Inuzuka Midori lay on the ground, with Nara Shiomizu, who couldn't move, on her back, tied with ropes made from parasitic worms to prevent falling.
Thus, Inuzuka Midori used her hands and feet to carry Nara Shiomizu towards Ishijima Hideyuki.
Swish swish swish!!!
Nara Shiomizu shot the shuriken in her hand towards Ishijima Hideyuki.
However, because Nara Shiomizu's position was awkward and it was hard to exert force, the shuriken was skewed, and Ishijima Hideyuki easily avoided all of them while standing in place.
"Water Clone Jutsu!"
Ishijima Hideyuki created a water clone, preparing to send it to deal with Nara Shiomizu; being hit by Shadow Possession Jutsu is indeed troublesome.
"I must find Teacher Mokgetsu to learn Ninjutsu that can counter Water Release!" Obito shouted angrily in his heart, feeling extremely frustrated.
He was genuinely tortured by Water Release to the point of despair; when Ishijima Hideyuki used a large-scale Water Release, he had no way to launch an effective Fire Release attack.
Originally, he felt he was in great form and using Fire Release was smooth and effortless, but Ishijima Hideyuki disgustingly forced him to resort to Taijutsu, yet he couldn't beat Ishijima Hideyuki with Taijutsu.
Obito didn't know how to win the battle; Might Guy and Kakashi were already exhausted, and Nohara Rin's last chakra was used to heal him, rendering him unable to fight, while Shiranui Genma and Ebisu were seriously injured.
The only breakthrough point now was the few severely injured Konoha ninjas they had saved earlier.
The water clone only had one-tenth of the original body's strength, gaining more power in water, but even this one-tenth was enough to force Inuzuka Midori to flee everywhere.
Under normal circumstances, Inuzuka Midori would have at least confronted this water clone, but her body was injured and she was carrying Nara Shiomizu, making fighting impossible, leaving her only to flee miserably in search of an opportunity.
When the distance was about right, the parasitic worm ropes on Nara Shiomizu decomposed, charging towards the water clone.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Inuzuka Midori threw Shiomizu towards a spot near Ishijima Hideyuki.
Nara Shiomizu rapidly formed hand seals in mid-air, seemingly preparing to use Ninjutsu.
The water clone tried to attack Nara Shiomizu, but ended up being tackled by Inuzuka Midori.
Upon noticing the scene, Ishijima Hideyuki's original body immediately countered the injured Obito and then shot a thick water jet at Nara Shiomizu to prevent being controlled by the Shadow Possession Jutsu.
Yet, unexpectedly for Ishijima Hideyuki, when the water hit, Nara Shiomizu first turned into Inuzuka Midori's form, and then dissipated into white smoke.
"Haha, Midori's acting is good, right? I even used Shiomizu's seals exactly as he would've." Inuzuka Midori said proudly with a smile.
The water clone angrily knocked Inuzuka Midori to the ground.
Ishijima Hideyuki's original body also instantly changed his expression and wanted to use Water Instant Body to leave the spot, but before attacking Inuzuka Midori's shadow clone, Nara Shiomizu had already reverted from the shuriken form to human, quickly forming seals and using Ninjutsu.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Due to the close distance, Nara Shiomizu's shadow quickly connected to Ishijima Hideyuki's shadow, making Ishijima Hideyuki lie on the ground under the control of the Shadow Possession Jutsu.
Seeing this, the water clone wanted to help the original body, but Inuzuka Midori clung tightly to the water clone's leg, preventing it from moving; the water clone kicked Inuzuka Midori hard, causing her to vomit blood, yet she still didn't let go. Only when the water clone knocked Inuzuka Midori unconscious with the second kick did it manage to break free, speeding towards the original body.
"Quick, use your fastest Ninjutsu, I can't hold on for long!" Nara Shiomizu shouted; the Shadow Possession Jutsu consumes a lot of chakra, and he didn't have much, besides Ishijima Hideyuki being stronger than him, meaning the control won't last long.
"Fire Release: Impatiens Fire Jutsu!" Obito was initially preparing to use the less consuming Great Fireball, but upon hearing Nara Shiomizu decided to use Impatiens Fire Jutsu, forming a seal and spitting out more than ten small fireballs at Ishijima Hideyuki.
As the fireballs got within fifty centimeters of Ishijima Hideyuki, Nara Shiomizu, due to chakra depletion, lost control over Ishijima Hideyuki.
Rumble!!
The dazzling firelight from the explosion enveloped the vicinity of Ishijima Hideyuki; its proximity causing Nara Shiomizu to instinctively squint, unable to discern whether Ishijima Hideyuki was killed within the firelight.
Obito, possessing the Sharingan, could see more, and he immediately pulled Shiomizu back quickly.
The dazzling firelight came quickly and dissipated quickly. Soon, Ishijima Hideyuki stood with burn marks, appearing before them.
In that instant, he couldn't even stand up, dodging as fast as possible, letting the approaching water clone bear part of the attack, ultimately surviving.
"Damn it, if only I had a bit more chakra." Nara Shiomizu clenched his fist tightly, unable to remain calm despite being usually composed, because it was just a hair's breadth away; if he could've held on for two more seconds, Ishijima Hideyuki wouldn't have survived.
"You guys are impressive, almost killed me." Ishijima Hideyuki said with a grim smile, gripping his short blade and charging towards Nara Shiomizu.
