When everything finally fell silent, Obito didn't even glance at Kakashi's unconscious body on the ground. Stepping over him directly, he moved forward to embrace Rin, who was covered in blood. He murmured to himself, "Is this hell...? Rin, I will... recreate a world with you in it."
At that moment, darkness engulfed Obito, and determination burned in his lone Sharingan: "I will sever the karma of this world."
By the time Minato arrived, he found only bloodstains and an unconscious Kakashi. The corpses of Mist ninjas had vanished completely, leaving only slight traces on the ground hinting that a fierce battle had once raged here.
Minato picked up Kakashi and, after confirming he was still alive, sighed with relief. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed Rin was nowhere to be found. A sense of foreboding gripped his heart. He placed one hand on the ground, sending out a powerful sensory technique.
The response came back empty, devoid of life. Not a single soul could be detected. It felt as if something had wiped this place clean, leaving behind a terrifying emptiness.
What exactly had happened? Minato could clearly sense something was off—there was a strong scent of conspiracy in the air. Unfortunately, the clues he had were too limited for him to form any conclusions at the moment.
Where was Rin? Had she been kidnapped? But she was merely an ordinary medical ninja from Konoha. Who would go to such great lengths to orchestrate something like this?
Unable to find any answers, Minato sighed silently and carried Kakashi away from the scene.
When Kakashi woke up with a start, he found himself already back in Konoha. Sitting upright in bed, he was drenched in sweat. Turning his head, he saw two people standing beside him—Master Minato and Anya.
"You're awake. How are you feeling?" Minato asked gently.
"Master, I'm fine," Kakashi replied, excited to see his teacher. Then his expression darkened as his eyes fixated on the hand that had pierced Rin's chest. The blood on it seemed to be right in front of him again. His body shook uncontrollably, and his face was filled with fear and unease.
Anya stepped forward, placing a hand on his head and channeling green chakra into him. "Don't think too much. It's all over now. Since you're back in the village, just rest properly."
This time, unlike before, Kakashi felt a warmth from Anya's comfort. He nodded slightly and said, "Thank you."
Minato asked the question he most wanted answered: "Where is Rin? Why weren't you two together?"
Just as Kakashi was starting to calm down, he shivered all over again. Tears welled up in his eyes as he choked out, "Rin... she's dead. She died... on my... Chidori."
"What?!"
Both Minato and Anya cried out in shock at the same time.
After Kakashi recounted everything that had happened, sadness clouded Minato's bright blue eyes. Sighing deeply, he said, "Kakashi, it's not your fault. Rin... she was simply too kind."
Anya tightened his jaw, his eyes sharp with fury. This was undoubtedly part of Obito's plan. Rin had simply become an innocent victim. She had been forcibly bound with the Three-Tails and marked with a seal near her heart that prevented her from taking her own life. Madara Uchiha must have thoroughly studied the personalities of the three young ninjas to execute such a perfectly calculated strategy—using Obito as his pawn.
Just a mere Three-Tails. What difference would it make even if it reached Konoha? Anya could subdue it with a single gaze. Yet to Rin, leading enemies to destroy Konoha was utterly unacceptable, so she chose to die by Kakashi's hand. As Minato said, Rin was simply too kind-hearted.
Such an angelic girl was gone forever...
Exhausted mentally, Kakashi fell unconscious again.
Minato and Anya walked out of the room.
Minato asked first, "Did you already know something? That's why you let me search toward Kirigakure?"
Anya didn't deny it, "With everything already gone, what's the point of knowing more?"
As Minato wanted to ask further, an Anbu member approached them and said, "The Hokage requests your presence."
It had finally come. Anya wasn't surprised at all. The promise Hiruzen Sarutobi made during the Third Battle needed fulfillment now. The covert Labs could now be handled openly. This would also be a good opportunity to see what kind of might the Senju Clan truly possessed.
Arriving at the Hokage's office, Anya entered first while Minato waited outside.
The two men met. A moment of awkward silence passed before Sarutobi smiled, "I should've met you much earlier."
Anya responded naturally, "Now isn't too late either."
Hiruzen felt uneasy. Indeed, this person was different now—or perhaps he had just hidden himself too well before.
"Are you resentful about the near-fatal mission I assigned you?" Sarutobi decided to get straight to the point.
Anya remained calm, "As Hokage, you did what was right. I understand completely."
So agreeable? Sarutobi looked at Anya twice in surprise before getting serious, asking gravely, "Details of the Mount Hakuto battle—shouldn't you tell me now? How did the Konoha stronghold's ninja and twenty thousand Allied Forces die?"
"The war has ended. Whether the truth comes out or not no longer matters. I'm here simply to request the Hokage honor the original promise."
Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, Anya's words struck Sarutobi directly.
A trace of anger flickered across Sarutobi's face. A heavy silence settled over the room. After a long pause, Sarutobi sighed, "Can I trust you?"
"Actions speak louder than words. I didn't abandon my mission even facing twenty thousand Allied Forces—that's the best proof."
"Do you remember the reply you gave me?" Sarutobi now held up a wrinkled scroll. It seemed he must have frequently taken it out for review.
Anya let out a dry chuckle, "Just some venting under pressure, some petty complaining. I assume the Hokage didn't take it too seriously?"
Anya's reply caught Sarutobi off guard, momentarily freezing him. Right now, he couldn't understand Anya at all—couldn't tell which words were true, which were false, or what methods lay hidden behind him.
Silently placing the scroll into a drawer, Sarutobi took out a prepared appointment letter and handed it to Anya.
Surprised by Sarutobi's straightforwardness, Anya accepted it with surprise. Upon opening it, there was no breach of promise—the document was indeed the appointment letter for the Anbu Commander.
After serving as Hokage for so long, he still has that commanding presence. Anya put away the appointment letter. She didn't show any joy, just calmness as she spoke, "May I issue my first order concerning the Anbu?"
"Of course." Hiruzen's eyebrows slightly furrowed before relaxing again. He looked rather expectant. "Let's hear it."
"I want all members of my Anbu squad to resign from the Anbu."
"Why?"
"After fighting for so long, it's time for them to return to normal lives."
That was the most reassuring thing Hiruzen had heard all day. It seemed Anya wasn't as ruthless as he had imagined. She still held warmth in her heart.
Hiruzen laughed heartily and said, "Good. As long as they agree, I have no objection."
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