"Ugh…!"
Obito was on the ground, crying and dry heaving.
The Mist ninja lay in a pool of blood.
Not far away, Rin turned aside and vomited too, tears filling her eyes.
Kakashi stayed silent at first.
Then he gagged slightly before muttering,
"Obito… next time, just stab him cleanly. You don't need ten minutes to finish it."
Kazuki rubbed his forehead.
Obito really was weak.
But—
He did it.
After this baptism of blood, none of them would freeze on a battlefield again.
Still…
Were they being pushed too fast?
Obito suddenly raised his head.
His eyes—
Crimson.
Two tomoe rotated slowly in each pupil.
Sharingan.
"…What the hell."
Even Kazuki was stunned.
He actually awakened it?
Kakashi froze too.
Did Sensei… do that on purpose?
In Kakashi's mind, Kazuki's image instantly grew taller.
Rin rushed over.
"Obito! Are you okay?!"
"Okay? What do you mean okay?"
Obito had no idea what happened.
When he finally looked at his reflection in a puddle—
His jaw dropped.
"I can see chakra…!"
"This is… the Sharingan!"
Kakashi couldn't hide the envy.
"I heard Sharingan can use genjutsu. Can you?"
Obito puffed up proudly.
"Of course I can."
"Then use it."
"Hmph. If I do, you'll pass out. Better not."
Kazuki rolled his eyes.
Bragging already?
He had to admit—
Child of destiny.
Awakening Sharingan from emotional shock.
Classic.
They continued moving and soon reached the border of the Land of Fire.
Ahead lay a bay.
A massive bridge stretched across the water.
On the other side—
The Land of Water.
The nation was composed of islands off the eastern coast.
Several bridges connected the two lands.
This one—
Was wrapped in thick fog.
The mist had a faint reddish tint.
Visibility was almost zero.
It felt suffocating.
So this was the origin of the "Bloody Mist."
Rin turned to Kazuki.
"Sensei… there's heavy fog ahead. Should we go in?"
Kazuki nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"Unless you plan on swimming."
Kakashi frowned.
"There could be enemies inside."
Kazuki replied lightly,
"And?"
"Enemy or not, we still cross."
Obito squinted, activating his Sharingan.
"There's someone up ahead."
Rin's eyes widened.
"You can see that?"
"Sort of. I can see chakra movement. Feels similar to the Mist ninja from earlier."
He swayed slightly.
Almost lost his footing.
"Obito, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine."
Kazuki said casually,
"Don't overuse your Sharingan."
"You'll go blind."
Obito's face drained of color.
"Sensei, don't scare me!"
"I'm not."
"Train your body and basics first."
Obito's excitement shattered instantly.
Blind?
He had never heard of that.
Was Kazuki jealous?
Of course Kazuki wasn't joking.
Mangekyo overuse.
Permanent damage.
Though Obito didn't know that yet.
Right now, his Sharingan was barely more than enhanced vision.
Kamui was far, far away.
"Where exactly is the enemy?"
"On the bridge. Above us."
Kazuki sighed.
"You don't need to point."
"You're practically waving at them."
Kakashi muttered,
"Idiot."
Obito nearly collapsed.
Opened Sharingan.
Still mocked.
"Sensei, you're a demon."
As they spoke, the thick fog gradually thinned.
Kazuki shrugged.
"See? You scared them off."
Obito crossed his arms stubbornly.
"That's called winning without fighting."
"Haven't you read strategy books?"
Kazuki snorted.
"You're quoting war strategy?"
"Have you read Sun Tzu's Art of War? Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"
Obito blinked.
"…What are those?"
"Exactly."
Kazuki flicked his forehead and walked ahead.
They were halfway across the bridge when—
Three pale shapes burst from the ground.
"Sensei!!"
The three kids jumped back in terror.
The white bodies fused together into a spiked, twisted humanoid creature.
Even Obito, fresh Sharingan and all, looked ready to cry again.
Kazuki sighed.
You just killed someone.
Can you toughen up a little?
He stared at the white creature.
Not Mist ninja.
Not human.
White Zetsu.
On the way out of Konoha, Kazuki had felt something was off.
Now he understood.
So Madara had been watching after all.
During the time he fused Hashirama's character card—
He hadn't gone unnoticed.
Not unseen.
Just… observed from the shadows.
Kazuki's expression turned calm.
So.
The game has already begun.