NCCnovel Chapter 284 A Weeping Heart
Chapter 284 A Weeping Heart
After listening quietly to Black Zetsu's description, Obito did not immediately make a judgment, but instead fell into a long silence and deep thought.
Even after obtaining information about the true face behind the "masked" mask, the doubts only increased, like a tangled ball of yarn, one after another emerging.
The black hair is a disguise; her real hair color is blonde, and her eye color is blue...
Obito initially suspected it was just a coincidence, perhaps someone with similar hair and eye colors to his teacher. However, Black Zetsu emphasized that the face's resemblance to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was at least eight out of ten!
Obito knew very well that Black Zetsu had no reason to deceive him on such crucial information.
However, the contradiction lies precisely here—the evidence proving this person is Minato Namikaze is almost as much as the evidence proving he is not!
The Flying Thunder God Technique, a ninjutsu similar to but more powerful than the Rasengan, golden hair, azure eyes... all these features combined point to his teacher, who is known as the "Yellow Flash."
First, there's the issue of age. Obito tried to sort out his thoughts. If his teacher had faked his death like himself, then it would be understandable that his appearance would have changed over the years... But Black Zetsu described an unusually young face, looking only around eighteen years old. This was completely illogical.
Secondly, there was the extraordinary affection he showed for the second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki.
According to Black Zetsu, Menma's mask was knocked off because Orochimaru used Kushina's reanimated form, revealing a fatal flaw during the battle. Even when sealing Kushina, the sorrow he displayed was genuine and unpretentious.
Could it be... that even the appearance beneath the mask is a more sophisticated disguise? The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it. No, Black Zetsu's observation skills weren't so sharp that he couldn't tell it was a transformation technique.
But... how do you explain the Vajra Sealing Technique? That's a unique ability of the Uzumaki clan, and the teacher has no connection to the Uzumaki bloodline.
Obito's thoughts wavered between two completely different paths of speculation.
The first hypothesis follows the most superficial clues. It assumes that Menma is the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who faked his death in that battle and then, through some unknown method—perhaps a forbidden technique—not only survived but also successfully acquired the abilities of the Uzumaki clan, even inheriting their immense life force, resulting in a phenomenon of rejuvenation.
This explains why he first appeared more than a decade ago, yet still maintains a youthful appearance.
The second speculation is bolder, but also more bizarre. An absurd thought emerges: Could it be that... the teacher has an illegitimate child?
But he quickly dismissed the idea with his own logic. If he calculated backwards from Menma's initial appearance at around 18 years old, then when his teacher gave birth to him, he was probably still studying at the ninja academy!
At that time, the teacher and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had not yet established a romantic relationship, so there was no question of infidelity...
Both paths are fraught with contradictions and inexplicable points. Could it be a member of the Uzumaki clan who had been separated from his clan? But where did he learn the Flying Thunder God Technique? Ordinary clan members wouldn't be so saddened by a reanimated corpse; he wasn't that saddened when sealing the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Despite the many doubts still lingering in his mind, at least one thing can be confirmed—the man named "Menma," although powerful, is not a monster from a distant legend like Uchiha Madara or the First Hokage.
In his own plan, he had at most gained another enemy of the "Fourth Hokage" level.
The Akatsuki members are almost all assembled... Obito thought indifferently, the plan is about to officially begin.
Finally, his figure, like a reflection merging into the water, slowly disappeared amidst the gentle ripples in the space.
------
"Who...who are you...?"
With the giant snake holding him in its mouth, and amidst the jolting and suffocating sensation of its high-speed movement, Gaara trembled with physical weakness and inner fear, stammering as he asked...
The cold, icy forked tongue occasionally brushed against his skin, bringing a deathly sensation.
"What...what did you do to Kankuro and Temari?!"
Thinking of the two people who had stood in front of him without hesitation to protect him, only to fall helplessly in the end, Gaara mustered his remaining courage to ask, despite the fear that seeped into his body like ice water.
"...How disappointing, Gaara-kun."
