Kakashi Captured… and a Big Bowl of Wide Noodles
Not long after Hua Ling entered the fog-shrouded forest, a squad of Hidden Mist ninjas, led by Hoshigaki Kisame, emerged from the dense mist.
"Again?" Kakashi muttered under his breath.
The forest, normally silent, now echoed with the heavy steps of elite Mist shinobi. Kakashi's senses sharpened instinctively; the enemy was closing in yet again.
It felt like there was neither heaven above nor door beneath nowhere to hide, nowhere to run.
What do I do this time? Will anyone rescue me?
Kakashi had never felt so powerless in all his missions. They were so close to locating Obito… and yet, the pursuit intensified.
If it weren't for that mysterious man who rescued me last time, I would have been done for.
Now, escape seemed impossible.
"As expected of Kakashi, Konoha's prodigy ninja!"
"Even with the full force of the Hidden Mist, you still evade capture!"
"But let this charade end here!"
A shark-faced Mist ninja stepped into view, confident and mocking.
"Kisame Hoshigaki…" Kakashi muttered, recognizing him immediately.
"You're not alone," Kisame grinned, revealing his sharp, shark-like teeth.
One by one, other figures appeared from the fog, amplifying the pressure on Kakashi. Beads of sweat slid along his mask, absorbed silently into the fabric.
"Full Moon of Ghost Lights! White Eyes and Blue Eyes! And the chief of the Taketori clan Taketori Shika!"
Kakashi's mind raced. The lineup was overwhelming even if the Third Hokage were here, he would have to answer.
Recognizing there was no hope of escape, Kakashi pulled down his mask and activated his Sharingan.
"Hahaha! Then let's see the genius of Konoha in action!"
The reckless Taketori Kaku laughed, taking the lead.
The others watched with detached amusement, eager to see the renowned ninja tested. It was a tense display of skill versus cruelty.
Clash after clash rang through the forest. Kakashi drew his tanto and engaged Taketori Shika in close-quarters combat. Metal rang sharply as steel met steel.
The blows were fierce; Taketori Shika lived up to the Bamboo Cutter clan's reputation. Kakashi realized that in raw physical combat, he was outmatched.
Time to change tactics.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!"
He thrust the blade, infusing it with high-voltage lightning chakra a derivative of the S-rank Raikiri. The weapon now carried paralyzing power, perfect against opponents reliant on brute force.
With his Sharingan, every flick and feint of Taketori's body was visible. Kakashi rushed forward, stabbing at the chest.
"Corpse Vein: Tang Song Dance!" Taketori countered, activating his cursed bone veins. Bones extruded, shielding vital points. Kakashi's blade met unyielding resistance.
Additionally, the bone structure conducted electricity poorly. Only a faint tingling reached Taketori hardly enough to disrupt him.
"Corpse Bone Vein: Ten Fingers Flick!" Taketori unleashed a rapid bone projectile barrage.
Dang… dang… dang!
Close range. Kakashi struggled to deflect; some hits landed, staining his clothing with blood.
"Kakashi… your strength is just this level!"
Once capable of matching Taketori in hand-to-hand combat, Kakashi now found defeat inevitable.
Hoshigaki Kisame shook his head.
"A bit disappointing. I expected genius Kakashi to surprise me!"
Mangetsu Kizuna added, "Don't worry Qing is watching. What trouble can Kakashi really cause?"
Kisame, arms crossed, merely smirked in satisfaction.
Kakashi's condition worsened. Finally, a bone spike pierced both shoulders, forcing him into submission.
"If you don't kill me… what do you intend?" Kakashi asked, pain etched across his features.
"You'll find out soon enough," Kisame replied with a sly grin before turning to escort him.
Captured alive, Kakashi was escorted back to Kirigakure. Shadow clones monitoring the Water Country reported the scene but none intervened.
Uchiha Yi discovered that Kakashi's capture was orchestrated entirely by Obito behind the scenes. Intervention was unnecessary; it was a plan worth observing.
Upon arrival at the Hidden Mist, Kakashi was imprisoned. The Mist ninja, considerate in their own twisted way, provided a large bowl of wide noodles.
The bowl was enormous long, broad, and steaming.
Kakashi blinked, for once finding small comfort amid defeat.