Chapter 68: Revive, My Love

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This is the eternal knot in Obito's heart.

It all began at Kannabi Bridge when Obito's team was ambushed by the ninjas of the Land of Earth.

Amid the chaos, Obito saved Kakashi, but it left him filled with frustration over his own weakness.

As time passed, Obito's feelings shifted.

He began to harbor resentment toward Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, whose speed was unmatched in the ninja world.

Kakashi carried a kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God technique, but even so, Minato was busy with other missions and did not rush to save Obito's team.

Obito felt a deep sense of betrayal. He never expected that, in Minato's eyes, the mission would hold more importance than the lives of his disciples.

Becoming Hokage seemed to matter more to him than the dangers his students faced.

During their confrontations, Obito harbored countless desires, yearning for recognition from the teacher he once admired.

Yet, Minato failed to see his disciple's struggle. It was absurd—utterly ridiculous!

As Obito voiced his feelings, Kakashi trembled, wanting to defend his teacher but unable to find the words.

When Kakashi was promoted to Jonin, Minato had given him a special kunai, which Kakashi always carried. But at Kannabi Bridge, Obito died, and Rin Nohara also perished.

Obito's hand reached toward Kakashi's chest, but this time, Kakashi did not flinch.

Obito's hand passed through Kakashi's body, and he felt a strange discomfort. "Why didn't you avoid it?!" Obito exclaimed.

Kakashi replied, "Obito, since you hate me, I hope my death can ease the hatred in your heart."

Obito withdrew his hand and shouted in anger, "Stop pretending, Kakashi! I gave you my eye so you could protect Rin for me, but you killed her!"

In a moment of defiance, Kakashi dug out his own Sharingan with two fingers and offered it back to Obito.

"Your eyes, I return them to you."

Without hesitation, Obito placed his original eyes back into their sockets, blood and tears streaming down his face.

Obito glared at Kakashi, fury boiling within him. "Kakashi! If you had the chance to die in Rin's place, would you take it?"

Kakashi's expression brightened as he responded, "Obito! Are you serious?! I've thought about that opportunity day and night! If it meant saving Rin, I would gladly sacrifice myself! It would ease the guilt weighing on my heart!"

Obito, seeing the sincerity in Kakashi's eyes, shook off his hand and said, "You will live with that guilt for the rest of your life!" With that, Obito turned away.

The surrounding illusions shattered like fleeting dreams, and Kakashi found himself back in the Kamui dimension.

He looked around at the Anbu members, who were all concerned for him. "Kakashi, are you okay?" they asked.

Kakashi felt a sharp pain in his now-empty left eye. "I'm fine," he managed to say before collapsing.

Perhaps the pain would provide some solace. Kakashi had promised Obito to protect Rin, and though the circumstances were dire, he had indeed killed her.

This was an undeniable truth. No matter how he tried to explain it, his hands were stained with blood.

Moreover, it was Obito who had survived the boulder that had been meant for them, he had pushed Kakashi to safety.

As Kakashi recalled the hideous scar on Obito's face, his heart felt like it was being torn apart. Obito must have endured unimaginable suffering to survive.

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Meanwhile, in the Hidden Rain Village, the space around Obito began to twist and distort as he returned.

This time, he did not wear his mask. Perhaps he no longer cared if Rin mentioned his name.

"I did not kill Kakashi, he's not worth my effort now!" Obito declared.

Rin noticed that Obito now had both of his eyes but chose not to ask. Instead, she stepped forward and gently took Obito's hand.

In the Pure Land, Rin had witnessed everything Obito had done for her, and she understood the depth of his feelings.

In her youth, she had admired Kakashi—not out of love, but admiration for his strength.

She knew that Kakashi did not share her feelings, and thus, she recognized who truly cared for her.

When it came time to choose, it was always going to be Obito.

However, as a girl, expressing such feelings was difficult. Obito, too, had his own struggles, he had been pure before turning to darkness, and now he merely concealed that side of himself.

Seeing this moment unfold, Nagato urged, "Obito, I'm going to perform the Reanimation Jutsu. Once Rin is fully resurrected, you two can reminisce."

With that, everyone dispersed, and Nagato began forming hand seals.

The steps were simple, yet with each seal, Nagato felt as though he was exhausting every ounce of strength in his body.

By the time he completed the last seal, he was drenched in sweat. "Outer Path: Reanimation Jutsu!" he shouted.

In an instant, a massive figure resembling the King of Hell appeared, opening its mouth and extending its tongue to extract Rin's soul from the Pure Land.

The price for this act was Nagato's life. His body began to weaken, his once vibrant Rinnegan eyes turning dull.

Rin was fully resurrected.

Obito gazed at Rin, who stood before him, his heart racing with excitement. He felt her small, soft hand grasping his bloody one, and it felt as surreal as a dream.

However, Nagato was on the brink of death from the toll it had taken on him.

At that moment, White Zetsu appeared, quickly forming a seal and placing his palm on Nagato's chest. Vitality flowed from White Zetsu into Nagato's body, restoring some of his color.

