It wasn't because he was just using her; it was because only she could fulfill what he needed her to.
What he had done was develop a devious scheme, a loophole that would allow him to play with death. It was through the process known as "Collaboration Techniques."
These powerful methods that allow characters to combine their jutsu to create new techniques that are stronger than the individual components. These techniques can enhance attributes such as power, range, and elemental effects, making them particularly valuable in battle.
A few examples could be related to the Inuzuka clan and their canine partners. Even though their Fang-Over-Fang didn't officially fall under the term "cooperation ninjutsu," some jutsus could still blend different nature transformations, like combining fire and wind, to create a stronger attack.
The success of these techniques often relied on synchronization between the participants, which means that they need to have a strong connection or shared mindset to execute the jutsu effectively.
Reincarnation techniques, like the Reanimation jutsu, allow characters to bring back the dead but come with significant costs, often draining the user's chakra or life force.
However, if Ninja B collaborates with allies who can replenish chakra or life force, they could mitigate the cost of these techniques. By working together, they could enable the repeated use of reincarnation techniques without incurring debilitating drawbacks.
This collaboration creates a loophole where teamwork not only enhances offensive and defensive strategies but also plays a crucial role in life preservation.
Teams could potentially devise strategies that leverage the strength and abilities of their allies to revive fallen comrades multiple times during critical times in battle.
How could fans not see this? It was in their faces all along. But who could blame fans when the writers never knew what they were even doing?
Had the characters in this world understood this crucial loophole, they could have fundamentally altered the stakes of conflicts within the series, allowing characters to return and continue fighting, thereby shifting survival in various confrontations.
Arthur could have easily learned both Chiyo's techniques and Ryūzetsu's technique, going as far as taking her Kekkei Genkai through a simple transplant. But why would he risk his life for a theory?
This loophole was indeed possible, but the risks of dying still had to be considered.
Ryūzetsu was nothing more than another test subject. If she failed, she would not only die but would be labeled as another failed experiment, causing Arthur to look for a new specimen.
But if he succeeded, he would truly cement his legacy as the most deadly person in every universe that used the name "Naruto."
After understanding this, Ryūzetsu's mind began to spin.
"But how is that possible?" she wondered. "The One's Own Life Reincarnation and Life Transference techniques... they're similar, but I never thought—"
"Exactly," Arthur interjected. "Your unique Kekkei Genkai is the perfect fit for imploring this technique. When combined with endless chakra provided by Saiken, you could potentially bring back anyone from the dead by calling their soul back to their body."
"Wait… Are you saying…?"
"Yes," he said, dismissing any further questions. At those words, the coffin fell open, crashing to the ground. "I've waited long enough… It's time to revive Rin Nohara."
The name echoed in Ryūzetsu's mind. She had heard of the girl, but that hadn't mattered. What she wanted to do more than anything now was help Arthur achieve his goals.
She then looked at Saiken and said, "I believe you'll keep me stable so I continue being by his side a little longer."
Saiken shifted, the great slug's upper body focusing on her with unexpected kindness.
"Long as you don't doubt your abilities," it said.
His statement sounded less like encouragement and more like peer pressure.
Feeling the weight of their expectations, Ryūzetsu took a deep breath and closed her eyes, saying, "Okay, I'm ready."
She stepped closer to where the dead corpse was.
From what she understood, she had to focus every fiber of her being and connect both her chakra and spirit with that of Rin's. Once she's performed the technique, Saiken will try to balance her diminishing chakra and then amplify it while simultaneously restoring it.
If this worked, not only would Rin be revived, but Ryūzetsu would also survive. And if she survived, the world would be his for the taking.
"I can do this," she whispered as Saiken placed a slimy tentacle on her back.
Not once had she given this technique a name. But after all that's happened, she knew what to call it. She extended her hands and drew upon her inner self: "Chakra resurrection jutsu!"
Vibrant tendrils of chakra burst forth from her palms. They tethered and coalesced into a singular beam of energy that shot through Rin's body. The impact rang through the ground and sent ripples of chakra along the surface.
Even without his Tamashii or Sage Mode, Arthur could visibly see the condensed chakra spreading through the air.
Saiken released a low rumble, a sound almost like encouragement: "That's it! Don't let my chakra go to waste now!"
With that, she felt an overwhelming surge of Tailed Beast chakra flooding into her own, spiraling around her and intensifying the waves of energy.
"Focus on Rin's soul," Arthur commanded. "Call her back and bring her to me…"
Ryūzetsu closed her eyes again, channeling all that she could.
In that moment, she found herself in a white void and in the same position. There, she could see someone, but she couldn't tell who or what it was. All she could hear was warm laughter.
This had to be Rin. This had to be.
The energy snapped, filling the area with a sudden glow. Within the coffin, the wood began to splinter and shake as the technique reached its peak. The ground slightly trembled beneath them, and Ryūzetsu poured everything she had into that singular moment.
