The moon rose as the lights in the Hokage's office finally dimmed.
At the entrance of the Hokage Tower, the Hyuga clan head strode out with his two sons, his face clouded with displeasure. His heavy footsteps suggested that a certain child with a marked forehead would be in for punishment tonight.
Following closely behind was the Uchiha clan head, wearing an equally gloomy expression. Just moments ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had once again rejected his promotion request with various excuses - quite irritating indeed.
Finally, Fugaku walked out with Hiruzen.
Having finished work for the day, Hiruzen's expression softened considerably. Standing at the entrance, he patted Fugaku's shoulder and said kindly, "Fugaku, have you had dinner yet? Let me treat you to Ichiraku Ramen."
Hearing this, Fugaku gave a dry laugh. "Lord Hokage, please allow me to treat you instead! With my face, I can at least get a one percent discount."
"One percent discount..." Hiruzen smiled helplessly, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Teuchi's stinginess seemed oddly familiar...
...
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three months, Rinjin, disguised as Hōzuki Suikazan, hadn't left the main island where Kirigakure was located. Apart from periodic patrol duties every few days, he either pretended to train outside the village or spent time drinking at the local tavern.
However, spending extended periods in the tavern where people freely chatted had allowed Rinjin to gather quite interesting intelligence.
Kirigakure wasn't like other major hidden villages where the Kage's authority was absolute. Instead, there was a highly respected figure who controlled the village's economic lifelines.
That person was called Genshī. Reportedly born during the Warring States period, he was now in his forties or fifties.
Far from being troubled by such a presence, the Third Mizukage would actively seek Genshī's counsel on certain matters.
After careful observation, Rinjin had figured out the reason for this strange phenomenon.
It was poverty!
The Land of Water wasn't actually lacking in resources; in fact, it was particularly rich in marine resources. Under normal circumstances, trading seafood and marine specialties should have prevented such poverty.
The problem lay with the Land of Water's feudal lord.
If the Land of Fire's feudal lord was a wealthy businessman who knew how to make money, and the Land of Lightning's feudal lord was a rich but extremely frugal Scrooge, then the Land of Water's feudal lord was like the foolish son of a landlord.
The economy was already weak, yet he kept spending recklessly, and worse still, he had no management ability whatsoever.
This created a situation where while the Third Raikage could at least get some funding from his feudal lord, the Third Mizukage couldn't get a single penny from the Land of Water's feudal lord.
Moreover, as a hidden village, Kirigakure wasn't particularly skilled at production.
Thus emerged Genshī, who helped the village make money.
This also explained why Kirigakure, despite being an isolated village, still maintained several large towns in its outskirts.
Thinking about this, Rinjin instantly came up with more than ten ideas to quickly establish merit for himself, but he rejected them all.
He now understood the Third Mizukage well enough. This man's isolation of the village wasn't born from hatred or greed for power, but from a genuine belief that this was best for the village.
Such people were terrifying!
Because they believe everything they do is right, everything is for the greater good. They have no selfish motives, and their actions are all supposedly praiseworthy.
But in essence, his actions were hindering Kirigakure's external communications and economic development.
Someone with such fundamental misconceptions was more frightening than a madman.
A madman's logic is merely chaotic, which means they're occasionally right; but this kind of person was an absolute monster.
Just like Obito when he witnessed Rin's death.
How difficult would it have been to save Rin? Very difficult, yes, but nowhere near as challenging as capturing all nine Tailed Beasts, resurrecting Madara, or implementing the Eye of the Moon Plan.
So why didn't he try to save her?
Partly because he was deceived by Madara.
And then? Deep love?
Yes, but that's not the complete picture.
His fundamental logic was flawed. Or rather, from that moment on, he became something inhuman.
What would reviving Rin achieve? Would it gain him love?
Rin might choose to stay with him, return to Konoha, forgive Kakashi, or even end up with Kakashi.
Too many possibilities, too frightening to face.
And preventing Rin's choices was precisely what Obito couldn't do.
So how could he make Rin willingly stay with him?
Become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Thus, Obito's fundamental logic became chaotic, creating a violent collision between his possessiveness of Rin and his love for her.
He believed his love for Rin was the deepest, so naturally, she should be with him.
But putting himself in her shoes, would Rin accept such an Obito? One would have to be remarkably naive not to be frightened!
Therefore, Obito firmly believed in this world's falsehood while simultaneously being forced to acknowledge its reality.
When he believed the world was false, he became cold and ruthless, even cruel enough to ambush his mentor's wife, Kushina, during childbirth - betraying both his teacher and mother figure.
When he acknowledged the world's reality, he was tortured beyond endurance, so conflicted that he seemed on the verge of splitting apart.
That's why beings with such fundamentally flawed logic are truly spine-chilling.
In contrast, Madara's worldview was solid.
"You all mock me? I'll hang you all on the divine tree!"
Hashirama's worldview was equally firm.
"Whoever dares touch my village gets buried!"
The Third Mizukage, in Rinjin's view, was one of those fundamentally flawed existences.
Moreover, Rinjin had secretly observed the Third Mizukage and noticed something oddly unsettling about his legs.
Those legs had once been completely severed by Rinjin.
And now, these legs seemed to have their own independent consciousness.
In the tavern, Rinjin sat eating edamame and drinking sake, his mind racing while maintaining an unapproachable demeanor.
Meanwhile, in the Mizukage's office nearby.
The Third Mizukage was discussing something with an elderly man wearing an earthen-yellow robe and leaning on a strange fish-headed cane.
"Lord Third, what did Iwagakure say?" the man asked.
Hearing this, the Third Mizukage showed none of his previous arrogance. Instead, he patiently poured tea for Genshī and said gravely:
"The Land of Earth and the Land of Whirlpools are separated by the entire Land of Fire, making their participation in this operation impossible. However, Iwagakure has indicated they can deploy troops along the Land of Fire's border to pressure Konoha. Sunagakure of the Land of Wind has expressed similar intentions."
"What about the Third Raikage?" Genshī asked tremulously.
At this question, the Third Mizukage's brows furrowed as he replied in a deep voice:
"That brute of a Raikage is acting strange this time, seeming both interested and hesitant!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (60 ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!