Rin Was Captured Again

Zhengyi had suddenly become the Uchiha Clan's hottest commodity.

Every day, the moment he opened his eyes, dozens of Uchiha came knocking, begging him to help them awaken their eyes.

Just by reading a book, they could awaken the Sharingan—a power they might not even evolve after witnessing their loved ones die!

One-Tomoe guaranteed a Chunin, Two-Tomoe guaranteed a Jonin, Three-Tomoe guaranteed an Elite Jonin...

Which Uchiha could resist that?

But Zhengyi was picky. He wouldn't accept just anyone.

They said that looks reflected one's inner nature, and that was even truer in the Shinobi World. You could guess someone's personality with near certainty just by looking at them.

Zhengyi only chose relatively gentle Uchiha.

Gentle Uchiha were hard to find, like searching for a flaw in an egg. But in a big forest, you got all kinds of birds. There were bound to be a few gentle oddballs. Yes, in the Uchiha Clan, gentle people were treated as oddballs.

So, which Uchiha did Zhengyi dote on the most?

That would be a young Uchiha boy named Shisui. Sometimes Zhengyi called him over three times in a single day.

He was numb to it.

Shisui was truly numb to it.

What had he done wrong to deserve watching these melodramatic stories over and over again?

"Wait, why haven't your eyes awakened even after watching so many times?" Zhengyi asked, perplexed. Some Uchiha with poor talent had awakened One-Tomoe after watching, but Shisui hadn't.

This was Shisui! Body Flicker Shisui!

He was only seven, but shouldn't he at least have awakened One-Tomoe by now?

Then Shisui opened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Oh~

So you already had it.

Then why didn't you say so sooner?

Was this what it meant to be a genius? At seven, Obito was still picking up seashells everywhere for Rin, while this boy already had Two-Tomoe and a little fame to his name.

"Shisui, I have a mission for you. I know this is asking a lot, but it's an order."

Finally! Before this, it had always been Orochimaru-sensei saying that to him!

At last, it was his turn to say it to someone else.

"Please, go ahead, Lord Zhengyi." Shisui dipped his head slightly.

Oh~~ It had been so long since he'd met such a polite Uchiha.

"I want you to protect the Medical Ninjas!"

"I'm a little worried Kirigakure might launch a surprise attack on our medical post."

"With great power comes great responsibility. Shisui, I'm counting on you."

"Huh?" Shisui grumbled inwardly and surreptitiously rolled his eyes. So he was supposed to protect Rin Nohara.

The only Uchiha who hadn't heard Obito blab about it were newborn babies. He and Zhengyi were sworn rivals in love.

Still, "with great power comes great responsibility"? He liked that.

"Hey, hey, Rin-chan, what's going on between you and that Zhengyi?"

At the medical post, a group of Medical Ninjas teased a little girl in their midst, colorful markings painted on both her cheeks.

They nodded toward a certain direction.

Two Uchiha stood over there, chatting while keeping watch for enemy activity.

And over there! There was another one.

There were three over here!

When they'd asked around, a young boy named Shisui Uchiha had told them that they were there on Zhengyi's orders to protect the Medical Ninjas.

But Shisui had quietly explained to her that they were there to protect Rin.

Tch.

"I don't know."

Did Rin like Zhengyi? Of course she did. She felt she could sum up why she'd fallen for him in a single sentence.

Zhengyi was considerate, but not very good at expressing himself.

What a shame.

She didn't know whether Zhengyi was protecting her now because he liked her, or whether he was just like Kakashi, keeping his promise to Obito to protect her.

"Do you like her?"

"Yeah, a little."

Lately, Obito had been sleeping soundly every day.

It was mainly because Protein Powder had fooled him.

Poor Obito. He'd nearly built up a tolerance to Tsunade's poison, yet still hadn't suspected the Protein Powder was toxic. He kept thinking he just couldn't handle that particular tub.

"Lord Madara..."

The Swirl-faced White Zetsu poked the bored, dozing Madara. His voice was quiet, as though he didn't want to wake Obito.

Old age made you a bit drowsy. When Madara woke up, he looked at the Swirl-faced White Zetsu in puzzlement. "Still haven't found an opportunity?"

This White Zetsu had asked Madara to switch their perspective to that of another White Zetsu.

Seeing yet another group of Uchiha standing guard, Madara felt an urge to destroy the Shinobi World.

"What's going on?" he asked coldly.

White Zetsu hurried to explain, then cursed angrily. "It's that Zhengyi again! He's foiled our plans again. Damn it, that stupid bastard..."

He was making their lives miserable. Lord Madara didn't even need to move, but the White Zetsu had to keep watch twenty-four hours a day.

"My will, what do you think we should do?"

Madara asked Black Zetsu, who was hiding in his shadow.

As far as Madara knew, Black Zetsu was a life-form he'd created using Yin-Yang Release, the embodiment of his will. He planned to leave him with Obito, so that after Madara died, Black Zetsu could guide him.

"Have a White Zetsu impersonate someone familiar to Rin Nohara and lure her out."

Black Zetsu's words immediately made everything click for Madara.

So that was it.

He hurriedly ordered White Zetsu to carry it out.

After spending all these days in Madara's shadow, Black Zetsu was pretty exhausted. Why did Madara always resort to force? Couldn't he use a little cunning?

Whatever!

You'd be dead before long anyway. Then I'd just get Obito to use his brain.

White Zetsu's Transformation Technique was powerful. Only the Malice Perception of a Perfect Jinchuriki and the Mind's Eye of the Kagura of the Uzumaki Clan could see through their disguises.

Rin Nohara obviously had neither the abilities of a Perfect Jinchuriki nor the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

After a White Zetsu disguised himself as Zhengyi and came to invite Rin for a walk,

Rin fell for it without a second thought.

After knocking Rin unconscious, the White Zetsu hurriedly contacted another White Zetsu who'd already gained a certain standing in Kirigakure.

On Lord Madara's orders, they had to put the Three-Tails inside Rin's body and place a seal over her heart to prevent her from harming herself.

The plan was so perfect.

But only ten minutes after Rin disappeared, an Uchiha sensed something was wrong and reported it to Zhengyi. The Medical Ninjas searched everywhere at the medical post, but couldn't find Rin.

There was only one possible explanation!

"Kirigakure!!"

"Everyone, assemble!!!"

Commander Zhengyi issued the highest-level order: storm Kirigakure and take Rin back.

If it had been anything else, Minato might have listened to Shikaku and left the matter alone with his men.

But Rin had been captured, and she was his student too!

Minato reached a temporary agreement with Zhengyi. They would get Rin back first, then figure out the rest.