Jonin Ueno shook his head.
"Already grown to this extent, huh?"
"It's only natural, right? Graduating from Ninja School at five, becoming a Chunin at six, the son of Konoha's White Fang, a student the Yellow Flash is proud of... Becoming a Jonin at eleven isn't something unbelievable."
Jonin Ueno sighed with admiration.
"So what do we do now?"
"Catch up with them. It's not just that Uchiha Obito, even that kid Kakashi... Really! Even if it's for rescuing a comrade, they're being too reckless."
Jonin Ueno stood up from the ground, dusted off his clothes, and continued chasing with two companions.
◎
Having dealt with Obito's tracks, Kakashi used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating two clones. One of the clones started sealing, using the Transformation Jutsu to disguise as Obito.
"You handle the diversion,"
Kakashi's original body said.
The two clones nodded, disappearing from their spot and heading in another direction.
Once the two clones left, Kakashi bit his finger, pressing his palm against the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Accompanied by a puff of white smoke, a small ninja dog wearing blue clothes with a Konoha Headband appeared on the ground.
"Yo, Kakashi, long time no see."
The ninja dog raised a front paw, greeting Kakashi familiarly.
"No need for small talk. Pakkun, go catch up with Obito. Just head in that direction."
Kakashi pointed in a direction.
"Obito? That Uchiha brat?"
The summoned ninja dog named Pakkun recalled who 'Obito' was.
"Yes."
"I don't exactly know what happened, but leave it to me."
With that, Pakkun vanished from the spot, tracking according to the route Kakashi pointed out.
After Pakkun left, Kakashi pulled out a scroll from his Ninja Tool Bag, glanced around, and murmured softly:
"Well then, I need to be prepared as well..."
◎
No one's catching up?
Obito glanced back, noticing that no Konoha Ninja was chasing him, feeling puzzled.
But Obito didn't think much about it. Compared to Konoha's pursuers, the most important thing for him now was rescuing Lin.
Just as he was about to continue forward, something suddenly landed on his head.
"It's me."
Jumping onto Obito's head was a small Summoning Beast, Kakashi's ninja dog, Pakkun.
"That voice... Ah, you're Kakashi's..."
Obito remembered who the voice belonged to.
In the past, whenever Kakashi chased enemies, he would summon various breeds of ninja dogs with incredibly powerful enemy-searching abilities.
"I'm Pakkun, Kakashi sent me to help you. Is there anything I can do?"
Pakkun got directly to the point.
"So, even Kakashi is worried about Lin..."
Obito's mouth slightly curved, showing a happy smile.
"Lin? The little girl?"
Pakkun tilted his head and asked.
"Yes, Lin was taken by the enemy a few days ago. I'm going to rescue her."
Obito said with a determined tone.
"Do you know who did it?"
"Uh... Probably the Hidden Rock Ninja."
"Probably? Do you know where the little girl was taken? Hidden Rock Village?"
"..."
Obito turned his head away.
Pakkun jumped onto Obito's shoulder, sighed, and said, "Now I understand why Kakashi sent me, you don't know anything and you're just rushing off to save someone."
"Shut up, I didn't see the enemy's face that day, how would I know!"
Obito righteously countered Pakkun's question.
"Do you have any of the little girl's belongings with you?"
Pakkun asked.
"Why?"
Obito glared at Pakkun like he was guarding against a thief.
"To sniff the scent, of course. As long as it hasn't rained on the road in less than a week, I can track the little girl's whereabouts by scent."
Obito finally remembered Pakkun's skills, so he stopped and took out a pink and white ribbon from his Ninja Tool Bag.
"What's this?"
Pakkun looked at Obito suspiciously.
"Ahem, this is Lin's belt."
Pakkun stared.
"Why are you looking at me? This is just a belt Lin accidentally broke a few days ago, I picked it up from the trash can because I didn't want to waste it, not... what you're thinking! Hmph!"
Obito's face turned red.
"Pervert."
Pakkun spat out two words.
"Mind your own business! Watch out, or I'll make a hotpot out of you!"
Obito said angrily.
"Got it... By the way, is it unrequited love?"
Poof!
Obito felt as though a knife stabbed through his chest, then was pulled out, bloody and painful.
This annoying dog.
Just like its owner, Kakashi.
"Nonsense! I'll confess to Lin soon!"
"Isn't that still unrequited?"
"I'll kill you!"
Obito gritted his teeth.
Pakkun chuckled, putting away the teasing, sniffing Lin's belt, and memorizing the scent.
Obito asked nervously, "So, can you find Lin's location?"
"Although the scent is faint along the way, we can still find the direction."
"Can you really find it?"
Obito felt a bit doubtful.
After all, several days had passed already.
"Normal methods certainly wouldn't work, but I have the ability to sense, a vastly expansive sensing range. Also..."
"Also?"
"There's still some scent similar to the belt lingering on the road, the trail is fairly complete."
"Really?"
"Don't worry, we'll definitely find her."
"Oh... Huh? What's that..."