"What? You brought Madara back to Konoha?", Rin was startled and immediately forgot about the embarrassment of being held by Obito.
Obito spoke softly, "Yeah, I've been getting bolder with my actions lately. Wasn't it only natural for White Zetsu to notice and report to Madara?"
"He wanted to see me, and I had no reason to run away. So I met him. We talked a lot, and for now, I've convinced him."
A trace of worry appeared between Rin's brows, "Madara is an extremely dangerous person."
Obito replied, "Yeah, very dangerous. Maybe I'm not afraid of him, but what if he harms you all? When I met him, I was really nervous."
Rin was curious, "Then… will he still do something like that?"
Obito knew she was referring to Madara sealing the Three-Tails inside her.
He shook his head, "Probably not. He doesn't have many years left to live. He's still counting on me to catch Black Zetsu and bring it to its destined end."
"Black Zetsu?", Rin was puzzled. Obito hadn't told her about this before.
So, Obito explained everything about Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Black Zetsu. Since he had already tricked Madara into coming back, there was nothing to hide anymore.
After listening, Rin couldn't help but be shocked, "I never expected that the chakra we use today actually came from Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
"That Black Zetsu is really sinister. It tricked Madara, Madara tricked you, and then you tricked many others, which led to so many tragedies."
Obito mocked himself, "Yeah, Black Zetsu is the real mastermind. The history I know is just a fabricated story it created. It's really… looking down on everyone from above."
Rin snorted, "It even dared to mock you? If I see it in the future, I'll beat it up!"
Obito chuckled, "Someone's already beaten it up before. You know that person well—Naruto."
Rin suddenly understood, "No wonder you treat Naruto so well. You even risked going blind just to let him see Jiraiya one last time."
"But…", Rin thought of her own mother, "Black Zetsu is really filial. If one day my mom were trapped in a dark place, unable to move, no matter what, I would do everything to save her."
Obito found it amusing, "Yeah, thinking about it now, even though Black Zetsu did so many bad things, its goal was actually very simple. It just wanted to save its mother."
"Compared to that, Itachi is the real 'model son.'"
Rin sighed, "Black Zetsu is our enemy, but after being with Mom just now and feeling her love for me…"
"I can actually understand Black Zetsu a little. I even feel sorry for it. Obito, do you think I'm being too much?"
Obito shook his head, "Rin, in this world, so-called justice often depends on one's standpoint. Black Zetsu's stance is different from ours, so there's no absolute right or wrong."
"It's just that its actions threaten our safety, which is why it became our enemy. That's all."
"After talking with Madara, I realized something. I'm actually very selfish."
"My desire to create peace is just the guilt and regret of a selfish person."
"But if one day, someone hurts you, and the price of saving you is to become the enemy of the whole world, I will do it again without hesitation."
Rin pressed her finger against Obito's lips, "Obito, that day will never come."
Obito nodded, "You're right. I'm so strong now, and you're not weak either. We're no longer at the mercy of fate, forced to go with the flow."
"In the shinobi world, only those who control their own destiny can have a bright future."
Rin smiled, "So, Obito, did meeting Madara help you resolve your inner conflicts?"
Obito smiled, "Talking to you like this has made me feel much better. Yeah, I've worked through it."
Rin grinned mischievously and wriggled slightly in Obito's arms, "So, can you let go of me now?"
Obito suddenly sensed a dangerous aura. If he didn't let go now, he would definitely suffer.
Rin wasn't some delicate girl, her strength was ridiculous. If she really wanted to struggle, could he still hold her so easily?
He had already enjoyed this for long enough; he shouldn't be greedy. Thinking this, Obito prepared to release her.
But… his hands still held her tightly and didn't move.
Rin was confused, "Obito, why aren't you letting go?"
Obito awkwardly said, "This time… my hands are really numb. I can't move them…"
———
By the time Obito sent Rin home, it was already very late.
Rin guiltily glanced around. Seeing that her bedroom door showed no signs of being opened, she breathed a sigh of relief.
As a ninja, she had excellent observational skills and was very confident about this.
Because Obito had taken advantage of her so much, she couldn't focus on reading the medical books Tsunade-sama had assigned. Instead, she lay in bed, daydreaming.
After a while, Mrs. Nohara knocked on the door. When Rin gave permission, she walked in.
Seeing Rin lying in bed, she smiled, "What, tired from studying?"
Rin, feeling guilty, nodded, "Yeah, I've been reading for a long time. Just resting for a bit."
Mrs. Nohara instinctively glanced at Rin's desk and was momentarily stunned.
Then, she smirked mischievously, "Rin, don't tell me you sneaked out with your little boyfriend?"
Rin's face turned red from being caught, but then she realized. Her mom hadn't been inside, so she didn't know what actually happened.
So she stubbornly said, "No, I was home studying the whole time."
Mrs. Nohara sighed helplessly, "Rin, sweetie, I know you better than anyone. Do you really think you can fool me?"
"There's a plate of your favorite fruit on your desk. If you had seen it and didn't eat a single piece, now that would be abnormal."
"Unless you never even looked at the desk because you were on the balcony… being lured away by some troublemaker."
She shook her head, deliberately putting on a pained expression, "As expected, daughters grow up and run off with other boys. They don't even tell their moms anymore."
Rin immediately wanted to bury herself under the blankets.
'Ah! How can Mom see through me so easily?'
Mrs. Nohara looked at her daughter's adorable reaction and spoke gently, "Next time you go out, remember to wear an extra layer. The night wind is cold. Even though you're a ninja, you could still catch a cold."
"And take some fruit with you. Share it with that troublemaker. Don't waste food."
After saying that, she quietly left and closed the door.
Rin instantly jumped out of bed and looked at the plate of fruit.
Strawberries—all her favorites.
She glanced around, then sneakily grabbed one and popped it into her mouth, taking small bites as if savoring a secret treat…
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