"We're almost there!"
White Zetsu pointed ahead, turning to look at Obito beside him.
"There's a clearing not far ahead."
"The person you're looking for is there."
Obito's heart leaped with joy, and he reached out to pat White Zetsu's shoulder.
"You're actually somewhat useful."
"I thought you wouldn't help me."
White Zetsu grinned strangely but didn't respond.
Obito didn't mind. He was about to see Rin; nothing else mattered.
The moment he neared the clearing, he was about to call out her name.
But the mask on his face suddenly writhed, sealing his mouth shut.
"Mmph—"
Obito made a muffled sound, tearing at the mask on his face, confused.
A-Juan's voice, tinged with apology, came from within the mask:
"Sorry, Obito. Our situation can't be known by outsiders."
"Later, I'll release the possession, and you can go join them."
White Zetsu walked up beside him, speaking calmly:
"Of course, if you want to go over now..."
"The two of us can leave."
"If you agree, just nod."
Obito's heart and eyes were filled with Rin; he only wanted to tell her immediately that he was still alive.
How could he possibly disagree?
He was about to nod.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the clearing.
It was Shinji!
"Rin, you're my girlfriend, after all."
Obito's nodding motion froze abruptly; he thought he must have misheard.
Instead of moving forward, he immediately ducked behind a tree, cautiously peering out toward the center of the clearing.
Beside him, White Zetsu once again revealed a meaningful, strange grin.
The next scene made Obito's pupils contract violently.
He saw clearly: Shinji holding Rin, and Rin, not resisting in the slightest.
A terrible thought suddenly surged in his mind.
Could it be that everything White Zetsu said before was true?
Had Rin really gotten together with Shinji?
His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, his left hand gripping the tree trunk tightly, fingers digging deep into the wood.
It felt as if a piece had been carved out of his heart, the intense pain spreading throughout his body.
Following that, the chakra within him began to boil uncontrollably.
A burning, stinging pain came from his right eye.
The Sharingan spun rapidly, the original two tomoe forced aside as a third tomoe slowly took shape.
Unbeknownst to him, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan had awakened.
From his back, wooden branches quietly extended, growing and spreading wildly.
A-Juan sighed softly: "Wood Release: Wooden Spike Technique?"
"No wonder Lord Madara chose you, Obito."
Obito ignored A-Juan, completely disregarding the changes in his body.
The next scene left his mind utterly blank.
He witnessed with his own eyes: Rin, actively kissing Shinji.
Memories of the past surged like a tide, exploding in his mind.
"Obito, you're late again."
"I've told you so many times, don't push yourself when you're hurt. I've been watching you all along; give me your hand."
"Obito, you'll definitely become Hokage."
Those gentle words collided violently with the absurd scene before him.
"No—!"
Obito roared inwardly.
He had to rush forward, stop all of this.
"Rin! It's me, Obito! I'm not dead!"
But at his lips, all sound was blocked, leaving only a suppressed: "Mmph mmph—"
His mouth was still sealed by A-Juan.
He could only tear desperately at the mask, frantically beating his own head, inwardly begging A-Juan to release him.
...
Seeing that the newcomer was Obito, Shinji secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least it wasn't Madara Uchiha who had appeared.
And Rin had been saved by him, not killed by Kakashi's Chidori.
With that, Obito probably wouldn't turn to darkness now, right?
But he still looked at the other strangely.
Watching him frantically tear at the mask on his face, Shinji found it utterly baffling.
What on earth was this guy doing? Why wasn't he saying a word?
Nohara Rin stared at the strange white figure that had suddenly appeared, immediately straightening up from Shinji's embrace.
She gripped her kunai, holding it before her, her expression alert as she spoke:
"It's an enemy!"
Instinctively, she shielded Shinji behind her.
At this moment, Shinji was already completely exhausted, and Kakashi was unconscious.
The only one still able to fight was her.
Even though she was just a Medical Ninja, Rin didn't retreat an inch.
But this action made Obito across from them freeze completely.
He dropped his hands limply, staring blankly at Rin, shouting inwardly:
"It's me, Rin!"
"Don't you recognize me?"
He patted his own chest, gesturing frantically, desperately trying to make Rin recognize him.
Yet, it was all in vain.
Nohara Rin took a step forward, gripping the kunai even tighter, her gaze growing more vigilant.
If this white stranger made any further moves, she would attack without hesitation.
Obito completely fell silent.
He raised his head, looking up at the sky, making no move.
In that moment, he felt the entire world had become utterly unfamiliar.
"Sorry, Obito." A-Juan's voice suddenly sounded from within him. "I'll borrow your body for now."
Obito jolted.
The next second, his body was forcibly controlled by a force, slowly moving.
His right hand rose, a sharp, thick wooden branch suddenly extending from his palm.
His figure shot forward, fast as lightning.
The target was Shinji.
Shinji's pupils contracted sharply. Seeing Obito's aura suddenly change, he instantly understood: the target was him.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand up, the Sharingan activating once more as he stepped forward, pulling Rin behind him.
"Shinji!" Rin cried out in alarm.
Shinji reached back for the short sword on his back. A flash of blade light, and he barely managed to block Obito's thrust.
The short sword gleamed coldly; the wooden branch in Obito's hand danced wildly, stabbing repeatedly. Metal and wood collided fiercely at close range, sparks and wood chips flying.
The two figures instantly became entangled in combat, each strike aimed at vital points.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Obito desperately tried to say something, his body struggling slightly.
A-Juan's voice sounded again:
"Lord Madara's orders: kill Uchiha Shinji."
"Once it's done, I'll set you free. Then you can return to Rin's side."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
No one understood what Obito was saying; only he knew the true meaning.
Shinji and A-Juan, controlling Obito's body, were locked in fierce combat.
Suddenly, Shinji felt his entire body go weak.
The successive high-intensity battles had long since pushed his body to its limit.
His previous fights with the Mist Ninja, Terumi Mei, and Madara Uchiha, plus repeatedly activating the Mangekyō, had completely drained his chakra.
A-Juan showed no mercy, kicking Shinji hard and sending him flying.
Shinji struggled to get up, but the ground suddenly writhed. Four White Zetsu burst from the earth, firmly pinning his limbs.
A-Juan grinned strangely: "Go!"
A sharp wooden branch grew from A-Juan's palm once more, thrusting straight toward Shinji.
"Shinji, watch out!"
In that instant, Nohara Rin suddenly rushed into A-Juan's attack path.
Just as she had shielded Kakashi, she once again placed herself in front of Shinji.
And A-Juan didn't hesitate in the slightest.
The wooden spike pierced straight into her chest.
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