Chapter 511: Obito's Hell
The white light gradually faded, and Obito finally saw Charmander that had completely changed.
Compared to Charmander's orange skin, Charmeleon's hide was a hotter, deeper red. Its once short limbs had grown longer and thicker, becoming powerful and well built. Sharp claws now tipped its hands, and its mouth had narrowed into a pointed shape, almost like a bird's beak.
What surprised Obito most was the hornlike protrusion on Charmeleon's head.
For some reason, Obito thought it looked pretty cool.
"Is that really Charmander?" Rin asked, still a little unsure.
She had seen Charmander that morning. Even if it grew quickly, it should not be this exaggerated. Charmander had been around 0.6 meters before, but now Rin estimated Charmeleon stood well over a meter tall.
Kakashi also could not make sense of it. It was obviously Obito's Charmander, but after one flash of white light, it was as if it had secretly grown for two years.
Kakashi looked at Mugetsu with a questioning gaze.
The Nin Beast eggs had come from Mugetsu, so Mugetsu was the one most likely to know why this happened.
"This is evolution," Mugetsu explained. "Some creatures undergo a complete transformation after reaching a certain stage, like a caterpillar forming a cocoon and then becoming a butterfly."
"Your Nin Beasts have a similar ability. After evolving, they become stronger, and their appearance changes as well."
Kakashi understood the comparison, but not entirely.
He knew insects could transform like that, but it still felt strange hearing a creature like Charmander described in the same category as a caterpillar.
"So Charmander is stronger?" Obito seized the key point immediately, his expression lighting up.
He did not know what triggered it, but it felt like his Charmander had suddenly gained the results of two years of brutal training.
"Mhm. You could say that," Mugetsu nodded.
Not to mention new skills and physical growth, Charmeleon's chakra surged the instant it evolved. The difference was obvious even without careful sensing.
"What will mine look like when it evolves?" Rin asked curiously.
She tried to imagine applying Charmander's changes to Feebas, and it just did not fit.
"The changes will be significant," Mugetsu said, still not revealing everything. "No less than an insect forming a cocoon and turning into a butterfly."
Mugetsu believed Rin nurturing Feebas the way it was now remained the best approach.
"Oh, I'm really looking forward to it," Rin said with sparkling eyes and a bright smile.
That seemingly glowing smile hit Obito right in the chest. He immediately thumped his chest and spoke with complete confidence.
"Rin, let's work hard together! Feebas will definitely evolve soon. Charmander hatched with Feebas, and since Charmander already evolved, Feebas has to be close too!"
Kakashi shook his head. The difficulty of evolution probably varied between different Nin Beasts. Rockruff had hatched first, so by Obito's logic, Rockruff should have evolved before Charmander.
"Charmeleon, Charmeleon." Charmeleon raised its arm, testing the sudden increase in strength.
Then it turned its gaze to Obito.
That naturally evil Uchiha brat had actually dared to bully it like that. It was done tolerating it.
"Charmeleon, Charmeleon!" Charmeleon forced down its irritation and spoke quickly to the translator at its side.
Everyone watched as Zorua sprang onto Shisui's shoulder and shouted at the top of its lungs.
"Everyone, scatter! Charmeleon is about to settle accounts with Obito!"
Kakashi moved instantly. From the start, he had felt something was wrong with Obito.
When Yamato saw Kakashi retreat, he followed without hesitation.
Shisui calmly carried Zorua to a safe spot and prepared to watch.
Rin also stepped aside.
Before Obito even understood what was happening, he and Charmeleon were the only ones left in the clearing.
"Charmeleon!" Charmeleon opened its mouth, wisps of flame spilling out as it rattled off Obito's crimes.
Zorua translated with dramatic emphasis.
"It's bad enough that you keep twisting my thoughts, but you even used genjutsu to deceive me, Obito. Your crimes are unforgivable!"
"Three months on the east bank, three months on the west bank. Do not bully the young Dragon!"
Bang.
Shisui chopped Zorua on the head while holding it in his arms. "Have you been reading shinobi novels lately? Stop adding lines to what Charmander says."
Do not bully the young Dragon did not sound like Charmander at all.
"Hehe. The atmosphere was perfect," Zorua muttered, rubbing its head against Shisui with a guilty grin.
"I was wrong to use genjutsu," Obito admitted. Even he knew the method was a little inhumane.
