Rin watched Kakashi freeze in place, his eyes vacant, her heart feeling as if it was clenched by an invisible hand.
Obito's killing intent grew thicker around him. She knew she couldn't wait any longer, she had to take Ken and leave.
"Kakashi, I'm sorry..." Rin murmured to herself, then suddenly turned, clutching Ken, and ran outside.
Her dress was torn by the shattered rocks, but she dared not pause for a moment. She had to protect Ken, he was her and Kakashi's only child, and her reason for living.
Watching Rin's retreating figure, holding the infant, a flicker of killing intent flashed in Obito's eyes. His body instantly became intangible, activating Kamui to warp, and the next second he appeared in front of Rin, blocking her path.
"Run? Do you think you can escape?"
He extended his left hand, reaching for Ken in Rin's arms, his movements so fast she had no time to react.
"No!" Rin cried out, instinctively shielding Ken in her arms, using her back to block Obito's hand.
But Obito's power far exceeded her imagination. With a "tear" sound, a rip appeared in the back of her haori. Rin instantly fell backward, a sharp pain shooting through her back, and the child in her arms was snatched away.
She struggled to get up but was pinned down by Obito's foot on her abdomen, unable to move.
"Let go of my child! If you want to kill, kill me, don't hurt Ken!"
Rin's voice was tearful, her tears dripping onto the cold shattered rocks.
Obito lowered his head, looking at the infant in his arms. The infant wasn't crying, just curiously staring at his mask. This face was so much like his own when he was little, even the frequency of blinking held a similar resemblance.
What made Obito's heart tremble even more was that the infant's small hand actually reached out and grabbed his finger, clenching it gently, without any fear.
A strange sense of closeness suddenly welled up in his heart.
He had intended to crush the infant's neck, to make Kakashi also taste the pain of losing a loved one. But looking at Ken's pure eyes, and feeling the soft touch on his fingertip, his fingers hesitated, unable to exert force.
A trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes beneath the mask.
This child carried half of Rin's bloodline, how could he bring himself to do it?
Obito gently brushed Ken's cheek with his fingertips, his movement carrying an unconscious tenderness.
Not far away, Kakashi, who was trapped in genjutsu, suddenly stirred.
Although his consciousness was still in the genjutsu space, he clearly sensed Ken's danger—that was the connection of bloodline.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan beneath his forehead protector trembled slightly, the red tomoe rapidly spinning in his eye, seemingly trying to break free from the genjutsu's restraint.
Obito quickly suppressed the softness in his heart, his gaze turning ruthless again.
He looked at Rin, who was pinned under his foot, and the disgust and killing intent in his heart surged once more.
The child could be spared, but this clone, which desecrated Rin's body, must be eliminated. He would never allow anyone to live a happy life with Kakashi, wearing Rin's face, it was an insult to Rin.
Wood Release: Cutting Technique!
A thick branch, like a venomous snake, pierced towards Rin's heart.
Rin looked at the approaching wooden spike, her eyes devoid of fear, only a hint of relief.
She could feel the masked man's pain, and she could vaguely guess his identity. Perhaps dying this way would lessen his suffering.
"Pfft..."
The wooden spike passed through Rin's heart without hindrance, and blood instantly stained her light pink clothes.
Obito watched the blood spill from Rin's lips, a sudden, inexplicable panic surging in his heart. He subconsciously wanted to withdraw the Wood Release, but it was already too late.
Rin struggled to lift her head, her gaze piercing through Obito's mask, seemingly seeing the familiar face beneath it. She saw tears seeping from the edge of the mask, tears filled with pain and despair, which confirmed her suspicions.
Rin's voice was weak. "Obito... You must have... suffered a lot these past years..."
Obito's body suddenly stiffened, his eyes beneath the mask instantly widening.
He had attacked Kakashi many times, but Kakashi never recognized him. Minato and Kushina also never suspected his identity, but this clone actually called out his name.
He watched Rin's blood-stained hand reach towards his mask, seemingly wanting to caress his face, but then it fell powerlessly in mid-air.
Rin's eyes gradually lost focus, but a gentle smile appeared on her lips, as if comforting him not to be sad.
"Rin... I killed Rin... Ah..."
Immense pain and despair instantly engulfed Obito. He staggered back a few steps, then turned and retreated into the Kamui dimension.
His suppressed sobs echoed in the dimension, wails full of regret and pain.
"Ah... Ahhh..."
Meanwhile, outside, the moment Rin died, Kakashi's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun frantically, fusing and transforming, finally becoming the Mangekyo Sharingan with its unique pattern. He immediately broke free from the genjutsu.
Kakashi rushed to Rin's side, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Rin... I'm sorry... I failed to protect you again... I'm sorry... I'm useless... Ahhh... That bastard, I will definitely kill you!"
The cold wind, carrying withered leaves, swept through the cemetery, intertwining with Kakashi's cries.
Kakashi held Rin's corpse, his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotating, an ingrained killing intent flashing in his eyes.
In the Kamui dimension, Ken seemed to sense his mother's passing and suddenly burst into loud sobs. His eyes were filled with fear, his hands flailing, wanting to grasp his mother's clothes, but only catching cold air.
"Wah... wah... wah..."
His cries pulled Obito out of his painful emotions.
Obito leaned against the cold rock wall, his sobs gradually diminishing.
Looking at his blood-stained hands, his heart was filled with regret and pain.
He thought killing Rin's clone would alleviate his suffering, but he didn't expect it to plunge him into deeper despair.
That clone's final smile, that phrase "Obito... You must have... suffered a lot these past years..." echoed in his mind like a curse, leaving him unable to find peace.
Obito collapsed weakly to the ground, before him an infant crying "wah wah wah".
He tremblingly reached out and held Ken in his arms. Ken's cries gradually subsided, his small hand still clutching his sleeve.
"You're just like Rin..."
At this moment, Obito seemed to see Rin, holding his younger self... warm and healing.