Chapter 258: Gala to Muri is like this
"What are they even doing? This is beyond ridiculous…"
Uchiha Hikari watched the mirage-like illusion. The way they refused to kill Kakashi and Rin, instead patting their heads and tossing little pink bottles of liquid, struck her as absurd.
But before she could finish speaking, she recalled what Orochimaru had said earlier.
Orochimaru's conclusion was that the shinobi of this twisted ninja world were pulled extremely strongly by the gravity of fate. That was why they were unable to resist the tailed beasts.
Before the tailed beasts completely vanished, only women, who were slightly less affected, had something like a chance to alter their destinies, redirecting the fate that pulled on them toward Shiromo.
And, of course, once they made that decision, their attitudes changed immediately.
Uchiha Hikari glanced at [Terumi Mei].
[Konan] was one thing. At the very least, the Konan of this world had accompanied them in "slaughtering" tailed beasts and had spent some time together with them.
But people like [Terumi Mei] were completely different from their real-world counterparts. They had no prior connection with Shiromo, yet now every single one of them behaved even more intimately than those in the real world, with absolutely no restraint.
Thinking about it this way…
Kirigakure's Bloody Mist policy, the rule that graduation from the ninja academy required conquering a classmate, Zabuza graduating by directly conquering everyone, Kirigakure's shinobi frantically patting Kakashi and Rin's heads in an attempt to raise affection…
Behind these seemingly ridiculous and bizarre behaviors lay the application of this world's hidden fundamental mechanics!!!
It was like in the New Three Kingdoms, where Guan Yu was described as "my second brother is invincible under heaven." However, since Jingzhou was "a realm between heaven and earth" Guan Yu did not receive the "invincible under heaven" buff there, leading to his defeat and death.
Or like how, by skillfully exploiting the mechanic of "a defeated army must grieve, a grieving army must win" a war that historically required half a year could be compressed into just half a day.
Kirigakure's "affection farming" conquest mechanic was not laughable at all. If anything, it was terrifying.
Because of the unique nature of this ninja world, once Kakashi and Rin's affection levels reached a certain threshold, they would truly become unable to resist fate's pull and would be conquered!
So who exactly proposed the Bloody Mist policy in this world?
The rather unremarkable Third Mizukage?
Or was it entirely engineered by Uchiha Madara?
Whoever it was, it felt as though they had already seen through the very essence of this ninja world.
On par with those in the New Three Kingdoms who could perceive the will of heaven… quite impressive.
The Giant Clan's illusion continued.
After fleeing for some time, Kakashi and Rin hid within a forest, gaining a brief chance to rest.
However, they knew that Kirigakure's shinobi were stationed around the forest. They surrounded but did not attack.
"Rin, I'm almost at my limit. Their goal is to conquer us, then turn the conquered versions of us into their pawns to attack Konoha!"
Kakashi, utterly exhausted, panted as he analyzed the situation with Rin.
Just as mentioned before, men in this ninja world were affected far more strongly, to the point where they were utterly incapable of resisting the tailed beasts' influence.
Kakashi was already nearing his breaking point.
"No! Kakashi, I won't kill a comrade ever again. There has to be another way. We can still escape!"
Rin shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
"Rin, that's not what I meant."
Kakashi gave an awkward smile. "Killing me… yes, that would be the final option. But we still have hope for now…"
As he spoke, Kakashi revealed the Sharingan that had only recently been transplanted.
"I used the Sharingan to copy Kirigakure's conquest method. Rin, I'll teach it to you right now. The two of us will conquer each other to offset Kirigakure's attempts!"
Kakashi's expression was grave.
"Will that even work?"
Rin looked deeply worried.
"It's a desperate gamble. This is our only hope. If it fails…"
Kakashi's face carried the resolve of someone ready to die. From behind him, he pulled out a scroll and pressed it into Rin's hands.
"Inside are Obito's balls. Give them to Orochimaru."
"Oh, right. If I die, take mine as well and give them to Orochimaru."
Kakashi then remembered that he had yet to pass on the Hatake clan's legacy, so he added that final remark.
"Okay!"
Rin sniffed and nodded firmly.
the Giant Clam's illusion shifted once more.
Obito, having regained his ability to move, appeared.
With a joyful expression, he ran off, preparing to search for Kakashi and Rin.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Rin seemed to have endured several more days of pursuit and encirclement. They were completely drained.
Even their hair had been patted into baldness.
"Rin, it looks like our plan failed. These Kirigakure shinobi are too persistent."
"But fortunately, during this time, I've come up with a new strategy."
"Based on my observations and analysis, aside from head-patting, those small pink bottles they throw should be 'Sister Keys.' And they only use one after patting a head more than twenty times."
"Sister Keys drastically increase affection levels. However, if used too frequently or in excessive amounts, they instead reduce affection."
"So…"
Kakashi quietly explained his plan.
"Yes, Kakashi. I'll leave it to you!"
Rin nodded solemnly.
"Alright!"
Kakashi prepared himself.
When the Kirigakure shinobi approached once again to pat their heads…
"Chidori!"
Activating his Sharingan, Kakashi used its dynamic vision to lock onto the Sister Keys carried by each Kirigakure shinobi. Transforming into a flash of lightning, he shattered every single Sister Key.
In an instant, the area was engulfed by the dense mist released from the Sister Keys. The pink haze grew so thick that it even took on a faint crimson tint.
So that's where the name "Bloody Mist" comes from.
"This is bad!"
"Ahh, I can't take it anymore!"
The Kirigakure shinobi began screaming one after another.
Naturally, Kakashi and Rin, standing at the center, were not spared. They were also affected.
"Kakashi, I…"
"Don't say it. I can't."
"…?"
This cryptic exchange left Shiromo and the others, watching as spectators, somewhat confused.
But upon reflection…
In a ninja world where reaching the required affection level meant absolute willingness, the reverse was also true: if the affection level was insufficient, then certain things were absolutely impossible.
Indeed, with "Gala to Muri", if you haven't farmed enough affection, how could you possibly proceed straight to excavation?
Rin's affection for Kakashi had always been naturally high. But Kakashi's affection for Rin had not yet crossed that threshold.
In other words, Kakashi could not do it.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Feeling as though he was about to explode, Kakashi immediately summoned his ninja hounds.
There is an idiom: "carving a hole in the wall to borrow light."
Seeing Kakashi reject her, Rin naturally understood that Kakashi's affection for her had not reached the required level. Two streams of tears flowed down her face.
But she could no longer control herself.
As for the Kirigakure shinobi nearby, because graduation required conquering a classmate, they were completely unaffected and had already descended into chaotic infighting.
Only Rin stood there alone, utterly helpless.
At that moment, Obito arrived.
Upon witnessing this hellish scene, he froze in place.
Most crucially, the White Zetsu possessing him informed Obito of everything that had happened.
Obito knew exactly what Rin needed most right now, but…
His "balls" had been removed by Kakashi!
The current Obito was like a Pokémon trainer whose starter Pokémon was Torchic. He then caught a Mareep to counter Water-types that resisted Fire.
Then one morning, he woke up to find that Torchic had thoughtfully prepared breakfast…
And Mareep had already been fed.
Yes.
Obito's chicken had fed the sheep.
(End of this chapter)