Katsuro had all but been having fun with the squad supposed to kill him. He manipulated the forest to keep them trapped and with his superior speed and mobility would engage in guerilla-like clashes which not only caused them frustration, but also wasted their chakra.
Of course, if they wanted they could get out, but their whole objective was right in front of them, and they knew that eventually Katsuro would fight them properly. As if he didn't, their combined armies would win, even with the strength of Minato and Konoha's other figures.
Katsuro on the other hand, did have a reason for his attitude. He avoided engaging too deeply, because he was being wary of the presence he had sensed. His instinct told him to be prepared, and like he had told Kakashi, he would trust it. So after a while of teleporting a spewing Fire styles, Water styles and Wind styles at the 2 Kage and 2 Bijuu, he soon felt a similar presence again.
There it is again! But… another… and it's almost identical. Katsuro had been looking out for it, so even through all the events that had been happening in the forest he was able to sense it soon after it had reappeared.
Without wasting a second, he gave a look to his 4 opponents and reached out to Flying Raijin markers that were near. Luckily he sensed one that was right next to his objective, and the distance was short enough he only needed one teleport.
"I'll be just a moment," he told the squad, and it felt like he was mocking them. But they could do nothing, as in the next moment he was gone.
Katsuro teleported, and quickly took in his surroundings. He realised the marker was the one he had placed discreetly on the Tanto he had gifted Kakashi. Taking in his bearings, he saw Rin, Kakashi, more enemy signatures closing in and also the presence in front of him. He tilted his head, and what he had been wary of just looked like a typical Iwa Chunin. But his mind went to the most important thing he had noticed. One member of the squad who he saw as his own grand disciples was missing. They were children he had frequent contact with due to their relationship with Minato, Kushina and even Kakashi, and thus thought fondly of them. So he asked Kakashi about Obito with concern.
"Obito…" Kakashi murmured, his voice sounding defeated. Kakashi's tone created a sense of foreboding for Katsuro as he sensed the sadness within.
"Obito's gone," Rin finished Kakashi's sentence, the memory of his death fresh in her mind, imprinted like a lifelong scar, threatening to break the dam holding back a river of tears from her eyes.
"Gone?" Katsuro said softly, choosing what he said carefully, still aware that there were enemy shinobi close by.
"He's dead." Katsuro stated, his voice hollow, "They took his body." Kakashi raised his hand, pointing in the direction that Chunin that had taken Obito's corpse had fled. A burst of anger and rage flooded Katsuro's heart. Killing a comrade was one thing, but taking their body as well? Why would they even do that? Was it for his Sharingan?
It was this thought that made him realise his disciple had a new scar over a scarlet Sharingan. That alone would have its own complications and consequences, but it was to be dealt with later. There were more important matters at hand.
Katsuro's face darkened. He stretched his senses to his limits, using his trees to aid him as much as they could, but he could not sense the other presence nor Obito at all. If Obito was dead this would make sense, but the identical signature had vanished out of thin air.
Of course the other had been in front of him but was now trying to escape.
For a split second, an aura of electricity and lightning surrounded Katsuro with a singular handsign. And as he was going to grab his twin swords (now one) the Chunin seemed to abandon running away and instead seemed to be trying to merge into the ground.
And shockingly, it was working - it didn't seem like the typical Hiding in the Surface technique, but either way, Katsuro couldn't let it escape. He disappeared in front of Rin and Kakashi, almost appearing behind the Iwa Chunin who at this point was partly in the ground. As he moved he unsheathed his sword and in the same movement beheaded the Chunin.
Initially he had hoped to capture him, but him trying to escape forced his hand. Yet, as a master swordsman, Katsuro felt that cutting into this Chunin wasn't normal. It felt weird, and to justify his thoughts no blood came out either.
The head just fell, and as Katsuro, Rin and Kakashi stared at it, slowly the colour seemed to fade away. Making way for a strange white body with green hair. It looked like a weird humanoid parasite, especially with the Venus Flytrap looking midsection.
Katsuro's mind raced about the possibilities with the information he now had. Is this some sort of Iwa experiment? With their camouflage techniques, how many of them are there?
But he couldn't waste his time, enemies were closing in on their position, but having sensed his chakra, they were being much more wary. But Katsuro had to go back, if he spent too long here, we would unleash 2 Kage and 2 Jinchuuriki on his forces that were already struggling. Before he left he told Kakashi, "Seal that body Kakashi, and keep it safe."
His godson nodded, not even questioning his order, despite Katsuro seeing his mind seem to race. Before he left, he made a Shadow Clone to look over them both and to deal with the enemies while they couldn't fight. Moreover, a Shadow Clone over a Wood Clone would also be able to act independently while he was undoubtedly busy in battle. Even if just a single hit was enough to dismiss it, Katsuro was confident that he had now reached a point where even a simple Shadow Clone of his with enough Chakra could deal with most Shinobi. With that, he could leave in confidence that Kakashi and Rin would be okay.
When Katsuro returned, he quickly saw the incoming outstretched finger of the Raikage aiming straight for his throat.
It was a clever move, clearly that had anticipated his return and positioned the Raikage to be able to respond as soon as he teleported back. Unfortunately for them, his reaction time was likely the best of any one alive, and it didn't help that his Thunderclap Impulse was still activated.
He tilted his head and body to dodge the strike with a smirk, and quickly formed and pushed a rasengan into his chest. It did little damage, but still forced him back and onto the ground.
The Raikage kissed his teeth in frustration, having missed out on an opportunity. They all expected the same annoying teleportation and long range attacks to continue, but to their surprise Katsuro dropped down off the branch landing in front of them.
The dust that rose up concealed his figure slightly causing his silhouette to show, adding to the allure as he spoke. "Well, thank you for waiting."
Onoki, A, Roshi and Han involuntarily tensed, as they realised what was about to happen.
As the dust settled, Katsuro reached up to his neck, and with a slight head movement cracked it.
With the same smirk plastered on his face, he asked, "shall we begin?"
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