Shun used Flying Thunder God to teleport underground.
The damp air of the underground cave was filled with the coldness of rocks, making it even more oppressive.
On the cold stone bed, Obito sat motionless like a puppet from which the soul had been extracted. His black robe was covered in dust, his once upright back was stiff, and his eyes stared blankly at the cave ceiling.
For over a year, he had maintained this lifeless appearance, as if all the light in the world had vanished from his life.
In his mind, the scene of him killing Rin, replayed repeatedly.
At first, he thought he was just killing Rin's clone, a fake, but he never expected...
Rin's familiar tears before she died, and her soul-piercing words echoed in his mind.
"Obito... you must have had it tough... all these years."
That day, he personally pierced Rin's heart. He personally shattered his last mental defense.
From then on, Obito was left with only a numb shell, even the obsession to "live" had vanished without a trace.
"Father! Why are you here?" Black Zetsu's excited voice suddenly came from the shadows.
He moved like a nimble shadow, quickly sliding along the rock wall to Shun's side, his gaze frequently glancing at the bottle in Shun's hand.
Suspended within it was a Mangekyo Sharingan with black and red patterns, and the spatial aura unique to Kamui subtly leaked out.
"Father, are you here for this good-for-nothing Obito?" Black Zetsu's tone was full of disdain.
"If it weren't for the White Zetsu cells in Obito, which maintain his body's life and prevent him from starving even without eating, he would have long since become a skeleton in the cave."
Shun ignored Black Zetsu's complaints and walked directly to the stone bed.
He said, "I have subdued Nagato, and Akatsuki's plan needs to proceed. Obito still has a use. It's time for this Mangekyo to return to its rightful owner."
Obito on the stone bed remained rigid, without even the will to resist.
Shun opened his left eye, and with a gentle flick, a three-tomoe Sharingan was dug out. This eyeball should have been the one Madara used during his lifetime, later dug out and used by Obito.
He aimed at Obito's left eye socket, gently pressed, and precisely embedded the Mangekyo Sharingan. Immediately after, the Hashirama cells in Obito's body began to repair the optic nerve of the left eye.
Obito's empty left eye suddenly lit up with a crimson glow, black and red patterns rapidly spun in his pupil.
"Ugh..."
Obito's body trembled violently, as if he had been brutally yanked awake from a century-long nightmare.
He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his left eye. The familiar sensation from his fingertips, and the surging spatial power of Kamui within him, finally caused a faint ripple in his left eye.
These were his eyes, the eyes with which he and Kakashi had promised to protect Rin together back then.
The return of this eye was like a needle, piercing his numb shell, allowing him to once again feel the reality of being alive.
A majestic voice, filled with an undeniable sense of oppression, sounded in his ear. "How do you feel? Do you want to sacrifice yourself to revive Rin?"
"You... what did you say?"
Obito's empty eyes became bloodshot, and he suddenly looked up at the other person.
Shun's lips curled into a confident smile, his tone calm. "If I can revive Rin once, I can naturally revive her a second time. As long as you are willing to sacrifice yourself as an offering for the resurrection ritual, I can revive Rin and let her, Kakashi, and their children live happily together."
"Rin and Kakashi... together?"
Obito's body trembled violently, the hope in his eyes instantly replaced by pain, and a struggling expression intertwined on his face.
He deeply loved Rin. Even if he had to sacrifice himself, as long as Rin could be revived, he would be willing.
But the thought of Rin being with Kakashi, the thought of the man who "killed" Rin back then, possessing the happiness he yearned for, made his heart feel as if it was being fiercely squeezed, hurting so much he couldn't breathe.
Obito's emotions began to spiral out of control, and he roared with painful unwillingness, "Why... Kakashi? It was him... he killed Rin with his own hands! He doesn't deserve Rin! He doesn't deserve her!"
Shun smiled coldly. "Anyone has the right to possess Rin, only you don't."
A hint of wariness appeared in Obito's eyes as he asked, "Shun, what exactly do you want to do? You wouldn't be so kind as to revive Rin for no reason. There must be a conspiracy behind this."
He knew these so-called "strong ones" too well. Behind every "gift" lay an unimaginable price.
Shun's tone suddenly turned cold, and the golden Six Tomoe Rinnegan lit up in the dim cave, a powerful pressure instantly enveloping the entire cave.
Obito felt as if an invisible hand was clutching his throat, making even breathing difficult.
"Obito, I'm just giving you a choice. It seems you're unwilling to sacrifice? It doesn't matter if you're unwilling. I will cast Rin's soul into purgatory, letting her atone for your sins of these past years in endless suffering."
Obito asked, "Are you a devil?"
He struggled violently, trying to get up, but the pressure held him firmly on the stone bed, unable to move even a finger.
His eyes were filled with anger and despair as he shouted, "Rin did nothing wrong! She never did anything wrong! All the mistakes are mine! Mine! If you want to punish, punish me, don't hurt Rin!"
His voice was heartbreaking, the pain and guilt accumulated over the years completely erupting at this moment.
"I can do much more than that."
Shun looked down at him, the light of his golden Rinnegan making Obito unable to look him directly in the eye.
"Now, you have two choices. Either cooperate well with Nagato to execute the plan and help me advance the great cause of unifying the Ninja World. If the plan succeeds, I might change my mind. Or, I will let you witness Rin's soul suffering in purgatory, never finding peace for eternity."
His voice was like a cold blade, each word piercing Obito's heart. "Obito, which one do you choose?"
Obito's teeth gnashed, blood oozing from his gums, his eyes filled with pain and despair.
"I... I'll cooperate. But you must guarantee that you won't harm Rin. Neither her soul, nor her after she's revived."
After speaking, Obito lowered his head, not daring to continue imagining Rin and Kakashi living together.