded," Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
No one really knew what was inside that mysterious dimension.
Minato went ahead to scout, and after confirming it was safe, summoned Kakashi over.
That at least meant—for now—that space wasn't dangerous to them.
"Quick, send someone to notify the Fourth Hokage," Sarutobi snapped back to focus and issued the order to the Anbu.
…
After successfully extracting the Tailed Beast from Kushina Uzumaki, Uchiha Obito had originally planned to let the Nine Tails run rampant in the village for a while before reclaiming it.
What he hadn't expected was to be pursued by a fellow Uchiha.
Uchiha Shisui—the name wasn't unfamiliar.
But he hadn't realized that Shisui had already grown into one of the top powerhouses of the clan.
The opponent had even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
After a brief clash, Obito realized he couldn't reverse the fight against Shisui. If he were delayed, things might spiral out of control.
Left with no choice, Obito used Kamui to retreat.
Now, he had returned to the Akatsuki's base.
And brought along the newborn Naruto Uzumaki.
As he looked down at the baby in his arms, Obito's eyes were filled with an eerily calm coldness.
"As long as my plan succeeds, this world will enter a state of eternal peace."
"So don't worry. In that place, you'll be reunited with your parents."
Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly sensed something was off.
Someone had broken into his Kamui space.
Obito's eyes instantly turned razor sharp and icy.
"Uchiha Dali?"
That was his first thought.
Back then, Dali had somehow managed to enter Kamui's dimension to pursue him.
"This isn't the time to fight that guy," Obito muttered, narrowing his eyes.
What he didn't know was that the ones currently inside the Kamui space weren't Uchiha Dali—but Minato and Kakashi.
After entering, the master and student found themselves surrounded by countless irregular geometric shapes.
They floated eerily in the boundless black void.
Aside from that, there was nothing else.
No sign of the Akatsuki.
No sign of Minato's son.
"It seems this is just an independent dimension. It hasn't been made into the Akatsuki's base," Minato concluded after carefully examining the surroundings.
Kakashi suddenly asked, "Sensei, if we run into Obito, what will you do?"
Though Obito had once been a dear friend and Minato's student, things were different now.
He had infiltrated Konoha and released the Nine Tails, causing the death of Kushina.
Now he had even kidnapped Minato's newborn son.
This hatred was far more personal than any grudge against the village.
The threat Obito posed had turned into a deeply personal feud for Minato.
How could anyone endure the murder of their own wife?
Minato looked seriously at Kakashi and, after a brief hesitation, replied, "I'll start by figuring out why he did all of this."
He had neatly sidestepped the core of Kakashi's question.
What he planned to do with Obito now didn't seem to be the most pressing issue.
What mattered more—was uncovering what drove Obito to go this far and what secrets lay behind it all.
Kakashi could sense his teacher's inner conflict and didn't press the topic any further.
"If Obito uses this ability again, he'll definitely come back here. We should wait for him," he reminded.