Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

The three steps of distance between Rin and the others became insurmountable as Ye Zi pulled her even farther back, almost as if dragging her deeper into the abyss. After ensuring a ten-step distance, his grip on her remained firm, tight enough to make breathing difficult for her without cutting it off entirely, leaving her unable to speak yet visibly struggling.

Rin, a person of deep importance, was being held in such a precarious position right under their protection. This sight filled Obito with a strange, uncontainable rage—anger toward himself, perhaps, or directed at Ye Zi.

"Let go of Rin, you bastard!"

Reacting purely on instinct, Obito gripped his kunai and stepped forward, ready to charge.

"Obito!"

Both Kushina and Kakashi called out at once, with Kakashi—closer to him—swiftly twisting his body to intercept. With one swift movement, he kicked Obito down to the ground and crouched beside him, pressing him firmly by the neck to hold him back.

Seeing this, a cold smirk formed on Ye Zi's face. The recklessness of Obito, countered by Kakashi's quick action, added fuel to Ye Zi's momentary show of strength, tightening his grip ever so slightly, emphasizing Rin's discomfort. Kakashi and Kushina immediately noticed this, prompting Kakashi to restrain Obito in time.

"What are you doing, Kakashi?" Obito struggled against him, red Sharingan eyes burning with anger, his Sharingan having activated in his fury, revealing two tomoe.

Kakashi, crouched and pressing down on the struggling Obito, locked his own angry gaze on Ye Zi.

"You idiot. Are you trying to get Rin killed?"

"Obito, calm down," Kushina added, though she bit her lip so hard it bled, her clenched fists trembling slightly.

She was asking Obito to calm down, but she was struggling to keep her own emotions in check. Right now, Kakashi seemed the calmest of all.

Malevolence…

When Ye Zi had taken Rin hostage, Kushina had sensed an unmistakable intent to harm her. That momentary surge of malice, like a chilling force, conveyed the very real threat that Rin's life could be taken at any second. It brought a brutal image to her mind, rooting her with a sense of dread.

"How can I calm down!" Obito's struggles weakened, his gaze fixated on Rin, desperate and pained.

"If you want to get Rin killed, go right ahead." Kakashi's tone turned cold and angry.

Kakashi's words hit Obito like a hard truth, and slowly, he stilled.

"Let go of me," Obito's tone changed, shifting to a level of maturity Kakashi hadn't seen before.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, releasing his grip. Standing up, he faced Ye Zi, gripping his short sword so tightly his knuckles were white.

Now free, Obito took a deep breath, his intense, barely-contained anger blazing through his three-tomoe Sharingan as he glared at Ye Zi, visibly restraining himself from further reckless actions.

This was a new look in Obito's eyes that Kakashi had never seen before—a look defined by pure killing intent and deep, internal guilt.

"In just an instant…"

Ye Zi was unfazed by Obito's anger as he surveyed them all, his tone calm and indifferent. "I could snap her neck, so unless you think you can match my speed, don't even try."

His words hit Kushina, Kakashi, and Obito like a ringing bell, shaking them to their cores.

"And make sure those Mist shinobi over there don't interfere," Ye Zi added coldly, watching their hesitation. "Of course, you could always try taking one of mine hostage."

This statement was a test, and he kept his eyes on them to gauge their reactions.

Kushina, Kakashi, and Obito remained motionless; none of them would risk Rin's life by acting rashly.

Perfect. That proved the hostage was valuable enough.

"Shin, come here," Ye Zi commanded.

As Shin carefully approached with the unconscious Kotoe in his arms, he remained vigilant, sidestepping the three from Konoha.

He'd only taken a few steps when Ao, one of the Mist shinobi, attacked, seeing this as a prime opportunity to interfere. A pale blue light appeared on his hand, his Byakugan focusing on Shin's chakra points. His plan was to strike a point that would immobilize him without harming him, creating a second hostage situation.

Mei and Kisame stood ready to back him up.

Just as Ao's hand, now glowing with chakra, was about to connect with Shin's chakra points, a figure suddenly darted in, blocking his path. With a muffled thud, a swift kick deflected Ao's outstretched arm.

"Hm?" Ao's expression changed, and just as he prepared to counterattack, three tomoe of a Sharingan traced a red arc in the air. The figure spun back even faster, landing a solid kick to Ao's abdomen.

Thud!

Ao spat out blood as he was thrown backward, caught just in time by Kisame before he hit the ground.

The figure standing between Ao and Shin was none other than Obito, who had surprised everyone with the skill behind his moves.

After sending Ao flying, Obito used the momentum from his hand pressing on the ground to push himself up. His three-tomoe Sharingan blazed coldly as he stared down the Mist trio.

"Obito, you…" Kakashi's eyes darted between Ye Zi and Obito, stunned by the strength Obito had just displayed, as was Kushina.

Because Obito had his back to them, neither Kakashi nor Kushina realized he had activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Don't make a move," Obito stated firmly, his voice calm but his eyes filled with smoldering rage.

This statement was exactly what Ye Zi had wanted to convey, and Obito's intervention had stopped Ao just in time.

Everything he did stemmed from an unwillingness to let Rin suffer any harm in front of him. He would not let that happen, even if it cost him his life.

With a swift movement, Kakashi stood beside Obito, his short sword ready, joining him to form a defensive stance.

At that moment, Kakashi and Obito shared the same feelings. Despite their anger, they refused to let Rin be harmed, so they would do whatever it took to stop the Mist shinobi from advancing.

"That kid…" Ao growled, clutching his abdomen.

"The situation's against us. Let's make a move," Kisame said coldly.

"Agreed." Mei frowned. Obito's two well-placed kicks had revealed Konoha's position: they were willing to protect their traitor for the sake of a single hostage.

Thanks to Obito's actions, Ye Zi relaxed his grip slightly on Rin's neck, allowing her to breathe more easily and even speak.

"Don't worry about me!" she shouted immediately at Kushina and the others.

She didn't get the chance to say anything more before Ye Zi tightened his grip slightly, stopping her.

Rin's desperate words only darkened the mood for Kushina, Kakashi, and Obito.

Shin, meanwhile, reached Ye Zi with Kotoe in his arms, relieved.

"Ye Zi…"

Kushina's gaze lowered, her expression somber. After a moment, she lifted her head again, her beautiful face shadowed with a deep, unspoken sorrow.

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Currently on Chapter 329 - Tragic News