[Starting in Naruto with a Daily Login System] Chapter 21 Speed Kills – And So Do I (But, You Know, in a Heroic Way)

I had been dreading this day.

I knew it was coming. The mission that would change everything. The mission that, in another timeline, would have taken Obito’s life, shattered Rin’s fate, and left a wound on the world that would never truly heal.

The day Obito was supposed to die.

The start of everything.

The end of the beginning.

And yet, despite knowing all that, I stood there like it was just another mission. Because what else was I supposed to do? Tell everyone, Hey guys, bad vibes today, let's skip the bridge destruction? Yeah, that’d go over well.

So instead, I listened as Minato-sensei gave the briefing.

"The mission is simple but dangerous," he said, voice steady. "We infiltrate Iwagakure-occupied territory, destroy the Kannabi Bridge, and cripple their supply lines. This will cut off reinforcements and help turn the tide of the war in Konoha’s favor."

Simple, he said. Like we weren’t about to waltz into enemy-infested land with zero backup.

"We’re deep in enemy territory," he continued. "Expect resistance. If things go south, stick to the plan. No unnecessary risks."

I almost scoffed at that. I already knew someone was going to take an unnecessary risk. (Cough Obito cough.)

Minato turned to us. "I have another operation to handle, so the three of you will carry this mission out alone." His gaze landed on me. "Kakashi, as Jōnin, you’re in charge."

Obito tensed beside me. Rin kept a straight face, but I could see the concern in her eyes.

I didn’t react. I was already a Jōnin. This wasn’t new. What was new was how heavy this mission felt.

Not just because of the war. Not just because of the danger.

Because I knew where this road led.

But I had no choice but to walk it anyway.

"Understood," I said simply.

Minato studied me for a moment, as if sensing something in my tone, but he didn’t press. He just gave me a nod, then turned to Obito and Rin. "Stay close to Kakashi. Work as a team."

Obito scowled but said nothing.

Rin nodded. "Of course, Sensei."

Minato smiled, but there was a weight behind it. Like he knew, too. That this mission was different. That after today, something about us—about everything—would never be the same.

But here’s the thing.

I wasn’t going to let it happen.

Not this time.

Not this timeline.

Fuck fate. Fuck canon. Fuck the idea that this was some tragic story that had to play out the same way.

I didn’t care if the universe itself had written this into stone—I was going to break that stone into dust.

Obito wasn’t going to die.

Rin wasn’t going to die.

Minato wasn’t going to die.

Not on my watch.

"Good luck," Minato said.

I exhaled, clenching my fists.

"Yeah," I muttered. "We’ll need it."

And just like that, we set off.

Into enemy territory.

Into fate.

And for the first time, I was the one who was going to change it.

The mission had officially begun.

Obito, Rin, and I moved swiftly through the dense forest, keeping to the shadows as we infiltrated enemy lines. Iwagakure territory stretched ahead of us like a death trap waiting to be sprung.

My grip tightened around my kunai.

Not this time.

I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

"Alright," I murmured, halting near a rocky outcrop. "We stick to the plan. Move fast, stay hidden, take out any sentries quietly. No heroics."

Obito shot me an unimpressed look. "You’re saying that like I always ignore the plan."

I turned my head, looking him directly in the eyes.

He sighed. "Okay, fine, sometimes I ignore the plan."

Rin giggled. "Sometimes?"

Obito groaned. "Oh, come on! Why is it always two against one?"

"Because we’re usually right," I said, then focused back on the mission. "Let’s move."

We darted forward, slipping through the underbrush. The closer we got to the Kannabi Bridge, the heavier the enemy presence became. Patrols moved in tight rotations, and watchtowers loomed in the distance.

If I hadn’t been trained by Minato-sensei, this would’ve been impossible. But we weren’t just sneaking past them. We were predators.

Silent. Deadly. Unstoppable.

At least, that’s what I thought—until I saw Obito trip over a tree root.

For the love of—

I yanked him up by the collar before he faceplanted into the dirt. "Seriously?" I whispered.

Obito scowled. "It was a stealth fall."

I stared at him. Rin facepalmed.

"Stealth fall?" I repeated.

"Yeah. I fell quietly, didn’t I?"

I considered throwing him back down, but we didn’t have time for that.

