"Alright, you're good!"
Kakashi's voice was cold and steady, but its chill cut deep.
Upon hearing it, Shisui, who had been silently following behind Kakashi, felt a sudden shiver climb up his spine. Something was about to happen—something terrifying.
"Ah!"
"Ahhh!"
"AHHH!"
Screams pierced the silence, erupting one after another.
Shisui barely had time to blink.
In that instant, everyone standing near them—except for him—had their limbs mercilessly broken by Kakashi. They collapsed to the ground, writhing and howling in agony, their voices filled with pain and terror.
"Master Pufferfish Ghost, what are you doing?!"
The bald man, already gasping in pain, cried out in horror. His voice trembled as he looked around at the devastating scene. He had never imagined something like this would happen.
This was the "surprise" he had been looking forward to?
"Oh? What am I doing?"
Kakashi's gaze turned toward him, void of all warmth. "You kidnapped my woman. What do you think I'm going to do?"
Before the bald man could even process that answer, Kakashi moved.
With a swift motion, he kicked him down, pinning him face-first onto the cold, hard ground.
Snap!
Kakashi placed one foot on the man's spine, applying gentle pressure.
Then, slowly and deliberately, he increased the force—his heel pressing down, inch by inch—crushing the spine with surgical precision.
"AHHHHH!"
"You're not the Pufferfish Ghost! You're from Konoha!"
"Kill me… just kill me already!"
The man's scream turned into a wail of hopeless despair. Realization dawned on him too late. He understood now—but that understanding came with unbearable pain. He no longer sought survival; he only wanted the devil standing over him to end his torment quickly.
But Kakashi had no intention of showing mercy.
"Don't be in such a hurry. There's still one last step."
"You like feeding fish, don't you? Let me personally give you a ride."
With that, Kakashi turned and gave the same treatment to the other experimenters—the ones who had helped kidnap and torture Lin. None were spared. Kakashi ensured they all received justice... his kind of justice.
It was fair.
He approached Lin, who was unconscious and bound tightly. Her body was pierced by infusion tubes, her delicate neck and arms marred by their presence. Kakashi's expression softened as he looked at her.
He carefully untied the belts restraining her, then slowly removed each tube embedded in her swan-like neck and porcelain arms. Each one was pulled with meticulous care, his hands trembling ever so slightly.
Afterward, he performed a Healing Jutsu. He didn't want Lin to wake up and see a single scar on her flawless skin.
When he was done, he gently secured Lin to his back using the same belts. Her body was still icy cold, and the weight of her suffering bore down on his heart like a mountain.
He sealed the massive sword Samehada and passed it to a Shadow Clone that had just appeared beside him.
Then he gently brushed Lin's cheek.
"Lin... let's go home."
As if responding to his words, Lin's expression—previously twisted in pain—softened just a little. Kakashi could feel her shallow breathing against his back. Though unconscious, she seemed to respond to the warmth of his presence.
Looking down at the groaning, half-dead bodies on the floor, Kakashi's eyes turned cold again.
He placed his right hand on the bed where Lin had been strapped and activated Magnet Style—a power newly awakened within him.
With a loud creak, the metallic bed dismantled itself into long, slender steel bars.
With a simple motion of his hand, the bars shot out like snakes, binding the legs of the groaning men on the ground. Controlled by Kakashi's chakra, the bars dragged the captives behind him as he walked out.
Their mangled bodies scraped across the floor, leaving behind a long, bloody trail.
Outside, the screams had already alarmed the remaining guards in the building. A group of Mist Shinobi rushed over to intercept them.
"Shun, don't act yet."
Shisui was about to step forward, but Kakashi raised a hand to stop him.
Just then, his Shadow Clone—disguised as the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost—vanished in an instant.
Moments later, everyone in the building who had gathered as guards lay dead.
Unlike before, Kakashi had killed them cleanly, without hesitation. These were battle-hardened shinobi from Kirigakure, people who might someday become enemies on the battlefield.
For such men, death was simply part of a shinobi's fate.
But those criminals from before... they didn't deserve that warrior's death.
If Kakashi had more time, he might have let them suffer every torment imaginable—just as they had done to countless others.
Soon, he reached a nearby lake.
With a flick of his wrist, the steel bars lifted the captives into the air.
Then, one by one, their limbs were sliced off by the swords of the fallen guards, now floating mid-air under Kakashi's chakra control.
Snap!
With a final snap of his fingers, Kakashi released the steel bars.
The captives, now nothing more than human stumps, dropped into the lake.
Blood quickly spread, dyeing the water a deep crimson. Carnivorous fish, drawn by the scent, swarmed to the surface and began their frenzy.
In seconds, only the ripples and a dark red mist remained.
Kakashi stood silently, watching.
He didn't know who the Konoha shinobi were—those who had fallen victim to these monsters.
But this was all he could do to honor them.
If their spirits still lingered in the Pure Land, he hoped they could see this moment.
He hoped it would bring them peace.
"Shun, let's go."
Kakashi pulled out a large cloak and wide-brimmed hat from his sealing scroll and tossed them to Shisui and his Shadow Clone.
He then disguised himself as a Mist Ninja, with Lin carefully hidden beneath his cloak.
To avoid raising suspicion, he and Shisui disguised themselves as clones of the Pufferfish Ghost. It wasn't foolproof, but it would buy them time.
He didn't know how long he could keep this ruse going.
But every second counted.
"Understood, Master Fugu-kun!" Shisui responded, slipping into his disguise.
Inwardly, he was still reeling from Kakashi's earlier display.
That magnetic force... was it Magnet Style?
Since when did Kakashi possess such a bloodline ability?
Could it be that the Hatake clan's hidden lineage had awakened within him?
Just then, as if reading his mind, Kakashi said, "Oh, Shun… I hope you'll keep the secret of my Magnet Style bloodline awakening."
He had been too angry earlier to remember to ask.
But now that things had calmed, he knew it was important.
Based on his understanding of Shisui, once he gave his word, he would never break it.
"Of course, Master Fugu," Shisui replied without hesitation.
Kakashi wasn't just a respected senior anymore. He was a vital comrade—someone Shisui trusted with his life.
As they spoke, they made their way quietly through the village.
Because they were still in Kirigakure—a place full of enemies—they didn't rush to flee.
Instead, they followed the same route they had used when entering the village, keeping a low profile and avoiding detection.
But fate had one more test in store.
"Master Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost, Lord Mizukage has heard of your return and requests your presence for a meeting."
Just as Kakashi and Shisui reached the village entrance, a masked Anbu ninja appeared before them.
Damn it.
What he feared most had come to pass.
Kakashi cursed inwardly, though his expression remained composed.
"…Very well. I'll go."
Turning to Shisui and the clone, he added, "You two, carry out the task I just assigned."
With that, the Shadow Clone—still in disguise—nodded and followed the Anbu away, playing the role to perfection.
As it disappeared behind the corner, Kakashi silently admired his clone's quick thinking.
Smart. You know how to buy me time.
But he couldn't afford to relax.
He didn't know how long the clone could hold up under scrutiny. Minutes, perhaps?
He had to act now.
No matter what happened next—
He had to get Lin and Shisui out of Kirigakure safely.
No matter the cost.
patreon (Obito_uchiha)