Chapter 135: Let's Hope He's Not an Idiot
Uchiha Kei trudged silently through the rain. As he walked, memories from a few hours earlier surfaced again, making the corner of his lips twitch into a faint sigh.
Confronting Hyūga Ayaka hadn't been part of his original plan. But then again, she wasn't the only smart one around. Kei liked to think he was pretty clever himself.
Still, lately he had to admit—maybe the smartest person wasn't either of them.
No… that title might just belong to the guy who always wore a dopey smile on his face: Imai Kenta.
Even someone like Kei—whose sensory perception was average at best—had noticed Kenta's presence earlier, the same way Ayaka had.
And that was saying something. Because Kenta's ability to hide was elite-tier.
Which only meant one thing: he'd wanted to be noticed.
It was a silent form of deterrence—strategically clever and psychologically impactful. His appearance had shifted the dynamics of the moment, dissuading Kei from acting on his impulse to kill Ayaka.
One versus two? Kei wasn't afraid—but he had neither the time nor interest in a dragged-out confrontation.
Kenta's move bought just enough tension to halt any rash action. It was subtle, almost invisible maneuvering… the kind that altered the entire field.
High-level manipulation disguised as coincidence.
But also a risky gamble—one misstep and the fire could consume him instead.
Kei wasn't eager to play games with someone like Imai Kenta. Still… it got him thinking.
A guy that clever might be worth investing a little interest in.
Whether to exploit his potential, or to stay on guard in case he caused future trouble—Kei made a mental note to give the matter some thought once they returned to the village.
---
Following Kakashi's trail, Kei had already been chasing for over three hours.
And yet, he hadn't seen a single trace of him—nothing but empty terrain and old tracks. It was starting to wear on him.
Did I take the wrong path?
No, that couldn't be it.
Kei had taken plenty of time to read the signs along the way, and there were definitely clues confirming the direction.
Still, the longer he walked without catching up, the more frustrated he became.
Something's off…
Suddenly—he felt it.
A powerful, almost overwhelming burst of chakra exploded in the distance.
Kei stopped in his tracks. The sensation was… familiar, but also oddly unusual.
It wasn't just raw power—it was brimming with life, something almost unnatural.
His brows furrowed. After a few seconds of thought, he pulled out a scroll.
Unsealing it, he retrieved two items: a black cloak with a hood large enough to fully conceal him, and a plain ANBU mask.
"Feels kind of pointless," Kei muttered as he suited up. "But… who knows."
Not sure if Obito's smart enough to figure this out—but someone will probably nudge him in the right direction.
With that, he threw the cloak over his body, donned the mask, pulled the hood tight, and took off toward the source of that chakra.
---
Meanwhile…
"This has to be the place."
Kakashi stood silently at the mouth of a cave, his silver hair soaked from the rain. His expression was cold, his eyes sharper than ever.
A kunai lay on the ground—beside it, a single strand of hair it had sliced through.
That was all he needed to know.
Rin had been here.
And someone had taken her.
He didn't know who yet. But it didn't matter.
Whoever they were… they had just been marked for death.
But Kakashi wasn't the impulsive type.
He knew that if he were alone, he could find ways to outmaneuver these enemies and take them out one by one.
However, his current objective was Rin Nohara—and that changed everything.
He couldn't afford to protect her and fight off enemies at the same time.
At that moment, a line Uchiha Kei had once teased him with floated back into his mind:
"If I pick up the blade, I can't be by your side.
But if I set it down… I can't protect you either."
Back then, it felt like idle banter—but now, it hit different. It made a strange kind of sense.
---
"Thanks, Pakkun," Kakashi murmured, turning to the small ninken beside him.
He had summoned the little ninja dog to help him track Rin. It was a gift—part of his promotion to Jōnin, courtesy of the Inuzuka clan.
Pakkun gave a casual nod, far less grumpy than he'd become in the future.
"Rest's up to you, kid. Don't die."
With a puff of smoke, Pakkun vanished.
Kakashi took a deep breath… then slipped silently into the cave ahead.
---
From the outside, the cave looked narrow—cramped, even. But once inside, Kakashi quickly realized it was massive, easily large enough to accommodate thirty adult shinobi.
Still, something felt… off.
There were no guards. No traps. Nothing stopping him from walking right in.
His instincts screamed trap, and he didn't ignore them.
Years on the battlefield had taught him exactly how dark and deceptive people could be.
Even with peace seemingly just around the corner, the shadows of war hadn't gone anywhere.
Taking another steadying breath, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector—uncovering his Sharingan.
Instantly, the world around him sharpened—every detail, every subtle motion lit up in vivid clarity.
And what he saw… made things even more bizarre.
What's going on here?
Why is this place so poorly guarded?
From the traces left behind, it was clear this cave had recently housed two to three dozen shinobi.
So where were they now?
Did they leave? Kakashi wondered.
Just then—he froze.
Voices.
Faint, but unmistakable. People talking.
Lowering his body, Kakashi crept silently toward the source.
And then he saw her.
Rin—lying inside a smaller chamber of the cave, her posture slack, her eyes unfocused.
She looked dazed—clearly under the effects of some kind of genjutsu.
Two ANBU from Kirigakure stood nearby, casually chatting—something about the Three-Tails, though Kakashi didn't pay attention to the details.
They were irrelevant right now.
He quietly began drawing chakra from deep within, syncing it with his breathing.
Each inhale and exhale flowed like a slow, measured tide—feeding more power into his limbs.
As the chakra swelled within him, Kakashi's body tensed, his presence sharpening into a deadly stillness.
---
"…Huh?"
The two Mist ANBU paused—finally sensing something was off.
But it was too late.
Kakashi shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
His crimson Sharingan cut through every illusion and movement.
His blade danced once—clean, precise.
When he came to a halt, standing still in the center of the room, the two ANBU behind him were already falling to the ground.
Only then did he sheath his blade—one smooth motion, like nothing had ever happened.
---
"Rin!"
Kakashi rushed to her side, kneeling down quickly to check her condition.
Seeing the lingering signs of genjutsu, he formed a hand seal.
With a pulse of chakra, her dazed eyes began to clear—slowly coming back to life.
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