"My... mother?"
Naruto pointed at his own nose, eyes bulging. "That pretty red-haired lady is my mom? No way! Didn't she already...?"
"Reviving the dead from the Pure Land is the most basic ability of our leader," a gentle voice chimed in, drawing everyone's attention.
All eyes turned to a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen.
She had shoulder-length brown hair and wore a sleek white trench coat. Strange, elongated white bone fragments clung to both sides of her cheeks—but far from ruining her looks, they gave her an otherworldly charm.
No doubt about it—she was a "Hollowfied" being, just like Shisui.
"I'm Rin Nohara. Pleased to meet you all." The Hollowfied girl smiled warmly, radiating sunshine.
The student of the "classmate association" exchanged confused glances. Clearly, none of them had heard of her.
"Reviving the dead?" Sakura's jaw dropped. "That's... actually possible?"
"Oh? Didn't Shisui tell you that Hollowfied beings can only be created from the souls of the deceased?" Rin blinked playfully. "Including me—I was dead too, you know."
"HISSSSS—"
A collective gasp filled the room.
Only Sasuke remained unfazed—he already knew part of the truth.
"So that's it..." Shikamaru stroked his chin. "When Shisui mentioned 'ninja souls' before, he meant spirits separated after death. I thought living souls could be hollowfied too."
"They can," Rin confirmed with a smile. "But the living are limited by their physical bodies—their Hollowfication is much weaker. They aren't true Hollowfied beings, just ninjas borrowing Hollow power."
"Is there a difference?!" Ino exclaimed.
"So... that woman really is my mom?!" Naruto wailed. "Dammit, Yuto! I'm gonna kick his ass!"
"It wasn't Lord Yuto's decision to hide it from you, Naruto," Rin said softly. "It was Lady Kushina's wish. She didn't think it was the right time to meet you yet."
Naruto fell silent for a long moment before muttering, "...Then what's her relationship with Yuto now?"
"What 'relationship'? What else could it be?" Ino butted in.
"Ahem... that's something they should explain themselves," Rin coughed awkwardly. "I shouldn't comment on... romantic matters."
She might as well have spelled it out in neon lights.
Ino's brain short-circuited. A sharp inhale.
'Romantic matters?!'
'Between Naruto's mom... and Yuto?!'
'OH. MY. GOD. '
'My love rival is the Fourth Hokage's wife?!'
'Are you kidding me?!'
'Since when was THAT on the bingo card?! How am I supposed to compete with THAT?!'
Sasuke, meanwhile, looked like he'd just bitten into a lemon.
He thought his own mom's connection to Yuto was already messed up—but this? This was next-level insanity! What even was this? Some twisted love triangle between two moms and their son's classmate?!
"Alright, everyone! Training starts now!" Rin stepped onto the central platform and tapped the side frame.
CLICK.
Five glowing pillars rose, bathing the area in an eerie blue light.
"You're joining today?" Shikamaru frowned as Naruto stepped forward. "Aren't you gonna confront Yuto first?"
"Confront him about what?" Naruto sighed. "Didn't you hear Rin sensei? It's a 'romantic matter.' I don't get that stuff. Feels like asking would just make it worse."
"But... your dad—"
"If Yuto and my mom really love each other, how am I supposed to stop them? Besides... I never even met my dad."
"..."
Shikamaru froze.
He wasn't wrong... but something about this felt deeply off.
Your mom dating your classmate? That's the kind of plot twist you only see in trashy romance manga!
"Yuto... you absolute menace."
Meanwhile, in the research lab...
Yuto's face twitched as he listened in. "Heh... heh..." His laugh was drier than the Land of Wind.
Just then, a cluster of red dots flashed across the monitor.
Yuto's eyebrow arched. "Right on schedule."A pause—then he vanished.
*Konoha's Naka Shrine*
Black Zetsu had barely emerged from the ground when a white-clad figure materialized before him.
"Good evening, Senior Zetsu." Yuto smiled pleasantly. "You're earlier than I expected."
"You've been waiting?" Black Zetsu's voice grated like sandpaper. "Good. I appreciate punctuality."
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I came to deliver a message. That 'Madara Uchiha' trying to recruit you is a fake imitation of the real Madara Uchiha. And now... he wants you dead."
"What?!" Yuto feigned shock. "But I've done nothing to offend Lord Madara!"
"Tch. I told you—he's not the real Madara!" Zetsu sneered. "Just a pawn. A fool who dreams of resurrecting his dead lover."
"No way, how can that be possible" Yuto gasped.
"You know Konoha's history well—even dug up a nobody like Rin Nohara. So you must've heard of Obito Uchiha as well. He was in the same team with Kakashi Hatake the Copy Ninja and the student of the forth Hokage"
"Don't tell me he's the one imitating Madara Uchiha?"
"Yes! 'Madara' is that 'hero' who should've stayed dead. Pathetic compared to the real deal. And his beloved? Nohara Rin. And you—you dared to dangle her revival in his face!"
"Ah. That would explain the murderous intent." Yuto sighed.
"Too late for apologies. Obito's made up his mind. Oh, and he's already stolen Rin's remains. No bargaining chips for you~"
"Senior Zetsu... please. Advise me. What should I do? " Yuto bowed deeply.
"Simple. Swear loyalty to me." Zetsu's grin widened. "And when the time comes... you'll have to revive someone for me."
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