Nohara Rin did not answer. She simply closed her eyes, letting the tears slide down silently.
The night deepened, and the cold wind of Kirigakure howled as it battered against the windows, producing eerie sounds.
Tonight was destined to add a few more insomniacs.
All gazing together at that solitary, lofty moon.
The next day.
In a remote mountain forest.
A large number of Kirigakure's Anbu were stationed throughout the woods.
An old woman tottered over, chakra fluctuations emerging in her hands.
She lifted a bit of the chain mail on Nohara Rin's back, revealing her smooth, pale waist.
As if in resonance, a pitch-black sealing formula appeared on the small of Nohara Rin's back.
Countless tadpole-like sealing formulas converged there, forming a jet-black circle.
Strands of red chakra began to escape from it.
"Ah!"
Nohara Rin couldn't help but scream.
Once a tailed beast merges with its jinchūriki, it becomes part of the jinchūriki's life—inextricably linked to their survival.
Releasing all of the Yang Three-Tails' chakra was like forcibly ripping out an organ.
Drenched in sweat, she collapsed to the ground, utterly spent and breathless.
"Rin!"
From afar, Kakashi tried to rush over, but Namikaze Minato held him back.
He shook his head and said, "Kirigakure's people have forbidden us from approaching. They'll handle subduing the tailed beast."
In an instant, it shattered the surging water assault.
Because of this, Nohara Rin wasn't directly swept away by the Great Waterfall Technique—only a few splashes of water struck near her.
She struggled to open her eyes, feeling as if she were submerged in water, unable to muster any strength.
Not a single Kirigakure Anbu paid attention to Nohara Rin.
How could a dying ninja compare in importance to dealing with the Three-Tails?
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
An enormous shark-shaped water projectile hurtled toward the Three-Tails.
Kisame Hoshigaki was dressed as a Kirigakure Anbu ninja, wearing a gray flak jacket with a broadsword strapped to his back.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, join me in Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!"
As the words fell,
Yagura Karatachi formed seals, and Kisame Hoshigaki followed suit, along with the Anbu behind them.
Massive amounts of water-nature chakra poured into the ground, linking with underground rivers, raising a colossal, curtain-like water wall that blocked the movement of the Three-Tails, which had curled into a ball.
"Roar!"
The Three-Tails bellowed in rage, gathering terrifying chakra in its mouth as a pitch-black orb materialized.
"A Tailed Beast Ball, huh."
The speaker was Shimizu, far away on another mountain peak.
Flames flickered at his feet, scorching the earth black where he stepped.
"Shimizu!"
Namikaze Minato startled, trying to grab him. Caught off guard, he didn't have time to use the Flying Thunder God Technique before Shimizu's figure vanished.
This sudden action made everyone instinctively look toward Nohara Rin.
Kakashi, alarmed, quickly turned his gaze there as well.
Sure enough, Shimizu's figure appeared beside Nohara Rin.
"What the hell is this Uchiha brat doing?"
Biwa Jūzō had no fondness for kekkei genkai users.
Unless he was one himself.
"Just a dead person."
After saying that, Biwa Jūzō sensed the unfriendly looks from Namikaze Minato and Kakashi.
Both Kakashi and Namikaze Minato were his juniors.
He was from the era of the Sannin.
But considering Namikaze Minato's speed, revered as the fastest in the ninja world, and his mastery of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's ultimate technique, the Flying Thunder God,
It was far beyond what he could handle.
A flicker of jealousy crossed his face, and he said no more.
Whether it was Kakashi or Namikaze Minato, both were geniuses who had surpassed him now.
They both knew S-rank ninjutsu!
This outcome filled Biwa Jūzō with urgency.
He needed to hurry with his plan.
Elsewhere.
Shimizu scooped up Nohara Rin in his arms.
Nohara Rin groggily opened her eyes. It wasn't the Kakashi she longed for, but the demon who had tormented her.
"....."
She said nothing, merely hanging her head.
Shimizu vanished from the spot, holding Nohara Rin.
Not long after, a terrifying explosion ravaged the area, cracking the earth into rippling deep craters.
The battle between Kirigakure and the Three-Tails continued.
The Yang Three-Tails, having lost half its chakra, lacked the immense reserves of the Nine-Tails.
