Protecting his head with both hands, he counted silently in his mouth. After a moment, Otonashi felt his back hit the hard ground. His whole body couldn't help but bounce up, rolling several times until he hit a wall before stopping.
Hiss...
Otonashi, curled into a ball, sucked in a breath, feeling pain throughout his body as if it had fallen apart. Even breathing was somewhat difficult. After a few more seconds, he began to cough violently.
"Damn, this time I was really screwed over by those bastards!"
It was like doing his utmost only to be played by fate. But thinking carefully, even if Kakashi wasn't injured, there probably wouldn't have been enough time.
This was clearly a pursuit that shook the Iwa-nin, and killing Dai terrified them, so the moment they saw Otonashi, they immediately decided to kill the hostages.
Like an Ouroboros, the cause and effect were already determined. Like a butterfly flapping its wings, whenever you act, you must bear the unknown consequences.
But Otonashi didn't regret it. As the saying goes, do your best and leave the rest to fate. If you don't even do your best, who knows what the final outcome will be?
It was pitch black underground. He slowly stretched his body, using his hands to feel all over.
Good thing my face is okay.
He first breathed a sigh of relief, then felt himself from top to bottom. As a part-time medical ninja, he basically grasped his own condition.
'Left second rib fractured, third rib also cracked, back wound reopened, three severe flesh wounds.'
Knowing the situation, confirming there was no internal bleeding, he slowly stood up, steady as could be. Rummaging through his tattered pants pocket, he pulled out a smooth stick and broke it in the middle.
Pfft—
With a light sound, faint green light illuminated the surroundings. The miscellaneous technology of the ninja world was similar to modern times; this was an emergency lighting glow stick.
After confirming he hadn't suffered fatal injuries, Otonashi stood up, leaning on his sword, preparing to find the other three. He didn't feel any anxiety or similar emotions; everything was up to fate.
Life and death are impermanent. Otonashi had seen too much death. He couldn't expect invincibility just because they were friends. The only difference was:
Alive—eat, dead—offer incense.
One hand leaning on the sword, the other hand supporting himself against the wall, the teenager slowly moved forward underground, constantly chewing military ration pills as if to recover even a shred of chakra. But just as he took a dozen steps, his foot suddenly paused.
Not right.
Otonashi quickly turned around, illuminating the wall with the glow stick, rubbed the wall for a moment, and his expression suddenly changed drastically.
'This is an artificial wall! Definitely Earth Release!'
Looking up at the completely buried opening, there was actually an artificially created tunnel deep underground!
That's right, the air is flowing, proving this underground space isn't sealed off.
For a moment, Otonashi felt surprised, happy, and fearful, a mixture of emotions. He was happy that he seemed to be able to find a way out, and fearful because this ghostly place clearly wasn't simple.
Ruins? Or someone's ancestral tomb?
Otonashi had never been a tomb raider, so he really couldn't tell what this place was used for. But there was one thing he could guarantee.
"There are definitely no secret ninjutsu scrolls or heaven-defying treasures waiting for me. If I had that kind of luck, first give me back all the money I spent being a fat sheep over the years!"
What nonsense about luck turning around when pushed to the limit. Holding such naive thoughts, forget being a chieftain, just be a dead person.
So Otonashi hadn't thought about treasure hunting from the beginning. At this moment, he directly called out: "Kakashi, Obito, Rin! If you're not dead, make a sound!"
His voice echoed underground, traveling very, very deep.
In a huge stone chamber, a frail old man slowly raised his head. His hands were as thin as bamboo poles, his long hair messy, clearly unkempt for a long time. However, his exposed blood-red left eye had three tomoe slowly spinning within.
Otonashi hadn't guessed wrong; this underground place was indeed someone else's ancestral tomb, it was just that the 'master' in the 'tomb' wasn't dead yet.
The old man on the stone chair was awakened by the sound. He closed his eyes as if sensing something, but in an instant, his aged face changed.
