Madara had somehow captured Kakashi and forced him to lead the way to Rin's tombstone in the quiet cemetery.
Standing in front of the grave with his arms crossed, Madara's face was unreadable. Kakashi, his voice low and heavy, broke the silence.
"It's rare for you to come here to see Rin. If it weren't for you…"
Madara cut him off, his tone cold.
"Kakashi, I didn't come here to argue. Just stand aside and watch."
Before Kakashi could respond, Madara pressed his palm firmly to the ground. To Kakashi's shock, Rin's coffin rose from beneath the soil, unearthed by Madara's jutsu.
Ripples stirred in Madara's eyes—the Rinnegan shone with ominous power.
Kakashi's expression shifted dramatically. His breath caught.
"You don't mean… You're going to use Rinne Rebirth!?"
He had only heard of this technique before. Obito had once mentioned it to him when dragging him into the Kamui space. According to Obito, using it cost the caster's life. It wasn't like the Forbidden Jutsu once used by the legendary Konohagakure elder.
Now, Madara was considered the hero who had just saved Konoha from the threat of the Ōtsutsuki. For him to throw his life away for something like this felt unthinkable.
Kakashi hesitated for only a moment before making his move. He rushed forward, determined to stop Madara from sacrificing himself.
But Madara casually extended his hand. A wave of force burst outward.
"Shinra Tensei."
The repulsion sent Kakashi flying backward, crashing into the dirt.
Madara was never one to waste time. He quickly formed a string of hand seals, his voice heavy and deliberate.
"Rinne… Rebirth."
Boom!
The sudden shockwave sent even Madara tumbling back, his body lifted by the same repulsive force he had just used on Kakashi.
When he steadied himself and looked forward again, his eyes narrowed.
At the spot where he had been standing moments before, two figures had appeared: Obito, and beside him—Uchiha Chiga.
Madara's gaze hardened. With his Rinnegan active, he could feel the difference immediately. The aura Chiga gave off was overwhelming, blazing like a sun ready to burn away everything around him.
"He's grown even stronger…" Madara thought grimly.
Chiga stood calmly, eyes fixed on him. In his mind, he couldn't help but note how much Madara had changed. The Madara of old would never have gone so far for someone like Rin. Seeing him like this now was… almost endearing.
"Using your own life to bring back the life of a young girl," Chiga said softly, his tone laced with faint amusement. "Is this still the Uchiha Madara I know?"
Obito's eyes flickered with conflict. Much of the resentment he had once held toward Madara was slowly fading.
Madara turned his head, snorted coldly, and muttered,
"I just don't want that guy pestering me every single day."
Chiga chuckled lightly. Yes—this was the Uchiha nature, pride and stubbornness even in kindness.
He shook his head with a smile and turned his gaze toward Rin's coffin.
Seeing this, Obito's expression shifted. Hope lit up in his eyes. He had a vague idea of what Chiga intended to do.
Chiga pressed his hands together, forming a seal. His voice was steady, commanding.
"Netherworld Rebirth."
Madara's eyes widened slightly. He murmured under his breath,
"Netherworld Rebirth… Is this his perfected version of Rinne Rebirth?"
The coffin lid slid open with a heavy creak, revealing Rin within. She looked exactly as she had at the moment of her death—still a young girl of twelve or thirteen.
(Is Obito bout to become a P3do....)
Kakashi dropped to his knees, his voice trembling.
"Rin…"
Obito staggered forward, each step heavy with emotion. He reached a hand toward her face but froze halfway. Looking down at his body, marked with White Zetsu cells, the unnatural wrinkles of age, he faltered.
"Do I look ugly now? Will Rin… hate me?" he whispered.
Then Rin's eyelashes trembled. Slowly, her eyes opened.
Obito stood frozen. Rin's lips curved into a gentle, familiar smile. She reached out and softly tapped his side.
"Obito… what are you still hesitating for?"
The sound of her voice made Obito's eyes widen in disbelief. His body stiffened. His lips quivered as he whispered,
"Rin… you…"
Rin folded her hands behind her back, tears gathering in her eyes even as she smiled warmly.
"Obito, I've always been here. You just couldn't see me."
"You knew… everything?" he stammered.
"Yes. And although you've made mistakes… thank you, Obito."
The dam within him broke. No matter how old he looked, in this moment Obito collapsed like a child, clutching her as sobs wracked his body.
Rin extended her arms, holding him close, letting him weep against her without a word.
Kakashi watched quietly, burying his own emotions deep down. He knew too well the depth of Obito's feelings for Rin. This was their moment, and he chose to stand aside.
Chiga, however, observed with curiosity. How had Rin's soul managed to perceive the world even after death? Minato and Kushina had never been able to do such a thing. If he hadn't told them about Naruto's childhood himself, they wouldn't have known. The power of Rin's love truly defied explanation.
Eventually, Obito's tears slowed. Kakashi approached Rin. Kneeling before her, he pulled down his mask.
A thousand words sat heavy in his chest, but in the end, he only said softly,
"Rin… it's been a long time."
Obito gritted his teeth, muttering through clenched jaws,
"The annoying guy just had to show up…"
Kakashi ignored him. Rin ruffled Obito's hair, feigning irritation.
"Obito!"
Immediately, Obito melted under her voice, unable to muster the slightest resistance.
Madara watched this display and scoffed.
"How utterly pathetic."
Rin simply smiled, patting both Obito and Kakashi on their heads like an elder would.
"Alright, enough. We should go thank the Hokage now. Without him, who knows how long it would've taken for us to meet again."
At once, Obito and Kakashi straightened, obedient as children. Each of them held one of Rin's small hands and walked toward Chiga.
Before they could speak, Chiga raised a hand, smirking.
"There's no need for thanks. But don't you think this looks a little strange?"
Two tall men, each over a meter eighty, escorting a girl under one meter fifty—one of them wearing a ridiculous grin now and then. To any passerby, it would look suspicious enough to call the Police Force.
Obito and Kakashi froze, exchanged awkward glances, and both turned red with embarrassment.
Chiga crossed his arms and sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine. I'll fix this for you."