Obito lay on the ground, coughing and retching. Nearby, the Mist ninja's lifeless body soaked the ground in a pool of blood.
Rin, standing a few feet away, turned pale and vomited, tears streaming down her face.
Kakashi remained silent but eventually gagged a little before muttering, "Obito, could you maybe not take ten whole minutes to finish off one guy? Just get it done next time!"
Yoruichi sighed, shaking his head. "Weak. But at least you finished the job."
Obito lifted his head, his face twisted in shock. His eyes glowed blood-red, with two black tomoe spinning slowly around his pupils.
"Sharingan!" Kakashi exclaimed, his one visible eye wide with disbelief.
Yoruichi blinked in surprise. "Well, damn."
Obito stared at them, confused. "What? What's going on?"
Rin, her concern clear, rushed forward. "Obito, are you okay?"
Obito frowned and touched his face, then noticed his reflection in a kunai blade. "Whoa… is this… Sharingan?!" He grinned, his excitement bubbling over. "No wonder I could see Chakra flows so clearly!"
Kakashi crossed his arms, his voice dripping with envy. "Sharingan can also cast genjutsu, right? You think you can handle that?"
Obito puffed out his chest, smug. "Of course I can!"
"Then prove it," Kakashi challenged.
Obito hesitated. "Uh… maybe later. I wouldn't want to accidentally knock you out with a genjutsu. That'd be too easy."
Yoruichi rolled his eyes. "Brat. Quit bragging. You just awakened it; you're not a prodigy."
The bickering trio followed Yoruichi as they approached the bridge connecting the Land of Fire to the Land of Water. A dense mist hung over it, thick and foreboding, with a faint red tint that reminded them of blood.
Rin hesitated, her voice nervous. "Sensei, the bridge is covered in mist. Are we… really going in?"
Yoruichi glanced back. "Unless you want to swim to the Land of Water, yes. We're crossing."
"But there might be enemies waiting for us," Kakashi pointed out cautiously.
"And if there are?" Yoruichi's voice was calm but firm. "It doesn't change the fact that we have to go."
Obito squinted into the mist, his newly awakened Sharingan straining. "Wait… I think I see someone. There's Chakra movement ahead."
Rin brightened. "Obito, you can see it?"
"Yeah, but… it's faint." He stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"Careful," Yoruichi said flatly. "Don't overuse your Sharingan. You'll just drain yourself—or worse, go blind."
"Wait, blind?!" Obito's face turned pale. "Sensei, you're kidding, right?"
Yoruichi smirked. "Am I?"
Obito's excitement deflated instantly.
"Focus," Yoruichi ordered. "Where's the enemy?"
"There," Obito pointed towards the bridge. "On the upper supports."
Yoruichi sighed. "Then just say it. Don't wave your arms around like an idiot. You'll scare them off."
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered.
"WHAT?!" Obito shouted, red-faced.
Before they could argue further, the thick mist on the bridge began to dissipate.
"See?" Yoruichi smirked. "Told you. You scared them off."
Obito pouted. "It's called psychological warfare, Sensei! Haven't you read strategy books?"
"Strategy books?" Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Don't embarrass yourself, kid. Do you even know what you're talking about?"
Obito blinked. "Uh…"
"Yeah, thought so. Let's move." Yoruichi flicked Obito's forehead lightly, earning a groan from the boy.
As they began crossing the bridge, three strange, pale figures emerged from the ground ahead. Their bodies twisted and merged together, forming a grotesque, spike-covered creature.
"Ahhh! Sensei!" Rin screamed.
Even Kakashi froze for a moment, his hand hovering near his kunai pouch. Obito, Sharingan and all, looked ready to pass out.
Yoruichi, unimpressed, sighed. "You killed a man five minutes ago, and this is what scares you? Toughen up already."
But his eyes narrowed as he studied the creature. "White Zetsu…"
A realization hit him. "So Madara has been keeping tabs on me after all. Figures."
The pale monstrosity lunged, spikes gleaming in the faint light. Yoruichi cracked his knuckles. "Kids, stay back. I've got this."
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