Kazuki glanced at Kaguya, who was earnestly studying Baryon Mode, and smiled.

Just as he had expected…

After hitting a bottleneck in her learning, Kaguya had, of course, tiptoed her way through the soul imprint, secretly searching within Kazuki's consciousness for any experience in this field.

And so, she smoothly discovered the manual that Kazuki had left behind for her.

Study hard, Kaguya. I've already broken this technique down in detail… Kazuki silently cheered her on, blurring her perception of the outside world.

He had to lead Obito to meet Black Zetsu. If Kaguya were to see this scene, it would indeed be a little awkward…

After all, she had once shouted—"Zetsu, I'll kill you!"

Inside the chaotic currents of the distorted time-space, Kazuki walked leisurely, guiding Obito through. The Uchiha, who possessed a space-type Mangekyō technique, couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment.

For so long, Obito had taken immense pride in his dōjutsu, believing that Kamui might be the strongest ocular ability in the history of the Uchiha clan.

Even Kazuki, he thought, would struggle to surpass him in the realm of space.

At thirteen years old, once he had mastered Kamui, Obito had been able to stand toe-to-toe with an elderly Rinnegan Uchiha Madara.

Against most enemies in the shinobi world, Kamui's terrifying power ensured almost certain victory upon first encounter—leaving them with no chance to strike a second time.

Even when facing the Ōtsutsuki main family, Kamui had tremendous strategic and tactical value. In the original timeline, it was a divine ability capable of piercing and displacing even Truth-Seeking Orbs.

While other Mangekyō abilities were still bound to kage-level battlefields, Kamui had already stepped into the realm of Six Paths-level combat.

But when Obito witnessed Kazuki's resistance to the space-time turbulence, he fell silent.

What was said to be capable of tearing apart everything—those chaotic space currents—on Kazuki's body felt like nothing more than gentle seawater striking the hide of a giant whale, unable to raise even a splash.

What should have been a forbidden, deadly domain was, for Kazuki, nothing more than a garden for a casual stroll.

Obito gave a half-helpless, half-relieved smile and shook his head.

'As expected… no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to catch up to Kazuki.'

'I'd better focus on figuring out how to be his support instead!'

And after witnessing Kazuki's current strength, the heavy stone weighing on Obito's heart was set down at last. In his understanding, even though he knew Isshiki had summoned the Ōtsutsuki clan's pursuers…

Kazuki was so overwhelmingly strong that he had already surpassed Isshiki by countless tiers. If more enemies came, wouldn't they just be crushed the same way?

To Obito, the shinobi world was at peace.

"What is it, Obito? Feeling a little tense?" Kazuki cast him a sidelong glance and asked.

"No… I was just thinking—when you, Kazuki, finally put the Ōtsutsuki clan to rest, what kind of wedding Rin and I should have, and what kind of opponents I might face while serving as your right hand."

Obito furrowed his brows in utmost seriousness.

"What a difficult problem this is!"

Kazuki couldn't help but laugh.

Even Kazuki himself was still making detailed plans and preparing for unexpected turns in his ultimate battle against Myōshiki and Ryōshiki…

Yet Obito, this kid, had already popped the champagne for the shinobi world and himself in advance. Should one call it a bold heart—or simply blind faith in Kazuki?

"We're here, Obito."

Kazuki came to a slow halt, swept his hand through the air, and tore open a rift in the void before them. "Rin is waiting for you inside…"

Obito drew in a deep breath.

Rin, Uchiha Rin, or Zetsu, Black Zetsu—it didn't matter what the name was. What mattered was that this being embodied his very definition of love.

Separated for so long, and now, at last—reunion.

"…Almost forgot—that was my oversight." Kazuki clenched his fist, turned, and placed a hand on Obito's shoulder, speaking with a trace of guilt: "Clothes make the man, and a horse looks grand with its saddle. After such a long separation, you should face her in your best state of mind."

Kazuki gave Obito a once-over, and with the molding power of Yin–Yang Release, instantly reshaped his attire into a refined and masculine clan outfit.

Then he tapped his finger three times against Obito's forehead, infusing a stream of pure Yin chakra.

After so many grueling clashes with Isshiki, Kazuki had already healed Obito's physical injuries—but the exhaustion of spirit was still very real.

With this, Obito felt his mind cleared, as though he had awoken from a long, deep, and restful sleep. His whole body brimmed with vigor.

"Good. Now you look the part…" Kazuki adjusted the ornaments of his clan garb, nodded in satisfaction, and gave Obito's chest a firm tap.

"Go! Meet your beloved."

But Obito didn't move.

Tears welled in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Kazuki.

Kazuki was always like this!

Always thinking of him too much, never overlooking even the tiniest details that he himself ignored. More than just a brother from another parent—he was like an elder brother, almost like a father.

"What are you staring at me for? Do I look like Uchiha Rin?"

Kazuki frowned playfully, shoving Obito forward. "Go on!"

Obito smiled sheepishly, turned toward the rift, and stepped inside.

What filled his vision—

Was none other than the Uchiha Rin who had haunted his soul all these years!

The same girl with long, straight black hair.

The same classic Uchiha clan attire.

