Nohara Rin's Tears

"Nohara Rin, you should understand what I mean, right?"

Uchiha Shimizu lowered his hands, letting them crawl back onto Nohara Rin's shoulders as he caught the faint fragrance wafting from her.

"..."

Only now did Nohara Rin realize with a jolt that Uchiha Shimizu was a devil wearing human skin!

He had actually spent two years cultivating her trust just for the sake of a single plan.

Now, the moment had finally come for him to show his true colors!

The affection she had built up for Uchiha Shimizu plummeted like a stone.

"You're a devil!"

Unable to maintain her composure any longer, Nohara Rin struggled frantically, refusing to let him touch her, and in a fit of uncontrollable emotion, she threw a punch at him.

Slap.

Uchiha Shimizu blocked her delicate fist with ease.

"Aren't you... afraid that I'll drag us both down and call for help?"

"Of course I'm not. Kakashi is very important to you, isn't he? His father, the White Fang of the Leaf, committed suicide because he couldn't handle the gossip of his teammates. Do you think there's a possibility Kakashi might do the same?"

"Perhaps such a tragedy would happen precisely because you, Nohara Rin, failed to master medical ninjutsu properly and ended up in the same squad as Kakashi, leaving him without a single person to talk to, which would greatly increase the likelihood of such a disaster!"

"Nohara Rin, you would be the true culprit!"

Uchiha Shimizu spoke with righteous indignation.

He wasn't worried about Nohara Rin acting against his wishes or causing a scene that might attract the attention of other Uchiha.

He had set up a sound-dampening sealing formation in the courtyard; people outside would hear voices, but they wouldn't be able to make out what was being said.

Everything Uchiha Shimizu had done for Nohara Rin over the past two years had never been about deepening her trust in him.

It was about cementing the image that he was a good person and that they shared a close relationship!

Even if some noise leaked out now, others wouldn't think twice about it, assuming they were just playing around.

As for silencing Nohara Rin, that was even simpler. He didn't possess the Three-Tomoe Sharingan for show; he could simply arrange a Transcription Seal package just like the one he had used on Kurenai Yuhi.

"I... I..."

Nohara Rin was struck with horror at his words.

In her kindness, she actually entertained the twisted logic Uchiha Shimizu had provided.

If she truly failed to help Kakashi, and he was just one step away from needing that help, he might follow in the footsteps of the White Fang of the Leaf.

How guilty she would feel then.

Perhaps she would be the final straw that broke Kakashi?

Great pressure weighed on Nohara Rin's heart, and she couldn't help but break into a light sweat.

There was no helping it; the suicide of the White Fang of the Leaf was a concrete fact. With that precedent, the idea of Kakashi committing suicide became far more plausible.

"Come now, Nohara Rin, I will help you learn the medical ninjutsu you lack so you can be in the same squad as Kakashi. You know how grateful Kakashi will be to have someone helping him when he's feeling down."

Uchiha Shimizu's hands climbed back onto Nohara Rin's soft shoulders, pulling her into his embrace.

"No, let me go..."

Nohara Rin struggled, but unfortunately, due to the disparity in their strength, her efforts were in vain.

Slap!

Uchiha Shimizu struck Nohara Rin across the face.

Nohara Rin looked at him in disbelief, grievance and fear flowing through her heart like a spring.

"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Uchiha Shimizu had completely discarded his gentle, refined facade.

Nohara Rin trembled as she clutched the burning, painful spot on her face, glaring at him. After a surge of various emotions, one stood out above the rest: rage!

She wanted to scream and curse at him.

But meeting those cold, icy eyes of his caused the words to catch in her throat, leaving her unable to utter a sound.

She was afraid.

She was afraid of angering Uchiha Shimizu and facing consequences she couldn't even imagine.

The Uchiha clan was the most powerful in the Leaf, while she was merely the descendant of commoners—her father was a retired, disabled ninja, and her mother was an ordinary woman.

Even if she didn't think of herself, she had to think of her family.

"That's right, be a good girl. It's better for you, better for me, and better for Kakashi."

Uchiha Shimizu began to grope her inappropriately.

Nohara Rin could only shed silent, clear tears, quietly adjusting her stance to let him hold her.

He turned his head away, eyes squeezed shut, convincing himself that he was currently dreaming.

The sensation on his body was merely bugs in the quilt, crawling around aimlessly.

"Study it."

Shimizu tossed a book over. It contained some key sections—knowledge he had kept buried at the bottom of his chest, never having taught it to Nohara Rin.

This was only a portion; good things had to be savored slowly. He still needed to keep Nohara Rin under his thumb for a while longer, until he felt it was necessary to give her the rest.

Nohara Rin's eyes seemed to lose their luster; the book fell beside her, yet she didn't seem to notice.

"What, you don't want it?"

Shimizu arched an eyebrow.

He had only touched her a little and taken some liberties; he hadn't done anything more.

Was Nohara Rin's mental fortitude really this weak?

As these words fell, a flicker of color finally returned to Nohara Rin's vacant eyes.

She picked up the book as if it were an incredibly precious treasure, flipping through it with impatient eagerness.

Soon, she had finished reading it all.

The content inside was incomplete.

Nohara Rin realized this fact. Even though her heart was filled with overwhelming loathing for Shimizu, she still asked him, "Where is the rest of the content?"

"The rest of the content will naturally be given in the remaining time."

Shimizu smiled, like the heartless mockery of a demon.

Nohara Rin lowered her head. Having seen through Shimizu's true nature, she no longer held any expectations for him.

"Why... in the end... is it me?"

She merely muttered to herself.

She wanted to understand why she had to suffer such agony.

"If you want to blame someone, blame Obito."

Shimizu said meaningfully.

Who told Obito to participate in the massacre of the Uchiha Clan?

He was only doing this to protect himself.

To ensure that, for the future, his hope of survival would be just a fraction greater.

Obito wanted to destroy the Uchiha Clan, destroy Konoha, and even drag all of humanity to their graves, all for his own selfish desires.

This was fundamentally in natural conflict with Shimizu.

Shimizu dared not do anything to Obito right now; he had murdered his own clansmen, and his current strength could not be hidden—unless he no longer wanted to live in Konoha.

By the time his strength grew, Obito might already possess Kamui.

Therefore, he had to keep the card that was Nohara Rin firmly in his hand.

Nohara Rin had done nothing wrong; her only mistake was having a loyal lapdog like Obito.

"Obito?"

Nohara Rin's voice was hoarse as she tried to guess the meaning behind Shimizu's inexplicable words.

Why would Shimizu say he was treating her this way because of Obito?

Could it be that Obito had once offended Shimizu, and because she often paid attention to Obito, it had incited Shimizu's resentment?

In her heart, Nohara Rin couldn't help but feel a sliver of resentment and blame toward Obito.

If not for Obito, would Shimizu not be treating her this way?

"Study well. If you savor these things carefully, they will be useful for your strength."

After landing a blow, Shimizu naturally didn't forget to dangle a sweet treat to keep her hooked.