Body Flicker Technique! Open!
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
Unable to use Kamui in time, Kakashi could only endure the searing pain from the cursed seal, forcibly activating the Body Flicker, while simultaneously using Needle Jizō to harden and protect his back.
Terumi Mei stared at the flames rushing toward her, the fear in her eyes growing. If this attack landed, she had no chance of survival!
Just as the fireball was about to engulf Terumi Mei, a black shadow flashed in front of her.
It's him again!
Silver-white hair, a single Sharingan spinning scarlet in his left eye!
Kakashi tightly embraced Terumi Mei, shielding her with his back as the terrifying fireball struck!
Hatake Kakashi!
Why would he save me?
As this thought crossed Terumi Mei's mind, she realized she was cradled in his arms.
He hugged me?
At this life-or-death moment, Terumi Mei found it absurd that such a thought would even cross her mind.
But she had no time to dwell on it. The fireball crashed down.
"Kakashi!"
Shisui's heart clenched!
Boom!
The fireball exploded against Kakashi's back, coated in hardened hair from Needle Jizō, launching both him and Terumi Mei into the air!
Even with the protection, the sheer force sent them flying.
Though Needle Jizō mitigated the damage, Kakashi still coughed blood and slipped into unconsciousness.
Because the curse seal restricted his chakra, Needle Jizō's defense was incomplete, and the injuries kept accumulating.
The blood, staining his mask, splattered on Terumi Mei's shocked face.
Terumi Mei froze!
She gazed at the man clutching her protectively, her expression overwhelmed with disbelief.
Why risk his life to save me?
The blast hurled them far, and they crash-landed on a distant cliff edge before tumbling further downward.
As Terumi Mei regained control of her body, she realized she was about to fall off the cliff. Swiftly, she formed hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
A powerful surge of water burst upward, cushioning their fall.
She spun around, gripping Kakashi's limp body tightly, bouncing across the rocks before finally stopping.
Holding the unconscious Kakashi, Terumi Mei's mind whirled with complex emotions.
Meanwhile, Shisui, seeing them blasted away by the flames, grew anxious. He wanted to rush over, but the three-headed dog wasn't about to let him escape.
"You're the only one left, human—prepare to die!"
The monstrous dog growled and lunged, claws slashing straight for Shisui.
Damn it! I don't have time for this thing. I need to find Senior Kakashi quickly. After that hit, he must be gravely injured. It's too dangerous for him to be alone with a Mist ninja!
Shisui gritted his teeth but kept moving.
"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion!"
The three-headed dog stumbled, confused by the sudden illusion, before quickly dispelling it. But in that brief delay, Shisui had already vanished.
"Damn it! Damn human brat! Next time, you won't escape!"
Although the three-headed dog's resistance to Genjutsu was strong, Shisui's speed and timing ensured his escape.
Already at this age, Shisui's mastery of instantaneous movement was clear.
—
Below the cliff, near the river, the beautiful girl carefully laid down the handsome young man, removed his blood-soaked mask, and gently wiped the blood from his face.
When Terumi Mei finally got a good look at Kakashi's face, she froze.
What a handsome boy.
"I didn't expect Hatake Kakashi to look this good... why does he always hide behind a mask?"
As she thought, her cheeks flushed red.
After rinsing Kakashi's mask in the river, she placed it aside and began wiping the blood from her own face.
Girls naturally disliked being messy.
Kakashi lay quietly. His injuries weren't fatal; the true reason for his coma was the curse seal suppressing his chakra and the heavy blow from the fireball, exhausting his strength.
Just as Terumi Mei finished cleaning, Kakashi frowned and groaned softly.
"Ugh..."
Startled, Terumi Mei rushed over from the water.
"You're awake?"
she asked with concern.
Kakashi's heavy eyelids opened slowly, his blurred vision focusing on the pretty girl in front of him.
"You're... Terumi Mei?" Kakashi rasped faintly.
"That's right."
Terumi Mei smiled, relieved to see him conscious so soon.
Kakashi struggled to look around.
"Where... are we?"
"We were hit by the three-headed dog's flames and fell off the cliff," Terumi Mei explained.
"I see..."
Kakashi's face suddenly tightened as he recalled something.
"Shisui! He's still up there alone!"
He tried to sit up but was immediately pulled back by searing pain throughout his body.
Terumi Mei quickly steadied him.
"You're in no shape to move! Besides, your companion is a Uchiha. It's not easy for a three-headed dog to kill someone like him. If he couldn't win, he'd escape easily."
Kakashi froze. Thinking about Shisui's Body Flicker mastery, Terumi Mei's words made sense.
Sighing in relief, Kakashi relaxed slightly.
He had been too anxious.
Seeing him give up the idea of struggling up, Terumi Mei also relaxed. If he moved like that, he might've died.
"Hey, Hatake Kakashi..."
"Hm?"
Kakashi looked at her, puzzled.
"Why did you save me?"
Terumi Mei's gaze was intense, as if she desperately needed an answer.
Kakashi paused, then smiled warmly.
"I don't let my comrades die in front of me."
"But I'm not your comrade. I'm from Kirigakure,"
Terumi Mei pressed, pouting slightly at the vague answer.
"Even so, we fought side-by-side. That makes you a comrade, doesn't it?"
Kakashi's slight smile and gentle voice made Terumi Mei's heart skip a beat.
Such warmth... how could it be real?
—
In the Kamui space, Obito clutched his bare, swollen buttocks, three veins popping out on his forehead.
He had been napping peacefully when a sudden fireball crashed into the Kamui dimension.
If he hadn't reacted instantly to teleport, half his body might've been roasted.
Even so, his backside had been seared and now throbbed painfully.
"Kakashi! Look at what you've done!"
Obito roared lowly, gritting his teeth as he applied burn medicine to his poor, smoking buttocks.
The Kamui dimension echoed with his pitiful howls...
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