Chapter 263 – Nohara Rin
"Hokage-sama, what is your opinion?" the Raikage asked.
He had just finished explaining the formation of the Shinobi Alliance to the other Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Even so, he still wanted to hear Tsunade's stance. Of course, it wasn't simply because she was the Hokage—but because of the man standing behind her.
"I have no objections. This time, Akatsuki has indeed crossed the bottom line of peace in the shinobi world," Tsunade said calmly.
"In that case, good," the Raikage nodded.
"I don't know where Hatake Yusuke is right now. If he were to join us, this war might not be that difficult. Even if the enemy really is Uchiha Madara, I still believe he would lose," Ōnoki said.
"I don't know," Tsunade replied.
"This… Hokage-sama, the Fourth Great Ninja War is not child's play," Mei Terumi said.
"I know. But I truly don't know where he is," Tsunade answered honestly.
Hatake Yusuke had said he had something he needed to take care of. How could Tsunade possibly know where he went?
"I think it's better not to include my older brother in these calculations," Kakashi spoke up at that moment.
"What do you mean, Kakashi-senpai?" Gaara asked.
"I mean it literally. For something this small, with Nii-san's personality, he wouldn't be interested in getting involved. He's probably hiding somewhere right now, enjoying candy and sweet snacks," Kakashi said calmly.
The moment those words fell, everyone's faces darkened with anger.
The Five Great Ninja Villages had united and ignited the Fourth Great Ninja War—yet it was being called a 'small matter'.
They wanted to refute him, but none of them dared to. Meanwhile, the Raikage's expression grew even darker. Sweet snacks… that bastard really was capable of doing something like that.
Hatake Yusuke visited their village even more frequently than he did Konoha, which was more than enough proof of how much he loved sweets.
"I still hope Hokage-sama can persuade Lord Yusuke," Gaara said.
"Don't worry. Even though he doesn't care about things like this, he absolutely hates people who break the rules. So there's no need to worry. If the Ten-Tails really is as powerful as that man claimed, I think he'll be very interested instead," Tsunade said.
Hearing that, everyone felt much more at ease.
Not because Hatake Yusuke was merely strong—but because he was so strong that none of them truly knew where his limits lay.
Anyone who had seen Yusuke in action knew one thing clearly: if he wanted to, anyone could be suppressed in an instant.
On the other side, Hatake Yusuke arrived at a remote mountain range.
The surrounding scenery was breathtaking, and a sea of mist spread across the valley below.
Yusuke stepped forward, passing through the fog, and beyond it lay a place that felt like a hidden paradise.
"It's been a long time, Rin," Yusuke said as he looked at the girl who was tending to several small animals.
She was about one meter and sixty centimeters tall, with blue markings painted on her cheeks.
Her beauty wasn't the type that stunned at first glance like Tsunade's. Instead, the longer one looked at her, the more captivating she became. Combined with the gentle smile on her face, she looked like a kind girl-next-door.
"Yusuke, you're here. It really has been a long time," Rin said, smiling brightly at the man who always wore a relaxed grin.
"Yeah. How has it been living here all this time?" Yusuke asked as he pulled over a chair and casually rested both feet on the table.
"I've gotten used to it. But… why did you come here?" Rin asked.
"Come back to Konoha," Yusuke said bluntly.
"Oh? Why do I need to go back now?" Rin asked as she gently poured a glass of water for him.
"The time has come," Yusuke said with a faint smile.
"Alright. I'll pack my things right away," Rin said without asking further questions.
Not long after, Rin finished packing. She looked around the place she had lived in for many years, reluctance flashing through her eyes.
"Will I still be able to come back here?" Rin asked.
"Of course," Yusuke replied casually.
"Yusuke."
"What is it?"
"What exactly is your goal? Since I didn't die, that means Obito didn't die either, right? Then why didn't you let us appear in Kakashi's world?" Rin asked, finally voicing the doubt she had kept buried in her heart for so long.
"I forgot," Yusuke said indifferently, clearly not answering seriously.
"Then why aren't you afraid of Kakashi finding out now?" Rin asked.
"I really can't do anything to you," Yusuke sighed. "Obito didn't die. During the Kannabi Bridge incident, he was saved by Uchiha Madara."
"But at that time, Madara's body was already at the end of its lifespan. Because of that, he wanted Obito to carry out a terrifying plan for him. You know Obito's personality well—so Madara used your death to turn Obito into his puppet," Yusuke continued.
"How do you know so much? Could it be that you…" Rin stared at Yusuke in shock.
"You're overthinking it. I did make a deal with Madara, but that was purely to protect Kakashi from being harmed. Back then, the Uchiha clan didn't even have the qualifications to stand on equal footing with me," Yusuke said disdainfully.
Rin stared at Yusuke in silence.
She didn't know how far her old friend's strength truly went, but she knew one thing—despite having died back then, Yusuke was still able to bring her back to life.
"What is their goal?" Rin asked.
"To revive the Ten-Tails, then cast a genjutsu called the Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the world so it can reach peace. As for Obito, he wants to create a world where you can live. When you died by Kakashi's hand, Obito's world collapsed, so he was influenced by Madara," Yusuke said.
"Obito…" Sadness passed through Rin's eyes.
"How is Kakashi doing?" Rin asked as she looked at Yusuke.
"Very well. That kid even has a lover now," Yusuke said.
"Is that so? That's good to hear," Rin said with a relieved, happy smile.
"Wait a second. Don't tell me you don't like Kakashi?" Yusuke asked, rubbing his chin as he looked at Rin.
"Who said I like Kakashi? I just admire him," Rin replied, her face flushing red like an angry cat with raised fur.
"Oh… I see," Yusuke said, looking confused.
"Hahaha, Yusuke, you really haven't changed at all. So many years have passed, yet you're still just as dense," Rin laughed.
"How is that possible? My intelligence level can easily exceed two hundred," Yusuke said confidently.
In truth, the Hatake family's intelligence was in no way inferior to the Nara clan. It was just that because they were so strong, they were too lazy to think too much.
"I meant emotional intelligence," Rin said as she rolled her eyes.
"My emotional intelligence is excellent too," Yusuke retorted.
Yusuke brought Rin back to his home.
The reason he did so was because Rin's old house had long been taken over after her death, and Kurenai Yuhi was also Rin's closest friend.
"Come in. Kurenai is inside," Yusuke said.
He then led Rin into the house. Hearing his voice, a heavily pregnant Kurenai walked out from inside.
"You're back," Kurenai said softly.
"Yeah, I'm back. Kurenai, take a look at who I brought with me," Yusuke said.
"Who?" Because Yusuke was nearly one meter ninety tall, Rin standing behind him couldn't be seen at all.
"Ta-da!"
"Now is the time to witness a miracle," Yusuke said, striking an overly dramatic pose.
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