"What's wrong with you all?"
"Why are you so serious?"
"And… who are you?"
Kushina Uzumaki looked utterly bewildered.
Staring at the solemn faces before her, she was full of question marks.
At last, her gaze fell on Uchiha Kai.
"Oh, I'm Uchiha Kai," Kai said with an easy smile. "I came to see Brother Minato about a mission assigned by Lord Hokage."
"This mission is difficult, so I need to discuss it thoroughly with Minato."
Yes.
For Kai, lying came as naturally as breathing—no thought required.
After saying this, he cast a sharp glance at Minato and the others, his eyes suddenly severe.
Clearly—even Kai hadn't expected Kushina and Rin to return so quickly.
Much hadn't yet been discussed.
So, in this situation, the only thing he could do was signal them silently: absolutely do not reveal the truth.
After all—
If they blurted it out without a proper plan, the conflict would only explode.
Things would become far worse.
Minato, of course, wasn't stupid.
Catching Kai's gaze, he immediately understood his intention.
"Yes, exactly!" Minato picked up smoothly. "This mission from Lord Hokage really is extremely difficult."
"That's why Kai came—we need to plan carefully together."
Kakashi and Obito weren't particularly clever, but neither were they idiots.
Perhaps they didn't fully grasp it.
But Kai's stern expression, paired with Minato's quick cover, was enough for them to realize how they needed to play along.
"Lord Kai, then—welcome!" Kushina chuckled, though suspicion lingered in her tone. "But you really came here just to talk about a mission?"
Seeing this, Minato quickly spoke: "Of course. But let's set that aside for now."
"Since we have a guest, Kushina, why don't you prepare dinner?"
As he spoke, he shot Kushina frantically from behind Rin's back.
Kushina narrowed her eyes.
But—
Seeing her husband's posture, she knew there were things that couldn't be said aloud.
And her trust in Minato was absolute.
Thinking this, she smiled.
"Alright, I understand."
"You all keep talking—I'll cook."
"Oh, Lord Kai—welcome to our home as a guest. Rin, come help me in the kitchen!"
Kushina's voice was warm.
Yes.
She wasn't stupid.
The way Minato had spoken behind Rin's back told her all she needed to know: this was about Rin, but not something she should hear right now.
So, seizing the pretext of cooking, she pulled Rin along.
Rin seemed dazed.
Only after Kushina called several times did she finally respond, lowering her head and heading for the kitchen.
Once the two had left, Kai shrugged.
"You all see it now, don't you?"
"Nara Shikaku has already succeeded. Just look at Rin—her condition says it all."
"So, what happens next is up to you."
"If you want to save her, you must decide quickly."
"I have a premonition—by tonight, Rin will definitely try to kill herself."
"Obito? Kakashi?"
"You two had better decide soon—which of you will do it?"
"Of course, if you can come up with another way, then forget I said anything."
Minato's brows furrowed deeply, his face dark, a cold light flickering in his eyes.
The Hokage's side—this was too much!
They had agreed to discuss it later.
So why?
Why force such a child?
He couldn't understand.
Obito and Kakashi trembled with anger.
What should they do?
Their minds spun madly, racing through Kai's grim suggestion.
But—damn it!
It was too shameful. They couldn't do it!
Yes.
Kakashi, already steeped in cold darkness, would rather be killed than forced into something like this.
As for Obito—
Though he liked Rin, deep down he knew the truth.
Rin did not like him.
Their bond was friendship, nothing more.
So… sigh.
With a long breath, his headache only grew worse.
Time passed, little by little.
Half an hour later, the dining table was piled high with dishes.
But no one had the appetite to eat.
After all—
Until Rin's matter was resolved, no one could enjoy a meal.
"Why are you all just sitting there?"
"Hurry and eat—once the food gets cold, it won't be any good."
"Rin, serve everyone some rice!"
Kushina's suspicion deepened.
Seeing the grim faces around her, her curiosity burned stronger.
Just what matter could be so grave?
Still—since Minato kept silent, she held back her questions.
Meanwhile—
Unlike Kushina, Rin was lost in her own world, oblivious to everyone's unease.
Instead, at Kushina's words, she quietly began serving rice.
"Mm, let's eat." Kai smiled faintly. "Thank you, Rin."
His gaze flickered.
Sitting beside him, Rin ladled rice into his bowl. His heart was conflicted.
Yes.
At today's table, Minato and Kushina sat at the head.
On the left sat Kakashi and Obito; Rin and Kai sat on the right.
Thus, he could clearly sense Rin's trembling beside him.
Her eyes were vacant, head bowed.
Her hands clenched faintly, veins standing out on her pale skin.
It was plain as day—Rin was locked in a war within herself.
Even Kai, hardened as he was, felt a pang of pity.
After all—
Rin truly was a good girl. Beautiful, yes, but also kind to the core.
In his previous life, she would have been the school beauty—someone utterly beyond his reach.
But here, in this twisted shinobi world, she was like a rootless weed, drifting at the mercy of the storm.
It couldn't be helped.
She was just a civilian girl.
In ordinary times, she would have been nothing but cannon fodder.
But fate had thrust her into Namikaze Minato's squad, the very core of Konoha.
And everything came at a price.
Kai had said it before—Rin's situation was like walking a shortcut, whether she wished for it or not.
If she could endure this trial, then with her friends and teacher behind her, she could one day climb the ladder, change her status, change her destiny.
At the very least, she would rise into the mid-to-upper ranks.
But if she could not—then only death awaited her.
Shortcuts were never easy.
From the moment she joined Minato's team, she had stepped into a whirlpool.
Ahh…
With a helpless sigh, Kai's heart softened.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke quietly:
"Obito, Kakashi."
"Didn't you two have something to say?"
"…"
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