Although the news hadn't fully spread, some ninjas already knew that Uchiha Fugaku had been killed—and the murderer was none other than his son, Uchiha Itachi.
Many members of the security team had likely witnessed the event. Although they were ordered to keep quiet, some had already confided in their families.
After Nawaki and Shisui returned to Konoha, they launched a thorough investigation into the incident. Uchiha Shisui also visited the patriarch's residence to offer his condolences to the grieving family, promising to do whatever he could to help.
But upon hearing his words, Uchiha Mikoto's eyes lit up with hope. She pleaded with Shisui to spare Uchiha Itachi, insisting that he must have had his reasons.
If it were anything else—even accepting Sasuke as a disciple and grooming him to become the next patriarch—Shisui might have agreed. But sparing Uchiha Itachi was not something he could do so easily.
Not only was Itachi responsible for killing Fugaku, he was also implicated in the deaths of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his son. His actions amounted to an attempt to overthrow Konoha.
Though Shisui came to offer comfort, he had thoroughly investigated the matter, and it was now in the hands of the Hokage's Anbu. Once captured, Uchiha Itachi would face a severe trial.
As for sparing his life—Shisui lacked both the authority and the desire to do so.
Fugaku had been like a mentor to Shisui, and he was deeply grateful to him. Forgiveness for such a crime—patricide—was unimaginable. Only Uchiha Mikoto continued to believe that Itachi must have had his reasons.
"Ma'am, this is beyond me. Hokage-sama is personally handling the case. At this point, only the Daimyō might be able to intervene. The Jōnin have many duties to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave. Once Sasuke graduates, please allow me to take him on as my student."
With those final words, Uchiha Shisui made it clear. Uchiha Mikoto had no choice but to accept the reality.
Both Shisui and Yatsushiro had said the same thing, and Mikoto understood they were powerless. But even so, from Shisui's words, she heard a faint glimmer of hope.
Perhaps the Daimyō could stop the pursuit of Itachi. Surely, he had his reasons.
Meanwhile, in another world…
"There are seventy-two types of ninth-level thunder magic—and all of them are perfect."
If someone were able to cast even one of these spells, it would be like borrowing a quarter of Kain's power.
This level of thunder magic could not be allowed to spread freely. Too many users might prove troublesome—even dangerous—for him.
Kain glanced down at the thick tome of lightning magic in his hand, nodding in satisfaction.
Ninth-level thunder spells were already considered destructive forbidden magic. Without channeling Kain's power through a wand or a magical formation, a mage with even vast reserves of mana would collapse after casting such a spell once. Cast it a second time—and they would surely die.
One of the most feared thunder-based forbidden spells, Destroying Heaven and Earth, could wipe out the entirety of New York in moments.
Another, Thor's Judgment, could unleash a thunderstrike so devastating that not even Thor himself could withstand it.
While fire magic hadn't been developed as extensively as thunder magic, it had still reached the sixth level.
According to Kain's calculations, even someone like Dumbledore was only approaching the power of an eighth-level mage. A sixth-level mage already surpassed most professors in strength.
As a mage's level increased, so did Kain's protection. High-level followers could wear magical gear blessed by him, and once they became numerous, they could collectively summon Kain's divine presence—this was the essence of divine descent.
The more believers he had, the more power he could grant. And Kain had plans—big ones.
He intended to use the Kamui space as his divine realm, storing his magical energy there. That way, even if he left the Marvel universe, he could still draw upon the vast reserves of power stored within.
"It's almost time to deal with Uchiha Obito. If that fool would just give up willingly, he might suffer less. But no—he insists on clinging to whatever value he still has left."
After saying this, Kain stood up and stretched. For disobedient fools, he had no mercy. And for a criminal ninja? There was nothing to pity.
Kain was already fully prepared for Uchiha Obito.
He had a high-voltage restraining device ready. The moment Obito picked it up, it would discharge 15 million volts of electricity, rendering him completely incapacitated.
After that, he would be bound tightly, and an ongoing current of 8 million volts would be applied to him for a full month.
Even with Hashirama cells, Obito wouldn't be able to gather chakra under such intense stimulation.
This device could operate continuously for thirty days. And if Obito was unlucky, Kain might not even check on him until the twenty-ninth day.
