"Rin."
Ren was the first to look at Rin and nodded.
"You, I'm afraid you won't be able to return to the Village for a while."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Rin was first stunned, then said with some confusion.
"Is it because of the curse seal inside me? It's okay, I can wait."
Rin mistakenly thought that Ren was not letting her return to the Village because he was worried that she would be controlled by the curse seal inside her and do things that would harm the Village. She expressed complete understanding of this, and it would not be too late to return when Kushina-nee could resolve her problem.
"No."
Ren shook his head, looking at Rin's puzzled expression, and gritted his teeth.
"What I mean is, you won't be able to return to the Village for a very long time. It's like a simulated death, living under a different identity."
"Hmm?"
Rin's eyes widened instantly. Although she was confused, she didn't speak, but quietly looked at Ren, waiting for him to continue.
"Obito, he's not dead."
"Hmm?!"
As soon as this was said, Rin immediately covered her mouth, her mind greatly shaken, and she subconsciously took two steps back, her eyes full of disbelief.
Obito, he had already been crushed by a boulder during the last Kannabi Bridge battle while saving Kakashi, resulting in half of his body being pulverized. At his dying moment, she personally transplanted one of his Sharingan to Kakashi. When they were forced to leave, Obito's smile was still vivid in her memory.
Now Ren was telling her that Obito was not dead, which made it truly hard for her to believe for a moment.
Ren looked at Rin and said in a deep voice.
"Although it's hard to accept, this is the truth."
Rin clutched her clothes and murmured.
"Then why doesn't he return to the Village…?"
"He can't come back for now."
Ren shook his head, a solemn expression on his face.
It was from this incident that Obito officially turned dark, transforming from a hot-blooded youth aiming to be Hokage into a "savior" intending to overthrow the Ninja World and achieve false peace through a dream.
Although with his strength at the time, he could have completely prevented all of this from happening and even forcibly brought Obito back, Madara and Black Zetsu, who were manipulating from behind the scenes, would certainly not give up.
He was not yet strong enough to contend with and kill those two guys; continuing to deploy and silently accumulate strength was the most correct choice.
Ren looked at the somewhat dazed Rin and continued.
"According to my investigation, Obito is indeed not dead; he was saved by someone. And the person who saved Obito is the same person who left the curse seal on your heart, and Obito…"
At this point, Ren paused, looked at her reddened eyes, and said in a deep voice.
"He was at the scene!"
At this moment, Rin had regained her composure. While her eyes were red, she also remained calm. She lowered her head, thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Ren and said with some astonishment.
"You mean, Obito saw me get injured by Kakashi at that time?"
"Yes."
Ren nodded, his expression becoming solemn.
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, the person behind Obito is far too powerful for us to contend with right now.
When I saved you, I didn't dare to expose any trace, so regarding your and Kakashi's situation, at most, the enemy only knows if you're alive or dead; they definitely don't know the specifics.
Kakashi is fine, but you are now the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, a sensitive identity. Both the mysterious person behind Obito and the Hidden Mist Village know about this. Your return would definitely cause far more harm than good.
What we can do now is to accumulate strength and gather intelligence so that we can contend with and even defeat the enemy, and bring Obito back!"
If Rin were to return now, Ren's efforts would truly be in vain. Having just rescued her and having an opportunity to go undercover, how could he possibly throw her back into the open?
After understanding, Rin looked up at Ren and said softly.
"What should I do?"
Rin also understood that her current identity was indeed not suitable for public appearances, and even someone as strong as Ren admitted he was far inferior, so her meager strength was even more useless.
As Ren said, hiding in the shadows to accumulate power and then finding an opportunity to rescue Obito was currently the best and only option.
"First, a simulated death!"
Hearing Rin speak, Ren didn't hesitate and immediately said.
"The time you spend hidden in the shadows won't be short. Your former identity must be abandoned, and only then can the plan continue to develop."
"Okay."
Rin didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed.
Anyway, she had no relatives. Obito, Kakashi, Minato-sensei, and Kushina-nee were like family to her. Whether for Obito or for everyone in the Village, she had to walk this path.
"As for the second step…"
At this point, Ren's gaze swept back and forth between Saiken and Rin in the distance, and he nodded.
"It's about improving your strength, Rin. Although you almost died this time, you also became Saiken's Jinchuriki, so it can be considered a blessing in disguise."
"Hehe!"
Hearing his name, Saiken shook his body excitedly, while Rin walked a few steps to his side, looked up at him, and smiled.
"Then from now on, let's go forward together, Saiken."
Saiken's tentacles moved, and his lively voice sounded again.
"Ah, then I'll once again ask for your guidance, Rin!"
Looking at the incredibly harmonious atmosphere between the person and the Tailed Beast, Ren couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Why was the difference between people so great? When Isobu first came in, he was very irritable; it wasn't until he saved Chomei that he changed.
Although Saiken's situation had Isobu and Chomei's influence, they became familiar too quickly.
"Ahem, alright, you'll have plenty of time to bond later."
Ren coughed twice to interrupt them, then continued.
"As for the third step…"
At this point, a glimmer of light appeared in Ren's eyes, and he looked at Rin, saying softly.
"You need to become an excellent intelligence Ninja."
"Hmm?"
Rin was stunned at first, then repeated with some confusion.
"Intelligence Ninja?"
She didn't quite understand Ren's meaning. Was this simply for gathering intelligence? Or were there other arrangements?
"That's right."
Ren nodded slightly and said in a deep voice.
"This is very important!"
In this Ninja World, besides the Tailed Beasts, there are many novel and powerful things unknown to people.
For example, the Five Great Villages all have their own Village treasures.
For example:
The Scroll of Summoning Ninja Blades of Hidden Mist Village.
The book of sealing of Konoha Village.
Iwagakure's is a common small stone that represents the will of the Iwagakure Ninja.
Kumogakure has many, such as the Amber Purifying Pot among the Six Paths Tools, and the Chakra Cannon.
As for Hidden Sand Village…