On the ship, with one arm as his pillow and his chest pressed against a tired little kitten, Shinji couldn't help but sigh. Unbeknownst to him, more and more people wanted to kill Obito.
Minato, Black Zetsu (Chloe), Konan, Mei Terumi (from Kirigakure), and probably some others in Konoha soon.
Shinji was convinced that in no time, Obito would truly find himself surrounded by enemies on all sides.
If this continued, Obito likely wouldn't survive until the endgame. He needed to find a way for Obito to at least shine brightly once before that.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, or rather Jigen, was the endpoint Shinji had chosen for Obito. After that, whether he lived or died depended on his fate. And perhaps things might get even more interesting after that.
However, there was a bit of a dilemma. Neither Shinji nor White Zetsu had been able to track Jigen even once—just vague traces.
This made things tricky. Without catching Jigen in the act of traveling through space-time, it was impossible to follow him to where he was hiding.
Shinji figured that if he could secretly observe Jigen moving through space-time, he could use Obito's eye technique at the same spot to enter the same dimension.
Once inside, things would be straightforward.
With Māra and Minato in Akatsuki for a group battle, Shinji found this development particularly intriguing.
"But without both Mangekyō Sharingan and a large chakra reserve, Obito will struggle to resonate with another space-time and enter it."
The system chimed in, raising an objection.
"I know. Don't worry about the chakra; Black Zetsu will take care of that. As for the two Mangekyō, well, I'll just borrow it when the time comes. I think I've got a good rapport with people in Konoha—what's one eye to borrow?"
System: …
You call that good rapport?
"What? You don't believe me? Fine, I'll prove it to you tomorrow… no, the day after."
"Host, can you really call that borrowing?"
"Of course! It's not like I won't give it back."
"Mm…"
Awoken by a murmur, Shinji looked down at Kurenai, panting delicately. He smiled faintly.
As much as he said that, at the moment, catching up with old friends seemed more important.
Smack!
Hit lightly by Shinji, Kurenai furrowed her brows slightly in annoyance, but before she could speak, Shinji silenced her, and she let out a soft moan, lost in it once more.
…
The next evening, Kurenai left the hot spring inn.
She left with a slight frown, feeling a strange weight in her heart.
It wasn't because of being taken advantage of, but because of the strange dream she had after they "caught up."
Kurenai remembered reading a Buddhist scripture that said, "Buddha says: Those who suffer in Avīci will never die, and their long lives are nothing but an unending hell."
Back then, Kurenai didn't quite understand what it meant, but after that dream, she began to get it. Perhaps it wasn't exactly the same, but it was eerily similar.
An unending cycle of suffering and torment.
"What's wrong?"
At the inn's entrance, seeing Kurenai lightly biting her lip with a conflicted expression, Shinji asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Kurenai turned away, then turned to leave.
"Wait, you haven't paid for your stay yet."
Hearing Shinji's words, Kurenai nearly tripped. Standing beside Shinji, Minato's expression was indescribably odd.
"Don't look at me like that, Minato. We're running a small business here—we can't operate at a loss!"
Hearing that, the empathy Kurenai had just felt disappeared without a trace. Could a human being say something like that?
What do you mean "can't operate at a loss?"
I've already given up my body!
Seeing Kurenai trembling with anger, clenching her fists, Minato quickly tried to ease the tension. "How about letting this one slide, Mr. Anri?"
"Don't be foolish. If you keep doing that, this inn will go bankrupt soon enough."
"Please, Mr. Anri," Minato whispered in Shinji's ear, "Just let her go this time. I'll cover it later."
"You? Do you even have money?"
"Uh..."
Minato was taken aback. Regardless of whether he had money or not, why did Mr. Anri have to say it out loud, making things so awkward?
"I… I didn't bring any! Put it on my tab!"
Leaving this loud remark, Kurenai walked off with large strides.
Not paying! I'm just not paying!
There's no way I'm giving you any money this time!
"I'll mark it down then, at regular bank interest rates. Don't forget—"
Hearing Shinji's voice behind her, Kurenai snapped.
God damn it!
…
Another day, in the afternoon.
Out at sea, Minato was sent flying by Shinji's kick, flying a full fifty meters before finally stopping.
Getting back on his feet, panting, Minato clutched his now useless left arm and looked at Shinji ahead, whose body was spotless, not even a drop of seawater touching him. He then glanced at the three young ones, who also had no fight left in them.
"Ahhh, I give up," Karin plopped herself down on the water, "Even with Sensei Minato, we still can't beat Teacher. He's a monster, an absolute monster."
"Heh..." Minato only smiled awkwardly, unsure if he was laughing at his own powerlessness or if he found "monster" inadequate to describe Shinji.
"Alright, you all failed the mission today as well."
Shinji clapped his hands, and Karin seemed indifferent—she was already used to it. Haku still maintained his gentle demeanor, exuding the same (soft) character vibes as always.
Minato just laughed awkwardly, thinking that even with nine tailed beasts, completing that task wouldn't be easy. The only one visibly struggling to accept it was Kimimaro.
"Speaking of which, Minato, that ultimate special deluxe eternal shining golden hyper ultra awesome chakra ball you used earlier was pretty neat. It really reminded me of that black, deluxe attack move of the three-tailed guy we saw the other day."
Watching Shinji spit out such a ridiculously long name in one breath without pausing, Karin burst out laughing, "Pfft—! What kind of name is that? It's way too long!"
Meanwhile, Minato frowned and spoke seriously, "Mr. Anri, while I admit the real name is indeed 'Ultimate Special Deluxe Eternal Shining Golden Hyper Ultra Awesome Chakra Ball,' we shorten it to 'Rasengan' because it's just too long."
