"Hoora~ Kakashi, that's why I said..." Uchiha Yuma appeared in an instant, smiling as he spoke, "This technique is still immature!"
Yuma's sudden appearance and his ability to save the arrogant Kakashi without missing a beat left the Magic Leech stunned. The Iwa-nin was seething with frustration—not just because of Yuma's incredible speed, which made it impossible to react, but because of his nonchalant attitude that made the Leech feel utterly ignored. It was as if Yuma considered him mere air.
This insult stung deeply.
In his understanding as a seasoned Jōnin, no matter how strong a ninja was—even as powerful as Lord Tsuchikage—any moment of carelessness could lead to their downfall at the hands of a lowly Genin with a well-placed kunai.
Now, seeing Yuma stand before him with such apparent disregard, leaving himself full of openings, the Magic Leech decided to strike. This was his opportunity.
With a ferocious roar, he charged, yelling, "Shunshin Yuma, your arrogance will be your downfall! Die now!"
He swung his ninja sword in a flash of cold light, aiming for Yuma's exposed side.
Yuma sighed deeply, shaking his head.
"Ah... Must insects always scream before they struggle?"
With those words, a violent burst of chakra erupted around him.
In an instant, fiery red light swirled in the air, coalescing into a massive, sky-piercing arm that emerged from Yuma's side.
——Crack!
The blazing red arm of chakra snatched the Magic Leech mid-attack.
——Boom!
A burst of chakra crushed the Iwa-nin completely.
The Magic Leech, a Jōnin of Iwagakure, was reduced to nothing more than a pile of mangled flesh and blood.
As the blood rained down, Yuma deactivated the fiery red energy. He used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Kakashi's side, bringing him back to where Obito and Rin waited.
"Yuma-kun… What was that giant arm?!" Nohara Rin's eyes were wide with shock.
As a medical ninja, Rin rarely asked about combat techniques. She understood the importance of keeping information classified, especially for powerful abilities. Even the most ordinary ninja could create trouble if they gathered enough intel.
But the power Yuma displayed—the fiery, godlike arm—was extraordinary. It overwhelmed her natural discretion, and she couldn't resist asking.
"Hmm…" Yuma hesitated for a moment before replying with a small smile. "It's called Susanoo—the divine power of the Uchiha clan."
"Divine power? Susanoo?!" Obito echoed, his voice filled with awe and excitement.
As a marginalized member of the Uchiha clan, Obito had never heard of such a power before. However, seeing the strength Yuma displayed, the fiery red arm felt like the ultimate ability—one he couldn't even dream of achieving.
His excitement grew, and he asked eagerly, "If it's a power of the Uchiha clan, does that mean… any Uchiha can use it?"
Yuma chuckled at Obito's enthusiasm. "If you want to use Susanoo, you'll need to work hard, Obito. This power requires Sharingan as the key."
Yuma wasn't lying. Susanoo was the ultimate expression of Yin chakra, deeply rooted in the Uchiha bloodline. Sharingan served as the gateway, and understanding the nature of Yin chakra was critical.
Obito's eyes sparkled with determination. "Sharingan… I'll awaken it soon! When I do, I'll definitely learn this technique from you, Brother Yuma!"
Yuma smiled at Obito's confidence.
Obito imagined himself with the power of Susanoo, a massive, godlike figure towering over the battlefield. He thought of how powerful and heroic he would look—more impressive than Kakashi, for sure. In his mind, he could already see Rin admiring him.
As Obito dreamed of his future, Kakashi regained his composure.
Kakashi stepped forward, bowing his head slightly as he spoke. "Thank you, Yuma. If it weren't for you, I would've…" He trailed off, clenching his teeth at the thought of how close he had been to death.
Yuma waved off his gratitude. "It's nothing, Kakashi. But I hope this experience has taught you a valuable lesson."
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "I promise this won't happen again on any future mission."
At that moment, Kakashi realized how much Yuma had surpassed him—not just in strength but also in decisiveness, insight, and tactical awareness. Yuma had spotted the flaw in Chidori immediately and acted to save him when it mattered most.
Kakashi thought about his own achievements. He had been a prodigy, a ninja at five years old. Yet now, Yuma was far beyond him in every possible way.
He resolved to learn from this and grow stronger.
Yuma smiled at Kakashi's determination. "Good. Let's keep moving toward Kannabi Bridge!"
"Right!" the trio replied in unison.
Meanwhile, in a dark cave, a tense atmosphere filled the air.
A figure known as 'Oishi' turned to his companion 'Hiroshi' and spoke grimly. "We've just lost contact with the Magic Leech. It seems Konoha's team is stronger than we anticipated."
Hiroshi frowned. "Shunshin Yuma… It must've been him. We'll have to change tactics if we want to deal with that monster."
The shadows deepened as the two schemed, their plans evolving to counter Konoha's strongest team.