A calm, hoarse voice, yet clearly mocking, came from in front of the snake's head, which was crawling rapidly above.
"They... they're about to die." Orochimaru's tone was calm. "Although the snake venom I used isn't as potent as that old woman's from Sunagakure, being poisoned so unexpectedly and without timely antidote... they're doomed."
"...!?"
Gaara's pupils contracted in shock and rage. "Why did you do this?! I... what have I done to offend you?!"
He couldn't understand why such a disaster would befall his older brother and sister, who had just shown him a little tenderness.
"It's simple, because of your 'existence'," Orochimaru answered casually. "Just like how you took your mother's life the day you were born, a monster's mere 'existence' will naturally take the lives of those around it. Since I 'have my eye' on you, isn't it only natural to eliminate these two obstacles in order to get you?"
This distorted explanation shattered the faint, dawn-like warmth of family affection he had just felt. A strong sense of nausea welled up in his throat, and Gaara felt like he was about to vomit.
"That's why you've disappointed me so much."
Orochimaru continued to torture his heart with the sharp daggers of his words, "You're clearly a monster who can never be understood by the world. Who said some naive things to you? Did they make you suddenly have the illusion that you also have the right to touch those ridiculous feelings that don't belong to you at all?"
"Face reality, Gaara. Your value lies solely in the beast sealed within you, not in your childish and superfluous fantasies."
"Stop talking..." Gaara painfully closed his eyes, trying to shut out the cruel voice, but every word was branded into his mind.
Am I right? Do I really not deserve any warmth? Is the understanding and care I just felt really just a mirage, destined to be destroyed because of me?
"However, I'm not denying you a choice." Orochimaru's tone shifted. "Option one: you continue your futile resistance. In that case, I will let your dear sister and brother die slowly in front of you, while they are still conscious, in the most painful and undignified way."
"Believe me, I am an expert in human anatomy and can make them fully 'enjoy' every detail of death's arrival. This process will be quite... lengthy."
"Option two: you come with me willingly. Give up resistance and become my possession. That way, they can at least lose their lives completely, unconsciously and relatively 'peacefully,' without any awareness."
He paused deliberately, allowing Gaara to fully process this cruel decision, before quietly delivering the final blow.
"Think about it carefully... The reason they died was precisely because of your ridiculous 'willfulness,' because you tried to touch something that didn't belong to you, and that's the punishment you brought upon yourself."
My inner defenses crumbled completely. Despair and self-loathing completely shrouded and devoured the tender buds in my heart that had yet to see the sunlight. The last glimmer of light was extinguished, leaving only suffocating darkness.
Slowly, with the last bit of strength, he opened his eyes, which had already lost their luster.
"...Okay...I understand."
well.
Orochimaru felt a sense of relief. He wasn't confident he could maintain control of the situation given Gaara's volatile emotions and the possibility of Shukaku going berserk again. If that happened, not only would he fail to obtain the Nine-Tails, but he might also lose the One-Tail he had already acquired.
Therefore, he did not hesitate to use this most despicable and soul-destroying method, just to completely extinguish any thought of Gaara's resistance.
However, since the target this time was just a precious "experimental subject," Orochimaru had long lost patience for playing any tricks about "voluntary following."
We're getting further and further away from Konoha... Feeling the summoning snake darting rapidly beneath my feet, well, this backup plan has finally succeeded, hasn't it?
Just as this thought flashed through Orochimaru's mind, a barely perceptible moment of relaxation occurred in his concentration—
As if appearing out of thin air, without any warning! Orochimaru caught a glimpse of an unnatural blue light out of the corner of his eye. It suddenly lit up at a very close distance in front of him and magnified instantly!
"Rasengan!"
He didn't even have time to react before he felt a violent impact slam into his cheek!
With that furious roar, a tremendous force erupted instantly! Orochimaru was sent flying uncontrollably off the ground.
And his long-awaited target—Naruto Uzumaki—was still in the position to unleash the Rasengan, his voice burning like a raging fire, appearing right where he had been standing!