The same clear black eyes and radiant smile from his memories…

Uchiha Obito's face broke into a wide smile.

And across from him, so did Black Zetsu.

After Kazuki's careful touch, the Obito standing before her—so full of spirit—was the exact replica of the bright, handsome boy from her memories, the one who had always devoted himself to her.

With time apart, memories tend to smooth over the flaws of a lover, leaving recollections overly beautiful and painfully hard to part with.

Most reunions carry with them a trace of disappointment.

But today—

Both Obito and Black Zetsu found that the one before them was exactly the person they had envisioned in their hearts.

Kazuki folded his arms, smiling faintly from the side, watching this pair gaze at each other, shift from shyness to passion, then embrace tightly, tears flowing as they clung to one another.

This was a strange kind of love.

On one side was something not even human, without gender, a schemer lurking in the shadows. On the other was a boy full of passion—yet also a would-be destroyer of the world.

And yet, through strange twists of fate and chance, the two had come together.

They had even received Kazuki's blessing.

Only after holding each other tightly for what felt like an eternity did the two finally, and reluctantly, part.

Black Zetsu looked at Kazuki, who stood smiling faintly, and in her heart there was only gratitude.

As expected… her brother was a man of his word, someone worthy of trust!

He had truly brought Uchiha Obito back—whole and unbroken—snatching him from Isshiki's clutches and returning him to her side.

"Rin, Obito…" Kazuki slowly stepped forward, smiling as he looked at them in turn. But then, all at once, his expression hardened into seriousness: "You two are people I care about deeply… especially you, Obito. I've said it before—I see you as my own younger brother."

Obito nodded firmly. "Kazuki, I've always seen you as my big brother!"

Beside him, Black Zetsu added softly, "Me too…"

Obito laughed. "Rin, if he's my brother, then of course he's your brother too!"

Black Zetsu shot him a sideways glance, smiling in a way he couldn't quite read.

You and Kazuki's bond as brothers—I'll acknowledge that… but I'm tied to him by blood itself. Boy, there's still so much you don't know…

"I know, I know—you're both my younger siblings," Kazuki said. "That's why there are things I must tell you now, things that can't be spoken to outsiders."

He cleared his throat, shifting from warmth to the utmost gravity.

"This war has already become a battle for survival, with the mightiest of the Ōtsutsuki clan invading the shinobi world itself!"

"This fight will be merciless… To be honest, I don't have much confidence. The enemies that are coming may well be the strongest warriors this cosmic hunting clan has ever produced."

Kazuki turned to Obito.

"Compared to ordinary Ōtsutsuki, I can still stand tall. Handling a few of the lower-ranked main family members isn't difficult…"

"But across this vast universe, steeped in endless ages, I have no concept of what kind of beings the ancient Ōtsutsuki might have given birth to."

"To the Ōtsutsuki, Isshiki and the others are like average chūnin in a village. You cannot use their strength as a measure to deduce whether their true leaders are like Sarutobi Hiruzen—or like Senju Hashirama."

"I lack information."

Both Obito and Black Zetsu furrowed their brows tightly, turning over Kazuki's words in silence.

"To resist such a foe, I've been laying groundwork in the shinobi world for a long time… including a great formation meant to unite all of its strength. That move has already exhausted nearly all the cards I hold."

"Once I give everything I have, whether we win or lose will be left to fate."

Kazuki patted both Black Zetsu and Obito on the shoulders.

"As for everyone else—they must step onto the battlefield with me, because to save this planet, every last person has the duty to offer their strength… and fight for even the faintest chance at survival."

"But you're different from Rin, Obito."

Kazuki looked straight into Uchiha Obito's eyes, a trace of pride within his own.

"While others were still rehearsing, you staked your very life to fight against the Ōtsutsuki, tearing from their minds the single fragment of intelligence I needed…"

"You are already a hero of the shinobi world."

"That's why you no longer need to take part in this final battle of uncertain outcome. I've already prepared a safe path for you, along with enough chakra."

Kazuki touched his finger gently to Obito's brow, speaking softly: "The chakra I've placed inside you is more than enough for you to take Rin and hide away in a safe pocket of space."

"You don't need to sacrifice anything more for me. In the final battle, it won't matter if one or even two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan are absent… You've already done enough."

Obito was completely stunned.

He had never expected Kazuki to be so pessimistic about this battle's future. He had believed Kazuki was already invincible, simply waiting for the enemy to come and throw their lives away.

And yet—

At such a critical moment, Kazuki had gone so far as to prepare a back door just for him and Rin, a way to withdraw safely while the rest went to the front lines…

Even Black Zetsu, standing nearby, was shaken.

For the first time, she truly felt the care of an older brother flowing from Kazuki—the warmth that only family could give!

To fight at the front himself, while letting his younger siblings retreat to safety…

In that instant, Black Zetsu felt nothing but shame. How could she ever have thought of Kazuki as a black-hearted man with cruel amusements?

When the true test came, he was reliable—and painfully moving.

All those times when Kazuki had filled her with fear, unease, and negativity… now she understood.

It had only been the way family interacted under crushing pressure, a twisted way of easing her tension.

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I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. patreon.com/TitoVillar

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