Chapter 231

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After a recent reform, Konoha's prison system has been divided into two areas.

One area is a temporary detention center, which is specifically for those who have violated Konoha's management regulations, such as getting involved in fights.

The offenses are relatively minor, with the maximum sentence being a month. The temporary detention center is quite rudimentary and uncomfortable, ensuring that anyone who ends up there would not want to return.

The other area is where long-term prisoners are held. Once someone is sent here, their chakra is sealed, their meridians are blocked, and they are shackled with chains on both their hands and feet.

Every day, they are sent to labor camps.

Konoha is currently undergoing many construction projects, with five different railway lines being built simultaneously, which requires a lot of labor.

These prisoners, who have committed serious crimes or have been captured, serve as a labor force. One guard from the security team can oversee twenty prisoners, and any insubordination is met with immediate execution, with no second chances.

In the deepest layer of the long-term prison, reserved for the most heinous criminals, there is currently only one inmate: Uchiha Obito. Despite having sealing techniques placed on him, the seals surrounding the prison have not been activated.

Yoichi was hoping that White Zetsu would come to rescue Obito so that he could use the Flying Thunder God technique to infiltrate the Akatsuki base and wipe them out. Unfortunately, after two or three days, there was no sign of White Zetsu, as if he had given up on Obito.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet prison. Hearing this, Obito, who was lying on the ground, slightly raised his chest but remained still. His injuries had been treated, and with his Sharingan and Kamui removed, he wasn't afraid of escaping. If his injuries weren't treated, the necrotic tissue would have killed him in a few days.

When the footsteps stopped at the prison door, Obito heard a familiar voice.

"Obito, why is it you?"

Kakashi…

Obito knew that after being captured and brought back to Konoha, he would face many interrogations and torture, but the one person he didn't want to see was Hatake Kakashi. Fortunately, his eyes had been removed, so he couldn't see Kakashi.

"...I have nothing left to say, Kakashi. I heard you're now a genius Jonin, the son of the Fourth Hokage. So why not have the village execute me quickly?"

Kakashi touched the left eye covered by his forehead protector and continued, "I've read the interrogation report. You could have returned as a hero of Konoha back then, so why did you go looking for—"

"Then what about you, Kakashi? You completely broke our promise! How did Rin die?"

"Obito…"

A familiar voice interrupted Obito's fury, leaving him stunned.

This voice… he often heard it in his dreams, and he would recall it at least once or twice daily. There was no mistaking it—it was Rin.

"Kakashi, who's with you? Is it a transformation jutsu? If you're trying to extract information, can't the Yamanaka Clan just pull it out of my mind? Why resort to such a despicable—"

Before Obito could finish his angry rant, Rin's voice interrupted him again. "Obito, I didn't die."

Rin's voice once again interrupted Obito, and Kakashi added, "Obito, we've pieced together the events. Rin sacrificed herself to prevent the Three-Tails from attacking Konoha by intentionally impaling herself on my blade."

"Let me continue, Kakashi."

Rin interrupted Kakashi and then said to Obito, "Obito, after you saved me and Kakashi at Kannabi Bridge, I was weak, so when I returned to the village, I started learning medical ninjutsu from Mina-sensei. With her recommendation, I began studying the Sage Mark under Yoichi-sensei."

Rin shared some details about what had happened after Obito's presumed death, though she made slight alterations, presenting the training under Uchiha Yoichi as her request, eventually becoming his sixth disciple.

Obito was left in disbelief. He had always thought Rin was dead, only to find out that she was alive, having been protected in the village due to the seal on her heart.

"Obito, Yoichi-sensei discovered that while Kirigakure was the visible enemy, the true culprit was hidden in the shadows. That's why this was kept secret. But to think that you would conspire with the real culprits and even kill Minato-sensei…"

Rin's voice was full of disappointment in Obito. She had once been grateful to him for saving her, but seeing the madness that had consumed him, Rin now felt only a desire to distance herself.

As for any affection Rin might have had for Obito, she now found it terrifying. If Obito hadn't saved her, she wouldn't have wanted to meet him at all.

"Obito, I've told you everything. You were deceived."

Rin finished, sensing Obito's despair. It felt like they had said too much.

So she turned to Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, let's go."

"Yeah."

Kakashi sighed and left the prison's deepest layer with Rin.

He felt that Obito was a tragic figure, but it was regrettable. Even though Kakashi was the son of the Fourth Hokage, he couldn't save Obito.

Obito had committed unforgivable sins, killing Minato-sensei and many elite Konoha ninja. Once his mind had been thoroughly interrogated and all valuable information extracted, he would be sentenced to death.

Currently, Obito was still alive because of the White Zetsu tissue on his body, which perfectly mimicked human tissue and was worth researching. This was the only reason he hadn't been executed yet.

After leaving the underground prison, Rin felt a bit lighter and asked Kakashi, "Kakashi, what are you going to do next?"

"I'm probably going to take on some missions. I might not stay in the village for a while. What about you, Rin?"

"I'll probably stay in the village. I'm currently helping Mina-sensei teach the new medical class."

Rin explained that the ninja academy had started teaching chakra control to students within the first five years. Those who excelled in chakra control were selected to take an additional medical ninjutsu course, which Rin was responsible for teaching.

It was initially Mina's responsibility, but with two children to care for, she rarely had the time to teach.

