"Is this… the Ten-Tails?"
Madara Uchiha stared at the colossal form before him. Even for someone like him, a quiet breath escaped his lips.
The creature didn't need to move.
It didn't even need to open its eyes.
Just standing near it… the sheer pressure in the air was suffocating.
This wasn't something that could be compared to the ordinary tailed beasts.
Even the Nine-Tails—once feared as the strongest—felt insignificant in comparison.
"…So this is the origin of everything."
Madara's gaze sharpened.
Back then, even the Sage of Six Paths had no choice but to divide this existence into nine separate beings.
Slowly, the purple ripple-patterned eyes of the Rinnegan emerged in his pupils.
The moment his gaze settled on it—
The Ten-Tails trembled.
Just slightly.
But it reacted.
"…As expected," Madara murmured, his voice low. "Only the Rinnegan can control it."
Behind him, Obito Uchiha fell silent, his thoughts turning heavy.
They had made mistakes.
Letting Nagato Uzumaki fall under someone else's control… that had been one of the biggest.
Everything they had planned—taking risks, avoiding direct confrontation—had been to prevent facing Namikaze Kirito head-on.
But now…
To control the Ten-Tails, the Rinnegan was essential.
Madara's current body, bound by Impure World Reincarnation, couldn't become its Jinchūriki.
Which meant—
Only two pairs of Rinnegan existed.
One was in Kirito's hands.
The other…
"…Nagato."
If they could take it quietly, things would be simple.
But Obito's expression darkened.
Because he knew—
Nothing about Kirito was simple.
That man wasn't someone who could be overwhelmed by numbers.
And if they made a move…
…she would appear.
Rin.
Obito's gaze lowered slightly.
Out of everyone, she was the one he least wanted to face right now.
The silence stretched.
Madara didn't speak again. His eyes never left the Ten-Tails.
Soon…
Once I return to life—
This power will be mine.
And then… the world will finally change.
Meanwhile—
In the underground lab beneath Konoha.
The dimly lit space remained hidden from the surface world, reserved for experiments that could never be made public.
Standing among scattered equipment, Namikaze Kirito observed the results left behind by Orochimaru.
Then—
Soft arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.
"My lord… you're here."
The familiar voice made him pause.
Rin Nohara looked up at him, her expression bright, almost relieved.
She had only recently regained her body. Without the stabilizing potions from Orochimaru, her condition would quickly deteriorate.
Kirito's expression softened slightly.
"Rin… how have you been?"
"I've been fine," she answered quickly, then hesitated.
A faint shadow passed across her face.
Kirito's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"…What is it?"
For a moment, he thought something had gone wrong.
But Rin shook her head, fidgeting slightly.
"It's just… I haven't seen you for several days."
Her voice grew quieter.
"I missed you."
Kirito blinked.
Then let out a soft breath.
"…I see."
He gently placed a hand on her head.
"I've been busy lately. That's on me."
Rin immediately shook her head.
"No, it's not! You're doing important things… I understand."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"As long as you remember me… that's enough."
Kirito looked at her for a moment.
"…How could I forget you?"
He guided her to sit down with him, his tone calm, steady.
The atmosphere shifted—quieter now, more grounded.
Seeing this, Orochimaru and the others exchanged glances before silently leaving the room.
Rin's eyes softened, a quiet warmth filling them.
"…Really?"
"Really."
Kirito's voice was low, but certain.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was… gentle.
Somewhere else in the village—
Temari paused mid-training.
"…Why do I feel like something's off…"
Gaara and Kankuro glanced over, seeing something was off about her.
"You've been distracted."
"…Yeah," she muttered, brushing it off. "It's probably nothing."
But the weird feeling inside her still lingered.
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