I Want to Make Rin Feel the Bond Again!

Konan, Kakuzu, and Itachi were standing on the road leading to Yugakure.

Just as they were about to set off on their journey, a voice suddenly interrupted their thoughts.

"Ah, Senior Konan and the others, I have a stomachache. You go on ahead, I'll follow shortly. Terribly sorry!"

The Mysterious Masked Man walked over, clutching his stomach with a pained expression. Although his words were apologetic, Konan and the others could catch a hint of craftiness in his eyes.

Konan frowned slightly, looking at the masked man who had suddenly appeared, and a sense of doubt couldn't help but arise in her heart.

She knew the importance of this mission; it could not afford the slightest mistake. Madara was quietly going to the bathroom?

She didn't know what kind of trick he was up to again.

And this sudden stomachache of the masked man made her feel somewhat uneasy.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Konan asked tentatively, while secretly observing the masked man's reaction.

The masked man waved his hands hurriedly, pretending to be relaxed as he said, "It's fine, it's fine. I just need to rest for a moment. You go ahead, don't let me delay the schedule."

Kakuzu let out a cold snort, his voice carrying obvious indifference and warning: "Since you say so, we'll head out first. However, you had better not play any games, or you will bear the consequences yourself." His words revealed an unquestionable majesty, clearly dissatisfied and vigilant regarding the masked man's behavior.

Itachi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the masked man.

He knew that this masked man was no ordinary person, but rather someone inserted by Madara Uchiha under the guise of an intern.

This discovery caused a ripple in Itachi's heart, and he began to re-evaluate the complexity and danger of the entire mission.

It was certain that this mission was indeed unusual; after all, it involved a new intern with a Mangekyo Sharingan.

The masked man stood before the three, his gaze shifting between Kakuzu, Itachi, and Konan.

He noticed Kakuzu's furrowed brows, Itachi's contemplative expression, and Konan looking at him with a trace of doubt.

He smiled inwardly, though his face was masked with an awkward and helpless expression.

"I'll be back very soon, my deepest apologies!" The masked man's voice carried a hint of apology as he pressed his palms together in a gesture of contrition.

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the depths of the forest. Every step was taken with great steadiness, as if he were truly enduring the agony of a stomachache.

His figure gradually disappeared into the dense woods, leaving behind only his retreating back and the dust drifting in the air.

Kakuzu watched the masked man's receding figure. He turned his head to look at Itachi, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Then let's set off. We'll leave this intern for later." His voice was calm, yet it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Itachi nodded in agreement. He had no objections to Kakuzu's decision; after all, everyone in this organization had their own position and responsibilities.

Besides, Kakuzu was the oldest in the entire Akatsuki.

Konan stood to the side, her gaze shifting between Kakuzu and Itachi. As someone who was often with Pain, her authority within the organization went without saying.

She knew the importance of this mission and understood Kakuzu's worries and concerns.

"Let's go then." Konan's voice was crisp and firm. She took the lead, with Kakuzu and Itachi following closely behind.

The playful tone of the Mysterious Masked Man gradually faded into the night, becoming serious and dull, as if an invisible pressure were shrouding the surrounding air.

He stood on the grass, staring at the ground below, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Black Zetsu, is the existence of that Mangekyo-wielding girl from the remnant of the Uchiha Clan in Yugakure real?"

The Mysterious Masked Man's voice echoed in the night sky, as if even the wind had stilled for it.

Black Zetsu, this existence hidden in the shadows, was inseparable from him in the Akatsuki and could be considered the person he trusted most.

He appeared silently beside the Mysterious Masked Man and replied: "I have personally been to Yugakure to confirm it. That girl does indeed exist, and her Mangekyo Sharingan is the real deal."

The Mysterious Masked Man nodded slightly, a glimmer of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

The Mangekyo Sharingan was the most mysterious power of the Uchiha Clan; its possessor could unleash powerful ocular techniques, control life and death, and turn the tide of battle.

And this girl was actually the only one among the remnants of the Uchiha Clan to possess such power; her value went without saying.

The masked man had never expected that a strange girl would appear in a village outside their reach, and that her Sharingan level would be a Mangekyo.

"I also obtained a piece of intelligence that might surprise you. In that peaceful village, the Uchiha girl is followed by two people. One is a white-haired man, and the other is..." Zetsu paused, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of amusement: "That girl's appearance is very similar to Nohara Rin. Are you sure you want to leave this mission?"