Nagato felt a surge of relief—not because he had escaped Obito's control, but because the Reanimation Jutsu had truly worked! He would not die!

"Konan! Yahiko! Yahiko can be saved!" Nagato exclaimed.

"Nagato, don't get too excited. There's no rush to revive Yahiko!" Konan cautioned.

But Nagato could not contain his excitement.

He formed another seal, "Outer Path: Reanimation Jutsu!" Blood tears streamed from the corners of his eyes as he strained to use the technique again.

His voice was hoarse, using the Reanimation Jutsu twice in quick succession was overwhelming, even for him.

Yet, for Yahiko's sake, Nagato pushed through. As the King of Hell reappeared, Yahiko's soul was injected into the body of Tendo Pain.

However, there was no immediate response.

Another White Zetsu appeared, extending Nagato's life further. Weakly, Nagato looked at Tendo Pain, disappointment flooding his eyes. "Failed?"

Tears welled up in Konan's eyes, but she comforted Nagato, "It's okay. Maybe Yahiko has been gone for too long, or perhaps his soul doesn't wish to return."

As everyone left, only Nagato and Tendo Pain remained—Yahiko!

While others were unaware, Nagato understood that since the Reanimation Jutsu had taken effect, he had lost contact with Tendo Pain.

He no longer controlled him, indicating that another soul had taken residence in that body. Yahiko had indeed been resurrected, but he chose not to reveal it.

Nagato respected Yahiko's decision, even if he didn't fully understand it.

He had used the Reanimation Jutsu twice today. Although White Zetsu had restored his vitality, fatigue lingered.

"Yahiko, I haven't given up on our dream. The current Akatsuki is still striving for peace!" Nagato declared.

"I know, Nagato. You've worked hard," Yahiko replied.

"Yahiko, should I help you remove the black rods from your body? Will it hurt?" Nagato asked.

Yahiko shook his head. "No, just let them stay. I've been dead for so many years. Without these rods, how can I realize my dream?"

The black rods were uncomfortable, painful, and unsightly, yet they were better than having no strength at all.

Yahiko still possessed the power of the Rinnegan and Tendo Pain. Even though he had been resurrected, his body had been transformed into Tendo Pain's.

Nagato inquired again, "Then why not let Konan know you are alive?"

Yahiko looked down at his body. With such a form, what difference did it make to be alive or dead? His feelings for Konan were complex.

They had been childhood sweethearts, both liking each other but never voicing it.

Nagato also harbored feelings for Konan, but he buried them deep within.

Two days later, in the Hidden Rain Village, Yahiko sat alone on the roof, gazing out over the village.

His Rinnegan eyes were filled with indifference as the endless rain soaked him.

Suddenly, he felt a piece of paper fluttering behind him, untouched by the rain. More and more papers gathered, forming Konan's figure behind him.

She stood there, also looking out over the Hidden Rain Village.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked.

Yahiko nodded.

"This is our village. Before, Hanzo sought to kill you, but we inherited your will, continued Akatsuki's legacy, and rebuilt the Hidden Rain Village. It would be wonderful if you could see this scene," Konan said.

"Maybe he has seen it," Yahiko replied.

Suddenly, Konan grabbed Yahiko's arm. He instinctively struggled, not wanting to use Shinra Tensei against her.

Konan felt Yahiko's pulse and heartbeat, and tears began to flow. "Yahiko! You are back! Why didn't you tell me?" she cried.

Yahiko trembled, standing up and turning his head away, avoiding her gaze.

Konan hugged him from behind, sobbing, "Yahiko, why didn't you tell me? Why?!"

Yahiko replied slowly, "Is it so important whether I live or die? Isn't it my body fighting alongside you? You and Nagato have your own dreams and ideals to fulfill."

"My resurrection is just a bonus. I wish I could go back and start training from that time. I believe I wouldn't be much weaker than I am now. But it's too late, time cannot be reversed."

"I must complete our shared dream in my current state. In this case, I am Pain. Does it really matter whether I am resurrected or not?"

Yahiko's words were undeniably rational, but Konan was emotional.

"It matters! Very much! Yahiko, you are the backbone of us! You are also the founder of Akatsuki! You proposed the concept of world peace! Most importantly, I want you to live! Wouldn't it be wonderful for the three of us to be together like before?"

Yahiko laughed bitterly. "We can't go back to the past."

Perhaps Yahiko should not have been resurrected. The proud Yahiko could not accept his current state, being neither fully alive nor dead.

But what he could not accept even more was the feeling of being powerless.

If he had been strong enough back then, Konan would not have been held hostage, and Nagato would not have gone berserk. Even now, Yahiko believed he needed enough power.

He had once dreamed of becoming a "God" who could change the world and bring peace. Nagato had succeeded in making Yahiko a "God," and Yahiko did not want to lose that power now.

As Konan watched Yahiko's back gradually fade away, she called out to him, "Yahiko, please don't lie to me, okay?"

Yahiko nodded, and Konan smiled with relief. She followed him as they walked toward the central area of the Hidden Rain Village.