I Will Become the Wind

CHAPTER 20 | Burden of a Legend's Son

The younger Kakashi pressed the flat of his sword against Naruto's throat, making it difficult to breathe.

"You were an agent of Iwa all along," he said coolly. "We should take you alive to find out what you know, but don't count on that to save you."

"Let him go, Kakashi." Obito had deactivated his Sharingan the moment his teammate showed up. But even if he tried to jump in using kamui, Naruto wasn't sure he could make it in time.

Kakashi's response was to apply even more pressure to the blade. It still glowed faintly with energy—energy! That was it. Since he was trapped in place anyway...

Naruto closed his eyes and drew in shallow breaths through his nose. Within a few seconds he could sense the tree at his back, its roots, and—

Several Iwa-nin on the other side of the clearing started yelling in panic, cutting through Naruto's concentration.

"It's the Yellow Flash! Retreat!"

"No! The others were all—"

"Hurry! Get them!"

Someone swung a rocky, club-like fist at Kakashi, and he jumped back. Naruto opened his eyes and rolled away from the kunai that came flying at them. He didn't step far enough to prevent the last one from slicing deep, going through his coat sleeve and into his arm. Naruto cursed. There wasn't enough time to gather energy. Alright then, next plan—

He gasped as Minato suddenly appeared in front of Obito and Kakashi, without any sense of motion or disturbance of space. He was just there.

Minato grabbed the Iwa-nin that was now fighting Kakashi and they both disappeared. Unlike with Obito's jutsu, they were gone without the slightest warning.

"Hmph," Kakashi snorted, as if offended. He turned back to Naruto and struck out with a rigid hand. The strike hit the cut on his arm with bruising force, making Naruto yell out. Seconds later, Kakashi had somehow managed to pull Naruto's arm behind him and push him to the ground, face down with a sharp knee in his back.

"Ow! That was a dirty—oi, let me go! We should be helping!"

"This fight is over," Kakashi said in the same ominous tone as before. "You won't be able to help your friends now. Just sit and wait, it'll be your turn soon enough."

The confused shouts and barked commands continued. Obito was still fighting somewhere, and there was no sign of Rin yet. It was hard to see through the trees and undergrowth.

They were surrounded by enemies, outnumbered without a doubt, but the metal clashes and cries of pain from all around made it sound like they suddenly had dozens of extra allies on their side.

But there was only one.

Naruto's heart thudded against the ground. He cursed again loudly and tried to move around enough to kick Kakashi, but it was no use. Kakashi managed to stay in place while also keeping the occasional strike at bay with a chakra blade crackling with electricity.

Obito came into view again nearby, fighting the earth-style user from earlier. He still seemed reluctant to reveal his abilities in front of Kakashi. His Sharingan was no longer active, and he used weapons and bursts of fire instead of intangibility. They quickly moved out of view.

And then suddenly the forest was quiet. The Iwa-nin had all fallen or fled—with all the noise right before, probably more the latter than the former. And Minato was there again. Rin stepped out from behind him, eyes sharp and expression serious.