Chapter 28. Feels Like a Hero
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Three little brats, thinking they could carry out a reconnaissance mission?
What a joke!
Once their Jonin leader was lured away, their fate was sealed!
What a pity.
But with tensions high, there was no time to waste. Otherwise, this uncle would have enjoyed toying with these cute kids a bit longer!
A sinister grin appeared on the Iwa ninja's face as he looked at the boy with black hair and goggles in front of him, especially noting the Uchiha clan fan symbol on his clothes.
"A little Uchiha brat from Konoha? How interesting!"
With that, he took a step forward, grinning viciously as he licked his lips. "Looks like we can at least recycle your corpse!"
"…" Uchiha Obito felt cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Minato-sensei had been lured away, and it didn't look like he'd be back to rescue them anytime soon.
They would have to rely on themselves!
Only a Jonin…
But an Iwa Jonin, though!
With just the three of them, defeating him would usually be impossible under normal circumstances. Of course, if Kakashi…
He glanced at Kakashi. 'He'd probably make it out on his own.'
That jerk was always spouting things like "the mission comes first," so he'd probably ditch them and run for it!
Looking over at the equally cautious Rin, Obito knew they couldn't wait any longer. Remembering some advice from before, he gritted his teeth and said, "Here goes!"
With that, under the mocking gaze of the Iwa ninja, Obito launched into an attack, running in a curved path around the Jonin, throwing kunai in a seemingly random pattern—using the unique Uchiha's…Obito's distinctive throwing technique. He flung them haphazardly, sending about a dozen kunai flying erratically toward the enemy.
In the blink of an eye…
Thunk thunk thunk—!
They all embedded in the ground and trees nearby.
"…"
Missed entirely?
The scene fell into silence. Kakashi sighed with a mix of exasperation and expectation in his eyes.
"Hahaha, is that the famous Uchiha throwing technique?" The Iwa ninja snapped out of his initial surprise, bursting into laughter. "That's it?"
Suddenly…
The other Iwa ninja facing off against Kakashi stiffened, shouting, "Wait, they're tagged with explosive tags!"
That's right.
Obito had wrapped explosive tags around the kunai—a common ninja trick.
But, just as the Iwa ninja's partner had warned him, he grew a bit more alert, thinking, 'I got too careless!' Then he noticed the distance between him and the nearest kunai… and paused. 'At this range, what's the point?'
He dodged casually, moving to pull back out of the blast zone.
The explosive tags detonated!
But as he predicted, he wasn't fazed; at this distance, the explosion's shockwave was minimal—barely enough to ruffle him.
The Iwa Jonin laughed heartily, "Little Uchiha brat! Better go back to ninja scho—"
Before he could finish, something happened that only Obito had anticipated.
A black, foul-smelling mass hurled itself directly toward him, splattering in an instant… right over his eyes, mouth, and nose—his whole face!
"…"
Everyone froze, watching as the disgusting substance fell like a filthy rain. Even Kakashi's expression darkened, and he quickly moved out of the blast zone.
But with the force of the explosion, avoiding the spread was no easy task.
As everyone scrambled to dodge, one figure alone… stood firm, looking every bit like a hero, bravely facing the mess head-on, with a smear of filth across his face, unfazed!
All he could remember was that advice, the one Yuto gave him that night, and he charged toward the enemy.
Taijutsu?
No chance with taijutsu!
Ninjutsu?
Ninjutsu wasn't going to cut it either!
So, only one option remained.
The thing that guy talked about, the forbidden technique—a legendary jutsu passed down by the legendary Uchiha ninja!
But Uchiha Obito still felt a bit disgusted, so he decided to use his kunai instead.
With a serious expression, he gripped his kunai tightly, ignoring the foul black substance flying everywhere as he swiftly approached the Iwa ninja from behind.
However, as a Jonin, the Iwa ninja wasn't one to be underestimated. Although he was repulsed, with the foul stuff even in his mouth, he knew that in battle, a fight is a fight.
Pity.
His eyes were covered, making it hard to clean off the mess. Just as he was about to turn around, Obito had already moved behind him with lightning speed. Feet in a crouched stance, he remembered the position that guy had taught him. Taking a deep breath, Obito steadied his kunai, and with a resolute expression, he lunged forward!
Suddenly!
"Ah~"
Moments later,
With a scream echoing through the air, a figure stood there, a true man amidst the chaotic spray, clutching his blood-stained kunai. He looked at the hunched-over Iwa ninja sticking his bleeding butt out. A hint of a smirk appeared at the corner of Obito's mouth.
He had won!
With perfect timing, location, and his wits, he'd defeated an enemy Jonin.
Everyone around was stunned by this feat from Obito!
At that moment, Obito felt an indescribable sensation inside him—a feeling of defeating a higher-ranked enemy! It was the power of a legendary forbidden jutsu, a technique left by the Legendary Uchiha who could rival the God of the Ninja World!
It was effective!
He casually flicked his head and looked at Kakashi, who was equally stunned. Just as he was about to throw out a taunt…
Suddenly,
A blob of black mass flew straight into his mouth with a "splat."
"I…"
…
"Ughh…"
"What's wrong, Yuto?"
"It's nothing. Maybe I am feeling a bit nauseous from playing for too long," Uchiha Yuto shuddered involuntarily and tossed out a tile. Glancing at the fox's pair of bright red eyes, he hesitated. "How about we call it a day?"
After all, since they were using chakra and mental energy to be here, some physical discomfort was normal.
A small wager is good for relaxation, but gambling too much is harmful. Moderation is key!
However,
"I've only just started!" The Nine-Tails, having lost a few rounds and even accidentally helped the others win, wasn't pleased. Ignoring Yuto's suggestion, it refused. "You think you can just leave after winning? Keep playing, brat!"
"…Typical," Yuto thought. This creature was clearly going stir-crazy.
Every time they started gambling, the fox would go wild. Especially after several losses, its eyes seemed to turn even redder.
Yuto glanced at Nine-Tails' slightly thinner tails… were they even balding?
In the sealed space, the flow of chakra was limited, and pulling out one of its tails had led to it becoming thinner.
Sighing, he shook his head. "Just a friendly game! Keep losing like this, and you'll end up as Eight-Tails!"
"Hmph! A mere Uchiha brat, dare to talk big?" Nine-Tails felt that he was being looked down upon. So, the fox fluffed up its chakra-made fur. "A tiny bit of chakra, see my tails? Nine of them! They'll grow back! You've only won a little fur, and you're acting so cocky?"
"…"
Alright, alright—
Do as you like!
You can't reason with a gambler!
Now he was a little worried… If Naruto really became a Jinchuriki, and that simple-minded, kind-hearted kid turned into a gambler… How great that would be!
With three gamblers, Konoha would surely flourish.
With a sigh, Yuto nodded, "Fine, fine, come on!"
Meanwhile, Suzune sat nearby, still in a daze, mindlessly shuffling tiles as she stared at Nine-Tails' two fingers poking through the bars of the seal, stunned.
So, this was…
The Nine-Tails?