The Mysterious Masked Man turned around abruptly, his eyes flickering with uncertainty and shock.

He stared fixedly at Black Zetsu, his voice trembling slightly: "What did you say? That Uchiha girl is followed by two people? One of them is a white-haired man, and the other... looks like Nohara Rin?"

Black Zetsu nodded, his hoarse voice revealing a strange sense of amusement: "That's right. This news did indeed surprise me. The girl seems to have a deep connection with these two men; they have been staying by her side, protecting her."

The Mysterious Masked Man fell silent for a moment, as if digesting this sudden news.

His heart was filled with shock and doubt. The Uchiha girl he had been searching for all this time actually looked like Nohara Rin and was closely linked to two men. This made him begin to re-examine the entire plan.

The Mysterious Masked Man asked in a deep voice, his tone echoing in the night with an unquestionable majesty.

His gaze was as sharp as a knife, fixed tightly on Black Zetsu, as if trying to read more information from the other's eyes.

"Are you sure this information is true?" He asked again, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible urgency.

Black Zetsu nodded and replied affirmatively: "Yes, I personally went to Yugakure to confirm it. This information is absolutely true. From the villagers' chatter, I learned about that Uchiha girl. What's even more bizarre is that she keeps her Mangekyo Sharingan active at all times and never closes it, yet her chakra consumption is minimal."

The Mysterious Masked Man frowned slightly. He naturally understood the consumption of the Mangekyo Sharingan; it was a power that required immense chakra to sustain.

That this girl could keep her Mangekyo Sharingan active for such a long time without consuming much chakra was indeed a surprising matter.

However, he was more concerned with another matter at this moment, so he interrupted Black Zetsu and said in a deep voice, "I am talking to you about the issue of Nohara Rin, not that girl from the Uchiha Clan. Regarding Nohara Rin, do you have any new findings?"

Black Zetsu: "..."

I know you're anxious, but don't be so hasty...

Black Zetsu seemed momentarily stunned by the Mysterious Masked Man's sudden shift. He paused for a beat before answering, "Regarding Nohara Rin, I have indeed discovered something interesting. The girl who is with the Uchiha girl bears a startling resemblance to Nohara Rin; she is practically a carbon copy of the same person."

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in the Mysterious Masked Man's eyes. Nohara Rin, the woman who had once stirred his heart, had now become the source of his deepest pain.

He had never forgotten her, and he had always been searching for any clues related to her. Now, the sudden appearance of a girl who looked just like Nohara Rin left him feeling an inexplicable surge of excitement.

"Are you saying that girl looks exactly like Nohara Rin?" he confirmed again, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Black Zetsu nodded and replied, "Yes, I have seen that girl myself. Her appearance is indeed remarkably similar to Nohara Rin. Not only that, but she seems to have inherited some of Nohara Rin's traits; that gentle, kind temperament is practically the embodiment of Nohara Rin."

The Mysterious Masked Man took a deep breath, struggling to calm the turmoil within him.

He knew that this news could have a significant impact on his plans.

He needed to consider carefully whether to use this girl who resembled Nohara Rin to achieve his own goals.

Watching the Mysterious Masked Man's agitated expression, Black Zetsu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The intelligence brought by Black Zetsu was undoubtedly a bombshell for this Mysterious Masked Man.

And the Masked Man's rapid breathing only confirmed to Black Zetsu that his information had successfully captured the other's attention.

Although the Masked Man wore a mask, Black Zetsu could sense the emotional fluctuations within him.

The Masked Man was extremely sensitive to anything related to Nohara Rin, and this time, the intelligence he brought was inextricably linked to her.

Yet, hearing the news of Nohara Rin's resurrection had truly left the Masked Man in shock.

"Continue," the Masked Man said in a deep voice. Although his tone was calm, Black Zetsu could sense the tension and anticipation contained within it.

Black Zetsu nodded and continued, "That girl who resembles Nohara Rin not only looks like her, but her personality and temperament are also identical. The white-haired powerhouse by her side possesses unfathomable strength and seems to be protecting her from the shadows. As for that girl from the Uchiha Clan, she is inseparable from them, and the relationship between the three is very close."

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in the Masked Man's eyes.

He understood in his heart that this intelligence might finally allow him to unravel the long-standing mystery and find the Nohara Rin he had been pining for.