"But I did it for your own good. That way your own sense of training time stays the same, but you actually get more exercise."
Obito really had wracked his brain to come up with that hypnosis training plan.
"Awooo!" Charmeleon let out a furious cry.
No amount of clever illusions could erase the exhaustion in its body.
Zorua immediately continued translating, still in full performance mode.
"Words are useless. Feel my flames!"
"Are you sure you want to fight me?" Obito narrowed his eyes. "I will not hold back once we start."
Charmeleon nodded.
It would not feel satisfied until it beat Obito up.
"Even if it's not that smart, that guy is definitely good at fighting," Zorua warned Charmeleon, glancing between them as if silently asking, Can you win?
"Buzz." Charmeleon snorted, a puff of white smoke shooting from its nostrils. Its expression was brimming with confidence.
The Charmander that got bullied and could not fight back was dead.
Now the powerful Charmeleon had arrived.
"Since you're young, I'll let you make the first move," Obito said, deciding to give it one opening.
Charmeleon did not hesitate.
It immediately circulated chakra and used a skill.
"Smokescreen!"
A thick gray mist poured from Charmeleon's mouth, swallowing Obito in an instant. Then Charmeleon burst forward with everything it had, charging straight into the fog.
Obito was caught off guard. He had not expected Charmeleon to have a move like this.
Inside the mist, Obito could not see anything. Because he had not taken it seriously, he had not raised his guard properly.
Charmeleon's kick landed cleanly.
"Charmeleon!" Charmeleon wore a smug grin.
A mere Obito. No problem. Victory was basically guaranteed.
Then Obito silently activated his Sharingan and drew his breathing into Flame Breathing Chakra Mode.
His Three Tomoe Sharingan pierced through the smoke and locked onto Charmeleon's outline.
When Charmeleon swung its claws at him, Obito caught its arm, turned his back, and heaved.
Bang!
With an over the shoulder throw, he slammed Charmeleon hard into the ground.
Charmeleon's eyes widened.
It had not expected Obito to see through the smoke.
It snapped its mouth open and spit flames at Obito.
Obito, still in Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, did not need hand seals to perform nature transformation. He opened his mouth as well, answering with Fire Release.
Their flames crashed together.
Obito's fire, visibly thicker and denser, pushed Charmeleon's flames back.
Boom!
The collision exploded. The shockwave tore through the gray mist and blew it apart, revealing Obito standing firm and Charmeleon down on the ground.
"Charmeleon!" Charmeleon's expression twisted with unwillingness.
It had not expected the evil Obito to be this strong. Even after evolving, it still could not win.
Obito deactivated his Sharingan and exited Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, letting out a satisfied chuckle.
Yes, he had been knocked down earlier because he was careless.
But no one should have seen it. The smoke had covered everything.
If no one saw it, then it did not happen.
So Obito was in a great mood. He had not lost face, and his Nin Beast had grown stronger.
That smile reached Charmeleon's eyes.
The humiliation inside Charmeleon multiplied instantly.
Charmeleon questioned itself.
Am I really stopping here?
Where is my Charmeleon pride?
"I cannot fall here!"
The flame on Charmeleon's tail flared, burning brighter and fiercer. Its strength surged again.
Then Charmeleon exploded forward.
No technique, no tricks, just brute force and pure anger.
It slammed into Obito with a savage Dragon Charge.
Bang!
Obito, completely unprepared for Charmeleon to stand up again, and to get stronger on top of that, flew three meters and crashed onto the ground.
Kakashi covered his face.
Could anything be more embarrassing than getting beaten by a Nin Beast that was only a few months old?
Shisui quietly turned his head away, pretending he had not seen it.
Rin opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.
Maybe silence was the kindest thing she could give Obito right now.
"Flame Emperor!"
Obito sprang to his feet, instantly re entering Flame Breathing Chakra Mode. He raised both hands and poured out all his chakra.
A giant fireball formed above his palms, over ten meters across.
Obito stared straight at Charmeleon and did not dare glance anywhere else. He could not risk seeing Kakashi's mockery or Rin's disappointment.
At that moment, the South Border Forest felt like hell.
If Obito had the choice, he honestly wanted to blow up the entire forest with Fire Release.
Charmeleon froze.
Looking at the enormous fireball that was taller than a three story building, Charmeleon went completely blank.
