Kakashi and Captain Akimichi Genya had already headed off to check on Obito's situation.
After some discussion, he had remained behind to protect Tazuna along with the Daimyo's samurai who had already arrived.
He pulled his gaze away from the group of fierce-looking samurai, clad in armor and sporting traditional topknots.
Sensing something, Motomu's right hand quietly gripped the hilt of his sword.
It seemed his private side-hustle over the last few days had finally been noticed by the Mist Ninja.
During the escort mission, Motomu had been releasing Big Eyeballs from time to time to scout for information.
With a speed of only 5, the slow-moving Big Eyeballs were bound to be discovered by the Mist Ninja eventually.
And with their men going missing, the Mist would certainly investigate.
What Motomu hadn't expected, however, was for them to act so decisively and ruthlessly.
They were like madmen.
It was as if they weren't worried at all about offending other hidden villages.
Motomu guessed that there was likely some major internal upheaval occurring within the Hidden Mist.
Perhaps the Third Mizukage was getting too old to hold things together.
Motomu wasn't just blindly guessing either.
The Mist had kept information regarding the Tailed Beasts under tight lockdown, so he hadn't gained much useful intel there.
However, the situation regarding the bloodline clans was far from peaceful.
Motomu had managed to squeeze some information out of the Mist Ninjas he'd captured.
The various clans of the Hidden Mist currently...
Led by the Yuki clan and the Kaguya clan.
Plus the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, which was only half-formed, still supported the Third Mizukage.
But the Hozuki clan and the commoner ninjas were getting mixed up with the future Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura.
This was the extent of the intel Motomu had on the Hidden Mist Village.
He couldn't get anything more useful out of the commoner Mist Ninjas he'd caught.
If he wanted more information now, he would have to ask a member of a noble clan.
Drip!
A cold droplet of water fell from the ceiling, splashing near Motomu's feet and creating a small ripple.
Amidst the sound of metal scraping...
The blade in Motomu's hand was slowly drawn.
Directly above him, in the center of the wooden ceiling, a half-body figure made entirely of water had coalesced at some point.
The moment the figure made eye contact with Motomu, a water bullet was fired with a roar.
The water bullet, far faster than any Hozuki Mangetsu could fire, was sliced in two by a sword light that left a crescent-shaped afterimage.
The two masses of water formed by the chakra nature transformation retained their momentum, piercing through the second-story floorboards and causing terrified screams from the guests on the first floor below.
"Kenjutsu? No, that's a ninjutsu."
Slashing the longsword to the side, Motomu used Psychokinesis to flick away the water droplets clinging to the blade.
"Are you from the Hozuki clan?"
As the other's expression flickered with uncertainty, Motomu's calm voice continued.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?"
Orochimaru's mission and the clues to the Three-Tails might both be found on this person.
The Hozuki clan were truly treasure troves!
However...
Since this person had appeared here.
That meant something had indeed happened to Obito on the other side.
Furthermore, the Mist, like the Leaf, followed the squad structure of one Jonin leading three Genin.
Even knowing that their Captain, the Akimichi Jonin, had gone to help Obito...
This man had still come here.
"A Water Clone? You really look down on me, don't you?"
Motomu opened his eyes, his Sharingan making direct eye contact with the opponent.
"Oh no!"
A member of the Uchiha clan.
The Hozuki Jonin's clone felt a chill in its heart, quickly averting its gaze while its hands rapidly formed seals.
"Water Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
Countless senbon made of water erupted from the Hozuki Jonin.
Glancing at the samurai who didn't dare to intervene, Motomu's body leaped, dodging the needles as he crashed through the window.
The sound of senbon piercing into the wooden floor and walls echoed densely throughout the inn.
The despairing innkeeper took a few pained looks at the damage before hiding back behind the counter, trembling.
Seeing Motomu jump out the window, the Hozuki Jonin's clone felt its newly born caution fade slightly.
To think that he, a dignified Jonin, had almost been intimidated by a brat of this level just now.
