Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 423 Nohara Rin

Aokiji stared at one of them, blond hair and brown eyes. Looking at that face, that smile from yesterday seemed to reappear.

The smile of her, the one and only in this world, is incredibly precious.

Aokiji stepped forward and stroked her face as if he were touching a delicate, fragile object, revealing a gentle smile.

Orochimaru, observing this action, asked, "Should we wake her up?"

Aokiji sighed, "It's not the right time yet."

Orochimaru shifted his gaze to another person, a girl with short brown hair, large dark brown eyes, and a Konoha headband on her forehead.

This girl...

Orochimaru narrowed his golden vertical pupils.

The girl gave him a sense of déjà vu.

After a long while, he remembered.

The girl that Aokiji revived was one of Kakashi's former teammates.

Aokiji noticed everyone's confusion: "What's wrong? Are you puzzled? Why did I specifically revive her?"

Orochimaru asked curiously, "If I remember correctly, this child seems to be Kakashi's former teammate."

Aokiji admitted, "You remember it quite clearly."

"Geniuses are always in the spotlight, and those around them also become the center of attention."

Aokiji nodded: "In that case, you should also know that he has a companion with him."

Orochimaru thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be one of your clansmen."

Thinking of this person, he said jokingly, "Although he's from the Uchiha clan, he doesn't seem to have much ninja talent. He was a bottom-of-the-class student at the Ninja Academy."

Aokiji said, "If it were any other ninja clan, he would indeed be a loser, but within the Uchiha clan, he is not a loser at all. In fact, in terms of talent, he can be compared to me."

After a brief moment of surprise, Orochimaru licked his lips: "To be praised like this by you is truly interesting."

"For a long time, people have believed that the Senju clan values ​​love over ninjutsu as power, while the Uchiha clan prioritizes the power of ninjutsu. In fact, this is a misconception."

Orochimaru asked, puzzled, "An error?"

"Yes, in fact, no clan has a deeper love than the Uchiha, so the Uchiha sealed it away. Once the Uchiha clan members understand love, their long-suppressed emotions will be released, and even the power of love that surpasses that of the Senju clan will be awakened."

"At this moment, a special chakra will surge into the head, acting on the optic nerve, causing changes in the eyes, and awakening the Sharingan."

Orochimaru exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how the Sharingan came to be!"

Aokiji sighed, "But excessively intense love harbors the potential to go berserk. Love will be replaced by even stronger hatred. However, when this hatred reaches a peak, an ordinary Sharingan will undergo further changes, evolving into a higher-level Mangekyou Sharingan. At this point, a person's personality often changes drastically, and they may even fall into demonic ways."

Orochimaru was taken aback: "In other words, the stronger the hatred, the stronger the power."

Orochimaru suddenly understood why the higher-ups were targeting the Uchiha clan so much.

If it were just a simple madman, that would be one thing, but when a madman gains power, it becomes a terrifying thing.

"You can understand it that way."

Orochimaru teased, "So, does that mean Aokiji is in the same situation?"

Aokiji remained noncommittal: "You could think that way too."

"Since you know your current situation, why are you still doing this?"

Aokiji chuckled. "Smoking is harmful to your health, but do you see any smoker who listens to advice?"

"I see, that's quite an apt metaphor."

Aokiji said, "I've investigated this Uchiha Obito. He's a very simple and kind person. He even often helps old ladies. This type is rare among the Uchiha. You can see that he has a lot of love for this world. But when that love is lost, I don't need to say more."

"It will turn into intense hatred, won't it?"

"People with such simple minds can be easily manipulated with a little trickery," Aokiji laughed. "If I were Madara Uchiha, then Obito would be a very suitable pawn."

"But isn't he dead?"

"You've seen it before?"

"..."

Aokiji chuckled, "Isn't what you tech people are best at first proposing hypotheses, and then proving them?"

Orochimaru's gaze fell on Rin Nohara: "So, you're just arguing this now, is that it?"

"That's only one reason," Aokiji said. "Madara Uchiha was from the same era as the Second Hokage. Do you think he wouldn't try to obtain such a convenient ninjutsu as the Impure World Reincarnation?"

Orochimaru put himself in Madara's shoes: "If I were Madara Uchiha, I think I would probably..."

Aokiji said, "Battles between masters often differ by the slightest margin. If Madara Uchiha were to resurrect Tsunade through Edo Tensei and appear before me, I would definitely lose my composure, expose a huge flaw, and thus be defeated. But conversely, if I were to use Rin Nohara to appear before Obito, Madara Uchiha's pawn, then he would expose a huge flaw and thus be defeated."

Orochimaru, having grasped the logic, said admiringly, "I see. As expected of Aokiji, you think so far ahead. Fortunately, I am not your enemy."

"However, all of this depends on the assumption that the truth will hold." Aokiji formed a hand seal, and the next second, the spell took effect.

Nohara Rin slowly opened her eyes, looking at the world with confusion. Her vision was dim, and she couldn't see her surroundings clearly: "Where am I...?"

As she was muttering to herself, she suddenly noticed two people standing beside her: one with white hair and blue eyes, and the other with black hair and golden eyes. The former was a complete stranger, but the latter was someone she recognized.

At that time, Orochimaru was still active in the village. Nohara Rin had seen him from afar. Orochimaru had very distinctive features, and since his face hadn't changed much even now, Nohara Rin recognized him at a glance: "Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru laughed, "Oh, you still remember me."

"What am I doing...?"

Nohara Rin stared blankly at her hands.

Orochimaru said mockingly, "You're already dead..."

A scene flashed through Nohara Rin's mind, and her gaze fell: "I see..."

But soon, a question arose: if she was already dead, how could she be here?

"Simply put, I resurrected you... but not in the true sense of the word."

Just then, another voice answered her question.

Nohara Rin paused, her gaze focusing on the man beside Orochimaru, and asked curiously, "You are...?"

Aokiji said calmly, "You can call me the Fifth Hokage..."

"The Fifth Hokage?"

Nohara Rin was quite surprised. When she was alive, the Hokage was only the Third Hokage; she never imagined that there would be a Fifth Hokage now: "Where's Kakashi...?"

"He is doing very well now and has become a very important figure in the village."

"That's good……"

Nohara Rin smiled with relief.

Aokiji didn't have time for any other nonsense and cut straight to the point: "I have a question for you."

Aokiji himself knew, but Orochimaru did not. Taking this opportunity, he could also tell Orochimaru about it, thereby shaping his image as unfathomable in Orochimaru's mind and consolidating Orochimaru's trust in him.

Nohara Rin was taken aback; she didn't understand why the Fifth Hokage would specifically ask her about her role.

Aokiji's eyes turned red, and three tomoe appeared: "Is that alright?"

"Sharingan?"

Seeing those eyes, Nohara Rin was quite surprised, never expecting that the Fifth Hokage was actually from the Uchiha clan.

"Alright, Hokage-sama, ask away. If I know the answer."

With Orochimaru, a Konoha ninja, present, and possessing the Sharingan, Rin Nohara's trust in Aokiji's identity deepened.

Soon, Nohara Rin told him the basics she knew.

Aokiji had a general idea of ​​what was going on. One day, while the Fourth Hokage was away, the Hidden Mist ninja kidnapped him, implanted the Three-Tails into his body, and then controlled him to enter Konoha, transform into a tailed beast, and launch a surprise attack on the village.

This is basically the same as what Aokiji knew.

Aokiji nodded: "Alright, I understand."

"Um, that..." Nohara Rin hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"What's wrong?"

"Can I see Kakashi? Just for a moment."

(End of this chapter)