Fire Country – Central Hospital
Since Konoha had relocated near the capital, its medical, financial, and educational systems had come under the full jurisdiction of the Daimyō's office.
Among these, major reforms had been made to both healthcare and education. At the heart of these reforms was the Central Hospital, with plans to build at least four more large hospitals across the country.
Tsunade was overseeing the development of two of them, but thanks to Kain's efforts, Nono had finally become pregnant—just as he had wished.
In the beginning, Nono continued working, but as her belly grew, she gradually stepped back. Eventually, Tsunade took over her responsibilities.
Medical ninja remained in short supply.
Even though the Land of Fire had more medical ninjas than other villages, the current numbers were still far from sufficient to support such an ambitious healthcare expansion.
That's why, during the educational reforms, any students with talent in medical ninjutsu were practically forced into the field.
At the same time, the social status of medical ninjas was being elevated.
Even shinno had been personally ordered by Kain to undergo training in medical ninjutsu. After three years of supplementary education—and the dedication of shinno and others—the efforts had started to bear fruit.
The Central Hospital had already been established, and the other three were steadily being built. Still, it would take at least six or seven years for Kain's full vision to come to life.
Currently, the deputy director of the National Central Hospital was Rin Nohara. However, she worked under a pseudonym and wore a mask—only Nono and Kain knew her true identity.
To the rest of the world, she was simply a mysterious and skilled medical expert, renowned for curing almost any ailment.
That evening, Rin Nohara returned home after a long day at the hospital. But just as she switched on the lights, she noticed someone familiar sitting on the sofa.
"My lord… you're here."
Her voice carried a hint of surprise and joy. Perhaps even she hadn't realized it yet—but ever since Kain had rescued her at age thirteen, he had gradually become a central figure in her life.
As for Uchiha Obito… Rin was starting to grow tired of him.
She no longer wanted Kain to visit her just because of Obito—she wanted him to come for her.
"Rin, come sit down. Have you been so busy lately that you're coming home this late?"
Kain smiled as he spoke, gesturing to the seat beside him. He had taken to using familiar, almost intimate language with her.
"Also, take care of your health. Find some more assistants or students to help with the smaller tasks."
"I'm fine, Daimyō-sama. I can still manage," Rin replied quickly.
She removed her shoes, then walked over to the sofa. After a moment's hesitation, she sat down next to Kain—closer than she ever had before. This was the first time she had taken such initiative.
There had been physical closeness between them in the past, but it had always been for the purpose of provoking Obito.
Rin couldn't help but wonder—if Obito didn't exist, would the Daimyō still act that way with her? Would he still touch her face, wrap his arms around her waist?
"Daimyō-sama… did you come to see me today because of Obito?"
There was a flicker of hope in Rin's brown eyes. If the visit had nothing to do with Obito… then maybe, just maybe, it would make her truly happy.
Kain gently stroked her hair and spoke in a calm, authoritative tone:
"The patriarch of the Uchiha clan is dead. The one behind it all—the true mastermind—is Uchiha Obito. The deaths of the Sarutobi father and son are also closely tied to him. His hostility toward Konoha is becoming more and more obvious. It's time to deal with him."
"…Obito… he's really beyond saving."
Upon hearing what Uchiha Obito had done, a trace of revulsion appeared on Nohara Rin's face. She had truly misjudged him. She had never imagined that Obito—who once seemed like a kind, eager classmate—would become such a paranoid lunatic.
To think that someone like him had once harbored feelings for her made her feel deeply uneasy. Even someone like Rin, who had been shielded from many of the world's harsh realities, couldn't help but feel a chill of fear and disgust.
In hindsight, it was a blessing that he never had the chance to grow stronger back then. Who knows what he might have done?
"Rin—"
"My lord, I'm willing! Whatever you say… I'll follow."
Rin cut him off before he could finish. She reached out and gently held Kain's hand. Before, she had only passively accepted his closeness—his touch, his embrace. But now, for the first time, she was the one to take initiative. That small act brought her a strange sense of relief.
"Are you sure, Rin?"
"…Yes."
Her eyes didn't waver. She met his gaze directly, without hesitation. Then she felt his hand slip beneath her legs as he gently lifted her and placed her on his lap.
