Outside Konoha Village
A group of Konoha shinobi fled desperately toward the outskirts.
Behind them, the enemy closed in.
Several among them suddenly stopped.
"Kakashi-senpai, take Tsunade-sama and go!"
"We'll hold them off!"
Kakashi turned back, his gaze falling on the young chūnin.
They were the future of Konoha.
And now… they were choosing to die here.
There was no time for hesitation.
Kakashi's eyes dimmed for a brief moment, then hardened.
"…Hold them back."
Without another word, he turned and continued fleeing—carrying the unconscious and severely injured Tsunade on his shoulder.
The rest followed.
Behind them, the pursuers accelerated.
Only a handful of Konoha shinobi remained.
Facing them… were more than a dozen members of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
With their Byakugan, the enemy had already locked onto their positions.
Seeing the Konoha shinobi stand their ground, the Ōtsutsuki showed no reaction.
To them, this was nothing more than a futile struggle.
A pipe dream.
Figures emerged from the forest—
Black receivers in hand—
And in an instant, they struck.
The Konoha shinobi were overwhelmed almost immediately.
There was no real resistance.
No drawn-out battle.
Only slaughter.
The Ōtsutsuki didn't stop.
They continued the pursuit.
Moments later, Chōjūrō arrived with his team—Kisame and Akira.
They looked down at the fallen Konoha shinobi.
Their bodies were still warm.
"…They were fighting just now," Chōjūrō said quietly.
There was unease in his voice.
"What if these aren't the people we're looking for?"
Kisame frowned.
"Then you'd better hope they are."
If they failed to save the targets Shigure had specified…
Even if Shigure said nothing, their standing would drop.
"Move. We catch up—now."
As Kisame spoke, Chōjūrō hesitated.
"If we speed up, we'll run straight into the Ōtsutsuki as well."
"That means exposing ourselves."
Kisame clicked his tongue in irritation.
"These Konoha fools… do they not know how to change direction?"
"They're heading toward the Land of Earth. Planning to beg Iwagakure for help?"
"If they wanted help, they should've come to Kirigakure instead."
Idiots.
Kakashi had considered it.
But he couldn't.
The path toward Kirigakure had already been compromised when they first escaped.
To turn back now meant either taking a massive detour—risking interception—
Or re-entering Konoha and escaping from another direction.
Both options were nearly impossible.
Kisame's eyes sharpened.
"Even if we're discovered, we fight."
"If we can't defeat them, we stall them."
"At the very least—we confirm whether those ahead are our targets."
With that, the group surged forward, accelerating.
At the same time, the Ōtsutsuki pursuit force also increased their speed.
Kakashi and the others were already exhausted.
Despite pushing themselves, they were slower.
Ten minutes later—
They were surrounded.
"A group of rats… where do you think you're going?"
Enemies emerged from all directions.
Kakashi's expression darkened.
To escape Konoha, they had already paid a heavy price.
Kurenai Yūhi was gravely injured.
Asuma Sarutobi was missing.
Might Guy had been captured.
Neji and the others had been scattered.
And now—
Only this final group remained.
Even so, Kakashi had managed to bring Tsunade out.
If not for the enemy holding back earlier…
Even that would have been impossible.
The strength of those enemies was overwhelming.
They were on an entirely different level.
Konoha's remaining shinobi simply couldn't resist them.
"Hmph. Kill that woman, and we'll let the rest of you live for two more hours."
The Ōtsutsuki spoke coldly.
Kakashi's expression hardened.
Without hesitation, lightning surged in his hand—
Chidori.
In a flash, he rushed forward, aiming to pierce straight through the nearest enemy.
The lightning blade struck—
But was blocked.
A layer of strange chakra, rippling like distorted waves, stopped his attack completely.
Kakashi's pupils shrank.
How could this be?
His Chidori… blocked so easily?
What kind of power was this?
Boom!
A heavy blow sent Kakashi flying backward.
Before he could recover, a black receiver shot toward his chest.
At the last moment—
The enemy's movement faltered.
"…Damn it. The power is almost depleted."
Another Ōtsutsuki frowned.
"It happens every time. Absorbed power doesn't last long."
"Doesn't matter. That thing has already been delivered to the shinobi world. Once we finish here, we can replenish it."
"Then stop wasting time. Kill them."
Kakashi's mind raced.
Replenish?
So their power… didn't come from themselves?
That explained it.
That unnatural strength.
If he could just stall them—
If he could survive until that power ran out—
There might still be a chance to escape with Tsunade.
But the enemy had no intention of giving him time.
Another Ōtsutsuki stepped forward, striking directly at Kakashi's vital point.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Kakashi couldn't react—
A Konoha shinobi rushed in front of him.
The blow pierced through the defender instead.
Blood splattered.
Kakashi froze.
"…Damn it…"
His fists clenched.
Even if their power was temporary—
Right now, they were monsters.
Was this the end?
Were they all going to die here?
Bang!!!
A sudden explosion echoed across the battlefield.
The attacking Ōtsutsuki was blasted away.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"This chakra…"
It was unmistakable.
Kirigakure.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
For the first time in his life, Kakashi felt relief at the arrival of shinobi from another village.
And not just any shinobi—The infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
What a twist of fate.
To think that in his moment of despair…
It would be Kirigakure's forces coming to save him.
A massive blade swung down, slamming into the ground.
Kisame Hoshigaki stepped forward, Samehada resting on his shoulder.
He grinned, eyes fixed on the Ōtsutsuki.
"What a strange kind of power…"
"So you're the so-called Ōtsutsuki?"
"You're not bad."
(End of Chapter)
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