The change in Ikaros was purely sensory. Her form and composition hadn't shifted, yet she felt different. Shen Mo couldn't resist pinching her fingers, touching her cheek. Indeed, a change—her body, once lifeless, now pulsed with vibrant vitality. His heightened senses, thanks to recent upgrades, caught what he'd have missed before.
"Master?" Ikaros sensed her own shift.
"It's a good thing," Shen Mo said, casting a scan.
As expected, her consciousness and power now permeated her entire frame, not just her core. Her body was subtly evolving, like human growth—a hallmark of life. Shen Mo preferred this livelier Ikaros.
A sudden cry from Rin below snapped his attention.
In moments, Kakashi and Rin were bound tightly by branches. Outmatched?
Obito's strength was formidable—Mangekyo Sharingan, Hashirama's cells granting massive chakra and recovery. Kakashi, unjob-changed, focused on protecting Rin, intent on retreating, not fighting.
"I told you, you can't protect her," Obito said, stepping closer, swallowing the words like last time.
He feared Rin guessing his identity.
But Rin wasn't looking at him. Pressed against Kakashi by the bindings, she gazed at him with worry, heedless of her own plight.
Obito's fists clenched.
He'd planned to take Rin as "Madara," exposing the world's and Konoha's darkness. Now, he pivoted—to reveal Kakashi's true face first.
"Follow if you want to save her," Obito said, splitting the branches to separate them. Holding Rin, he glanced at Kakashi and leaped away.
"Rin—!" Kakashi's eyes widened.
Instantly, he unleashed all forbidden jutsu. Blood poured from his mouth, nose, eyes; muscles bulged, chakra surged, tearing the Wood Release apart with raw force.
He chased at his max speed.
He'd underestimated Wood Release. Fearing his uncontrollable can-bought forbidden jutsu might harm Rin, he'd held back.
Never again would he let her be hurt before his eyes. His forbidden series was chosen to prevent this.
"That's Lord Kakashi?"
"Enemy invasion!"
"Can't catch up!"
"Report to the Hokage!"
Border patrols spotted them, but Kakashi's forbidden-jutsu burst and Obito's body-activated Instant Flicker outclassed them. Ninja trying to block Obito were pierced by spiked vines.
Shen Mo, reading Obito's mind, knew he wanted an undisturbed place to "settle" with Kakashi. With space-time jutsu, escape would've been easy otherwise.
In seconds, both, already near the edge, left the village.
Too fast. Minato, in the meeting room, hadn't even been informed.
Obito ran with Rin, Kakashi pursued, but Obito felt no joy. Rin's gaze locked on Kakashi's bloodied form, lips bitten, eyes brimming with worry and guilt.
Obito felt he was deepening their bond.
Damn it!
Judging the distance enough, he stopped. Vines erupted, binding Rin, tipped with spikes.
"Let her go!" Kakashi halted, cautious of the spikes.
"This is your power from that man?" Obito sneered at Kakashi's wild aura. "Quick power—changes nothing."
He'd seen Kisame's strength—dangerous, but just another forbidden jutsu, not otherworldly magic.
"Why lure me out?" Kakashi glared, no trace of his gentle self, only rational eyes remaining.
Obito hated that most. No resolve to sacrifice all for Rin—why did she love him?
"Your goal?" Obito spread his arms, voice hoarse. "Trade Konoha's intel! That mysterious man, everyone's can powers, series, numbers! Minato's revival method—everything. Or she dies."
Per Kisame, this was Konoha's top secret. Leaked, it'd cripple them.
Obito didn't care. He wanted Rin to see Kakashi prioritize village and duty over comrades, as he did before.
"Fine!" Kakashi said instantly.
"Kakashi, no!" Rin shouted, heedless of the spikes. "Don't worry about me! Protect yourself!"
She knew Obito wasn't a member, and this wasn't the Destiny Stage. Kakashi's death would be near impossible to undo. Hers? Just a basic revival coin.