The intimate gesture caused Rin's cheeks to flush with color. She opened her mouth to speak but only managed a soft murmur.
"My lord, eh—"
Her words were cut off by a kiss, and Rin instantly felt a mixture of embarrassment and unfamiliar warmth. Her breathing quickened, and for a few moments, she couldn't find her voice.
"…My lord…"
"…Daimyō-sama, uh…"
A few hours later, Nohara Rin lay fast asleep. Though her brows were slightly furrowed from exhaustion, the soft smile on her lips revealed how comforted she had felt.
Despite her special constitution—one suited for sealing tailed beasts—her physical recovery rate was average. Without genetic enhancements like Hashirama cells or tailed beast chakra, she was still just a fragile flower, unable to endure repeated strain.
Yet even with her delicate body, her unyielding spirit told Kain something important: Rin was crazier than she appeared—and braver, too.
After the last of the tooth marks and scratches faded from his skin, Kain retrieved a small piece of recording equipment from beside the bed.
Shaking his head with a faint smile, he muttered, "There's no need for that idiot to see this."
"Red Queen," he said aloud, addressing the AI, "clean this up for me. Cut the footage—keep only the final audio and video."
In that final recording, Nohara Rin confessed everything.
She spoke directly to Uchiha Obito, her voice unwavering. She told him, with chilling clarity, that she never had feelings for him. That the world he dreamed of—where she existed only for him—was a nightmare to her. Something that filled her with disgust… and fear.
After finishing her words, Nohara Rin leaned in and kissed Kain decisively—for several long minutes.
If Obito were to witness this scene, there was an 80% chance he'd completely snap and spiral into madness. But at this point, Uchiha Obito was worthless. If anything, provoking him might even serve a purpose. The only remaining value he held was in his right eye.
Rin would likely sleep until noon the next day. Kain quietly prepared a light meal for her to wake up to and then returned to the Daimyō's Mansion.
It was time to move forward with her physical enhancement schedule, and the equipment for capturing Uchiha Obito would need to be fitted with virtual projection capabilities as well.
The following day, Kain was refreshed and ready to begin his usual work. But suddenly, a familiar presence interrupted him—long red hair peeked into the room.
Kain raised an eyebrow and called out, "What are you doing loitering at the door? Just come in. Do we really need to be formal about our relationship?"
Kushina stepped inside, slightly flustered. "I just… didn't want to embarrass you. Um… would you like some tea?"
In response, Kain casually walked over and gave her two quick swats on the backside. Kushina immediately yelped, blushing as she jumped aside and covered her rear.
With a hint of annoyance, Kain said, "If you had something to say, you should've just said it. And for the record, I'm not going to agree later if you stay silent now."
"Okay, okay, I'll talk…" Kushina muttered. "Actually, Mikoto came to see me today."
The moment Uchiha Mikoto's name was mentioned, Kain already knew what Kushina wanted to ask. Still, he let her finish. Then he pulled her gently onto his lap and began speaking seriously.
"Forget it, Kushina. Can you really forgive patricide? Do you think I should?"
"This matter has already been handed over to Nawaki. If I step in now, sure, he might give me face—but the others won't. Some mistakes simply can't be undone. You should help Mikoto accept that. Spend some time with her over the next few days. Take Naruto and Yoko along to visit her too."
"Yeah… I've been thinking the same thing," Kushina said softly. "Mikoto's going through too much all at once."
She paused. "If it were me, I don't think I could forgive Itachi either. But Mikoto pleaded so desperately… I couldn't ignore her."
"She's not doing well at all lately. I'm honestly worried something might happen to her."
Kain shook his head. "Don't underestimate her. She still has Sasuke. Remind her of that. Push her to focus on raising him right. If she collapses, who's left for Sasuke to rely on?"
"…That makes sense," Kushina sighed. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Wait… you actually do have a way, don't you?"
"There is a way," Kain admitted with a scowl. "But I don't want to use it."
"Why should I go to such lengths for someone who committed patricide and betrayed their village? If I have to spend my time and resources on someone, I'd rather invest in Sasuke."
Kushina blinked in surprise at his bluntness, then slowly nodded. "You're right. That does make more sense."
…
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