With this thought, Rinjin turned his gaze toward the aged, decrepit man sitting on the stone chair with his eyes closed.
To change all of this, he would need to change Uchiha Madara.
And someone like Uchiha Madara—even Naruto with his protagonist powers couldn't talk-no-jutsu him into submission.
Perhaps only when he was utterly defeated and on the brink of death would he finally lower his guard and abandon his obsessions.
Rinjin didn't dislike Uchiha Madara.
They were both people seeking to change this world—neither was superior to the other.
With this thought, Rinjin waved his hand to dismiss the handsome young Obito.
From the stone chair, old Madara spoke up.
"Time flies so fast! In the blink of an eye, another thirty years have passed. Rinjin, do you still remember our agreement?"
"I remember." Rinjin nodded.
"I don't interfere with your affairs, and you don't interfere with mine."
Upon hearing this, a mocking smile immediately curved Uchiha Madara's lips.
"Then explain to me—what's the deal with those Sharingan?!"
Hearing this, Rinjin also smiled, his eyes staring directly into Madara's narrowed gaze.
"Old man, so you really are scheming against that girl! No wonder I felt the scent of conspiracy permeating everywhere in the Hidden Mist Village. What's it gonna be—master against disciple, or fellow students turning on each other?"
At this point, Rinjin clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Old man, I'm gonna say something that might not sound nice—don't get mad."
"Speak."
"Well, I'll be direct then. All this fighting and killing is completely pointless. If you really want to cause trouble, there's plenty of room for that up there."
Rinjin pointed his index finger upward, winking slyly.
"There's a whole bunch of gods above our heads! How about we team up for something big—capture some gods and study them! You provide the brains, I'll provide the tech and manpower. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Madara shook his head disdainfully and spoke slowly.
"It's useless. Even if these so-called gods you mention exist, so what? Even if we kill them, so what? This world will still return to the quagmire of mutual hatred and slaughter. Your thinking isn't really different from Hashirama's. He wanted people to understand each other, while you want to create a powerful enemy to unite everyone. But have you considered this—placing hope in a single person or event, this fragile peace and understanding is destined to be short-lived."
...
After an unknown amount of time, Rinjin finally stood up with a faint smile.
"I don't know what your so-called plan can bring to this world. Hatred, resentment, jealousy—these are all part of being human. Without these, would people still be people? It's like justice. When you believe this world is filled with injustice, doesn't that mean there's a concept opposite to injustice called justice? If this world had no hatred or resentment, then the bonds and happiness we desperately pursue would be meaningless! The Infinite Tsukuyomi might create a world without conflict, but that world wouldn't have any 'humans' in it at all! Life will find its own way!"
"A child's tantrum." After muttering this final comment, Rinjin said no more. He formed a single hand seal and instantly vanished from the spot.
Different paths, no common ground.
Next time we meet, I'll show you what it means to wander the moon!
...
Returning to the Hidden Rain Village in a huff, Rinjin began secluded training.
Time flowed on, and the tense, intense war year of Konoha 45 quickly passed.
Mid-year of Konoha 46.
At Rinjin's house in the Hidden Rain Village.
Riyi rang the doorbell with an exasperated expression.
As a mature female voice responded from inside, the door opened.
Tsunade wore casual home clothes, her apron creating a breathtaking curve across her chest, holding a spatula in her hand.
"Sis, is my brother home?" Riyi asked quickly before Tsunade could speak.
Hearing this, Tsunade nodded instinctively, her expression still as innocent as a girl next door despite being thirty-six.
"What's he doing? It's been almost half a year, and I haven't seen him leave the house once."
Hearing this, Tsunade's face immediately showed a trace of distress as her free hand covered her forehead.
"I don't know either. This guy stays holed up in his study every day, writing non-stop."
"Writing what? The kind of stuff that starts with all ones, twos, threes, and fours?"
"Yes, yes, exactly that kind!" Tsunade nodded repeatedly, her casual home attire giving her a different kind of charm.
The next second, Riyi fell silent.
As the champion student raised by Rinjin since childhood, although she couldn't understand what her brother was writing, she knew one thing—someone was about to be in deep trouble! And we're talking major trouble.
She understood her brother too well. Usually, his schemes to trap people were just spur-of-the-moment ideas. But once he started writing out plans step by step to trap someone, it really meant: big pits cause falls, small pits twist ankles; the whole year's calendar reads 'inauspicious for all endeavors.'
With this thought, Riyi felt a cold sweat slowly seep down her back as she weakly asked, "Sis, when did my brother start staying shut in?"
Hearing this, Tsunade scratched her smooth, light blonde hair and recalled, "About half a year ago, I think. After he came back from sending Komi to the Hidden Mist Village, he looked like he was about to explode with anger. I even teased him about it at the time!"
With that, Tsunade burst into laughter.
Seeing this, Riyi felt cold sweat slowly form on her forehead.
She could already picture the scene in her mind.
In that situation, probably only her sister-in-law would dare joke around with her brother. If it had been her...
With this thought, Riyi immediately shrank back.
Three years of college prep, five years of practice tests—she understood completely...
Understanding her brother's petty personality of 'doesn't get angry for a year, but when angry stays angry for a year,' Riyi decisively declined Tsunade's invitation to stay for lunch and quickly escaped back to the Hidden Rain Building.
Meanwhile, in the study, Rinjin sported two huge dark circles under his eyes as he hunched over his desk, writing continuously.
Throughout the study, papers covered in writing and opened scrolls were scattered everywhere.
This time, he was planning to start by digging up Uchiha Madara's grave...
...
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