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Wherever the gaze fell, life gathered.
An immense vitality ignored the severity of Rin's injuries, swiftly healing her wounds and regenerating her shattered heart until all wounds were fully healed. Once Rin's breathing steadied, Yoichi retracted his Mangekyo Sharingan.
The consumption of chakra was immense. Repairing a shattered heart was complex, and Rin had been on the brink of death, almost stepping into the afterlife. However, Yoichi had ultimately saved her.
After a while, Rin slowly opened her eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling. "Is this the afterlife? It seems I died. Kakashi, Minato-sensei, Mina-sensei, Yoichi-sama..."
"You are not dead," a voice interrupted from nearby, snapping Rin back to reality. She quickly sat up, realizing she was in a large, dimly lit chamber with only a few lamps providing light.
Turning towards the voice, she saw Yoichi and gasped in disbelief. "Yoichi-sama?"
"It's me, Rin," Yoichi said, approaching with a cup of water and a soldier pill. "You were revived. The tailed beast within you has also vanished due to your near-death state, leaving you very weak. So, eat this soldier pill."
Just moments ago, Rin had been teetering on the brink of death. The three-tails had already begun its resurrection process, likely because parts of Rin's body were as good as dead, causing the sealing space within her to collapse, allowing the three-tails to be reborn.
Though it was a pity, Yoichi didn't mind much. Knowing the three-tails' location meant it could be easily captured later.
The thought of Rin's near-death state troubled Yoichi. The chakra left on her earlier had been nearly insufficient; reviving someone near death consumed multiple times the chakra required for mere healing.
Rin, still somewhat dazed, accepted the water and the soldier pill. After consuming them, she felt her strength and chakra gradually returning. Regaining her senses, she asked, "Yoichi-sama, why am I here? I was with Kakashi, being chased by Kirigakure shinobi. I should have..."
Touching her chest, Rin felt the shredded clothing and bloodstains where she had been stabbed but found her skin smooth and uninjured.
"How...how is this possible?"
"I saved you. You were indeed supposed to die, but I left a Mangekyo Sharingan technique on you last time, which saved your life and brought you back," Yoichi explained, simultaneously placing his hand on Rin's neck, connecting with the chakra imprint left there to influence her through his chakra.
"I had a premonition you'd face danger on your mission, so I left a bit of my power with you. It seems I was right."
"It was Yoichi-sama who saved me," Rin murmured, recalling the sensation of nearing death but being held back by a light, which she now understood was Yoichi-sama.
"Yoichi-sama, where is this place?"
"This is my alchemy lab, located at the edge of Konoha's barrier, deep underground. Only I come here," Yoichi said.
"I'm back in Konoha?" Rin was shocked. She and Kakashi had been at the Fire Country border, nearly a day's journey from Konoha.
"Then, Yoichi-sama, what should I do now? I want to return to the battlefield."
"You're very kind, Rin, but you cannot return now," Yoichi said gently. "If you go back, you'll still face death. Kirigakure will continue to target you due to your unique chakra. Moreover, there are deeper forces behind Kirigakure targeting you. Even in Konoha, you'd face constant assassination attempts."
Rin felt panic rising within her, clinging to Yoichi's words as her only lifeline. "Yoichi-sama, then what should I do?"
Under the influence of the Senjutsu chakra, Rin found Yoichi's chakra incredibly comforting and trusted him deeply.
"Stay here, Rin. Trust me and stay here for a few years until things settle," Yoichi advised, gently stroking her short brown hair. "It will be lonely, but I'll visit often and teach you many jutsu."
"Stay here for years?" Despite her trust in Yoichi, Rin hesitated at the thought of spending years in this dark underground space. It was a difficult decision.
"Stay until my underground base is fully constructed. Let that be the timeframe," Yoichi suggested, sensing her dilemma. The Senjutsu chakra's influence wasn't a form of hypnosis; he wanted Rin to make the choice willingly.
"Follow me. I'll show you around," Yoichi said, leading the way.
"Okay, Yoichi-sama," Rin replied, standing up but stumbling from her weakened state. Yoichi caught her.
"Thank you, Yoichi-sama," she whispered, blushing, as she followed him out.
Leaving the chamber, they entered a vast underground space, supported by tall wooden structures, with only a few developed areas and the rest undeveloped.
"This is my alchemy lab. Once it's completed, you can leave," Yoichi explained. "If you go out now, those shadowy figures might go into hiding. I need you to fake your death for a while."
After a moment's contemplation, Rin nodded firmly. "I understand, Yoichi-sama. I'll do as you say."
"For now, you are my disciple. I will teach you everything, even forbidden techniques," Yoichi said, gently stroking her hair again. "When you leave, you might become Konoha's greatest kunoichi."
"That's a bit exaggerated, Yoichi-sama," Rin said, embarrassed. She wondered why Yoichi-sama liked patting her head so much.
Seeing her agreement, Yoichi felt relieved. He wouldn't need to use forceful measures. Over time, with their constant interaction, Rin would surely become his obedient disciple.
Yoichi then demonstrated alchemy to her, showing techniques far different from traditional medicine preparation, piquing her interest. Watching closely, Rin developed a curiosity for alchemy.
Yoichi planned to teach her, despite the difficulty of such practices in the ninja world without advanced equipment.
Yoichi occasionally left to fetch supplies, including daily meals and necessities for Rin, ensuring no one else knew of her presence. Even when away, a Wood Clone stayed behind, and without his permission, Rin couldn't leave the underground base.
The ventilation shafts were sealed with wood release, and the entrance guarded by seals, making it nearly impenetrable.
"Obito, from now on, you are Uchiha Madara," the aged Madara declared, severing his connection with the Gedo Statue.
Teaching Obito yin-yang release and six paths techniques in a genjutsu before dying, Madara entrusted the plan to him, confident Obito and Nagato would collect the tailed beasts.
Witnessing Madara's death, Obito fell silent until Black Zetsu and White Zetsu approached. "Obito, what will you do now? Will you meet Nagato? There's a remnant of Madara's will with him."
"Uchiha Fugaku, right? I didn't expect such triviality in the clan's leadership struggle. It makes me despise the Uchiha even more," Obito muttered. Having seen Rin's death, his mind twisted, longing to end the world and complete the Moon's Eye Plan.
"Before Madara died, I had a question. Can you, as his will, answer it?" Obito asked, his three-tomoe Sharingan fixated on Black Zetsu.
"What is it?" Black Zetsu replied cautiously.
"Rin's body disappeared after being impaled by Kakashi. Why? Did someone use space-time ninjutsu?" This question had haunted Obito, and he wanted answers.
"I don't know. I wasn't born then and can't answer," Black Zetsu lied, knowing the truth but withholding it. "But Rin is undoubtedly dead."
White Zetsu added, "We're not sure, but finding the three-tails will confirm it. If it has resurrected, it means Rin died."
This struck Obito hard. If the three-tails had reappeared, it confirmed Rin's death. But where was her body? He wanted to lay her to rest in his Kamui dimension.
"Obito?" Zetsu prompted.
"Nothing. Let's go," Obito decided, ready to visit Fugaku and see Madara's remnant influence.
Meanwhile, in Ame, Yahiko and Konan's visit to Konoha seeking aid had been unsuccessful. Despite personal support from Sarutobi, official backing was denied. Faced with limited resources, Akatsuki would now have to take on visible missions, risking Hanzo's wrath.
(End of Chapter)