Upon hearing Shinji's name, Obito clenched his teeth tightly, his heart wavering once again.
Images of Rin and Shinji being intimate flashed repeatedly in his mind, and a surge of malice abruptly arose within him.
"That Rin is nothing but a fake."
He looked up at Madara Uchiha and said coldly, "This matter is none of your concern. I will deal with him personally."
Madara keenly sensed the rising hostility in Obito but merely smiled faintly.
"If that is your wish, then proceed as you desire."
He raised his hand and tore off the Chakra conduit connecting him to the Gedo Statue from behind his neck.
Without the life support from the statue, Madara felt an overwhelming fatigue instantly engulf his entire body.
Slowly closing his eyes, Madara harbored no lingering attachments in his heart.
"Hashirama, I am coming."
Madara Uchiha thus passed away.
Obito looked down at the scroll in his hand, his right eye crimson red. Kamui activated, and he absorbed the scroll entirely into an alternate dimension.
This was the legacy Madara left for him, containing Yin-Yang Release Ninjutsu, Uchiha Forbidden Techniques, and even the complete details of the Moon Eye Plan.
The Moon Eye Plan would not be accomplished overnight; he needed time to gradually grow stronger.
But before that.
Obito turned his head toward Black Zetsu beside him, his tone resolute: "Let's go."
Black Zetsu paused: "Where?"
"Amegakure," Obito said. "First, we need to bring the Rinnegan under surveillance."
"Understood."
Their figures vanished from the spot, leaving only the Gedo Statue standing alone in the desolate wilderness.
...
"How is it, Shinji?"
Nohara Rin's cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze instinctively avoiding Kakashi nearby.
Only when Kakashi suddenly woke up did she realize she had been too close to Shinji earlier, causing two crimson clouds to instantly bloom on her cheeks.
Yet at this moment, she couldn't push Shinji away.
Shinji gently placed his hand over Rin's abdomen, his face showing surprise.
The Three-Tails had vanished!
Tailed Beasts are life forms composed of aggregated Chakra, possessing independent wills.
Once a Jinchuriki dies, the Tailed Beast will be reborn somewhere in the Shinobi World.
Rin had indeed "died" once today.
Could it be that at that moment, the Three-Tails had already disappeared?
Kakashi also stepped forward, his tone carrying undeniable concern: "Shinji, what's wrong?"
He only knew that Rin had been kidnapped by the Mist ninja and that a sinister mechanism had been implanted in her body. As a teammate, he was more worried about her safety than anyone else.
Shinji coughed lightly: "There are no lingering issues left within her."
After saying this, he gently placed his palm against Rin's chest, closing his eyes to carefully examine.
Her heart beat steadily and powerfully, with no trace of disordered Chakra within her body.
The restriction implanted by Madara Uchiha had also completely dissipated after her heart was pierced by the wooden spike.
Shinji finally relaxed, giving her a reassuring smile.
He had been worried about how to handle the Three-Tails issue upon returning to Konohagakure.
If Rin still had the Three-Tails sealed within her, Konohagakure would inevitably detect it sooner or later.
But now, it seemed he no longer needed to consider these troublesome matters.
"You can be completely reassured, Rin."
Rin hurriedly patted his hand away, her voice trembling slightly:
"Then, then you can take your hand away now!"
Shinji's hand was pressed against her chest, close to a private area.
Moreover, Kakashi was watching nearby.
Shinji awkwardly withdrew his hand. When others were present, Rin always instinctively avoided him.
Kakashi looked at the two with a strange expression but didn't ask further, merely saying:
"What should we do next?"
"What should we do?" Shinji paused. "Is your team still on patrol duty?"
Rin nodded, then shook her head: "Our mission is already completed."
Shinji suggested: "Then let's return directly to Konohagakure."
"I sneaked out for so many days; I don't know what's happening in the village."
Upon hearing this, Kakashi felt a headache, rubbing his temples.
"Shinji, you actually sneaked out of the village without permission. If discovered, you might be labeled a rogue ninja."
Shinji laughed it off: "I trust you'll keep it secret for me."
Kakashi remained silent.
He would indeed keep it secret. If Shinji hadn't intervened today, he might have killed Rin himself.
Thinking of that possibility filled him with dread.
His respect for Shinji also grew somewhat.
Moreover, Kakashi instinctively reached for his ninja tool pouch.
Inside lay a risqué book, a Jonin congratulatory gift from Shinji.
He wondered if this guy had any new stock.
"In that case, we'll return to the village," Kakashi said. "Regarding this incident, I will appropriately modify the report before submitting it."
Nohara Rin also slowly relaxed upon hearing this.
With Kakashi's help, she could truly conceal part of Shinji's secret.
Shinji smiled, looking at the two: "So, who will carry me back?"
His gaze straightforwardly fell on Rin.
Due to using Tengu Roosting Branch, his body was extremely weak now, and he couldn't make the journey back alone.
Given the choice, he naturally wanted Rin to carry him.
Nohara Rin instantly discerned his intention, immediately stood up, and pointed at Kakashi:
"Kakashi, Shinji is entrusted to you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she ran off without looking back.
Shinji and Kakashi exchanged glances, both showing expressions of disdain simultaneously.
...
Ultimately, Kakashi became the laborer carrying Shinji. Seeing Rin's determined demeanor, it was clear she wouldn't agree to carry him no matter what was said.
Shinji felt regretful inwardly. On the way, he discreetly opened the System.
A faint blue screen, visible only to him, flashed across his eyes. Shinji focused his thoughts, continuously browsing the System interface.
In the upper message bar, two latest notifications lay quietly.
He opened them one by one in chronological order.
[Kakashi has completed the second stage of Conquest, Bond Relationship established]
[Bond Relationship detected: Close Friend]
[Player obtained second-tier Point Reward: 200,000 Points]
[Third-tier Check-in Reward activated. Maintaining Close Friend relationship will accumulate Check-in Days]
[Kakashi: Current Check-in Days: 1]
[Check-in Days reaching one month will grant additional Point Reward; reaching six months will grant A-rank Gift Box ×1]
[If either party declares termination of Close Friend relationship, the relationship is considered ended, and Check-in Days interrupted]
Seeing this information, Shinji was both surprised and delighted.
He hadn't expected this incident to directly advance his relationship with Kakashi to the second stage.
He discreetly glanced at Kakashi, confirming that the latter harbored no strange intentions toward him, then inwardly relaxed.
If there were any such signs, he would definitely use Shisui's Kotoamatsukami to completely correct Kakashi's will.
It seemed the System wasn't that absurd, which was good for him.
When he opened the second message, Shinji was genuinely startled.
[Detected host's Charm reaching 50 points]
[Achieved Charm milestone]
Obtained reward: Bloodline Limit・Storm Release
[Description: It is not ordinary lightning, nor surging water, but a light blade endowed with trajectory and will.]
A new Kekkei Genkai.
Storm Release!