Namikaze Minato was startled and couldn't help confirming again, "Obito, what you said, is it all true?"
Obito smiled, "It's true. That old man even said before that he wanted to find some deserted place to die in peace, but in the end, he still chose to return to his roots."
"This really shows how mysterious the land of Konoha is. Even Uchiha Madara, who left his homeland behind, chose to come back in the end."
Minato couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Ever since Naruto's birth, he'd been trying to finish his duties as quickly as possible so he could spend more time with Kushina.
But now that Madara was dead, the truth would inevitably spread. And since Madara himself had already announced his death, would the ninja world really remain peaceful after this?
Wouldn't that mean he'd have no free time at all?
Thinking this, Minato quickly asked, "Obito, what about the Village of Earth plan? Madara was the first leader, who do you have in mind for the second?"
Obito smiled, "Naturally, it'll be Yahiko. Everyone's going to his wedding soon anyway. When that day comes, I'll announce it directly."
Minato worriedly said, "The other major villages won't think badly of that, will they? I really do hope the ninja world can stay peaceful."
Obito said calmly, "Don't worry, sensei. That day, I'll give everyone a huge surprise. After that, they won't have time for stray thoughts."
Seeing Obito's confident expression, Minato finally let out a small sigh of relief. But at the same time, his head ached again.
Obito looked like he was about to stir up something big. When that happened, wouldn't everyone again blame him, make him take the fall?
Otherwise, why was it that "the darkness of the ninja world" had somehow turned into "the Yellow Flash"?
Shouldn't that title belong to his student, Uchiha Obito, and his Root-like organization instead?
While Minato was still mentally groaning, Obito said, "Sensei, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Minato gave him a knowing look, "Off to see Rin again? You two really remind me of how Kushina and I were back in the day."
Obito's face turned red, and without saying another word, he disappeared in a flash.
Minato, on the other hand, began to worry. He hoped that when the day came for him to die, he'd at least be remembered with a good reputation in the ninja world.
———
Of course, Obito really was going to see Rin. In a flash, he appeared behind her and hugged her from behind.
By now, everyone was about thirteen years old, the age of youth, passion, and peak chunibyo.
Rin turned her head slightly, looking at Obito with mild reproach, "You're still as sudden as ever. You scared me again."
Obito leaned close to her ear and said, "Rin, I've got something to share. Not sure if it's good news or bad news… Anyway, Madara's dead."
Rin's body trembled slightly, but she didn't resist his embrace. She simply asked, "Just like that, he's dead?"
Obito said, "Of course. No matter how grand someone seems before dying, in the end, if they don't want to cause a big commotion, they just close their eyes, and that's it. No breath left. You should understand that best, Rin."
Rin said, "So, did you come to tell me this news, or just to take advantage of me? You know the answer."
"The medical department still has a meeting later, and I've got a few surgical experiments coming up. You don't understand that stuff anyway, so don't come bother me."
Obito froze, unsure what to do. Rin really was busy as the head of the medical corps, but the cost of that busyness was that they spent far less time together.
Seeing his reaction, Rin blushed slightly, leaned in close, and kissed him on the cheek, "That's your reward. That's all for today. If you've got nothing to do, go find something fun for yourself."
Obito suddenly felt satisfied. Not greedy, he smiled, "As you command, Lady Rin."
Then, with a whoosh, he vanished.
Rin could only shake her head helplessly. There was still a mountain of paperwork to fill out, and now she had to pacify that childish Obito, too. Not easy at all.
———
Meanwhile, Obito really was bored. For the moment, there wasn't anyone to hang out with.
Kakashi, now the commander of the Anbu and the chief overseer of Konoha's branch in the Village of Earth, always found excuses to "discuss important matters" in the Hidden Mist. Everyone knew exactly what he was really doing there.
Obito couldn't bring himself to interrupt.
As for others, Anko had Shisui, Kurenai had Asuma, even Yuki had found a boyfriend, the same Chisui Tojin whom Obito had met once on the Fire–Earth battlefield, the one who had angrily demanded, "Why did you arrive so late?"
Might Guy didn't have anyone… but then again, he didn't need anyone. He had his youth to keep him company.
After thinking for a long time, Obito realized there really wasn't anyone left in Konoha he could talk to.
He'd already visited the Akatsuki several times recently, even gone to Roran to chat with Sara. He really had to pace himself, he couldn't keep doing that.
Then, suddenly, a figure flashed in his mind.
'Right, him. By now, he should be just a little brat.'
'Yeah… let's go find him.'
Thinking that, Obito's figure vanished from Konoha.
———
[Iwagakure]
In the home of an ordinary family—
A mischievous young boy, who had just learned to talk and walk, quietly slipped out of the house and ran to a muddy spot nearby. There, he started playing with the mud.
He loved mud more than anything, he could shape it into all kinds of little animals, and lately, his creations had become almost lifelike.
But something always felt missing. Besides wanting them to move, what he really wished was that he could see them suddenly go boom, and explode.
Ever since the day he'd seen, from a distance, what must have been a ninja practicing a jutsu that caused an explosion, he'd been fascinated by that instant burst of light and the sheer impact of it.
From then on, his life's creed had been reduced to one thing.
Maybe his little brain couldn't yet put it into words, but another version of him, somewhere in another time, had already summed it up for him: Art is an explosion.
Unfortunately, right now, he still couldn't figure out how to make his little works of art move, or explode.
All he could do was keep thinking, keep experimenting with his hands.
Then suddenly, a shadow appeared beside him.
From the look of it, it was some kind of weirdo.
Dressed in a black cloak with red clouds, purple nail polish on his fingers, and an orange spiral mask covering his face, he radiated a strange yet oddly humorous vibe.
The weirdo leaned down to the boy's level, raised a hand, and greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey there, Deidara-senpai! Long time no see! I missed you so much!"
"Remember me? I'm Akatsuki's intern, Tobi!"
Deidara squinted at the sudden appearance of this strange man. He didn't really look like a bad guy… but he didn't look like a good guy either.
As for the words the weirdo spoke, he couldn't understand a single one.
All he could do was tilt his little head, three question marks forming above it, and lisp out, "You… who… are?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.