The Ambush in the Land of Tea
Within the borders of the Land of Tea, Kakashi Hatake led Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Karin on a mission.
Their objective: to eliminate a band of rogue ninja who had been attacking merchant caravans—pillaging goods, stealing wealth, and slaughtering everyone in their path.
Several convoys had already fallen victim to the group. No survivors had ever been found.
Because the Land of Tea had no ninja village of its own, it lacked the strength to deal with such threats and therefore sent a request for help to Konohagakure.
"Unless you're in mortal danger, I won't intervene,"Kakashi said, walking a few steps behind his three students.
"Yes, sensei," the trio replied without objection.
They all understood—this mission was trivial for a shinobi of Kakashi's caliber, one whose strength was on par with the Kage. If he acted, they'd lose their chance to grow.
Hidden nearby, one of Uchiha Fugaku's spore clones silently observed from underground. It was stationed there to ensure Sasuke's safety and would immediately relay any danger back to Fugaku, who could then teleport instantly using a marker left on the students by Shiranui Genma's team.
Buzz—
The clone merged into a tree trunk, peering out through the bark, eyes fixed on Kakashi's team in the distance.
Suddenly—
A figure wearing a swirling orange mask rose from the earth. His single crimson Sharingan locked eyes with the spore clone.
In that instant, the clone was hypnotized.
"So he really did send a spore clone to watch them,"the masked man muttered to himself.
It was Uchiha Obito.
After White Zetsu's base had been compromised, the Akatsuki discovered that Fugaku had copied the Zetsu's unique ability—creating spore clones of his own. It was through these clones that Fugaku had located the base in the first place.
Now, Obito planned to reclaim the left eye he had entrusted to Kakashi years ago.
Cautiously, he checked for surveillance—and sure enough, found one of Fugaku's clones. Rather than destroy it (which would alert Fugaku instantly), he chose to hypnotize it.
Whoosh—
Using Kamui's phasing ability, Obito approached silently, neither sound nor chakra leaking into the air.
A sharp, wooden spike extended from his palm as he struck—lunging to impale Kakashi from behind.
Swish!
Just before impact, Kakashi's body flickered aside, narrowly dodging the strike.
Even though Obito's stealth was flawless, Kakashi had sensed the faint movement of a shadow beneath his feet and reacted in time.
"You again," Kakashi said coldly, turning to face him.
The three students spun around at the noise. Seeing their teacher confronted by a masked man, they instinctively prepared to help.
"Stay back! This isn't a battle you can handle. The mission's over—evacuate and report to the village immediately!"
Kakashi raised his hand to halt them. Even Sasuke, the strongest of the three and nearly at elite jōnin level, could do little here.
"How touching—such loyalty between teacher and students,"Obito mocked, charging forward.
"Chidori!"
Lightning burst around Kakashi's hand, forming a blade of pure thunder. He thrust forward—
—but his strike passed harmlessly through Obito's phased body.
At that same moment, Obito solidified and materialized the wooden spike inside Kakashi's body—
—but Kakashi anticipated the move, flickering away again, the spike missing by inches.
Obito retaliated with blinding speed, slashing repeatedly. Kakashi's uniform tore open; blood lines formed across his torso.
Slash—slash—slash!
Each swing left more wounds. Kakashi was falling behind fast.
Last time, he'd been able to repel Obito thanks to assistance from a Kage-level spore clone. This time, he was alone.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Ignoring orders, Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin rushed to help.
But it was futile.
Bang!Sakura was struck in the stomach and collapsed, gasping.
Squelch!Karin was impaled through the abdomen, blood spraying as she fell.
Crash!Sasuke was kicked hard into a tree, snapping it in half before slumping motionless to the ground.
Just as Kakashi had warned, their interference only led to disaster.
Moments later—
Squelch!
A wooden spike pierced through Kakashi's body, branching outward as blood flowed from multiple wounds. His body stiffened and fell with a heavy thud.
"All of this… for Rin."
Obito's voice trembled slightly behind the mask.He had killed his teacher—and now, his old friend.
But his resolve hardened once more. Everything he did was for Rin—for the dream of a world where she still lived.
He crouched down and reached toward Kakashi's left eye.
At that moment—
Buzz!
Kakashi's corpse vanished. Not far away, a completely uninjured Kakashi appeared—though his left eye was turning pale and lifeless.
"Izanagi… You set up Izanagi inside that eye?"
Obito's voice broke with fury.
Kakashi had hidden a forbidden technique within the very Sharingan Obito had given him.
Back in Konoha.
"What happened?" Fugaku demanded.
"A few hours ago, Kakashi's team was attacked by a Wood Release user," Uzuki Yugao reported.
"Impossible…" Fugaku's eyes narrowed.
He had deployed a spore clone to shadow the squad. If they'd been attacked, he should've been alerted immediately—unless…
"Could it be…?"
He realized the clone might have been subdued without being destroyed, preventing the alert from triggering.
"How's Sasuke? Any casualties?"
"All seriously injured, but they managed to repel the attacker. No one died."
Fugaku exhaled in relief.
He had sent Sasuke out to harden him—to let him grow beyond the safety of the village. But if that had cost him his son's life, the price would have been unforgivable.
Still, something puzzled him.
"Even with Izanagi, Kakashi shouldn't have been able to fend off Obito…" he thought aloud. "Was there outside help?"
"No reports on that," Yugao replied.
Fugaku nodded slightly.
"Summon Shiranui Genma, Raiton, and Tetsu Iwashi to the Hokage's office."
Moments later, the three appeared.
"Kakashi's team was ambushed by a Wood Release user," Fugaku said. "I need you three to take me there immediately—use the Flying Thunder God markers you placed on Sasuke's gear."
"What?! Kakashi's team was attacked?" Genma exclaimed.
"How are they now, Lord Hokage?"
"All wounded, but alive," Fugaku replied.
"Understood. We'll take you there at once!"
The three joined hands, sensing the Flying Thunder God mark, and activated the teleportation technique—vanishing from the office in a flash of light.