The rain began to fall not long after.
By the time Shiki arrived, having already killed Madara, everything was over.
After a brief glance around the battlefield, he found no trace of Obito. It didn't take much to understand what had happened. Obito had used Kamui and retreated into that isolated dimension.
Shiki didn't care to dwell on their schemes any longer. Madara had already been cut off at the root. No matter what tricks they tried next—whether it was the Impure World Reincarnation or the Rinne Rebirth—it would be meaningless.
The only one left was Black Zetsu.
But unless his Observation Haki could one day cover the entire world, tracking down something that slippery wasn't realistic.
Still, Shiki wasn't concerned.
Rats like that always showed themselves in the end.
His gaze lowered.
There, lying in the rain, was the boy who had once asked him to teach him swordsmanship.
For a moment, Shiki said nothing.
Then he bent down, picked up the body, and turned back toward Konoha.
Rain poured over both of them the whole way.
By the time he returned to the village, the news had already spread.
Not long after, a memorial was held.
Beneath the rain, dark figures stood one after another in black mourning clothes, their faces solemn and heavy.
The stone monument stood quietly before them, streaked with water, old names and new grief blending together beneath the downpour.
Shiki stood with his arms crossed.
Beside him, Kurenai remained silent, a complicated look in her eyes.
Her gaze shifted slightly.
From the corner of her eye, she looked toward Rin, who stood with her back to them, completely still.
Kurenai couldn't see her expression.
But the guilt in her own heart only grew heavier.
At that moment, Shiki's voice quietly broke the silence.
"…It's not your fault."
Kurenai froze slightly.
Then Shiki raised a hand and gently rested it on her head.
"If anyone should be blamed… it's me."
"Shiki-nii…"
Kurenai lowered her eyes, her lips parting slightly, but no other words came.
Not far from the crowd, one figure stood apart from the others.
He had no umbrella.
He made no effort to shield himself from the rain.
A young boy with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows stood there with both fists clenched tightly at his sides.
It was Might Guy.
Still only a child.
"…Kakashi…"
Kakashi had never acknowledged him as a rival.
But that had never mattered to Guy.
To him, Kakashi was someone he had always intended to chase, someone he believed he would keep competing with forever.
But now…
That future felt impossibly far away.
"We were supposed to keep competing… forever…"
His voice shook.
Yet the spirit of a taijutsu user was not something that would break so easily.
Suddenly, Guy slammed his fist against his chest.
"Yosh!"
His voice rang through the rain.
"I won't let this be the end of your youth!"
"I'll carry it forward! Your share too!"
He raised his fist toward the sky, tears mixing with the rain pouring down his face.
"So rest well… my eternal rival!"
A firm, familiar hand landed on his shoulder.
"…That's the spirit."
Guy turned.
Might Duy stood behind him, soaked through by the rain, but still smiling.
"To properly send off a friend… you carry their youth in your own heart."
Then, without hesitation, Duy pulled Guy into a tight embrace.
Guy grabbed onto him just as tightly, his small body trembling, yet his spirit did not waver.
The rain went on falling over the memorial stone in silence.
That night, the village had quieted.
At Shiki's residence, moonlight streamed in through the open space near the engawa, washing the room in a pale silver glow.
Shiki sat alone, a bottle of wine in hand.
He took a slow drink, then lowered the bottle with a soft thud.
A faint glow flickered before him.
[God-Level Template System]
[First Template: Golden Lion — Shiki]
[Template Compatibility: 100%]
[Second Template: Shiki Tohno — Progress: 10%]
[Abilities Acquired: Top-Tier Armament Haki, Top-Tier Observation Haki, Top-Tier Advanced Conqueror's Haki, Top-Tier Swordsmanship, Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (Awakened), Mystic Eyes of Death Perception (Initial)]
[Skills: Basic Three Ninja Techniques, Body Flicker Technique]
[Daily Tasks: None]
After killing Mōryō… and then Madara shortly afterward, the second template's progress had risen by ten percent.
Not bad.
But opponents on that level didn't appear often.
Shiki wasn't bothered by that.
