Chapter 275: The Journey Back
Terumi Mei’s voice came from behind him.
Kitahara Kaede stopped mid-step.
He didn’t turn around, but a hint of wariness rose in his heart.
The last time they had been at the harbor, Mei’s reckless attempt to make him stay had left his scalp tingling even now.
Kaede was afraid she might choose this critical moment to act up again.
After all, the matter of the Tailed Beasts was urgent.
Footsteps approached.
Mei circled around him and blocked his path.
Kaede was just about to cut off whatever entanglement she might begin when Mei turned her head and glanced at the pitch-black sky outside the building.
Then she met his gaze.
"Be careful on the way back to Konoha."
She paused. Beneath her solemn expression was a trace of concern hidden so deeply that it was almost impossible to notice.
"The enemy failed to capture the Six-Tails. There’s a good chance they’ll set up an ambush along your route."
Kaede froze.
The reassurances and explanations already waiting on his tongue never came out.
He had assumed Mei stopped him to ask when he would return.
Yet she hadn’t asked a single personal question.
Her first words had been an assessment of the dangers awaiting him on the journey home.
Kaede looked at the woman before him.
Her water-blue skirt hung softly around her legs.
There was no unhealthy possessiveness on her face, only the calm judgment of someone who stood at the center of Kirigakure’s leadership.
The wariness in his heart gradually faded, replaced by an indescribable sense of guilt.
Mei had helped him far too much during this period.
Yet only moments ago, he had assumed the worst of her.
Kaede’s voice softened considerably.
"I’ll be careful."
He felt he should give her something definite to hold on to, so he added,
"Once the matter with the Tailed Beasts is settled, I’ll come see you."
Mei lightly pressed her lower lip together.
She didn’t push for anything more. She merely nodded with surprising understanding.
"All right. You should go."
She stepped aside to clear the way.
"The situation is urgent. Don’t waste any more time."
Kaede no longer hesitated.
After giving her one last look, he headed for the stairs.
His footsteps descended the staircase and soon vanished around the corner.
The corridor fell completely silent.
Mei remained where she stood, staring in the direction of the stairwell.
Only after she confirmed that his figure was long gone and even the sound of his footsteps had disappeared did the softness on her face slowly recede.
A triumphant smile curled across her lips.
’Hehe.’
Of course she could let him leave.
But she had never said he would be leaving alone.
Tsunade lived close to him, and Pakura could visit him whenever she pleased. If Mei continued foolishly remaining in Kirigakure, someone else would inevitably beat her to him again.
She turned around and pushed open the door to Genji’s office once more.
The elder was reviewing a list of candidates for the escort team. Hearing the door open, he raised his head.
"Is there something else?"
Mei walked to the desk and went straight to the point.
"Elder Genji, I want to go to Konoha personally."
Genji’s hand stopped over the scroll.
Mei quickly presented her reasoning.
"I want to take direct responsibility for the joint defense surrounding the Six-Tails in Konoha."
Genji didn’t immediately agree, but neither did he reject her outright.
His aged eyes swept across her face.
Mei’s expression was so serious that no flaw could be found in it.
"I can vouch for Kitahara Kaede’s character, but the Six-Tails concerns the very foundation of Kirigakure."
"Sending only an ordinary ANBU squad wouldn’t carry enough authority, nor would it be sufficiently secure."
She paused, then delivered her central argument.
"As Kirigakure’s representative, I should personally lead the team to Konoha."
"First, I can keep watch over the Six-Tails and prevent Konoha’s High Command from harboring any other intentions."
"Second, I can negotiate the joint defense of our villages directly with the Fourth Hokage."
"The enemy is hiding in the shadows. Kirigakure and Konoha must fully connect their intelligence networks. We cannot continue defending ourselves separately."
Her argument was flawless.
Genji looked at Mei.
He had lived for most of a century. How could he possibly miss the urgency she failed to conceal whenever Konoha was mentioned?
He understood perfectly well.
At least half of Mei’s determination to go to Konoha had absolutely nothing to do with the Six-Tails and everything to do with Kitahara Kaede.
But so what?
Her presence would genuinely benefit Kirigakure.
If their Jinchuriki was going to be placed on another village’s territory, someone with sufficient weight needed to oversee the situation.
Across all of Kirigakure, there was currently no one more suitable than Terumi Mei.
Genji considered the matter for a long time before finally making his decision.
"Hand over the village’s defenses to Gonbe. Choose several of our most reliable people and depart as soon as possible."
A smile of genuine happiness finally appeared on Mei’s face.
She stepped back and bowed solemnly to the elder.
"Understood. Thank you, Elder."
Outside the administrative building, Kaede walked through the entrance and swept his gaze across the stone steps.
The burns on the Six-Tails Jinchuriki had already been treated, and he was sitting down to rest.
Kakashi stood nearby, maintaining constant vigilance.
Kaede approached the Jinchuriki.
"Elder Genji agreed. You’ll leave for Konoha with us immediately. Kirigakure’s support team will follow and rendezvous with you later."
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki stared at him in disbelief.
He couldn’t believe Kirigakure’s leadership was actually willing to let him leave the village.
During his years in Kirigakure, his life had been more suffocating than that of a prisoner.
ANBU followed him wherever he went. Even leaving the village for a soak in a hot spring required repeated interrogation.
Now that the Three-Tails had been captured, he understood even more clearly that if he remained in Kirigakure, he probably wouldn’t survive another week.
"All right."
He agreed without the slightest hesitation.
He didn’t even ask how Konoha intended to house him or whether his freedom would be restricted.