This was not right.
Charmeleon looked at Obito again, and suddenly Obito seemed… surprisingly reasonable.
It could even understand Obito's effort.
Obito took two steps forward with Flame Emperor still in hand.
Charmeleon swallowed hard and wiped hot sweat from its forehead.
Shinobi and dragon stared at each other.
In the end, Obito canceled Flame Emperor.
Charmeleon immediately stepped forward and dusted off Obito's clothes with surprising enthusiasm, acting like a perfectly obedient companion.
"From now on, I'll think more about your feelings," Obito said with an apologetic expression. "I won't misunderstand your intentions again."
Inside his head, Obito was already writing a new plan.
Next time I use hypnosis, I'll add less training, then gradually increase it once you get used to it.
This was a profound lesson.
"Charmeleon." Charmeleon nodded, looking deeply moved.
I'll endure for now, Charmeleon decided.
I'll fight you again when I evolve and become stronger.
"Even if I don't know exactly what happened, the result is really good," Rin said softly, clasping her hands together with a gentle smile.
She had not stopped them earlier because she trusted Obito to know the limit.
And Obito had not disappointed her. He had not gone too far.
Kakashi stroked Rockruff's head without commenting.
He was not sure whether Charmeleon's personality came from being with Obito for so long, or whether it was naturally like this, but he somehow saw a trace of Obito inside Charmeleon.
"What will you look like when you evolve?" Kakashi asked quietly, watching Rockruff wag its tail at him with carefree happiness.
Kakashi did not care much about appearance changes.
He was already satisfied with Rockruff as it was.
What Kakashi cared about was strength.
Before evolving, Charmander's strength had been near the bottom because it hatched late. But after evolving into Charmeleon, its strength surged instantly. Every aspect improved, and both its taijutsu and ninjutsu clearly jumped.
Charmeleon would still get beaten easily if Obito fought seriously, but Obito at full power was an elite even among jonin. For a Nin Beast only a few months old to reach this level had already exceeded Kakashi's expectations.
"Woof!" Rockruff heard Kakashi's curiosity and immediately bolted off to train, determined to evolve as soon as possible.
"You don't need to force it. Just follow the normal steps," Kakashi called out.
Both his life and Rockruff's life were only beginning. Kakashi was not in a hurry.
Rockruff only got more excited after hearing that.
Compared to Obito, Rockruff felt unbelievably lucky. Kakashi was its contractor.
"Shisui, you absolutely cannot use genjutsu to increase my training," Zorua warned. "If you do, I'll get angry."
It did not want to end up exhausted and confused like Charmeleon.
Bang.
Shisui tapped Zorua's head with two fingers. "You should worry about yourself first. Don't use genjutsu to cause trouble for others. That's what matters."
Obito's method was far too extreme. Shisui would never copy it.
If he truly needed Zorua to train more, he would explain the pros and cons clearly, not trick it.
"Hehe," Zorua smiled, trying to charm its way out again.
Rin walked to the pond to check on Feebas.
She had actually considered keeping Feebas in the river, where there was more space and more aquatic life.
But she was worried Feebas might swim away, forget the way back, and get caught and eaten.
For safety, she kept Feebas in the pond.
"Feebas, Charmander evolved today," Rin said, sharing everything that happened. "Teacher Mugetsu said you can evolve too, and the change will be huge, like an insect forming a cocoon and turning into a butterfly."
"Feebas, when you evolve… will you grow wings like a butterfly?"
Feebas stared at Rin with dull, lifeless eyes, giving no hint of what it was thinking.
"Feebas, you probably haven't seen caterpillars or butterflies, have you?" Rin added thoughtfully. "When we get home, I'll draw them for you."
Feebas spent all its time in water. Rin figured it might not have seen many creatures from land.
After resting a little, Rin gently patted Feebas's head.
"I'm going to train now," Rin said. "Kakashi and the others are so strong and still work so hard. I can't give up. At the very least, I need to protect myself in battle and not become a burden."
As Rin walked away, Feebas began swimming rapidly around the small pond.
As a Feebas, that was the only training it could do. Move more. Push its body harder.
Right now, it could not help Rin at all.
Even if it used all its strength, it could only make a small splash.
Only evolution could change that.
Only after evolving could it become Rin's true partner, strong enough to protect her.
.....
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