Ever since his great battle with Uchiha Madara that day, Shin had not returned to the Land of Water. Instead, he had chosen another location as his base.
Akatsuki in the Land of Water had also gone deeper into hiding. Hyuga Tamamo began making arrangements for the election of the Fourth Mizukage. The Three-Tails Jinchuriki, "Yagura," was a fine candidate. Having him take over as Mizukage would satisfy the major clans as well.
Of course, the most important reason for choosing him was that he was easy to control. Even if Hyuga Tamamo was no longer the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure would still remain firmly under her control.
As for Shin's current residence, it was the valley where the Uchiha Clan had temporarily lived long ago. The environment was pleasant, its location secluded, and after Barriers were set up around it, it was difficult for anyone to discover. It was an excellent place to settle down.
The place was renovated and made more livable. After Shin arrived, it naturally became Akatsuki's main headquarters.
When Obito arrived, Shin was watering the newly planted bamboo in his backyard. Accompanied by the mountain breeze brushing down from above, the scene carried an almost otherworldly serenity.
The space behind him rippled faintly, and a figure wearing a Whirlpool Mask emerged. Seeing Shin focused on watering the tender bamboo shoots, he froze, unable to bring himself to interrupt.
It was September. The mountains were blanketed in crimson, the sky was high and clear, and the deep mountain air was especially refreshing.
Shin seemed not to have noticed his arrival. His expression was intent as he carefully sprinkled each shoot with the springwater of life. Obito tried to speak several times, but every time the words reached his lips, he could not utter them, as though some