Rin mustered all her strength and punched Shi Xiu hard in the cheek.
Yet Shi Xiu merely glanced at Rin coolly, a trace of indifference in his eyes as he faced her attack.
Without hesitation, Shi Xiu raised his hand and caught Rin by the wrist with pinpoint precision.
Shi Xiu moved swiftly and forcefully. As he steadily increased his grip, there was a muffled thud, and Rin's entire arm suddenly burst apart.
Fortunately, Rin now had an Impure World Reincarnation body. Countless fragments of dust slowly gathered around her arm and reassembled. Her shattered arm was visibly restoring itself, bit by bit.
Shi Xiu looked at Rin impassively and said coldly, "I don't have time to play around with you! If you keep acting like this, I'll have no choice but to undo the Impure World Reincarnation."
Shi Xiu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Rin's head. Her anger instantly gave way to silence.
Rin lowered her head, her eyes vacant. No one could tell what was going through her mind.
Seeing this, Kushina hurried over and wrapped her arms tightly around Rin, trying to comfort her.
At the same time, Minato hurried over too, smiling awkwardly as he said to Shi Xiu, "Lord Shi Xiu, please don't take it to heart..."
Just then, the eastern sky began to lighten, and soft sunlight gradually spread across the land. Only then did Shi Xiu realize he had stayed up all night.
He turned to Minato and Kushina and said slowly, "You two stay here. If nothing unexpected happens, your memorial service should be held today."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance, helpless expressions on both their faces.
For some reason, hearing with their own ears that a memorial service was being held for them always stirred up an indescribably strange feeling deep inside.
By then, Rin's arm had completely healed, as if the injury had never happened. Shi Xiu looked around the room he was in and slowly said,
"I'm thinking of building another house beside this one. It'll be more convenient that way..."
Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked outside. Minato, Kushina, and the others followed him out.
Shi Xiu stopped, brought his hands together, and chanted, "Wood Release: Four Pillar House Technique!"
In an instant, the ground trembled slightly, and a brand-new house sprang up beside Shi Xiu's home on the left.
The new house was nearly identical in design to the one Shi Xiu lived in, and every detail was exquisitely finished.
Rin's eyes widened as she stared at the buildings that had risen from the ground in an instant. The shock she felt was beyond words.
She had never imagined Shi Xiu possessed such incredible abilities, and now she was even more curious about his identity.
Shi Xiu let out a huge yawn, looking drowsy as he drawled,
"All right, go inside and talk. I'm going back to my room to catch up on some sleep. Don't wake me unless it's something urgent!" With that, Shi Xiu turned and went into his house. He brought Naruto out and handed him to Minato, then went back inside and closed the door behind him.
Minato and Kushina exchanged a knowing glance. Then they led Rin toward the new house on the left.
When Minato, Kushina, and Rin entered, they found the layout inside was exactly the same as Shi Xiu's house.
Rin looked around curiously, marveling inwardly at Shi Xiu's strength.
Just then, Rin looked up and stared straight at Minato and Kushina.
After hesitating for a while, she could no longer hold back her curiosity and asked, "Minato-sensei, that man... who is he?"
At Rin's question, Minato and Kushina exchanged another glance, as if they could read each other's thoughts in their eyes.
Minato pondered for a moment before slowly explaining, "Lord Shi Xiu is a mysterious and remarkable man. They say he has lived since the era of the First. He was also very close to the First, and his strength seems to surpass even the First's."
Rin froze, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief.
It took her a while to recover. She swallowed, still filled with awe and fear of the man named Shi Xiu.
Although Rin now understood that Shi Xiu's strength was unfathomable and awe-inspiring, she still felt a surge of indignation when she thought of his accusation against Obito.
"Minato-sensei, do you really believe Obito—that boy who once fought alongside us, so bright and kind—is the one who killed you and Kushina-sensei?"
Disbelief and pain showed in Rin's eyes. She stared intently at Minato, hoping he would deny it.
After hearing her, Minato exchanged a glance with Kushina beside him.
They were just as troubled. They knew that no matter what they said, it would likely do little to ease Rin's pain and confusion. But then Rin's bewildered eyes suddenly grew resolute.
"No matter how hard it is, I'll find evidence and prove to that man that the mysterious person who killed Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei absolutely could not be Obito!"
Rin's voice was quiet, but it carried unwavering determination, as though her vow had been etched deep into her soul.
Minato and Kushina watched the brave girl in silence, their eyes filled with affection and concern.
At last, Kushina stepped forward and gently drew Rin into her arms, comforting her warmly.
The sun climbed toward the center of the sky. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was noon.
Minato was chatting happily with Kushina and Rin, their laughter ringing through the air from time to time.
But amid the easy, cheerful atmosphere, Minato suddenly seemed to sense something. He sprang to his feet without warning, the smile vanishing from his face as it turned grave.
"Someone's quietly approaching us," Minato said in a low voice, a note of alertness in it.
These were turbulent times. The Third had only just reclaimed power, and the village had only recently endured the devastating Nine-Tails Incident. It was still struggling to recover.
On top of that, for certain reasons, Minato couldn't appear in public. As a result, he was especially alert to any hint of trouble. The thought that another village might have sent spies to gather information made his heart leap.
Hearing Minato, Kushina and Rin immediately stood as well, their expressions just as tense.
The three stood in silence as the atmosphere grew heavy. But after sensing the area carefully, Minato's taut nerves finally relaxed a little, and he let out a long breath.
"It's just members of Konoha's Anbu. Don't worry; they're probably here to see Lord Shi Xiu!" Minato's voice had clearly softened.
Meanwhile, on a large tree not far from Shi Xiu's courtyard, Nara Luling stood steadily, as nimble as a monkey.
Her deep eyes rested on the house that had appeared beside her, a hint of confusion in her gaze.