Minato laid down the revived (Edo Tensei) Rin and released her bonds, then handed her over to Fugaku to watch over.
"Minato-sensei! I... this... and that voice, is it Obito? But he..."
Rin was still shaken and confused by the current situation.
Her memories still stopped at the moment she committed suicide at Kakashi's hand, and she had no idea what had happened in the past year or two.
In fact, the Obito on the operating table—whose face and body had drastically changed—was unfamiliar to her; she only felt Obito's voice sounded very familiar.
After all, shouldn't the only ones who called "Minato-sensei" be the four of them?
"It's alright. Rest here for a bit. Fugaku will explain everything to you. I'll catch up soon."
Minato comforted Rin, then asked Fugaku to take her to the next room.
Rin shouldn't see the next scene.
For the still innocent and naive Rin, all of this might be too much to bear.
After that, Minato walked over to the operating table and looked at Obito, who was still begging and admitting his mistakes.
Since Obito was captured and brought back to Konoha, becoming Orochimaru's guinea pig, Minato rarely visited him.
Not because he didn't care, but precisely because he valued their teacher-student bond too much, Minato chose to avoid meeting.
He was afraid that if they met, he wouldn't be able to control his emotions.
"Obito..."
"Sensei! It really is you! Rin? How is she? Please don't hurt her, I'll do anything!"
Obito became even more agitated hearing Minato's voice and continued to beg. He already understood how sadistic and cruel Orochimaru was.
Clearly, his only hope was Minato-sensei!
What was iron will?
In Rin's screams, all of that was meaningless—shattered instantly.
"Orochimaru, please release Obito's restraints. I want to talk to him properly."
"Of course."
Orochimaru moved his hand, easily releasing the chains and seals.
With him and Minato here, little Obito couldn't possibly cause trouble.
After being freed, Obito didn't immediately resist. Instead, he obediently sat up straight.
Clearly, after several failed escape attempts and being defeated by Orochimaru, he was already traumatized.
Although he still couldn't see his surroundings, he could clearly sense Minato-sensei's chakra.
With Minato-sensei here, where else could he run?
"Sensei, how is Rin?"
"She's safe, no need to worry. But we need to discuss your issues. I don't want to negotiate under these conditions, but for the sake of the village, there's no choice."
"I understand. As long as Rin is safe, I'll do anything!"
Obito sighed in relief and surrendered wearily.
He wasn't stupid.
Which was better:
- To continue receiving Orochimaru's hellish torture, hearing Rin's screams that he couldn't save?
- Or to surrender, obey Minato-sensei, and become Konoha's "dog"?
The answer was clear.
"Obito, I'm glad you're willing to return to the right path. But, for your safety and the village's, I have to do this..."
Minato didn't immediately trust Obito's surrender. He let out a long sigh, then suddenly moved.
*WHOOSH!*
Four black rods suddenly appeared and pierced both of Obito's hands and feet, locking him in place.
Before Obito could react, Minato had already placed his hand on Obito's body.
"Ah!"
"Sensei, don't—!"
"Over there, don't—!"
"Aaaah—!"
A few minutes later, Minato finished his "hidden precautionary measures."
He left many loving "Flying Thunder God marks" on Obito's body.
Starting from the chest, back, nape, lower abdomen, inner thighs, buttocks... He even used Orochimaru's white snakes to leave marks on the heart and other vital organs...
In short: Obito's entire body was covered in "love marks" from Minato-sensei.
Unless Obito became the Juubi Jinchūriki and regenerated his entire body, he would never be able to escape Minato-sensei's "grasp" in his lifetime.
There was no choice.
Because Obito's previous "kindness" to Naruto was too "fiery"—even using bombs—Minato didn't dare to take any more risks for the safety of his wife and child.
"Obito, you understand, right?"
Minato asked with concern.
He certainly hoped Obito had truly repented, but if this was just an act, don't blame him!
Obito sobbed. What else could he say?
He could only nod: "Understood, understood! It's all my fault, not sensei's!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Minato's "gentleness" made Orochimaru click his tongue in admiration.
Turns out Minato was even more ruthless!
After that, Minato retracted his black rods, and Obito was free again. But this freedom came at the cost of very heavy shackles—to the point where he didn't dare to resist even slightly.
'From today onwards, inside and out, I completely belong to Minato-sensei. Sorry, Rin... I'm no longer pure... *Hic hic~*'
But behind his sorrow, Obito deeply trusted Minato-sensei's integrity.
No matter what happened, as long as his beloved Rin was safe, everything was worth it!
"Obito, has Orochimaru told you about your mission?"
"Yes. I have to deceive the one remaining Rinnegan held by Zetsu."
For Obito, the Rinnegan was no longer important.
All this time, even while confined in the lab, Orochimaru still told him some of the developments outside.
So, Obito already knew:
- Kirigakure Village and the Land of Iron had been destroyed!
- Minato-sensei was supported by a mysterious Sage, Tenshou Sennin.
- Even Konoha had attacked the moon, exterminating the entire Ōtsutsuki clan there!
- And Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the "Chakra Mother," was said to have been defeated...
These insane achievements made Obito despair...
So, what did the Rinnegan mean? Even if Madara was revived, could he defeat Kaguya?
Regardless of the lies of the Eye of the Moon Plan, they had no chance of winning anymore.
This was also one of the reasons why Obito's will had crumbled.
"You already know. So, Obito, are you confident you can retrieve that Rinnegan?"
Minato asked directly.
"There's a chance, but in my current condition, it's difficult..."
Obito was honest.
He could indeed deceive Zetsu, but in his blind state with his chakra sealed, it was impossible for him to escape Konoha or convince Zetsu.
Even if he met Zetsu, he would be defeated instantly.
Minato pondered, realizing this problem, then quickly made a decision.
"Orochimaru, please release Obito's seals and transplant his Sharingan back."
"His Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Yes!"
Hearing this, Obito rejoiced. Minato-sensei was indeed the best!
With his double Kamui back, he would definitely be able to rise again!
But Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, slightly worried: "Are you sure? Aren't you afraid he'll cause trouble again?"
Minato smiled brightly: "I will watch over him. If Obito threatens the village again, I will eliminate him instantly! Besides, my disciple isn't that stupid, right?"
Obito was stunned. Seeing Minato-sensei's characteristic smile, his hair stood on end.
Once he recalled all the "Minato marks" on his body, his newly ignited spirit instantly extinguished—as if dipped in ice.
He calmed down again.