For every 30 POWER STONES there will be an extra chapter! 21 Power Stones Left!!
The tip of the kunai was heading straight for Obito's vital spot.
"Damn!" Obito's eyes widened in panic.
At that moment, a flash of white light flew past, striking the bald Iwa-nin in the chest and sending him flying backward. The kunai that had been aimed at Obito's neck missed, merely grazing his left cheek and leaving a small wound.
Obito's right foot caught the edge of the tree trunk, halting his backward fall. His cheek stung from the cut, and his left eye squinted involuntarily as he looked up. The bald Iwa-nin was now pinned to a tree trunk by a short sword.
"Phew."
Obito touched his chest, feeling his heartbeat slowly return to normal as he let out a sigh of relief.
Kakashi leaped over to the Iwa-nin's corpse and pulled out his short sword.
Rin, who had been hiding, emerged from the shadows and quickly made her way to Obito's side.
"Are you okay?" Rin asked as she began healing Obito's wound.
As a medical ninja, her priority was to stay out of direct combat to ensure her safety, so she could treat her teammates afterward.
"Heh, it's just a small cut." Obito tried to brush it off, though his heart was still pounding from the close call. Without Kakashi's timely intervention, it wouldn't have been just a scratch on his face.
"Thanks, Kakashi," Obito muttered reluctantly, clearly not thrilled about having to show gratitude.
Kakashi said nothing, focusing instead on cleaning his short sword.
Obito frowned at Kakashi's cold attitude but didn't say anything more.
After Rin finished healing Obito, Kakashi stood up and said, "Let's move on and find the next group of enemies."
Meanwhile, Team 9 was also engaged in battle with an Iwa-nin squad in the Forest of Dusk.
After Ye Zi's death, the leadership of Team 9 had fallen to Kurenai's father. However, due to the need for resource distribution during the war, he had been reassigned to lead another team. In his place, Kotoe, who had become a jōnin, took over as captain. Alongside the original members, Guy and Kurenai, a new chunin named Shizune, who had just mastered medical ninjutsu, joined the team, making it a standard formation.
Unfortunately for Team 9, they encountered a high-ranking Iwa-nin squad.
"Heh, three women, huh?"
The leader of the Iwa-nin squad, a pale, gaunt man with a long, horse-like face, slowly licked his lips, a thin trail of saliva escaping his mouth. He was a swordsman, an unusual sight among the typically heavy-set Iwa-nin, wielding a long blade.
"Captain, you're drooling," a fat Iwa-nin with large ears and a round face pointed out.
The remaining two Iwa-nin, a muscular man with strong features and a cold-looking woman with short hair and narrow eyes, looked on. The woman shot a disgusted glance at their leader.
Facing the Iwa-nin, Kotoe's expression was serious. She flicked her wrists, and eight dark green senbon slid from her sleeves, held between her fingers. She could feel the tangible killing intent radiating from the horse-faced Iwa-nin and knew he was a powerful opponent.
Guy and Kurenai didn't sense the same level of danger, as they were more accustomed to life-and-death combat.
"Shizune, stay behind and cover us," Guy said, bouncing slightly in place, fists wrapped in bandages and ready for action.
"Don't charge in too far, or I won't help you," Kurenai warned with a sharp glance.
"Got it," Guy grinned sheepishly. "I'll be careful."
Shizune smiled faintly, a bit nervous. Even though she was older than Guy and Kurenai, they seemed far more relaxed than she did. She couldn't help but feel tense.
"The enemies are strong. Be cautious," Kotoe cut through the lighthearted mood with a grim reminder.
"Understood."
Guy's demeanor shifted as he grew serious and focused.
"I'm going in!"
Before the enemy could act, Guy launched himself forward like a charging bull, aiming straight for the Iwa-nin.
"Hmph, eager to die, are you?" the female Iwa-nin sneered as she leapt into the air to intercept Guy.
"Konoha Whirlwind!" Guy yelled as he swung his leg toward the female Iwa-nin with great force.
The female Iwa-nin met Guy's kick head-on, her own leg wrapped in a layer of hardened rock.
From the rear, Kurenai began forming hand seals, her eyes locked on the female Iwa-nin, preparing to cast a genjutsu to assist Guy.
"Hm? Little beauty, that's not very nice."
A trembling voice filled with restrained excitement whispered behind Kurenai. The suddenness of it shocked the entire team.
"When?!"
Both Kotoe and Shizune turned their heads in alarm. Somehow, the horse-faced Iwa-nin had appeared behind Kurenai.
Splat!
As they watched, the long sword pierced Kurenai's back, emerging from her chest, covered in blood.
Kurenai's eyes widened in shock, her hands falling limp as the hand seals broke.
"Heh, heh heh…"
The horse-faced Iwa-nin let out a low, satisfied chuckle near Kurenai's ear. Then, his expression turned cold as he ripped the sword out, letting her collapse onto the tree trunk, blood pouring from her wound.
"Am I… going to die?" Kurenai thought, her vision blurring, as she felt her strength rapidly leaving her body.
"Captain's too cruel," the fat Iwa-nin chuckled, watching a mud clone dissolve beside him.
Boom!
At that moment, Guy's and the female Iwa-nin's legs collided with a dull thud, sending Guy flying backward into a tree trunk.
The female Iwa-nin wasn't much better off. Due to her lower position, she was knocked downward by the impact.
"How dare you!" Kotoe, seeing Kurenai lying in a pool of blood, was filled with rage. She flicked her arms, launching all eight senbon toward the horse-faced Iwa-nin.
"Don't rush. We've got time," the horse-faced Iwa-nin sneered. At such close range, he easily deflected all the senbon with his long sword. Then, his body began to fade, becoming invisible as he blended into the surroundings.
"Shizune, take Kurenai and retreat," Kotoe ordered, her heart pounding as she tried to keep track of their invisible enemy.
"Understood."
Shizune, filled with anxiety, rushed to Kurenai's side, carefully lifting her and preparing to carry her away.
"Looks like we're being ignored," the fat Iwa-nin stretched his arms.
"Yeah," the burly Iwa-nin, known as Stone, responded, jumping down and forming hand seals.
Earth Release: Cracking Earth Palm!
Stone pressed his hand to the ground, causing the earth to crack and send a tremor toward the trees where Shizune and Kurenai were.
Crack!
Several trees in the area began to topple.
Shizune, who had just picked up Kurenai, let out a cry as she lost her balance and fell. She barely managed to land on her feet, but her face showed panic.
"Damn it!" Kotoe cursed as she watched, feeling an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Guy, who had great strength and taijutsu skills, was evenly matched with the female Iwa-nin. Kurenai had been seriously injured with one blow, and Shizune was busy trying to protect her.
Although Kotoe knew the enemy was strong, she hadn't expected the battle to be so one-sided. If this continued, they would all be wiped out…
A cold, suffocating sense of crisis gripped Kotoe as the realization of their dire situation sank in.
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Currently on Chapter 236 - I Am Your Enemy