Chapter 264 – Six Hundred Billion Explosive Tags
"That… that's Rin!" Kurenai exclaimed, her eyes widening as she stared at the beautiful woman standing in front of her.
"It's been a long time, Kurenai," Rin said as she looked at Yuhi Kurenai, a flicker of joy passing through her eyes.
"Rin, since when have you recovered?" Kurenai asked, her face filled with happiness.
"I actually recovered many years ago. It's just that there was someone who didn't allow me to appear in your lives," Rin said, glancing toward Hatake Yusuke.
"Hahaha, there was no other choice. If you'd appeared earlier, things definitely wouldn't have been pleasant," Yusuke said with a laugh.
In truth, if Rin had shown herself to the outside world, Black Zetsu would have used every possible method to kill her. Yusuke wasn't afraid, but it was impossible for him to protect Rin at all times. Besides, Obito was currently the most important link in Black Zetsu's plans.
"I never thought you'd become a mother," Rin said as she looked at Kurenai.
"That's right," Kurenai replied, a blissful smile on her face.
At the same time, Rin felt a faint sense of envy. Finding the one you loved since childhood, then getting married and having a child—what a happy kind of life that was.
"Rin, what's wrong?" Kurenai asked when she noticed Rin's expression.
"It's nothing. It just feels like you've changed a lot, Kurenai," Rin said.
"Well, I am about to become a mother, after all," Kurenai said with a smile as she gently stroked her belly.
"Alright, I have something I need to take care of, so I'll step out for a bit. You two can chat," Yusuke said with a faint smile.
(Rin didn't love Yusuke. But for many years, there had only been one man around her, so it was natural for a slight sense of affection to form.)
"He really comes and goes as he pleases," Kurenai said with a bright laugh.
"He hasn't changed at all," Rin said with a smile.
"If I may ask, who is this?" Rin asked as she looked at Shizune, who was tending to Kurenai.
"Hello, Rin-senpai. My name is Shizune."
"And also… Kakashi's girlfriend," Shizune added. She had heard stories about Nohara Rin before, but she wasn't about to give up so easily.
"I never thought Kakashi would have a girlfriend," Rin said calmly, showing no other reaction, as if she were simply sighing in relief.
"Rin! How can you be so calm?" Kurenai asked in surprise.
"Back then, what I felt for Kakashi was admiration, not romantic love between a man and a woman," Rin said.
She and Kakashi hadn't seen each other for many years. Maybe Kakashi had once been someone she liked—but that was far too long ago.
"I didn't expect you to think things through so clearly," Kurenai said as she looked at Rin.
"After all, I've died once already," Rin said with a bitter smile.
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Elsewhere, Konan stared at the masked man before her, a trace of vigilance flashing through her eyes.
"Konan, hand over Nagato's body," Obito said as he looked at her.
"Don't dream about it," Konan replied firmly. Of course, she would never agree to Obito's demand.
"You and Nagato betrayed me. You even used my Rinne Tensei," Obito said coldly.
"Betrayal? Akatsuki was an organization we founded from the very beginning. What does that have to do with you?" Konan shot back.
"Hmph. Do you really think Yahiko suddenly wanted to create Akatsuki for no reason? And why do you think Akatsuki grew so quickly? From the start, Akatsuki was mine. Yahiko and Nagato were nothing more than pawns meant to carry out my plan," Uchiha Obito said.
"Enough nonsense!" Though shocked, Konan knew this would be a fight to the death.
Konan immediately launched an attack toward Obito, but the paper shards passed straight through his body.
"Little girl, don't underestimate the power of the Uchiha clan's eyes," Obito said, his tone turning serious.
In the next instant, Konan transformed into an angel-like form and charged at Obito. She already understood the masked man's abilities, so she embedded Explosive Tags directly into her assault. Obito's right arm was blown apart by the explosion.
"This is just a minor injury, but my reaction was faster," Obito said calmly. "You should actually thank me. If I hadn't absorbed the force of that explosion, you'd already be dead."
"But that's only natural. After all, you were once a member of Akatsuki. Power like this suits you."
"Madara, do you know why we betrayed you and chose to support Naruto?" Konan asked.
"I don't know. That's your problem," Obito replied as he stared at her.
"Because you are darkness. And in darkness, flowers wither. So… die," Konan said.
As her words fell, the water beneath Obito's feet began to split apart.
"What is this…" Obito, who was about to relocate, suddenly noticed Explosive Tags wrapping around his body and immediately activated his intangibility.
"Explosive Tag ^_^"
"The duration of your intangibility is five minutes. Meanwhile, these six hundred billion Explosive Tags will keep exploding for a full ten minutes," Konan said with a cold smile.
Obito looked at the scene before him, a flash of shock passing through his eyes. Still, he didn't panic. He removed his mask, and the Sharingan in his remaining eye glowed red.
"Izanagi."
"The sacrifice is indeed great, but at least he's dead. That way, there will be no one left to interfere with Nagato," Konan thought to herself.
"Be careful, Master!" Eros instantly transformed into a giant bird and attacked Obito from behind.
Obito's body became intangible once more.
"I didn't expect you to still have a move like this, Konan," Obito said as he looked at her.
"Tell me where Nagato is," Obito said, slowly walking toward Konan.
"Leave it to me, Master," Eros said.
His body expanded again, and sealing patterns appeared all over him.
"Transforming into Gas Explosive Tags?"
Obito was shocked when he saw the symbols of Explosive Tags forming around him.
Even so, despite the rage burning inside him, he remained calm.
"Fire Release: Wild Dance of the Storm!"
Obito immediately launched his attack at Konan.
"Dance of Godslaying!" The papers covering Eros spun like a raging storm and surged toward Obito.
"I didn't expect this to be more troublesome than Konan herself," Obito muttered as he looked at the body covered in Explosive Tags. The situation felt extremely dire.
"It seems I'll have to use a special method," Obito said with a cold grin.
"Oh? What kind of method is that? Tell me," a tall figure suddenly appeared behind Obito and lightly patted his shoulder. His hand was clearly faster, yet he didn't attack—only gave a gentle tap.
"You… why are you here?"
Obito stared at Hatake Yusuke, fear flashing through his eyes.
"Oh, I came to pick up Konan. After all, before he died, Nagato entrusted her to me," Yusuke said with a faint smile.
"Hmph." Obito said nothing more. He immediately turned around and entered the Kamui dimension. He didn't want to stay anywhere near Yusuke any longer. If he accidentally offended him, the consequences would be extremely troublesome.
"Why did you come?" Konan asked awkwardly as she looked at Yusuke.
"Eros sent me a message," Yusuke replied.
He had actually been observing for quite some time. Six hundred billion Explosive Tags had genuinely shocked him.
He even felt that if the number were doubled, it might be possible to neutralize his Infinity—or maybe not. Either way, Yusuke didn't have that kind of capital to test it.
"Alright, come back to Konoha with me," Yusuke said as he patted Konan's head. "That man isn't someone you can kill. I still need him."
As he spoke, Yusuke shaped the paper in his hand into a paper flower and gently tucked it into Konan's hair.
"Okay," Konan replied. Seeing Yusuke's familiar behavior, her cheeks flushed red. She lowered her head slightly, looking shy as she glanced at him.
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