Sooner or later, it would rise anyway.
He took another sip, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Without turning around, he spoke into the quiet night.
"…How long are you planning to stand there?"
A brief pause followed.
"I'll admit it… your patience is impressive."
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
It was Kushina.
She stood there with her arms crossed, letting out a faint huff.
"How long have you known?"
Shiki didn't even look surprised.
"You should be asking when I didn't know."
Kushina clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Show-off."
"Annoying."
Only then did Shiki turn to look at her.
"So? What brought you here?"
Kushina didn't answer right away.
Instead, she walked straight over, snatched the bottle from his hand, and tilted it back without hesitation.
Shiki's expression shifted slightly.
Then—
"Cough—! Blegh—! What the hell is this?! Why is it so strong?!"
Kushina doubled over on the spot, coughing hard.
She had clearly meant to show off a little, but the strength of the wine was far beyond what she had expected.
"…Serves you right."
Shiki took the bottle back from her hand, then calmly pulled out a soft cloth and wiped the mouth of it before taking another drink.
Kushina's eye twitched.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
She pointed at him with a flushed, offended face.
"Are you seriously acting like you're disgusted by me?! What, is my mouth poisonous now?!"
Shiki raised a brow.
Then, without hesitation, he nodded.
Kushina froze.
A second later, veins popped on her forehead.
"Damn it, Shiki! I've put up with you for way too long!"
Rolling up her sleeves, she marched toward him and swung a punch straight at his head.
The lazy amusement disappeared from Shiki's face.
His expression instantly became one that clearly said: You started this. Don't blame me for what happens next.
He tilted his head and dodged to the side with ease.
Then, before Kushina could react, he shoved the bottle straight into her mouth.
At the same time, his other hand clamped over her cheeks, squeezing them together and forcing her jaw shut so she couldn't spit it back out.
Kushina's eyes widened instantly.
"Mmh—?!"
Her whole body tensed as she struggled, both hands pushing against Shiki's arm, but his grip didn't budge in the slightest.
Damnit—! He just shoved the same bottle he was drinking from—! Isn't that basically an indirect—?!
Her thoughts tangled for a brief second.
But that wasn't the real problem.
The more she was forced to drink, the stronger the burn became. Her resistance quickly weakened, her movements growing unsteady as heat spread through her body.
Her head began to spin.
W-Wait… why is this hitting so fast…?!
Finally, Shiki let go.
Kushina stumbled forward without support, her legs giving out beneath her as she collapsed right into him.
Thud.
Her face pressed against his abdomen, her breathing turning uneven.
"…Haa… haa…"
Shiki looked down at her with visible displeasure.
Then, without ceremony, he swatted her off him.
"—!"
Kushina rolled to the side and landed awkwardly before managing to prop herself up a little, her movements already sluggish.
"You're… such a brute…" she mumbled, her words soft and tipsy.
Shiki let out a quiet sigh.
"…What did you even come here for?"
Kushina blinked slowly, her gaze unfocused before settling vaguely in his direction.
"I… wanted to ask… about Kakashi… and…"
Her voice trailed off.
Shiki waited for a while, expecting her to continue, but as time passed, nothing else came.
"…?"
Only the faint sound of steady breathing remained.
He turned his head slightly and found her completely still—already asleep.
For the first time that night, a hint of surprise crossed Shiki's face.
With Kushina's chakra control and vitality, something like this should not have affected her to this extent. If she truly wanted to, she could have forced the alcohol out of her system with ease.
But she hadn't.
For some reason, she had simply let it happen.
"…Hn."
Shiki looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then he gave a small, almost dismissive exhale.
Maybe she just didn't want to stay awake.
That was the only explanation that made any sense.
He raised one finger.
Without touching her, Kushina's sleeping body slowly lifted from the ground and floated into the air.
She drifted toward the door.
It opened on its own.
Then, with a casual flick of his finger, Shiki sent her floating into the next room.
The door slid shut behind her.
Shiki didn't spare it another glance.
"…Not my problem."
With that, he picked up the bottle and took another drink as though nothing had happened.
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