Seeing the deep affection in Obito's eyes, Kakashi's expression grew even colder.
Damn it, do you really think he's got a good temper?
Without warning, Kakashi activated Sage Mode, his Ninja Blade flashed with purple electricity, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.
Obito was still in a daze when Black Zetsu noticed something was wrong and, in the moment of crisis, pulled him away from the attack.
"What are you spacing out for? That guy wants to kill you!"
"Wh-what?"
Obito realized what was happening and looked at Kakashi in shock.
"Why?"
"Does killing an animal need a reason?"
"Furthermore, Lin is my wife. You have no right to call Lin by her name; you are unworthy!"
Kakashi's attack failed, and after leaving a Flying Thunder God Kunai behind, he immediately returned to Yuzuru's side, warily watching Black Zetsu next to Obito.
He could verbally interfere with Obito, but he couldn't see through this strange black thing at all!
Their gazes swept over Yuzuru's face, and the two exchanged a quick, brief glance.
Kakashi: What is that?
Yuzuru: It's a strange thing.
Kakashi: With it around, can I still kill Obito?
Yuzuru: No.
Kakashi:... Okay, I understand. Let's prepare to retreat.
In any case, these main objectives have been achieved.
As for Kakashi killing Obito, there's no rush. Since that strange black thing has been on him all along, let's wait for another opportunity. At least there's no opportunity now, so let's not waste time.
"Wife, wife!"
When Obito heard Kakashi admit it, he was filled with despair, and he felt disappointed in the world once again.
After glancing at him, Yuzuru raised her hand and gouged out his Sharingan, which were absorbing negative emotions.
Seeing this unpredictable scene, Black Zetsu was completely terrified. He had White Zetsu hold off the two while he and Obito took the opportunity to escape.
"Too bad, you should be able to kill him, right?"
"Yes, but it's unnecessary."
Yuzuru looked at the Sharingan in his hand. After leaving Obito's body, it returned to its original form.
"Just Mitsudomoe? Not the Mangekyō? Then how can he...?"
" The Mangekyō is an individual ability. These Sharingan were originally just ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Their original owner had not awakened the Mangekyō. Obito was able to use it to unleash the Mangekyō's power because he himself had mastered the power of the Mangekyō. The Sharingan was merely a tool for releasing this power."
Yuzuru explained.
"Doesn't that mean that after he escapes this time, he can still get a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan and still use his original Dōjutsu?"
"Yes, that's how it is. The Sharingan is just a medium; the power originates from within them, and they need to use the Sharingan to unleash it."
"Then why did you let him go?"
Kakashi looked at him with a hint of helplessness.
"He can't die yet. Look at him, like a dead dog. The more desperate he is, the more he'll seek revenge on the Shinobi World. We definitely won't be the first to suffer retribution."
"Using someone else to do the dirty work?"
"Yes, the simplest and most effective way is to let this mad dog bite others. The Shinobi World is on alert because of Akatsuki's sudden move. We, the Land of Water, don't have any Tailed Beast on the surface, so he has no reason to fight us to the death."
"Let's go, let 'Gaara back."
After saying that, he put one hand on Kakashi's shoulder, and the two disappeared on the spot, returning to the Sea Capital.
Upon learning of their return, Temari immediately sought out Yuzuru, wanting to see Gaara.
Yuzuru led her to Gaara's frozen body, and Temari's tears immediately welled up.
" Gaara, is there really any hope for him?"
Temari watched her younger brother, who had suffered so much since childhood, being quietly frozen in ice, her face filled with worry.
When she left Sunagakure, her biggest worry was him. The Tailed Beast Gaara suffered greatly and was ostracized by the villagers. Even his father ignored him. She never expected that he would have to go through something like this after he grew up.
When have I ever lied to anyone?
Seeing Temari uncontrollably, Yuzuru gently ruffled her golden hair.
"Freezing him is to prevent his life from completely fading away, preserving the last glimmer of hope. Tomorrow, I will have Gaara lead the team to send Gaara back to Sunagakure."
Temari nodded.
The next day, the man in white left the Land of Water, carrying Gaara's body to the Sunagakure.
Thanks to the construction of the high-speed international train, it only took less than a day to travel by train from the shore to Sunagakure.
They carried Gaara's body back to Sunagakure.
Chiyo remained silent upon witnessing this scene, then sighed.
"Your village, can't you really let Temari come back?"
" Elder Chiyo, Temari was the promise we made to each other back then."
"Now that we in Sunagakure have suffered such a calamity, we will absolutely not violate the peace treaty."
Chiyo remained undeterred.
"Excuse my bluntness, but Kirigakure isn't much stronger than you."
Yuki Haku immediately produced the explanation he had prepared beforehand.
"You may not know how devastating the Blood Mist Policy of previous Mizukage have been to Kirigakure. Today, the combined population of all the major bloodline families is less than a hundred, including women, children, and the elderly."
Upon hearing this, Chiyo's face was filled with disbelief.
She had heard of the cruelty of the Bloody Mist Village, Genin had to fight their way up, but she never imagined it would be this extreme.
"That's why we in Kirigakure have maintained a nationwide lockdown. Kirigakure can't withstand any more turmoil. If it weren't for the Sea Region Academy seeking our cooperation, it would probably have taken us decades to recover."
"Essentially, we're not that different from you."
"When the last Blood Mist Policy ended, only three people survived: the Mizukage, Zabuza, and Kisame. That means Kirigakure only gained three Genin that year."
Upon hearing these appalling figures, Chiyo and Ebizo were stunned into silence.
After a long while, Chiyo couldn't help but say, "Your Mizukage really does have a brain."
Those were bloodstained ninjas, Kirigakure wasted them like this, which opened Chiyo and Ebizo's eyes.
They didn't want to believe Yuki Haku's words, but the various actions of Kirigakure suggested that it was indeed true; they hadn't had any contact with the Shinobi World for over a decade.
In this situation, Chiyo simply doesn't believe they're quietly developing their skills.
Now that they're separated from the Shinobi World, what about the economy? Where will Kirigakure get the money to develop? Will they rely on the daimyo?
While not every daimyo is as dim-witted as the one from the Land of Wind, daimyo aren't doing charity work. Unconditionally supporting Kirigakure for over a decade, especially when Kirigakure has severed all economic ties with the outside world, would be a losing proposition.
Unless the Daimyo of the Land of Water is truly selfless, but is that even possible? Daimyo may have a lot of money, but getting them to part with it? It's much simpler to kill them and take it yourself.
But killing the daimyo? Is that even possible? Without the daimyo, the Land of Water would lose its last source of income.
The only explanation is that Kirigakure has become so fragile that it can no longer withstand any storms, and can only resort to such extreme measures to silently lick its wounds.
Thinking of this, Chiyo couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect your village to face such a predicament. I was being presumptuous."
Seeing that Chiyo had convinced herself through her own imagination, Yuki Haku swallowed back the words she wanted to say.
"It's good that your village understands."