After Danzo was labeled a "missing-nin," most of Akio's anger finally dissipated.
Since Danzo was so eager to "protect Konoha from the shadows," letting him guard the village from outside would at least prevent him from stirring up trouble.
Hiruzen could accept this outcome as well. At least Danzo kept his life, and considering Akio's… questionable memory, perhaps Danzo might even return someday. When that happened, they could simply call it an "officially authorized defection."
After a moment of silence, Akio finally asked a question he'd held back until now.
"In this war… Nawaki, and my two disciples, are they all safe?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Don't worry, Elder Akio. They're all fine. Your two disciples and Hatake Kakashi formed an elite jōnin squad. They've been giving Iwa quite a bit of trouble."
Akio let out a long breath, a smile forming.
"Jōnin already… I suppose that makes sense. Obito and Rin are nearly twenty now. I wonder if Obito managed to confess."
It was as though Akio's "blessing" triggered something.
On the Rain Country battlefield, Obito and Rin were caught in a crisis.
The two stood back-to-back. The tomoe in Obito's Sharingan spun wildly as he hunted for an opening among the dozen Iwa-nin surrounding them.
"Rin, that direction…" Obito subtly pointed south, indicating a route to break through.
Before Rin could move, a gap opened up as several Iwa-nin stepped aside. From the opening walked a heavy-built man.
"Only caught two?"
"The other one didn't accompany them today, Lord Ōnoki!"
Although Obito, Rin, and Kakashi formed a jōnin squad, they occasionally took solo assignments. Today… Kakashi just happened to be elsewhere.
"That guy is… Iwa's Ōnoki." Obito's face darkened. He glanced at Rin, clenched his teeth, and prepared to let her escape first.
But before he could speak, Rin turned to him and smiled.
Obito's face flushed, then sank. He looked around at the surrounding Iwa-nin.
"Rin, we can win this!"
"Mm!"
…
In the Hokage's office, Akio had finished asking every question he could think of.
Hiruzen didn't understand how Akio had connections with so many people in Konoha.
He was the Hokage, how was he supposed to remember every shinobi in the village?
"Who is Mizuki?"
"Mizuki is… well, whether he's alive or dead doesn't really matter."
Hiruzen: "…"
"Hmm… who else? Let me think."
Akio pondered for a long time, only to realize he had forgotten most of the "minor characters" he remembered from his previous life.
"Forget it. Whether they're dead or alive isn't something I can control."
Hiruzen had just exhaled in relief when Akio suddenly asked,
"Has a little girl named Haruno been born in Konoha yet? She should be about five now."
Hiruzen: "???"
How would he possibly know that?!
Fortunately, Sakumo knocking on the door saved him.
"Elder Akio. Lord Hokage."
"We've just received intelligence, Kumogakure has begun retreating from the battlefield."
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. It was the best news he'd heard in a long time.
"Have the shinobi units rest where they are. Five days from now, I'll send Jiraiya to take command and reinforce the Rain Country."
Sakumo paused, then asked cautiously,
"And Elder Danzo…?"
"Danzo sabotaged Konoha's alliance with Uzushio. Elder Akio exposed him. He has already defected."
Akio nodded slightly beside him.
Sakumo absorbed the news, then turned to Akio.
"Elder Akio, there's also information regarding Uzushio. Yesterday evening, Kirigakure officially surrendered."
"Surrendered?" Akio chuckled. The "Two Gates" duo had done well.
In a normal war, a losing nation would choose an alliance. But surrendering outright meant Kirigakure didn't even have the face left to attempt negotiation.
"I understand."
Akio thought briefly.
"Then I'll head back. Handle the rest yourself, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen nodded repeatedly. "Understood, Elder Akio. As for Minato…"
"Let him decide for himself."
Leaving those words behind, Akio disappeared from the Hokage's office.
…
Rain Country battlefield.
Obito was already covered in wounds. Rin had none on her body, not because she wasn't injured, but because she had learned the Yin Seal under Tsunade.
But after prolonged battle, her chakra was nearly spent.
The two leaned against each other, gasping. Obito looked at the remaining enemies, only three were left.
But of those three, two were lightly wounded jōnin, while Ōnoki himself hadn't suffered a scratch.
Even the normally good-natured, heavyset Ōnoki looked grim. Iwa's casualties had far exceeded his predictions.
Obito's vision blurred as he lost blood.
"Rin… I don't think I'll… make it back today."
While staying alert, Rin used medical ninjutsu to stop his bleeding.
"Rin… don't waste chakra on me. I'll charge in a moment. When I do, use the chaos to"
Before he could finish, Rin gripped his hand tightly.
Obito froze. It was like being injected with pure adrenaline, his mind snapped awake.
"Rin… I actually…"
Rin stared at him, her warm smile unchanged, but her grip tightened.
"Rin?!"
"Run!"
Rin poured every ounce of strength into her arms. Using the monstrous strength she had learned from Tsunade, she hurled Obito far into the distance.
The three Iwa-nin blinked, stunned. They hadn't expected that. Ōnoki barked,
"You two, go after that Uchiha boy!"
"Yes!"
Before they moved, Rin leapt forward and smashed her right fist into the ground.
"Your opponent… is me!"
Ōnoki's expression shifted.
"What an incredible girl…"
"Earth Release: Open Earth and Split!"
…
Rin had thrown Obito quite far. Even with chakra softening his fall, he crashed hard. His already heavily injured body took another severe blow.
It took a long time before Obito finally managed to push himself up, trembling as he stumbled back toward the battlefield.
But when he returned, the only thing left was torn earth, jagged rock and a familiar scrap of Rin's clothing.
Not just Rin, the three Iwa-nin were gone as well.
"Rin!"
Obito screamed, and the Sharingan "subscription" auto-renewed Mangekyō unlocked.
But his body had reached its limit. He collapsed onto the ground.
The battlefield fell silent. Not far away, a young man and woman were quietly observing Obito's unconscious form.
The kunoichi carried an unconscious girl, Rin.
"Yahiko… why did you lure the Iwa-nin away and save her?"
"To end the Rain's suffering, we need allies."
"And that boy?"
Yahiko thought for a moment, then flickered to Obito's side and hoisted him over his shoulder as well.
"Bring him too. With the two of them, we'll have a better chance against Hanzō, Ameyuri."
Ringo Ameuri's expression was complicated. Ever since the old Akatsuki had been destroyed in Hanzō's ambush, leaving only the two of them alive, Yahiko's personality had changed.
"But that old bastard Hanzō… he really deserves to die."
Yuriri touched the corner of her mouth, where a three-centimeter cut remained.
Yahiko looked at her.
"Their wounds are serious. Let's find a place to treat them first…"
---
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