"It all started when Madara Uchiha was deceived. Black Zetsu, the Sage of Six Paths' unluckiest younger brother, altered the message inscribed on the stone tablet left behind by the Sage. He made Madara believe that achieving true peace required combining the Yin chakra of his Sharingan with the Yang chakra of Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. Later, during their duel at the Valley of the End, Madara faked his death and bit off a piece of Hashirama's flesh, holding it in his mouth. His eyes had previously been set with transcribed seals, which would automatically activate Izanagi once the prearranged moment arrived, thus allowing Madara to survive."
Sakura sighed as she explained everything to a visibly shaken Minato Namikaze. When the Sage of Six Paths learned how his utterly unacceptable younger brother had been involved in this matter, his face turned stone cold with rage. For crying out loud, he'd been working tirelessly for world peace—why did he keep getting sabotaged by his own relatives?
"Later, using Indra's chakra hidden within his own body and Asura's chakra secretly contained within Hashirama Senju's flesh, Madara awakened the Rinnegan—the legendary power originally belonging to the Sage of Six Paths. After careful planning, and because he had grown old, Madara decided to have Obito Uchiha continue carrying out his plans in his place. Therefore, Madara took control over Kirigakure, ordered people to abduct Rin Nohara, and then sealed the Three-Tails into her body."
"That bastard!" Isobu the Three-Tails and Yagura shouted simultaneously, both wearing furious expressions—especially Yagura, who was barely holding back his rage. Was Kirigakure doomed to suffer misfortune forever? Why were they always chosen as pawns in these schemes?
"You guys from Kiri are just plain unlucky—always getting dragged into this mess!" Sakura didn't quite know how else to describe Kirigakure's unfortunate fate. They had stayed hidden on distant island territories, avoiding contact with outsiders, yet still got dragged unwillingly into taking the blame. In the end, they were completely devastated by Obito's rage.
"At that time, Rin also had a cursed seal sigil placed upon her heart by Madara Uchiha. She couldn't reveal her condition on her own, nor could she intentionally harm herself. Therefore, to prevent the Three-Tails from being unsealed somewhere within Konoha—which would lead to devastating attacks against the village—Rin made her decision: she threw herself onto Kakashi's Chidori, letting the Chidori destroy the cursed seal sigil embedded near her heart."
"All of this had been designed by Madara, ensuring Obito Uchiha witnessed the exact moment when you killed Rin with your own hands. And just like that, Obito's Sharingan instantly evolved from twin tomoe to Mangekyō. Moreover, he awakened the Wood Release powers carried by the implanted cells of Hashirama Senju. What happened after that was pretty straightforward: the now-enraged Obito Uchiha wiped out every single one of Kiri's Anbu present before fully accepting Madara's Moon Eye Plan under guidance—and resolving to create an entirely new world where Rin would still exist!"
"Also, the Nine-Tails incident years ago was deliberately planned by Madara Uchiha to ensure Obito would completely lose hope. He implanted a Cursed Seal talisman in Obito's heart so that Obito couldn't reveal his identity voluntarily. Back then, Obito really hoped you'd recognize him and rescue him. Unfortunately..."
How much pain did Obito feel at the moment Rin died? Only he could understand the agony of awakening Mangekyō from the Two Tomoe state.
"It was my fault for not recognizing him. If I had realized he was Obito then and there, everything would have turned out differently!" Minato Namikaze looked deeply distressed. Kakashi beside him stood frozen, unsure how to react.
"But what benefit did releasing the Nine-Tails bring Obito?" Kushina Uzumaki asked. She never imagined that masked man back then would actually be Obito.
"There wasn't any benefit. Part of it was that releasing the Nine-Tails was an order from Madara Uchiha, meant to force Obito to sever his bonds completely. The other part was that Obito was filled with resentment!" Sakura sighed and said, "Uncle Minato, do you remember something the masked man said when you rescued Aunt Kushina from beneath the Nine-Tails' claws?"
"I do remember..." Minato lowered his head. He recalled the masked man saying those words — "You're late again." Back then, preoccupied with sealing the Nine-Tails, he hadn't given it much thought. But now, as he thought back, it finally sank in. "Yes, I was late once more. Though I'm known as the Golden Flash, acknowledged as the fastest in the shinobi world, I was always just a step too late — too late to save Obito, too late to save Rin, too late to recognize him, and ultimately too late to save Kushina."
"Is there still a chance for Obito to turn back?"
Kushina Uzumaki asked hesitantly. She wasn't someone who easily forgave grudges, but Obito's experiences made it impossible for her to hold onto anger. She remembered how before departing for the Kannabi Bridge mission, Obito had promised to return everyone safely. In the end, everyone returned except him. Shortly afterward, Rin died. Back then, Obito's heart must've already been hollowed out completely.
"This is exactly why I asked the Six Paths elder to retrieve Rin's soul. Only Rin can make Obito change his mind and return to us!" Sakura pointed toward Rin Nohara, who stood silently nearby. In this entire world, if there was anyone who could reach Obito, it was most likely Rin alone.
Just how deep was Obito's obsession with Rin? Through sheer longing for her, he suppressed the Ten-Tails' consciousness. Later, because of a single phrase Rin once said in his memories, he chose to turn back. Afterwards, driven by his unwavering devotion to Rin, even while near death, he resisted Black Zetsu's will. Even when the Ten-Tails tore through his consciousness, in the deepest corner of his mind — that photo holding all his most cherished memories — he always placed himself last. Yet no matter what, he could forget the entire world, but never Rin's existence.
"Don't worry, I will definitely convince Obito!" Rin clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes.
"In Obito's body, besides the Cursed Seal sigil near his heart, there's also a hidden safeguard left behind by Madara Uchiha on his right side. Plus, Zetsu is monitoring him constantly. To rescue Obito, we must remove that Cursed Seal sigil from inside him first!"
"Leave the Cursed Seal sigil to me—I've got it covered!" Before Sakura could finish speaking, Kushina Uzumaki had already clenched her fists and cut in with a scowl. "I'm skilled in dealing with this kind of sealing technique. Once we bring him back, I'll be sure to give him a 'taste' of my special cooking!"
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