Even with half its chakra gone, the Nine-Tails could overpower any tailed beast except the Ten-Tails.
The fight didn't last long; the Three-Tails gradually fell into disadvantage.
Chains wrapped around its neck once more.
Amid the Three-Tails' unwilling roars, it was dragged into Yagura Karatachi's body.
"It seems this matter is over."
Namikaze Minato sighed.
The sealing formula for the Three-Tails had been prepared while Nohara Rin was still the jinchūriki, weakening the tailed beast's power. With preparation, it was easy to control.
Now that Kirigakure's new jinchūriki had absorbed the Three-Tails, that sealing formula would be absorbed along with it.
Unless Konoha removed the sealing formula, the current Three-Tails jinchūriki couldn't unleash the tailed beast's full power.
Only in a life-or-death crisis could it forcibly break through such a seal.
If it constantly assaulted the seal in ordinary times, the tailed beast's chakra would become chaotic under the interference, even affecting the jinchūriki's ability to refine their own chakra.
"Probably."
Shimizu set Nohara Rin down.
He had been holding her for several minutes; now she had the strength to stand on her own.
Nohara Rin stood there weakly, gazing distantly at the ravaged landscape far away.
"! " x3
Confusion and astonishment filled the eyes of Namikaze Minato, Kakashi, and Biwa Jūzō.
By all rights, a jinchūriki whose tailed beast had been extracted should have already entered the Pure Land by now.
How did Nohara Rin still have the strength to stand?
As if sensing the trio's doubts,
Nohara Rin glanced casually at Shimizu and said slowly,
"It must be my special constitution."
"The constitutions of this world are truly diverse and wondrous."
Biwa Jūzō's tone carried a hint of fanaticism.
Sooner or later, with his Kibara Technique, he would achieve the same.
Namikaze Minato smiled and said,
"Rin, that's great. We can continue protecting the village together."
Seeing his subordinate survive filled him with surprise, followed by joy.
This mission would end with no losses.
Kakashi looked at Nohara Rin, his hand tightening slightly.
Rin, surviving... that's wonderful.
Obito, I didn't let you down.
Kakashi's lips were chapped, his face haggard, but the joy of Rin's survival made his eyes shine with vigor.
"Yeah, Rin, that's great."
Shimizu also smiled.
Truly wonderful.
His tool was still able to continue fulfilling its role.
After all, Nohara Rin was now his capable assistant.
He dumped all the dirty and tiring research work on her, playing the hands-off boss.
Nohara Rin nodded, saying no more.
Kirigakure's people arrived then.
Though Shimizu had suddenly taken away someone on the verge of death—violating the rules—it wasn't a big deal; it caused no impact.
Only after coming over did they learn that Nohara Rin was actually still alive.
Kirigakure's people were utterly astonished.
If not for the fact that Nohara Rin was from Konoha, they would truly want to keep her for study.
But now, in this sensitive period of potential ceasefire, no one wanted to stir trouble.
Even the extreme warmongers felt the same.
Their side had suffered the most deaths; their voice was the weakest now.
This war had no winners.
Whether the five great nations or the smaller countries, all lingered under the cloud of war.
Mizukage Building.
The Third Mizukage listened to the report and nodded.
His already aged skin wrinkled tightly, like skin stretched over bones.
"Shitsukura, come here."
The Third Mizukage said a few words to Karatachi Shitsukura.
Karatachi Shitsukura's eyes reddened as he said, "Lord Third, please continue guiding us."
"No, a new era is coming. I am a relic of the old era. From now on, you will be the Fourth Mizukage."
The Third Mizukage's voice was faint.
At this moment, the Mizukage Building was filled with high-ranking officials.
No one dared show the slightest dissatisfaction with the Third Mizukage's direct succession.
He was a powerhouse active since the First Mizukage.
During the first Five Kage Summit, the Third Mizukage had stood behind the First as his bodyguard.
Including this war, he had experienced three Ninja World Wars!
"Moreover, we are now in a once-in-a-century upheaval. The era is advancing ever faster; ceasefire is the general trend. Kirigakure must seize this opportunity to board the train of the times."
Wisdom gleamed in the Third Mizukage's turbid eyes.
Having lived from the backward Warring States period to today, he felt the world's rapid changes most acutely.
The waves behind pushed the waves ahead.
Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, science—all were evolving without cease.
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