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Chapter 27: Bad News Arrives!
After being outmaneuvered by Oborotsuki and surrounded, Uchiha Obito used his elusive Kamui to kill several Konoha ANBU.
But in the end, Minato Namikaze saw through the weakness in Kamui and dealt him a heavy blow.
Afterward, just like in the original story, Obito managed to escape narrowly thanks to Kamui's power.
However, the Nine-Tails rampaging through Konoha did not disappear because of this.
On the contrary—freed from Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu control—the Nine-Tails became even more berserk.
Even with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally leading a large number of ANBU along with the village's elite forces, they still couldn't fully stop the Nine-Tails from devastating the village.
Left with no choice, Hiruzen used the Adamantine Staff to hurl the Nine-Tails outside the village, preventing further destruction to Konoha itself.
Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze rushed back from the battlefield to join the fight against the Nine-Tails.
After an intense battle, Minato was ultimately unable to overcome the Nine-Tails' overwhelming power.
Instead, his appearance only enraged the beast further, causing it to unleash indiscriminate Tailed Beast Balls across the surroundings.
The power of a Tailed Beast Ball was akin to a small nuclear explosion—its destructive force unimaginable.
To protect everyone and prevent the village from suffering even greater devastation, Minato ultimately chose to sacrifice himself—using the Reaper Death Seal to seal both himself and the Nine-Tails together…
This was the news Oborotsuki obtained after returning to Konoha and investigating.
Minato Namikaze had died.
The rest of Konoha's fighting force had also suffered devastating losses.
From the Hokage's direct ANBU units down to the members of the major ninja clans—everyone paid a heavy price in this battle.
However, a small portion of Konoha's forces remained completely unscathed during the conflict.
One was Danzō Shimura's Root organization.
The other was the Uchiha clan, who had been forbidden from participating in the battle from the very beginning.
Oborotsuki had no interest in the remaining aftermath in Konoha for now.
What worried him was Konan.
Obito hadn't died—he would definitely continue causing trouble.
Within the entire Akatsuki organization, Konan had the closest relationship with him.
It was entirely possible that Obito, in his rage and humiliation, would take out all his resentment on Konan…
He needed to return to Akatsuki headquarters immediately and find a chance to take Konan away.
…
Oborotsuki returned to Akatsuki headquarters and searched around but couldn't find any sign of Konan.
The other members hadn't returned yet either.
"It seems they're still out on missions…"
"And that guy Obito has gone into hiding to recover."
With no other choice, Oborotsuki headed back to the Hōzuki clan grounds in Kirigakure.
When he arrived, he found Kushina packing her belongings while trying to persuade Red.
It looked like she was preparing to leave.
"Red, come back to Konoha with me. Everyone is worried about you."
"I'm telling the truth—you'll know as soon as you come back with me…"
Before Kushina could finish, she caught sight of Oborotsuki jumping down from the wall.
"You came back at the perfect time, Oborotsuki."
"Thank you so much for saving me and taking care of us. I've imposed on you greatly."
"There's some bad news, though—you need to prepare yourselves."
Oborotsuki ignored Kushina's words for the moment and looked between her and Red.
"Bad news?"
Kushina's expression tightened. A sudden, inexplicable sense of unease rose in her chest.
She stared nervously at Oborotsuki.
"What happened?"
Red also sensed the tense atmosphere.
"You mentioned earlier that the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze, was your husband, right?"
Oborotsuki asked, looking at Kushina.
"I… never said that…"
Kushina quickly denied it.
She was clearly worried that revealing her husband was the Fourth Hokage could be exploited by someone with ill intentions against Konoha.
But Oborotsuki paid no mind to her caution.
"You slipped up during dinner earlier."
"But whether you admit it or not doesn't matter—I don't care whose wife you are."
"The bad news is: Minato Namikaze died in the battle against the Nine-Tails. He sealed himself and the Nine-Tails together."
"Konoha suffered heavy losses…"
"What did you say?!"
Kushina's entire body trembled violently at the news.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Oborotsuki.
"I wanted to go back and check if my target was still there."
"I saw it with my own eyes."
"I'm sorry."
Oborotsuki took a deep, helpless breath.
Kushina's gaze toward him gradually turned vacant. She staggered back several steps, chest heaving violently as she struggled to breathe.
"Minato… impossible!"
"That's absolutely impossible! He's so strong—how could he…"
Tears shimmered at the corners of Kushina's eyes, but she forced them back.
She quickly regained composure and turned to Red.
"Red… you really won't come back to Konoha with me?"
After resting, Kushina's stamina and chakra had recovered somewhat.
Now her words carried more weight.
"I don't recommend returning to Konoha right now."
Oborotsuki said calmly, looking at Kushina.
"Why not?"
"That's my village—I have to go back!"
Kushina insisted.
"No particular reason. I just don't want to invite trouble for myself."
Oborotsuki replied evenly.
"Invite… trouble?"
Kushina was momentarily stunned, unable to understand what he meant.
"Don't forget—the Nine-Tails was extracted from you. You should already be dead, Kushina."
Oborotsuki reminded her.
"You suddenly reappear in Konoha now. Even setting aside how you'll explain not being dead—"
"Konoha is currently engulfed in massive turmoil."
"You and your son returning right now could easily become sacrifices in the power struggles…"
"And don't forget—your husband, the Fourth Hokage, is dead. Without the Nine-Tails, your value to the village is gone."
Oborotsuki's words struck at the core.
Kushina shuddered violently.
She stood frozen, staring at him in stunned silence as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Though they hadn't known each other long, Kushina had already learned from Mayumi and Red why they lived here.
She also knew about the tragic fate of the Hōzuki clan in the "Bloody Mist Village."
In other words, Oborotsuki had chosen seclusion here to avoid trouble.
He had saved her life—he was her savior. But unfortunately, he was not from Konoha.
If Konoha learned of such a powerful figure living in Kirigakure, it would inevitably cause unnecessary conflict.
It might even alert Kirigakure to his existence.
What would happen after that was impossible to predict.
She truly couldn't drag her lifesaver into such massive trouble just for her own selfish reasons.
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