The Iwa-nin in front of Kai Uchiha shattered, dispersing into a cloud of smoke—it was a Shadow Clone!
Shadow Clone Jutsu, originally created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had long since become widespread across the shinobi world. It was no longer a unique or rare technique, especially among skilled ninjas. Perhaps an unfortunate enemy had been captured, interrogated, and had the jutsu extracted from their mind, allowing it to spread further.
Regardless, one fact remained: any powerful ninja, regardless of their village, likely had this technique in their arsenal.
Kai Uchiha had just used a Substitution Jutsu himself, and his replacement—mere logs—was instantly slashed in half by his opponent's blade. A cold sweat formed on his forehead. These guys were persistent.
Despite his quick reaction, Kai had suffered a minor wound; blood trickled from his left shoulder. But now was no time to worry about small injuries. Just that last assault alone had left him winded, making it impossible to even weave hand signs for ninjutsu.
Kai couldn't help but think back to the events in the original manga. In Naruto, even low-level Genin like Team 7 managed to take down formidable enemies. Meanwhile, despite having at least Chūnin-level skills—even without activating his Sharingan—Kai was struggling. The sheer number of Iwa-nin was overwhelming. If he let his guard down, he could be surrounded and killed in an instant.
The worst part? He couldn't afford to reveal his Sharingan. Without a Mangekyō, using it would offer only limited self-defense. More importantly, exposing his dojutsu might make Konoha suspicious of him—something he wanted to avoid unless he had the power to protect himself.
Stealing a glance at Rin Nohara, Kai felt a bit relieved. Although Aya Hyūga and Kenta Imai weren't the most reliable allies, they were at least following his orders. Their presence helped draw some of the Iwa-nin's attention away from him.
"At least they're somewhat useful," Kai muttered under his breath before refocusing on his battle.
The fight was proving far more difficult than anticipated. These Iwa-nin weren't necessarily stronger than him, but dealing with so many at once—without his Sharingan—was exhausting.
Fortunately, Namikaze Minato should be arriving soon. His speed was legendary, and Kai hoped it would turn the tide of battle.
At that moment, Kakashi Hatake finally regained some of his strength. With Kai drawing the enemy's attention, Kakashi had managed to rest for a few precious minutes. His chakra hadn't fully recovered, but his breathing had steadied.
The silver-haired shinobi wasted no time, rejoining the battle in an instant. His presence gave Kai a slight reprieve—facing this many Iwa-nin alone had been brutal.
"Move faster, you're in bad shape," Kai murmured as he fought back-to-back with Kakashi. "Stay sharp. Our backup is just a few kilometers away—can we break through?"
"Yeah," Kakashi responded quietly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Who are you really? What squad are you from?"
"We'll talk later," Kai replied, scanning their surroundings. "Right side. Aya Hyūga is over there. We regroup with her, then push through."
"Understood."
There was no time for idle conversation. The moment Kakashi responded, Kai dashed forward, clashing with yet another Iwa-nin.
However, Kakashi's movements had slowed—his body was covered in wounds, and fatigue weighed him down. Even so, he fought fiercely. At one point, he even created an opening for Kai, allowing him to swiftly eliminate an Iwa-nin with a precise kunai to the throat.
But the Iwa-nin refused to go down easily. Their tenacity reminded Kai of Konoha's infamous Will of Fire—except these guys must have had their own twisted version, a Will of Stone.
Kai soon realized something alarming. The Iwa-nin had reached an unspoken understanding—they were done holding back.
"Damn it. These bastards mean business now."
Things only worsened. Kakashi's limbs grew heavier, his vision blurred, and his strength drained rapidly as he continued to bleed. He was at his limit.
Kai cursed under his breath. An Iwa-nin had slipped past their defenses and was closing in on Kakashi for a killing blow.
Without hesitation, Kai threw several smoke bombs, enveloping the battlefield in thick gray mist. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he dashed into the smoke, activating his Sharingan just in time.
Through his enhanced vision, he saw everything in slow motion. The Iwa-nin's attack, once dangerously fast, now looked sluggish—like an insect crawling through mud.
With a swift sidestep, Kai pushed Kakashi out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.
Kakashi stumbled but quickly regained his footing. Although the smoke obscured his right eye, it couldn't block the vision of his Sharingan.
What he saw next stunned him.
Kai transformed into the very Iwa-nin he had just dodged, then launched himself toward the enemy ranks.
Within seconds, the real Iwa-nin was mistaken for Kai and was killed by his own allies.
Before the other Iwa-nin could react, Kai used the opportunity to stab two more enemies in the chest with kunai, eliminating them instantly.
Kakashi watched in disbelief. Can the Transformation Jutsu really be used like this?!
Kai didn't have time to explain.
Just as he finished his attack, a yellow blur flashed before him.
A kunai, moving at incredible speed, sliced through the air—heading straight for Kai's throat.
His eyes widened in horror.
"Shit… I overplayed my hand!"