Without needing prompting from Raj, Kakashi summoned three small Ninja Dogs to assist.
As inheritors of the Will of Fire, none of them could afford to back down.
They had to endure, no matter the cost.
The four rose and began their grueling chase across the mountain.
Naoki wore a peculiar expression, both amused and deeply moved.
'This training method actually works. The only problem is, having the girls do weight training and then hunt rats - isn't that a bit cruel?'
"So, what's my role here?" Naoki asked softly.
"Meow~ Follow them and keep urging them not to stop. If they rest, they'll have to train an extra hour tonight," Raj replied with a soft chuckle.
'You think you're so tough, Asuma? Leading the pack all the way here? Now you'll really get to play. Stop, and you'll train extra. Besides, if word of this reached the Camp or village, Kurenai would definitely back him up, maybe even give him a thumbs-up. Hehehe!'
"..."
This is going to make enemies.
Naoki felt a slight pang of discomfort but nodded and left.
As soon as he vanished
With his Body Flicker Technique, Obito quietly gave Raj a thumbs-up, nodding frantically in admiration.
'A Special Jonin! Ordering people around like they're his underlings - now that's what I call impressive!'
"Meow~ Now it's your turn. Start training. Punching or sword practice - either works. If you're using a sword, use a wooden stick instead."
Raj sprawled on a nearby tree branch, watching Kakashi and Obito.
Kakashi thought for a moment, then snapped a wooden stick from a nearby tree and gripped it in his hand.
He figured sword practice was better - if anything happened, he could use the stick to block.
"Meow~ Oh, right! What form do you want it to take? Anything but me, meow."
Raj's tail dangled from the tree branch, swaying gently.
After encountering the Rat Puppet, they had gained some understanding of Ninja Cat tools, realizing they might possess unique capabilities.
Thus, they weren't surprised by its ability to "transform."
But what form should it take...?
Obito answered without hesitation, "Kakashi, of course!"
"Then Obito it is," Kakashi retorted coldly.
He hadn't intended to provoke Obito, but since Obito had thrown down the gauntlet, he wouldn't hold back.
Raj leaped onto the roly-poly doll and tapped it with his paw.
Instantly, the doll transformed into Obito's likeness.
It was nearly identical, even wearing a pair of goggles - his appearance from the anime.
"This... no, no way!"
Obito felt deeply conflicted.
On one hand, the thought of the punching bag being beaten made him feel as if he were experiencing the pain himself.
On the other hand, the appearance of the punching bag was utterly humiliating.
Now that he had awakened his Sharingan, Obito no longer wore goggles.
Seeing this familiar getup made him realize just how foolish his old look had been.
"I'll take this one," Kakashi said, his eyes gleaming with a newfound intensity, as if a hint of murderous intent had suddenly appeared.
"Alright, Kakashi, you go first," Raj purred.
'I think I just got tricked,' Obito thought.
Earlier, when Raj had said, "A stick can be used in place of a sword," Obito had instinctively grabbed a wooden stick.
He had then answered the cat's follow-up question without thinking.
But now, looking back, he realized that if he hadn't made those moves, he might have been the one to go first.
Either way, going first was definitely a disadvantage.
But it was too late for regrets.
There was no way Raj would let Obito go first now.
Kakashi knew his relationship with the Black-Hearted Cat wasn't good enough for that; in fact, he was more likely to be forcibly pinned down here.
He approached the Counterattack Tumbler, took a deep breath, and asked, "Can I use Chakra?"
"Yes, meow," Raj said, waving a paw.
It had tested the Tumbler's resilience; even a full-force strike without the Expansion Jutsu or the Gate of Opening wouldn't break it.
Kakashi's blade strikes couldn't possibly damage its internal structure.
However, the stronger the attack, the faster the counterattack.
Raj hadn't mentioned this, now waiting for Kakashi to amplify his strike with Chakra and get pummeled by the rebound.
If it weren't for the spectacle, Raj would never have missed an opportunity to fleece Asuma.
Kakashi assumed a sword-wielding stance, cautiously approaching.
Based on his experience with the Rat Puppet, if this thing was called a "Counterattack Tumbler," it likely possessed some offensive capabilities, just like that puppet.
Strike it, and you'd likely face a counterattack.
Therefore, before attacking, he needed to prepare to evade first...
"Hah!"
The blade flashed like the wind, perfectly embodying the essence of the White Fang Blade Technique: no flashy flourishes, just speed, precision, and ruthless efficiency.
It made no sound, but the real Obito couldn't help but scream, "Ah~!"
Thud!
"Obito" was knocked down, its neck turning a bloody crimson from the attack, its appearance utterly miserable.
Yet it quickly righted itself.
The moment it moved, Kakashi swiftly drew his blade and retreated, avoiding the tumbler's rebound.
He circled around and attacked from the side, resulting in another Thud!
This time...
"Ah~!"
Obito was dumbfounded.
What was happening?
How could this tumbler suddenly make sounds?
"Ah~!"
Thud...
"Ah~!"
The rhythmic thuds of the tumbler falling and rebounding, combined with Obito's anguished cries, created a scene so absurdly beautiful that even Kakashi nearly burst out laughing.
Raj inwardly admired Kakashi.
The kid was remarkably alert, having avoided every attack so far.
However, with just this level of evasive speed, he would inevitably fall victim to the tumbler's true counterattack, which had yet to be unleashed.
"Is that all it can do?" Kakashi wondered, his suspicion growing.
'This can't be right! This thing shouldn't be so simple and boring. There must be a trap, some kind of trick...'
Caution, caution!
He repeatedly warned himself, becoming even more cautious.
Yet his sword strikes grew faster and more ferocious, but the tumbler still refused to retaliate.
"What? Is that all there is to it? It looks so sim-"
Obito was about to voice his confusion when the tumbler was struck again.
This time, instead of falling, it retaliated directly.
Boom!
"Ah!"
A deafening crash and a pained scream erupted.
Before Obito, who hadn't activated his Sharingan, could even react, he saw Kakashi sent flying, crashing into a distant tree trunk.
The poor kid rolled on the ground in agony, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Terrified, Obito rushed over to check on him.
That strike was actually quite powerful...
Raj hurriedly jumped down, wondering if he'd gone too far.
After all, he hadn't fully tested the tumbler's maximum stored force and didn't know the full extent of its counterattack.
But witnessing this scene, he could tell it was definitely not weak.