"Hey, little devils, you can't escape," sneered a voice from the shadows.
The three Genin froze as two Mist ninjas appeared, blocking their path.
"Gai, we'll hold them off," Kakashi ordered, unsheathing his short sword, his expression tense. "Obito, you need to get back to the village and get help."
"But why me?" Obito protested, panic lacing his voice. "Why can't I stay?"
*Slap!* Kakashi's palm landed firmly on Obito's shoulder. "Because you're too weak to help," he said sternly. "Go back and get help from the village!"
Before Obito could argue, Kakashi had already rushed toward one of the enemy ninjas.
"Yeah! This is what youth is all about!" Gai exclaimed, throwing a fist toward the other Mist ninja. "Remember, the one who's about to defeat you is Might Guy!"
Watching his friends rush into danger, Obito clenched his fists, then turned and sprinted toward the village, his heart pounding. He knew that every second mattered. If he didn't hurry, the others would be in even more danger.
As he neared the hidden passage through the wall, his spirits lifted. But just then, a dark figure blocked his path, dropping down in front of the exit.
"Run, Obito!" came a weak voice.
Obito's eyes widened as he recognized the fallen figure. It was Reiki, severely injured, his limbs twisted, and his breath shallow.
"No… this can't be…" Obito stammered, frozen in horror. "Boss… he's a Chunin…"
"Hey, kid." The mocking voice of the Mist ninja reached him, making his blood run cold. "You called him a Chunin?"
The Mist ninja sneered. "So what if he's a Chunin? I'm a Jonin of Kirigakure! Thanks to you, I found this hidden entrance. After I finish with you, I'll sneak into Konoha and destroy it from the inside!"
The Mist ninja lunged with his kunai, slashing down, and Reiki used his last bit of strength to shield Obito. Blood sprayed as Reiki fell, whispering his final word: "Run…"
"No!" Obito's voice cracked as he screamed. He watched helplessly as Reiki's lifeless body collapsed.
Suddenly, two more dark shapes hit the ground beside him. Kakashi and Gai lay unconscious, the battle having overwhelmed them. Only Obito was left standing, and his body trembled with fury.
…
Inside a dimly lit room, Shisui turned to Reiki, concern evident in his voice. "Reiki, Obito's chakra is fluctuating wildly. Should we continue?"
Reiki's face was serious, but he nodded. "Not yet. We're almost there."
The events Obito was experiencing weren't real; they were an intense genjutsu cast by Shisui.
Shisui gave a reluctant nod. Obito's body trembled harder, his once-empty gaze becoming fierce. Then, in an instant, his eyes shifted, and a single tomoe Sharingan emerged, breaking the illusion.
Shisui and Reiki jumped to their feet, shocked.
Obito blinked, disoriented, as he looked around, taking out a training kunai and glancing about nervously. "Boss? Shisui? Wait… are there enemies here?"
Reiki stepped forward, giving him a calm smile. "You fell asleep during training, probably from over-exertion. We didn't wake you since you seemed like you were having a dream."
"Was it really just a dream?" Obito scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. "In the dream, I thought you were killed by Mist ninjas, Boss! And… I awakened my Sharingan…"
Reiki and Shisui exchanged glances, and Shisui handed Obito a mirror. "Not exactly a dream. You really did awaken your Sharingan."
Obito froze, staring at his reflection, where a single tomoe glinted back at him.
"A Sharingan… I activated my Sharingan from a nap?"
He pinched his thigh, the sharp pain confirming his reality. "Ow! This isn't a dream!"
Shisui whispered to Reiki, "Reiki, do you think there could be lingering effects from awakening it this way? He seems a bit… unusual."
Reiki observed Obito for a moment and shook his head. "I don't think there's any negative impact. As long as the Sharingan is activated, it's working. And he seems just as cheerful as ever."
As the initial excitement faded, Obito's chakra drained, and his Sharingan deactivated. Finally calming down, he looked up, exhilarated.
"Obito, are you feeling alright?" Reiki asked carefully.
"Yeah, I feel great!" Obito said, his eyes shining. "Everything feels sharper, and I can sense my surroundings better. Shisui, is this the power of the Sharingan?"
Shisui smiled, relieved. "Seems like your mind is clear. It's safe to say there's nothing to worry about."
Obito, still basking in excitement, nodded eagerly. For anyone else, awakening a Sharingan might have been a significant challenge, but to Obito, it had come as naturally as breathing.
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