Seeing the Ninja Hounds snatch the hostages, everyone was shocked.
"Wait—did he actually have a backup plan?"
The moment they let their guard down, Kakashi—who hadn't resisted no matter how badly he'd been beaten—quickly formed seals and slammed his palm down.
[Earth Release Barrier: Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!]
A massive hemispherical earthen prison shot up from the ground, trapping all those who had bullied him inside.
Without missing a beat, he dashed to Rin's side and leapt onto the largest hound—Brute.
"Brute, let's go!"
Rin was placed onto another large canine, and the two galloped across the land like dog knights.
As Brute ran, he reminded Kakashi, "Hey Kakashi, you forgot to carve our mighty, loyal, and handsome dog heads again!"
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "Sorry, I've run out of chakra. Next time, definitely next time!"
Rin finally shook off the pain in her head and said urgently, "Kakashi, this was a Mist Village plot!"
Kakashi assumed she meant the trap itself and smiled. "I know, but we've already escaped!"
"No, it's not like that..." As Rin started to explain further, a sudden loud explosion rang out from behind them.
Kakashi turned his head and saw to his shock that the group of Mist shinobi had all broken free from the prison.
"Crap, how could they get out so fast?" Kakashi's heart sank with panic. "All my chakra only gave us less than ten seconds!"
At this moment, Rin, with a complex expression, said, "Kakashi, just abandon me. There's no hope left for me."
Kakashi suppressed his anxious look and instead comforted her, "Don't worry. Though we didn't gain much time, they're slow on their feet—we'll definitely outrun them!"
Brute barked, "Even if it's a good way to spread our name, it doesn't change the fact that I'm a battle hound. My burst speed is okay, but my stamina's nowhere near enough."
Kakashi immediately urged, "Hang in there! If we make it back alive, I'll ask Jiraiya-sama himself to write books about you!"
"Books!" Brute perked up at once, yet soon doubted, "Though that's a great way to promote ourselves, isn't Jiraiya known for having low popularity and writing content that isn't exactly family-friendly? What if people start thinking we aren't proper dogs?"
Kakashi tried to argue, "Who reads clean books anyway? Trust me, you guys will become celebrity dogs!"
"Really?" Brute's face looked extremely conflicted.
"Kakashi, don't push them too hard," Rin shook her head and gloomily said, "Earlier I broke through the seal and finally remembered what they did to me!"
"A seal?" Kakashi's expression turned serious. "Did they seal away your memories before?"
"Yes, because..." Rin lightly pressed her chest. "I've now become the jinchuriki of the Three-Tails!"
"The jinchuriki of the Three-Tails? Why would they—" Kakashi suddenly narrowed his eyes, asking in disbelief, "Do you mean they planned to make you lose control and go berserk inside the village?"
"Yes."
Rin sighed with sorrow, nodding slowly. "Now you understand why I say I've lost all hope, right? When they sealed the Three-Tails inside me, they'd already prepared a way to extract it. Even if I survive this time, I'll still die once the beast is extracted."
"Rather than letting them continue threatening the village's safety with the power of the Bijuu, it would be better for you to kill me now! At least during the time it takes for the Bijuu to revive, they'll lose one of their powerful tools!"
Kakashi couldn't bring himself to believe it. "No way, there must be another way! Wait, I've already sent word to my senior—he'll definitely save you!"
When Kakashi mentioned his senior, Rin's eyes first brightened, then dimmed again. "It's too late. Look behind you!"
Kakashi turned around and finally realized how much the enemies had closed the gap.
"Dammit, how did they catch up so fast?"
Brute spoke up with slight apology in his voice. "Sorry, they kept throwing kunai and shuriken at us from behind, which slowed our speed significantly."
"Do you see now? They might catch up within a minute—maybe even less! By then my memories will be sealed again, and I'll be used as a tool against the village!" Rin growled painfully. "Kakashi, do you want me to hate myself even in death?"
Kakashi clenched his fists silently, his fingertips almost digging into the flesh of his palms.
"It's too late! Hurry, kill me now!" Rin looked at Kakashi with hopeful eyes. "They placed a cursed seal on me that prevents me from taking my own life; only you can kill me!"
Kakashi slowly raised his right hand. At this moment, he felt like his arm was filled with lead—so heavy he could barely raise it.
"Hurry!" Rin urged loudly.
...
Meanwhile, at another side of the forest.
"Hurry!" White Zetsu also called out urgently.
"I want to go faster too, but my body just won't let me!" Obito roared angrily.
"Then let me take control instead. After all, you're using my body now!"
Obito paused, deeply moved. "You're truly amazing—not only breaking away from Madara's orders to help me escape, but caring so much about my situation now!"
White Zetsu chuckled awkwardly. "Haha, I've always enjoyed helping others!"
After handing over control to White Zetsu, Obito indeed gained significantly more speed.
Soon after, Obito heard the sound of tremors coming from the front.
"There are many people ahead—it must be them!"
Murmuring excitedly, Obito passed through the forest, only to witness something that froze his blood.
Kakashi's right hand pierced through Rin's chest, vivid red blood spilling out in a horrifying display.
"No… this can't be real! It has to be fake!" Obito muttered, his right eye's tomoe spinning rapidly.
...
"I'm sorry, Rin… really sorry," Kakashi whispered, unaware that the tomoe in his left eye was also spinning quickly.
At that moment, Kakashi suddenly felt a chill run through his arm.
Looking up, he saw that the blow that pierced her chest had also shattered some pendant.
"Oh right, Rin had an Ice Crystal Tamaki Ring (a protective charm) too!"
Kakashi's heart leapt with joy—until it vanished just as quickly. "Senpai said this Tamaki ring can only make someone appear dead. But Rin is truly gone; what's the point of faking death then?"
Being yanked back and forth between hope and despair made the chakra in his brain surge wildly.
In the next moment, the markings in his left eye twisted into a swirling pinwheel shape.
However, his body had already reached its limit, and under such continuous strain, he blacked out instantly.
"Hey, Kakashi—you…!"
As soon as Kakashi lost consciousness, Brute and the other seven Ninja Hounds Ninken vanished in a puff of smoke, returning to their otherworldly realm.
Then, both Kakashi's and Rin's 'bodies' crashed onto the ground.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>