Chapter 216: Holding Back a Move
Seeing that Uzumaki Kushina had finally calmed down, Namikaze Minato let out a sigh of relief and shot Uchiha Dali a grateful look.
He then began explaining the entire situation to Kushina from beginning to end.
When Kushina learned that the masked man who had attacked her was actually her husband's former disciple, Uchiha Obito, she was so shocked that she couldn't even speak.
"Obito?"
Kushina couldn't believe it. Unlike the others, she used a Body Flicker Technique to instantly appear in front of Uchiha Obito and reached out to tear off the vortex-patterned mask on his face.
Obito didn't dodge or resist, allowing his teacher's wife to do as she pleased.
After all, he truly was at fault and felt ashamed.
The moment the mask came off, everyone saw the half-ruined face of Uchiha Obito, repaired with Wood Release cells.
His youthful face was now clearly visible, and it was indeed the same Uchiha Obito from back then.
Although there were obvious differences from the past — he had grown taller and more mature — his appearance had not changed beyond recognition.
"It really is you…"
Kushina's emotions became complicated in an instant.
After all, this man had once been directly responsible for her death.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
Seeing Obito standing there like a block of wood without saying a word, Uchiha Dali prompted him.
Only then did Obito apologize with guilt in his voice. "I'm sorry, Teacher's wife."
"I was misled… I once strayed down the wrong path…"
He had now sincerely returned to Konoha.
And he still needed Uchiha Dali's help to resurrect Nohara Rin.
At present, Obito's temperament had returned to the person he used to be.
Seeing him apologize so earnestly and speak the truth, Kushina didn't dwell on it further. She waved her hand cheerfully. "Since you didn't do it intentionally, let's just let it go."
"Minato, is our child okay?"
"Naruto is very healthy. He's looking forward to seeing you — he'll be so happy." Minato smiled.
"By the way, you just said you were misled — what exactly happened, Obito?"
Relieved that her child was safe, Kushina turned to look at Obito again.
Minato, who already knew the full truth, continued explaining to her.
When she learned that the ruthless Uchiha Madara had lived to this era and had even formulated a plan that could destroy the entire ninja world, Kushina sighed heavily.
After hearing the full story, the grudge she held toward Obito completely dissipated.
In her and Minato's view, this disciple had simply been misled and taken the wrong path — he had made mistakes, but his nature was not bad.
And now that Obito had acknowledged his faults and turned back, there was no need to burden him with further guilt.
"In any case, you being able to return to Konoha is a good thing. Obito, I hope you work hard to become an outstanding shinobi. We believe in you!"
Kushina stepped forward and patted Obito on the shoulder.
Seeing that everyone had spoken openly and resolved all past grudges, Uchiha Dali turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others. "Where is Nohara Rin's grave?"
Everyone already knew he planned to resurrect her.
Uchiha Fugaku immediately replied, "In the cemetery."
"Let's go now."
Without wasting words, Dali set out at once.
Kakashi and Obito's hearts were filled with excitement.
They were finally going to see their dearest friend — and in Obito's case, his beloved — again.
The two exchanged a glance and quickly followed Dali outside.
…
In the Kamui dimension.
Black Zetsu sat alone on a rectangular stone, staring blankly at the boundless void.
"I didn't expect this originally flawless plan to end like this."
"Uchiha Dali… just what is that guy's background? It's as if he knows everything… damn it!"
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Black Zetsu muttered to himself.
But then, he started to chuckle.
"However… you think sealing me in this wretched place will stop me from acting? Heh…"
"Fortunately, I made preparations long ago."
After speaking to himself, he glanced again at the empty, hollow world around him.
He was a product of Yin–Yang Release, created by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya after she ate the Divine Tree's chakra fruit and became immortal.
In theory, Black Zetsu was also an immortal existence.
No conventional ninjutsu could kill him — unless Bloodline Encompassing was used in combination with Yin–Yang Release techniques.
That was why Uchiha Dali had thrown him in here for imprisonment, to prevent him from escaping.
However, cunning as he was, Black Zetsu had considered long, long ago that he might one day be discovered and captured.
So he had prepared another safeguard in advance.
He had created many duplicates of himself that were completely identical to his main body, each with independent mobility and self-awareness.
Over the course of a thousand years, these duplicates lay dormant where they had been buried.
Through a special ninjutsu, Black Zetsu's main body maintained secret communication with them.
He could awaken these clones at will to set them in motion — or leave them dormant forever.
There was also another backup method to awaken them.
If his main body faced genuine danger and lost contact with them for a certain period, one of the clones would automatically awaken.
That clone would then proceed, according to the original plan, to continue the operation to resurrect Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
However, this method could awaken only one clone at a time.
The rule he had set was: only when one awakened clone died would the next be awakened in turn.
There was also another trigger — the death of his main body.
If the main body truly died, all clones would awaken simultaneously and begin acting.
"In short… heh… the plan to revive Mother will never end."
"Uchiha Dali, you'll pay for your arrogance sooner or later!"
With that, Black Zetsu leisurely lay down on the giant rock.
He was immortal.
Even after thousands of years, he would still live on, unaffected by hunger or thirst.
So he had all the time in the world to wait.
Since he couldn't defeat Uchiha Dali now, he would simply bide his time — and when that man eventually grew old and died, everything would proceed according to his own plan once again.
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