Obito placed Shiomizu aside and charged towards Ishijima Hideyuki for a solo battle.
Obito hadn't recovered much chakra, fighting till now with the need to maintain the Sharingan and Breathing Technique, he dared not use Ninjutsu anymore, only adding some flame to his fists at most.
Thus, even with Ishijima Hideyuki weakened from injuries, Obito still fell into a noticeable disadvantage.
"To fail even in such manner," Kakashi sighed, leaning against a tree.
He found the cooperation by Nara Shiomizu's squad remarkable, capable of creating such results despite their condition.
Watching Obito fighting alone, Kakashi felt deeply unsettled.
That time in the Land of Rivers was much the same; it was Might Guy who burst forth, swiftly dealing with the Chunin. Then Obito opened his eyes and joined forces with Might Guy to tackle the Jonin, with Kakashi only delivering a final blow.
Kakashi was unwilling to accept this. He was clearly the genius in everyone's eyes, considered an unsurpassable prodigy, yet now he could only rely on his comrades to turn the tide.
Kakashi did not want to become this kind of person; he wanted to be the one to turn the tide because he was acknowledged by everyone as a genius!
Obito's wounds increased, and excessive bleeding further diminished his state, as if tipping the scales of victory completely towards Ishijima Hideyuki.
Kakashi took a step toward Ishijima Hideyuki, his entire body warning him of pain.
Kakashi ignored the pain and took another step. This time he attempted to enter the Breath of Thunder state. Maybe after a few minutes of rest, he recovered some physical strength, and he succeeded.
Under the influence of the Breathing Technique, Kakashi's steps quickened slightly.
Kakashi tried hard to concentrate his breathing. Ordinary breathing in such an intense battle couldn't provide much help.
Whether it was the severity of his injuries creating an illusion or something else, Kakashi felt as if his breathing was more focused than before.
Kakashi didn't ponder this question; he simply continued to concentrate his breathing to the utmost limit he could reach, and that's all.
As his breathing became increasingly focused, Kakashi's steps quickened even more.
Such blatant actions from Kakashi naturally couldn't escape Ishijima Hideyuki's attention, but he wasn't bothered by it. A normal nine-year-old could outrun the current Kakashi by several blocks. What was there to fear in this weakened state?
When Kakashi was only fifty meters from Ishijima Hideyuki, he gripped the White Fang Short Blade tightly, suddenly feeling a surge of strength.
At forty meters, Kakashi's breathing continued to change, and at this point, he felt the world before his eyes become much clearer.
At thirty meters, the clarity became more pronounced. Kakashi could faintly see Ishijima Hideyuki's muscles.
This reminded Kakashi of his memories from training.
He was troubled by his inability to react to his speed, a problem he hadn't resolved even now.
Mokgetsu had provided two potential solutions, one being the Ultimate Intent Transparent World of the Breathing Technique, the other being the enhancement of reaction nerves through Lightning Attribute Chakra Nature Changes.
"If you ever experience a transparent feeling in your mind, able to see and control every muscle and blood vessel in your body, then you've entered the state of the Transparent World." Kakashi recalled Mokgetsu's description of the Transparent World, and along with a sense of emptiness, Kakashi saw.
He saw his muscles, his bones, his blood vessels, everything in his body.
Not only could he see, but he could also control them, instantly understanding just how much power he'd wasted with each previous technique.
"So, this is the Transparent World." Kakashi murmured as he continued to approach Ishijima Hideyuki.
When he was only ten meters from Ishijima Hideyuki, Kakashi also saw everything on Ishijima Hideyuki's body.
Now Kakashi understood just how powerful the Breathing Technique Mokgetsu taught them really was—a miraculous power beyond words.
"When practicing the blade, remember two points: speed must be swift and strength must be substantial, concentrating the body's power at a single point for attack."
Then Kakashi recalled his father Hatake Sakumo's teachings on blade techniques.
At this moment, Kakashi was only six meters from Ishijima Hideyuki.
Although he didn't see Kakashi as a threat anymore, Ishijima Hideyuki, mindful of the fact that Kakashi was still a ninja, cautiously abandoned the heavily injured Obito temporarily and swung his short blade at the approaching Kakashi.
"Kakashi, get out of the way! You're in no shape to fight, just stay down!" Obito shouted anxiously.
As Kakashi came closer, Obito kept yelling for Kakashi to stay back, yet Kakashi ignored him, continuing forward as if entranced by Genjutsu.
"Father, Teacher Mokgetsu, thank you." Kakashi paid no mind to Ishijima Hideyuki's attack, but instead silently thanked Mokgetsu and White Fang in his heart.
For it was because of them that Kakashi now possessed the power to change everything.
"Die!" Ishijima Hideyuki used the Instant Body Jutsu to flash in front of Kakashi, thrusting his short blade at Kakashi's chest.
Swish!
A white light flashed.
Clatter.
Ishijima Hideyuki's short blade, along with his arm, broke into two pieces. Ishijima Hideyuki exhibited a look of horror and confusion, having been unable to see how Kakashi had swung his blade.
The next moment, a sharp pain followed, and before Ishijima Hideyuki could utter any last words, his body was split in two.
"Kakashi, you…" Obito looked on in shock at the scene, the powerful Jonin who had driven everyone into a bitter struggle was actually taken down by Kakashi in one strike. Was it as if Sage Mokgetsu had possessed him?
"I am the genius Kakashi." Leaving behind these words, Kakashi collapsed.