Obito's whereabouts

Meanwhile, High Heaven Palace

The vast hall was very quiet, with only a few wall lamps quietly shining on the walls, casting long and slanted shadows of the stone pillars.

Mei Terumi stood in the center of the main hall, her hands Hand Seals, tightly protecting Karin behind her.

Her face was solemn, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, even sticking a few strands of hair to her cheeks.

But at this moment, she obviously couldn't care less about any of that. She just kept her gaze fixed on the figure leaning against the main seat of the High Heaven Palace, her brows furrowed.

Karin hid behind her, her hands unconsciously gripping the hem of Mei Terumi's clothes tightly. She peered through the gap between Mei Terumi's shoulders and arms, her eyes filled with worry and fear.

In front of them, Obito was leaning against the main seat of the High Heaven Palace.

His posture was casual and languid, one hand supporting his chin and the other resting on the armrest, as if he were sitting at home.

Kisame stood beside him, Samehada slung across his back, and looked down at Mei Terumi, a "friendly" smile spreading across his lips.

"It's been a long time, Mei Terumi- sama."

"While Lord Madara and I were away, Mist Village alright?"

Mei Terumi showed no response to Kisame, but instead stared intently at the two people in front of her, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Why, why did they come here?

Shouldn't their target be the Jinchuriki?

"Could it be that..."

"He wants to capture us and use us to threaten us?!"

The thought of this possibility Mei Terumi's heart sink.

If that is truly their goal, then the only thing I can do is commit suicide to stop them.

but...

What should we do about Karin?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but look at Karin behind her. A hint of doubt flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm fine, Mei Terumi- neechan."

Karin looked into Mei Terumi's eyes and instantly understood Mei Terumi was thinking. Her tone was very calm:

My life was saved by my master.

To me, my master is the best and most important person in the world.

If I become a burden to him, then such an outcome would be worse than death for me!

Karin...

"Don't make that face, Mei Terumi- neechan."

Karin smiled gently:

"Master should have told you that he would use the Rinne Rebirth Technique to revive everyone after the war ends."

So even if we die now, it won't matter at all.

She paused, then shifted her gaze from Mei Terumi's face to the sky outside the palace gates, bathed in the red glow of the setting sun.

"Let's do it, Mei Terumi- neechan."

Karin looked at Mei Terumi in front of her and said solemnly:

"For Master, for... the future of the Ninja World."

Looking into the girl's sincere eyes, Mei Terumi's last trace of hesitation vanished.

Yes, both I and Karin are prepared for this.

Karin was never just a child.

"She is... a disciple of Kou."

With Mei Terumi pulled out the Kunai she had prepared in her sleeve and slashed it towards Karin's fair neck with a swift and decisive motion.

She instinctively closed her eyes, seemingly unable to bear watching the scene.

But just as the Kunai was about to sever Karin's neck, a large hand wearing a black glove grasped Mei Terumi's slender wrist.

Mei Terumi's movements were frozen in mid-air, unable to move.

Sensing the sudden change, Mei Terumi abruptly opened her eyes.

What came into view was Obito's face, looking down at her with a playful smile.

He had somehow risen from his seat and appeared before her.

Looking at Obito's towering figure, Mei Terumi couldn't help but feel a wave of despair.

Faced with such a vast disparity in strength, could they... not even bring themselves to commit suicide?

"Hateful!!"

Seemingly having come to terms with this cruel reality, Mei Terumi lowered her head in resentment.

Her wrist trembled slightly in Obito's palm, Kunai her fingers, landing on the smooth ground with a crisp sound.

Obito looked at Mei Terumi in front of him as if he were witnessing a farce, and couldn't help but curl a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Alright, alright, Lord Madara, please stop frightening Mei Terumi and the others."

Kisame slowly walked to Obito's side, seemingly unable to bear watching any longer, and shook his head helplessly:

"While I understand what you're thinking, frankly, there was absolutely no need for you to test their behavior."

"Hmph, testing? You're mistaken, Kisame."

Obito looked at Kisame, released Mei Terumi's wrist, casually flicked his hand, and said nonchalantly:

"Although everything is going according to plan, this woman caused us a lot of trouble back when we were in Mist Village."

Compared to all the trouble she caused us, what I'm doing now is at best a small act of revenge.

"Hehe, let's just assume that's what you think."

Kisame shrugged and chuckled noncommittally.

Mei Terumi Mei Terumi Karin looked at the two people joking around in front of them, and couldn't help but exchange a glance, their Karin eyes full of doubt.

Although we don't know what their purpose is, it seems... they don't want to use the two of them to threaten Kou.

What exactly happened?

Mei Terumi, still tightly protecting Karin behind her, asked Obito voice:

"What exactly do you want to do?!"

"There's no need to be so tense, little girl from Mist Village."

Obito looked at Mei Terumi in front of him, and the mocking smile on his face immediately faded slightly:

"The reason I came here is simply to have a proper talk with you."

He paused, shifting his gaze from Mei Terumi's face to the sky outside the hall, which was dyed red by the setting sun.

Obito's gaze lingered on that sky for a moment, then he turned to look at the two people in front of him, his voice surprisingly gentle:

"About... knocking."