Several days later, at the main gate of Konoha Village.
Team Minato, having completed their mission, returned to the village and coincidentally met the three members of Team Jin, who were also returning from outside.
In the past, whenever these two teams met,
Obito would absolutely stick to Rin like a piece of plaster.
This time, however, he was nowhere to be seen.
Not only that, Konan and the others noticed that Minato, Kakashi, and Guy all wore expressions of utter grief and despair.
Moreover, Kakashi's left eye was bandaged.
"Minato-san, what is …?"
Konan, the eldest of the three girls, was the first to speak up and ask.
"Obito… he died in the line of duty."
Minato bit his lower lip tightly, forcing himself to speak through the pain in his heart.
"That idiot actually…"
Kurenai, who had now blossomed into a graceful young woman, also felt a pang of discomfort.
Although she had no particular feelings for Obito, he was, after all, a former classmate.
And now he was just… gone…
Soon after, everyone gathered at the Hokage's office.
For Minato's proposal to have Obito's name engraved on the Memorial Stone, Tsunade agreed without hesitation.
Out of remembrance for their classmate, Team Jin also went to the Memorial Stone.
They watched as the name, 'Uchiha Obito', was carved onto it.
Then, Minato went to Obito's home in the Uchiha Clan's compound and took out a set of spare clothes from his wardrobe.
They went to the cemetery and built a cenotaph for Obito. Everyone stood before the tombstone, offering their final words.
Minato: "You always worked so hard, Obito. Rest well now."
Guy: "Obito! Don't worry! I'll give it my all, enough for both of us!"
Konan: "…Rest in peace."
Kurenai: "Even though you were an idiot… you were still a bit better than Asuma."
Rin: "Obito, with these children keeping you company, I hope you won't be lonely in the next world."
As she spoke, Rin knelt down.
She patted several fingernail-sized orbs of light from her palm, which merged into the wildflowers and grass around the tombstone.
Anyone familiar with Rin knew-
This was [Soul Power].
The plants infused with this power immediately grew human eyes.
"Please keep him company,"
Rin said, clasping her hands in a praying gesture.
Wildflower: "Mhm, mhm, don't worry, Master!"
Wildgrass: "We'll chat with him every day, even though we don't even know his name…"
Although they had witnessed this a few times before, Minato and Guy couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
'This is truly a miraculous power.'
Kakashi, however, looked at Rin with his one unbandaged right eye.
Recalling Obito's last words to him–
"Kakashi, promise me, you must… protect Rin."
Remembering those words, Kakashi then looked at the living Homies created by Rin's ability around the tombstone.
He thought to himself, 'With Rin's strength, did she even need my protection?'
During the Third Great Ninja War, these three women had wreaked havoc on the northern and eastern battlefields.
They earned the nicknames [Paper Angel], [Storm Goddess], and [Soul Weaver Rin].
Forget about himself, even Minato probably wouldn't dare claim he had the ability to protect Rin.
Not to mention she had Jin standing behind her.
'Obito, your last request… is a bit difficult.'
…
In the central iron tower of Amegakure.
"Roughly how long until this kid can move again?"
The elderly Madara, sitting on his tree-like chair, glanced indifferently at Obito, who was still unconscious on the bed, his entire right side tightly wrapped in bandages, before looking up and asking.
The original White Zetsu, with only half a body, emerged from the wall, also glancing sideways at Obito before replying:
"Not too serious. With the artificial cells of the First Hokage, he should recover in about three months."
"Cough! Cough! Make it faster. I'm almost out of time myself."
The elderly Madara coughed violently.
Although the Gedo Statue provided Chakra to barely sustain his life, there was a limit.
Madara was now at the end of his rope.
If he didn't corrupt Obito soon, he would kick the bucket ahead of schedule.
After taking several deep breaths and barely recovering, Madara asked again:
"What about the thing I asked you to prepare? How is it going?"
"Don't worry, it's already acquired."
White Zetsu chuckled weirdly.
"It's absolutely guaranteed to make that kid Jin suffer immensely."
"To think we have to use this method… Whatever, it's not like we have any other choice."
Madara shook his head and sighed.
"Hehe~ But for a guy with a simp personality like Obito, it's the most effective method~"
White Zetsu's laughter grew even more exaggerated.
"Simp?"
"Oh~ I learned that term from that guy Jin."
"Hmph~ He certainly likes to come up with all sorts of messy stuff."
…
"Damn, finally."
During dinner, Jin also heard about Obito from Konan and the others.
