In the dimly lit underground cavern, the Gedo Statue stood silently.
"I can return to the village soon!"
Obito lay face down, his hands pressed firmly into the cold soil, his arms tense.
His body had mostly recovered, and his mind was now preoccupied with figuring out how to escape this suffocating cave.
He stood up and looked toward the old man sitting on the stone throne with his eyes closed in meditation, a complex emotion stirring within him.
Over these past days, the two had talked about many things.
Yet, in Obito's view, the other's ideas remained far too extreme.
He spoke constantly of this world being false and meaningless, of creating a new world gentle to everyone.
How was that possible!
Such a notion was something Obito could never agree with, no matter what.
Obito sighed, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the old man.
"Old man, thank you for saving me."
"I... I have to go. There are people waiting for me in Konohagakure."
He hesitated for a moment before adding:
"If you're willing, I can take you back to Konohagakure with me."
In Konohagakure, he had helped countless elderly men and women he didn't even know.
Seeing this old man alone in such a cold, desolate place, he truly couldn't feel at ease.
Even though the other seemed every bit like a Rogue Ninja, he was so frail he could barely stand—what threat could he possibly pose to the village?
Madara Uchiha remained unmoved by his offer, merely slowly lifting his eyelids.
A flicker of indifferent mockery passed through his eyes before he closed them again, not even bothering to respond.
Obito was already accustomed to his cold demeanor and retreated to the side, disheartened.
He had to return as soon as possible.
A sense of urgency gripped him—as if delaying even a moment longer would mean truly losing something.
A few days ago, he had heard from White Zetsu that Rin had been spending a lot of time with Shinji lately.
He hadn't confessed his feelings yet; he absolutely couldn't let that guy beat him to it.
Confess!
At this thought, Obito's lips uncontrollably curved upward.
He replayed the scene in his mind over and over:
Once he safely returned to the village, Rin would run to him, surprised and overjoyed.
He would kneel on one knee, sincerely express his feelings, and then Rin would blush and nod in agreement.
Imagining this, his grin widened even further.
"Rin, wait for me!"
The soil above the cavern shifted slightly as White Zetsu's figure slowly emerged from the ground.
Obito looked up, his heart filled with envy.
If only he could move through the earth like that, he would have already raced back to Konohagakure.
But this white creature clearly had no intention of helping him.
He then glanced at A-Juan, who was lazily sprawled near the stone platform.
A-Juan scratched his bottom idly, staring boredly at Obito. Noticing Obito's gaze, he immediately hopped over and eagerly spoke up:
"What is it, Obito? Going to perform the la—"
"Shut up."
Obito's face darkened as he cut him off with a wave of his hand.
From this guy's mouth, you could never hear a single serious word.
Just then, White Zetsu slowly approached and spoke in a flat tone:
"From outside, I heard some interesting news."
His gaze settled on Obito.
"About that girl you mentioned, named Rin."
"Rin!"
Obito shuddered, grabbing White Zetsu's arm.
"What happened to Rin? Tell me quickly!"
White Zetsu gently spread his hands.
"That girl seems to have been captured. She's in mortal danger!"
"What did you say!"
Obito's face instantly paled, and he roared uncontrollably:
"Rin was captured! When? Where?"
"No, I have to get out. I have to save Rin."
Obito's gaze fixed on the stone wall of the cave. He charged toward it, slamming his right fist against it with all his might.
But this underground cavern was buried deep, the surrounding earth as hard as iron.
A violent recoil shot through his fist, instantly sending his entire body flying backward.
The right half of his body, repaired by White Zetsu and Hashirama Cells, split open again from the impact.
Obito collapsed powerlessly to the ground, despair washing over him like a tide. He raised his left arm, covering his eyes tightly.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
His agonized roar echoed through the empty cavern.
"How pitiful."
"A-Juan?"
Obito moved his arm aside to see A-Juan, who had silently crouched beside him at some point, looking down at him.
"Seeing you in such pain, I'll help you this once."
A-Juan's right eye was hollow as he quietly gazed at Obito, softly suggesting.
"R-really?"
Hope instantly ignited in Obito's eyes. As long as these white beings were willing to act, he could leave this place.
"After all, we've gotten along fairly well."
"As long as you wear me, I can take you out."
With those words, A-Juan's body stretched out like a coat, revealing an opening for someone to enter.
Without the slightest hesitation, Obito's desire to survive and save Rin overwhelmed everything else. He stepped forward without a second thought, allowing A-Juan to completely envelop him.
"Thank you, A-Juan!"
Obito stood up again, slowly walking to the earthen wall and reaching out to touch it lightly.
His hands passed through the stone wall as if merging with water, encountering no resistance at all.
"It works! I can do it!"
Clenching his teeth, Obito no longer hesitated. He stepped into the earthen wall, his figure completely disappearing from the cavern.
White Zetsu watched the direction Obito had left, then turned and approached Madara Uchiha.
In a hoarse voice, he said, "Lord Madara, I have information to report."
Madara Uchiha looked up. "What is it?"
White Zetsu tilted his head. "I saw Uchiha Shinji nearby."
"Uchiha Shinji?"
Madara was momentarily stunned, then retrieved the name from the depths of his memory—the Uchiha junior who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in such a short time.
"Why would he be here?" Madara frowned and asked.
White Zetsu shrugged. "I don't know."
"But the place he's heading to happens to be where we've set our trap."
Madara Uchiha's expression darkened abruptly.
The script was already written, the actors were in place.
But his plan had been abruptly intruded upon by someone who shouldn't exist.
If it was as White Zetsu said, then this Uchiha Shinji's strength was certainly not weak.
His plan could very likely be completely disrupted.
No!
After waiting so many years, he had finally cultivated a perfect pawn.
He absolutely could not let anyone ruin it.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi must proceed smoothly.
Madara Uchiha placed his hands on his knees and slowly stood up.
He instructed White Zetsu in a detached tone, "Take me to meet this Uchiha junior."
White Zetsu bowed his head. "As you command, Lord Madara."
...
Hidden Mist Secret Outpost.
"Chidori!"
Kakashi gathered violent lightning in his palm, his figure darting forward like electricity as he thrust both hands into a Mist ninja's chest, piercing the heart.
He immediately turned to Rin. "Rin, let's go!"
Nohara Rin nodded, following Kakashi as they quickly evacuated the outpost.
The two fled desperately toward the Land of Fire.
Nohara Rin felt uneasy. After being captured by the Mist, it seemed she had fallen under a Genjutsu, leaving a complete blank in her memory.
"Thump! Thump!"
She suddenly heard a strange, rhythmic beating sound.
Was it her own heartbeat?
She looked down at her body and soon sensed something was wrong.
Gently placing a hand on her abdomen, she felt as if something inside was slowly awakening.
"Rin, hold on a little longer. Once we reach Konohagakure, we'll be safe!" Kakashi said gravely.
"There they are! Don't let them escape!"
Behind them, the furious shouts of the Mist pursuers suddenly rang out.
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