"I see. Well, take care, Rin. I'm heading out."

"Take care, Kakashi."

Kakashi was in a somber mood, so after exchanging farewells with Rin, he went home, packed his ninja gear, and headed to the Hokage office to take on some high-level solo missions.

As for Obito, after Rin and Kakashi left, he suddenly began to go mad, yelling and screaming in the underground prison. The security team tried to stop him several times, but to no avail. Obito continued to scream wildly.

They could have blocked the door, but then Obito began a hunger strike, which annoyed the security team to no end.

But Obito still had value. Before his death sentence was pronounced, they needed to keep him alive. Although Obito had taken the lives of his clansmen, the security team grudgingly administered nutrients to keep him from starving.

In the Hokage's aide office, a meeting was currently taking place. After Kurenai finished brewing tea, she stayed to take notes. As a Jonin and Yoichi's disciple and assistant, she was qualified to remain, even though the meeting involved village secrets.

"First, let's discuss the security team. Recently, their workload has increased significantly. After discussing it with the Hyuga Clan Leader, he has agreed to assign fifty Hyuga ninja to support the security team. The security team will also expand and extend its jurisdiction to cover a hundred kilometers around Konoha," Yoichi announced to everyone.

Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and the others felt a bit bitter. They felt that Yoichi had already become the Fifth Hokage.

Even though the Hokage election had not yet taken place, Sakumo, the Fourth Hokage, had willingly taken a subordinate seat, and the meeting wasn't even held in the Hokage office. What kind of situation was this?

However, Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and Shikaku knew better than to say anything. After all, it was Sarutobi himself who had approached Sakumo and agreed to the deal to capture the Akatsuki member.

"That's it for the village matters. Next is the Akatsuki. Iwagakure is playing hardball. Onoki responded that while they've cooperated with Akatsuki, he doesn't know where they are now and that it's none of Konoha's business."

Yoichi passed around Iwagakure's reply for everyone to read, then continued, "I plan to issue A-rank and S-rank missions on behalf of the village, targeting Iwagakure's resources."

Shikaku thought for a moment before asking, "Wouldn't that risk starting a war? If Iwagakure retaliates—"

"Let them retaliate. Konoha isn't afraid of war. Moreover, during times of peace, A-rank and S-rank missions are increasingly rare. If we don't create some high-level missions, our Jonin will be underutilized, and their income will decrease."

Yoichi added, "Intelligence gathering and sabotaging enemy village resources can also provide additional income for idle Jonin. As for Iwagakure, let them come if they want to start a war. Without their Jinchūriki, Iwagakure poses no real threat."

Hearing this, Shikaku had no more objections, and neither did anyone else in the room, including Koharu and Homura.

These two had become so cautious that even Yoichi had no excuse to remove them. Now, he had the ANBU watching them closely, ready to remove them for even the smallest misuse of village funds.

"As for Nagato's Rinnegan, we've gathered quite a bit of information. The interrogation team has extracted details from Obito's mind, and ANBU has also uncovered some intel on Nagato and Konan. Jiraiya-san, would you be willing to take on this mission?"

Everyone in the room turned to Jiraiya, who was surprised to be entrusted with this task after having failed twice.

"Now that we have clear intel on Nagato, there shouldn't be any more surprises. Given your strength, Jiraiya-san, you should be able to handle it."

With so many eyes on him and Yoichi's reasonable explanation, coupled with the offer of Rinnegan intel, Jiraiya felt compelled to accept the task.

"I understand. Leave it to me."

Hiruzen sighed. Even if he wanted to dissuade Jiraiya, there was no opportunity.

"Good. You can select your team members and submit the list later."

Yoichi said, though this was another trap. Jiraiya might not find anyone available for the mission, forcing him to choose from his close associates like the Sarutobi or Ino-Shika-Cho clans. Hiruzen might even join out of concern.

"That's all for now. ANBU, stay behind. Escort the Fourth Hokage back to his office to handle some documents. There are quite a few matters that require his personal attention."

"Oh, Yoichi-kun, you're joking! I wouldn't neglect village affairs."

Sakumo chuckled and left the room, heading back to his office. However, if Yoichi hadn't mentioned it, he had indeed been planning to go to the market to buy some fresh mackerel.

After dealing with the village's affairs, Yoichi stretched and felt like he had mostly recovered.

"Come to think of it, if my eye technique can reverse life and death, it should be able to heal my waist too."

Yoichi suddenly remembered that he had overlooked the restorative power of his eye technique. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan flared as he used his eye technique on his waist.

Sanrinsanmyō!

A surge of vitality filled Yoichi's waist, bringing immense relief and comfort. In just a few seconds, he felt as though he had returned to his peak condition.

"Amazing recovery... it seems this is the true power of Sanrinsanmyō."

Yoichi was pleased with himself. He also opened the superpower wheel. With the accumulation feature, he hadn't checked on his biggest cheat for some time.

It had been a while, and he had accumulated three chances to draw. He could either use them all at once or exchange them for abilities from the past month.

"I'll hold off for now. I'll save it for when I really need it."

Yoichi decided to postpone using his draws.

He then grabbed a prepared set of videotapes, a TV, and a VCR and used the Flying Thunder God technique to teleport back to Turtle Island.

The capture of Minato's killer should be good news for Kushina.

(End of Chapter)