And so, Uchiha Obito died.
Yorin couldn't help finding it strange—could someone like Obito really go to the Pure Land?
Whatever. Once you're dead, the ledger closes. Whether it's the Pure Land or hell is the next stage's business.
Maybe a hundred trillion years from now, when Uchiha Yorin dies, he'll see Obito again. Who knows—will Obito share a laugh and let bygones be bygones, or will he kick up a fuss and demand vengeance?
By then, though, the line of people wanting revenge on Yorin might stretch from the Himalayas to Manhattan. Obito wouldn't even rank.
Uchiha Yorin: "That's basically that. Next, it's over to you, Kakashi."
Kakashi: "Ah… mm…"
If anyone in this group felt true sadness at Obito's death, it was Kakashi. He picked Obito's head up off the ground. Like Sarutobi Hiruzen after Danzō died months ago, his face was a mix of grief and relief.
He wouldn't be right again for a while. Yorin patted his shoulder and turned away. Minato, Jiraiya, even Shisui all looked exhausted.
Only Tsunade's news offered any comfort.
"He's born."
She and Mei walked over, Tsunade cradling a tiny Naruto with soft yellow fuzz.
"Congratulations—it's a boy."
She handed the baby toward the Fourth, flustering Minato into a panic.
Hearing that, Yorin almost clicked his tongue.
Honestly, with all the Seduction Jutsu CGs, he'd been curious how a "Naruko" route would play. So we're doing this, huh?
At least things were looking good on "Sasuko's" side…
"The Nine-Tails is fine, too. The Three-Tails' jinchūriki, though… not so sure."
Mei added, her tone complicated—part relief, part sorrow.
Kiri had lost disastrously this time. Even as a rogue-nin, Mei still felt something for her village. Seeing Kiri in such a pitiful state hurt.
"Cheer up."
Yorin, sensing her mood, set a hand on her shoulder.
"The worse Kiri looks, the better your chances. Isn't that so?"
Mei's eyes flashed—she immediately thought of Yorin's plan to "set Kiri right," i.e., invade.
Did she really have a chance to flip the script and become Mizukage?
Even if rising through Konoha meant becoming its puppet—a puppet Mizukage is still a Mizukage.
And Uchiha Yorin—this powerful, ambitious man—was he really going to be Anbu commander-for-life?
A lot of…interesting possibilities clicked into place. She leaned in and lowered her voice: "If it were just me…"
Yorin: "It's not just you. I bagged three of the Swordsmen—especially that Hōzuki kid. Used right, he's political capital."
While they spoke, Kakashi had hefted Obito's corpse and head and was heading into the depths of the Forest of Death.
It looked like, rather than gold-leafing the head as a sake cup, he meant to bury Obito properly.
Honestly, that's just Kakashi—anyone colder would have had the body on a slab in Orochimaru's lab already.
Yorin: "…"
"Should we go dig it up later?"
He thought a few seconds—and decided to let it be. Maybe pop the Sharingan—everything else, bury it. Even as a man who doesn't always act like one, he could at least act like one sometimes.
"In any case, the night is finally over."
"Yeah."
After a brief haze of worry and sorrow, the group chose to say something uplifting.
Whatever else, they'd won. Kiri's raiding party was wiped out.
They'd captured three of the Seven Swordsmen alive, and even bagged the Fourth Mizukage Yagura—though, according to Tsunade, he was basically done for; the fact he was still breathing was a miracle.
Then again, a half-dead Mizukage might serve Konoha's interests better…
"Leave all this to me, Minato."
Yorin clapped Minato's shoulder. "You just think about how to absorb Kiri. I'll handle the rest."
Minato: "…"
"…Then I'm counting on you."
He guessed what Yorin was about to do. He knew this was the necessary evil of a second-generation "shadow" of Konoha.
Even so, he felt guilty toward Uchiha Yorin—the way the Third had felt toward Danzō.
"It's fine—we're both doing it for Konoha."
Yorin chuckled. "That is the Will of Fire, Minato. More importantly—shouldn't you go look in on your wife?"
Minato: "Eh—ah—Kushina!!"
At Yorin's prompt, Minato remembered his wife had just given birth—he yelped and vanished in a flash of Flying Thunder God.
Uchiha Yorin: "Ahh—youth, romance… Tsunade—how about a kiss?"
Jiraiya: "Huh?"
Seeing Yorin's expectant look, Tsunade thought for a few seconds—then didn't fully agree to such an unreasonable request.
There were still people around; a kiss was a bit embarrassing. Don't be fooled by her age—she still had a pure maiden's heart.
Jiraiya: "Ah."
So—a simple hug would do.
Jiraiya: "Ah…"
Watching the two wrapped up together, Jiraiya felt very redundant indeed.
How does this kid keep one foot on eight boats and never get wet? Kind of curious—maybe he should ask.
His feelings were complicated—but in the end he said nothing. He slipped away in silence with a tongue-tied Minato and a heartsick Kakashi.
Whatever else, Uchiha Yorin was the village's hero.
And a hero should enjoy a hero's welcome.
That's probably what Tsunade thought, too.
Repelling Kiri's invasion, standing against a Tailed Beast, killing a traitor, capturing three of the Seven Swordsmen—any one would be a lifetime's brag.
Uchiha Yorin checked them all off in a single day.
Such a man is a hero of heroes—and deserves a hero's due. Namely, a beauty to warm the returning warrior.
If she (Tsunade) didn't step up—when Yorin got home, there'd be no shortage of enthusiastic little vixens waiting.
Tsunade knew it—so she hugged him gently, warmly—as if welcoming home a victorious husband.
Yorin: "Oh? Looks like everyone's gone far enough."
Tsunade: "You little lecher."
Understanding his meaning at once, Tsunade flushed—closed her eyes—and let him feel the heat of her lips—the astonishing sweetness and softness.
So good. So very good.
Maybe—this was the scene Obito dreamed of with Rin?
Yorin's mind drifted for a few seconds—then sank completely into the warmth and passion of the beauty in his arms, unable to pull free.