"They really fell in."
The old man's dry lips moved, having not spoken for who knows how many years.
In his 'vision', a figure holding a glow stick was searching along the wall. When he saw the newcomer clearly, his brow furrowed slightly.
White hair, holding a sword.
A physical characteristic he detested.
"Why are there a few more?" the old man muttered to himself, finally seeing another teenager.
He was pinned below the waist by a huge boulder, his left eye socket happened to be pierced by sharp rubble, fortunately not deeply penetrating the brain.
The blood-covered teenager was struggling, seeming to want to crawl out, but finally fainted on the ground due to excessive blood loss.
"Zetsu."
With a beckoning gesture, several white figures immediately dropped from the giant tree behind him, like ripe melons falling from the vine.
These tall white figures stood solemnly before the wooden seat. Because they often went out for reconnaissance, there were no white tubes connecting the backs of their heads to the tree. They stood before him without a word.
No facial features, pure white all over, like several puppets, until the old man waved gently.
"Bring this person back. Go kill the other three."
Under the command, they turned without hesitation and disappeared into the depths of the passage.
Meanwhile, in the dim passage, Otonashi finally found Kakashi and Rin. The already injured teenager had been thrown heavily again and had long since lost consciousness, while Rin was constantly bandaging beside him.
"How's the situation?"
"Very bad. I can only perform emergency first aid. We must find a professional medical team!" Rin shook her head fiercely, yet there wasn't a single tear, not even tending to her own injuries.
She stopped Kakashi's bleeding, turned and grabbed Otonashi's shoulder, saying urgently, "Leave this to me. Quickly find Obito. We need to find a way to escape from here!"
"I know." Otonashi endured the pain and stood up. Now was the time to race against time.
Underground, the dim light made visibility poor, and rubble was everywhere. Searching with the naked eye would take who knows how long. Fortunately, he had a way.
Dragon—Boar—Rat—Tiger
Ninja Art: Wind Breath Echo!
A gentle breeze spread outwards with him at the center. Otonashi closed his eyes, sensing the 'signals' bounced back by the wind breath.
This was precisely the ninjutsu he had used to discover the hidden sentries earlier, developed during the truce in Konoha by combining the Second Hokage's concepts. The basic principle referenced radar from his previous life.
A person's breathing or large solid entities would obstruct the air, and the faint chakra he hid within the wind would report the results.
This ninjutsu was quite difficult, requiring not only precise chakra control but also filtering out useless reflections. Even Otonashi needed to hold his breath and concentrate due to lack of proficiency.
The complex terrain slowed his search somewhat. A full half-minute passed before he opened his eyes.
"Found Obito?" Rin's face was full of expectation.
"Yes, he seems to be pinned by rocks and can't climb out." Otonashi gave a wry smile. He had clearly cut apart many rocks with Wind Release; Obito must have been incredibly unlucky to get hit.
Rin tensed up immediately and stood up instantly: "I'll go help."
"No need, you look after Kakashi. I know medical ninjutsu too." Otonashi smiled and was about to turn and leave. Actually, he had already prepared for the worst case.
If it really comes down to it, amputation. Obito's personality isn't suitable for being a ninja anyway.
He was just about to leave when his footsteps suddenly stopped abruptly, instantly gripping his sword hilt.
Clang—
Sword light like a chain, the cold gleam magnified in the girl's eyes. Rin was completely stunned; she couldn't understand why Otonashi would deliver a fatal blow.
Pfft!
A white arm flew up before her eyes, droplets of white liquid splashing in the air. A bizarre and ugly figure actually 'grew' out of the wall.
What is this thing??
Otonashi was also shocked. If not for the final remnant of the Wind Breath Echo, he wouldn't have discovered the surprise attack. Just as his footsteps paused, a straight punch came rushing from the front.
Bang!!
The force was immense, shaking Otonashi backward by about a meter. When he looked up again, his pupils shrank sharply.
There are two more white figures blocking the front!