"Is that really the name?!" Karin was completely lost.
"Something like that." Minato nodded and formed a blue Rasengan in his right hand, smiling warmly as always. "This is also the next technique I plan to teach you all. The ultimate chakra shape manipulation, a jutsu without seals—Rasengan."
"Huh? We can learn that too?"
Karin asked. She had already witnessed the Rasengan's power in their earlier battle. Although it didn't harm their teacher and was casually swatted away, it did create a huge splash in the ocean!
"As long as you practice diligently, you can all learn it. After all, you're all talented."
Minato said, confident in their abilities. After all, these three kids had learned tree climbing and water walking in no time, so calling them geniuses wasn't an exaggeration.
Besides, Minato had a feeling that these three might be the true children of destiny because their mission would one day influence the fate of the entire ninja world.
Thus, Minato decided not to hold anything back anymore.
He would teach them everything he knew—after all, these three were still unaware of the burden their fate held.
"Jutsu, huh…" Shinji murmured, rubbing his chin, then turned to Minato, "By the way, do you know genjutsu?"
"I'm not very good at it…" Minato scratched his head, "I know a few basic ones, and I'm okay at counter-genjutsu."
"Tricky… I can personally counter any genjutsu, but how will these kids train? A genjutsu expert, a genjutsu expert…"
Seeing Shinji deep in thought, Minato quickly offered a suggestion, "Mr. Anri, as far as I know, Miss Kurenai Yuhi is an expert in genjutsu. Perhaps she could…"
"Oh, right!" Shinji's eyes lit up, "I remember meeting someone once who was said to have the strongest genjutsu in the ninja world! I should just find that guy, right?"
And so, Shisui's group, just arriving on the coast of the Land of Hot Water from the Land of Water, "coincidentally" ran into Shinji.
…
"Borrow one of my eyes?"
Shisui felt as if he'd just been screwed over. He didn't expect to run into Shinji here, and he definitely didn't expect Shinji's first request to be to borrow one of his eyes.
But at least it wasn't outright robbery.
"Are you kidding?! How can I lend you something like that?!"
Itachi, with his crimson Sharingan flaring, already had a kunai ready, prepared to fight Shinji.
"Calm down! Itachi!" Chloe, who had never met Shinji before, stopped him. With a little guidance from the system, she was the only one who knew just how terrifying Shinji was.
"Um, have we done anything to provoke you?" Kakashi scratched his head and forced a smile. With someone like this, who'd destroy a village without blinking, there was nothing to do but appease him.
"No, I just want to borrow his eye to help improve the genjutsu skills of those three kids over there." Shinji pointed to the trio not far behind him, his expression nonchalant.
"For something like that, you want to take Shisui-san's eye?!"
When it came to Shisui, Itachi always got worked up.
Shinji looked down at Itachi briefly, then showed a bit of interest. "Oh? Your eyes are quite special too—let me see… Fire, and… genjutsu…"
In an instant, Itachi was shocked—he had been seen through!
Retracting his gaze from Itachi, Shinji shrugged with indifference. "You all are overreacting. I said I was just borrowing it. It's not like I won't give it back."
"Uh, Mr. Anri," Shisui stepped in front of Itachi, Chloe, and Kabuto, "May I ask, what will happen if I refuse?"
Shinji answered matter-of-factly, "You'd have to refuse first for me to find out. I can't predict that. Oh, and just call me Anri."
"Also, Mr. Anri, will you really return it?"
"Of course, I always keep my word."
Seeing Shinji give a thumbs-up, Shisui hesitated.
He had never imagined this day would come. Though it was phrased as "borrowing," it was actually a threat. If he refused, who knew what he might do to Itachi and the others?
He might even go to Konoha…
Shisui didn't dare think about it any further. After a few seconds of silence, he made up his mind.
"Alright, I'll lend it to you."
Hearing this, Shinji grinned widely, then turned around and called out to Minato, who was standing a distance away, "Minato, didn't I say I have a good rapport with people in Konoha? He really lent it to me!"
Minato's expression turned complicated, with a lot on his mind.
Would you really call this borrowing? This is clearly a threat!
"Don't start…"
"Wait, Itachi!" Shisui stopped Itachi from activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, then whispered, "Don't forget what I told you a few months back…"
Remembering Shisui's warning from over half a year ago, telling him to never provoke a certain blue-haired young man, Itachi clenched his fists.
"By the way, before you go, give each of those three kids one of your genjutsu attacks. Let me see, your genjutsu is called… Tsukuyomi? Nice name."
"How… How do you know?" Itachi was stunned, completely unable to understand how Shinji had seen through him.
"If I had to say, it's because you're human. Of course, you can try it on me, your Amaterasu and that Tsukuyomi of yours. As for the outcome… we'll see after."
Seeing Shinji squinting and raising a finger, Itachi almost activated his Mangekyō Sharingan right then and there, ready to use both Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
Worried that Itachi might do something rash, Shisui immediately removed his left eye and handed it to Shinji. "Mr. Anri, I hope you'll keep your promise."
"Don't worry, once they can withstand this level of genjutsu, I'll give it back to you," Shinji said dismissively, and the next moment, Shisui's eye was placed into a small jar and casually tossed into his system storage.
"Shisui…"
Seeing Shisui closing his left eye, blood still trickling down, Kakashi felt guilty, as he had planned this route back to the village.
"Seriously, I'm just borrowing it for a bit, and you all make me out to be the bad guy."
Shinji muttered discontentedly, placing his right hand over Shisui's left eye socket. "Until then, use this demonic eye I've got in my stock. Don't break it."
"Huh?" Shisui was stunned, and then he felt his empty eye socket…