'That Madara guy is something else.'
'He acted a full three years later than in the original work.'
'I thought he was already dead.'
"What do you mean, Sensei?"
Rin blinked her big eyes, looking confused.
"Nothing, nothing. Just eat your food."
Jin rubbed Rin's head, then suddenly remembered something and said to Harribel:
"Tier, we should find some time to go back to your home and kill that brain-dead Yhwach."
Harribel sat quietly on the other side of the living room. Hearing Jin's words, she was momentarily stunned before replying softly after a few seconds:
"…It's fine to leave it be."
After all, she had no attachments left in the Bleach World.
After so many years in this world, she had gradually grown accustomed to life here.
"No can do. After how they tortured you back then, how can we just let it go?"
Jin swallowed his last mouthful of rice, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth.
'How shameless!'
Ace secretly complained in the chat group.
Actually, Jin had pretty much squeezed all the benefits he could from the Bleach World.
But because Yamamoto had entrusted Ryujin Jakka to him before, even if just to fulfill that promise, he had to go kill Yhwach.
The reason he said it that way… was obviously to gain favor with Harribel.
Didn't you see the look in that bombshell mature beauty's eyes after hearing Jin's words?
They were practically sparkling.
After so many years in the group, even a pure guy like Ace had learned quite a few pick-up techniques from Jin.
Too bad he had no chance to practice them.
Even if he were resurrected via Impure World Reincarnation, he still wouldn't have tactile senses.
What's the point of picking up girls without touch?
It's like a eunuch entering the bridal chamber.
However, Jin's next sentence completely shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.
"Can I see your Hollow hole?"
Harribel: "…"
"Charge, Tiburon!"
With the release command, a torrent of raging water infused with golden Reiatsu erupted forth, instantly swallowing Jin's entire residence.
Another ten seconds, and it would have been enough to turn half of Konoha into an ocean.
"Harribel-nee! Calm down! Calm down!"
"Jin-sensei! Can you not be such a jerk right now?!"
"Ahhh… The water's coming out! Someone do something to stop it!"
…
Bleach World.
When Jin arrived here for the second time, the feeling was completely different.
If the first time felt like playing a Souls-like game, this time it was like having a trainer activated.
Behind Jin, Harribel also stepped through the portal, returning to this long-unseen world.
This place… is the Wandenreich!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The moment the two returned to this world, they saw numerous blue-and-white pillars of light shooting straight up into the sky.
They engulfed large numbers of the Sternritter, the Quincy of the Wandenreich.
"Your Majesty! Why are you doing this!?"
"Why have you abandoned us!?"
"What are we to you!?"
The Quincies below let out cries filled with resentment, hatred, and fear, questioning Yhwach.
Yet despite this, their bodies and souls were disintegrated into Reishi by the [Auswählen], returning to Yhwach's body.
"Pfft… Hahaha!"
Jin couldn't hold back his laughter.
He never expected to witness such a famous scene right upon returning.
If Yhwach had just waited a few more hours, his Sternritter could have slaughtered the entire Gotei 13.
But this guy just had to activate Auswählen, wiping out over 80% of his own forces.
Jin seriously suspected Yhwach was a mole.
In contrast to Jin, who was laughing heartily at the spectacle, Harribel frowned deeply, unprecedented hatred surfacing in her eyes.
After all, she had personally experienced something similar.
Betrayal by the very one she served!
Just then, Harribel felt a large hand wrap around her waist.
She instinctively turned her head and felt her lips being sealed.
Seeing Jin's face so close, Harribel struggled instinctively.
But she couldn't break free at all.
Harribel realized the gap in their strength was too great!
After being teased by Jin for about half a minute, Harribel finally managed to break free, gasping for breath.
This was her first time experiencing something like this.
"Don't worry, I'm not Aizen. I won't abandon you."
Jin couldn't resist giving another squeeze.
By now, the light pillars from the Auswählen were gradually fading.
Only a handful of the Quincies who had been on the ground remained.
"My, my, this is quite unexpected~"
A lazy, deep voice strikingly similar to Borsalino's came from behind the two.
Harribel jumped in surprise, quickly breaking free from Jin's embrace.
She turned to look.
It was Kyoraku Shunsui, now the Captain of the 1st Division, walking towards them while clapping, his expression odd.
"To think someone could win over this Vasto Lorde lady. You're quite something, young man~"
"You flatter me. I don't have any particular skills, just a sincere heart. Tier was simply moved by my sincerity…"
Jin played along with a weird laugh.