"Just focus," I muttered, releasing him. "Let’s get into position."

Rin pointed towards the bridge. "We need to set the charges fast. Once the bridge is gone, Iwa’s reinforcements will be cut off from the frontline."

I nodded. "Then let’s get to work."

We slipped forward again, moving in perfect sync—well, mostly perfect. Obito still had the occasional stealth fall, but at least he was keeping quiet about it.

But even as we moved, I kept my senses on high alert.

Because I knew what was coming.

And this time, I was ready.

—

Everything was going smoothly. Too smoothly.

That was the problem with knowing the future—every second things didn’t go wrong, I felt the weight of what should have happened pressing down on me.

We made it past the first wave of guards undetected. We secured the explosives. We mapped out our escape route.

But I knew this was where things would turn.

I could practically hear the clock ticking down to the moment Obito should’ve been crushed under a boulder, to the moment I should’ve been gifted his eye in some tragic, poetic last wish. To the moment everything shattered.

No.

Not this time.

We placed the final charges beneath the Kannabi Bridge. All that was left was getting out of here before—

A rustle. A shift in the air.

And then—

"Enemy attack!"

Kunai rained down from the treetops, followed by a squad of Iwa-nin. The ground erupted as hidden enemies burst from the earth, surrounding us in seconds.

"Finally!" Obito grinned, Sharingan spinning. "I was starting to think we’d just blow up the bridge and leave. Where’s the fun in that?"

Rin looked less excited. "Obito—"

"Yeah, yeah, no heroics," he muttered.

I wasn’t listening. My mind was moving a hundred steps ahead, analyzing every possible way this could play out.

In the original timeline, this was where everything started going wrong. Rin would be taken. Obito and I would chase after her. And then—

I clenched my jaw.

Not this time.

The Iwa-nin charged.

I moved.

Lightning exploded from my fingertips as I ripped through the first enemy, his eyes widening a second too late before he crumpled. I ducked, twisting past another strike, my kunai finding its target.

I caught a flicker of movement—one of the Iwa-nin going straight for Rin.

Not happening.

I shot forward with a burst of speed, slamming into him before he could touch her. He barely had time to register what happened before my Raikiri pierced straight through his chest.

Obito had engaged two of them at once, his Sharingan predicting their movements with ease. His movements were sharper than before, his strikes more precise.

My training had changed him. He was already better than the Obito from the original timeline.

But was it enough?

The battlefield was chaotic—too many moving parts, too many unknowns. But I didn’t care. Because I already knew where this was supposed to lead.

And I wasn’t letting anyone die today.

I wasn’t playing by fate’s script anymore.

Fuck fate. Fuck canon.

I was writing my own story.

Despite our initial advantage, the battle refused to end quickly. The Iwa-nin fought like cornered animals—desperate, vicious, and completely willing to throw their lives away if it meant taking us down with them.

And that was the problem.

Because I knew what was coming next.

Rin’s capture.

In the original timeline, we’d get separated. The Iwa-nin would take her hostage, leading to the moment that would define everything—Obito awakening his Mangekyō, his so-called death, and the birth of the man who would later bring the world to its knees.

Nope. Not happening.

I was already on high alert, scanning for the moment when they would make their move.

And then—there it was.

A faint shimmer in the air—Genjutsu!

"Rin!" I yelled, but my voice barely left my mouth before a blur of motion appeared behind her.

A masked Iwa-nin—one I knew wasn’t just some grunt—materialized, his hand snapping out in a lightning-fast motion.

Rin barely had time to react before—

She vanished.

One second she was beside me, the next she was gone.

Shit.

"Kakashi!" Obito shouted, his Sharingan burning. "Where is she?!"

"Teleportation Jutsu," I snapped, already sprinting in the direction they had retreated. "They’re moving her!"

I felt Obito right behind me, his breathing ragged but determined. "We have to save her!"

No shit.

This was it. The moment fate wanted to play its hand.

The original Kakashi would have hesitated. He would’ve told Obito to complete the mission first.

But I wasn’t the original Kakashi.

I wasn’t letting anything play out the way it was supposed to.

I gritted my teeth and pushed forward, my Lightning cloaked body surging ahead. "Not this time."

I wasn’t going to be too late.

Not today.

Not ever.