Chapter 161 : Kind Raikage??

Raikage A truly kept his word and released Nohara Rin.

Uchiha Obito narrowly escaped with his life, and the irony was palpable. Just as Raikage had said, he wouldn't target those who betrayed their comrades.

For the first time, Obito felt the brutal reality of war so vividly!

The veterans shinobi who had been guiding him, and the comrades he knew so well, had turned into cold corpses within mere minutes.

Staring at the unconscious Rin, Obito collapsed weakly to the ground. He held his head in his hands, curling up in despair.

Tears, uncontrollable, flowed from his eyes like a wild torrent, carrying endless pain and regret. Obito let out low, hoarse, trembling cries, as if trying to release all the anguish from the depths of his heart.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He kept apologizing, banging his head against the ground repeatedly, creating a dull thudding sound.

Never before had Obito felt such intense pain. At that moment, he hadn't had time to think. In a split second—whether driven by instinct or intuition—Obito had weighed Rin and Sogetsu on the scales, and ultimately, he chose Rin.

There was no doubt that this decision had thrown Uchiha Sogetsu into a firestorm.

Raikage would undoubtedly mobilize his entire village to hunt down Uchiha Sogetsu at all costs. Obito knew this all too well, yet he had still made his choice.

"I'm sorry, Brother Sogetsu. I had no other choice. I had to save Rin."

"You'll forgive me, right? You're so strong, Brother Sogetsu. I'm sure you'll be fine!"

"Yes, that's right. You're powerful—Raikage won't be able to harm you!"

Obito kept pleading, trying to convince himself, searching for a justification.

Only by doing this could he bear the guilt and regret without being crushed by it.

After repeatedly reassuring himself, Obito managed to regain his composure. He slapped his cheeks vigorously. "Obito, get a grip. We need to inform Lord Fugaku immediately. Rin's injuries are severe—we need a medical ninja!"

Though he had been struck by Raikage, luckily, Raikage hadn't intended to kill him. Seven or eight ribs were broken, but Obito could still move.

Assessing the situation quickly, Obito knew he couldn't stay here. Enduring the intense pain from his broken ribs, he gritted his teeth and carried the unconscious Rin on his back. "Rin, you'll be okay. I swear I'll protect you!"

"Obito?"

Rin's voice startled him. She had slowly regained consciousness and was looking at the scenery moving past them in a daze.

Her last memory was of Raikage grabbing her throat before she passed out. She couldn't recall anything that happened after.

"Thank goodness, Rin, you're awake!" Obito exclaimed, relieved that she seemed okay.

But her next words made his heart sink.

"How did we escape?" Rin asked curiously, lying on Obito's back. She vaguely remembered a scene where the Raikage was interrogating Obito, but she couldn't hear clearly at the time because she was struggling to breathe. So, she asked again, "Raikage, why did he let us go?"

Obito opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat.

Should he tell Rin that he had betrayed Uchiha Sogetsu, which led to the Raikage sparing their lives?

Even though Rin seemed fragile and gentle on the surface, she was actually very strong-willed. If he told her the truth, Obito could already imagine how disappointed she would be. 

What he feared most was that if Rin found out, she would distance herself from him and start to dislike him.

As a ninja, keeping secrets was a fundamental rule. No matter the reason, breaking that rule was considered treason.

Obito knew the consequences, so he was even more reluctant to tell her the truth.

"We must have been lucky. Something must have happened to the Raikage, so he left suddenly," Obito lied, making up a weak excuse.

"Oh..."

Rin's head felt heavy, and she didn't think much about it. She laid her head back down on his shoulder.

Seeing that Rin didn't ask any more questions, Obito felt relieved. He really didn't know how to keep up with the lie if she continued.

He quickened his pace, heading back towards the main group.

It was late at night, the moon was dim, and only a few stars dotted the sky. Dark clouds filled the air.

As Obito was running through the woods, someone suddenly blocked his path.

A sharp kunai was pressed against his neck, and a deep voice whispered in his ear, "Uchiha Obito, I remember you were supposed to be with the reconnaissance team, gathering intelligence on the Cloud Ninja at the front line. Why are you here?"

Obito, feeling a sense of relief, shouted, "Quick! I have important information to report to Lord Fugaku!"

The Anbu holding the kunai hesitated, then noticed Obito was covered in blood. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he grabbed Obito's collar roughly. 

With his other hand, he picked up the unconscious Rin and said, "Hold on. I'll take you to see Lord Fugaku right away!"

He was the lookout responsible for the outermost warning and wasn't allowed to hear sensitive information. That kind of information had to go directly to the commander, Fugaku.

The Anbu moved quickly, and within five minutes, they arrived at a large camp.

Several tents were brightly lit. The Anbu stopped at the central tent, knelt outside the door, and shouted, "Lord Fugaku, the reconnaissance team has urgent news from the front line!"

"Come in!"

Fugaku's calm voice responded from inside the tent.

With permission granted, the Anbu looked at Obito and signaled him to enter.

"Uncle, I'm leaving Rin with you. Make sure a medical ninja checks on her!"

Obito glanced at Rin with concern, but knowing there were more pressing matters, he entered the tent.

Inside, seven or eight people stood around a map on a sand table, apparently discussing their next strategy. Along with Uchiha Fugaku, there was Aburame Ryoma, Danzo's trusted right-hand man from the Root, as well as several Jonin from different clans.

"Uchiha Obito, what happened on the front line?"

Fugaku frowned slightly, his presence commanding without even trying. His voice carried a sense of urgency.

"Lord Fugaku, the reconnaissance team... they were wiped out!"

Obito wiped his tears and sobbed, "It was the Raikage! He suddenly appeared and attacked us. Lord Tetsuka and the others... they're all dead!"

"What did you say?!"

Fugaku's eyes widened in shock, and he nearly fell but quickly steadied himself by gripping the table.

Losing several Jonin and key young ninjas all at once was a devastating blow, even for the powerful Uchiha clan. Holding back his emotions, he clenched his teeth and demanded, "Why did the Raikage appear on the battlefield? How did you encounter him? Tell me everything!"

"Yes, Lord Fugaku!"

Obito, feeling frightened, quickly recounted everything that happened, though he purposely left out the part where he traded information with the Raikage to be spared.

However, everyone in the room was sharp, and they could tell something important was missing from his story.

"Kid, your lie is way too obvious," Aburame Ryoma sneered after listening. "The whole reconnaissance team was wiped out. How did you and that girl manage to escape?"

"I-I..."

Facing the intense stare of a Root Jonin, which seemed to pierce right through him, Obito started to panic.

"Obito, do you realize that if you're hiding something, I could treat you as a traitor right now?" Fugaku's forehead veins bulged in anger as he slammed the table. His eyes were filled with fury, and he demanded, "Tell me the truth! How did you escape?!"

"I'm sorry!"

Obito broke down, falling to his knees and crying. "It was the Raikage! He said if I told him the name of the Uchiha who killed the Third Raikage, he'd let Rin and me go."

"Wait, you said the Raikage let you go?"

Uchiha Fugaku's heart sank. The next second, he couldn't contain his anger and burst out, "Are you serious? What the hell were you thinking, you idiot?!"

"Huh?"

Before Obito could even process the insult, he noticed that everyone in the tent had looks of terror on their faces.

In the next moment, the quiet night was shattered by a sharp whistle.

A massive thunderclap, along with raging fire, rockfalls, and roaring water, descended on the camp like a natural disaster!

"Enemy attack—!!!"

********

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