"Obito, you aren't actually getting soft for someone who looks like Nohara Rin, are you? The overall plan is what matters most. Even if that Mangekyo girl from the Uchiha Clan joins, our ideologies might not align. When I was disguised as a villager, that girl was basically a troll the whole time, grinning and never even deactivating her Mangekyo."

Black Zetsu stared intently at the Masked Man; the current plan was beginning to unravel, with situations arising that he had never foreseen.

For instance, the Six Paths Sasuke that Liuli was impersonating—Black Zetsu had already concluded that the person had a connection to that brat Six Paths. The Six Paths power on her body was incredibly abundant.

Obito stood beside Zetsu, his eyes beneath the mask flickering with complex light. Black Zetsu's words were like a thorn, piercing deep into his heart.

He frowned slightly, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling: "Black Zetsu, are you questioning me?"

Black Zetsu's gaze was firm and earnest as he stared at Obito's mask, as if trying to peer through that barrier to glimpse Obito's true thoughts.

He said in a deep voice: "Obito, I am not questioning you, but I am worried that our plan will be disrupted. The appearance of that girl who resembles Nohara Rin is indeed a variable. And that Mangekyo girl from the Uchiha Clan—her strength is formidable, but her personality and behavior are unpredictable. If she joins the Akatsuki, how can we ensure she will act according to our will?"

Obito was silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating Black Zetsu's words. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "Black Zetsu, I understand your concerns. But please trust me, I have no feelings for that girl who resembles Nohara Rin. She is merely a pawn in the plan; I will not let personal emotions affect our overall strategy."

Black Zetsu did not seem entirely convinced by Obito's words and continued to press: "Then, what about your attitude toward that Mangekyo girl? She seems to maintain an optimistic attitude, able to laugh even in the face of great adversity. Will such a personality interfere with our plans?"

Obito shook his head slightly and replied: "That Mangekyo girl's personality is indeed unique, but I believe she has her own goals and convictions. As long as we can find common ground with her, she could become an asset to our plan."

"By the way, does she have parents in that village? We could strike through her bonds." Obito's voice revealed a hint of inquiry and decisiveness, as if he were considering a viable strategy. For him, a ninja's bonds were both a source of power and a shackle of emotion.

He knew well that once a bond was shattered, the deep pain and despair were enough to make a person quickly fall into darkness, thereby completely controlling their will.

Black Zetsu frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled by Obito's thought process: "That girl is an orphan; she has no parents, and the villagers treat them very warmly."

His voice was calm and collected, as if reminding Obito that this girl had no bonds to exploit.

Obito sighed softly, seemingly unsurprised by Black Zetsu's answer: "It is a peaceful village, after all; a warm atmosphere is to be expected."

His voice carried a faint trace of sorrow, as if he were recalling the warmth and bonds he had once possessed.

"Let us return to the issue of Nohara Rin."

As soon as Obito finished speaking, a heavy, indescribable atmosphere seemed to permeate the air.

Regarding Nohara Rin, he held too many emotions he could not let go of; that deep love and endless longing left him unable to find peace.

Black Zetsu remained silent for a moment, seemingly thinking about how to respond to Obito.

He knew well that for Obito, Nohara Rin was an irreplaceable existence, and her departure had left Obito with an unhealable wound.

However, their current goal was to realize the Eye of the Moon plan, not to wallow in memories of the past.

"Obito, I know your feelings for Nohara Rin, but our current mission is to find that Mangekyo girl, not to dwell on past memories."

Black Zetsu's voice carried a hint of admonition and reminder.

Obito nodded slightly, seemingly trying to suppress his inner emotions: "I understand, Black Zetsu. However, the resemblance between that Mangekyo girl and Nohara Rin makes it impossible for me not to associate her with Rin. Moreover, her appearance might bring variables to our plan, so to prevent that, give me a White Zetsu, prepare a body, establish a bond, and then go manipulate the girl from the Mangekyo clan. An orphaned girl is nothing more than someone craving family affection."

Black Zetsu's brows were tightly locked, seemingly pondering Obito's words.

He understood that there was certainly no problem with Obito's logic.

"By the way, it would be best if it were a young guy, someone handsome," Obito said seriously.

Black Zetsu: "..."

Are you sure you aren't just trying to get close to Nohara Rin?