Then, without notice, the coffin erupted.
…
Rin's eyes fluttered open to the glow of the full moon in the night sky.
The silver light cast a sheen across the forest floor, illuminating the trees that towered around her. She sat up, her mind shrouded in confusion. More so, she felt a sense of disorientation that could not be described in simple terms.
All she could hear and see were the dense mass of trees, underbrush, and the distant hoot of an owl.
"Where am I?" she whispered to the night.
As she pushed herself to stand, a sharp pain shot through her chest, and for a fleeting moment, a weight of dread settled in her stomach. It was as if someone had pierced her with lightning.
She clutched at her heart, gasping from the intensity of the sensation, but when she looked down, there were no marks, bruises, or scratches. Her body felt whole, yet the ache inside her clued her in to something she couldn't quite recall.
A moment later, the pain finally faded, leaving only confusion. She needed to understand what had happened, to unlock whatever chains were binding her lost memories.
"R… R… Ri… Rin… Rin! That's my name… Yes, that's my name! My name is Rin, Rin Nohara!"
With hesitant steps, she began to wander in the undergrowth. The sound of trickling water caught her attention, drawing her further through the woods.
As she walked, she concentrated, desperately trying to piece together the fragments she couldn't recall. But all she remembered was her name and this hollow pain in her chest that she tried desperately to fight against.
Just where was she? What had happened to her?
Eventually, she stumbled upon a serene lake. She cautiously approached the water.
The reflection staring back at her shocked her. It was not the youthful visage she remembered; she looked older—ten years or more, if anything.
Her straight brown hair, once a chin-length bob, now reached past her shoulders or beyond. The youthful roundness of her facial features was also more defined. Her build, for a woman, was now average in height.
Out of all these changes, mainly the rectangular purple markings on her cheeks remained the same.
She understood that while she might have had amnesia, she could never forget what she looked like.
As she stared deeper into her reflection, memories suddenly flooded back with a vengeance—friends' faces, a sunlit village, the shadows of battles fought. But then, another memory pierced through, vivid and agonizing: the moment she had died.
The vision forced her on her knees. And all she could whisper was one name: "Kakashi…"
In that instant, the world around her shifted, and darkness enveloped her. When she regained her senses, the night had transformed. She was still in the dark, but the backdrop was different.
When she turned, she gasped, for there she saw her past self—the younger Rin Nohara—being impaled by Kakashi's Chidori.
The scene played out in painful clarity, every detail seared into her memory.
Kakashi's expression was one of shock, and she saw the despair hidden behind his eyes. It was haunting, the way time warped around her past, and she felt the painful weight of the moment bearing down on her heart.
Her breath caught in her throat as she bore witness to the aftermath.
Obito, covered by Tobi—a white bodysuit with a swirling mask—appeared in the background. Despite him wearing that armour-like suit, she could feel his chakra radiating from him. It was fierce and filled with rage like a chaotic storm.
"Is that… really Obito?" she murmured, feeling a sense of dread.
What unfolded next was one of horror.
Obito unleashed pandemonium, slaughtering every enemy in the vicinity. Blood soaked the ground, painting the world in shades of red.
Rin's hands covered her mouth, stifling a scream as she bore witness to the massacre. Tears prickled at her eyes, heart pounding in her chest, feeling helpless to stop the unfolding tragedy.
"Stop! Please!" she cried out, choking in despair.
The brutality was too much to bear, a visceral response igniting both anger and grief within her.
With her desperate plea going unheard, the world around her suddenly quieted. She blinked, bewildered as the noise of bodies being mangled by wood faded.
Tobi's mask began to unravel, blossoming outward to reveal Obito's face beneath.
Time slowed, and Rin was struck by the change—his hair was longer, and his forehead bandaged, yet the most striking detail was the blood that streaked his face as if he had been crying throughout that chaos.
"Obito…" she breathed with an aching heart.
She watched as he slowly walked past Kakashi's form, phasing through as if her former teammate were nothing more than a figment. He approached the younger Rin, reaching out to touch the body of his deceased friend.
The instant his hand phased through her neck, however, he recoiled with a tortured expression on his face. And then he broke down in silent sobs—raw, heart-wrenching cries that shattered Rin's senses.
"No," she sobbed, tears spilling down her cheeks as she processed the enormity of pain written on the visages in front of her. "This… This is my fault."
His cry rang with hers, and she saw it all—the weight of grief pressing down on him, a burden heavier than anything she'd ever witnessed.
"Rin," he whispered, finally able to solidify himself. He lifted her younger self's lifeless body, cradling it close to his chest. "Let's create a world where you can exist again."
Horrified, Rin charged forward, desperate to reach him.
"Obito! Stop!" she shouted, but with every step she took, the scene drifted further away, just beyond her grasp. "No! Please!"
As she cried, she slipped, falling to the ground in an endless void. Tears streaked down her face, tears of longing and regret flooding her heart.