A World Without Rin!

Kakashi could not help sighing as he turned away.

Sasuke had only just left the village. He had yet to experience society's beatings and become completely devoid of familial affection.

Moreover, Obito was also a member of the Uchiha Clan, so he shared some common hatred with Sasuke. Compared to the Sasuke who would later be taken away by Obito, he was much purer at heart right now.

Of course, that was also because Obito had no particular purpose in teaching him.

Obito knew very well that he was not actually suited to raising Sasuke, but he had still boasted boldly.

"Once we finish constructing the transmission channel between our two worlds, I'll recommend you to the Emperor and have you pursue your studies starting from Imperial Elementary School!"

Sasuke's expression changed when he heard that.

"Huh? Go to elementary school? I've already graduated from the Ninja Academy..."

Seeing the resistance on Sasuke's face, Obito could not help smacking him on the head.

"You can't imagine the Empire's prosperity! You'll probably be so captivated that you won't want to leave!"

Sasuke raised his head proudly at that.

"Impossible! I still have to take revenge! The temptations of a life of luxury won't distract me from my path of vengeance!"

Looking at Sasuke's determined expression, Obito could not help nodding.

Not bad! He won't be shaken easily! Such resolve is enough to accomplish great things!

In the blink of an eye, the moment Sasuke broke free of the illusion, he eagerly began training in the Body Refining Technique he had just obtained.

"Such impatience."

Kakashi set down Make-Out Paradise and raised his hand to glance at his wristband.

"Hasn't the Empire sent any news back yet?"

Obito came over as well.

Kakashi shook his head, his expression slightly solemn.

"No!"

"Then let's continue gathering information..."

As he spoke, Obito walked up in front of Kakashi.

"Kakashi—no, Kakashi. Let's talk about why you have the eyes of this world's version of me!"

A fierce glint flashed in Obito's eyes.

Could this bastard Kakashi have coveted my Sharingan and plotted to kill this world's version of me?

If so, then even if he is this world's version of me, I will never forgive him...

"Obito..."

At last, a flicker of emotion passed through Kakashi's dead-fish eyes. He seemed to have fallen into reminiscence.

"If you promise not to hurt my students, I'll tell you."

Although he was at a disadvantage, Kakashi still wanted to negotiate.

"Have you still not understood the situation? Do you even have a choice?"

After speaking, Obito felt that this world's Kakashi was somewhat pitiful. He had not inherited the swordsmanship, and had even lost an eye. After thinking about it, he softened his tone slightly.

"Although we came here with a mission, that doesn't mean we have to kill everyone and drench the land in blood. If we wanted to attack you, we would have done so already."

Kakashi thought that made sense. Besides, his information was not particularly important, so he decided to tell the whole story.

"It was in Konoha Year 50. That year, the Third Shinobi World War was raging, and we were carrying out a mission together. Our mission was to destroy Kannabi Bridge..."

"Kannabi Bridge?" A strange sense of sorrow began rising in Obito's heart.

Sure enough, Kakashi continued, "We successfully completed the mission, but we were ambushed by the enemy. Rin was captured, and Obito chose to pursue the enemy to save Rin..."

"Then, at the critical moment, Obito awakened his Sharingan and fought the enemy in a bloody battle."

Kakashi lowered his head, his voice becoming somewhat somber. "I hesitated for a long time between the mission and my comrade before following him. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, it was already too late. Obito pushed me away when I was about to be crushed by a giant boulder, but he himself was buried beneath the rubble beyond saving. All I had time to do was transplant his Sharingan into myself..."

"My left eye was also blinded in that battle, and the White Fang Blade broke during the battle as well... Before he died, Obito said... he hoped to become my left eye and help me see the future clearly..."

Obito fell silent, and Kakashi fell silent as well.

To lose a comrade while that comrade's eye remained on his body every moment... What kind of feeling was that?

"What about Rin?"

Obito finally understood where that sorrowful feeling had come from.

That's right. In the Empire, he was also Rin Nohara's most devoted... admirer.

The two of them could be said to love each other. All that was missing was an achievement, after which he could marry Rin in glory and bring her home.

"Rin?..."

A search for the book's title turned up nothing. Maybe try searching for the author's name instead. Perhaps it was simply renamed!

Kakashi's hand began trembling unconsciously. Even though he washed it sleeplessly night after night, how could he ever wash this hand clean?

"Rin died by my hand."

What?!

Kakashi and Obito both felt deep regret after learning what had happened to this Kakashi.

Kakashi had originally wanted to ask about the White Fang of Konoha, but seeing that this tragic version of himself had yet to recover, he decided to wait until later.

His comrade had entrusted the Sharingan to him, so his declining swordsmanship... was understandable.

He just did not know whether the father of this world would be disappointed that he had let the Hatake Clan's swordsmanship decline...

But it was still not a good time to ask about that.

Although Kakashi had been subdued by the two of them, he still had human rights. The Empire's higher education also included psychology.

When someone was grieving, there was no need to keep pressing them for answers.

Presumably, although Kakashi had abandoned swordsmanship, his father would not be disappointed. After all, his father valued friendship above all else. Kakashi had abandoned swordsmanship so that he could see more of the future through his comrade's Sharingan. His father would probably be gratified...

After clarifying the matter of the eye, the slight hostility Obito and Kakashi felt toward Kakashi vanished completely.

In their eyes, the person before them was merely a pitiful man who had lost his comrade.

Obito was seething with anger. Rin was dead in this world!

Because of his affection for Rin, he naturally felt regret toward both this world's Rin and himself.

Seeing Naruto still sleeping soundly, Obito's anger flared.

He slapped Naruto across the face. Naruto paused, then changed positions and continued sleeping.

Seeing this, Obito could not hold back and slapped him from both sides.

Naruto's face had been beaten swollen, yet he was still sleeping soundly.

Kakashi could not stand watching any longer.

"Obito, he's Minato-sensei's child, at least. Enough."

Obito helplessly said, "Then what am I supposed to do? It's not like I can use Water Release to wake him up, right?"

"There is water over there."

Kakashi pointed toward a pond nearby.

"Oh."

Obito picked up Naruto and walked toward the pond.

In his sleep, Naruto felt that this was somewhat familiar. It seemed that someone had carried him like this when he was young, but the memory was too distant for him to recall clearly.

Splash!

The sound of a heavy object entering the water rang out. Soon, Naruto struggled up from the water, clutching his swollen face as he angrily questioned Obito, who was watching from the side.

"Hey! You bastard! What did you just do to me?"

"Enough, kid. Let me ask you a question! What is your relationship with the Nine-Tails?"

Since no news had come from the Empire, Obito would continue gathering information.

"What Nine-Tails? I don't know what you're talking about! Did you just hit me in secret? And you're supposed to be an adult? You have no shame!"

Naruto's charming elementary-schooler's voice echoed through the mountain forest.

Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted.

He had not figured out the two men's ultimate objective earlier, and after losing consciousness, he did not know that they had already investigated Naruto inside and out.

Now that he heard they were targeting the Nine-Tails, Kakashi immediately became wary.

Could their claim of coming from a parallel universe be a smokescreen because they are after the Tailed Beast?

Could they actually be people sent by another ninja village?

I almost let down my guard after being deceived by them!

I must send this information to the Hidden Leaf Village!

Countless thoughts flashed through Kakashi's mind.

Seeing Naruto play dumb, Obito could not help looking at him with greater respect.

"Oh-ho, you've got quite a stubborn mouth!"

Just as Obito was about to continue, Kakashi called out to him.

"Wait! He just graduated from the Ninja Academy. He doesn't know anything!"