Second uncle was even more shocked, "My name is Matsugi Shigeru. My elder brother is Matsugi Kazuo. Do you know how my elder brother died? The ANBU said it was from fighting with someone from the Yamagi family, that they perished together, but I don't believe that result. It's too strange… I suspect my brother was killed by that organization…"
That organization, he must have meant Root. Or rather, Obito himself.
Of course Obito wouldn't give a clear answer. He only said, "Just take it as that. Even if it is, there's nothing you can do."
"So, if you hadn't let greed get the better of you, you wouldn't have run the risk of being killed. I can tell you one reason why I can't help much: the one whose inheritance you tried to seize, Yuki, isn't dead."
"What!"
Matsugi Shigeru and Rin both cried out at the same time.
One cried out because this was huge. If the person wasn't dead, then that was the biggest bug in their whole process, there was no saving them.
The other cried out because among the inheritance they tried to take was also Yuki's share. And Yuki was the one Rin herself had saved.
Matsugi Shigeru panicked completely, "But Yuki… wasn't she sent on the most dangerous mission? All her teammates died. As just a genin, her chances of surviving were almost zero…"
Obito saw that Rin suddenly wanted to say something, and quickly cut her off with a glance.
Rin immediately understood that Obito didn't want Matsugi Shigeru to know that they were the ones who had saved Yuki.
She obediently shut her mouth.
At this moment, Obito already said to Matsugi Shigeru, "Some people are simply luckier. So in cases like this, what right did you have to gamble? Once it's exposed, Lord Hokage will have to give the villagers an explanation, and you will definitely die!"
Matsugi Shigeru muttered, "I understand. Then, Jonin Obito, where is Yuki now?"
Obito looked at Matsugi Shigeru with a half-smile.
"You're thinking of silencing her? Then I can tell you, she was just taken in by Orochimaru as a disciple. Right now she should be in Orochimaru's lab."
Matsugi Shigeru collapsed to the ground, his whole body limp.
Now he understood what Obito meant earlier about not being able to help much.
Wait—"not much help".
Matsugi Shigeru clutched at it like a final straw, "Jonin Obito, did you mean that in this situation, you can still help a little?"
Obito looked at him calmly, "After all, you are Rin's second uncle, and you've shown her kindness. For Rin's sake, I can try to keep you alive. But beyond that, there's nothing more I can do."
"From the standpoint of interest, you should also know that Sensei Minato is about to take office. At this time, countless eyes are watching. Even if his disciple's reputation is sky-high, sometimes it won't work."
In truth, this was a lie.
If he wished, Obito could certainly save Matsugi Shigeru's whole family.
But what the Matsugi family had done had already crossed his bottom line.
Besides, Matsugi Shigeru's elder brother, Matsugi Kazuo, could be said to have been killed at his order by Yuki. The downfall of the Matsugi family today could be said to have been caused by him as well.
And he had just taught Yuki the principle of "if you don't pull the weeds up by the roots, the spring wind will make them grow again." He couldn't slap his own face, could he?
Matsugi Shigeru suddenly collapsed with a laugh, "Hahaha… hahaha… hahahahaha!"
The laughter grew more and more desolate.
Nohara Haruki, seeing his misery, couldn't bear it.
He said, "Shigeru, get up. Obito already said he'll try to save your life!"
Matsugi Shigeru shook his head, "Haruki, we've been friends for decades. Do you think I'm someone greedy for life, afraid of death? I just… can't let go of my family."
"What's the point of saving my life? My uncle, my elder brother, my younger brother, even… my son were all involved in this. Elder brother is already dead. They probably won't escape either. If I live, what meaning would it have?"
Nohara Haruki sighed helplessly, "That's why I said, there was no point finding Obito."
"I'm sorry, Shigeru. I couldn't help."
But Matsugi Shigeru suddenly said, "No, Haruki, I have to thank you."
Then he turned to Obito and pleaded, "Can I ask you for two more favors? No need to save my life. I'd like to trade the matter of saving my life for two other kinds of help."
Obito said, "Truly greedy. But go on."
Matsugi Shigeru said, "First, my wife is innocent. My daughter is also innocent. They shouldn't be implicated. Can you, after my death, protect my family property, so that they have a place to stay?"
Obito suddenly found this whole matter laced with a kind of tragic irony. Someone who seized other people's inheritance, on his deathbed, was afraid someone would seize his family's inheritance?
He said, "Actually, your wife and daughter aren't so innocent. What ordinary person would dare have so many children, sons and daughters both? Wasn't it because of the enormous wealth your deeds brought, that you could raise them? Since they bore the benefits of your wealth, they aren't innocent."
Matsugi Shigeru said, "So you won't help with this favor?"
Obito smiled, "If there are truly innocent people in your family who can survive, I'll protect them. But… that's because of Rin. Can you understand? From now on, your debts with Rin are cleared."
Matsugi Shigeru nodded slowly, "Thank you."
Obito said, "Then what's the second favor?"
Matsugi Shigeru suddenly showed a trace of hatred.
"Jonin Obito, perhaps a genius like you will never understand this. Mistakes are always borne by us at the bottom. Do you think the top has no problems at all?"
"Heh, we're nothing but scapegoats for certain higher-ups."
"Every time something happens, the higher-ups punish harshly, then a large batch of people die. But is it useful?"
"Like I said before, the higher-ups wanted to seize those war inheritances. Whether I carried it out or not didn't matter. This would happen no matter what. In the end… if it was exposed, the one to die would always be me."
"Jonin Obito, do you understand what I mean?"
Obito gave him a rather amused look, "So now what you want is fairness?"
Matsugi Shigeru's eyes grew increasingly crazed, "That's right. Since we all did wrong, why shouldn't we all die together? I want to demand justice for myself. This is a righteous matter. Jonin Obito, can you do it? Or… are you the same as them?"
Obito said, "You don't need to goad me. If it were the Third Hokage, perhaps he couldn't. But if it's me… I will."
Matsugi Shigeru completely relaxed. Struggling to his feet, he said to Nohara Haruki, "Haruki, my matter is resolved. Thank you. From now on… we don't need to meet again."
Finished, he turned and left the Nohara household alone.
Nohara Haruki couldn't help but shake his head, "Shigeru… we've known each other for more than twenty years. How could you have been so foolish?"
Then, since the matter was settled, Nohara Haruki also felt a weight lifted. He stopped holding himself so stiffly, and became a little more lively.
He couldn't help saying to Obito, "Obito, from the beginning until now, you haven't called me once. Are you really so disrespectful of your uncle?"
Obito thought for a moment, "No, I was just afraid I'd scare you."
Nohara Haruki froze, "Scare me? What kind of joke is that? Even though your title is the Black Fang, it's impossible for me to be scared."
Obito parted his lips slightly and respectfully called out, "Dad."
The expression on Nohara Haruki's face, which had been natural until now, instantly stiffened.
He really was scared.
And then, something that scared him even more happened.
Lady Nohara came out carrying a tray of dishes, and quite naturally waved Obito over, "Dinner's ready. Obito, quickly bring Rin to the table."
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