About forty Kirigakure Anbu operatives were escorting Rin toward Konoha.
After passing through a mountainous region, the leader at the front raised his hand and said in a low voice, "Stay alert. We're about to enter Konoha's patrol zone. We could run into Konoha ninjas at any time. Don't let any of their intel operatives get away and send back information, catch them before they can warn the others!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Mist ninja behind him responded in unison.
Everyone drew their kunai or ninja swords, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
The sensory-type ninja in the group had already expanded their detection range to the maximum, prepared to strike down any Konoha ninja the instant they sensed one, before the enemy could react.
"From here on, the closer we get to Konoha, the higher the chance of encountering their ninjas. All units, stay sharp!"
The squad captain barked again, then took the lead and charged ahead.
The rest of the Mist ninja quickly followed.
Rin's hands were bound by a special rope, one end held by a ninja manipulating her movements via a chakra thread, forcing her to stay with the group.
I must get this intel to Konoha…
Rin had overheard their conversation and took a deep breath, her thoughts racing.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Mist ninja sped through the dense forest.
After traveling some distance, one of the sensory-type ninja's expressions suddenly changed. "Three o'clock! Konoha ninjas! More than one!"
"Are they heading straight for us? All units, prepare for combat!" The Mist Anbu captain's voice turned grim. He gripped a short sword in one hand while forming seals with the other, his eyes fixed on a patch of trees ahead.
At that moment, a burst of chakra erupted from the forest. The ground trembled violently, like an earthquake, throwing everyone off balance.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wave!"
A booming voice rang out from the woods, and several Konoha ninja burst from the trees. Leading them was a silver-haired young man wearing a mask and wielding the White Fang blade, it was Hatake Kakashi.
Seeing Kakashi, Rin's eyes lit up with joy.
"Kakashi!"
But her expression quickly shifted, turning serious once more. Her hands clenched into fists. She realized there were only five Konoha ninjas with him!
They were the same team that had been operating with her before her capture. It was clear Kakashi hadn't waited for reinforcements from the Konoha camp, he had come chasing after her with just this small squad, leading to this sudden encounter.
"Kakashi... There are too many of them!" One of the Chūnin behind Kakashi shouted in alarm.
Kakashi replied in a low voice, "Don't engage them. Get Rin, then retreat immediately!"
Whoosh!
With those words, lightning crackled around Kakashi's blade. The sound of Chidori crackled in the air as he became enveloped in a faint aura of lightning.
Since he hadn't received Obito's Sharingan, all of his training had been focused on the lightning techniques left behind by Kaede. His proficiency in Lightning Release ninjutsu had already surpassed most regular Jōnin.
Combined with the Hatake sword style, his strength now rivaled that of Konoha's elite Jōnin.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With just two quick bursts into the enemy ranks, Kakashi cut down three Mist Anbu, charging straight toward Rin with unstoppable momentum.
"That's the Silver Flash's younger brother, huh?"
The Mist Anbu narrowed their eyes. Several of them lunged at Kakashi, but he dodged them all with swift, precise movements.
The other Konoha ninja tried their best to hold off the nearby Mist ninja with supporting jutsu.
But,
Just as Kakashi was about to reach Rin, a Mist ninja suddenly blocked his path. The enemy's short sword crackled with electricity, and he parried Kakashi's strikes with a few swift counters.
It was the Mist Anbu captain, the commander of this elite unit!
"Impressive swordsmanship. Your Lightning Release is strong... but if you think you can save someone from us, you're too green, kid!"
The captain sneered and slashed his short sword toward Kakashi.
Kakashi's expression darkened. After a few more exchanges, he quickly realized this opponent's strength far surpassed the others, he wasn't someone who could be bypassed easily.
While Kakashi was being held up, the surrounding Mist ninja moved in, surrounding him. Within just a few moves, he found himself in grave danger.
"Kakashi..." Rin bit her lip hard.
She glanced at the Mist ninja next to her out of the corner of her eye. His focus was entirely on Kakashi. Quietly, she released a tiny thread of chakra from her fingertip.
As a medical-nin, she hadn't yet mastered chakra scalpels, but she could barely form a weak cutting chakra strand.
Zzt... zzt...
She slowly began slicing through the rope around her wrists. Then, with a sudden pull, the rope snapped just before the Mist ninja could react.
"What?!" The Mist ninja had been too focused on Kakashi to notice Rin escaping. The rope had been a special ninja tool infused with his own chakra!
But Rin wasn't relying only on her own strength, her body had 'coincidentally' leaked a small portion of the Three-Tails' chakra. While the binding rope was tough, it couldn't withstand the tailed beast's power.
"Kakashi!!" Rin broke free and bolted toward him.
"Rin!" Seeing her break free, Kakashi's expression lit up. He slashed wildly, taking a hit to the shoulder in exchange for driving two Mist ninja back.
He sprinted toward Rin, trying to reach her.
"Not so fast!" The Mist Anbu captain coldly growled, rapidly forming hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Whooosh!
A massive surge of water shaped like a dragon surged toward them, crashing between Kakashi and Rin, forcefully separating them.
Other Mist ninja swarmed in.
"No... We'll never get away like this..." Rin clenched her teeth. With the Three-Tails sealed inside her, which she couldn't control, there was always the risk of it going berserk. On top of that, there was the seal carved near her heart...
Resolute determination flashed in her eyes.
Chakra burst wildly from within her. She charged head-on into the Water Dragon Bullet. The leaking chakra from the Three-Tails smashed through the technique like it was nothing.
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