It was no wonder everyone was on edge — every shadow seemed a threat.
After all, a horrific battle had just raged here, and enemies could appear at any moment.
Is that Uchiha Shisui?
Ryuu glanced at him, taking in the boy who looked to be roughly Kakashi’s age.
The exact age of Shisui was never clearly stated in the series, so there had always been debate.
Some guessed he was three or four years older than Itachi, based on scenes showing them together — but that was a narrow view.
Naruto was never meant to be a live‑action drama; judging age by appearance was unreliable.
Plot and context told a far truer story.
Shisui appeared in the flashbacks of both Killer Bee and Ao — he had once even frightened the younger Ao into fleeing.
There was no way he was that young.
What’s more, for a ninja to gain renown across nations and earn a special title, it made far more sense during times of war.
It was highly likely Shisui had made his name in the Third Great Ninja War.
“N‑nothing… nothing’s wrong…”
Ryuu quickly waved his hand, answering casually as Shisui watched him.
Yet he noticed everyone’s eyes remained fixed intently on him.
It hit him then — this was no longer his old world.
This was the realm of shinobi!
A genin might be low‑ranked, but they were still a warrior forged through endless sweat and discipline.
How could anyone believe he could not even carry a stone properly?
A careless reply would never put their doubts to rest.
“I just… I couldn’t bear to see Obito‑san’s…” Ryuu quickly added, letting his voice soften into grief.
The others nodded in understanding.
They assumed he was simply too shaken to face Obito’s body, still refusing to accept that he might already be gone.
“Ryuu, we are shinobi.
Protecting the village at all costs is our duty — even if it means giving our lives.
If Obito truly has fallen, he died a hero!” Shisui said earnestly.
“No!
Obito isn’t dead!” Kakashi bit back, his voice tight with stubborn conviction.
The others sighed quietly.
Buried under so many tons of rock, Obito was surely crushed beyond recognition.
There was no way he could have survived.
But they understood what Kakashi was feeling — and so they said nothing more.
“You’re right, Kakashi — Obito isn’t dead.
He was saved by Madara Uchiha long ago!”
Ryuu was the only one who knew the truth, and he could not help thinking it — though of course he dared never speak it aloud.
He continued moving stones alongside the others, keeping a solemn look on his face.
For now, he had no wish to draw attention to himself.
“A Rinnegan… just from checking in at Kannabi Bridge?
Is this place truly that special?”
His mind was anything but calm — the system was all he could think about.
In the story he knew, the Battle of Kannabi Bridge was pivotal: it was where Obito’s descent began, and where Madara’s Eye of the Moon Plan first moved forward.
But in the world itself, it was still just a battlefield — nothing more.
“Unless… its true significance lies not in the battle, but in… Madara, hidden beneath the ground?”
A flash of insight struck him.
Deep beneath Kannabi Bridge lay a secret lair — one where the aged Madara had waited, no one knew how long.
“But what does it matter?
Right now… I must be the only one in this entire world to truly wield the Rinnegan perfectly.”
Ryuu’s mind hummed with excitement.
He knew Nagato Uzumaki possessed the Rinnegan too — and had for years.
But Nagato was no Uchiha.
He was never meant to bear them.
Though his Uzumaki blood gave him immense vitality, the eyes still took a terrible toll on him.
Ryuu was different.
To him, they were as natural as his own.
He would suffer no strain, no weakness — and he could open or close them at will.
Even now, his irises looked ordinary.
But whenever he chose, a single thought would shift them instantly into the Rinnegan.
He kept working, lost in thought, until at last the last stone was moved.
But to everyone’s shock, there was nothing beneath.
No body — no sign of Obito at all.
“How can this be?
He was right here — I know he was!” Kakashi frowned, utterly bewildered.
“Kakashi… are you certain this is the spot?” Shisui asked after a moment’s pause.
“I am certain!” Kakashi answered firmly.
“Someone must have taken him!
Obito’s alive — he must be!” Rin cried out, hope surging in her voice.
“Yes — that’s it!
Someone saved him!” Kakashi’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.
Shisui sighed inwardly.
If someone had rescued Obito, why pile the stones back over the spot?
It made no sense — unless to hide what had happened.
But he could not bring himself to crush the hope the two of them had just found.
Obito’s disappearance was strange, certainly — but the war was still raging.
This was no time to linger over questions that could not be answered.
Finding nothing more, Shisui led the group away.
Whoosh — whoosh — whoosh!
“Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”