Chapter 14: Timely Arrival
While Uchiha Kei was lost in thought and preparing for battle, Kakashi was feeling utterly exhausted.
The strain from using the Sharingan combined with the consumption of Chidori had nearly depleted all his chakra. But at this moment, rest was not an option—nor did Kakashi intend to rest.
Crushing guilt gnawed at him, plunging his heart into darkness. His desire for death loomed large, growing ever stronger.
Still, he hadn't forgotten his promise. For the sake of protecting Rin Nohara, and to honor the memory of the "deceased" Uchiha Obito, Kakashi decided to risk everything in one final stand.
Chakra surged into his right hand, and the sharp chirping sound of Chidori pierced the battlefield. In his left, he tightly gripped a kunai gifted to him by his teacher, Minato Namikaze, channeling a small stream of chakra into it.
As his chakra peaked and the Iwa-nin launched their assault, Kakashi, who had long entered a do-or-die mindset, charged straight into the fray without hesitation.
At that exact moment, Uchiha Kei and his team arrived at the edge of the battlefield.
"This is brutal," Kei muttered, his mouth twitching at the sight of Kakashi fighting with the clear intention to trade his life for one of the enemy's.
No doubt, Kakashi was fierce—unbelievably so. And Lady Luck seemed to favor him today. Though he had taken hits from the Iwa-nin, none of them were fatal.
Kei also noticed something odd: the Iwa-nin didn't seem intent on killing Kakashi. It looked like they were trying to capture him alive.
After all, Kakashi was a genius—his name known across the battlefield. Capturing him alive would yield a wealth of intel.
"What do we do now?" Hyūga Ayaka frowned slightly as she whispered, "There are a lot of enemies, and while they're not weak, it looks like they've been holding back—if they wanted Kakashi dead, he'd be dead already. I doubt their restraint will last much longer."
"Should we move to cover Rin?" Imai Kenta added nervously. "She's in a dangerous spot right now…"
"You two go protect Rin," Kei decided after a moment's thought. "Don't let the enemy near her. I'll go back up Kakashi."
"You really think Lord Fourth will show up in time?" Ayaka asked with a raised eyebrow, though Kei's expression told her she was wasting her breath.
Indeed, she was. Kei didn't even respond—he'd already leapt into action.
Ayaka and Kenta exchanged a glance before reluctantly following orders. All they could do now was hope that Minato Namikaze would truly arrive in time. Otherwise, they'd be in deep trouble.
Kakashi, meanwhile, had forced one Iwa-nin up against a tree using his kunai, completely ignoring the attacks closing in behind him. With Chidori chirping furiously in his right hand, he thrust it toward the enemy's chest.
Suddenly, a vicious glint flashed across his opponent's face. In a desperate counter, the enemy drew his own kunai and lunged toward Kakashi—ready to go down with him.
But Kakashi remained calm. Or rather, he barely seemed to care.
With Obito's Sharingan enhancing his dynamic vision, and his control reaching new heights, Kakashi shifted slightly mid-charge—just enough to dodge the fatal blow. In the next instant, Chidori pierced his foe's chest clean through, scattering blood and flesh with terrifying force. A one-hit kill.
However, that left Kakashi vulnerable. Iwa-nin swarmed in behind him, still clearly focused on capturing him alive.
The worst part was Kakashi's chakra—he was nearly empty.
"Is this... the end?"
Kakashi sighed internally. He was so tired. Bone-deep exhaustion was consuming him. He wanted nothing more than to collapse.
But thoughts of Obito... of Rin still behind him... forced him to stay on his feet. The fight wasn't over. Not while he still drew breath.
Ripping his hand from the enemy's corpse, Kakashi turned around—only to freeze in surprise.
A shadow had appeared behind the Iwa-nin.
In the blink of an eye, a kunai slashed across one enemy's throat—clean, efficient, deadly. Then the figure hurled the same kunai, pinning another Iwa-nin just as he approached Kakashi.
The newcomer landed in front of Kakashi. Recognizing the insignia on his comrade's uniform, Kakashi exhaled in relief—only for his guilt to spike even harder.
"You alright?" Uchiha Kei asked as he glanced back at Kakashi. "Where's Minato-sama ?"
"He went to reinforce the frontlines," Kakashi answered, his voice heavy. "You guys should get out of here. I'll hold them off. Just... make sure Rin gets out safely."
"What about your mission?" Kei frowned. "Never mind. My teammates are already helping Rin. You rest—regain your strength. We're breaking through. We can't stay here."
Kei didn't give Kakashi any time to argue. In truth, he had more to say—he just didn't have the chance.
The Iwa-nin, recovering from their initial shock, regrouped and launched another offensive.
Kei took a deep breath. He had no idea how long he could hold out—or even how long Kakashi had managed to in the original timeline before Minato's arrival.
But in enemy territory, it was worth the risk to buy time and create a safe escape route.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Kei didn't hesitate. Forming the hand signs, he released a blazing sphere of flame toward the enemy.
There were too many of them. He might not win—but that wasn't the point. Winning was about power. Fighting was about resolve.
Kei may not always show the best attitude, but in this moment, he was dead serious.
Still, the moment he attacked, he regretted it.
As it turned out, the Iwa-nin hit by the Great Fireball burst into smoke and vanished.
Clones? Or shadow clones?
Kei hadn't activated his Sharingan, but that didn't mean he was helpless.
Feigning panic, Kei seemed about to use the Substitution Jutsu—just as a kunai struck him square in the back.
His body crumbled into dust.
A classic Substitution Jutsu—Kei had no shortage of survival tricks up his sleeve. In fact, he was a bit of an expert when it came to battlefield survival.
His true form appeared behind the attacking Iwa-nin, driving a kunai deep into the man's back, mirroring the move used against him seconds earlier.
But the sensation wasn't right. Something felt off.
And before he could react, more Iwa-nin closed in.
Without hesitation, Kei vanished in another puff of smoke—another Substitution Jutsu.