Staying alive was what mattered most.
Kaede was satisfied with his cooperation.
He swept his gaze over the group, turned, and headed directly toward the village gates.
"Then we leave immediately."
Rin followed beside Kakashi for a few steps before abruptly stopping and looking back at Obito, who still stood motionless where they had left him.
His back was turned toward the light, hiding his expression.
Rin’s heart tightened.
She hurried to catch up with Kaede and lowered her voice.
"Kitahara-senpai, will Obito... return to Konoha with us?"
Kaede didn’t slow down.
He wouldn’t make the decision for Obito. He merely turned his head slightly and glanced behind him.
"He’s a living person."
"Where he goes is his own choice. His life belongs to him."
Rin understood what he meant.
Kaede wouldn’t force Obito to return, but he wouldn’t stop him either.
She immediately turned around and jogged back to Obito.
"Obito, let’s go. Come back to Konoha with us."
"Minato-sensei will be so happy when he learns you’re still alive."
At the words "Minato-sensei," Obito’s body visibly trembled.
He instinctively avoided Rin’s clear eyes.
A long time passed before he finally said,
"I can’t go back."
Rin didn’t understand.
She anxiously stepped half a pace closer.
"Why not?"
"Madara deceived you, and that White Zetsu was using you too."
"The things you did weren’t solely your fault. They manipulated you!"
Kakashi, who had been walking ahead, stopped when he heard them.
He turned around, his gaze crossing the darkness to settle on Obito.
"Come back."
Kakashi finally spoke.
"Just like Rin said, a lot of people will be happy if you return."
A fierce struggle flashed across the unharmed half of Obito’s face.
Return to Konoha now?
How could he possibly face them?
How could he face Minato-sensei or the comrades who had once placed flowers before his name on the memorial stone?
He had helped Madara advance the Moon’s Eye Plan.
He had nearly assisted Black Zetsu in destroying the world.
Only a short while ago, he had even tried to kill the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
He had no idea how to face anyone in the village.
"I don’t deserve to return to that place."
Obito gritted his teeth and turned his face away.
"You should leave. Don’t worry about me."
Rin suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
Her grip wasn’t strong. If Obito had wanted to shake her off, he could have broken free effortlessly.
But he didn’t move.
"Where can you go if you don’t return to Konoha?"
Rin looked directly at him.
"White Zetsu betrayed you. Other than Kakashi and me, do you have any comrades left?"
The question struck Obito where it hurt most.
She was right.
Where else could he go?
Obito lowered his head and looked at the hand gripping his sleeve.
A very long time passed before he finally forced a single word out through his nose.
"...Okay."
His voice was almost inaudible.
But Rin heard him.
She immediately smiled, released his sleeve, and ran toward Kaede.
"Then let’s hurry! Keep up, Obito!"
The group quickly left Kirigakure.
After passing through the outermost forest, the mountain road became increasingly rugged.
Kakashi suddenly stopped and looked back at Obito.
"You support him."
He gestured toward the Six-Tails Jinchuriki with his chin.
"I need to speak with Kitahara-senpai up ahead."
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki’s face turned green on the spot.
He looked at Kakashi, then at Obito, whose entire body radiated danger.
This black-robed man had tried to kill him in the forest only hours ago.
And now Kakashi wanted Obito to help him walk?
"Wait..."
The Jinchuriki swallowed nervously, his voice weak.
"Could someone else do it? My leg is burned. What if he—"
Obito turned his head and caught the Jinchuriki glancing toward Rin.
His eyes instantly chilled.
He strode over and, instead of offering an arm, grabbed the back of the man’s collar and hauled him upright like a chick.
"Dream on."
Obito snorted.
"A useless idiot who can’t even walk properly doesn’t get to choose who helps him!"
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki stumbled as Obito dragged him forward.
His collar painfully constricted his neck, leaving him with a miserable expression.
Yet he didn’t dare utter a single complaint. He could only limp desperately after Obito’s pace.
Rin covered her mouth and failed to suppress a laugh at the sight.
Obito’s temper had become worse, but somehow, this awkward behavior made him feel like the boy she remembered.
She hurried alongside them, constantly watching the Jinchuriki’s injury to make sure Obito didn’t tear it open again.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Kakashi accelerated.
After several leaps, he caught up with Kaede at the front of the group.
He stayed half a step behind him.
Several times, Kakashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Yet the words of gratitude circled through his mind, and every possible phrasing felt wrong.
In the end, he could only follow in silence, his steps strangely restrained.
Kaede noticed his discomfort from the corner of his eye.
He had no interest in guessing what the boy was struggling with, so he addressed it directly.
"You don’t need to thank me."
Kakashi raised his head and looked at him in surprise.
Kaede didn’t slow down.
His gaze remained fixed on the mountain road ahead.
"Saving Rin, pulling Obito back, and keeping watch over the Tailed Beasts—"
"I had my own reasons for all of it."
He turned his head and glanced at Kakashi.
"I don’t waste effort on things that bring me no benefit, so there’s no reason for you to feel grateful."
Kakashi stopped in place after hearing those words.
He remained silent for two seconds.
Then he bowed deeply toward Kaede’s retreating back.
"Whatever your plans may be..."
Kakashi straightened.
"Whatever your reasons were..."
"You saved them and brought them back to me alive. That is a fact."
"Kitahara-senpai, thank you."
Kaede didn’t look back.
He merely raised his right hand and waved it twice through the air.
"Let’s go."
"We need to leave the Land of Water before dawn."