Harribel shot the shameless bastard a sharp glare.
Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat, his gaze fixed intently on the ancient-looking katana at Jin's waist.
As a student of Yamamoto, how could he not recognize it?
That was Ryujin Jakka!
"Young man, you're truly impressive. Your Reiatsu feels entirely human, yet not only did you steal the Bankai of Captains Kuchiki, Hitsugaya, and Sui-Feng, you even snatched Old Man Yama's Bankai back from Yhwach?"
Clearly, Kyoraku mistakenly believed Jin had taken Ryujin Jakka from Yhwach.
After all, the entire Gotei 13 knew that during the previous battle between Yamamoto and the fake Yhwach, Ryujin Jakka's Bankai had been stolen.
Jin didn't bother to explain.
'If that's what you think, then so be it.'
"So? Want to take it back?"
Jin asked with a smile.
"…No. Since that sword serves you well, young man, please use it properly."
After only a second of silence, Kyoraku gave an unexpected answer.
It shocked Harribel so much her eyes nearly popped out.
'Giving up just like that?'
This was mainly because Harribel didn't understand Kyoraku at all.
This was the guy who, to bridge the power gap between the Soul Society and the Wandenreich, would even release Aizen for utilization.
Not to mention they were now in a desperate situation where the Soul King Palace was about to be captured.
If giving Ryujin Jakka to Jin could help, he'd do it. He'd probably even offer himself up if needed.
Not that anyone would want him, though.
"Ho~ Such an insightful leader is a rare sight."
Jin rarely praised a man.
After all, in all his time traversing the 2D World, he had encountered far too many idiot leaders.
Forget the Konoha Council for now.
The Kozuki Family in One Piece, Yhwach in Bleach…
They really were one bigger idiot than the last.
Compared to them, Kyoraku was practically the reincarnation of the God of Literature.
"Well. Then we are temporarily on the same side."
Kyoraku nodded, walking over to stand beside the two, squinting as he said:
"Then… could I trouble you, young man, and this Vasto Lorde lady to deal with the remaining Quincies on the ground? I have other matters to attend to. Could you buy us some time?"
Kyoraku's so-called 'matters' were undoubtedly going to release Aizen from the Muken prison.
"Going to release Aizen? Perfect, Tier has a grudge against him,"
Jin raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Tier, why don't you go with Admiral Kizaru? Take the chance while that guy is immobilized and chop him up."
Harribel was taken aback.
But she had to admit, it was a tempting idea.
"Now, now~ Young man, don't be reckless. I still want to persuade Aizen to join our side. And my family name is Kyoraku, given name Shunsui. It's not 'Kizaru' or anything…"
Kyoraku wore a pained expression.
'Damn it, this guy is a troublemaker.'
"With me here, what need is there for Aizen~"
Jin took a step forward, looking up at the sky.
Too bad the Soul King Palace couldn't be seen from this position.
"Just kill Yhwach, and it's all over. By the way, the Soul King Palace is up there, right?"
Jin withdrew his gaze and asked.
"The Soul King Palace is separated from the Seireitei by 72 barriers. Normal methods can't reach it. And young man, don't think just because you have Old Man Yama's Zanpakuto you can deal with that monster. We should gather more forces, wait for Kurosaki-kun, Urahara-san, and the others to… Holy shit!?"
Before Kyoraku could finish, he was stunned speechless by Jin's next action.
Boom! Boom! Boom-!!!
Within the former Wandenreich's palace, now belonging to Yhwach, a terrifying pressure erupted from Jin's body.
The explosive energy made the entire Wandenreich… no! The entire Soul Society tremble violently, as if doomsday had arrived.
"What's going on!?"
Yhwach, who had just defeated the Zero Division's Captain, Ichibe Hyosube, felt the violent tremors in the Soul King Palace and shouted angrily.
"Wh-what is this power!?"
Back in the Wandenreich, Rukia, Hitsugaya, and the others looked on in terror.
Even Aizen, imprisoned deep in Muken, didn't look much better.
…
"Wouldn't it be simpler to just blast the Soul King Palace down?"
Jin raised his hands high.
This was a new technique he developed, imitating Vegeta's Galick Gun.
"Hey, hey! Young man! Our allies in the Zero Division and the Soul King himself are still up there!"
Kyoraku cried out in alarm, trying to stop him.
He thought Jin's confidence came from Ryujin Jakka.
But now… it felt like Ryujin Jakka wasn't even worthy of him!