"Rin? Nohara Rin?"
Obito asked expectantly.
"That's right. Her name is Nohara Rin."
White Zetsu nodded, confirming that Obito was correct.
"Yes!"
Obito looked as though he had won the grand prize.
"Quick, tell me what you saw."
Obito hurriedly pressed for details, wanting to know more about Nohara Rin.
"They returned to their tent after completing a mission. Your companion named Nohara Rin was discussing Medical Ninjutsu in the tent with another companion."
"Kakashi?"
Obito frowned slightly.
But then he remembered that he had entrusted Nohara Rin to Kakashi. It was only natural that Kakashi would look after Rin more.
As long as he returned, everything could go back to how it had been.
"No, it was that one called... Kiyo..."
"Kiyohara?!"
Obito cried out.
It was actually that bastard Kiyohara!
Even now, Obito remembered Kiyohara touching Nohara Rin's hand right in front of him, claiming he was teaching her Medical Ninjutsu.
No, was that how Medical Ninjutsu was taught?
Now that the two of them were alone together, Obito did not even dare imagine what Kiyohara might do!
"I have to go back!"
Obito grew increasingly desperate.
He hammered at the enormous boulder with his left hand, trying to break it and get out of there.
Yet every large movement tugged at the sutured wounds on the right side of his body, causing him unbearable pain.
Faintly, new flesh was growing there, as if a new arm were about to emerge.
"What would going back accomplish? Obito, do you still not understand? During the time you were dead, your companions did not come to a standstill because of your absence."
Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes, his crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan fixed on Obito.
"Besides, isn't it perfectly normal for the dead to be replaced by the living?"
Uchiha Madara spoke slowly.
Just as Hashirama had that woman, Uzumaki Mito.
"Replace me? Impossible!"
Obito shook his head violently. The dim light reflected off his bandages, casting more and more shadows across his face.
Could it be that there was no longer any place for me?
"No one can replace me. Rin... she will definitely wait for me!"
Obito still remembered what Nohara Rin had said.
Rin had said she would always watch over him!
"Wait for you?"
Uchiha Madara's face remained expressionless.
"According to Zetsu's observations, that Kiyohara has considerable talent and his strength has grown rapidly. More importantly... he seems to understand how to get along with people.
Right now, he is alone in a tent with the Rin you cannot stop thinking about. What do you think will happen if enough time passes?"
Uchiha Madara had never been in love, but even he knew that when a man and a woman were alone together, sparks could easily fly.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Obito became agitated, disbelief filling his remaining eye.
"Rin isn't that kind of person. Kiyohara... how could Kiyohara possibly compare to me? He's just a civilian. I'm from the Uchiha clan!"
After saying that, Obito ignored his pain and weakness and tried to force himself to continue his rehabilitation, hoping to restore his body's chakra to its former healthy state.
But this body, which had only recently been stitched together, still needed time to adapt.
In the end, Obito collapsed heavily to the ground from exhaustion, his face filled with unwillingness.
Watching Obito's stubborn, pained appearance, Uchiha Madara slowly shook his head, though a trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
That's it... doubt, pain, unwillingness, anger...
These negative emotions were the finest nourishment for darkness.
When Obito discovered that reality ran contrary to everything he believed in, when everything he cherished seemed to be slipping away...
Only then would Obito truly fall into this abyss of despair and become his perfect pawn.
"Only a world of victors..."
In the darkness, Uchiha Madara slowly closed his eyes again.
Early the next morning, after reporting to Kakashi, Kiyohara left the base alone and headed for a nearby town that served as a transit point.
The town was not large, but because it was located behind the front lines and had quite a few Konoha ninja stationed there, it was rather lively. There were even shops catering specifically to ninja.
Following a familiar route, Kiyohara found a shop that bought used ninja tools and forged new ones.
The owner was a middle-aged man with a monocle and rough fingers. One look was enough to tell that he was an experienced craftsman.
Kiyohara did not waste words. He directly took out the three Ninja Swords from his Sealing Scroll, along with some other spoils he had no use for.
"Boss, name a price. Cash only."
The owner carefully inspected every item. When he examined the katana in particular, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he named a fair price.
After a brief round of bargaining, Kiyohara successfully traded the spoils for a thick stack of banknotes, the total far exceeding his expectations.
Then, Kiyohara took several shattered blade fragments from his clothes.
"Chakra Metal?"
The owner's expression immediately became much more eager when he saw the metal.
Rare metal like Chakra Metal meant serious business at a glance.
"Does the customer want a ninja sword forged?"
"That's right."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Use this Chakra Metal as the main material and incorporate it into the blade. Most importantly, its chakra conductivity must be as high as possible, however much you can manage. Use the leftover scraps and the money from before to cover the cost. If it isn't enough, I'll find a way to make up the difference."
The owner took the Chakra Metal and lovingly rubbed it, speaking with complete confidence.
"No problem. You've come to the right person, customer. With such a treasure, I'm confident I can forge a sharp weapon with exceptional conductivity."
After examining it for a while, the owner continued.
"Chakra Metal is precious. For craftsmen like us, working with it is also a rare opportunity to gain experience, so I'll charge you less. One fixed price: 500,000 ryo."
The moment Kiyohara heard that, he agreed.
This owner was indeed honest. The price was far lower than elsewhere.
Kiyohara guessed that because this owner was a craftsman rather than purely a merchant, he was so generous.
After all, Chakra Metal was invaluable experience to people like him.
The wait seemed especially long.
Kiyohara took a brief walk around town and restocked some ninja tools and necessities, but his mind had long since flown to the ninja sword still being forged.
At last, the following evening arrived.
Kiyohara returned to the shop.
The owner looked exhausted, but his eyes shone with excitement and pride.
He solemnly handed Kiyohara a long sword case wrapped in thick cloth.
"Customer, see if you're satisfied!"
Kiyohara took a deep breath and slowly opened the sword case.
A katana with smooth, flowing lines lay quietly inside.
The blade was long and narrow. Near the guard, faint rippling patterns could be seen—natural markings formed by the Chakra Metal.
The handle was wrapped in specially made bandages that prevented slipping and absorbed sweat, giving it an excellent grip.
The instant Kiyohara saw it, delight appeared on his face.
His long-held wish to forge a ninja sword had been fulfilled!
At that moment, Young Kiyohara floated out of the Ash Box and looked at the ninja sword in Kiyohara's hand.
Before you continue