My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

Chapter 26 – Escape from Pursuit

It turned out Rin had been right. They managed to break through from the southeast. Though all of them were injured, they got out alive.

In the dense jungle, the group moved swiftly under the cover of darkness. Hyūga Ketsumei's Byakugan constantly scanned the surroundings, helping them avoid ambushes. Rin, meanwhile, sensed the pursuers' movements through the surrounding plants.

"Left!" Rin suddenly called out in a low voice.

The group instantly changed direction. Three seconds later, a kunai embedded itself in a tree right where they had been headed.

"Damn it, how are they keeping up so closely?" Obito panted, the wounded ninja on his back groaning in pain.

"It's the scent," Kakashi said calmly.

"We've got injured—blood exposes our trail."

At that, Rin grimaced. She should've thought of that. Just because the original anime didn't show Mist ninja tracking by scent didn't mean they couldn't. She quickly took some herbs from her pouch, crushed them, and passed them around.

"Rub this on—helps mask the scent."

Then she created several Shadow Clones, each smeared with blood and sent them fleeing in different directions.

Everyone followed her lead, sending out clones to mislead the enemy before moving forward. Suddenly, Hyūga Ketsumei halted.

"Three hundred meters ahead—ambush. Five people."

"No way around it," Kakashi said, gripping his kunai.

"Get ready to fight."

At that moment, the injured Uchiha chunin suddenly wriggled off Obito's back.

"You go ahead! I'll hold them off!"

"No!" Obito grabbed his arm and hoisted him back on his back.

"We're not leaving anyone behind!"

"I'll only slow you down... you know that..."

Kakashi's dull eyes flickered. He thought of his father—the man known as the White Fang of the Leaf, who had given up a mission to save comrades, only to be driven to death by public scorn.

"Those who abandon comrades are worse than trash!" Obito suddenly shouted, his eyes glowing with unwavering determination beneath his goggles.

Nohara Rin had already knelt to re-bandage the wound.

"We leave together."

Rin sighed inwardly. Logically, letting the injured man stay behind was the best choice. But emotionally... she couldn't coldly watch someone go to their death—not yet.

And it wasn't over yet. They still had options.

Kakashi's clenched fist trembled slightly before loosening around his kunai.

"Shadow Clones won't fool them for long. We split up. Obito and Rin take the injured left. Rin and I will draw their attention from the right."

"No way!" Obito objected.

"I'll be the bait!"

"Idiot. With your skills, you'll get caught in minutes!"

Rin suddenly pointed to the southeast.

"There's a river that way. If we get into the water, it'll mask our scent and blood. We split now and regroup there."

With the plan set, they moved immediately.

Obito and Nohara Rin slipped away with the injured, while Rin and Kakashi used Earth and Water Style jutsu to create noisy distractions. Hyūga Ketsumei went with Obito's group to guide them.

Rin and Kakashi dashed through the forest. Behind them came furious shouts from Mist ninja.

Kakashi suddenly halted, forming hand seals.

"Lightning Style: Ground Surge!"

Electricity surged along the wet ground. Two Mist ninjas leading the pursuit convulsed and collapsed.

"Nice one!" Rin threw three exploding-tag-laced shuriken.

"But we need to retreat—now!"

"Damn Konoha brats!" a Mist ninja cursed.

Meanwhile, Obito's group was struggling through the terrain.

Ketsumei scanned nervously with her Byakugan.

Suddenly, she clutched Nohara Rin's arm in alarm.

"Th-they're back! Eight of them this time!"

"Damn it!" Obito growled.

"If only I had my Sharingan..."

"Don't waste time dreaming!" the injured Uchiha chunin cut in sharply.

"Put me down—now!"

"Shut up!" Obito shouted, furious.

"Who do you think you are? Playing the hero doesn't make you cool!"

His voice cracked with emotion.

"I'm going to be Hokage! No way I'm abandoning a comrade!"

Nohara Rin looked at Obito in surprise. It was her first time seeing this strong, commanding side of him.

"Obito's right," she said gently but firmly, quickening her bandaging.

"We can make it—"

"Too late!" Ketsumei screamed.

"They're less than 200 meters away!"

Suddenly, the Uchiha chunin shoved Obito away.

"Move! You genin don't understand a damn thing!"

He staggered to his feet and formed hand seals.

"Uchiha pride... cannot be tarnished!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive fireball exploded not toward the enemies—but toward the forest behind his comrades, forming a blazing wall of fire.

"GO!" the chunin roared, back to them, voice fierce and absolute.

"You're just genin. Let yourselves be protected!"

Obito tried to rush forward, but Nohara Rin held him back tightly.

"Obito! Don't waste his sacrifice!"

Ketsumei was crying now.

"I—I don't want to die..."

"Shut up!" Obito barked, eyes red, but still turned around.

"Let's go!"

They stumbled to the riverbank where Rin and Kakashi were already waiting.

Kakashi's expression darkened when he saw they were short one person.

Where's the other?

Did Obito abandon him? Was everything he'd said just talk? Had Kakashi been wrong?

Obito slammed his fist against a tree, tears rolling beneath his shattered goggles.

"That bastard... stayed behind on his own..."

Rin's eyes scanned the river.

"No time to grieve. Mist ninja are expert in water combat—we have to cross now!"

Kakashi nodded.

"Everyone—get in the river! The current's strong—don't get swept away!"

Nohara Rin supported Ketsumei, who was pale and gasping.

"I... I might not make it..."

"I'll carry you!" Obito squatted down without hesitation and pulled her onto his back.

"Hold on tight!"

The five of them leapt onto the river, chakra forming at their feet as they dashed across the rapid current.

But Mist reinforcements had arrived.

"Trying to run?" the lead Mist ninja sneered.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A massive dragon of water surged from the river, heading straight for them.

Kakashi whirled around and made hand seals.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

A dog-faced earth wall rose from the river, barely blocking the attack.

But the backlash sent them stumbling. Ketsumei nearly slipped off Obito's back.

"Careful!" Rin tried to help, but a kunai from another Mist ninja forced her back.

Rin threw a shuriken to intercept it.

"Don't stop—keep moving!"

Suddenly, an arrow with an exploding tag shrieked through the air—

**Headed straight for Nohara Rin's back.

"RIN!!"** Obito's eyes widened in horror.

At the last second, he let go of Ketsumei and lunged.

BOOM!

The blast knocked both of them into the river. Obito shielded Nohara Rin with his body.

He hit the water hard, blood streaming from a cut on his temple. His goggles shattered, fragments gouging his eye.

"Obito—your eye!" Nohara Rin cried.

The pain made Obito freeze for a moment, then grit his teeth and forced himself up.

"Cross the river—now!"

Kakashi and Rin, already across with Ketsumei, saw Obito and Nohara Rin being swept downstream.

They ran along the riverbank, Mist ninjas close behind.

Rin suddenly stopped and formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"

A torrent of water roared forth, blending with the river to block the enemy's sight.

"Now!" Kakashi threw a rope across.

Obito grabbed it—and they finally regrouped.

"How's Ketsumei?" Rin asked, gasping for breath.

Nohara Rin checked and sighed with relief.

"Just unconscious. No serious injuries."

Obito collapsed to the ground.

Once he confirmed his eye was fine, the fear subsided—but the frustration in his eyes only deepened.

"If we were stronger... that Uchiha senpai... Ketsumei... no one would've..."

Kakashi silently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Rin looked across the river where the fog was finally starting to clear.

Her voice was quiet but steady:

"It's not over. The Mist won't stop chasing us. We have to leave immediately."

"Head for Bear Country. Let's regroup with Minato-sensei!"

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