If the other noble clans found out, they'd laugh themselves to death.
Descending from the ceiling, the Water Clone used the Body Flicker Technique to give chase.
Amidst the whistling wind, Motomu sprinted along the markers left by Captain Akimichi.
Since the one left with him was a Water Clone, then the one facing Captain Akimichi and Kakashi must be the Jonin's real body.
As Motomu's thoughts raced, he already considered the worst-case scenario.
The enemy Jonin had temporarily held back Kakashi and Captain Akimichi.
Meanwhile, Obito was currently facing an entire squad of enemy Genin alone.
If he didn't hurry, his little junior who had just recently graduated was going to be chopped into fine bits!
Boom!
The sound of the Water Pistol Jutsu hitting a tree trunk rang out from a side street.
Motomu twisted his hips and turned, dodging the senbon that were still pursuing him, and leapt onto the roof of a low house by the street.
"Frilled Lizard Technique!"
Creeeak!
Obito was hanging upside down from a tree branch, his cloak drooping down into the shape of an umbrella.
Motomu: "..."
'He's actually playing around?'
Had Masked Tobi's signature secret technique already been successfully developed?
It seemed he had been overthinking; Obito was doing just fine on his own!
Next, as long as he dealt with this Water Clone—which had only a tenth of the Jonin's strength—everything would become clear.
Obito's fire dragon collided with a Water Encampment Wall.
At the same time, Motomu's longsword left its scabbard.
Clang!
With a hum of the blade, the longsword flew out and pierced the Water Clone. The resulting sonic boom tore the punctured clone into countless splashes of water.
...
After slaying the Genin who dared to engage him in close combat...
With his chakra nearly depleted, Obito turned and fumbled for the last kunai in his ninja tool pouch.
"All you think about is running? Your Uchiha clan isn't all that much either!"
Hozuki Mangetsu, a patch of his clothes scorched, grinned to reveal rows of sharp, pointed teeth.
"Done playing with your shuriken? Is this your very last tool?"
Whoosh!
The kunai in Obito's hand flew out.
Hozuki Mangetsu leaned to the side, easily dodging it.
"Even the most—"
Poof!
Behind him, the kunai—which was actually Obito using the Transformation Jutsu—erupted in a cloud of smoke.
Emerging from the smoke, Obito's right hand shot out like lightning. The sharp tip of the kunai plunged directly into the neck of the older Genin who hadn't even had time to react.
Hot blood from his teammate splattered onto his face, and Hozuki Mangetsu's smile froze completely.
"Can't you just die quietly!?"
As the genius recognized by his clan as the one who would eventually master all seven ninja swords...
Hozuki Mangetsu could not accept being defied.
Moreover, Obito had already exceeded his expectations three times now.
Every time Obito defied his expectations, it felt like a stinging slap to his face.
"I must personally..."
"Chop you into pieces, one slice at a time!"
Both hands holding his blade partially liquefied. Carrying immense force, the longsword swung down vertically towards Obito, who held up a kunai to parry.
Clang!
Sparks flew as fragments of the kunai shattered.
Stones from the ground were sent flying as Obito's feet were forced deep into a pit in the earth.
Before Obito could catch his breath, Hozuki Mangetsu's longsword fell again.
The kunai was completely severed!
The broken half of the kunai clattered onto the stone pavement.
After a brief pause in momentum, the longsword was raised once more.
Watching the sharp glint of the blade descend...
Obito took a deep breath and raised his left hand to block.
Clang!
Amidst the flying sparks...
A white short-sword parried the longsword's attack at an angle.
Kakashi's heavy breathing sounded from beside Obito.
"Hey, dead last... I'm not too late, am I?"
Obito turned his head in surprise.
Only to see Kakashi covered in wounds from senbon, looking extremely battered.
"Arrogant Kakashi, you also..."
Before he could finish, a massive surge of chakra erupted from the distance.
It came from the direction Kakashi had just arrived from.
And after that explosion of Akimichi clan secret medicine chakra...
All movement from that direction ceased entirely.