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With a single sentence, the masked man's intent was clear: he meant to kill all three of them.
"Run!" Kagaya shouted instinctively. Only he knew how utterly unbeatable the figure before them was. Three of them? Even three hundred wouldn't stand a chance against this man.
Their only option was to flee, though the hope of escape was slim. But now wasn't the time to dwell on odds—they had to seize even the faintest chance.
After his shout, Kagaya turned and ran without hesitation.
The aura of death emanating from Obito was overwhelming, so intense it threw Kagaya, a transmigrator, into disarray. His mind was consumed with one thought: escape.
"Run fast, genius. Survive," a voice called as a figure brushed past him, charging toward the masked man.
Kagaya froze, then turned, shouting furiously, "Genji! What are you doing? Didn't you hear me? Run!"
The figure rushing toward the masked man was Suzuki Genji.
Standing before him now, she didn't look back as she responded to Kagaya's question. "I told you—go!"
Kagaya reached out toward her back. "Then come with us! Daisuke, you too—let's escape together!"
Strangely, despite their exchange, the masked man didn't attack immediately. He stood watching, as if enjoying a tragic play unfold.
Saito Daisuke stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Genji and Kagaya, his back to them. His body trembled uncontrollably—he was terrified. Earlier, when Obito hadn't acted, Daisuke had been dismissive, but now, with Obito's intent clear, the crushing pressure and the looming sense of death made it unmistakable: this man was invincible.
"Genji, Kagaya, go. I-I'll hold him off," Daisuke said, his voice shaking.
Kagaya rushed to his side, grabbing his hand and pulling hard. "Come on, Daisuke! You're trembling with fear—don't play the hero! Run with me! Staying here means death!"
Despite his trembling, Daisuke stood firm against Kagaya's pull, turning to face him with a shaky but radiant smile that belied his fear. "Kagaya, have you ever seen a Hokage hide behind others?"
Kagaya snapped, "You're still talking about Hokage now? Run with me! Besides, I've never even seen a Hokage fight!"
Daisuke shook off Kagaya's grip, his smile unwavering despite his trembling. "The Hokage I want to be protects their comrades, no matter what. I won't give up on that dream. So, go—run! I said I'd show him Saito Daisuke's strength, and I can't break that promise."
He was terrified, yet he spoke those words.
Obito, however, grew irritated. He'd wanted to witness a scene of betrayal, of comrades abandoning each other to save themselves, reinforcing his belief that this world was fake. But what did he see? A fool spouting dreams of becoming Hokage.
In that moment, he saw a glimpse of his former self, but this wasn't what he wanted! This was a false world!
With a single slash, Obito's blade severed Daisuke's right arm, blood spraying everywhere, splattering across Kagaya's face.
Obito pointed the bloodied sword at Daisuke, as if questioning him—or his past self. "Do you still want to be Hokage? Do you still think you can protect them?"
Kagaya stood frozen, the blood on his face a stark reminder of reality. Daisuke's severed arm gushed blood—if it wasn't bandaged soon, he'd die.
"Wait—" Kagaya stepped forward, desperate to act.
But Obito's cold gaze swept over him. "Want to end up like him?"
Kagaya stopped, his feet heavy, unable to take another step.
Obito turned back to Daisuke. "Where's my answer?"
Daisuke's face was deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat as he endured the agony of his severed arm. At such a young age, the pain was so intense he could barely speak.
It hurts too much!
He forced himself to stand tall, back to Kagaya and Genji, raising his remaining left hand to give a thumbs-up, squeezing words through gritted teeth. "Run… I've got this."
Genji's expression darkened, glaring at the masked man.
Kagaya stared at Daisuke's back, mouth open, speechless.
Obito's gaze grew colder as he raised his sword. "That's not the answer I wanted."
He thrust the blade toward Daisuke's chest.
"Stop!" Kagaya and Genji shouted in unison, rushing forward.
It was like moths to a flame—charging in would only mean another death. But while moths don't save each other, humans do.
A slender hand pushed Kagaya back. The sword pierced Genji's chest.
Kagaya's outstretched hand was a moment too late. Both he and Genji had reached out to push the other away, but Kagaya was slower.
Blood trickled from Genji's mouth. She smiled faintly. Always a woman of few words, she seemed to want to say more now, but blood kept pouring out, making speech impossible. After several attempts, realizing her time was short, she stayed true to her concise nature. "Run fast… make sure everything turns out well."
That was her dream. Now, unable to fulfill it herself, she smiled, as if entrusting it to Kagaya—their shared dream.
Obito snorted coldly, thrusting the sword forward with force, pushing Genji's body back. The blade pierced through her and into Daisuke's chest behind her.
Genji resisted with all her strength, but she couldn't withstand Obito's power. Her feet dragged a bloody trail across the ground as she was forced back.
Obito withdrew the sword, sparing Daisuke and Genji no further glance, and aimed the blood-soaked blade at Kagaya. "Your turn. One last question before I kill you: if they die and you survive alone, will you be happy? Say yes, and I'll let you go."
Obito stared coldly, hoping Kagaya would say "yes," proving that bonds were a lie, that this world was fake. Only the world he planned to create would be real.
Kagaya gave a bitter laugh, despair washing over him as he looked at the two bodies beside him. He knew he'd soon be the third corpse. Even if Obito said he'd let him go, would he be happy?
Looking at Obito, Kagaya replied, "Only an animal would be happy. Sorry, I'm not an animal."
His dark pupils reflected the blood of Genji and Daisuke, the vivid red seeming to stain his eyes. Slowly, a single red tomoe formed—a one-tomoe Sharingan.
Obito looked at those crimson eyes and raised his sword. "That's not the answer I wanted. Go join your comrades."
Kagaya drew a kunai, trying to fight back, but a red glint flashed in Obito's masked eye, and Kagaya froze. A Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu was far beyond what a one-tomoe Sharingan could resist.
With one slash, a massive gash opened across Kagaya's body, blood pouring out, quickly soaking his clothes.
Kagaya gritted his teeth, refusing to scream. If Daisuke could endure a severed arm, he couldn't shame himself by crying out.
This was the ninja world—screaming wouldn't bring help. Those who could find them would sense their chakra; those who couldn't wouldn't hear even the loudest cries.
Obito sheathed his sword. "On second thought, I won't kill you outright. Lie there, watch your comrades' bodies, and bleed out slowly. That wound is enough to kill you. Until then, feel the despair of this false world."
Cold sweat poured down Kagaya's face. The wound left him so weak he couldn't move.
Thud.
He collapsed, turning his head to the two bodies beside him. His vision blurred, but he forced his hand out, grabbing Daisuke's, then placing Genji's hand on Daisuke's, and his own on top of hers.
Their hands, now drenched in blood, intertwined.
With a faint smile, Kagaya whispered, "Everything will be alright."
That was his dream too. Moments later, his vision faded completely, plunging him into darkness.
In his final moments, he thought he heard an angry shout.
"Where's Kakashi?! Is he dead?!"