Chapter 171: The Experience of Team Seven

Faced with Kirito's question, Kakashi paused thoughtfully before recounting the events that had transpired after Team Seven left the village.

When Sasuke rejoined the team, the playful bickering and competition between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura brought back memories of the happier days Kakashi had shared with them on missions two years ago.

A few days into their journey, Sasuke discovered a message left by Uchiha Itachi, instructing him to meet at a secret Uchiha Clan stronghold. Everything proceeded smoothly—at least at first.

Upon arriving at the meeting point, however, Kakashi and the others were confronted by Kisame and a masked Akatsuki member who called himself "Tobi."

Per the agreement with Sasuke, the rest of Team Seven stayed outside the stronghold to face Kisame and Tobi while Sasuke went inside alone to confront Itachi.

While Sasuke and Itachi clashed inside the stronghold, Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato engaged in a tense standoff with Kisame and Tobi. Despite their best efforts, neither side gained the upper hand.

Midway through the battle, a figure with large, green, leaf-like appendages on its shoulders—Zetsu—emerged from the ground. After whispering something to Kisame and Tobi, Kisame's power suddenly surged, escalating the intensity of the fight.

As Team Seven struggled to contain Kisame's onslaught, Tobi took advantage of the chaos to whisk away Sasuke, who had just barely defeated Itachi and was completely exhausted.

"That masked man, Tobi," Kakashi began, "was… strange. Despite his offbeat personality, I noticed a Sharingan behind his mask."

Kakashi frowned, recalling the battle. "No matter how much Naruto or Sakura attacked, their moves couldn't touch him. It was as if his body wasn't even there—just a phantom.

"But when we thought he was intangible, he'd suddenly launch attacks of his own…"

Kakashi's voice carried frustration as he added, "And then, as Sasuke and Itachi lay incapacitated, he used some strange time-space ninjutsu to take their bodies and escape."

Kakashi clenched his fists. Reuniting Team Seven after such a long time, only to have it torn apart again before his eyes, was difficult to bear—not just for Naruto, but for himself as well.

He had been prepared to use Kamui in a final, desperate attempt to stop Tobi. But before he could act, Tobi had taken Kisame and vanished, leaving Team Seven behind in their frustration and anger.

[I see,] Kirito thought to himself. [Tobi must have acted so hastily because Nagato's plans fell apart.]

After Kakashi's explanation, Kirito asked, "So Naruto refused to return to the village because he wanted to find Sasuke?"

Kakashi nodded. "He believed Tobi wouldn't take Sasuke far, so he used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu to search the surrounding area. Yamato and I couldn't track his real body amidst all the clones, so we allowed him some time to look."

Kirito smirked inwardly. [That sounds more like Kakashi letting Naruto vent his frustration.]

The rest of the story was easy to deduce: after failing to find Sasuke, Team Seven had no choice but to return to the village and report what had happened.

Although Kakashi's explanation was straightforward, Kirito could imagine the intense battle they had faced. Kisame's destructive Water Release techniques, Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and Sakura's immense strength would have caused significant chaos. The fact that Naruto hadn't lost control during the ordeal was likely thanks to Yamato's calming influence.

"That Tobi," Kirito asked, his voice steady, "do we have any information on him?"

Kakashi furrowed his brow, thinking carefully. "Aside from what I already mentioned—that he has a Sharingan and uses strange time-space ninjutsu to absorb attacks and opponents—there's little else to go on."

"Actually," Kirito said, carefully hinting, "what you described reminds me of a technique that resembles his. It's called Kamui."

Kakashi's visible eye widened in disbelief. "Kamui? But… that's impossible. Kamui can't transport living people… can it?"

As he spoke, doubt crept into his voice. Though he knew the capabilities of his left eye's Mangekyo Sharingan better than anyone, Tobi's technique bore an uncanny resemblance to Kamui.

But Kakashi couldn't accept the idea that Tobi's Sharingan might be Obito's. Obito had died years ago during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, and Kakashi had witnessed his body crushed beneath rubble.

Still, the unsettling similarity between their techniques left Kakashi troubled.

"What are you two whispering about?" Tsunade's sharp voice broke through their conversation.

Kakashi straightened up and reported, "Lady Tsunade, we're discussing the Akatsuki member's abilities. We believe his time-space ninjutsu is similar to Kamui. It might be a clue."

"Kamui? But according to your previous reports, his abilities seem very different," Tsunade said thoughtfully. "And I recall your Sharingan isn't—"

"Yes," Kakashi interrupted, "so we'll need further study and discussion to confirm."

Satisfied for now, Tsunade shifted her attention to Kirito. "Kirito, I've summoned you because Kakashi's team is back, and I'm finalizing plans to form a special unit to deal with Pain. This team's primary objective will be to locate and neutralize Nagato, the mastermind behind Pain."

Kirito raised an eyebrow. "So I'll be staying to defend the village?"

"Exactly. With your strength, you're the most qualified to take on the Six Paths of Pain directly. And with support from others, you'll end the battle quickly. Once Pain is defeated, you can assist Kakashi's team in finding Nagato."

Kirito nodded. "Understood. Who will be on the team?"

"The team captain will be Kakashi. Yamato will serve as vice-captain. The squad will also include Shino from the Aburame Clan for reconnaissance and sensory support, as well as Sakura as the medical ninja."

Hearing this, Kakashi sighed quietly.

"What's wrong?" Tsunade asked, catching his hesitation.

"Sakura…" Kakashi began, "she's been… unsteady since we returned. I'm not sure she's in the right state of mind to take on such a critical mission."

Tsunade frowned. She understood why Sakura might feel that way—seeing Sasuke taken before her eyes would have been devastating. It mirrored the helplessness Naruto had felt two years earlier when Sasuke left the village.

Though Sakura had matured greatly since then, this experience had shaken her deeply, leaving her vulnerable.

(End of this chapter)

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