Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the fifth year since Shisui took office.
In the classroom, Iruka stood on the podium.
"Congratulations on becoming full-fledged ninjas, but for now, you are only Genin beginners. The real hard work is just about to begin. From now on, you will be in groups of three, forming a squad, and performing missions under a Jonin."
Iruka looked at the boys and girls below the stage, feeling quite emotional.
His gaze especially fell upon Naruto. At this time, his face was a bit thinner, and combined with the determination and confidence in his eyes, as well as the bright smile often hanging from the corners of his lips, he seemed like a little sun.
Quite a few girls were muttering: "I hope I'm in the same group as Naruto."
Compared to the icy Sasuke, after the initial novelty wore off, some girls preferred the boisterous Naruto.
Among them, a girl with pale blonde hair in a single ponytail held her hands tightly together, eyes closed in prayer.
Shikamaru still had those same dead-fish eyes as he did five years ago. He took one look and complained in his heart, 'Women are such a drag.'
Beside him, Choji was happily stuffing chips into his mouth, his hands moving so fast they left afterimages.
Behind them, Sakura held her hands to her heart, looking at Sasuke with hearts in her eyes. "Sasuke..."
In the corner, Hinata was curled up softly in her beige trench coat, glancing at Naruto every minute, and blushing for a full minute after each look.
In the very back row, Kiba's expression was full of ambition and excitement. A white dog lay on his head, its tail wagging excitedly as he looked forward to the moment he would become Hokage.
Beside him, a boy wearing a trench coat and small sunglasses sat there openly, yet no one's gaze ever lingered on him, as if he didn't exist.
On the podium, Iruka memorized each of these distinct students and said, "To balance the abilities of each class, the teachers will decide the groupings."
"Team 1..."
"Team 2..."
"Team..."
While the Konoha 12 were being grouped, a historic scene was also taking place at the Hokage Building.
Hokage Building.
Shikaku stood before the Hokage Office door and reached out to knock.
Knock, knock.
"Come in." A calm yet authoritative voice rang out from inside the office.
Shikaku, holding documents, opened the door and entered the Hokage Office, seeing Shisui standing by the window, calmly looking out at the village.
"Hokage-sama, the village has been improving more and more in recent years. It is time to invite other villages to hold the Chunin Exams and showcase Konoha's strength."
Shisui, exuding an effortless authority, turned around calmly and fixed his gaze on Shikaku. "Shikaku-san."
Shikaku replied, feeling inexplicably uneasy, "I am here."
"It's time for me to step down."
"Okay... Wait, what?!" Shikaku was stunned.
—
Uchiha Clan Compound.
Five years had passed, and the once-innocent girl had grown into a graceful young woman. Rin's short hair had grown long, and her somewhat chubby face had become softer. Only that powerful, warm smile remained unchanged.
She returned from the clan compound to Hiromi's home and entered the house.
"Hiromi, is the clan moving?" She looked at the youth inside the room, her tone tinged with mock anger.
He actually didn't tell her again!
Hiromi had shoulder-length, wild black hair. When his eyes were closed, there was a beauty like a quietly burning flame, inspiring admiration. When he opened them, however, there was a restless, effortless authority, like an emperor, that made one's heart uneasy.
Hiromi didn't answer. His pitch-black eyes were very calm, even looking at Rin with a hint of coldness.
"What's wrong?" Rin tilted her head slightly and asked with a smile.
Spending these five years together had allowed her to understand what kind of person Hiromi was. She knew that even if Hiromi were to kill someone, he would provide a reason. Therefore, no matter how cold Hiromi's expression was, she wasn't particularly afraid of this tyrant.
Until...
"Do you want to know the truth?"
Hiromi's words caused the smile on Rin's face to freeze.
"What... what truth?"
A massive wave of unease surged in her heart.
Hiromi looked at Rin as if she were a lab rat, narrowing his eyes slightly and asking without any discernible emotion, "Do you want to resurrect Obito?"
Rin's unease grew even stronger, yet she still couldn't figure out where this feeling was coming from. So, she gulped and nodded, following her heart.
Hiromi said, "He didn't die. He is the masked man."
Instantly, Rin's pupils constricted. It was as if her soul had been struck by lightning. Her body stumbled, and she fell back onto the floor. The sharp pain still couldn't overshadow the shock in her heart.
The masked man is Obito...
The person who killed Yahiko, the person who killed Minato-sensei, the person who killed Kushina-san...
It was Obito.
Why... why would Obito do such a thing!
She looked at Hiromi in terror, as if pleading, yet also as if screaming in a fit of rage and madness, "Tell me you're lying! Say it now!"
Hiromi said, "I have no reason to lie to you."
Rin clenched her fists in agony, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
Hiromi remained completely unaffected. "Now, what is your choice?"
Rin didn't answer.
Only after several minutes did she lift her head again, her expression desolate, tears streaming down as her voice choked with despair. "So that's why you've always seen me as an enemy."
Hiromi said, "No, you're not even qualified for that."
Rin's expression froze as she stared up blankly at Hiromi, her heart filled with pain.
She seemed... never to have truly understood Hiromi.
Hiromi said calmly, "I consider your care over these past five years as a transaction. Now, I can help you resurrect one person."
With tears on her face, images of Minato, Kushina, and Yahiko flashed through Rin's mind.
Finally, the image of the masked man standing opposite her appeared in her mind, revealing Obito's face.
The enemy... the enemy who killed Minato-sensei and Kushina-san...
She had always thought that after being resurrected, she hadn't fallen into the same painful struggle as Yahiko. She thought that if she just took it slow, Hiromi would eventually be moved by her, and then Yahiko, Obito, Minato, and Kushina would all be resurrected.
But now, she realized it wasn't that the struggle didn't exist, but that she had simply been unaware.
Now, knowing everything, she broke down. It felt as if she were the only person left in the entire world.
"Then what am I supposed to do!" She sat on the floor and wailed loudly.
Hiromi sat there, quietly watching her wail. He let her cry until she was hoarse and coughing, let her cry until her throat coughed up blood.
Even after the sun set, he let her sit there on the floor like she was dead, completely motionless.
Finally, amidst the deep night and bright moonlight, Rin moved. Her body trembling, she crawled up with a weak, wail-like effort and stood unsteadily. She limped over to stand before Hiromi.
"Hiromi..." Rin's voice was extremely hoarse and slow.
There seemed to be a suppressed madness in her voice, a restless stirring of something unknown.
"Mm." Hiromi responded calmly.
"Does Kakashi know?"
"He doesn't."
"Why tell me now?"
"The great war is about to begin. I don't have time to slowly watch you make a choice anymore."
"You... are driving me away?"
Rin suddenly looked up and lunged forward like a madwoman. Her pupils constricted, and her gaze was terrifying as she stared into Hiromi's calm, dark eyes.
"Five years! Has five years not been enough for you to develop even a shred of emotion!"
She said those words, but Hiromi could feel that she was questioning the human heart—questioning Obito.
Minato's meticulous care had been repaid with the cold-blooded murder of him and his wife, did Obito really have no feelings at all?
At this moment, she saw Hiromi as Obito, or perhaps as someone equally cold-blooded and heartless.