The last vestiges of sunset faded, and Kakashi successfully escorted Rin to her doorstep.
"Here we are!"
Kakashi said blandly to Rin.
"Kakashi, would you like to come in for a bit?"
Rin, having mustered her courage, looked at Kakashi with eager anticipation.
However, Kakashi flatly refused:
"No, I'll be going now."
As Kakashi turned away, a painful memory flickered in his eyes.
"Obito."
"Kakashi..."
Watching Kakashi's retreating back, Rin's eyes were filled with disappointment. Only after Kakashi's figure vanished did Rin turn and re-enter her home.
Veigar didn't witness Kakashi and Rin's romantic moment, but someone else did.
The four-man Kirigakure Jonin squad led by Shou Mizushima emerged from their hiding spots after Kakashi left, positioning themselves on the rooftops surrounding Rin's house.
"Move out."
At Shou's command, Satoshi, Taizan, and Shinya sprang into action, directly breaking into Rin's house.
Rin, who had just returned home feeling utterly disappointed, had no power to resist Satoshi's sneak attack. The moment she sensed danger, Rin felt a sharp pain in her neck and immediately fell unconscious.
Under the cover of night, Rin was abducted from Konohagakure by the Mist Ninja.
As Rin was carried away, a pitcher plant emerged in Rin's house, revealing a black and white figure.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"Now, Madara's plan is about to succeed."
"Black Zetsu, let's hurry back and report to Madara."
As the two voices faded, the pitcher plant closed, and Black Zetsu and White Zetsu vanished as if they had never been there.
In a hidden underground space, an extremely old, almost spent figure sat quietly before a giant Gedo Statue, his body connected to it.
Madara!
Madara Uchiha!
One of Konohagakure's founders, Madara Uchiha, rumored to be dead, had reappeared, but he was visibly aged and frail.
The pitcher plant sprouted from the ground, and Madara opened his eyes.
"Madara-sama, the plan succeeded."
White Zetsu smiled excitedly upon seeing Madara.
"Then let's go!"
After glancing at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, and then at the adjacent room in the underground space, Madara slowly stood up, detaching himself from the Gedo Statue behind him.
The next day, Konoha Hospital.
Veigar hadn't seen Rin all morning. After inquiring with others and discovering that Rin hadn't shown up today, he had a premonition.
"Can fate not be escaped?"
"But this time, I want to try and change fate."
Veigar looked up at the sky, then vanished from his spot.
In the original storyline, Rin's death occurred before Minato became the Fourth Hokage. However, due to Veigar's protection, after Obito "died," Veigar had kept her at Konoha Hospital, which prevented Rin's fate from unfolding as originally planned—being abducted by Madara and becoming the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki during a mission with Kakashi.
But Veigar never expected that Rin would be abducted from Konohagakure on the day of Minato's wedding, after he became the Fourth Hokage.
Veigar, having left Konoha Hospital, went directly to Rin's home and quickly discovered extremely subtle traces, confirming that Rin had been abducted.
Immediately, Veigar created three Shadow Clones, dispatching them to the Hokage Residence, the Konoha Military Police Force, and Kakashi's home, respectively.
He himself rapidly left Konohagakure, heading towards the Land of Water.
Veigar's Shadow Clone arrived first at Kakashi's home. Upon seeing Kakashi, Veigar's Shadow Clone asked:
"Kakashi, what time did you take Rin home last night?"
"Around six-thirty. Has something happened to Rin?"
Kakashi, his face showing concern, pressed for answers.
"Rin is missing. She didn't show up at Konoha Hospital this morning."
"What? Rin is missing?"
Rin's disappearance made Kakashi's heart ache more than anyone else's. He had promised Obito that he would take care of Rin.
Veigar's Shadow Clone nodded, then vanished before Kakashi.
"No, I absolutely cannot let anything happen to Rin."
Soon, Kakashi was fully dressed, having canceled his rare holiday, and rushed towards the Hokage Residence.
Veigar's second Shadow Clone arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force, but after explaining his purpose, he learned that Fugaku was not there, having gone to the Hokage Residence.
Immediately, Veigar's Shadow Clone vanished, voluntarily dispelling itself.
Hokage Residence, Hokage's office.
At this time, besides Minato, Hiruzen and Fugaku were also present.
"What? The Military Police Force's patrol personnel were attacked?"
Upon hearing Fugaku's report, Minato's voice instantly rang out in surprise.
"Yes, Lord Fourth."
"Last night, a total of six patrol members were attacked. Judging by their injuries, the attackers were likely ninja from Amegakure or Kirigakure."
Veigar, who had appeared outside the door, heard this. He then pushed the door open and walked in.
"Lord Fourth."
Because Hiruzen and Fugaku were present, Veigar did not address Minato as "Sensei."
"Veigar, why are you here?"
Before Minato could speak, Hiruzen asked first.
Veigar looked over and replied:
"Rin is missing. I'm just a Shadow Clone right now; my real body has already left the village in pursuit."
Bang.
As soon as Veigar's words fell, Minato immediately slammed the table and stood up.
"How did Rin go missing?"
No sooner had Minato's words left his mouth than he connected it to the Konoha Military Police Force's attack.
"Cough, cough..."
"Minato, as Hokage, you must maintain a sufficiently calm mind."
Hiruzen, seeing Minato so agitated, immediately began to lecture him.
"Yes, Lord Third."
After replying to Hiruzen, Minato sat back down.
Seeing this scene, Veigar chuckled inwardly.
In Minato's eyes, Hiruzen's actions were him teaching him how to be a good Hokage.
However, in Veigar's and Fugaku's eyes, Minato at this moment was merely a puppet Hokage pushed forward by Hiruzen.
Currently, the Hokage of Konohagakure was Minato, but Hiruzen could reprimand him at will.
Was this appropriate?
What would the village's ninja think if they saw this?
Did it mean that the one who could still make decisions in Konohagakure was still Hiruzen?
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This fanfic has been fully translated!