Chapter 187: Rin is Gone
Evening.
Kitahara Kaede and Tsunade walked side by side down the street, each carrying a bag of groceries.
Konoha had been unusually peaceful these past few days. Along the roadside, the shops were beginning to light up one by one. The two had agreed to head over to Kushina's house to have dinner.
"Any movement from Kirigakure lately?" Kaede asked casually.
"The Third Mizukage died a while back, and Kirigakure immediately started clashing with Konoha again," Tsunade replied with a pout. "They only stopped for a few days before starting something new."
Kaede nodded and didn't press further. He reached over and took the bag of groceries from Tsunade's hand. The gesture was so natural that she didn't even have time to refuse.
She shook her fingers, which were marked red from the bag's handles, and a small smile played on her lips. "You've certainly learned how to take care of people."
Kaede looked ahead. "I always did."
Before long, they arrived at Kushina's door. Tsunade knocked.
*Knock, knock.*
There was no sound from inside. Normally, by this time, Kushina would have already responded from behind the door. After a few more seconds, the door opened.
Kushina stood there. Gone was her usual fiery energy; her eyes were red, and her lips were pressed tightly together. Seeing them, she didn't smile; she simply stepped aside.
"Come in," she said, her voice soft and slightly raspy.
Kaede paused for a moment. The relaxed expression on Tsunade's face vanished.
They entered the house. The lights were on in the living room, but the atmosphere was cold and desolate. The tea on the table had gone cold, untouched.
Kakashi sat alone on the sofa. His silver-white hair fell forward, obscuring most of his face. He sat there perfectly still.
Kaede stared at him for two seconds. He had a general idea of what had happened. A few months had passed since the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. Calculating the timing...
Rin must have met with an accident.
Tsunade placed the groceries in the kitchen and walked quietly over to Kushina. "What happened?" she asked in a low voice. "What's wrong?"
Kushina walked to Kakashi's side and placed a hand on his shoulder. She wanted to comfort him, but once her hand landed, she found herself unsure of what to say.
"After Kakashi returned from his mission, he discovered that Rin was gone," she said, biting her lip. "He went to her residence. The lock had been pried open from the outside, and there were signs of a struggle inside, but no body."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "She was captured alive."
Kushina nodded. "Minato went to investigate as soon as he got the news. He should be back soon."
On the sofa, Kakashi finally looked up. His eye was hollow, devoid of light.
"I promised Obito," he said, his voice dry and hoarse. "That I would protect her. But I failed."
Kushina quickly knelt and took his hand. "Don't say that. It's not your fault, and Minato will soon—"
She didn't finish her sentence. In the center of the living room, the figure of Minato Namikaze appeared out of thin air. He stood there, and for once, there wasn't a trace of his usual gentleness on his face.
Kushina stood up immediately. "Minato, what's the word?"
Minato looked at Kakashi, paused for a beat, and then spoke. "I've found out what happened. It was Kirigakure. Elite ANBU, at least five of them. Their plan was meticulous. They retreated toward the southeast of the Land of Fire; it's already been two days."
Kakashi bolted upright.
Tsunade looked puzzled. "Kidnapping a Chunin-level medical ninja... what is Kirigakure trying to do?"
Minato didn't answer. He simply looked at Kakashi. "We're leaving now. Kakashi, let's go."
Kakashi said nothing, only giving a heavy nod.
"Lord Minato," Kaede spoke up.
Minato turned to look at him.
"Count me in," Kaede said, his voice steady. "I'm quite familiar with Kirigakure."
Minato didn't hesitate and nodded immediately. "Fine."
The three of them headed for the door.
"Lady Tsunade," Kaede stopped as he passed her. "A word in private."
Tsunade didn't ask questions and followed him to the end of the hallway. Kaede used his body to block the view of the living room and dropped his voice to a whisper.
"Do me a favor."
Tsunade stared at him. "Speak."
"Go to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Wait for me at this location."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "Why?"
"I can't explain it to you right now, but this is very important." Kaede's grip on her wrist tightened unconsciously. "Remember, do not let anyone in the village know about this."
Tsunade fell silent. She didn't understand. It made sense for Minato and Kakashi to pursue the Kirigakure kidnappers, but why did he need her to secretly go to the border? Why could no one know?
It was unconventional. But as she looked into Kaede's eyes, she saw an unquestionable resolve. Finally, Tsunade nodded. "Fine."
Kaede leaned into her ear and quickly whispered a location. Then, he let go and strode toward the door.
Tsunade stood there, watching his back disappear through the entryway. Kushina walked over, looking at her with concern.
"Lady Tsunade, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. However, I have to head out as well. We'll have that dinner another time."
***
Underground.
Deep within an unknown cavern.
The rock walls were draped with white piping. Obito Uchiha leaned his right hand against a protrusion in the rock, practicing muscle control over and over. The right half of his body, pieced together with Hashirama cells, still refused to obey him. Every movement caused a searing pain deep within the flesh.
He gritted his teeth, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. He didn't care about the pain; there was only one thing on his mind.
Get better quickly and return to the surface.
Return to Rin and Kakashi.
"Oh my."
The wall suddenly rippled, and half of a white face emerged from the stone. White Zetsu tilted his head, his voice airy. "Obito, I have some not-so-good news."
Obito looked up, breathing heavily. "What?"
"That friend of yours, Rin," White Zetsu drawled. "She's been captured by the people of the Hidden Mist Village."
Obito froze.
White Zetsu added, "The situation looks quite dire."
Obito's mind went blank with a loud *buzz*. A few seconds later, overwhelming terror and rage surged through him.
"What did you say?!"
He flung away the stone in his hand, and the right side of his body spasmed in uncontrolled pain. As if feeling nothing, he lunged at White Zetsu. "Where is Rin?!"
White Zetsu shrugged. "I only saw a little bit. There were a lot of Kirigakure shinobi; she seemed to have been taken away."
"Get me out of here!" Obito's voice had completely changed.
White Zetsu looked at his body. "But you can't move normally yet."
"Get me out of here!"
"If you're even a bit late, she might actually die, you know."
Obito's eyes turned red instantly. "Shut up!"
White Zetsu peeled himself away from the wall, his white body pressing against Obito's fragmented right side, wrapping around him in layers. "I really can't deal with you."
Obito turned to look at the cave entrance. A massive boulder blocked the way. From the moment he woke up until now, that stone had always been there.
Madara had said that he could not leave.
Going out would have been pointless until his body had fully healed.
But right now, he didn't care.
He lunged at the rock, slamming his right fist into it with all his might.
BOOM!
The rock didn't budge.
His fist shattered upon impact, fragments of white tissue splintering apart.
'Not enough!'
"Again!!"
BOOM!
Cracks rippled outward from the center of the stone.
"Get out of my way!!"
One final blow.
The massive boulder detonated, splitting wide open. Moonlight flooded through the gap.
The two tomoe in Obito's left eye spun frantically. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted toward the surface.
'Rin.'
'Wait for me.'
'I'm coming!'
...
In the deepest reaches of the cave, a withered figure leaned back against a stone throne.
Madara Uchiha raised his clouded eyes, watching the direction Obito had vanished. White tubes connected to his back, pulsing slightly.
"Go."
"Witness the cruelty of this world for yourself."